Dr. Armand Fusco has Been Working to
Improve the Accountability and Efficiency of School Boards throughout the
State. The Following provides Insight Into How Taxpayers and Government Officials Working Together
Can Be Successful for the Benefit of Our Children.
Recognition is Given to the Officials of the Yankee Institute for
their involvement in this project.
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Best School Board Financial and
Management Policies
Selected From a Samplying of
School Districts in All States
http://www.yankeeinstitute.org/docs/20100304.pdf
Dr. Fusco Speaks Out on Improving
Educational Standards
http://ctact.org/default.asp?callcontent=yes&filename=OnEducationFusco.htm&location=Home&buttonname=Home
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HOW TO REDUCE TAXES WITH A
CITIZEN’S AUDIT COMMITTEE
http://www.yankeeinstitute.org/files/pdf/How_to_Reduce_Prop_Taxes.pdf
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CONGRATULATIONS
TRUMBULL ON
YOUR SUCCESS
As
property taxes continue to escalate, taxpayers are looking to their public
officials to provide greater accountability and transparency. Taxpayers are also becoming involved in the
process through Citizens Review and Advisory Committees as initiated by Dr.
Armand Fusco, a retired educator and former superintendent of schools.
Dr.
Fusco, who has authored many professional works, to include the book School Corruption: Betrayal
of Children and Public Trust, has developed The Culture of Accountability, Transparency and
Participation Index as a means to measure a school district on its policies and
practices that would:
Ø indicate
its level of accountability to the community in being answerable for the use
and maximization of school resources (human, financial, and physical),
Ø determine whether the district fulfills its obligation to be
transparent for its decisions, and
Ø indicate its commitment
to participative inclusion of the community.
To date, the Trumbull Citizens Review and
Advisory Committee with the cooperation of its public officials has earned 22
commendations representing full compliance with the aforementioned criteria thereby demonstrating its commitment in
providing accountability, transparency and participation to its community of
citizens.
It is therefore an honor and pleasure for the
Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer
Organizations to have the opportunity to publicly recognize this unique and
noteworthy achievement of the Trumbull
School District at a future meeting of
the Trumbull
Board of Education.
Special recognition has been given by The
Federation of Connecticut
Taxpayer Organizations and Governor Rell to:
Stephen Wright,
Chairperson, Trumbull
Board of Education
Ralph Lassogna, Superintendent of Schools and his staff
Joann Tyborowski, Secretary and Liaison to the Citizens review
and Advisory Committee
Dr.
Fusco has been in Washington, DC
and throughout Connecticut
seeking to expand Citizens Review and Advisory Committees nationwide.
To date, such Committees have either concluded
their work or are in the process of considering, conducting, or finalizing
audits in the following Connecticut towns:
Trumbull, Enfield, Brookfield, Woodstock, New London, Monroe, Redding,
Farmington and East Granby. Their
efforts demonstrate democracy in action and the willingness of the Boards of
Education to help build ownership and support for its schools.
The Federation is also pleased to announce
that Trumbull
will be included in the Federation’s School District Honor Roll Hall of Fame,
at the gold level, which is described within the attached. Based on its level of commitment to the
process, we feel confident that Trumbull
will continue to grow in its success and will soon be the first district to be
at the platinum level of the Hall of Fame.
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Governor Rell Recognizes The Officials of
the Town of Trumbull’s Board of Education and the Members of the Citizens
Review and Advisory Committee.
From: Governor Rell
To: The
Officials of the Town of Trumbull’s Board of Education and the Members of the
Citizens Review and Advisory Committee
I would like to take this opportunity to commend all who
participated in Trumbull’s
Citizens Review and Advisory Committee with special recognition given to:
Stephen Wright, Chairperson, Trumbull Board of Education
Ralph Lassogna,
Superintendent of Schools and his staff
Joann Tyborowski,
Secretary and Liaison to the Citizens Review and Advisory Committee
As
property taxes continue to escalate, taxpayers are looking to their public
officials for greater accountability and transparency. They are also becoming involved in the
process through such vehicles as Citizens Review and Advisory Committees as
initiated by Dr. Armand Fusco, a retired educator and former Superintendent of
Schools.
The
purpose of the Citizens Review and Advisory Committee is to bring taxpayers and
public officials together to work in cooperation to enhance the policies and
procedures of a school district as they strengthen their Culture of
Accountability, Transparency and Participation for the purpose of maximizing
all school resources.
As Governor, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the
many hours dedicated to this successful project and unwavering commitment by
the Trumbull Board of Education, the school administration and the members of
the Citizen’s Review and Advisory Committee as they continue to work in the
best interest of the community and its students.
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CRITERIA NECESSARY TO OBTAIN RECOGNITION IN SCHOOL DISTRICT HONOR
ROLL HALL OF FAME IN THE GOLD CATEGORY
The Federation is very pleased to have Trumbull become the first school district in Connecticut to be placed
on its School District Honor Roll Hall of Fame in the Gold category.
What is commendable and noteworthy is that
these commendations have been earned in a relatively short time working
cooperatively with the Citizen’s Review and Advisory Committee; and, it is
expected that as the process continues, more commendations will be earned.
ACCOUNTABILITY (26 ITEMS):
Of a total possible score of 570, 280 points
have been earned representing 49% of the 26 items with 34% in full compliance,
15% in progress, 8% under review, and
43% no action as yet.
In full compliance (commendation awards)
1.
No Freedom of
Information requirements are necessary.
2.
No charges
for documents.
6.
Performance Auditing and Best
Practices Criteria are being used in the review and analysis process.
8.
There is a
policy limiting the amount of employee reimbursement expenses.
10. There is a policy allowing for early
graduation.
12. Comprehensive purchasing policies and procedures.
14. Programs and services are evaluated at least
every 3-5 years.
23. Audits conform to CPA Standard #99 and GASB
Standard #34.
26. Percent increase in proposed budget no
greater than cost of living increase.
TRANSPARENCY (14 ITEMS)
Of a total
possible score of 145, 95 have been earned representing 49% of the 14 items with 43% in full
compliance and 57% no action as yet.
In full compliance (commendation awards)
6. Superintendent’s and other administrator contracts.
7.
All union
contracts
10. Audits with recommendations and status of
recommendations
11. Current budget detail
12. Completed
prior year budget with details
13. Proposed budget
PARTICIPATION (9 ITEMS)
Of a total
possible score of 280, 245 have been earned representing 86% of the 9 items
with 78% in full compliance and 22% no action as yet.
In full
compliance (commendation awards)
1.
Active Citizen Review and Advisory Committee
2.
Internal
audit committee
3.
Full and
active participation of BOE and administration with CRAC
4.
Active BOE
liaison member to the CRAC
5.
Close and
active working relationship with PTA
7. Permitted public comments at BOE meetings
8. Adherence to CT Education Law Section
10-220 participation in setting goals