I didn't see a lot of discussion on this so I reposted it from before.
Anonymous said... Anonymous said...Let's whisper this and see if it catches fire. Damon Miller for VP.
Screw that. Damon Miller for President.
Monday, July 30, 2012 Anonymous said... Damon Miller or Wanda Kartal would both be good choices for Pres. Dewilde is shackled by having to deal with Worob and Mihok (from the peaNUT gallery).
Who isn't shackled by having to deal w/Worob and Mihok from the peaNUT gallery?That said, Miller and Kartal are good alternatives. Miller is pretty calm and steady and has been involved for a long time.
Educators testify students don't know much about history
Posted on August 1, 2012 by Gary Weckselblatt
American history is getting short shrift in public school as educators are forced to “teach to the test” and subjects like reading and math are given greater priority.
That was the consensus of K-12 teachers and college professors at an informal House Education Committee hearing Tuesday on American history curriculum.
“We lose a month of instructional time to standardized testing,” said Matthew Smith, a social studies supervisor for the Pennridge School District.
Smith criticized the tests for containing embarrassing mistakes, and said he has major issues with how they are developed. He told lawmakers he has nightmares that rather than educate students the tests force a “high stakes games of trivial pursuit.”
And those tests are not preparing high school graduates for college level work, according to professors.
Daniel Wilson of Muhlenberg said he sees weak students at his school, known for its strong academics.
“If I’m seeing students that are weak, what about those students not coming to Muhlenberg?,” he said. “I’m worried about the state of preparation for the students that I see.”
State Rep. Paul Clymer, R-145, a history buff, called for the hearing, which was held at the Upper County Campus of Bucks County Community College in East Rockhill.
Clymer, chairman of the committee, said the topic is an important one because too many people “take our freedom and liberties for granted. They don’t have the knowledge for the deeper appreciation of how we developed as a nation.”
Tuesday’s hearing included two panels: college professors Rik Booraem of BCCC, David Snyder of Delaware Valley College and Wilson; and a panel of K-12 teachers, Janet Bassett and Chad Evans of Quakertown, Robert Schlegel of Palisades and Smith of Pennridge.
Nicole Roper, a teacher at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia and a board member of the Pennsylvania Council of the Social Studies, also spoke.
She said the push for math and reading is understandable, but “that does not excuse the loss of our heritage and understanding of our national history. We need to encourage our students at all levels to understand our history and government.”
Wilson, of Muhlenberg, said his former students who became teachers “are feeling under siege. They’re feeling squeezed” as districts fold social studies classes into reading to make more time for math.
“I think that’s a mistake,” he said. “We need a historically informed citizenry.”
Snyder, of DelVal, said “the problem with high stakes testing is that it doesn’t help students get the story of history. They’re really only looking for that one answer. If they’re going to be successful in life they have to integrate what they know in the larger picture.”
Schlegel said Palisades stresses the use of curriculum across subjects, meaning he will use charts and graphs in his classes to help students see how math is useful in history.
But while he said he ties math, reading and writing into his classes, he asked “what’s done to reciprocate?”
James Roebuck Jr., the education committee’s Democratic chair and a former history instructor at Drexel, said the subject “remains the first love in my life.”
He pointed out “the lack of historical understanding of politicians” and said during the presidential campaign candidates have made “horrendous misstatements about history.”
BCCC President James J. Linksz described the discussion as an “engaging communication” between lawmakers and “actual practitioners.”
“I don’t know of anything a whole lot more important than how we get citizens better at the work they do, and that’s a conversation always worth having.”
Jokes aside. Very good talking points have been raised in this new post.
Damon Miller for President or VP is a real issue. ( I agree)
DeWilde shackled or a puppet or whatever, isn't a leader. He's being told what to do. And unless the admin changes, the results will be the same.
Teacher contract? Seriously, it's August and we haven't heard one darn thing regarding this except thru the grapevine that 10 or more teachers are gone.
Don Harm? Who? He wasnt available during the school year, why would he be in Morrisville in the summertime?
History repeating itself? It's groundhog day in this district.
Who's telling deWilde what to do? He showed independence from hardcore SOC wing by not voting for Radosti. Then again Angry Al was such a sucky choice that it wasn't courageous to reject his lame a$$. But he also buys just about everything Ferrara's selling. I suppose I answered my own question, though in addition to letting Ferrara work his strings he shows too much deference to bozos like Worob.
Are you kidding? Who is telling DeWilde what to do? Do you go to the meetings, do you watch the videos? All you hear is Ferraro whispering to him and telling him what to do? Can you not see the puppet strings?
Question: Who is telling Ferrara what to do? He went from an Assistant Principal to Superintendant in 5 quick years, is he qualified to run a District? He had his fling at Neshaminy and left Salisbury for Morrisville. How much experience does he really have. I wonder who is pulling his strings , just a thought.
Sidewalk? Seriously? Who the hell cares. How about the important things...
1. 8 year olds in the same building with 18-21 yr olds. 2. 15-20% of teachers gone. 3. administration giving themselves raises 4. sports and programs cut for kids 5. public being lied to about cuts 6. no contract for teachers 7. no contract for the janitors 8. people that don't have or value education making the decisions that effect education
""""Sidewalk? Seriously? Who the hell cares. How about the important things...
1. 8 year olds in the same building with 18-21 yr olds. (HAHA SOC NICE WAY TO TAKE AWAY THE ATTENTION OF EVERYTHING YOU STARTED WHEN THE BOILER BLEW UP, HAHA, NOW THATS FUNNY) 2. 15-20% of teachers gone.(THOSE TEACHERS RETIRED, YOU KNOW TEACHING FOR LIKE 30 YEARS OF TEACHING, ITS TIME TO GO) 3. administration giving themselves raises (REALLY, THAT WOULD BE CERTAIN BOARD MEMBERS VOTING FOR RAISES, ADMIN DOES NOT GET TO GIVE THEMSELVES RAISE) 4. sports and programs cut for kids (I AM PRETTY SURE I HEARD THIS BOARD VOTE TO ADD MS FOOTBALL BACK WHICH WAS CUT BY THE OLD BOARD AND IM PRETTY SURE I HEARD THEM TELLING ADMIN TO GET LIBRARY BACK AND KEEP ART AND FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN ETC GLAD I PAY ATTENTION WHEN VIEWING VIDEOS OR GOING TO MEETINGS MAYBE EVERYONE COMMENTING HERE SHOULD TOO) 5. public being lied to about cuts (REALLY, I AM PRETTY SURE EVERY MEETING I HAVE BEEN TO I HEAR MORE AND MORE INFO THAT NEVER CAME THRU FROM OLD BOARD, THEY DO THINGS OUT FRONT AND CHALLENGE THE ADMIN-WATCH THE VIDEOS YOU WILL SEE BUT THEN YOU CANT REALLY DO THAT WHEN YOU ARE TOO BUSY RUNNING THE MEETING FROM THE AUDIENCE, I SEE THAT ON VIDEO TOO) 6. no contract for teachers (ITS CALL NEGOTIATING, YOU KNOW, THATS WHAT YOU DO WHEN A CONTRACT COMES UP) 7. no contract for the janitors (AGAIN, NEGOTIATIONS, AND EVERYONE IS STILL WORKING. REALLY ARE YOU FOR REAL HAVE YOU ACTUALLY GONE TO A MEETING LATELY OR WATCHED THOSE NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN ACTION, IM GUESSING NO AND YOU REALLY SHOULD CAUSE YOU ARE SERIOUSLY IN THE DARK AND TRYING TO SPREAD MORE LIES) 8. people that don't have or value education making the decisions that effect education (PERHAPS YOU MEAN THOSE TWO IDIOTS STILL SITTING AT THE ONE END OF THE TABLE THAT SLEEP THRU MEETINGS AND DONT HAVE A CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEN THERE IS THAT OTHER GUY IN THE MIDDLE WHO IS LED BY THE CRAZY LADY IN THE AUDIENCE YOU CAN REALLY SEE ALOT FROM THE VIDEOS OR WHEN SITTING NEAR JANE BURGER, YES YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE HAHAHAHHA)
shall i continue? this is sad."""""( YES WHY DONT YOU CONTINUE AND WHY DONT YOU TELL A TRUTH FOR ONCE (WE ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE, REALLY, YOU THINK YOU ARE KIDDING WHO? NOT ONE DAM PERSON IN TOWN ANY LONGER, NOBODY IS LISTENING TO YOU, GO AWAY AND STAY AWAY IN THE CAVE YOU BELONG, I AM THRILLED TO SEE THOSE MM PEOPLE UP THERE AND BOY ARE THEY GETTING MY VOTE NEXT TIME AROUND AND ALL THEY ENDOROSE, BYE BYE SOC/SOT
Santarsiero rallies business leaders and residents to fight tax proposal By Joan Hellyer Staff Writer Posted on August 7, 2012 A local state lawmaker is calling on area business leaders and his constituents to fight a proposal to shift part of the local tax burden to the state’s income and sales tax.
Proponents of the shift are backing Pennsylvania House Bill 1776, currently waiting for backing from the state House’s appropriations committee.
The bill calls for a reduction, but not elimination of local property taxes, state Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, said Monday. The tax burden would be shifted to personal income and sales taxes. “Bureaucrats in Harrisburg” would decide which school districts would get the tax money to help pay for their operations, he said.
Items that could be taxed if HB 1776 takes effect include clothes over $50, nonprescription medicines, candy and gum, U.S. and state flags, and caskets, burial vaults, grave markers and tombstones, the state lawmaker said. Services that could be taxed include physical therapy, psychological counseling, chiropractic care, barber and hairstyling services, physical fitness facilities and funeral services.
“Initially, it sounds good, because (the bill’s supporters) say it will eliminate property taxes. But at the end of the day, the devil is in the details,” Santarsiero told more than a dozen business leaders and community residents late Monday afternoon during a meeting in Lower Makefield’s township building.
The state lawmaker said his push to stop HB 1776 before it gains momentum in the House has nothing to do with his Republican opponent’s support for it.
Anne Chapman, who will challenge Santarsiero for his seat in the November election, is backing HB 1776. Chapman explained why earlier this year in a primary election questionnaire sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
“I support House Bill 1976, which will eliminate all property taxes and nuisance taxes and fund our schools in a more equitable and fair way based on ability to pay and encompassing everyone in the state as well as visitor/consumers, thus eliminating the centuries-old method of taxing our homes,” Chapman said in the questionnaire.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in its attempts Monday to reach Chapman for comment about Santarsiero’s battle to do away with the proposal.
The Lower Makefield resident hosted the first of two meetings on Monday in his district to rally support against HB 1776. He asked the business leaders to contact state lawmakers to voice their concerns about the proposed legislation. Most agreed.
Jim Worthington, owner and operator of the Newtown Athletic Club in Newtown Township, was among those who promised to help spread the word. Worthington said he knows firsthand how such a sales tax could impact a business.
In addition to the NAC, he also is one of the owners of a fitness facility in Flemington, N.J. The athletic club has not raised its members’ dues in about seven years since just such a sales tax took effect in New Jersey.
Revenues have remained flat and the club has had to lay off about three dozen workers to help cover expenses, Worthington said. He expects a similar scenario at the NAC if HB 1776 is adopted.
“It’s hard to believe that Republicans that are supposed to be pro-business are pushing this,” Worthington said. He promised to write to state lawmakers and let other health club operators know about the potential impact of the legislation.
Carla Carter, who operates Headstrong Hair Salon in the Oxford Oaks Center in Lower Makefield, also promised to do what she could to fight the proposed legislation.
“It’s just a nightmare,” Carter said.
Santarsiero will host a second meeting with business leaders at 5 p.m. on Aug. 13 in the Council Rock School District’s Chancellor Center in Newtown to further discuss HB 1776.
This Bill HB1776 has TEA-BAG written all over it. TEA-BAG to me means lots of zeal, not lots of thought or care about unintended consequences. Are there problems with school funding? Yes, but I don't think this is the solution.
Posted: Wednesday, August 8, 2012 5:00 am | Updated: 7:31 am, Wed Aug 8, 2012.
Arguing against House Bill 1776, so numbered because it declares “independence” from hated property taxes, state Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, warns “the devil is in the details.”
He’s right about that.
For starters, the measure would not completely eliminate property taxes until its second year on the books; it would merely freeze them in the first year. But even in its second year, when the tax is said to be eliminated, the measure would allow a small portion to be retained in each school district in order to retire outstanding long-term debt.
How small? How long? And would it be capped?
Devilish details?
We raise the questions not because we’re fans of the property tax. We’re not. We have long held that property taxes are unfair because they are not based on the ability to pay. Ask any senior on a fixed income whose property taxes continue to climb — as they almost always do. Or ask anybody who in today’s down economy have had their pay or hours cut, or, worse, lost his or her job. No doubt their property taxes have not likewise declined.
On its face, HB 1776 is alluring because it promises fairness. It would achieve that by replacing property taxes — as well as local income and nuisance taxes — with expanded state income and sales taxes. In theory, this is a more equitable way to tax people because the taxes are based on the ability to pay. The more you earn and consume, the more you pay.
Pretty simple.
But simple solutions aren’t always the best solutions.
So points out the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, which calls HB 1776 “an extreme solution to a targeted problem.” And by targeted they mean regional. In most of the state’s rural areas property taxes are not onerous as they admittedly are in this part of the state. So it’s a broad solution to a limited problem.
The bigger issue, however, is the impact on school district funding. And that’s not to say that school districts don’t get enough money. They get plenty of support from taxpayers, possibly too much. Problem is, those resources are unevenly distributed, landing largely in the paychecks of generously compensated unionized teachers and highly paid administrators. But that’s the reality of public education, one that school boards over time must change.
Meanwhile, under HB 1776 school boards could be forced to make do with much less. Though the measure calls for an even tax swap, revenue could fluctuate as the economy gyrates. Over the last three years, for example, the down economy would have produced a loss of over $1.3 billion in school funding statewide, according to the budget and policy center, which warns: “Children need the same access to education in good times as bad.”
The center also points out that the bill would eliminate property taxes for corporations as well as homeowners and small businesses. Conceivably, that’s a revenue loss those same homeowners would have to make up.
These and other issues not raised here need to be explored in greater detail before HB 1776, currently pulled from the legislative agenda, resurfaces for consideration. When it does, we urge lawmakers to give the bill a more thorough review than it has so far received.
To be clear, we believe property taxes are burdensome and unfair. But we’re concerned that the “Property Tax Independence Act” could create more problems than it fixes.
She was just given a decent raise at the June 27 Board Meeting ostensibly to retain her. If this rumnor is true, is it fair to assume that it was known at the 6/27 meeting that she was leaving, and so the raise was really to try to attract her successor?
It will be possible to get a better replacement. Who or what can you attract at that cost though? I feel Ruffing was too green and in over her head. Grant writing suffered too b/c the SOC S.B. didn't consider it important enough. Ruffing was low cost as principals go. The maxim you get what you pay for usually holds true.
That sounds marvelous. Splendid. Make it so! As a novel alternative, you could do a legitimate job search, like the kind that wasn't done for Ruffing, Ferrara, or Harm. See what the free market economy produces. Don't go communist no choice planned econony again.
Haven't heard any updates from Superintendent, MM Board, or SOC bored regarding teacher contract? Anybody else? Maybe Ms. Ruffing got out of the kitchen before the heat became a fire?
Ruffing's not under the teacher's contract so am having trouble understanding the logic. Because she's admin & got her raise while teacher's work indefinitely w/o a contract? Oh, yeah, Okay I see. Don't forget MESPA they've been w/o contract for longer.
Interesting. I wonder if somebody could look up the board minutes and see how much money the administration recommended and board approved in order to get a free degree/certification on the community's $ for themselves. Ferrara, DeAngelo, Ruffing? Eerily similar to the sweet insurance deal they gave themselves in order to stomach their supposed pay freeze a year ago. And what about the raises they've given themselves this year? But hey, as long as taxes don't go up.
I didn't like those raises. It wasn't right in these tough times, and it makes a bad impression during the ongoing teachers and MESPA contract negotiations. I really didn't Ferrara's rationale for Ruffing's raise, something like we need to pay more for this position to make it more attractive to other candidates. That implied he knew then that Ruffing was bailing. Kudos to those who voted no. The ones who voted yes missed the boat. It wasn't major dollars but a No vote would have sent a better message. By the way, did Harm's salary go from 60K to 65K? That's an 8.33% jump? If that's so, that one really hurts. He's not going anywhere and so what if he does?
Here's another example of where things are out of whack.
At a recent meeting, business manager Paul Deangelo got reimbursed over $6000 for some courses he took. One course was related to contract negotiations.
That sends an odd message.
Here's a free negotiating tip: don't put in for over $6000 in extracurricular reimbursements, including over $2000 for a contract negotiating class, during contract negotiations. Especially not long after you inked your own 3 year deal at over 6 figures per with little fanfare.
Apparently they do go unnoticed, and unfortunately, all of these things don't matter. Teachers are greedy. Education is unimportant. Janitors can be outsourced to lowest private crap company (see renovation crew). But the line is toed on taxes. People stay in elected office. And those at the top continue to sweeten their own deals bc they control everyone and everything.
It's really disturbing how anti-tax hatred and fervor have escalated beyond religious proportions. It's right up there with abortion. It distorts our priorities as a society.
Is there a way to see all the things that have been cut (but not cut bc we don't cut anything) over the last few years? It seems like an awful lot of things going unnoticed. Buildings, programs, athletics, teachers, aids, etc...gotta be millions of dollars in not cuts. What about the money the teachers are to spend on their books/supplies/equipment? Another not cut that doesn't impact the students. That's probably a large amount of not cutting there too. I wish we could see it. But I guess the money has to come from somewhere in order to pay administration's carte blanch tuition, fluffy insurance plans, and 5-10% raises per year.
Your request involves personnel, real estate, and/or litigation. Nouns. People, places, or things. Hence, it is off limits from discussion by Mihok's Theorem of Non-Transparency.
Last time I checked, she wasn't on the board anymore. She lost in the last election. There are certain things that legitimately can't be discussed in public. This isn't one of them.
64 comments:
Thank God Perry couldnt take that guys face any longer when we log in
I didn't see a lot of discussion on this so I reposted it from before.
Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...Let's whisper this and see if it catches fire. Damon Miller for VP.
Screw that. Damon Miller for President.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Anonymous said...
Damon Miller or Wanda Kartal would both be good choices for Pres.
Dewilde is shackled by having to deal with Worob and Mihok (from the peaNUT gallery).
Monday, July 30, 2012
Family dental insurance for children of U.S. Congressmen must not be all it's cracked up to be.
Who isn't shackled by having to deal w/Worob and Mihok from the peaNUT gallery?That said, Miller and Kartal are good alternatives. Miller is pretty calm and steady and has been involved for a long time.
Is there a Superintend. mtg. in August?
He's still staring at me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just look away!
Jon, thanks for the new thread. I would have written THANK GOD, but someone beat me to it.
Anyone for pres and VP who isn't a toady to the morrisvillains.
Any word on the teacher contract?
no super meeting in august they start back after school is in session.
Anyone seen Don Harm this Summer ?? Or does he have vacation during the summer?
Shackled, no. Marionette, yes.
First, do no Harm. I haven't but I haven't been looking for him.
Educators testify students don't know much about history
Posted on August 1, 2012
by Gary Weckselblatt
American history is getting short shrift in public school as educators are forced to “teach to the test” and subjects like reading and math are given greater priority.
That was the consensus of K-12 teachers and college professors at an informal House Education Committee hearing Tuesday on American history curriculum.
“We lose a month of instructional time to standardized testing,” said Matthew Smith, a social studies supervisor for the Pennridge School District.
Smith criticized the tests for containing embarrassing mistakes, and said he has major issues with how they are developed. He told lawmakers he has nightmares that rather than educate students the tests force a “high stakes games of trivial pursuit.”
And those tests are not preparing high school graduates for college level work, according to professors.
Daniel Wilson of Muhlenberg said he sees weak students at his school, known for its strong academics.
“If I’m seeing students that are weak, what about those students not coming to Muhlenberg?,” he said. “I’m worried about the state of preparation for the students that I see.”
State Rep. Paul Clymer, R-145, a history buff, called for the hearing, which was held at the Upper County Campus of Bucks County Community College in East Rockhill.
Clymer, chairman of the committee, said the topic is an important one because too many people “take our freedom and liberties for granted. They don’t have the knowledge for the deeper appreciation of how we developed as a nation.”
Tuesday’s hearing included two panels: college professors Rik Booraem of BCCC, David Snyder of Delaware Valley College and Wilson; and a panel of K-12 teachers, Janet Bassett and Chad Evans of Quakertown, Robert Schlegel of Palisades and Smith of Pennridge.
Nicole Roper, a teacher at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia and a board member of the Pennsylvania Council of the Social Studies, also spoke.
She said the push for math and reading is understandable, but “that does not excuse the loss of our heritage and understanding of our national history. We need to encourage our students at all levels to understand our history and government.”
Wilson, of Muhlenberg, said his former students who became teachers “are feeling under siege. They’re feeling squeezed” as districts fold social studies classes into reading to make more time for math.
“I think that’s a mistake,” he said. “We need a historically informed citizenry.”
Snyder, of DelVal, said “the problem with high stakes testing is that it doesn’t help students get the story of history. They’re really only looking for that one answer. If they’re going to be successful in life they have to integrate what they know in the larger picture.”
Schlegel said Palisades stresses the use of curriculum across subjects, meaning he will use charts and graphs in his classes to help students see how math is useful in history.
But while he said he ties math, reading and writing into his classes, he asked “what’s done to reciprocate?”
James Roebuck Jr., the education committee’s Democratic chair and a former history instructor at Drexel, said the subject “remains the first love in my life.”
He pointed out “the lack of historical understanding of politicians” and said during the presidential campaign candidates have made “horrendous misstatements about history.”
BCCC President James J. Linksz described the discussion as an “engaging communication” between lawmakers and “actual practitioners.”
“I don’t know of anything a whole lot more important than how we get citizens better at the work they do, and that’s a conversation always worth having.”
Those who don't learn history are dumb to repeat it.
Apparently the ville (and the rest of the world) is chock full of people who failed history well before high-stakes testing. I call shenanigans!!:-)
Jokes aside. Very good talking points have been raised in this new post.
Damon Miller for President or VP is a real issue. ( I agree)
DeWilde shackled or a puppet or whatever, isn't a leader. He's being told what to do. And unless the admin changes, the results will be the same.
Teacher contract? Seriously, it's August and we haven't heard one darn thing regarding this except thru the grapevine that 10 or more teachers are gone.
Don Harm? Who? He wasnt available during the school year, why would he be in Morrisville in the summertime?
History repeating itself? It's groundhog day in this district.
good synopsis
Who's telling deWilde what to do? He showed independence from hardcore SOC wing by not voting for Radosti. Then again Angry Al was such a sucky choice that it wasn't courageous to reject his lame a$$.
But he also buys just about everything Ferrara's selling. I suppose I answered my own question, though in addition to letting Ferrara work his strings he shows too much deference to bozos like Worob.
Didn't mystery man Harm just get a pay raise?
All of administration got a raise if you had a minute to look at budget slideshow.
Teachers? Or should I wait till they pull a Neshaminy before I comment?
Comment in 4 years.
That is the attitude that put Neshaminy in the situation they are in today.
It probably didn't help to give Admin substantial raises during a time of contract negotiations.
Back to the silliness, any way to remove Chaka Khan's picture from the page?
Chaka Con, Chaka Gone!
Are you kidding? Who is telling DeWilde what to do? Do you go to the meetings, do you watch the videos? All you hear is Ferraro whispering to him and telling him what to do? Can you not see the puppet strings?
Question: Who is telling Ferrara what to do? He went from an Assistant Principal to Superintendant in 5 quick years, is he qualified to run a District? He had his fling at Neshaminy and left Salisbury for Morrisville. How much experience does he really have. I wonder who is pulling his strings , just a thought.
Tell me something good!
Something good?
Al Radosti isn't back on the school board.
That is something good. Speaking of Chaka, this one is the "man":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZII6ph6wVs
Something good?.....
Well I concur about the ex-board members being ex, but some thing good...hmmm....
The US is doing well in the olympics, currently at the top of the medal board.
The rain we've been getting is making everything grow like crazy.
Vacation season is upon us, and there are many nearby places worthy of time and attention.
While the Phillies have tossed in the towel on 2012, we can look forward to the Eagles, Flyers and Sixers seasons coming up.
Other "goog" things:
Ice cream on a hot day.
Grilling and beer.
Swimming in the river.
trips down the shore.
A feeling of hope that there might be less rancor about town with the change in SB leadership.
The list goes on, you just need to look around.
Good ones, so to speak. Keep 'em coming!
oh and by the way John Dewilde did vote yes for Radosti but then voted for Dingle too
No doubt he was rewarded with a large a raft of feces in his honor by FOL (Friends Of Al) for that. I respect your vote, John.
FOA not FOL, but I catch your drift that Dewilde's catching a drift of a poop laden raft.
Dunghy
n. A small crap filled boat
nice sidewalk at Grandview wonder how much we over paid for that
Sidewalk? Seriously? Who the hell cares. How about the important things...
1. 8 year olds in the same building with 18-21 yr olds.
2. 15-20% of teachers gone.
3. administration giving themselves raises
4. sports and programs cut for kids
5. public being lied to about cuts
6. no contract for teachers
7. no contract for the janitors
8. people that don't have or value education making the decisions that effect education
shall i continue? this is sad.
REALLY/////
""""Sidewalk? Seriously? Who the hell cares. How about the important things...
1. 8 year olds in the same building with 18-21 yr olds. (HAHA SOC NICE WAY TO TAKE AWAY THE ATTENTION OF EVERYTHING YOU STARTED WHEN THE BOILER BLEW UP, HAHA, NOW THATS FUNNY)
2. 15-20% of teachers gone.(THOSE TEACHERS RETIRED, YOU KNOW TEACHING FOR LIKE 30 YEARS OF TEACHING, ITS TIME TO GO)
3. administration giving themselves raises (REALLY, THAT WOULD BE CERTAIN BOARD MEMBERS VOTING FOR RAISES, ADMIN DOES NOT GET TO GIVE THEMSELVES RAISE)
4. sports and programs cut for kids (I AM PRETTY SURE I HEARD THIS BOARD VOTE TO ADD MS FOOTBALL BACK WHICH WAS CUT BY THE OLD BOARD AND IM PRETTY SURE I HEARD THEM TELLING ADMIN TO GET LIBRARY BACK AND KEEP ART AND FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN ETC GLAD I PAY ATTENTION WHEN VIEWING VIDEOS OR GOING TO MEETINGS MAYBE EVERYONE COMMENTING HERE SHOULD TOO)
5. public being lied to about cuts (REALLY, I AM PRETTY SURE EVERY MEETING I HAVE BEEN TO I HEAR MORE AND MORE INFO THAT NEVER CAME THRU FROM OLD BOARD, THEY DO THINGS OUT FRONT AND CHALLENGE THE ADMIN-WATCH THE VIDEOS YOU WILL SEE BUT THEN YOU CANT REALLY DO THAT WHEN YOU ARE TOO BUSY RUNNING THE MEETING FROM THE AUDIENCE, I SEE THAT ON VIDEO TOO)
6. no contract for teachers (ITS CALL NEGOTIATING, YOU KNOW, THATS WHAT YOU DO WHEN A CONTRACT COMES UP)
7. no contract for the janitors (AGAIN, NEGOTIATIONS, AND EVERYONE IS STILL WORKING. REALLY ARE YOU FOR REAL HAVE YOU ACTUALLY GONE TO A MEETING LATELY OR WATCHED THOSE NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN ACTION, IM GUESSING NO AND YOU REALLY SHOULD CAUSE YOU ARE SERIOUSLY IN THE DARK AND TRYING TO SPREAD MORE LIES)
8. people that don't have or value education making the decisions that effect education (PERHAPS YOU MEAN THOSE TWO IDIOTS STILL SITTING AT THE ONE END OF THE TABLE THAT SLEEP THRU MEETINGS AND DONT HAVE A CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEN THERE IS THAT OTHER GUY IN THE MIDDLE WHO IS LED BY THE CRAZY LADY IN THE AUDIENCE YOU CAN REALLY SEE ALOT FROM THE VIDEOS OR WHEN SITTING NEAR JANE BURGER, YES YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE HAHAHAHHA)
shall i continue? this is sad."""""( YES WHY DONT YOU CONTINUE AND WHY DONT YOU TELL A TRUTH FOR ONCE (WE ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE, REALLY, YOU THINK YOU ARE KIDDING WHO? NOT ONE DAM PERSON IN TOWN ANY LONGER, NOBODY IS LISTENING TO YOU, GO AWAY AND STAY AWAY IN THE CAVE YOU BELONG, I AM THRILLED TO SEE THOSE MM PEOPLE UP THERE AND BOY ARE THEY GETTING MY VOTE NEXT TIME AROUND AND ALL THEY ENDOROSE, BYE BYE SOC/SOT
Ron Stout's sketch of that sidewalk is fantastic.
Santarsiero rallies business leaders and residents to fight tax proposal
By Joan Hellyer Staff Writer
Posted on August 7, 2012
A local state lawmaker is calling on area business leaders and his constituents to fight a proposal to shift part of the local tax burden to the state’s income and sales tax.
Proponents of the shift are backing Pennsylvania House Bill 1776, currently waiting for backing from the state House’s appropriations committee.
The bill calls for a reduction, but not elimination of local property taxes, state Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, said Monday. The tax burden would be shifted to personal income and sales taxes. “Bureaucrats in Harrisburg” would decide which school districts would get the tax money to help pay for their operations, he said.
Items that could be taxed if HB 1776 takes effect include clothes over $50, nonprescription medicines, candy and gum, U.S. and state flags, and caskets, burial vaults, grave markers and tombstones, the state lawmaker said. Services that could be taxed include physical therapy, psychological counseling, chiropractic care, barber and hairstyling services, physical fitness facilities and funeral services.
“Initially, it sounds good, because (the bill’s supporters) say it will eliminate property taxes. But at the end of the day, the devil is in the details,” Santarsiero told more than a dozen business leaders and community residents late Monday afternoon during a meeting in Lower Makefield’s township building.
The state lawmaker said his push to stop HB 1776 before it gains momentum in the House has nothing to do with his Republican opponent’s support for it.
Anne Chapman, who will challenge Santarsiero for his seat in the November election, is backing HB 1776. Chapman explained why earlier this year in a primary election questionnaire sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
“I support House Bill 1976, which will eliminate all property taxes and nuisance taxes and fund our schools in a more equitable and fair way based on ability to pay and encompassing everyone in the state as well as visitor/consumers, thus eliminating the centuries-old method of taxing our homes,” Chapman said in the questionnaire.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in its attempts Monday to reach Chapman for comment about Santarsiero’s battle to do away with the proposal.
The Lower Makefield resident hosted the first of two meetings on Monday in his district to rally support against HB 1776. He asked the business leaders to contact state lawmakers to voice their concerns about the proposed legislation. Most agreed.
Jim Worthington, owner and operator of the Newtown Athletic Club in Newtown Township, was among those who promised to help spread the word. Worthington said he knows firsthand how such a sales tax could impact a business.
In addition to the NAC, he also is one of the owners of a fitness facility in Flemington, N.J. The athletic club has not raised its members’ dues in about seven years since just such a sales tax took effect in New Jersey.
Revenues have remained flat and the club has had to lay off about three dozen workers to help cover expenses, Worthington said. He expects a similar scenario at the NAC if HB 1776 is adopted.
“It’s hard to believe that Republicans that are supposed to be pro-business are pushing this,” Worthington said. He promised to write to state lawmakers and let other health club operators know about the potential impact of the legislation.
Carla Carter, who operates Headstrong Hair Salon in the Oxford Oaks Center in Lower Makefield, also promised to do what she could to fight the proposed legislation.
“It’s just a nightmare,” Carter said.
Santarsiero will host a second meeting with business leaders at 5 p.m. on Aug. 13 in the Council Rock School District’s Chancellor Center in Newtown to further discuss HB 1776.
This Bill HB1776 has TEA-BAG written all over it. TEA-BAG to me means lots of zeal, not lots of thought or care about unintended consequences. Are there problems with school funding? Yes, but I don't think this is the solution.
Property tax independence? Maybe -- maybe not
Posted: Wednesday, August 8, 2012 5:00 am | Updated: 7:31 am, Wed Aug 8, 2012.
Arguing against House Bill 1776, so numbered because it declares “independence” from hated property taxes, state Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, warns “the devil is in the details.”
He’s right about that.
For starters, the measure would not completely eliminate property taxes until its second year on the books; it would merely freeze them in the first year. But even in its second year, when the tax is said to be eliminated, the measure would allow a small portion to be retained in each school district in order to retire outstanding long-term debt.
How small? How long? And would it be capped?
Devilish details?
We raise the questions not because we’re fans of the property tax. We’re not. We have long held that property taxes are unfair because they are not based on the ability to pay. Ask any senior on a fixed income whose property taxes continue to climb — as they almost always do. Or ask anybody who in today’s down economy have had their pay or hours cut, or, worse, lost his or her job. No doubt their property taxes have not likewise declined.
On its face, HB 1776 is alluring because it promises fairness. It would achieve that by replacing property taxes — as well as local income and nuisance taxes — with expanded state income and sales taxes. In theory, this is a more equitable way to tax people because the taxes are based on the ability to pay. The more you earn and consume, the more you pay.
Pretty simple.
But simple solutions aren’t always the best solutions.
So points out the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, which calls HB 1776 “an extreme solution to a targeted problem.” And by targeted they mean regional. In most of the state’s rural areas property taxes are not onerous as they admittedly are in this part of the state. So it’s a broad solution to a limited problem.
The bigger issue, however, is the impact on school district funding. And that’s not to say that school districts don’t get enough money. They get plenty of support from taxpayers, possibly too much. Problem is, those resources are unevenly distributed, landing largely in the paychecks of generously compensated unionized teachers and highly paid administrators. But that’s the reality of public education, one that school boards over time must change.
Meanwhile, under HB 1776 school boards could be forced to make do with much less. Though the measure calls for an even tax swap, revenue could fluctuate as the economy gyrates. Over the last three years, for example, the down economy would have produced a loss of over $1.3 billion in school funding statewide, according to the budget and policy center, which warns: “Children need the same access to education in good times as bad.”
The center also points out that the bill would eliminate property taxes for corporations as well as homeowners and small businesses. Conceivably, that’s a revenue loss those same homeowners would have to make up.
These and other issues not raised here need to be explored in greater detail before HB 1776, currently pulled from the legislative agenda, resurfaces for consideration. When it does, we urge lawmakers to give the bill a more thorough review than it has so far received.
To be clear, we believe property taxes are burdensome and unfair. But we’re concerned that the “Property Tax Independence Act” could create more problems than it fixes.
Heard Laurie Ruffing is leaving for the Greener Pastures of Pennsbury.
She was just given a decent raise at the June 27 Board Meeting ostensibly to retain her. If this rumnor is true, is it fair to assume that it was known at the 6/27 meeting that she was leaving, and so the raise was really to try to attract her successor?
It will be possible to get a better replacement. Who or what can you attract at that cost though? I feel Ruffing was too green and in over her head. Grant writing suffered too b/c the SOC S.B. didn't consider it important enough. Ruffing was low cost as principals go. The maxim you get what you pay for usually holds true.
Good way to start the year. I wonder what she knows...
Yeah, I bet she's got some good ones!
How could she not?
Don Harm can now take 2 paychecks they can approve him as the Acting Intermediate School Principal along with the acting he does at the High School.
That sounds marvelous. Splendid. Make it so! As a novel alternative, you could do a legitimate job search, like the kind that wasn't done for Ruffing, Ferrara, or Harm. See what the free market economy produces. Don't go communist no choice planned econony again.
Haven't heard any updates from Superintendent, MM Board, or SOC bored regarding teacher contract? Anybody else? Maybe Ms. Ruffing got out of the kitchen before the heat became a fire?
Ruffing's not under the teacher's contract so am having trouble understanding the logic. Because she's admin & got her raise while teacher's work indefinitely w/o a contract? Oh, yeah, Okay I see.
Don't forget MESPA they've been w/o contract for longer.
Unfortunately for MESPA, they don't educate our children. No disrespect, but I can clean my house, but I don't have a Master's Degree in Education.
It's pretty obvious admin knew something was going on with Ruffings position based on comments made at recent mtg by Ferrara.
I'd like to know how much tax payer money funded Ruffing's additional education required for the principal position.
Interesting. I wonder if somebody could look up the board minutes and see how much money the administration recommended and board approved in order to get a free degree/certification on the community's $ for themselves. Ferrara, DeAngelo, Ruffing? Eerily similar to the sweet insurance deal they gave themselves in order to stomach their supposed pay freeze a year ago. And what about the raises they've given themselves this year? But hey, as long as taxes don't go up.
I didn't like those raises. It wasn't right in these tough times, and it makes a bad impression during the ongoing teachers and MESPA contract negotiations. I really didn't Ferrara's rationale for Ruffing's raise, something like we need to pay more for this position to make it more attractive to other candidates. That implied he knew then that Ruffing was bailing. Kudos to those who voted no. The ones who voted yes missed the boat. It wasn't major dollars but a No vote would have sent a better message. By the way, did Harm's salary go from 60K to 65K? That's an 8.33% jump? If that's so, that one really hurts. He's not going anywhere and so what if he does?
Here's another example of where things are out of whack.
At a recent meeting, business manager Paul Deangelo got reimbursed over $6000 for some courses he took. One course was related to contract negotiations.
That sends an odd message.
Here's a free negotiating tip: don't put in for over $6000 in extracurricular reimbursements, including over $2000 for a contract negotiating class, during contract negotiations. Especially not long after you inked your own 3 year deal at over 6 figures per with little fanfare.
These kinds of things don't go unnoticed.
Apparently they do go unnoticed, and unfortunately, all of these things don't matter. Teachers are greedy. Education is unimportant. Janitors can be outsourced to lowest private crap company (see renovation crew). But the line is toed on taxes. People stay in elected office. And those at the top continue to sweeten their own deals bc they control everyone and everything.
It's really disturbing how anti-tax hatred and fervor have escalated beyond religious proportions. It's right up there with abortion. It distorts our priorities as a society.
Is there a way to see all the things that have been cut (but not cut bc we don't cut anything) over the last few years? It seems like an awful lot of things going unnoticed. Buildings, programs, athletics, teachers, aids, etc...gotta be millions of dollars in not cuts. What about the money the teachers are to spend on their books/supplies/equipment? Another not cut that doesn't impact the students. That's probably a large amount of not cutting there too. I wish we could see it. But I guess the money has to come from somewhere in order to pay administration's carte blanch tuition, fluffy insurance plans, and 5-10% raises per year.
Your request involves personnel, real estate, and/or litigation. Nouns. People, places, or things. Hence, it is off limits from discussion by Mihok's Theorem of Non-Transparency.
Last time I checked, she wasn't on the board anymore. She lost in the last election. There are certain things that legitimately can't be discussed in public. This isn't one of them.
I concur that those Admin raises and perk bumps should've been nixed.
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