Not rehiring 8 retired teacher positions this year, but continuing to pay Don Harm to do what again? But the kids are first in this district. Enrollment up. Faculty down. Administration up. Buildings down. Makes sense.
If a Morrisville teacher at the top made $97,600 this past year, isn't that enough? How many Morrisville taxpayers made that salary last year? What wonderful improvements can we expect in student performance and test scores next school year?
We need a principal at each school and we need a district superintendent. Both of those positions have specific requirements for certified individuals that cost money. It's a cost of doing business as a school district.
Focus on the Wandling payments if they are still continuing. Focus on the stuff you can fix and change.
I thought Hellman was setting things of for Ferrara to be the Super. and Principal at the same time. To reduce the number of Administrators. It seems like Ferrara could run the District/ HS but its the Lower grades where they need more Administration.
We need a COMPETENT principal at each school and a COMPETENT superintendent as well. That does cost money. Too bad for the kids and the rest of the people in Morrisville that only a few realize the imptortance of this to our town.
24-year-old Morrisville EMT dies from apparent heart attack
Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 3:00 pm | Updated: 9:04 pm, Mon Jun 18, 2012. By James McGinnis Staff writer | 0 comments Posted on June 18, 2012 by James McGinnis A 24-year-old with the Morrisville Ambulance Squad died early Monday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack while on duty, officials said. EMT Kevin Maffettone was found unconscious at 7:20 a.m. Monday inside the squad headquarters on Washington Street in the borough, according to the squad. Maffettone was a recent graduate of his EMT class and just beginning his career in emergency medical services, colleagues said. He also volunteered with Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad. "We're really not in a position right now to speak about this," said Roxie Rookstool, operations supervisor. "We've never had anything like this ever happen before. It's just unbelievable. He was such a young man." Maffettone is the second ambulance worker from Bucks County to die from a heart attack in just two years. EMT Danny McIntosh of Bensalem Rescue Squad suffered a heart attack in 2010 after chasing down a mentally unstable man who fled medical treatment. Since 1993, America has lost 601 rescue workers in the line of duty, according to the National EMS Memorial Service. Of those, 103, or nearly 20 percent, suffered a cardiac arrest on the job, according to the organization.
The teachers suck, they are overpaid, they don't work in the summer, etc...yadda yadda yadda. Same old rhetoric. Sad and unfortunate, but yet another shining example of how little importance is placed on the education of children. SOC will have us in Neshaminy's situation before you know it. Cram all students in 1 under maintained building bc the benefits of a 4-18 yr old student schoolhouse are outstanding. Cut programs and athletics, jack up class sizes, don't raise taxes for 5-6 years while costs go up, slash a budget by millions, and continue to focus on personal school board tiny town vendettas. Now that's how communities grow and thrive. No wonder even SB members can't move out of here fast enough.
I fail to see how Wandling can continue on the payroll with all the cuts that have happened and continue to happen and a large budget deficit. I support bringing it up for a vote and seeing how the votes fall. It would be a good indicator of who's interested in saving money in tough times and who's interested in pay to play politics.
I'm supposed to admire Mitt Romney's > $100M vulture capitalist success and denigrate a teacher b/c they make 50, 60, 90k? It's class warfare if I don't? Got it.
Budget deficit? Hardly. That's a convenient accounting ploy to fleece the community into thinking they are broke. Keeps the SOC elected. More like a surplus. That would've been higher had somebody smarter than Profy read the Manor Park lease contract.
What's this about a 60K/yr facilities person? That's outrageously ridiculous. To oversee what? Two vacant buildings, one in ruins, the 3-12 and the k-3? Who's slated for that job, Al Radosti? Eff that.
When are the S.B. agenda and business mtgs. Agenda is tomorrow (wed, 6/20) and business is Wed. 6/27? They're not on the wsebsite calendar. Doesn't the FINAL budget have to be voted on by June 30???
BRISTOL TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS Superintendent: Transportation plan to save $2 million
Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:15 am | Updated: 11:47 am, Tue Jun 19, 2012.
By DANNY ADLER Staff writer | 1 comment
Posted on June 19, 2012
by Daniel Adler
Bristol Township School District expects $2 million in savings through major changes to how it buses children after the school board approved a recent transportation proposal on Monday, the top administrator said.
Also on Monday, the school board postponed voting on a more than $120 million final budget until near the end of the month.
School board members Earl Bruck, Frederick Black, Katherine Bachman, James Baker Jr., Stacy Gerlach, Patricia Koszarek, Constance Moore and Angela Nober on Monday approved a proposal that was presented to the school board in May by Transportation Supervisor Marianne Cleary. School board member Helen Cini was absent from Monday’s meeting. There was no discussion on the vote.
Bristol Township School District does not have its own buses. The primary provider of busing is Ohio-based First Student Inc.
The transportation plan approved on Monday includes consolidating bus stops; using the elementary schools as bus stops for middle-school and high-school students; eliminating some late buses for after-school events; and mixing public and private school students on some buses, among other things.
Following the meeting, Superintendent Samuel Lee told the newspaper the plan will save the district $2 million as the district seeks ways to eliminate a multimillion-dollar deficit from its 2012-13 budget.
The school board was also scheduled to vote at Monday's meeting on next year’s final spending plan, which under state law must be approved by the end of the month, but the school board tabled the issue until a meeting at 6 p.m. June 28 as officials continue to make adjustments to close the deficit. Also tabled until that meeting were the personnel items before the board.
Administrators have said the school district will use $4 million in reserves to help fill the budget gap. In May, the district announced it would furlough 11 teachers and not fill four positions being lost to retirements, a move projected to save $1.1 million. Also, Bristol Township’s participation in a health care consortium is expected to save the district more than $2 million next school year, according to officials.
At the beginning of budget season, the district faced a $12 million deficit. That budget gap is down to about $3.5 million as of Monday, Lee said.
The school board will hold a budget meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Under Act 1 this year, Bristol Township’s school board is allowed to raise school property taxes for 2012-13 by 2.1 percent, or 3.955 mills. If the board does that, school taxes would go up $71 for the owner of a property with the average assessment of $17,994. Such a tax increase would generate $1.47 million in revenue. With a current millage rate of 188.3 mills, that average property owner paid $3,388 in school property taxes this year.
Also on Monday, the school board voted 8-0 to authorize the administration “to perform studies and evaluations to determine staffing, building and budget needs.”
Paper: Report alleges liquor officials, including Conti, took gifts
Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 4:58 pm Associated Press | 2 comments HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A newspaper says state inspectors have concluded that three top officials at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control board, including former Bucks County Senator Joe Conti, accepted gifts and favors from vendors and other businesses. The Philadelphia Inquirer said it had obtained a confidential report that the state Inspector General's office submitted to the governor's office in late March. A spokesman told the paper that the matter had been referred to the state Ethics Commission. The report said chief executive officer Joe Conti, board member Patrick Stapleton III and marketing director James Short accepted gifts and favors such as wine and tickets to sporting events and golf tournaments. The Inquirer said Conti, Stapleton, and Short declined to be interviewed through a liquor board spokeswoman who said officials hadn't been given such a report or notified of any formal investigation.
LOL. Republicans have been doing this for years. http://bloggingblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Screen-Shot-2012-01-06-at-Jan-6-2012-9.31.44-PM.png
Mihok's already been fired. Again. She's been fired before. She takes defeat very very badly, with lots and lots and lots of the sourest grapes of wrath that would make John Steinbeck crap a book on how to puke on Tom Joad and his entire family
Monica Yant Kinney: In Pennsylvania, liquor regulators drunk with arrogance Monica Yant Kinney, Inquirer Columnist
Joe Conti is CEO of the Liquor Control Board.
Report: LCB execs took gifts
Privatization efforts on hold
Baer: Not shocked about reports of misdeeds
Only in Pennsylvania would an effort to privatize an archaic state-run liquor system dry up the same week public officials got caught accepting gifts from vendors and using wine as a weapon.
Lording over who gets to buy Yuengling when, where, and in what quantity has been a nonstop party for political heavyweights. Underage drinkers plan their beer bashes via text messages, but officials at the Liquor Control Board are so drunk with power, they use state e-mail servers.
Thanks to the Inspector General's Office, we now know that VIPs at the PLCB go to Phillies and Union games for free.
As revealed by my colleague Angela Couloumbis, liquor peddlers happily comped wine and spirits for shindigs hosted by PLCB member Patrick J. Stapleton. One vendor even offered up the services of Zahav chef Michael Solomonov to impress Stapleton.
In one of the more flagrant acts of arrogance, PLCB chief Joe Conti decided it wasn't enough to get his daughter hired at a State Store. He took nepotism to a new level by assigning an administrator to aid her job search.
Then, in January, Conti - who earns $156,000 a year to regulate beer - propositioned restaurateur Stephen Starr to hire his little girl.
"Team PLCB," Conti wrote in an e-mail, would love to "partner" with Starr in opening a wine boutique.
"Thank you," the official added, for considering the plea "from a proud father" of a gal with "great hospitality potential."
A little privacy, please
PLCB members are appointed by the governor, but the agency operates independently. Autonomy led to complacency and audacity. If these liquor lords answer to no one, what's to stop them from using commonwealth e-mail servers to arrange the gifts they felt so entitled to receive?
It's worth pausing to shudder that Harrisburg remains so clueless about the need to separate public business and political enrichment in the aftermath of Bonusgate and Computergate, the scandals and trials that led disgraced former House Speakers John Perzel and Bill DeWeese to share a prison cell.
Have those who run this state learned nothing about relegating greed to their home networks? Surely these guys can afford a second BlackBerry. After all, Gmail is free.
A hot syncing mess
Stapleton may have felt efficient after syncing his law firm e-mail with his @pa.gov account to coordinate board meetings, party planning, and golf invites from connected companies. But wouldn't a lawyer know that using the commonwealth portal to corral electronic missives would expose him to the state Ethics Act and the PLCB Code of Conduct?
The liquor agency rules are as clear as vodka about the pain to be inflicted for using the public job for personal gain:
Mandatory termination and possible criminal prosecution.
Turns out, it was Stapleton himself who inspired a whistle-blower to go to the inspector general in 2011 after the PLCB chairman chose "not to address" recommendations from an internal investigation into another employee's misdeeds.
Stapleton must have known that to oust an underling for soliciting and accepting gifts could lead to exposing himself for more egregious transgressions. If the booze boss followed the rules, he would have had to fire himself, too.
I don't know if anyone else posted this previously. I saw it and thought I would put it on here.
School Districts Brace for Budget
Written by Angela Vertucci, Contributing Writer from PoliticsPA.com
Public schools are now facing tough decisions about what to cut (or, hopefully, just cut back) with their budget deadline looming.
School may be out for the summer, but education is at the center of public debate.
Working under the pressure imposed by million-dollar deficits, school boards across the state are voting on measures to cut costs and square away their budgets before the fall.
The losses will be painful, and the headlines are telling.
This is what’s going on in education news:
“Even with proposed cuts, Harrisburg School District still faces $6.6 million fiscal deficit,” reads The Patriot-News.
“Gov. Mifflin teachers contract calls for pay raise, freeze,” said the Reading Eagle.
“In Luzerne County, Lake Lehman School District passes fiscal plan with tax hike,” reported The Times Leader.
On Tuesday alone, it was reported that 12 school boards approved tax increases to help supplement tight budgets, since school districts are required to pass balanced budgets.
To the dismay of school board officials, however, tax hikes will not be enough.
Many districts have pushed through salary freezes and requested administrators accept deep pay cuts. While school districts are prohibited by state law from furloughing employees due to funding issues, some have been able to use declining enrollment, shrinking programs and school closing, consolidation or district reorganization as justifications for reducing employees.
Sometimes the realities go hand in hand. There isn’t enough money to fund programs or keep schools open, so buildings shut down and staff is cut, resulting in the elimination of special programs not deemed fundamental to education.
But extracurricular activities are not alone on the chopping block. School boards around the state are voting on a range of cost-cutting measures to compensate for budget deficits.
Transportation may also be among the casualties of the crisis. The Bucks County Courier Times, for instance, reported that the Bristol Township School District expects to save $2 million through major changes to transportation which were approved in a proposal Monday.
The plan includes “consolidating bus stops; using the elementary schools as bus stops for middle-school and high-school students; eliminating some late buses for after-school events; and mixing public and private school students on some buses, among other things.”
The difficult cuts are not going uncontested.
A protest on the streets of Pittsburgh at the end of May marked the beginning of what is quickly shaping into a tumultuous summer of controversial policymaking and tough decisions. Hundreds of people set out to protest Gov. Corbett’s proposed cuts to public education funding.
Monday, WTAE Pittsburgh reported that parents and students in Monroeville showed up to the Gateway school board meeting to protest the districts elimination of the junior high sports program. The cut is necessary if the district is to face a $500,000 budget deficit.
School Board President Dave Magill said that the move is unavoidable given Corbett’s cuts to the education budget.
Corbett has suffered big losses to his approval rating since last year – mainly due to his handling of the state budget.
Last month he spoke at a Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry dinner and emphasized that the schools are getting less money because federal stimulus money ran out.
“That money was put into the budget. It was put into education. The money disappeared. The federal government said it was one-time money, and for the first time when they said it was one-time money they meant it,” he said.
Corbett added that in order to avoid cuts last year, an average family’s taxes would have gone up by $920, and $300 more would be needed to avoid cuts now.
Remember Mihok publicly caught in a lie about Superintendent Yonson? How respectful was that? The difference is that THEY were the ones being disrespectful. Rule #1: when they do it, it's OK.
In 2007, they (SOC, SOT, STS) won School Board seats with 80% of the vote. By 2009, it was down to 52%. By 2011, they lost, despite cutting taxes. Think about that. Why did they lose? If they were truly honest with themselves, they would acknowledge that a major reason is that there's something deeply offensive about the way they behave and govern that turns people off, and when enough people become aware of it, the polls reflect it.
Ted Parker had some anger and emotion, but what he said last night about Superintendent Ferrara's smoke blowing and flip flopping is exactly what many people have personally experienced. If it makes Ferrara think twice about it, good.
"SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU!" (to ailing Board Member Ed Frankenfield at his last School Board meeting, which he left in an ambulance; he never recovered and died in the hospital 2 months later. He was being admonished over a vote)."
Stupid, petty, hypocritical bullcrap from the usual suspects aside, I liked a lot of what both Wanda Kartal and Alina Marone asked about, and had to say, on a range of topics, but in particular:
1. Concern over the high likelihood of the 3rd Grade modifications not being ready in time for the start of school, despite earlier pledges that they would be (and even earlier pledges.
2. Concern over the loss of 45 minutes from the Kindergarten day this past year, and the largely broken promise of the kids still receiving all specials, particularly phys. ed. and library;
3. Stressing the importance of art, music, phys. ed., library, etc. at the elementary level, and opposition to a continued watering down or elimination of early education curriculum.
In regards to the woodshop teacher...my son told me that one of his 7th grade teachers told him the woodshop teacher will be teaching advanced 8th grade science as at least one of his classes next year. Dunno about 6th grade math though...must be one talented teacher...math, science, woodshop....
Don't dare criticize the exalted Superintendent. That would be disrespectful. What a load of horses**t.
If the guy's BS'd call him on it. You don't have to and shouldn't drag his a** all over town, but you certainly can and should call him on it. With facts. Cold hard facts.
The Superintendent works for US, all of US. The people of Morrisville.
On the one hard, Ferrara has flip-flopped. On the other hand, sometimes flip-flopping is the result of a dynamically evolving situation that requires shifting sands of opinion and action. On the other hand, sometimes it's an annoying manipulative trait of telling whoever you're talking to what they want to hear. On the other hand, sometimes the things you've told people that they want to hear happen. On the other hand, sometimes the things you've told people that they want to hear don't happen. On the other hand ............................................AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
On the one hard, Ferrara has flip-flopped. On the other hand, sometimes flip-flopping is the result of a dynamically evolving situation that requires shifting sands of opinion and action. On the other hand, sometimes it's an annoying manipulative trait of telling whoever you're talking to what they want to hear. On the other hand, sometimes the things you've told people that they want to hear happen. On the other hand, sometimes the things you've told people that they want to hear don't happen. On the other hand ............................................AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Sorry, but I'm cutting you back from 3 repeats to 1.
Remember on the Brady Bunch when Cousin Oliver comes to live with the Bradys and winds up causing problems and the family turns against him until ... Oliver is the 1,000,000th paying customer when they visit a movie studio, and they all win the prize of appearing in a 1920s-style comedy movie as extras?
Well, I'm planning to offer a prize to the person with the 1,000,000th post, and I don't want all 4 of yours to count towards the total.
This post is #4,112, so hang in there, we've still got a ways to go. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
this board needs to keep calling people out up there and challenging the admin. respect but lets make sure they are saying it like it should be and doing what they say. i can see so far the new members have individual minds and are not afraid to challenge and ask questions and take a chance in looking outside that darn box. keep fighting new members its uphill but boy you are making movement and keeping it honest which is more we can say for the last 4 years or more
Hear hear! There is a credibility gap with Ferrara. This is not news. Combine with Lie-hok, Worob and Stout, Buckman and a wishy washy biased John deWilde and you've got thick seams of B.S. to blast through. Get some Zen-like calm, and keep challenging and asking the tough questions. It requires diligence and strength to counter pathological lies and political bias. I wish you diligence and strength.
Former Morrisville pitching standout to appear on Discovery's 'Final Offer' Story Comments ShareShare Print Create a hardcopy of this page Font Size: Default font size Larger font size Posted: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:45 pm By PETER CHAWAGA Staff Writer | 0 comments Twenty-six years ago, Morrisville High School senior Robert Fletcher was featured in the Courier Times for pitching a seven-inning no-hitter with 21 strikeouts. The standout athlete is making headlines again, this time thanks to a peculiar collection.
Fletcher, 43, will be featured on The Discovery Channel's new reality series "Final Offer," a bidding show in which four dealers compete to buy contestants' rare and valuable items. Fletcher's treasure? A sheet of "Star Wars" collectible cards, pulled from the production line before they were cut and individually packed for retail sale. He acquired the cards in 1977 from a fellow Holy Trinity third-grader. "I got it from one of my classmates," Fletcher says. "He knew I liked cards and his dad worked in the factory." After high school, Fletcher played in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system before settling in Montana in 1990. He has combined his love for athletics and mementos by opening Fletch Cards & Collectibles on the grounds of Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont. The store specializes in sports memorabilia. The episode will premiere on the Discovery Channel at 10 p.m. Thursday and will be shown again two hours later at midnight.
In Morrisville, Billings Under Scrutiny A School Committee Finds Nothing Illegal With The Work Of R.j. Davey & Co. But Calls It ``opportunist.'' February 11, 1999|By Lewis Kamb, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
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MORRISVILLE — Responding to allegations of irregular billing by a firm the school district hired last year, a special committee of the Morrisville school board said last night it had found no evidence of ``illegal activity'' or ``malice.''
But the committee said that the company was ``opportunist'' and that the business practices of the district ``have been sloppy.''
The committee recommended that the board review the way it handles work contracts and how it tracks work being done, and that the board consider hiring an independent certified public accountant to audit the district's finances.
The board had not acted on the recommendations by 10 p.m.
In December, the school board formed a three-member committee to investigate questions raised by one board member about the business practices of R.J. Davey & Co. of Chadds Ford, district Superintendent John Gould and possibly others.
Board member Stephen Worob conducted his own investigation for three months and said he concluded that R.J. Davey & Co., which was the district's former business manager and now its technology consultant, may have billed the district for work it never did, double-billed for other jobs and ``piecemealed'' some billing to stay under the $10,000 cap that requires competitive bidding for such work.
Robert J. Davey, cofounder of R.J. Davey & Co., declined comment yesterday. But an attorney for the company, J. Scott Maxwell, has called Worob's allegations ``slanderous.'' Maxwell has informed district Solicitor William Thomson that he intended to file a complaint against Worob and possibly others for damaging the company's reputation.
Gould also has denied Worob's allegations and said he has done nothing illegal or wrong.
While the board's committee investigated the matter, the full board unanimously voted last month to suspend its $6,000 monthly payment to R.J. Davey. The firm has since informed the district that it would not continue its work until it is paid, Thomson said.
Some board members have publicly denounced Worob for the way he has handled his investigation, saying that he broke an agreement among board members not to publicly discuss the matter until the committee completed its inquiry.
Worob, who has since taken his concerns to the attention of the Bucks County district attorney and the state auditor general and attorney general, denies that he ever agreed to keep quiet.
Worob began his inquiry after noticing at a meeting in late October that his comments opposing a technology contract with R.J. Davey had been excluded from school board minutes. The district hired the firm as technology consultant in August, shortly after it fired the firm as business manager.
Allegations On Billing Of Firm To Be Addressed A Morrisville School Board Member Raised Questions Concerning Consultant Rj Davey & Co. A Special Meeting Is Set For Wednesday. February 07, 1999|By Lewis Kamb, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
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MORRISVILLE — At a special school board meeting set for Wednesday, a three-member committee of the board will address allegations of irregularities in billing by a consulting firm the district hired last year.
In November, school board member Stephen Worob started his own investigation into the district's contracts with RJ Davey & Co., the district's former business manager and now its technology consultant. He also brought his concerns to the attention of the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, which has assigned a detective to look into the matter.
In December, the board formed a three-member committee, which does not include Worob, to study the matter.
Since Worob began his inquiry, Morrisville school board meetings at times have disintegrated into shouting matches between board members and personal attacks, as administrators, board members and residents attempt to sort through the questions that Worob has raised. Last month, the school board suspended its $6,000-a-month payments to RJ Davey until the committee completed its work.
Worob said last week that he believed the company may have billed the district for work it never did, double-billed for other jobs, and ``piecemealed'' some billing to stay under the $10,000 cap that requires competitive bidding for such work.
He said he based those assertions on a review of district records and on interviews with school district employees.
Ron Davey, cofounder of RJ Davey, did not return telephone calls last week. The company's lawyers at the Lansdale firm of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin could not be reached for comment.
But one of the lawyers, J. Scott Maxwell, in a letter to the school district, called Worob's assertions ``slanderous.'' In the Jan. 28 letter to school board solicitor William Thomson, he said the company was considering filing suit.
Worob contends that Superintendent John Gould - and possibly other district administrators - authorized work and payments for RJ Davey without the board's consent.
Gould has adamantly denied any wrongdoing. In an interview last week, he declined to specifically address Worob's assertions and said he would publicly respond to each at the meeting on Wednesday.
``All of the allegations will be answered,'' Gould said. ``And as far as I know, nothing illegal has occurred."
Posted: Thursday, June 21, 2012 12:00 am | Updated: 6:40 am, Thu Jun 21, 2012. By Christian Menno Staff writer | 8 comments Posted on June 21, 2012 by Christian Menno NESHAMINY SCHOOLS — The Neshaminy school board was unable to agree on contract terms with Willam Gretzula, the frontrunner to fill the district’s soon-to-be-vacant superintendent position, so the search for the district's top leader will continue. Gretzula is employed by the Bensalem School District as supervisor of curriculum and instruction.
The selection committee will continue its search and interview other candidates, officials said Wednesday. They added that Neshaminy could enter the school year with an acting-superintendent in place if the position isn't filled in time.
Morrisville School Board Ends Investigation The Member Who Started It Objected. But Business Practices Were Found To Be ``sloppy'' Not Illegal.
March 25, 1999|By Lewis Kamb, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
MORRISVILLE — The school board took steps last night that it hoped would lead to the resolution of a bitter controversy resulting from one of its member's crusade to expose what he characterized as corruption between a district administrator and a firm contracted by the school district to do business and technology work.
Since board member Stephen Worob began investigating Superintendent John Gould and RJ Davey & Co. in early November, board meetings have disintegrated into shouting matches. Armed constables now are stationed at every meeting.
Last night, the board reviewed measures it hopes will remedy business practices that an investigating subcommittee called ``sloppy'' although not illegal. The board directed school personnel to research the committee's 10 recommendations.
Among those suggestions are that the district review its handling of contracts and payments, conduct an independent audit of its business office, and hire an in-house technology director.
Board President Kenneth Junkins also said the board's investigation officially was concluded.
Worob objected to the board's action last night.
``This whole thing has been glossed over,'' he said.
In November, Worob launched an investigation of RJ Davey & Co. of Chadds Ford, concluding that the company billed the district for work it never did, double-billed for other jobs and ``piecemealed'' some billings to stay below a $10,000 cap that requires competitive bidding.
Worob also said that Gould authorized work and payments to the firm without board consent. He reported his findings to the Bucks County district attorney, the Pennsylvania auditor general and the state attorney general.
Robert J. Davey, cofounder of RJ Davey & Co., has declined comment. J. Scott Maxwell, a lawyer for the company, has told the district that the firm intends to take legal action against Worob for damaging the company's reputation.
Gould has said he made ``mistakes'' by not getting board approval before issuing some payments to the firm. He has denied doing anything illegal or unethical and has called Worob's investigation an attempt to oust him as superintendent.
Worob said he had acted only to fulfill his obligations as an elected official.
Is there any question that Worob, Mihok et al have behaved orders of magnitude worse towards prior MSD Superintendents than anyone else in town possibly could?
It's an open and shut case.
They have absolutely zero grounds to lecture anyone on how to behave towards anyone.
True, but keep the posts coming. The entertainment value alone is worth it. It's like a twisted live theater performance that's been running for decades.
Morrisville Doesn't Shy Away From Active Schools Chief John Gould, Hired In The Wake Of Betsy Fineburg's Removal, Has Spirited Convictions About Education.
February 13, 1998|By Heather Moore, INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
MORRISVILLE — After their terrible relationship with the last superintendent, you might expect Morrisville school board members to hire someone who's not particularly demanding or opinionated - someone overwhelmingly easygoing, almost docile.
After all, many in this financially strapped Bucks County school district of 1,100 students wondered if it could get any worse when Superintendent Elizabeth ``Betsy'' Fineburg was asked to leave district premises last month by armed guards.
Docile, however, does not seem to describe John M. Gould. Recently hired as Morrisville's interim superintendent while Fineburg is on paid leave, Gould has strong opinions. Many of them.
Gould, who has been a project manager for Gov. Ridge's Link-to-Learn technology program and curriculum director at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit's Center for Systemic School Renewal, is anti-standardized testing and pro-technology.
He is also a strong backer of multi-age classrooms, which combine students who normally would be in several different grades.
``Kids naturally group that way,'' said Gould, 50, of Lancaster County. ``Their friends are [grouped] that way. Families are that way. Traditional grading is more of a management convenience.''
Gould has been on the job since Jan. 29 with an annual salary of $89,500. He said he was ``very interested'' in staying on as Morrisville's permanent superintendent when Fineburg's contract expires June 30.
Gould said he was eager to begin discussions over educational issues. But before he can ``extend the curriculum into the home'' with modern technology, his first priority is hiring a district business administrator and director for special education/psychologist.
Gould's spirited convictions do not mean he is hard to get along with, said Michael Woodall, superintendent of the Norristown Area School District in Montgomery County.
``I think people will find him a very pleasant individual, a very ethical person,'' said Woodall, for whom Gould served as assistant.
Gould started a program that groups second, third and fourth graders in the same classroom at Norristown's Whitehall Elementary, Woodall said.
Morrisville school board Vice President Ken Junkins said board members found Gould after talking to administrators in other districts: ``He's well-known. I like him a lot. I like his enthusiasm. He seems like he's going to communicate well with the board and other staff and administrators.''
The school district has not decided how or when it will begin a search for a permanent superintendent, Junkins said.
Fineburg, a 34-year veteran with the school district, was excused from her responsibilities Jan. 3 after months of bitter fighting with school board members.
The ousted superintendent has threatened to sue the district and has made allegations of micromanagement by school board members and their spouses, Sunshine Law violations, denial of due process and sexual discrimination.
School board members have denied all of Fineburg's allegations.
"Since board member Stephen Worob began investigating Superintendent John Gould and RJ Davey & Co. in early November, board meetings have disintegrated into shouting matches. Armed constables now are stationed at every meeting."
Morrisville Ousts Chief Of Schools Elizabeth Fineburg Has Served The School District For 33 Years.
September 26, 1997|By Chris Seper, INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
MORRISVILLE — Elizabeth Fineburg's 33-year career in the Morrisville School District ends in June.
Board members voted, 7-2, Wednesday night not to renew her contract.
The majority said it was time for a change - to end a relationship between a board and superintendent in which there was no trust and one side barely communicated with the other. Fineburg and her supporters, however, said her demise completed a power play by glory-hungry, meddling board members.
``Day-to-day petty issues driven by individual board members' agendas are forced on the administrative cabinet, encouraging some quality administrators to leave the district,'' Fineburg said in a prepared statement Wednesday night.
Board members Marvin Dupree and Tina Fitzpatrick voted to keep Fineburg, and Paul Bunting, Ken Junkins, Frank McCarthy, Ed Nelson, Paul Nestor, Ron Schomo and Steve Worob voted not to renew her contract. Th board also voted to advertise for a new superintendent.
Fineburg had two statements ready Wednesday night: an acceptance speech and another critical of the board. She said she was surprised by the vote but declined to say why.
School officials had said for weeks her contract was in jeopardy.
``I don't care what school district, school board or superintendent we're talking about, you need to have an element of trust between the board and superintendent,'' Bunting said.
Board member Nestor said it was ``time for change.'' He wanted to move the district in a new direction, but Fineburg wasn't ``leading us in new ways.''
Junkins said communication with the board and superintendent had broken down and reached a point where they were beyond repair.
Fineburg agreed communication had broken down, but she laid the problem at the board's feet. Information from her office to board members has increased ``400 percent over the last two year,'' she said.
Dupree claimed every board member except Worob who voted against keeping Fineburg did so for personal reasons. Nestor admits he blames Fineburg for his wife being released from the district in 1995, but says his problems with Fineburg are based on other issues. She was an elementary school aide and no reason was publicly given for her dismissal.
Schomo, Nelson and Junkins had also been singled out by former school officials as enemies of Fineburg. Dupree added McCarthy and Bunting to that list yesterday.
Dupree said the new majority's policies, including a new teacher contract and the releasing of Fineburg, will send taxes skyrocketing. Fineburg will be the fourth administrator to leave the district in a year. A new one will be hired for much more than Fineburg's $95,000 salary, he said.
Bunting said Wednesday's meeting was the ``saddest'' he ever sat in on. He said he liked Fineburg, but that he had to put that aside after weighing the ``pluses and minuses.''
The relationship between Fineburg and some board members was ``contentious'' but not unprofessional, Bunting said.
Fineburg, a Morrisville native, joined the district in 1965 as an elementary teacher and later became an assistant principal, head of pupil services, and assistant superintendent before taking the top job.
As an educator, she created the district's first physical education program and was the cofounder of the Morrisville Brain Trust, an organization that fueled academic programs and raised money through donations and grants.
SAT scores are at a 10-year high, and she says her technology program is better than any other district's in the county.
Fineburg needs one more year of work after June to retire without a financial penalty. She said she did not know whether she would seek a new position.
She also could reapply for her current job. She said she had not decided whether she would.
Morrisville Picks Superintendent, Abandons Plan To Shut A School
May 14, 1989|By Kimberly J. McLarin, Inquirer Staff Writer
It took only two weeks for the Morrisville School District to find a successor for Superintendent James McDowelle. Now it must find a replacement for the replacement.
The school board voted unanimously Wednesday to appoint Assistant Superintendent C. Van Cain to the district's top administrative post. Cain will replace McDowelle, who resigned last Month to take a position at Appalachian State University in North Carolina.
Earlier, the board accepted the resignation of high school principal Roberta Kimmelman, who was hired shortly after McDowelle. Also during the meeting, the board abandoned a plan to close one of its elementary schools.
Cain, 44, said his new position would be a great challenge.
"We face some very difficult issues," he said, "but I believe with everybody working together, we can deal with them."
Cain, who takes the position July 1, will receive an annual salary of $60,000. He became assistant superintendent and business manager last July after five years as principal and four years as assistant principal of the district's then combined junior-senior high school. Before that, he was a teacher and administrator at a school for emotionally disturbed children in Haverford.
Board president John Warenda Jr. said Cain was one of two candidates considered for the job. The other was Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Fineburg.
"This is tough duty," Warenda said of the Morrisville district, which is in the middle of a financial crisis and looking at a possible merger. "It's not so much leaving Morrisville, as it is being attracted to a better gig," he said, referring to the resignations of McDowelle and Kimmelman.
Although Kimmelman said she would remain in public education, she said her immediate plans were uncertain.
Kimmelman, who worked for 12 years in the Philadelphia school system, said she enjoyed her year in Morrisville and reached many of the goals she had set, such as creating a middle school and increasing parental involvement in school affairs.
But she said it would be hard for her to continue to function effectively in Morrisville.
"I don't do anything that I can't do optimally," she said.
When asked to elaborate, Kimmelman said: "Morrisville, as a community, tends to be very negative."
" We are a good school system," she said. "We are delivering a quality education, but until this community unites and makes the statement that we are good and believes that . . . well, I can't do that by myself."
In other business, the board rejected a proposal that would have closed Manor Park Elementary School to save money.
Officials projected that the district would gain about $130,000 over a two- year period by closing the school. The 160 students at Manor Park would have been sent to the district's other two elementary schools.
The board rejected the plan after parents objected.
The board tabled action on board member John Buckman's proposal to slash the proposed $8.4 million budget by 10 percent, to reduce a proposed 43-mill tax hike.
"Be serious," board member Roy Snare said in response to Buckman's proposal. "You want to provide an education here or don't you?"
The board decided to delay any budget trimming until after a public hearing Wednesday.
Resignation Lamented In Morrisville District Supporters Say The School Superintendent Was Forced Out. He Has Been Viewed As A Progressive Educator.
January 10, 1993|By Lisa L. Colangelo, INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
The resignation of Superintendent Cornelius Van Cain of the Morrisville School District during the district's holiday break surprised and saddened many people, and left staff and parents wondering whom the board would choose to lead the district.
According to a statement released by the district after a meeting Dec. 29, Cain resigned to pursue other educational interests. Board members and Cain refused to discuss the matter further. Cain's supporters have said he was pushed out of his job by the board majority.
"There has been a desire on the part of the current board to exclude him
from the system," said former Board President John Warenda.
Some former board members said the silence after the resignation underscored deteriorating relations between the board and Cain. The board recently shifted several of Cain's responsibilities, such as oversight of personnel and financial matters, to Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Fineburg.
At the same December meeting, Fineburg was named acting superintendent. District officials said they would advertise for applicants for the superintendent's post.
Morrisville resident Anne Leventer, who is active in a parents' group, said the board would have a hard time replacing Cain.
"He has held all the positions in the district, from business manager to superintendent," Leventer said. "How could you get someone more qualified?"
District staff members are reluctant to speak publicly about Cain's resignation but say privately that morale is low. Many fear for the district's educational program.
Parents, too, say they are concerned about the future of Morrisville's schools. Some said they were considering options - even moving out of the area so that their children could attend another school district.
Cain, 48, had worked in the Morrisville schools for the last 15 years and served as superintendent since 1989.He has been credited with keeping the small school system educationally progressive.
"I have really enjoyed these past 15 years," Cain said after his resignation. "I plan to examine other new and innovative programs and research new educational techniques."
In September, the district began a program called the immersion model. That plan, which Cain helped tailor to the district, fosters cooperative learning among classes.
Students take classes in longer blocks of time. Lessons in core subjects, such as math, science and history, are coordinated with English, reading and writing assignments.
"Educationally, we are really on the forefront," Leventer said, adding that she was concerned about the future of the program without Cain's leadership.
An agreement between Cain and the school board amounts to 1 1/2 years' pay and benefits. Cain, who still has 2 1/2 years left on his contract, made $76,000 last year.
Board members refused to discuss the settlement or calculate the cost to the district. The majority of the board members were elected on a platform advocating fiscal responsibility and were successful in their pledge to not raise school taxes last year.
Former board member Wayne Almond, who resigned last year for health and personal reasons, said the board was not allowing the experts, such as Cain, to run the school system.
"I think it's clear they had their own management priorities," said Warenda. "What bothers me is the lack of integrity of the process. They have been treating the management of this public school system as a private function."
Fineburg said she was looking forward to serving as acting superintendent and was interested in applying for the permanent position.
"I have served as acting superintendent before," Fineburg said. "It is a very rewarding experience to work with Morrisville's youth."
Foes Say Morrisville Councilman Is Jumping Gun On Idea For School
March 27, 1992|By Jeffrey Fleishman, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
John Engelberger's opinions and how he expresses them have often put him through the wringer in the hardscrabble river town of Morrisville.
In May, Engelberger, a borough councilman and a member of the National Rifle Association, carried what some said was a holstered pistol to a town meeting to protest an ordinance banning guns from the municipal building.
This time, Engelberger wants the Morrisville School District to accept his plan to teach firearms safety to students. The instruction could be done in physical education classes, much the same way children are taught about sex and baseball, according to letters Engelberger sent to school and police officials.
"It's stupid," said Lee D. Rockafellow, mayor of this Bucks County town of 10,000. "I don't think he thinks things through. The teaching of gun handling should not be done in school. It actually forces the use of weapons."
Engelberger said he was trying to save lives. He said that children increasingly were exposed to guns and that too many of them were becoming casualties.
"We can all wish that guns will go away, but that won't happen," he said. ''What I'm saying is give these kids safety training that (says) 'Hey, this is dangerous.' "
He said he was willing to take his idea a step further. "I'm not opposed to an (extracurricular) marksmanship program," said Engelberger, 61. "I don't see guns any worse than basketball. I think childen who do know how to shoot are more careful."
School Superintendent Cornelius Van Cain said district officials were studying Engelberger's safety proposal, which the councilman made to Cain in a letter last month.
"Don't say NO and risk the life of one of your students to a firearms tragedy because of ignorance," the letter stated.
Cain said he agreed that the availability of guns had put children increasingly at risk. But he said he was not convinced that schools should be used "to fix all of society's problems. It is an issue today, but should schools have a role in this and what should the extent of it be? I'm not sure we should have guns in classrooms."
School board member Paul Bunting said he saw merit in the idea, but questioned the role of the school. He added sarcastically: "As long as we're going to be dealing with AIDS and drugs and teenage pregnancy, why not throw in firearms? . . . the cesspool of stuff that doesn't belong in the school anyway."
May 16, 1991|By Sonya Baker, Special to The Inquirer
Councilman John Engelberger wanted to get their attention.
He did.
During Morrisville Borough's council meeting Tuesday, Engelberger took a handgun wrapped in cloth out of a large envelope and placed it on the table before him.
"I just would like to ask if anyone brought a firearm tonight?" he said, stunning council members and about 15 others present.
Anyone who carried a gun into the borough building would be within his rights by state law, but in violation of a Morrisville ordinance, he said.
State law says no municipality can regulate the possession or transportation of firearms, Engelberger said. The borough's 1982 ordinance prohibits people from carrying firearms into borough buildings. He said he was making an issue of it now because he had just read it in the borough's book of ordinances.
"That ordinance does not supersede the right to carry a firearm," Mayor Lee D. Rockafellow told Engelberger. "You are way out of line."
"Do you know what kind of example you just set for this borough?" Councilwoman Patricia Schell asked. "You should be ashamed."
"As usual, I think everybody missed the point," said Gail K. Jones, the only council member to speak in support of Engelberger. "We're not encouraging the use or carrying of firearms. What we're trying to say is we have passed an illegal ordinance."
"One of the reasons I brought (the gun) is, you know, let them arrest me," Engelberger said in an interview later. "I was trying to make a point. We have this ordinance, and I think it's illegal."
According to the Morrisville code, "no person or individual shall carry or have in his possession . . . a firearm while in borough buildings."
Title 18 of Pennsylvania state law says "no county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession or transportation of firearms when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth."
"I would have to see the ordinance to really know, but it sounds like it's in contradiction to state law," county Sheriff Lawrence Michaels said yesterday. "There's nothing that I know that would prohibit you from carrying a firearm," even in municipal buildings.
Michaels added, however, that firearms are not permitted in federal and county courtrooms.
"In the federal courthouse, they will remove your firearm from you," he said.
Engelberger said he had written the state attorney general regarding the ordinance.
Supers come and Supers go but one thing you can always count on is a Stay on Crackhead eventually treating them like dogcrap and showing them the door at taxpayer expense. Sometimes even at their own personal expense (see Gould, John v. Worob, Stevie, $120000 slander per se). Unless of course the Super is their very own hand picked B.F.F.
Now imagine, just imagine, for a moment if someone else, someone not of the Stay on Crack ilk, brandished a gun at a Boro Council or School Board Meeting.
Virtual Commencement: Cool, Connected Or 'A Bit Much'? John Gould May Make A Point When He Video-addresses Seniors At Morrisville High. But Not Everyone Is Thrilled.
June 13, 2000|By Lee Drutman, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
MORRISVILLE — After Superintendent John Gould delivers his remarks at Morrisville High School's graduation tonight, he will not shake any hands, give any hugs, or hand out any diplomas.
It will be a "virtual graduation" for Gould.
From San Diego, Calif., he will be connected to the ceremony held for 80 graduates and their families through telephone lines and videoconferencing equipment. That way, he said, he will be able to "hammer home the point of what the virtual world is going to look like in the future."
Gould will appear at commencement on a 36-inch television screen in the courtyard of the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School. As he speaks about the use of technology and the impact it will have on life, he will observe student responses through a tiny Polycom view station owned by the school.
"Remember Max Headroom?" he asked. "They'll wheel me around in a box. It will be different."
Valedictorian Chris Muller said Gould's plan for an electronic coast-to-coast presence had merit.
"I think it's a good demonstration of practical technology," Muller said at a senior class picnic where he was taking a break from a volleyball game.
Salutatorian Eric Chapman agreed.
"It's pretty cool for him to make an appearance."
Other students were dubious.
"It's a bit much," Kieara Smith said. "They're trying to be all technological to prove a point. It's not really a personal touch. He's like some big, important guy."
Doreen Chapman, Eric's mother, is perturbed that Gould will not actually be present for the graduation.
"I don't see why he can't be here. It is a graduating class. It's the first of the new millennium," she said. "Whatever his title is, I think he should be there. He is collecting a paycheck. I think somebody of that importance with the school should be there in person."
Gould said he would be in California courtesy of the McGraw-Hill Cos., which is paying for him to take part in a conference on developing testing programs on the Internet. Though he could have taken a later flight from Philadelphia tonight to allow him to be present at the graduation, Gould said he saw it as an opportunity for a "teachable moment."
"The idea is to get people to understand what the digital world is all about," he said. "I figure one of the best places to see that central event is at graduation. It's what you're going to see more and more. Right now, the buzzword in the industry is called e-learning."
Senior Dave Pugh was critical of how Gould's remarks will be delivered.
Virtual Commencement: Cool, Connected Or 'A Bit Much'? John Gould May Make A Point When He Video-addresses Seniors At Morrisville High. But Not Everyone Is Thrilled.
June 13, 2000|By Lee Drutman, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
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MORRISVILLE — After Superintendent John Gould delivers his remarks at Morrisville High School's graduation tonight, he will not shake any hands, give any hugs, or hand out any diplomas.
It will be a "virtual graduation" for Gould.
From San Diego, Calif., he will be connected to the ceremony held for 80 graduates and their families through telephone lines and videoconferencing equipment. That way, he said, he will be able to "hammer home the point of what the virtual world is going to look like in the future."
Gould will appear at commencement on a 36-inch television screen in the courtyard of the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School. As he speaks about the use of technology and the impact it will have on life, he will observe student responses through a tiny Polycom view station owned by the school.
"Remember Max Headroom?" he asked. "They'll wheel me around in a box. It will be different."
Valedictorian Chris Muller said Gould's plan for an electronic coast-to-coast presence had merit.
"I think it's a good demonstration of practical technology," Muller said at a senior class picnic where he was taking a break from a volleyball game.
Salutatorian Eric Chapman agreed.
"It's pretty cool for him to make an appearance."
Other students were dubious.
"It's a bit much," Kieara Smith said. "They're trying to be all technological to prove a point. It's not really a personal touch. He's like some big, important guy."
Doreen Chapman, Eric's mother, is perturbed that Gould will not actually be present for the graduation.
"I don't see why he can't be here. It is a graduating class. It's the first of the new millennium," she said. "Whatever his title is, I think he should be there. He is collecting a paycheck. I think somebody of that importance with the school should be there in person."
Gould said he would be in California courtesy of the McGraw-Hill Cos., which is paying for him to take part in a conference on developing testing programs on the Internet. Though he could have taken a later flight from Philadelphia tonight to allow him to be present at the graduation, Gould said he saw it as an opportunity for a "teachable moment."
"The idea is to get people to understand what the digital world is all about," he said. "I figure one of the best places to see that central event is at graduation. It's what you're going to see more and more. Right now, the buzzword in the industry is called e-learning."
Senior Dave Pugh was critical of how Gould's remarks will be delivered.
"But Stephen Worob, a borough councilman who was a member of the school board, said the board had no right to have that conversation since some of its members will be gone after November's elections. He also chided them for using a feasibility study that he called a "sham" used by Superintendent John Gould to trick the board into approving a bond issue.
"I'm concerned that a lame-duck school board is dicsussing this," he said. You should wait until December so that the new board can decide how our dollars are spent".
And the rest is history. The "new board" he and many current Stay on Trackers helped get elected voted for the $30 million new school bond issue. At a post-victory party at HIS HOUSE, he got up on his furniture and proclaimed himself the "King of Morrisville".
I'm changing the topic. Thirteen (13) Morrisville teachers at the top next year that made $97,600 in school year 2011-2012. They should follow the Council Rock teachers example for a new contract. Year 1 - Pay freeze Year 2 - Move 1 step on guide. No change for people at top (pay freeze) Year 3 - 0.5% increase for all teachers. Council Rock teachers also graduate from 11% to 16% healthcare contribution over that time.
Here's a BCCT article from Sept. 2011 on Tech's contract.
Bucks County Technical High School Teacher Contract Approved
9/7/2011
The Bucks County Technical School's Joint Board and the Bucks County Technical High School Education Association ratified a three-year teacher contract on August 22.
The three-year contract covers the 2010-2011 through the 2012-2013 school years. In an unprecedented move, the teachers agreed to a two-year wage freeze while contributing 5 percent more in 2012-2013 toward health care premiums.
The board's overall reaction was extremely positive, acknowledging that the contract talks were always cordial and productive.
"I truly appreciated the professionalism of the teachers at the Tech School," stated Gene Dolnick, the lead negotiator for the board. "The Board was looking for solutions to remain net neutral in this difficult economic climate and we believe both parties worked at making this happen. Having the teachers take a two year pay freeze was tremendous. This, along with savings from the health care and prescription plan made this contract acceptable to the majority of the board."
The three-year deal keeps teachers at their 2009-2010 salary levels through the 2011-12 school year while keeping their contribution of the health care premium at 10 percent during those two years. In the third year, the teachers' salary matrix will be based upon the average 2010 salaries of the six sending districts. This equates to an approximate 2.4 percent increase in teacher salaries for 2012-2013. To offset this increase, the teachers agreed to pay 15 percent toward their healthcare costs along with a change in their medical plan. In addition, the board and teachers have committed to joining a Bucks-Montgomery County Health Care Consortium whereby the school anticipates further savings.
The administrative director of the school, Leon Poeske, stated, "Entering into the Bucks-Montgomery County Health Care Trust Consortium should stabilize health insurance costs since the consortium will leverage the large number of employees throughout the region. Using the Allegheny County Consortium in Pittsburgh as a model, this consortium should contain and possibly lower health care costs. In the long run, this should be a win-win for everyone."
Theresa Prato, the President of the Teacher's Association, was pleased with the outcome. She stated, "The teachers at this school are a dedicated group that understands the fiscal realities of the local and U.S. economies. We believe the pay freeze will help save programs at the Tech school. I am proud of our teachers. We are happy to have secured a contract. We realize it is a two year pay freeze but we also realize the economic climate in our region. Most of us live in this community and we hear what our community says. The teachers really wanted to keep the salaries on an average of our sending districts and this contract accomplished this. Keep in mind this is an average based on 2010 numbers."
Overall, the tech school's costs over the three years will actually be less than originally projected. This was due to the teachers' accepting a pay freeze while modifying the health and prescription plans in addition to an increase contribution to health premiums.
In addition, an early retirement incentive offered by the school will save money over the next three to five years. Sharon Rendeiro, the school's business administrator, feels that the costs were neutralized by the savings.
"Even in our current economy, I believe the school is being fiscally responsible to the community while offering a top-notch education for students," she said.
Classes for students attending the tech school began Aug. 30 for the new ninth grade students while all of the students, including the new freshmen, began Aug. 31.
I sat at the school board meetings when then-council member Steve Worob screamed like a crazy man at Ed Frankenfield and I've seen much more than one ridiculous tirade from Ron Stout. I figure DeWilde is just protecting them, just like Marlys Mihok who used to complain that her civil rights were being violated when she was limited to three minutes to speak but gleefully cut of people in midsentence as the mistress of the timepiece.
The whole group of them are morally bankrupt and have left the boro just as bankrupt.
Tech's doesn't sound all that different from Council Rock's, but the devil's in the details. How else has reached an agreement around here recently? Neshaminy? No, don't go there. Below is an article on Centennial District.
Centennial School Board extends teachers' contract Published: Thursday, June 21, 2012 By Natalya Bucuy Journal Register News Service The Centennial School District approved an extension of its teachers’ contract until 2016 at the last board meeting June 12.
The extension, which will prolong the current contract singed in 2011, changes some of the salary increase scales and adds a retirement incentive to eligible teachers in the district.
The retirement incentive, which allows those who retire early to receive three annual $10,000 payments after leaving the district, caused some controversy on the board as two members voted against the extension because of the incentive.
Jane Schrader Lynch said she was “diametrically opposed” to the incentive and therefore voted against the whole extended contract.
Betty Huf said that current economic state makes it incredibly hard to be flexible with the retirement pay-outs.
“I can’t see us giving this kind of money away,” she said.
Other board members voted in favor of the contract, stating that the teachers union has come up with many compromises.
“The education association has really come to the table with this,” said Michael Hartline, board member and the head of labor relations committee.
He added that with the new contract the district with end up with about $500,000 in saving over the course of four years.
A maximum of 27 retiring teachers would be eligible for the retirement incentive. The saving the district will see would come from the saving in salaries and benefits in the contract.
The original contract insured a 1.75 percent pay raise for 2012-13 and a 1.5 percent raise for 2013-14 for the district teachers.
The new extended contract changes the raises, spreading the increases over the next four years.
In school year 2012-2013, teachers will receive a 1 percent pay raise. In the following two years the raise will be 0.75 percent, and in the final 2015-2016 the increases will be at 1 percent.
That would be "who" else has reached an agreement around here?
And I'll 2nd the post that came in the middle of mine. It pretty much sums up the last 30 years in Morrisville.
The same names have been in the thick of it all, yet they want you to think they're the righteous saviors and protectors of the people. The massive steaming pile of evidence proves otherwise.
Official: Contract Benefits Both Sides 25 May 2012 — Bucks County Courier Times By DANNY ADLER/Staff writer
Bensalem Township School District's budget guru on Thursday said that a new six-year contract with the teachers union contains enough reductions in cost increases that it will pay for salary increases.
Jack Myers, the director of business operations, and Bob Cardillo, the director of human resources, were the central negotiators on the district side. Myers said the key to the new contract was "cost avoidance."
"We have reduced the amount of increase," Myers said in a phone interview.
The contract with the Bensalem Township Education Association, which represents about 460 members, contains salary increases ranging from 0.5 percent to 2.2 percent over the next five years. Combined, the increases provide a 7.2 percent salary adjustment over the six years.
Thanks! On the surface, all of the contracts are pretty lean, which is appropriate because times are lean. Increases over the life of the contracts seem to be around 1%/yr.
I guess that I should have made your point about lean times at the beginning. The majority of Morrisville's teachers are caring and talented people, but given the economy and school district's and community's issues the teachers may need to step up and do the right thing to help the school district keep programs and personnel. The parents may need to realize that you can't keep everything but they should demand the school board do its best with the limited resources. Stop the bickering, forget but learn from the past, and make Morrisville School District the best it can be.
Great post. I would love to stop the bickering. How do you deal with pathological lying bullies and massive hypocrisy used for power and political gain perpetrated over the course of decades? Just look the other way? Slink away or under the radar? I feel you have to counter it as best you can with facts.
I'm not a bickering person by nature. I don't think the Morrisville Matters board members are either. But frustration with the same old same olds and their antics can get to you sometimes. Not everyone is laid back and can just let it go instantly.
The real problem is that in these hard economic times, we all need to pull together. Frankly, the toxic political atmosphere leftover in Morrisville from the last 30 years of mismanagement almost guarantees distrust all around.
The only thing that makes me smile is that the same people who made this steaming pile are still around to see it all explode. But then I remember we're all left here to see the same explosion.
It's just as hard on the ears and the soul, but I much prefer the lifetime bickerers bickering from the public podium as opposed to preening and posturing at the dais.
Let's join together in defeating the remaining bickerers and their enablers at the polls!
Here is the recent BCCT article on Council Rock's contract.
CR board approves budget, teachers and support staff contracts By Chris English Staff Writer | Posted: Friday, June 22, 2012 4:00 am At a busy meeting Thursday night, the Council Rock school board approved the final 2012-13 budget and new three-year contract for the teachers and support staff. The $201.8 million budget, which passed 5-4, includes a property tax increase of 1.88 mills, or $71 for a resident with a property assessed at the school district average of $38,000. It also uses $2.35 million in reserves. The board voted 8-1 to approve a new three-year contract for the 853-member Council Rock Education Association, which includes teachers, guidance counselors, librarians and several other positions. It includes a complete pay freeze for 2012-2013, a slight step increase in the second half of 2013-2014 for union members not at the top of the scale, and a 0.5 percent pay increase for all members in 2014-2015. Also, health insurance premium contributions for CREA members will increase from 11 to 16 percent by the end of the contract. The board voted 6-3 to approve a new three-year contract for the 503-member Council Rock Educational Support Professional Association. It includes raises of 0.5 percent in 2012-2013, 1 percent in 2013-2014 and 1.5 percent in 2014-2015. Members of CRESPA include teacher assistants, cafeteria aides and several other positions. Health insurance premium contributions for CRESPA members will increase from 4 percent to 9 percent for members making more than $32,000 a year and 6 percent for those making less than that amount by the final year of the deal. School board member Jerold Grupp voted against both contracts. While commending negotiators on both sides for their hard work, he had problems with both deals. Among them were he felt it should be taking more than 11 years for CREA members to be reaching the top of the salary scale, and new hires in both unions should be contributing more toward their health insurance premiums. The budget that was passed leaves total property tax millage at 112.56, or $4,277 for the average property owner. It represents a 1.7 percent increase in taxes, or the initial maximum increase allowed the district under the state’s Act 1 index. However, an exception granted later would have allowed an increase of 3.41 mills, or $130 for the average property owner. Board members Kyle McKessy, Wendi Thomas, Bernadette Heenan and Paul Anagnostakos voted no on the budget. They preferred an alternative that would have raised taxes only 1.55 percent, or 1.72 mills, and used $2.55 million in reserves. A 1.72-mill increase would have been $65 for the average property owner. Superintendent Mark Klein said the tax increase will help the school district pay a $3.85 million increase in its contribution to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement system (PSERs) for 2012-2013. Excluding the PSERs increase, total expenditures for 2012-2013 are lower than this school year, Klein said. Some audience members told the board it should have used more in reserves and passed a no tax increase budget for next school year. “We believe you can draw from your reserves without the need for a tax increase,” said Upper Makefield resident Barbara Breeden. “There is no need to raise taxes. The money you have is really the peoples’ money and the public is asking you give that money back.” But most board members felt they must be careful about dipping too much into reserves because the district’s PSERs contributions will continue to go up rapidly in the next few years. “We have to be in a position to handle that,” said Grupp. Board member Bill Foster added it’s wise to keep reserves at a healthy level because of uncertainties about how much money the school district will be getting from the state from year to year.
Did I miss something? After watching the Agenda Meeting I was wondering why Mr Ferrara said he'd be allowing Mr. Harm to run the High School more, but his job title will be Educational Consultant to Administration. That title doesn't match what they say he will be doing.
I agree. It doesn't quite add up. Mr. Ferrara also belatedly admitted that he was spread too thin and wasn't involved enough in curriculum K-12 because he was trying to do everything. This was during discussions about how Kindergarten specials weren't really fully offered last year. The discussions starts around 43:00.
I was there, but I just watched a little of the video of the 6/20 agenda meeting. The audio stinks!
Below are excerpts from the 6/20 agenda meeting that will be up for a vote this Wed. (6/27). What is the purpose of the changes in title for Mr. Harm and Mr. Gesualdi?
It may be harmless (no pun intended, well, maybe it was) semantics, but a cynical part of me thinks there's more to it than that.
2. Board action is requested to approve the following appointments:
a. Donald Harm as an Educational Advisor for Administration for the 2012-13 School Year.
b. Anthony Gesualdi as an Educational Advisor for Special Education for the 2012-13 School Year.
How can Ferrara be spread too thin? For years Morrisville has been plagued with high priced administrators who do nothing. The SOC school board identified a credible candidate who could do the Assistant Principal/Principal/Curriculum Coordinator/Cook and Bottle Washer/Superintendent job at the Morrisville Senior High/Junior High/Proto-Elementary/One Building School.
If he's not up to the job, dump him and get someone who can.
SOC was so sure they had their man that they didn't post the position and didn't interview any other candidates.
Mr. Ferrara just got a 3-year deal @ $120,000/yr. Do you want to buy out the remaining 2 years? With bennies, etc., it would proably cost at least $300,000. I'm not advocating this, I'm just stating that there's a signifcant cost involved (see Yonson, Dr. Elizabeth, Fineburg, Elizabeth, et al.)
The loophole is that you have to change Harm's and Gesualdi's titles or It would effect thier State retirement money they are now receiving!!! It was set up to stop double dipping but people found ways around it by changing ones title.
Oh, great, in these tough economic times, when everything else is getting pinched and belts are getting tightened, they're pulling an end run so these guys can continue double-dipping on retirement money?
Screw that. If that's the case, I hope it gets voted down. But are there 5 No votes on this board?
Reward your friends, punish your enemies. The SOC Way. Cut some more programs, sports, kindergarten and specials to make up for it. Lock them into multi-year deals too while you're at it. Don't explain it at all if you're not asked, and don't explain it in a coherent way if you are asked.
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE Bucks County Courier Times MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
High school principal William Ferrara was named acting superintendent.
Morrisville School District Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson resigned effective Wednesday, and the board named principal William Ferrara as acting superintendent.
Board President Bill Hellmann wouldn't discuss the reason for Yonson's resignation and simply said after the meeting that he didn't comment on personnel matters.
District parents had been speculating about such a move for weeks and even asked school board members about it at the August meeting, but they were mum on the issue. Yonson had been absent from the board's previous three meetings.
At Wednesday's meeting, members didn't discuss or provide any details; instead they made the motions and votes were cast to accept Yonson's resignation and appoint Ferrara. The votes were 6-0 in favor of both motions. Board members Brenda Worob, Gloria Heater and Robin Reithmeyer weren't at the meeting.
Ferrara will carry on being the principal of the Morrisville Intermediate and the high school, as well as the acting superintendent of the 900-student district.
Hellmann said he didn't know how long the arrangement would be for. Ferrara's salary hasn't been determined and his contract has not been drafted.
"We wouldn't have hired him if he didn't think he could do the job," Hellmann said.
"WE DON'T THINK WE ARE SPREADING HIM TOO THIN," board member Marlys Mihok said after the meeting.
"Actually, (Ferrara) suggested (combining the positions)," Hellman said.
After the meeting, Ferrara said not much will change in the district level, and praised the teachers and the district administration.
"A lot of good things are happening and we'll continue to do our best," he said.
As for juggling both positions, Ferrara said he's done it before, so the district will be fine for some time and "if we are going to bring someone else we should take our time to get a qualified person in here."
Parent Jon Perry said he has nothing against Ferrara, but his frustration is towards the board's handling of the issue because they didn't communicate with the public about the possibility of Yonson's resignation when they were asked in August.
Marlys Mihok was wrong, and Ferrara didn't admit he was spread too thin until after the 2011-12 school year was over, even though Donald Harm was specifically hired to keep him from being spread too thin?
What is the total cost of Harm and Gesualdi's salary? On another post I saw somebody mention $160,000 in Bristol's healthcare consortium savings. How much for Manor Park lawsuit? Whats that add up to, near 3/4 of a million dollars? How about we put back some programs and make sure our students don't experience Neshaminy's contract situation with some of that money? Or would that make to much sense?
At least fix the auditorium sound and lighting, but especially sound, and get some playground equipment for the soon to be 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. graders at the High School, instead of laying it all on the PTO.
It's the Brenda Worob, Republican PR, exclusionary ceremony tree, although it doesn't at all look like a tree to me, more of a shrub. Maybe they should have spent more time picking out the "tree" and less time plotting & scheming. LOL sorry I forgot who we were talking about.
105 comments:
Rumor has it that woodshop is gone and the teacher is doing 6th grade math next year. Anyone know the facts?
No, sorry, I don't. It wouldn't surprise me. Ferrara, deWilde & Stay on Crack still run the show.
Not rehiring 8 retired teacher positions this year, but continuing to pay Don Harm to do what again? But the kids are first in this district. Enrollment up. Faculty down. Administration up. Buildings down. Makes sense.
Wandling still on payroll too and possibly a 60k facilities person. SOC has 5 votes at the moment.
If a Morrisville teacher at the top made $97,600 this past year, isn't that enough? How many Morrisville taxpayers made that salary last year? What wonderful improvements can we expect in student performance and test scores next school year?
Wandling's salary and the 60K facilities person's salary would pay for lots of student activities!
We need a principal at each school and we need a district superintendent. Both of those positions have specific requirements for certified individuals that cost money. It's a cost of doing business as a school district.
Focus on the Wandling payments if they are still continuing. Focus on the stuff you can fix and change.
I thought Hellman was setting things of for Ferrara to be the Super. and Principal at the same time. To reduce the number of Administrators. It seems like Ferrara could run the District/ HS but its the Lower grades where they need more Administration.
We need a COMPETENT principal at each school and a COMPETENT superintendent as well. That does cost money. Too bad for the kids and the rest of the people in Morrisville that only a few realize the imptortance of this to our town.
Listening to any of the SOC people and listening to a fart is pretty much the same thing and gives the fart a bad name.
R.I.P., tough job, too young.
24-year-old Morrisville EMT dies from apparent heart attack
Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 3:00 pm | Updated: 9:04 pm, Mon Jun 18, 2012.
By James McGinnis Staff writer | 0 comments
Posted on June 18, 2012
by James McGinnis
A 24-year-old with the Morrisville Ambulance Squad died early Monday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack while on duty, officials said.
EMT Kevin Maffettone was found unconscious at 7:20 a.m. Monday inside the squad headquarters on Washington Street in the borough, according to the squad.
Maffettone was a recent graduate of his EMT class and just beginning his career in emergency medical services, colleagues said. He also volunteered with Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad.
"We're really not in a position right now to speak about this," said Roxie Rookstool, operations supervisor. "We've never had anything like this ever happen before. It's just unbelievable. He was such a young man."
Maffettone is the second ambulance worker from Bucks County to die from a heart attack in just two years.
EMT Danny McIntosh of Bensalem Rescue Squad suffered a heart attack in 2010 after chasing down a mentally unstable man who fled medical treatment.
Since 1993, America has lost 601 rescue workers in the line of duty, according to the National EMS Memorial Service. Of those, 103, or nearly 20 percent, suffered a cardiac arrest on the job, according to the organization.
"If a Morrisville teacher at the top made $97,600 this past year, isn't that enough?"
How many teachers are at the top? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's very many.
The teachers suck, they are overpaid, they don't work in the summer, etc...yadda yadda yadda. Same old rhetoric. Sad and unfortunate, but yet another shining example of how little importance is placed on the education of children. SOC will have us in Neshaminy's situation before you know it. Cram all students in 1 under maintained building bc the benefits of a 4-18 yr old student schoolhouse are outstanding. Cut programs and athletics, jack up class sizes, don't raise taxes for 5-6 years while costs go up, slash a budget by millions, and continue to focus on personal school board tiny town vendettas. Now that's how communities grow and thrive. No wonder even SB members can't move out of here fast enough.
I fail to see how Wandling can continue on the payroll with all the cuts that have happened and continue to happen and a large budget deficit.
I support bringing it up for a vote and seeing how the votes fall. It would be a good indicator of who's interested in saving money in tough times and who's interested in pay to play politics.
I'm supposed to admire Mitt Romney's > $100M vulture capitalist success and denigrate a teacher b/c they make 50, 60, 90k? It's class warfare if I don't? Got it.
Check. Don't forget about giving public money to support tax free church schools who can reject children for any reason.
Budget deficit? Hardly. That's a convenient accounting ploy to fleece the community into thinking they are broke. Keeps the SOC elected. More like a surplus. That would've been higher had somebody smarter than Profy read the Manor Park lease contract.
What's this about a 60K/yr facilities person? That's outrageously ridiculous. To oversee what? Two vacant buildings, one in ruins, the 3-12 and the k-3? Who's slated for that job, Al Radosti? Eff that.
"That would've been higher had somebody smarter than Profy read the Manor Park lease contract."
Like Fitzpatrick? He originally misread it.
Don't forget the never ending Tech school lawsuit. The gift that keeps on giving .... to lawyers.
How's about paying Yonson 100's of grand not to work and to go buh bye?
When are the S.B. agenda and business mtgs. Agenda is tomorrow (wed, 6/20) and business is Wed. 6/27? They're not on the wsebsite calendar. Doesn't the FINAL budget have to be voted on by June 30???
Rut roh, we use First Student right?
BRISTOL TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
Superintendent: Transportation plan to save $2 million
Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:15 am | Updated: 11:47 am, Tue Jun 19, 2012.
By DANNY ADLER Staff writer | 1 comment
Posted on June 19, 2012
by Daniel Adler
Bristol Township School District expects $2 million in savings through major changes to how it buses children after the school board approved a recent transportation proposal on Monday, the top administrator said.
Also on Monday, the school board postponed voting on a more than $120 million final budget until near the end of the month.
School board members Earl Bruck, Frederick Black, Katherine Bachman, James Baker Jr., Stacy Gerlach, Patricia Koszarek, Constance Moore and Angela Nober on Monday approved a proposal that was presented to the school board in May by Transportation Supervisor Marianne Cleary. School board member Helen Cini was absent from Monday’s meeting. There was no discussion on the vote.
Bristol Township School District does not have its own buses. The primary provider of busing is Ohio-based First Student Inc.
The transportation plan approved on Monday includes consolidating bus stops; using the elementary schools as bus stops for middle-school and high-school students; eliminating some late buses for after-school events; and mixing public and private school students on some buses, among other things.
Following the meeting, Superintendent Samuel Lee told the newspaper the plan will save the district $2 million as the district seeks ways to eliminate a multimillion-dollar deficit from its 2012-13 budget.
The school board was also scheduled to vote at Monday's meeting on next year’s final spending plan, which under state law must be approved by the end of the month, but the school board tabled the issue until a meeting at 6 p.m. June 28 as officials continue to make adjustments to close the deficit. Also tabled until that meeting were the personnel items before the board.
Administrators have said the school district will use $4 million in reserves to help fill the budget gap. In May, the district announced it would furlough 11 teachers and not fill four positions being lost to retirements, a move projected to save $1.1 million. Also, Bristol Township’s participation in a health care consortium is expected to save the district more than $2 million next school year, according to officials.
At the beginning of budget season, the district faced a $12 million deficit. That budget gap is down to about $3.5 million as of Monday, Lee said.
The school board will hold a budget meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Under Act 1 this year, Bristol Township’s school board is allowed to raise school property taxes for 2012-13 by 2.1 percent, or 3.955 mills. If the board does that, school taxes would go up $71 for the owner of a property with the average assessment of $17,994. Such a tax increase would generate $1.47 million in revenue. With a current millage rate of 188.3 mills, that average property owner paid $3,388 in school property taxes this year.
Also on Monday, the school board voted 8-0 to authorize the administration “to perform studies and evaluations to determine staffing, building and budget needs.”
Paper: Report alleges liquor officials, including Conti, took gifts
Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 4:58 pm
Associated Press | 2 comments
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A newspaper says state inspectors have concluded that three top officials at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control board, including former Bucks County Senator Joe Conti, accepted gifts and favors from vendors and other businesses.
The Philadelphia Inquirer said it had obtained a confidential report that the state Inspector General's office submitted to the governor's office in late March. A spokesman told the paper that the matter had been referred to the state Ethics Commission.
The report said chief executive officer Joe Conti, board member Patrick Stapleton III and marketing director James Short accepted gifts and favors such as wine and tickets to sporting events and golf tournaments.
The Inquirer said Conti, Stapleton, and Short declined to be interviewed through a liquor board spokeswoman who said officials hadn't been given such a report or notified of any formal investigation.
Conti (R) was the Ville's PA state senator (10th district) before Mcilhenny (R).
you cant trust any republican. fire them all
LOL. Republicans have been doing this for years. http://bloggingblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Screen-Shot-2012-01-06-at-Jan-6-2012-9.31.44-PM.png
"you cant trust any republican. fire them all"
...and the Democrats who follow them! Rita Ledger, Marlys Mihok, Ron Stout, Eileeen Dreisbach, Vic Cicero.
Amen to that! Some R's are OK tho.
Mihok's already been fired. Again. She's been fired before. She takes defeat very very badly, with lots and lots and lots of the sourest grapes of wrath that would make John Steinbeck crap a book on how to puke on Tom Joad and his entire family
LOL ...especially his children,who she will never ever ever ever never ever be responsible for!!!
More on (moron?) Conti..........
Posted: Wed, Jun. 20, 2012, 6:09 AM
Monica Yant Kinney: In Pennsylvania, liquor regulators drunk with arrogance
Monica Yant Kinney, Inquirer Columnist
Joe Conti is CEO of the Liquor Control Board.
Report: LCB execs took gifts
Privatization efforts on hold
Baer: Not shocked about reports of misdeeds
Only in Pennsylvania would an effort to privatize an archaic state-run liquor system dry up the same week public officials got caught accepting gifts from vendors and using wine as a weapon.
Lording over who gets to buy Yuengling when, where, and in what quantity has been a nonstop party for political heavyweights. Underage drinkers plan their beer bashes via text messages, but officials at the Liquor Control Board are so drunk with power, they use state e-mail servers.
Thanks to the Inspector General's Office, we now know that VIPs at the PLCB go to Phillies and Union games for free.
As revealed by my colleague Angela Couloumbis, liquor peddlers happily comped wine and spirits for shindigs hosted by PLCB member Patrick J. Stapleton. One vendor even offered up the services of Zahav chef Michael Solomonov to impress Stapleton.
In one of the more flagrant acts of arrogance, PLCB chief Joe Conti decided it wasn't enough to get his daughter hired at a State Store. He took nepotism to a new level by assigning an administrator to aid her job search.
Then, in January, Conti - who earns $156,000 a year to regulate beer - propositioned restaurateur Stephen Starr to hire his little girl.
"Team PLCB," Conti wrote in an e-mail, would love to "partner" with Starr in opening a wine boutique.
"Thank you," the official added, for considering the plea "from a proud father" of a gal with "great hospitality potential."
A little privacy, please
PLCB members are appointed by the governor, but the agency operates independently. Autonomy led to complacency and audacity. If these liquor lords answer to no one, what's to stop them from using commonwealth e-mail servers to arrange the gifts they felt so entitled to receive?
It's worth pausing to shudder that Harrisburg remains so clueless about the need to separate public business and political enrichment in the aftermath of Bonusgate and Computergate, the scandals and trials that led disgraced former House Speakers John Perzel and Bill DeWeese to share a prison cell.
Have those who run this state learned nothing about relegating greed to their home networks? Surely these guys can afford a second BlackBerry. After all, Gmail is free.
A hot syncing mess
Stapleton may have felt efficient after syncing his law firm e-mail with his @pa.gov account to coordinate board meetings, party planning, and golf invites from connected companies. But wouldn't a lawyer know that using the commonwealth portal to corral electronic missives would expose him to the state Ethics Act and the PLCB Code of Conduct?
The liquor agency rules are as clear as vodka about the pain to be inflicted for using the public job for personal gain:
Mandatory termination and possible criminal prosecution.
Turns out, it was Stapleton himself who inspired a whistle-blower to go to the inspector general in 2011 after the PLCB chairman chose "not to address" recommendations from an internal investigation into another employee's misdeeds.
Stapleton must have known that to oust an underling for soliciting and accepting gifts could lead to exposing himself for more egregious transgressions. If the booze boss followed the rules, he would have had to fire himself, too.
I don't know if anyone else posted this previously. I saw it and thought I would put it on here.
School Districts Brace for Budget
Written by Angela Vertucci, Contributing Writer
from PoliticsPA.com
Public schools are now facing tough decisions about what to cut (or, hopefully, just cut back) with their budget deadline looming.
School may be out for the summer, but education is at the center of public debate.
Working under the pressure imposed by million-dollar deficits, school boards across the state are voting on measures to cut costs and square away their budgets before the fall.
The losses will be painful, and the headlines are telling.
This is what’s going on in education news:
“Even with proposed cuts, Harrisburg School District still faces $6.6 million fiscal deficit,” reads The Patriot-News.
“Gov. Mifflin teachers contract calls for pay raise, freeze,” said the Reading Eagle.
“In Luzerne County, Lake Lehman School District passes fiscal plan with tax hike,” reported The Times Leader.
On Tuesday alone, it was reported that 12 school boards approved tax increases to help supplement tight budgets, since school districts are required to pass balanced budgets.
To the dismay of school board officials, however, tax hikes will not be enough.
Many districts have pushed through salary freezes and requested administrators accept deep pay cuts. While school districts are prohibited by state law from furloughing employees due to funding issues, some have been able to use declining enrollment, shrinking programs and school closing, consolidation or district reorganization as justifications for reducing employees.
Sometimes the realities go hand in hand. There isn’t enough money to fund programs or keep schools open, so buildings shut down and staff is cut, resulting in the elimination of special programs not deemed fundamental to education.
But extracurricular activities are not alone on the chopping block. School boards around the state are voting on a range of cost-cutting measures to compensate for budget deficits.
Transportation may also be among the casualties of the crisis. The Bucks County Courier Times, for instance, reported that the Bristol Township School District expects to save $2 million through major changes to transportation which were approved in a proposal Monday.
The plan includes “consolidating bus stops; using the elementary schools as bus stops for middle-school and high-school students; eliminating some late buses for after-school events; and mixing public and private school students on some buses, among other things.”
The difficult cuts are not going uncontested.
A protest on the streets of Pittsburgh at the end of May marked the beginning of what is quickly shaping into a tumultuous summer of controversial policymaking and tough decisions. Hundreds of people set out to protest Gov. Corbett’s proposed cuts to public education funding.
Monday, WTAE Pittsburgh reported that parents and students in Monroeville showed up to the Gateway school board meeting to protest the districts elimination of the junior high sports program. The cut is necessary if the district is to face a $500,000 budget deficit.
School Board President Dave Magill said that the move is unavoidable given Corbett’s cuts to the education budget.
Corbett has suffered big losses to his approval rating since last year – mainly due to his handling of the state budget.
Last month he spoke at a Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry dinner and emphasized that the schools are getting less money because federal stimulus money ran out.
“That money was put into the budget. It was put into education. The money disappeared. The federal government said it was one-time money, and for the first time when they said it was one-time money they meant it,” he said.
Corbett added that in order to avoid cuts last year, an average family’s taxes would have gone up by $920, and $300 more would be needed to avoid cuts now.
Thanks - keep those posts coming all!
Deep thoughts from last night's agenda meeting:
"If you want respect (from the Superintendent), you have to give it".
- Steve Worob
"Tell me about it. Oh, and thanks for the $120,000."
- Dr. John Gould
"I've been coming to these meetings since 1983, and no board member has ever admonished another board member over a vote."
- Marlys Mihok
"JUST COOPERATE, Robin Reeeethmeyer".
- William Hellmann, C.P.A.
Remember Mihok publicly caught in a lie about Superintendent Yonson? How respectful was that? The difference is that THEY were the ones being disrespectful. Rule #1: when they do it, it's OK.
In 2007, they (SOC, SOT, STS) won School Board seats with 80% of the vote. By 2009, it was down to 52%. By 2011, they lost, despite cutting taxes. Think about that. Why did they lose? If they were truly honest with themselves, they would acknowledge that a major reason is that there's something deeply offensive about the way they behave and govern that turns people off, and when enough people become aware of it, the polls reflect it.
Ted Parker had some anger and emotion, but what he said last night about Superintendent Ferrara's smoke blowing and flip flopping is exactly what many people have personally experienced. If it makes Ferrara think twice about it, good.
"If you want respect, you have to give it".
- Steve Worob
"SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU!" (to ailing Board Member Ed Frankenfield at his last School Board meeting, which he left in an ambulance; he never recovered and died in the hospital 2 months later. He was being admonished over a vote)."
- Steve Worob
I'll have to look at the tape. I've experienced Flip-Flop Ferrara more than once.
Stupid, petty, hypocritical bullcrap from the usual suspects aside, I liked a lot of what both Wanda Kartal and Alina Marone asked about, and had to say, on a range of topics, but in particular:
1. Concern over the high likelihood of the 3rd Grade modifications not being ready in time for the start of school, despite earlier pledges that they would be (and even earlier pledges.
2. Concern over the loss of 45 minutes from the Kindergarten day this past year, and the largely broken promise of the kids still receiving all specials, particularly phys. ed. and library;
3. Stressing the importance of art, music, phys. ed., library, etc. at the elementary level, and opposition to a continued watering down or elimination of early education curriculum.
In regards to the woodshop teacher...my son told me that one of his 7th grade teachers told him the woodshop teacher will be teaching advanced 8th grade science as at least one of his classes next year. Dunno about 6th grade math though...must be one talented teacher...math, science, woodshop....
Don't dare criticize the exalted Superintendent. That would be disrespectful. What a load of horses**t.
If the guy's BS'd call him on it. You don't have to and shouldn't drag his a** all over town, but you certainly can and should call him on it. With facts. Cold hard facts.
The Superintendent works for US, all of US. The people of Morrisville.
"must be one talented teacher...math, science, woodshop...."
Well, that certainly is an experiment, so that takes care of science.
On the one hard, Ferrara has flip-flopped. On the other hand, sometimes flip-flopping is the result of a dynamically evolving situation that requires shifting sands of opinion and action. On the other hand, sometimes it's an annoying manipulative trait of telling whoever you're talking to what they want to hear. On the other hand, sometimes the things you've told people that they want to hear happen. On the other hand, sometimes the things you've told people that they want to hear don't happen. On the other hand ............................................AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
On the one hard, Ferrara has flip-flopped. On the other hand, sometimes flip-flopping is the result of a dynamically evolving situation that requires shifting sands of opinion and action. On the other hand, sometimes it's an annoying manipulative trait of telling whoever you're talking to what they want to hear. On the other hand, sometimes the things you've told people that they want to hear happen. On the other hand, sometimes the things you've told people that they want to hear don't happen. On the other hand ............................................AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
You can say that again!
Sorry, but I'm cutting you back from 3 repeats to 1.
Remember on the Brady Bunch when Cousin Oliver comes to live with the Bradys and winds up causing problems and the family turns against him until ... Oliver is the 1,000,000th paying customer when they visit a movie studio, and they all win the prize of appearing in a 1920s-style comedy movie as extras?
Well, I'm planning to offer a prize to the person with the 1,000,000th post, and I don't want all 4 of yours to count towards the total.
This post is #4,112, so hang in there, we've still got a ways to go. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
this board needs to keep calling people out up there and challenging the admin. respect but lets make sure they are saying it like it should be and doing what they say. i can see so far the new members have individual minds and are not afraid to challenge and ask questions and take a chance in looking outside that darn box. keep fighting new members its uphill but boy you are making movement and keeping it honest which is more we can say for the last 4 years or more
Hear hear!
There is a credibility gap with Ferrara. This is not news.
Combine with Lie-hok, Worob and Stout, Buckman and a wishy washy biased John deWilde and you've got thick seams of B.S. to blast through.
Get some Zen-like calm, and keep challenging and asking the tough questions.
It requires diligence and strength to counter pathological lies and political bias.
I wish you diligence and strength.
Screw the Zen like crap. Where's George Patton when you need him? Blast the #%@%#%$&#%@%!'!&! SOC SOB's just like Marlys would...will..has done.
Yeah, F Zen. Be yourselves. Don't disrespect, but don't accept some biased numbskull's opinion that you've disrespected.
The truth will set you free.
11/16/2011 Board meeting, starting @ 37:00. See and hear about one Board Member's idea of "RESPECT" for a Superintendent.
http://www.mv.org/videos.cfm
You know it's bad when even Al Radosti wants you to shut the hell up.
Al who?
Former Morrisville pitching standout to appear on Discovery's 'Final Offer'
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Posted: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:45 pm
By PETER CHAWAGA Staff Writer | 0 comments
Twenty-six years ago, Morrisville High School senior Robert Fletcher was featured in the Courier Times for pitching a seven-inning no-hitter with 21 strikeouts.
The standout athlete is making headlines again, this time thanks to a peculiar collection.
Fletcher, 43, will be featured on The Discovery Channel's new reality series "Final Offer," a bidding show in which four dealers compete to buy contestants' rare and valuable items.
Fletcher's treasure? A sheet of "Star Wars" collectible cards, pulled from the production line before they were cut and individually packed for retail sale.
He acquired the cards in 1977 from a fellow Holy Trinity third-grader.
"I got it from one of my classmates," Fletcher says. "He knew I liked cards and his dad worked in the factory."
After high school, Fletcher played in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system before settling in Montana in 1990. He has combined his love for athletics and mementos by opening Fletch Cards & Collectibles on the grounds of Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont. The store specializes in sports memorabilia.
The episode will premiere on the Discovery Channel at 10 p.m. Thursday and will be shown again two hours later at midnight.
In Morrisville, Billings Under Scrutiny A School Committee Finds Nothing Illegal With The Work Of R.j. Davey & Co. But Calls It ``opportunist.''
February 11, 1999|By Lewis Kamb, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
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MORRISVILLE — Responding to allegations of irregular billing by a firm the school district hired last year, a special committee of the Morrisville school board said last night it had found no evidence of ``illegal activity'' or ``malice.''
But the committee said that the company was ``opportunist'' and that the business practices of the district ``have been sloppy.''
The committee recommended that the board review the way it handles work contracts and how it tracks work being done, and that the board consider hiring an independent certified public accountant to audit the district's finances.
The board had not acted on the recommendations by 10 p.m.
In December, the school board formed a three-member committee to investigate questions raised by one board member about the business practices of R.J. Davey & Co. of Chadds Ford, district Superintendent John Gould and possibly others.
Board member Stephen Worob conducted his own investigation for three months and said he concluded that R.J. Davey & Co., which was the district's former business manager and now its technology consultant, may have billed the district for work it never did, double-billed for other jobs and ``piecemealed'' some billing to stay under the $10,000 cap that requires competitive bidding for such work.
Robert J. Davey, cofounder of R.J. Davey & Co., declined comment yesterday. But an attorney for the company, J. Scott Maxwell, has called Worob's allegations ``slanderous.'' Maxwell has informed district Solicitor William Thomson that he intended to file a complaint against Worob and possibly others for damaging the company's reputation.
Gould also has denied Worob's allegations and said he has done nothing illegal or wrong.
While the board's committee investigated the matter, the full board unanimously voted last month to suspend its $6,000 monthly payment to R.J. Davey. The firm has since informed the district that it would not continue its work until it is paid, Thomson said.
Some board members have publicly denounced Worob for the way he has handled his investigation, saying that he broke an agreement among board members not to publicly discuss the matter until the committee completed its inquiry.
Worob, who has since taken his concerns to the attention of the Bucks County district attorney and the state auditor general and attorney general, denies that he ever agreed to keep quiet.
Worob began his inquiry after noticing at a meeting in late October that his comments opposing a technology contract with R.J. Davey had been excluded from school board minutes. The district hired the firm as technology consultant in August, shortly after it fired the firm as business manager.
Allegations On Billing Of Firm To Be Addressed A Morrisville School Board Member Raised Questions Concerning Consultant Rj Davey & Co. A Special Meeting Is Set For Wednesday.
February 07, 1999|By Lewis Kamb, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
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MORRISVILLE — At a special school board meeting set for Wednesday, a three-member committee of the board will address allegations of irregularities in billing by a consulting firm the district hired last year.
In November, school board member Stephen Worob started his own investigation into the district's contracts with RJ Davey & Co., the district's former business manager and now its technology consultant. He also brought his concerns to the attention of the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, which has assigned a detective to look into the matter.
In December, the board formed a three-member committee, which does not include Worob, to study the matter.
Since Worob began his inquiry, Morrisville school board meetings at times have disintegrated into shouting matches between board members and personal attacks, as administrators, board members and residents attempt to sort through the questions that Worob has raised. Last month, the school board suspended its $6,000-a-month payments to RJ Davey until the committee completed its work.
Worob said last week that he believed the company may have billed the district for work it never did, double-billed for other jobs, and ``piecemealed'' some billing to stay under the $10,000 cap that requires competitive bidding for such work.
He said he based those assertions on a review of district records and on interviews with school district employees.
Ron Davey, cofounder of RJ Davey, did not return telephone calls last week. The company's lawyers at the Lansdale firm of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin could not be reached for comment.
But one of the lawyers, J. Scott Maxwell, in a letter to the school district, called Worob's assertions ``slanderous.'' In the Jan. 28 letter to school board solicitor William Thomson, he said the company was considering filing suit.
Worob contends that Superintendent John Gould - and possibly other district administrators - authorized work and payments for RJ Davey without the board's consent.
Gould has adamantly denied any wrongdoing. In an interview last week, he declined to specifically address Worob's assertions and said he would publicly respond to each at the meeting on Wednesday.
``All of the allegations will be answered,'' Gould said. ``And as far as I know, nothing illegal has occurred."
Hope for BF after all??????
Gretzula out as superintendent candidate
Posted: Thursday, June 21, 2012 12:00 am | Updated: 6:40 am, Thu Jun 21, 2012.
By Christian Menno Staff writer | 8 comments
Posted on June 21, 2012
by Christian Menno
NESHAMINY SCHOOLS — The Neshaminy school board was unable to agree on contract terms with Willam Gretzula, the frontrunner to fill the district’s soon-to-be-vacant superintendent position, so the search for the district's top leader will continue.
Gretzula is employed by the Bensalem School District as supervisor of curriculum and instruction.
The selection committee will continue its search and interview other candidates, officials said Wednesday. They added that Neshaminy could enter the school year with an acting-superintendent in place if the position isn't filled in time.
Morrisville School Board Ends Investigation The Member Who Started It Objected. But Business Practices Were Found To Be ``sloppy'' Not Illegal.
March 25, 1999|By Lewis Kamb, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
MORRISVILLE — The school board took steps last night that it hoped would lead to the resolution of a bitter controversy resulting from one of its member's crusade to expose what he characterized as corruption between a district administrator and a firm contracted by the school district to do business and technology work.
Since board member Stephen Worob began investigating Superintendent John Gould and RJ Davey & Co. in early November, board meetings have disintegrated into shouting matches. Armed constables now are stationed at every meeting.
Last night, the board reviewed measures it hopes will remedy business practices that an investigating subcommittee called ``sloppy'' although not illegal. The board directed school personnel to research the committee's 10 recommendations.
Among those suggestions are that the district review its handling of contracts and payments, conduct an independent audit of its business office, and hire an in-house technology director.
Board President Kenneth Junkins also said the board's investigation officially was concluded.
Worob objected to the board's action last night.
``This whole thing has been glossed over,'' he said.
In November, Worob launched an investigation of RJ Davey & Co. of Chadds Ford, concluding that the company billed the district for work it never did, double-billed for other jobs and ``piecemealed'' some billings to stay below a $10,000 cap that requires competitive bidding.
Worob also said that Gould authorized work and payments to the firm without board consent. He reported his findings to the Bucks County district attorney, the Pennsylvania auditor general and the state attorney general.
Robert J. Davey, cofounder of RJ Davey & Co., has declined comment. J. Scott Maxwell, a lawyer for the company, has told the district that the firm intends to take legal action against Worob for damaging the company's reputation.
Gould has said he made ``mistakes'' by not getting board approval before issuing some payments to the firm. He has denied doing anything illegal or unethical and has called Worob's investigation an attempt to oust him as superintendent.
Worob said he had acted only to fulfill his obligations as an elected official.
Is there any question that Worob, Mihok et al have behaved orders of magnitude worse towards prior MSD Superintendents than anyone else in town possibly could?
It's an open and shut case.
They have absolutely zero grounds to lecture anyone on how to behave towards anyone.
They really only have grounds to be ashamed.
If they had any shame.
True, but keep the posts coming. The entertainment value alone is worth it. It's like a twisted live theater performance that's been running for decades.
Morrisville Doesn't Shy Away From Active Schools Chief John Gould, Hired In The Wake Of Betsy Fineburg's Removal, Has Spirited Convictions About Education.
February 13, 1998|By Heather Moore, INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
MORRISVILLE — After their terrible relationship with the last superintendent, you might expect Morrisville school board members to hire someone who's not particularly demanding or opinionated - someone overwhelmingly easygoing, almost docile.
After all, many in this financially strapped Bucks County school district of 1,100 students wondered if it could get any worse when Superintendent Elizabeth ``Betsy'' Fineburg was asked to leave district premises last month by armed guards.
Docile, however, does not seem to describe John M. Gould. Recently hired as Morrisville's interim superintendent while Fineburg is on paid leave, Gould has strong opinions. Many of them.
Gould, who has been a project manager for Gov. Ridge's Link-to-Learn technology program and curriculum director at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit's Center for Systemic School Renewal, is anti-standardized testing and pro-technology.
He is also a strong backer of multi-age classrooms, which combine students who normally would be in several different grades.
``Kids naturally group that way,'' said Gould, 50, of Lancaster County. ``Their friends are [grouped] that way. Families are that way. Traditional grading is more of a management convenience.''
Gould has been on the job since Jan. 29 with an annual salary of $89,500. He said he was ``very interested'' in staying on as Morrisville's permanent superintendent when Fineburg's contract expires June 30.
Gould said he was eager to begin discussions over educational issues. But before he can ``extend the curriculum into the home'' with modern technology, his first priority is hiring a district business administrator and director for special education/psychologist.
Gould's spirited convictions do not mean he is hard to get along with, said Michael Woodall, superintendent of the Norristown Area School District in Montgomery County.
``I think people will find him a very pleasant individual, a very ethical person,'' said Woodall, for whom Gould served as assistant.
Gould started a program that groups second, third and fourth graders in the same classroom at Norristown's Whitehall Elementary, Woodall said.
Morrisville school board Vice President Ken Junkins said board members found Gould after talking to administrators in other districts: ``He's well-known. I like him a lot. I like his enthusiasm. He seems like he's going to communicate well with the board and other staff and administrators.''
The school district has not decided how or when it will begin a search for a permanent superintendent, Junkins said.
Fineburg, a 34-year veteran with the school district, was excused from her responsibilities Jan. 3 after months of bitter fighting with school board members.
The ousted superintendent has threatened to sue the district and has made allegations of micromanagement by school board members and their spouses, Sunshine Law violations, denial of due process and sexual discrimination.
School board members have denied all of Fineburg's allegations.
"Since board member Stephen Worob began investigating Superintendent John Gould and RJ Davey & Co. in early November, board meetings have disintegrated into shouting matches. Armed constables now are stationed at every meeting."
Now that's what I call RESPECT.
Morrisville Ousts Chief Of Schools Elizabeth Fineburg Has Served The School District For 33 Years.
September 26, 1997|By Chris Seper, INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
MORRISVILLE — Elizabeth Fineburg's 33-year career in the Morrisville School District ends in June.
Board members voted, 7-2, Wednesday night not to renew her contract.
The majority said it was time for a change - to end a relationship between a board and superintendent in which there was no trust and one side barely communicated with the other. Fineburg and her supporters, however, said her demise completed a power play by glory-hungry, meddling board members.
``Day-to-day petty issues driven by individual board members' agendas are forced on the administrative cabinet, encouraging some quality administrators to leave the district,'' Fineburg said in a prepared statement Wednesday night.
Board members Marvin Dupree and Tina Fitzpatrick voted to keep Fineburg, and Paul Bunting, Ken Junkins, Frank McCarthy, Ed Nelson, Paul Nestor, Ron Schomo and Steve Worob voted not to renew her contract. Th board also voted to advertise for a new superintendent.
Fineburg had two statements ready Wednesday night: an acceptance speech and another critical of the board. She said she was surprised by the vote but declined to say why.
School officials had said for weeks her contract was in jeopardy.
``I don't care what school district, school board or superintendent we're talking about, you need to have an element of trust between the board and superintendent,'' Bunting said.
Board member Nestor said it was ``time for change.'' He wanted to move the district in a new direction, but Fineburg wasn't ``leading us in new ways.''
Junkins said communication with the board and superintendent had broken down and reached a point where they were beyond repair.
Fineburg agreed communication had broken down, but she laid the problem at the board's feet. Information from her office to board members has increased ``400 percent over the last two year,'' she said.
Dupree claimed every board member except Worob who voted against keeping Fineburg did so for personal reasons. Nestor admits he blames Fineburg for his wife being released from the district in 1995, but says his problems with Fineburg are based on other issues. She was an elementary school aide and no reason was publicly given for her dismissal.
Schomo, Nelson and Junkins had also been singled out by former school officials as enemies of Fineburg. Dupree added McCarthy and Bunting to that list yesterday.
Dupree said the new majority's policies, including a new teacher contract and the releasing of Fineburg, will send taxes skyrocketing. Fineburg will be the fourth administrator to leave the district in a year. A new one will be hired for much more than Fineburg's $95,000 salary, he said.
Bunting said Wednesday's meeting was the ``saddest'' he ever sat in on. He said he liked Fineburg, but that he had to put that aside after weighing the ``pluses and minuses.''
The relationship between Fineburg and some board members was ``contentious'' but not unprofessional, Bunting said.
Fineburg, a Morrisville native, joined the district in 1965 as an elementary teacher and later became an assistant principal, head of pupil services, and assistant superintendent before taking the top job.
As an educator, she created the district's first physical education program and was the cofounder of the Morrisville Brain Trust, an organization that fueled academic programs and raised money through donations and grants.
SAT scores are at a 10-year high, and she says her technology program is better than any other district's in the county.
Fineburg needs one more year of work after June to retire without a financial penalty. She said she did not know whether she would seek a new position.
She also could reapply for her current job. She said she had not decided whether she would.
Morrisville Picks Superintendent, Abandons Plan To Shut A School
May 14, 1989|By Kimberly J. McLarin, Inquirer Staff Writer
It took only two weeks for the Morrisville School District to find a successor for Superintendent James McDowelle. Now it must find a replacement for the replacement.
The school board voted unanimously Wednesday to appoint Assistant Superintendent C. Van Cain to the district's top administrative post. Cain will replace McDowelle, who resigned last Month to take a position at Appalachian State University in North Carolina.
Earlier, the board accepted the resignation of high school principal Roberta Kimmelman, who was hired shortly after McDowelle. Also during the meeting, the board abandoned a plan to close one of its elementary schools.
Cain, 44, said his new position would be a great challenge.
"We face some very difficult issues," he said, "but I believe with everybody working together, we can deal with them."
Cain, who takes the position July 1, will receive an annual salary of $60,000. He became assistant superintendent and business manager last July after five years as principal and four years as assistant principal of the district's then combined junior-senior high school. Before that, he was a teacher and administrator at a school for emotionally disturbed children in Haverford.
Board president John Warenda Jr. said Cain was one of two candidates considered for the job. The other was Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Fineburg.
"This is tough duty," Warenda said of the Morrisville district, which is in the middle of a financial crisis and looking at a possible merger. "It's not so much leaving Morrisville, as it is being attracted to a better gig," he said, referring to the resignations of McDowelle and Kimmelman.
Although Kimmelman said she would remain in public education, she said her immediate plans were uncertain.
Kimmelman, who worked for 12 years in the Philadelphia school system, said she enjoyed her year in Morrisville and reached many of the goals she had set, such as creating a middle school and increasing parental involvement in school affairs.
But she said it would be hard for her to continue to function effectively in Morrisville.
"I don't do anything that I can't do optimally," she said.
When asked to elaborate, Kimmelman said: "Morrisville, as a community, tends to be very negative."
" We are a good school system," she said. "We are delivering a quality education, but until this community unites and makes the statement that we are good and believes that . . . well, I can't do that by myself."
In other business, the board rejected a proposal that would have closed Manor Park Elementary School to save money.
Officials projected that the district would gain about $130,000 over a two- year period by closing the school. The 160 students at Manor Park would have been sent to the district's other two elementary schools.
The board rejected the plan after parents objected.
The board tabled action on board member John Buckman's proposal to slash the proposed $8.4 million budget by 10 percent, to reduce a proposed 43-mill tax hike.
"Be serious," board member Roy Snare said in response to Buckman's proposal. "You want to provide an education here or don't you?"
The board decided to delay any budget trimming until after a public hearing Wednesday.
Resignation Lamented In Morrisville District Supporters Say The School Superintendent Was Forced Out. He Has Been Viewed As A Progressive Educator.
January 10, 1993|By Lisa L. Colangelo, INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
The resignation of Superintendent Cornelius Van Cain of the Morrisville School District during the district's holiday break surprised and saddened many people, and left staff and parents wondering whom the board would choose to lead the district.
According to a statement released by the district after a meeting Dec. 29, Cain resigned to pursue other educational interests. Board members and Cain refused to discuss the matter further. Cain's supporters have said he was pushed out of his job by the board majority.
"There has been a desire on the part of the current board to exclude him
from the system," said former Board President John Warenda.
Some former board members said the silence after the resignation underscored deteriorating relations between the board and Cain. The board recently shifted several of Cain's responsibilities, such as oversight of personnel and financial matters, to Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Fineburg.
At the same December meeting, Fineburg was named acting superintendent. District officials said they would advertise for applicants for the superintendent's post.
Morrisville resident Anne Leventer, who is active in a parents' group, said the board would have a hard time replacing Cain.
"He has held all the positions in the district, from business manager to superintendent," Leventer said. "How could you get someone more qualified?"
District staff members are reluctant to speak publicly about Cain's resignation but say privately that morale is low. Many fear for the district's educational program.
Parents, too, say they are concerned about the future of Morrisville's schools. Some said they were considering options - even moving out of the area so that their children could attend another school district.
Cain, 48, had worked in the Morrisville schools for the last 15 years and served as superintendent since 1989.He has been credited with keeping the small school system educationally progressive.
"I have really enjoyed these past 15 years," Cain said after his resignation. "I plan to examine other new and innovative programs and research new educational techniques."
In September, the district began a program called the immersion model. That plan, which Cain helped tailor to the district, fosters cooperative learning among classes.
Students take classes in longer blocks of time. Lessons in core subjects, such as math, science and history, are coordinated with English, reading and writing assignments.
"Educationally, we are really on the forefront," Leventer said, adding that she was concerned about the future of the program without Cain's leadership.
An agreement between Cain and the school board amounts to 1 1/2 years' pay and benefits. Cain, who still has 2 1/2 years left on his contract, made $76,000 last year.
Board members refused to discuss the settlement or calculate the cost to the district. The majority of the board members were elected on a platform advocating fiscal responsibility and were successful in their pledge to not raise school taxes last year.
Former board member Wayne Almond, who resigned last year for health and personal reasons, said the board was not allowing the experts, such as Cain, to run the school system.
"I think it's clear they had their own management priorities," said Warenda. "What bothers me is the lack of integrity of the process. They have been treating the management of this public school system as a private function."
Fineburg said she was looking forward to serving as acting superintendent and was interested in applying for the permanent position.
"I have served as acting superintendent before," Fineburg said. "It is a very rewarding experience to work with Morrisville's youth."
Foes Say Morrisville Councilman Is Jumping Gun On Idea For School
March 27, 1992|By Jeffrey Fleishman, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
John Engelberger's opinions and how he expresses them have often put him through the wringer in the hardscrabble river town of Morrisville.
In May, Engelberger, a borough councilman and a member of the National Rifle Association, carried what some said was a holstered pistol to a town meeting to protest an ordinance banning guns from the municipal building.
This time, Engelberger wants the Morrisville School District to accept his plan to teach firearms safety to students. The instruction could be done in physical education classes, much the same way children are taught about sex and baseball, according to letters Engelberger sent to school and police officials.
"It's stupid," said Lee D. Rockafellow, mayor of this Bucks County town of 10,000. "I don't think he thinks things through. The teaching of gun handling should not be done in school. It actually forces the use of weapons."
Engelberger said he was trying to save lives. He said that children increasingly were exposed to guns and that too many of them were becoming casualties.
"We can all wish that guns will go away, but that won't happen," he said. ''What I'm saying is give these kids safety training that (says) 'Hey, this is dangerous.' "
He said he was willing to take his idea a step further. "I'm not opposed to an (extracurricular) marksmanship program," said Engelberger, 61. "I don't see guns any worse than basketball. I think childen who do know how to shoot are more careful."
School Superintendent Cornelius Van Cain said district officials were studying Engelberger's safety proposal, which the councilman made to Cain in a letter last month.
"Don't say NO and risk the life of one of your students to a firearms tragedy because of ignorance," the letter stated.
Cain said he agreed that the availability of guns had put children increasingly at risk. But he said he was not convinced that schools should be used "to fix all of society's problems. It is an issue today, but should schools have a role in this and what should the extent of it be? I'm not sure we should have guns in classrooms."
School board member Paul Bunting said he saw merit in the idea, but questioned the role of the school. He added sarcastically: "As long as we're going to be dealing with AIDS and drugs and teenage pregnancy, why not throw in firearms? . . . the cesspool of stuff that doesn't belong in the school anyway."
He Packs A Piece To Make Point
May 16, 1991|By Sonya Baker, Special to The Inquirer
Councilman John Engelberger wanted to get their attention.
He did.
During Morrisville Borough's council meeting Tuesday, Engelberger took a handgun wrapped in cloth out of a large envelope and placed it on the table before him.
"I just would like to ask if anyone brought a firearm tonight?" he said, stunning council members and about 15 others present.
Anyone who carried a gun into the borough building would be within his rights by state law, but in violation of a Morrisville ordinance, he said.
State law says no municipality can regulate the possession or transportation of firearms, Engelberger said. The borough's 1982 ordinance prohibits people from carrying firearms into borough buildings. He said he was making an issue of it now because he had just read it in the borough's book of ordinances.
"That ordinance does not supersede the right to carry a firearm," Mayor Lee D. Rockafellow told Engelberger. "You are way out of line."
"Do you know what kind of example you just set for this borough?" Councilwoman Patricia Schell asked. "You should be ashamed."
"As usual, I think everybody missed the point," said Gail K. Jones, the only council member to speak in support of Engelberger. "We're not encouraging the use or carrying of firearms. What we're trying to say is we have passed an illegal ordinance."
"One of the reasons I brought (the gun) is, you know, let them arrest me," Engelberger said in an interview later. "I was trying to make a point. We have this ordinance, and I think it's illegal."
According to the Morrisville code, "no person or individual shall carry or have in his possession . . . a firearm while in borough buildings."
Title 18 of Pennsylvania state law says "no county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession or transportation of firearms when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth."
"I would have to see the ordinance to really know, but it sounds like it's in contradiction to state law," county Sheriff Lawrence Michaels said yesterday. "There's nothing that I know that would prohibit you from carrying a firearm," even in municipal buildings.
Michaels added, however, that firearms are not permitted in federal and county courtrooms.
"In the federal courthouse, they will remove your firearm from you," he said.
Engelberger said he had written the state attorney general regarding the ordinance.
Supers come and Supers go but one thing you can always count on is a Stay on Crackhead eventually treating them like dogcrap and showing them the door at taxpayer expense. Sometimes even at their own personal expense (see Gould, John v. Worob, Stevie, $120000 slander per se). Unless of course the Super is their very own hand picked B.F.F.
Engelberger was Worob's hero.
Now imagine, just imagine, for a moment if someone else, someone not of the Stay on Crack ilk, brandished a gun at a Boro Council or School Board Meeting.
How do think that would be received?
How do you think that would play out?
Virtual Commencement: Cool, Connected Or 'A Bit Much'? John Gould May Make A Point When He Video-addresses Seniors At Morrisville High. But Not Everyone Is Thrilled.
June 13, 2000|By Lee Drutman, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
MORRISVILLE — After Superintendent John Gould delivers his remarks at Morrisville High School's graduation tonight, he will not shake any hands, give any hugs, or hand out any diplomas.
It will be a "virtual graduation" for Gould.
From San Diego, Calif., he will be connected to the ceremony held for 80 graduates and their families through telephone lines and videoconferencing equipment. That way, he said, he will be able to "hammer home the point of what the virtual world is going to look like in the future."
Gould will appear at commencement on a 36-inch television screen in the courtyard of the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School. As he speaks about the use of technology and the impact it will have on life, he will observe student responses through a tiny Polycom view station owned by the school.
"Remember Max Headroom?" he asked. "They'll wheel me around in a box. It will be different."
Valedictorian Chris Muller said Gould's plan for an electronic coast-to-coast presence had merit.
"I think it's a good demonstration of practical technology," Muller said at a senior class picnic where he was taking a break from a volleyball game.
Salutatorian Eric Chapman agreed.
"It's pretty cool for him to make an appearance."
Other students were dubious.
"It's a bit much," Kieara Smith said. "They're trying to be all technological to prove a point. It's not really a personal touch. He's like some big, important guy."
Doreen Chapman, Eric's mother, is perturbed that Gould will not actually be present for the graduation.
"I don't see why he can't be here. It is a graduating class. It's the first of the new millennium," she said. "Whatever his title is, I think he should be there. He is collecting a paycheck. I think somebody of that importance with the school should be there in person."
Gould said he would be in California courtesy of the McGraw-Hill Cos., which is paying for him to take part in a conference on developing testing programs on the Internet. Though he could have taken a later flight from Philadelphia tonight to allow him to be present at the graduation, Gould said he saw it as an opportunity for a "teachable moment."
"The idea is to get people to understand what the digital world is all about," he said. "I figure one of the best places to see that central event is at graduation. It's what you're going to see more and more. Right now, the buzzword in the industry is called e-learning."
Senior Dave Pugh was critical of how Gould's remarks will be delivered.
Virtual Commencement: Cool, Connected Or 'A Bit Much'? John Gould May Make A Point When He Video-addresses Seniors At Morrisville High. But Not Everyone Is Thrilled.
June 13, 2000|By Lee Drutman, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
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MORRISVILLE — After Superintendent John Gould delivers his remarks at Morrisville High School's graduation tonight, he will not shake any hands, give any hugs, or hand out any diplomas.
It will be a "virtual graduation" for Gould.
From San Diego, Calif., he will be connected to the ceremony held for 80 graduates and their families through telephone lines and videoconferencing equipment. That way, he said, he will be able to "hammer home the point of what the virtual world is going to look like in the future."
Gould will appear at commencement on a 36-inch television screen in the courtyard of the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School. As he speaks about the use of technology and the impact it will have on life, he will observe student responses through a tiny Polycom view station owned by the school.
"Remember Max Headroom?" he asked. "They'll wheel me around in a box. It will be different."
Valedictorian Chris Muller said Gould's plan for an electronic coast-to-coast presence had merit.
"I think it's a good demonstration of practical technology," Muller said at a senior class picnic where he was taking a break from a volleyball game.
Salutatorian Eric Chapman agreed.
"It's pretty cool for him to make an appearance."
Other students were dubious.
"It's a bit much," Kieara Smith said. "They're trying to be all technological to prove a point. It's not really a personal touch. He's like some big, important guy."
Doreen Chapman, Eric's mother, is perturbed that Gould will not actually be present for the graduation.
"I don't see why he can't be here. It is a graduating class. It's the first of the new millennium," she said. "Whatever his title is, I think he should be there. He is collecting a paycheck. I think somebody of that importance with the school should be there in person."
Gould said he would be in California courtesy of the McGraw-Hill Cos., which is paying for him to take part in a conference on developing testing programs on the Internet. Though he could have taken a later flight from Philadelphia tonight to allow him to be present at the graduation, Gould said he saw it as an opportunity for a "teachable moment."
"The idea is to get people to understand what the digital world is all about," he said. "I figure one of the best places to see that central event is at graduation. It's what you're going to see more and more. Right now, the buzzword in the industry is called e-learning."
Senior Dave Pugh was critical of how Gould's remarks will be delivered.
October 9, 2003 BCCT:
"But Stephen Worob, a borough councilman who was a member of the school board, said the board had no right to have that conversation since some of its members will be gone after November's elections. He also chided them for using a feasibility study that he called a "sham" used by Superintendent John Gould to trick the board into approving a bond issue.
"I'm concerned that a lame-duck school board is dicsussing this," he said. You should wait until December so that the new board can decide how our dollars are spent".
And the rest is history. The "new board" he and many current Stay on Trackers helped get elected voted for the $30 million new school bond issue. At a post-victory party at HIS HOUSE, he got up on his furniture and proclaimed himself the "King of Morrisville".
How did that work out for Morrisville?
I'm changing the topic.
Thirteen (13) Morrisville teachers at the top next year that made $97,600 in school year 2011-2012. They should follow the Council Rock teachers example for a new contract.
Year 1 - Pay freeze
Year 2 - Move 1 step on guide. No change for people at top (pay freeze)
Year 3 - 0.5% increase for all teachers.
Council Rock teachers also graduate from 11% to 16% healthcare contribution over that time.
Good. Topics, like underwear, need to be changed from time to time.
Also, if there are 13 teachers at the tops, how many teachers aren't at the top? 60 or so, right?
I think the negotiations should certainly take into consideration the agreements occurring in other area districts.
I don't know the specifics of any of them, but is there a special reason why you chose Council Rock as the model?
Here's a BCCT article from Sept. 2011 on Tech's contract.
Bucks County Technical High School Teacher Contract Approved
9/7/2011
The Bucks County Technical School's Joint Board and the Bucks County Technical High School Education Association ratified a three-year teacher contract on August 22.
The three-year contract covers the 2010-2011 through the 2012-2013 school years. In an unprecedented move, the teachers agreed to a two-year wage freeze while contributing 5 percent more in 2012-2013 toward health care premiums.
The board's overall reaction was extremely positive, acknowledging that the contract talks were always cordial and productive.
"I truly appreciated the professionalism of the teachers at the Tech School," stated Gene Dolnick, the lead negotiator for the board. "The Board was looking for solutions to remain net neutral in this difficult economic climate and we believe both parties worked at making this happen. Having the teachers take a two year pay freeze was tremendous. This, along with savings from the health care and prescription plan made this contract acceptable to the majority of the board."
The three-year deal keeps teachers at their 2009-2010 salary levels through the 2011-12 school year while keeping their contribution of the health care premium at 10 percent during those two years. In the third year, the teachers' salary matrix will be based upon the average 2010 salaries of the six sending districts. This equates to an approximate 2.4 percent increase in teacher salaries for 2012-2013. To offset this increase, the teachers agreed to pay 15 percent toward their healthcare costs along with a change in their medical plan. In addition, the board and teachers have committed to joining a Bucks-Montgomery County Health Care Consortium whereby the school anticipates further savings.
The administrative director of the school, Leon Poeske, stated, "Entering into the Bucks-Montgomery County Health Care Trust Consortium should stabilize health insurance costs since the consortium will leverage the large number of employees throughout the region. Using the Allegheny County Consortium in Pittsburgh as a model, this consortium should contain and possibly lower health care costs. In the long run, this should be a win-win for everyone."
Theresa Prato, the President of the Teacher's Association, was pleased with the outcome. She stated, "The teachers at this school are a dedicated group that understands the fiscal realities of the local and U.S. economies. We believe the pay freeze will help save programs at the Tech school. I am proud of our teachers. We are happy to have secured a contract. We realize it is a two year pay freeze but we also realize the economic climate in our region. Most of us live in this community and we hear what our community says. The teachers really wanted to keep the salaries on an average of our sending districts and this contract accomplished this. Keep in mind this is an average based on 2010 numbers."
Overall, the tech school's costs over the three years will actually be less than originally projected. This was due to the teachers' accepting a pay freeze while modifying the health and prescription plans in addition to an increase contribution to health premiums.
In addition, an early retirement incentive offered by the school will save money over the next three to five years. Sharon Rendeiro, the school's business administrator, feels that the costs were neutralized by the savings.
"Even in our current economy, I believe the school is being fiscally responsible to the community while offering a top-notch education for students," she said.
Classes for students attending the tech school began Aug. 30 for the new ninth grade students while all of the students, including the new freshmen, began Aug. 31.
I sat at the school board meetings when then-council member Steve Worob screamed like a crazy man at Ed Frankenfield and I've seen much more than one ridiculous tirade from Ron Stout. I figure DeWilde is just protecting them, just like Marlys Mihok who used to complain that her civil rights were being violated when she was limited to three minutes to speak but gleefully cut of people in midsentence as the mistress of the timepiece.
The whole group of them are morally bankrupt and have left the boro just as bankrupt.
Tech's doesn't sound all that different from Council Rock's, but the devil's in the details. How else has reached an agreement around here recently? Neshaminy? No, don't go there. Below is an article on Centennial District.
Centennial School Board extends teachers' contract
Published: Thursday, June 21, 2012
By Natalya Bucuy
Journal Register News Service
The Centennial School District approved an extension of its teachers’ contract until 2016 at the last board meeting June 12.
The extension, which will prolong the current contract singed in 2011, changes some of the salary increase scales and adds a retirement incentive to eligible teachers in the district.
The retirement incentive, which allows those who retire early to receive three annual $10,000 payments after leaving the district, caused some controversy on the board as two members voted against the extension because of the incentive.
Jane Schrader Lynch said she was “diametrically opposed” to the incentive and therefore voted against the whole extended contract.
Betty Huf said that current economic state makes it incredibly hard to be flexible with the retirement pay-outs.
“I can’t see us giving this kind of money away,” she said.
Other board members voted in favor of the contract, stating that the teachers union has come up with many compromises.
“The education association has really come to the table with this,” said Michael Hartline, board member and the head of labor relations committee.
He added that with the new contract the district with end up with about $500,000 in saving over the course of four years.
A maximum of 27 retiring teachers would be eligible for the retirement incentive. The saving the district will see would come from the saving in salaries and benefits in the contract.
The original contract insured a 1.75 percent pay raise for 2012-13 and a 1.5 percent raise for 2013-14 for the district teachers.
The new extended contract changes the raises, spreading the increases over the next four years.
In school year 2012-2013, teachers will receive a 1 percent pay raise. In the following two years the raise will be 0.75 percent, and in the final 2015-2016 the increases will be at 1 percent.
That would be "who" else has reached an agreement around here?
And I'll 2nd the post that came in the middle of mine. It pretty much sums up the last 30 years in Morrisville.
The same names have been in the thick of it all, yet they want you to think they're the righteous saviors and protectors of the people. The massive steaming pile of evidence proves otherwise.
Official: Contract Benefits Both Sides
25 May 2012 — Bucks County Courier Times
By DANNY ADLER/Staff writer
Bensalem Township School District's budget guru on Thursday said that a new six-year contract with the teachers union contains enough reductions in cost increases that it will pay for salary increases.
Jack Myers, the director of business operations, and Bob Cardillo, the director of human resources, were the central negotiators on the district side. Myers said the key to the new contract was "cost avoidance."
"We have reduced the amount of increase," Myers said in a phone interview.
The contract with the Bensalem Township Education Association, which represents about 460 members, contains salary increases ranging from 0.5 percent to 2.2 percent over the next five years. Combined, the increases provide a 7.2 percent salary adjustment over the six years.
Thanks! On the surface, all of the contracts are pretty lean, which is appropriate because times are lean. Increases over the life of the contracts seem to be around 1%/yr.
I guess that I should have made your point about lean times at the beginning. The majority of Morrisville's teachers are caring and talented people, but given the economy and school district's and community's issues the teachers may need to step up and do the right thing to help the school district keep programs and personnel.
The parents may need to realize that you can't keep everything but they should demand the school board do its best with the limited resources.
Stop the bickering, forget but learn from the past, and make Morrisville School District the best it can be.
Great post. I would love to stop the bickering. How do you deal with pathological lying bullies and massive hypocrisy used for power and political gain perpetrated over the course of decades? Just look the other way? Slink away or under the radar? I feel you have to counter it as best you can with facts.
I'm not a bickering person by nature. I don't think the Morrisville Matters board members are either. But frustration with the same old same olds and their antics can get to you sometimes. Not everyone is laid back and can just let it go instantly.
The real problem is that in these hard economic times, we all need to pull together. Frankly, the toxic political atmosphere leftover in Morrisville from the last 30 years of mismanagement almost guarantees distrust all around.
The only thing that makes me smile is that the same people who made this steaming pile are still around to see it all explode. But then I remember we're all left here to see the same explosion.
It's just as hard on the ears and the soul, but I much prefer the lifetime bickerers bickering from the public podium as opposed to preening and posturing at the dais.
Let's join together in defeating the remaining bickerers and their enablers at the polls!
Mission not accomplished - yet.
Here is the recent BCCT article on Council Rock's contract.
CR board approves budget, teachers and support staff contracts
By Chris English Staff Writer | Posted: Friday, June 22, 2012 4:00 am
At a busy meeting Thursday night, the Council Rock school board approved the final 2012-13 budget and new three-year contract for the teachers and support staff.
The $201.8 million budget, which passed 5-4, includes a property tax increase of 1.88 mills, or $71 for a resident with a property assessed at the school district average of $38,000. It also uses $2.35 million in reserves.
The board voted 8-1 to approve a new three-year contract for the 853-member Council Rock Education Association, which includes teachers, guidance counselors, librarians and several other positions. It includes a complete pay freeze for 2012-2013, a slight step increase in the second half of 2013-2014 for union members not at the top of the scale, and a 0.5 percent pay increase for all members in 2014-2015.
Also, health insurance premium contributions for CREA members will increase from 11 to 16 percent by the end of the contract.
The board voted 6-3 to approve a new three-year contract for the 503-member Council Rock Educational Support Professional Association. It includes raises of 0.5 percent in 2012-2013, 1 percent in 2013-2014 and 1.5 percent in 2014-2015. Members of CRESPA include teacher assistants, cafeteria aides and several other positions.
Health insurance premium contributions for CRESPA members will increase from 4 percent to 9 percent for members making more than $32,000 a year and 6 percent for those making less than that amount by the final year of the deal.
School board member Jerold Grupp voted against both contracts. While commending negotiators on both sides for their hard work, he had problems with both deals. Among them were he felt it should be taking more than 11 years for CREA members to be reaching the top of the salary scale, and new hires in both unions should be contributing more toward their health insurance premiums.
The budget that was passed leaves total property tax millage at 112.56, or $4,277 for the average property owner. It represents a 1.7 percent increase in taxes, or the initial maximum increase allowed the district under the state’s Act 1 index. However, an exception granted later would have allowed an increase of 3.41 mills, or $130 for the average property owner.
Board members Kyle McKessy, Wendi Thomas, Bernadette Heenan and Paul Anagnostakos voted no on the budget. They preferred an alternative that would have raised taxes only 1.55 percent, or 1.72 mills, and used $2.55 million in reserves. A 1.72-mill increase would have been $65 for the average property owner.
Superintendent Mark Klein said the tax increase will help the school district pay a $3.85 million increase in its contribution to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement system (PSERs) for 2012-2013.
Excluding the PSERs increase, total expenditures for 2012-2013 are lower than this school year, Klein said.
Some audience members told the board it should have used more in reserves and passed a no tax increase budget for next school year.
“We believe you can draw from your reserves without the need for a tax increase,” said Upper Makefield resident Barbara Breeden. “There is no need to raise taxes. The money you have is really the peoples’ money and the public is asking you give that money back.”
But most board members felt they must be careful about dipping too much into reserves because the district’s PSERs contributions will continue to go up rapidly in the next few years.
“We have to be in a position to handle that,” said Grupp.
Board member Bill Foster added it’s wise to keep reserves at a healthy level because of uncertainties about how much money the school district will be getting from the state from year to year.
Times are hard everywhere, for sure.
Have any of the other districts had no tax increases like we have? all our teachers pay taxes somewhere as well.
Also where do the different districts fall as far as how much they pay a top teacher?
Did I miss something? After watching the Agenda Meeting I was wondering why Mr Ferrara said he'd be allowing Mr. Harm to run the High School more, but his job title will be Educational Consultant to Administration. That title doesn't match what they say he will be doing.
I agree. It doesn't quite add up. Mr. Ferrara also belatedly admitted that he was spread too thin and wasn't involved enough in curriculum K-12 because he was trying to do everything. This was during discussions about how Kindergarten specials weren't really fully offered last year. The discussions starts around 43:00.
I was there, but I just watched a little of the video of the 6/20 agenda meeting. The audio stinks!
Below are excerpts from the 6/20 agenda meeting that will be up for a vote this Wed. (6/27). What is the purpose of the changes in title for Mr. Harm and Mr. Gesualdi?
It may be harmless (no pun intended, well, maybe it was) semantics, but a cynical part of me thinks there's more to it than that.
2. Board action is requested to approve the following appointments:
a. Donald Harm as an Educational Advisor for Administration for the 2012-13 School
Year.
b. Anthony Gesualdi as an Educational Advisor for Special Education for the 2012-13
School Year.
Loophole jumping.
Do you know what the loophole is? What is being avoided by this?
How can Ferrara be spread too thin? For years Morrisville has been plagued with high priced administrators who do nothing. The SOC school board identified a credible candidate who could do the Assistant Principal/Principal/Curriculum Coordinator/Cook and Bottle Washer/Superintendent job at the Morrisville Senior High/Junior High/Proto-Elementary/One Building School.
If he's not up to the job, dump him and get someone who can.
SOC was so sure they had their man that they didn't post the position and didn't interview any other candidates.
Mr. Ferrara just got a 3-year deal @ $120,000/yr. Do you want to buy out the remaining 2 years? With bennies, etc., it would proably cost at least $300,000. I'm not advocating this, I'm just stating that there's a signifcant cost involved (see Yonson, Dr. Elizabeth, Fineburg, Elizabeth, et al.)
The loophole is that you have to change Harm's and Gesualdi's titles or It would effect thier State retirement money they are now receiving!!! It was set up to stop double dipping but people found ways around it by changing ones title.
Oh, great, in these tough economic times, when everything else is getting pinched and belts are getting tightened, they're pulling an end run so these guys can continue double-dipping on retirement money?
Screw that. If that's the case, I hope it gets voted down. But are there 5 No votes on this board?
Reward your friends, punish your enemies. The SOC Way. Cut some more programs, sports, kindergarten and specials to make up for it. Lock them into multi-year deals too while you're at it.
Don't explain it at all if you're not asked, and don't explain it in a coherent way if you are asked.
September 2010
PhillyBurbs.com: District head resigns
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
High school principal William Ferrara was named acting superintendent.
Morrisville School District Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson resigned effective Wednesday, and the board named principal William Ferrara as acting superintendent.
Board President Bill Hellmann wouldn't discuss the reason for Yonson's resignation and simply said after the meeting that he didn't comment on personnel matters.
District parents had been speculating about such a move for weeks and even asked school board members about it at the August meeting, but they were mum on the issue. Yonson had been absent from the board's previous three meetings.
At Wednesday's meeting, members didn't discuss or provide any details; instead they made the motions and votes were cast to accept Yonson's resignation and appoint Ferrara. The votes were 6-0 in favor of both motions. Board members Brenda Worob, Gloria Heater and Robin Reithmeyer weren't at the meeting.
Ferrara will carry on being the principal of the Morrisville Intermediate and the high school, as well as the acting superintendent of the 900-student district.
Hellmann said he didn't know how long the arrangement would be for. Ferrara's salary hasn't been determined and his contract has not been drafted.
"We wouldn't have hired him if he didn't think he could do the job," Hellmann said.
"WE DON'T THINK WE ARE SPREADING HIM TOO THIN," board member Marlys Mihok said after the meeting.
"Actually, (Ferrara) suggested (combining the positions)," Hellman said.
After the meeting, Ferrara said not much will change in the district level, and praised the teachers and the district administration.
"A lot of good things are happening and we'll continue to do our best," he said.
As for juggling both positions, Ferrara said he's done it before, so the district will be fine for some time and "if we are going to bring someone else we should take our time to get a qualified person in here."
Parent Jon Perry said he has nothing against Ferrara, but his frustration is towards the board's handling of the issue because they didn't communicate with the public about the possibility of Yonson's resignation when they were asked in August.
So, lemme get this straight:
Marlys Mihok was wrong, and Ferrara didn't admit he was spread too thin until after the 2011-12 school year was over, even though Donald Harm was specifically hired to keep him from being spread too thin?
Yes, but you left out one thing:
Parent Jon Perry is a whiny sand-pounding blogheaded hobgoblin!
Jon I think you're too tall to be a hobgoblin. Maybe you should stick with being a hero who speaks truth to arrogant officeholders.
What is the total cost of Harm and Gesualdi's salary? On another post I saw somebody mention $160,000 in Bristol's healthcare consortium savings. How much for Manor Park lawsuit? Whats that add up to, near 3/4 of a million dollars? How about we put back some programs and make sure our students don't experience Neshaminy's contract situation with some of that money? Or would that make to much sense?
Round #'s
Gesaualdi = 100K
Harm = 60K, 75K?
Manor Park lawsuit = 300K
Manor Park lost rental income = 30K/yr
Tech Lawsuit = ???
Yonson buyout = ???
Wandling = 25K (up to)
At least fix the auditorium sound and lighting, but especially sound, and get some playground equipment for the soon to be 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. graders at the High School, instead of laying it all on the PTO.
This is a link to a facebook page where there are photos of the modular classrooms being taken out of Grandview.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/media/set/?set=a.400526233315843.77733972.156974577671011&type=1
Beautiful day. Is that a Crepe Myrtle Tree next to the Port-a-Potty?
It's the Brenda Worob, Republican PR, exclusionary ceremony tree, although it doesn't at all look like a tree to me, more of a shrub. Maybe they should have spent more time picking out the "tree" and less time plotting & scheming. LOL sorry I forgot who we were talking about.
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