Morrisville Matters; a new school doesn't
Posted: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 6:00 am | Updated: 5:35 pm, Tue Nov 1, 2011.
I agree with one thing in the letter published on Oct. 25 from the Morrisville School Board President Bill Hellmann. Morrisville has a very important election this coming Nov. 8! That is where my similar views with Hellmann end.
For one thing, he keeps repeating that the candidates on the Morrisville Matters ticket, of which I am one, are for building a new school. No one, myself included, wants a new school. I believe the current board's time has come to an end. Providing a quality education to the children of this district, which I believe is the number one job of a school board member, is beyond the capabilities of this board.
The district did make AYP but several grades have double digit drops in their PSSA scores. This board bases its platform on PSSA scores and compares the 2009 to 2010 on their website. If that is their true platform, has anyone asked them why they are hiding from the 2011 numbers? The last of the classroom aides were laid off at the end of the last school year; imagine what your PSSA results will be this school year without additional support in the classroom.
Ted Parker
Morrisville
29 comments:
I'm glad that Ted Parker and Wanda Kartal, both of whom I didn't know at all until maybe 1 year or so ago, have reached similar conclusions about the [INSERT YOUR OWN NOT SO GOOD ADJECTIVES HERE] ways in which the Stay on Course board operates.
I'm glad it spurred them to run for School Board, along with Damon Miller and Dave Stoneburner, as an alternative to the Stay on Course mentality.
Stay on Course has helped immensely over several decades ...
to get Morrisville into many of the messes it's been in.
Attention: Morrisville Matters!
Where is your flyer?
You need to get the truth out to people's front doors, whether they are registered R or D, and regardless of whether they have a blue & gold or red sign.
The people you need to win over do not read this blog!
Never Fear anonymous above, you will be enlightened as well as others. Morrisville Matters never sleeps! Painting the town Blue and Gold in many ways! Keep your eyes and ears peeled
Here are the questions asked by BCCT for the 2011 Voter Guide which came out today
Questions
1. Morrisville School District and borough government officials realize that better working relations between the two are needed to improve the community. If elected, how would you improve the relationship, beyond just meeting to discuss issues?
2. In this sluggish economy, the Morrisville School District managed to not increase taxes this year, following suit from recent years. Is it ...possible to provide an enriched educational experience to Morrisville kids on a tight budget? Please explain your answer.
5 seats — 4 years
Here are the candidate answers from Morrisville Matters>
Wanda Kartal
Party: Democratic
Age: 46
Education: AA, Bucks County Community College; certification in human resources, Villanova University
Job: Human resource manager/nurse recruiter
Website: morrisvillematters.com
Answers
1. The current board refuses to work with council. When opportunities are ignored for group purchasing discounts and free services from state organizations, you lose money for your school. Our candidates have already formed relationships with borough leaders and our combined goals include regular meetings with public input, creativity and respect.
2. We all run tight households financially. Our opponents have proven they are terrible at balancing education with programs intact. Our team consists of creative thinkers, managers and parents who are already engaging the community for volunteer programs, mentorships, pursuing safety programs and fundraising options this board failed to go after.
Ted Parker
Party: This Republican is running as a Democrat because he won the Democratic primary.
Age: 45
...
Education: Wagner High School, Staten Island, N.Y.; attended New York City Technical College
Job: Emergency vehicle technician/EMT in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Website: morrisvillematters.com
Answers
1. This board has a long history of not being able to work with council due to politics or personal differences. Unfortunately they are missing out on many programs simply because they cannot and will not OK a joint agreement and process that would benefit the kids of this district.
2. I believe it’s possible and a must for our borough, but it cannot be done with cuts only. All the easy cuts have been done, now it’s going to take imagination and the ability to think outside the box, which is something I believe the current board lacks.
Damon Miller
Party: Democratic
Age: 45
...
Education: BS, communications, State University of New York at Fredonia
Job: Freelance videographer/business owner
Website: morrisvillematters.com
Answers
1. Currently there are issues that both parties need to work on together, but our opponents’ actions speak louder than words. Walking out of joint meetings because they’ve “had enough” doesn’t solve the problems. Through regular meetings, exchanging ideas, discussion, compromise and follow-up, real progress can occur and not just talk.
2. Yes. It’s a matter of where you focus your money. The focus should be on education. This board has removed classroom aides but keeps a communications director on payroll. Remove unneeded personnel and put that money, along with grants, toward education. It can be done without dipping into taxpayer’s pockets.
David Stoneburner
Party: This Republican is running as a Democrat because he won the Democratic primary.
Age: 52
...
Education: Willow Brook High School, Chicago; two years of college
Job: Truck driver, Federal Express
Website: morrisvillematters.com
Answers
1. We should create a formal joint council to address our mutual concerns. So far, this school board has proven incapable of working with borough council to solve any of the continuing issues, such as traffic safety. Issues have lingered for years with no progress. The voters must change this.
2. An enriched education starts with the parents of the school children, in all grades. The parents must be as involved in the educational process as possible. It is the responsibility of the school district to facilitate that, through communication and diverse educational opportunities.
Thanks. I also read the SOC replies. My main thoughts were that Al Radosti didn't write that himself, and that their words ring so false and phony and overlook lots of transgressions that didn't have to happen.
Take the MOEF stuff, for example. Mihok doesn't even make most of the meetings, yet she's the Georgina Washington of MOEF? I've contributed money to MOEF through Giant Card purchases. Mihok wants to spend it on flowers and a basketball court to replace the donated one she and her board buds tore down with no public input.
MOEF should be a good thing, but it's a dysfunctional organization because of wedge-driving no shows like Mihok. All you need is one part-time meddling obstructionist like her to monkey wrench a good concept.
Surprise! Steve Worob does not see problems in working relations between school board and Boro council. Never does when he and his buddies are the cause of the problems.
Yvonne Ruthrauff has not been made aware of any problem. Does she just sit around waiting for somebody to make her aware of things???
Help!!! Morrisville needs better representatives than this!!!
ignore the trash talk - focus on the real glaringly obvious problems and issues associated with Stay on Coarse
sources say Jane Burger leaked them info to write before questions were known to other candidates
All hail Jane Burger, the Power Broker, the Robert Moses of Morrisville. Minus the accomplishments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moses
Ouch! The Power Broker. That's one thick book (about Robert Moses). It's a great read, though.
Bottom line --- SOC words ring hollow to anyone who hasn't slurped down the Kool-Aid.
Great News regarding the Morrisville Opportunity Educational Foundation (MOEF). We just got word from Waste Management that we will be receivng $5,000. These funds are designated for use in MOEF's innovative educational programs that have been approved by the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
Darletta Berry-Johnson, Jane Berger, and myself have been overseeing the appllication and funding processes for this funding. We are extremely happy to hear that we have an additional $5,000 to use toward our programs.
Just goes to show you that good things can happen when people work together.
That's great!!!
You didn't mention MOEF Founding ??? Marlys Mihok.
I assume that was because she had nothing to do with it.
Mihok's participation in MOEF is at pathetic levels.
When she's out of the mix things improve.
I'm afraid that won't stop her from shameless credit grubbing.
Well there's an accomplishment Jane Burger was part of.
Burger has ability, it's a shame all the negatives come along with her, the meddling, the control issues, the much less capable and downright incompetent people she attracts into her sphere of power.
"Well there's an accomplishment Jane Burger was part of.
Burger has ability, it's a shame all the negatives come along with her, the meddling, the control issues, the much less capable and downright incompetent people she attracts into her sphere of power."
I don't at all see where this was Jane's baby. There is a waste management person on the MOEF board. This is the person who really made this happen. As for Jane, I cannot believe anyone would put her in charge of anything at this point to help her write her resume, knowing that her obvious plan is to get her most recent puppets (Debbie Smith and Graeme Thomson) onto council to begin her come-back. Don't believe this. There is absolutely no other reason why Jane's Rep Club in town would back a Dem.
To the comment above I would like to include outright lies told by Burger. Its her most recent desperate tactic. At least her outright lies are better than her rambling through lies to the point of boring everyone into not even knowing what she is talking about.
As you can tell, I'm no fan and no amount of smoke screens or plotting in advance will make me one.
WOW, I really cannot understand why Gayle would give credit to anything Burger does this close to election time. Giving Burger credit right now is basically giving Gayle's own people the kiss of death. It's like telling people that Burger and her group of puppets are okay. This is so obvious I cannot believe I am saying it on here. Comments like this validate the little lies, secrets and spins Burger has been whispering in the ears of anyone in town who would listen for the past couple of months. I understand that Gayle may want to give credit to Burger even though I agree with above, that its merely a tactic, I certainly would have saved this a couple of days until Election Day is over.
I would like to offer that this grant may have actually been worked out through a private conversation by the person on MOEF who works for WM before the grant process even started and Jane is no dummy and saw the value of pinning her name to it.
I really like Gayle. I know that Gayle's heart is in the right place and it is not my intention to offend her by what I have said. People have to know by now that more than the obvious that goes on in this town is political sadly. People like Burger are not doing what they do for the town, they have other motives.
Its great that MOEF got another five grand.
Let's not get too excited. I think Gayle, because she's a nice and gracious person, was just identifying some people on the MOEF board who actually did stuff on the funding application, as opposed to Marlys Mihok, who obstructs and prevents people from doing stuff.
Everybody with a functioning brain knows Burger is a meddling powergrubber. I live in the 3rd Ward, and I'm glad she's not a 3rd Ward councilperson any more. I'm glad her appointed flier stealing 3rd Ward ally Ed Bailey was defeated by Rhonda Davis 2 years ago.
Rhonda Davis has my household's 2 votes for council again on Nov. 8. I don't know Debbie Smith, but if she's affiliated with Burger that's a big strike against her for me. By my own observations, just about everyone affiliated with Burger turns me off -- too many lies, too few facts, too much hypocrisy, very little in the way of moving forward in a positive manner.
Who is the WM person on MOEF, just curious?
Here's a link to the District Website's MOEF page. It shows the MOEF members, but I don't know how accurate or up to date it is because it still shows Dr. Beth Yonson as a Board member.
I don't know who the WM person is. I also don't think MOEF "President" Mark Coassolo is participating worth Jack Squat either lately.
http://www.mv.org/foundation.cfm?subpage=948658
all hat and no cattle
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
Alternative forms: big hat, no cattle
(US, idiomatic) Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious. [quotations ▼]
1980, Patricia Calvert, The Snowbird, Scribner, ISBN 0684167190, page 29,
A fortune can be made on the prairie, and that's what me and Mr. B aim to do. Don't aim to be all hat and no cattle forever, let me tell you!
±1982, Paul W. Cronin, quoted in Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein (Eds.), The American Elections of 1982, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (1983), ISBN 0844735310, page 82,
They provided a lot of talk, what Texans refer to as “all hat and no cattle.”
1985, Regis MacKenna, The Regis Touch: Million-Dollar Advice from America’s Top Marketing Consultant, Addison-Wesley Longman, Incorporated, ISBN 0201139812, page 27,
There’s an old Texas saying about a cowboy who was “all hat and no cattle.” That is, he was all show and no substance.
1999, Randy Newman, "Big Hat, No Cattle", from the album Bad Love, ASIN B00000J7R4, Uses variation of idiom in refrain:
"Big Hat, no cattle / Big head, no brain / Big snake, no rattle".
2001, Janis L. Edwards, "Running in the Shadows in Campaign 2000: Candidate Metaphors in Editorial Cartoons", in American Behavioral Scientist, Volume 44 Issue 12, page 2142,
We expect a leader to be effective in his job, not just a public relations artist who is "all hat and no cattle."
2007, John Saul, "Freewheeling", in Call It Tender, Salt Publishing, ISBN 1844713229, page 31,
She slapped my backside. Yew ol’ cowpoke.
I’m a cowpoke?
Yew certainly are. All hat and no cattle.
[edit] Synonymsall bark and no bite, all bluff and bluster, all booster, no payload, all crown, no filling, all foam, no beer, all ham, no let, all hammer, no nail, all icing, no cake, all lime and salt, no tequila, all mouth and no trousers, all mouth and trousers, all shot, no powder, all sizzle and no steak, all talk, all talk and no action, all wax and no wick
Isn't Jane Burger the current president of the MOEF?
Yes, according to this recent Morrisville Times article, it looks like you're right that Jane Burger is now MOEF President. I guess Mark Coassolo is off the cattle ranch (I'm trying to pull in the anonymous "all hat no cattle" post). Pat Wandling is in MOEF too?
MOEF gives back
October 4, 2011 By katie
The Morrisville Opportunity Educational Foundation (MOEF) is a volunteer group with a single mission – to enhance the Morrisville School District’s curriculum and extra-curricular activities with selected enrichment programs.
This organization was incorporated in 2009 by a group of community and business leaders who sought to have a positive impact on Morrisville students. However, MOEF’s effectiveness relies on the ongoing commitment of the community to the growth of our students. Donations from business, community groups and individuals and a state educational improvement grant have funded many educational and cultural opportunities in the past.
Volunteer members of the MOEF board are: Jane Burger, president; Patricia Wandling, vice president; Gayle Haug, treasurer; Geri Rush, secretary, and William J. Ferrara, Paul deAngelo, Marlys Mihok, Karen McDonald and Kevin Jones.
Anyone interested in learning more about MOEF and how you may be a part of this, can contact the group through the office of Morrisville School Superintendent William J. Ferrara at 215.736.2681.
Can you say "Career Politicians"???
Can you say "Old Self-Serving Guard"???
Jane Burger is a MO F
for sure
Due to more sign stealing that occurred last night on Pennsylvania and Bridge street, we felt it was important to alert SOC
Dear SOC: Your Supporter 'friends'/'relatives' were caught stealing our signs again last night as they snuck behind the backs of those that were putting them out. They got caught, they were Warned!
This kind of behavior should not be tolerated from either side and the Authorities have been alerted.
As you remember, this happened during the primary when another SOC supporter was caught doing the same.
We appreciate your sharing this with your camp so the campaign continues to stay clean and honest as we have followed all along the Morrisville Matters Election Route.
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