At the June 20 , 2007 meeting superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Zackon announced that the district concluded a leasing agreement with Nextel.
Nextel agrees to lease for a period of thirty years, EBS channels owned by the district for certain compensation.
Nextel will pay a one-time nonrefundable upfront payment of $1,400,000. In addition, they will pay a yearly leasing fee as follows: Years 1-5, $50,000, Years 6-10, $75,000, Years 11-15, $100,000, Years 16-20, $125,000, Years 21-30 $200,000.
If taxpayers think they will see any benefit from this deal, they will be sorely disappointed.
The district manager immediately put the $1,400,000 into the Capital Reserve Fund. The normal practice is any money coming into the district goes to the General Fund. It is then transferred out of the General Fund into the Capital Reserve Fund only with board approval at a public meeting. Once the funds are put into Capital Reserve, its use is limited to capital expenditures and not operating expenses.
This maneuver also prevents any public review and comment.
The $1,400,000 added to the other $5,500,000 of surplus funds sitting in the district coffers. Yet the board voted to increase taxes for the ninth consecutive year, anyway.
The board President indicated the entire upfront payment would be used on the track. The district will not be using the windfall for any computers, desks, books, etc., but rather for a synthetic athletic field.
They also declare tax dollars then will not be used for the athletic facility. Though the assertion is technically correct, any finances coming into the district do belong to the taxpayers and the use or misuse of them will eventually affect taxes, directly or indirectly.
As far as the future yearly lease payments to the district, the community can only wonder where the board’s whims and fancies will spend the funds. If recent history is any indication, it may not be for education.
Once the announcement was made by the superintendent, a board member launched into a verbal assault on the public and the press. Ms. Bieber took great offense to the community asking questions about the agreement. The Reading Eagle thought they violated the Sunshine Law by not revealing the details to the public once the paperwork was signed September 26, 2006.
Following the standard public relations strategy, messengers will be sent into the community trumpeting the contract. But the sad truth is that the rightful beneficiaries of the lease may ultimately feel cheated.
Posts
327 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 327 of 327Pro-board reality check:
overdue
Back to the bars?
Speak for yourself!
Who exactly are you trying to defend?
"If there was anything wrong with the way Dr. Zackon handled these expenses it would be flagged by the auditors. "
The misuse of district time, facilities, and personel to process an entertainment bill is not the province of an auditor, but rather the school board.
The board meetings Don't work!
Let's take up that offer to meet at the IGA. Out in the parking lot. Where the air is fresh and the rules are easy:
Get the Deli department to donate their "next number being served" machine for an evening or two. Take a number, state your opinions, and don't be limited to 3 minutes.
"Am I being accused of doing something too? Why shouldn't I or anyone, try to defend someone who's being falsely accused by people who know nothing but what they hear in a rumor mill?"
The transaction is on a check run and the defense of same at a board meeting.
What is your source of information?
"I accuse you of bearing false witness against your neighbor."
You are guilty of willful ignorance motivated by denial.
"They're going to have to go back to the bars or the back fences to gossip."
The pro-big spenders of others income on feel good should go back under the rug to hide where district tries to sweep its messes.
That sure would be a mighty big broom!
And a never-ending RUG!
A broom swept by the BBI - Board of Blundering Idiots!
Violating the Sunshine Law will increase the legal fee billings by barrister John Stott. Since the offending party, the Superintendent, is not acting responsibly to the people who subsidize the Oley School District then the legal entity is only the Superintendent and nine pawns, but the Superintendent has self-aggrandized in an off-public manner to get the Nextel funds deposited directly in Capital Reserve seemingly bypassing the elected School Board, then it is incumbent upon the School Board to challenge publicly. The School Board publicly failing to challenge the Superintendent's acion but yet tacitly acknowledging it via public Board comments then the School Board members can also be personally sued for damages and for removal from the Board.
That should leave the BBI speechless!
George,
If you have the time, blog more often. Your comments are making EVERYONE think twice!
taxpayer
not me
Yep, even you.
George, that sounded very deep but you lost me. how did the supt violate the sunshine law? Is this related to what was being discussed, buying gift certificates for secretaries on secretaries day, or something else?
Anonymous said...
Who exactly are you trying to defend?
8:16 PM, June 27, 2007
read 1:47 2nd part
Why don't you spell it out? Each and every name.
1:47 2nd part is wrong. There is no defending the record of this board or administrators. BBI is sad but true oh so true.
Sad thing is that BBI's are running a $26+ million budget with no clue of what they are doing.
Hey we got your number!! We will continue to question this board and the spending of our tax money.
Hey everyone beware: Tax bills are coming very shortly in the mail.
Get the rolaids out.
Anonymous said...
Why don't you spell it out? Each and every name.
8:34 PM, June 28, 2007
how do I spell your name?
George you need a legal handbook, a dictionary, or a thesaurus according to some blog members, some grammar lessons and a handful of logic. What a bunch of gobbeldygook.
How does putting the Nextel money in the cap res fund violate the sunshine law, especially with the boards' approval at their next meeting?
On the other hand, you did impress 6:05 who probably has no idea what you said but likes the way you didn't say it.
So 9:24 - you are defending me?
If you reread my post - I asked you to spell out each and every name (meaning those you are defending)
8:19 said
The board meetings Don't work!
Don't you know they're just a for-the-public cover? The real meetings are down in the boiler room before the public meeting with comic books and soda and noisemakers. You should sneak in early some time, hide behind the oil burner, and take deep breaths.
Sorry, George, but the superintendent cannot violate the Sunshine Law. Only a body of elected officials or entities appointed by that body is subject to that law.
Also, the superintendent cannot deposit funds into the Capital Reserve Fund without prior approval of the school board. Therefore, he could not have "by-passed" the board.
What are the "damages" for which the school board members can be sued? Putting all the funds in Capital Reserve might, in some people's opinion, be the wrong decision but it's perfectly legal.
As far as removal of members from the board is concerned, the voters had that opportunity in May and you see how that turned out. The OCC couldn't get one person to run in opposition. How can you have credibility unless you get in the arena and show the courage of your convictions?
Money shows up in the Capital Reserve and then the Rubber Stamps approve at the next meeting, is a violation of the Sunshine Law. If the Superintendent conspired to take a vote out of the public eye with the Board members then the Superintendent can be sued. Not acting in good faith, the Superintendent can not be represented by the Solicitor, unless the Solicitor wants to be sued also.
Dearest RS:
"Also, the superintendent cannot deposit funds into the Capital Reserve Fund without prior approval of the school board. Therefore, he could not have "by-passed" the board."
The business manager deposited the funds directly into the Capital Reserve Fund per statements made at the board meeting on June 20, 2007.
We were told that the district already had the check and it was deposited into the Capital Reserve fund immediately.
It was only approved by the board at the June 20, 2007 meeting after it was already deposited. I believe this satisfies the the definition of PRIOR.
Per the Manual of Accounts on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website:
"Chapter 5 - Special Revenue Funds
Capital Reserve Fund (Section 1432 of Municipal Code) Fund #22
Receipts of this type of capital reserve fund come from transfers during the fiscal year from appropriations in the general rund that have surplus money. Receipts may also come from surplus money in the general fund at the end of the year."
The money should have been put through the general fund - but then we really would have been over the 8% - which is why we transferred all the other money into the capital reserve account - approximately $2,640,000!
In addition, the board voted on other transfers as NEEDED - WHICH LEFT THE DOOR WIDE OPEN FOR TRANSFERS NOT YET IDENTIFIED!
THE REASON FOR THIS MY FRIENDS IS SO THIS POOR EXCUSE OF A SCHOOL BOARD COULD AGAIN RAISE PROPERTY TAXES!
WHEN WILL IT EVER BE ENOUGH TO SATISFY THESE GREED MONGERS?
Why is it Mr. Swisher that this school board never follows procedures it should be following?
Everything this school board does it does with total disregard for state LAW.
Starting to sound like more than a handful of pro-board mystery bloggers are enjoying their "summer off." Please, mystery bloggers, drop your old Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys books, and create some ORIGINAL mystery entries on this blog. All the world loves a GOOD mystery. And nobody is impressed by yours.
We're waiting......
Summer thoughts:
Eliminate wordy blogs. Have something to say, say it clearly.
Here's an example:
We love our children and want a good education for all of them.
We feel the current tax system stinks.
Put your 9 heads together and think of something besides your "once in a lifetime Nextel deal".
It's really hard to digest the TRUTH, isn't it?
Why attack my blog.
I stated FACTS!
But then, of course, you don't like to hear the FACTS, I forgot.
To George and 2:21am:
Your points are well taken and you are right, the funds do have to go into the general fund first and then transfer to the CRF. I have to lay the blame for the sloppy operations going on right at the feet of the solicitor. In my opinion he has been giving the board bad advice ever since they brought him on. For some reason the people on the board think he can't be wrong but I know his interpretation of the Sunshine Law is flawed. How many other bits of advice he gives the board is flawed also?
I don't know how you get accountibility from a board that doesn't believe it is accountible to anyone and uses their apologists to discredit anything brought up by those who want to see things done right and within the law. Good luck with that...
Thank you RS.
Your candor is appreciated.
OCC did not run for board is true, but we can get more accomplished being on the other side, they call it the dark side, we call it the concerned side. Who is the world would want to be on this current board???? A clean sweep is what we need and then you would see the OCC's running.
A clean sweep including the Super and all his followers.
I would never fall into the trap of the current board like BB did.
She ran for a good reason and now look.
Her voting record stinks.
She never once help the public by keeping taxes low, education never changed, Z got a big raise. ETC,ETC.
"OCC did not run for board is true, but we can get more accomplished being on the other side,"
Pray tell what have you "accomplished"? You've made a lot of unheard noise shouting in this rain barrel of a site, stirred each other up, and gotten some of your nonsense validated by swisher- swasher for what that's worth. All in all you're a minimally good swarm of self satisfied mosquitos. And this is good, since the vast majority of your accusations are fantasy and the rest are irrelevent. But dream and boast on, superheroes of Oley.
I don't understand the fuss about the depositing of the Nextel money.If they put it in the general fund for 5 minutes and then transferred it to the capital reserve, the result would be the same as direct deposit into the cap reserve fund. Does it make a difference that the Nextel money was not normal revenue?
3:43 you do not get it.
3:39 you do not get it either. The OCC has accomplished alot by keeping this board on its toes and asking questions.
Mr. Swisher served on this board and you do not have anything but nasty comments for him either. You will never be happy until the day comes when the OCC is gone.
Guess what, That is not going to happen.
What is the big deal that we keep putting the facts on this blog? Is it because all the public can now see what you really are and how you are mishandling our money????
The OCC by asking questions have had an impact of the millage each year. By asking questions and holding the board accountable for the spending of our money they have come back time and time again with found money so they decrease the high millage rate they were going to charge us to a little lower millage rate. Of course we never needed any increase at all these past few years but at least we helped alittle.
One step forward is better than two steps backwards!!!
We will continue to ask questions and hold this board accountable.
Have a nice weekend and remember the 4th of July is a celebration of our Independence and Freedom that you Dr. Cappa and the rest of the board is trying to take away from the public.
It will never happen!!!
3:39...
".........All in all you're a minimally good swarm of self satisfied mosquitos...."
Interesting comment being made against the OCC. If you don't want to get stung, why are you reading this blog?
If you're already suffering from numerous itchy, puffy bumps, perhaps you need to cool down a bit. BEFORE YOUR NEW TAX BILL ARRIVES IN YOUR MAILBOX.....
"Anonymous said...
So 9:24 - you are defending me?
If you reread my post - I asked you to spell out each and every name (meaning those you are defending)
9:39 PM, June 28, 2007"
where did you go to school? They must have spoon fed you everything! If you read the series of posts, you will find the answer. Or maybe one of your blog nannies will feed you the answer. PS It's not really important, just a reply to a foolish statement.
"If you don't want to get stung, why are you reading this blog?"
Mosquitos bite, they don't sting. This blog is amusing and entertaining in a slumming sort of way.
So you're saying that the slum you live in has enough mosquitoes, or mostly rats???
Leave it to the pro boarders to know exactly what BITES!
BIG SALE DOWN AT KING'S
BBI ... T SHIRTS
XL, XXL, AND HECKMAN
BIG SALE AT KING'S
B B I - - - BALL CAPS
LARGE
X-LARGE
AND OVER INFLATED EGO SCHOOL BOARD SIZE
4:20 PM, June 29, 2007 said
"The OCC has accomplished alot by keeping this board on its toes and asking questions.
The OCC by asking questions have had an impact of the millage each year."etc
I guess you didn't notice that each year going back probably about 100 years, the initial budget is proposed and then the board sends it back for revision, meaning lowering. Nothing has changed with occ, (meaning Al, since the rest of you are invisible and ignored by at least 7 board members-and obviously even the mighty Al is ignored by all) and nothing would change without occ.
You should have signed yourself as "deluded but happy".
RECALL AT KING'S
BBI T-SHIRTS
BBI BALL CAPS
ANYONE STATING THEIR OPINIONS WILL BE STRIPPED OF THESE GARMENTS AND RUN OUT OF TOWN ON A RAIL.
NO, NO, NO.....
DO NOT STATE YOUR FACTS ON THIS BLOG, DO NOT STATE FACTS ANYWHERE.
OBEY THE KING AND HIS MERRY MEN!
Anonymous said...
I don't understand the fuss about the depositing of the Nextel money.If they put it in the general fund for 5 minutes and then transferred it to the capital reserve, the result would be the same as direct deposit into the cap reserve fund. Does it make a difference that the Nextel money was not normal revenue?
3:43 PM, June 29, 2007
I'm patiently waiting for an answer. I'm beginning to think nobody knows or cares and the whole "issue" is a phoney one. Please say it isn't so.
Hey Doctor Old Hat
You can go to bed now, Nextel worrier. You won't get any answers that make sense about the big, juicy Nextel check. Why would this be different than any other question which has been asked of the board, and ignored.
The board HATES the fact than ANYONE comes to a meeting, or blogs, or asks questions. It's as simple as that!
Board of Blundering Idiots
I just love that!
Fidel who?
Adolph who?
It's only a game!
As you know RS, it is not the Solicitor's job to advise the Board, unless they ASK for advice. In too many cases, the Solicitor allows the Board to do its thing assuming the Board has a general understanding of the law. The Board violating the Sunshine Law is a no-brainer. Now if the Board was discussing this behind closed doors and the Solicitor agreed, then the Solicitor was probably just pandering to preserve his cushy job. Any legal challenges results in more legal billings to the Oley School District from the Solicitor. It's win-win for the Solicitor. Lee Levengood got caught in similar repeated circumstances for the Amity Twp Supervisors many years ago. And I have seen the Oley School District Solicitor pander to the Superintendent who has the power of God to suggest to the Board that he be removed. Meanwhile, the Board knows it violated the law in the beginning and wants to play stupid, or maybe they are stupid.
"WHEN WILL IT EVER BE ENOUGH TO SATISFY THESE GREED MONGERS?"
Exactly how are these "greed mongers" personally benefiting from this? You really do get carried away, my dear! ;)
..."OCC did not run for board is true, but we can get more accomplished being on the other side..."
Please refresh my memory. Exactly WHAT did you get accomplished?
"You will never be happy until the day comes when the OCC is gone."
Are you kidding me?!?! Why would we possibly wish away all this hilarious entertainment! Please stay!!
You mean "Blog of Blundering..."
The OCC is so sad only 7 board members like them, NOT!!!!
WE COULD CARE LESS.
We do not need the board to like us, we need to state the facts to the public. That is what the board does not like.
9:59 you are a joke Cappa
10:01 You are great
12:16, 12:42, 12:49 you need sleep, you are not ture and are very stupid
If it is you Cappa or Dale or any other pro-boarders we are in for more heart ache. People like these should be as far away from a board in making decisions. They certainly do not have all the smarts needed. They are very creepy and nasty and this is how they feel about the people that pay their bills. They are not all there at all.
Beware of them. They will attack when called upon by the King.
There are two issues with the Nextel check:
1. The money (check) initially should have been deposited into the General Fund - per the protocol for the way school districts are to accept revenues.
The fuss is about the Oley School Board continually not following State Law, School Code law, etc. That is because they think they do not have to abide by any law except the law they perceive they have in their 9 somewhat small collective brains.
2. I think the biggest issue with the Nextel money is that this money should have offset the tax increase that was voted on for this year. This school district continually transfers all SURPLUS money from the general fund into the Capital Reserve fund so that they can raise taxes. If we left this money in the General Fund, by law this school district could not raise taxes. So each and every year, this school district plops the EXCESS, SURPLUS money into the Capital Reserve Fund.
Again per Chapter 5 - Special Revenue Funds(Section 1432 of the Municipal Code) Fund #22 -
"The money in this Capital Reserve Fund may be spent only on capital improvements; replacement of, addition to and improvement to public works; deferred maintenance and for the replacement of school buses."
I do not see any educational items in that explanation.
What is Oley saving this money for? We hire Quigley bus service, so we won't be buying new school buses, I assume the track falls under the guise of addition to and improvement of public works, but remember there is still the other $1,240,000 in the capital reserve fund. It's also interesting that this $1.4 million figure appears in many forms in this school district. We owe $1.4 million to the steel contractor for the Middle School which is in litigation, the track was $1.4 million plus, and now we get the Nextel check for $1.4 million.
In the Manual of Accounts it also specifies that we should have a capitlization policy.
I could find no such policy within this school district. The only policy I found was for bids. So everything is at our board's discretion when purchasing, and they get to change amounts when the wind blows.
The bottom line here is that Oley Valley school board is hoarding our tax money,and investing it. Perhaps they have plans that on one knows about.
The tactic of moving money is how all the school districts get to raise taxes. The only fund that is used for budgeting purposes is the General Fund, so the districts salt all the surplus money away in the other funds.
I again ask the question, when will these school boards ever be satisfied? What are they saving this money for?
I'm not a Board member, but I play one in Oley.
Go - OCC - Go
At least Al gave Oley a place to be heard. Thanks, Al!
12:39, thank you for giving us the facts of this board and their spending of our money, you are a true caring citizen of this district and I am glad to have you looking out for all of us.
12:40, I second that thank you to Al!!!!
Al is great and I am glad he also is looking out for the citizens of this district.
God Bless and Happy 4th!!!
Fact...
3,576 U.S. troops are dead... from their duties in IRAQ.
Concern....
What is our school board doing to prepare our young men and women to deal with these facts? What classes are being geared to the actual "facts of life" our sons and daughters have to face?
Eagerly awaiting the MESSENGER ATTACK!
7:20 very good question. Oh my goodness, our children are not prepared at all and do not know at least some of them what our men and women are even doing over seas.
We had attacks today in England and Scottland and yes at any given time we could easily be targeted again.
I know some nice folks that died on 9/11 and 9/11 should never ever be forgotten.
The History classes in this school district should be teaching the students and telling them about 9/11 and how and why it happened.
I know World Cultures CP at least talks about what is going on in the world now and in the past.
World Quest has the children reading all current events which is what should be required of each student.
Every student should have to read the newspaper and at least some current events.
Good night and God Bless the USA and please keep us safe.
Attack that pro-boarder. You never learn do you?????
Grow Up!!!
The "war" subject is very important. Like it or not, as long as the leaders of this country succeed in sending our soldiers (which are barely past childhood) to countries that we have no business in, the numbers will continue to rise. Current event classes have to do more than read the headlines. It's nothing but paper and ink....until you lose a son or daughter...sister or brother.
9:01 it is still important for the children to know what is going on in this country and the world. Not the very young children I am talking about M/S and H/S. Yes until a family member dies in the line of duty no one will really feel the impact. It is important to have the children realize that it is not an easy and safe world we live in and to prepare them for the event of another attack. I guess that would be hard to do. And you do not want the children paranoid and worried all the time. A little reflection and prayer for the troops would be great, but then again the public school system does not let prayer in school. Hopefully some children pray anyway to themselves during the busy day. I know mine do. God Bless again and keep the USA safe dear Lord.
The brave men and women of all ages join the Armed Forces, no one is making them sign up. Yes War stinks but the men and women of this great country are trained to go to War. This War is not going to go away anytime soon. Some people in this world hate others so much that they will continue to attack. Let us keep praying for our troops. Complaining about why we went to War does no good for the moral of our troops. We need to support them no matter what. I Love them and thank them everyday for their service.
Nope, 6:47 - Not Dale or Cappa. Not stupid either. ;)
Oh, and I pay the bills too, dearest blogger! Don't forget that tiny little tidbit!
Hooray for you 10:47!
Three cheers for 10:47!
Right on 10:47!
Can you pay my bills too?
YOU SHOULD READ THE BILLS BEFORE YOU VOTE YES ON THEM OH SPLENDID BOARD MEMBER. SMART YOUR NOT!!!!!
Pray for our troops.
To my dear BBI's
HEAR THIS: READ THE B8 SECTION OF TODAYS PAPER AND WEEP.
THAT IS RIGHT WE DO KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THANK YOU READING EAGLE FOR LOOKING OUT FOR THE PUBLIC AND STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT.
YOU ARE THE ONES THAT DO NOT THE LAW!!! AND YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THE LAW EITHER!!!
Nice going Oley school board.
It's nice to know that this school district is still making it's presence known - even though it's NEGATIVE.
Funny how it's okay to violate the law when your're the Oley school board.
Bad enough that you violated the Sunshine Law with this Nextel issue, but then you can't even give the taxpayers a break when you score a financial gain.
Perhaps it's now time to go to court.
Hey school board:
How many more times will be you be coming out of an executive session and voting on something that clearly violates the Sunshine Law when the public has left the building - in case you don't remember that December in 2005.
Is this how you get all your deals through that you don't want the public to know about?
In the Daniel Boone district, when they go into an executive session at the end of a board meeting, they adjourn the meeting if they will not be voting after the executive session.
Why doesn't the Oley School Board do that? The only reason for this could be is because they do not want the public to know anything about what they have voted on.
But this time you were caught and it took all of about 1 hour to figure out what you were up to. Please do not think for one minute that the taxpayers in this school district are stupid.
Your day in court may be sooner than you think. But that's the way you like it, because it seems the Oley school board has a habit of going to court - and losing.
Save money for your taxes any way you can....that's important!
Keep a couple of bucks aside, though, and make sure you get today's paper.
Very interesting!
Once again Oley school district is the laughing stock of Berks County.
When are they ever going to learn?
By the way school employees, have you received your 2005-2006 PSER's statement yet.
At the meetings in June, the business manager said the statements should be received in a few days.
That was about 2 weeks ago.
The district also received a letter from a Mr. Zimmerman, who I presume is someone associated with the PSER's, stating that Oley had indeed transferred the money that they withheld from your paychecks.
If that is the case, WHERE IS THE MONEY?
Some employees have gone on-line to see if their money was there, and IT WAS NOT.
HOW CAN THIS BE EXPLAINED?
How can the teachers and other employees who retired at the end of 2005-2006 be sure their money was calculated into their retirement earnings?
How can this year's retirees be sure that there retirment calculation is correct?
This money is supposedly invested. How can you be sure that your money that you paid into this fund was invested properly?
Does the school district have to match what employees put in.
This is taxpayer money after all, and it looks like in the Oley district when people aren't watching, who knows what baloney is going on!
LOOKS LIKE OLEY SCHOOL BOARD HAS TWO (2) NEW STARS!
It certainly was a sight to see on June 20, 2007.
All the school board and administration in all their glory could not contain themselves with the news of Nextel.
All were patting themselves on their own backs.
WHAT A DEAL IT IS - THE TRACK GIVES YOU A HEARTFELT THANK YOU. It was really concerned that there would be a lawsuit for nonpayment of its SUPER HUGE EXPENSE.
Oley seems to have a TRACK record of not paying it's contractors.
Hope we didn't sign a no damage for delay cause on the track, like we did for the Middle School.
Anxiously awaiting August 13, 2007.
Have you received your apology from the Reading Eagle yet?
For the first time in 4 years Barb Bieber speaks in an open board room and look what she does, she puts her big fat foot in her mouth!!!
You give us looks as you are talking and you are wrong in what you said.
You owe the OCC an apology for your nasty looks and outburst.
Did you feel mighty for a minute Barb?
Now look you are in every paper in this county.
The district looks like a circus again and again.
I can think of better ways to get your name in the Sunday newspaper!
Where is the meeting today for damage control???? I hope 5 or more board members are not meeting today to figure out what to say now that the Reading Eagle has stated the FACTS again. Meeting with 5 or more members and not telling the public about the meeting is another violation of the LAW!!!! Maybe you are doing a phone conference.
Maybe you should look up the word LAW and try in that soup brain of yours, figure out what the word means!!!!! You are not above the LAW, none of you!!!!!!!!! Good Day :)
IF YOUR HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR HANDS AND SMILE!! TODAY IS A GOOD DAY INDEED! OLEY BOARD NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THEY CANNOT VIOLATE THE SUNSHINE LAW NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!!!
Hey Oley School Board:
Did you buy all this Sunday's issues of the Reading Eagle up like you did when the article on the track was in the paper?
Yeah, I heard about that.
Someone told me that Zackon and Heckman have wallpapered their house in those articles and that's why they needed to buy all of the issues.
Just drove up Main Street...what's making that BIG shadow???...Looks like a HUGE pile of Sunday papers?!?!?!
Looks like a good sales day for The Reading Eagle! Sold out at every local store? How very strange!
Newspapers are not perfect, but they're right on the money this week.
You know whats going to happen now: The school board will say that everyone is wrong but them!!
JUST YOU WATCH!!!!!
Dr., cat got your tongue!!:)
Dale what do you think of the paper today B8???
Barb, we are waiting for you to say you were wrong and are sorry!!!
New board members in November you were at the meeting, now look!!! It could be you if you talk out of line and do not know what you are talking about!!!!
....secret meetings???
You mean you think they don't have secret meetings? I'd bet my bottom dollar on the fact that they do, and always did. A group that works with millions of dollars extracted from community members' personal living expenses, has undocumented meetings. Check out the church. It's good cover.
I have been out of town since Thursday and just got back an hour ago. What's all the buzz about B8 in the Eagle? What happened?
RS in a quick summary, Reading Eagle is again saying that the school board violated the Sunshine Law with the Nextel Agreement. It says Barb Bieber and MaryAnn McCathy are delusional to think opening with their mouths at the last board meeting that the board did nothing wrong and did not violate any laws. They say both of them are wrong and that the Board did violate the Sunshine Law and what they did shows the students and taxpayers a bad example.
It goes on more but I gave my paper to another OCC neighbor of mine.
You can read it tonight or tomorrow on the Reading Eagle wed site.
Bottom line is we are not making anything up. The board is not above any laws.
BB needs to apologize to the 2 citizens that she tried to yell at and tell them and the newspaper they were wrong and the board was right.
She does not speak ever at public meetings until last Wednesday when she should of kept her mouth closed.
Good Night and I will talk to you soon.
OCC and proud
Hot Buzz in Oley, all the newspapers are sold out!!!
Hello Dr. whats up?
Why now are you quiet??
Are you going to be writing some off the wall comment again in the newspaper?
Wow!
Where are the board and their big mouths now?
Flirting with the law always gets one into trouble.
What Trouble?
The board members can only be in personal trouble if they willingly and knowingly broke the law. If they acted under the advice provided by the solicitor, then they did not knowingly and willfully break the law. As for the biased opinion of the Reading Eagle, they have no more knowledge of the law than any of us. Of course they are going to disagree with the board, because they want to sell more papers, which based on early blog postings, they apparently did.
If the board did break the law, the only ramifications that are going to be suffered is by the school, not by the individual members. Therefore, any damages will be coming from our collective pockets, not from the board members.
This is probably why no one (to the best of my knowledge) has pursued this matter in the court system, because if they do, they will ultimately only hurt themselves.
I must agree w/ RS's earlier posting and comment that they board should have stated that they were exercising a privilege/exemption from the sunshine law under one of the exemptions if in fact that was their belief, but based on the three exemptions that I am aware of, the real estate matter is the only possible exemption, and broadband is a pretty thin justification.
However, I would love to either know if there is some official pursuit of this matter that has not been discussed or to stop the threats and mean spirited comments surrounding the matter.
The board ultimately did negotiate a positive windfall, which will provide future revenues, and I hope that there is at least a single public forum dedicated to soliciting input from the public to determine the best way to earmark the money.- scholarship funds; annual library upgrades, AP class expenses; teacher education expenses; facility improvements, or plain and simple general expenditure/budget offsets.
My thoughts are for HS capital improvements - to ensure that the school is maintained and upgrade so that another new school is not pursued.
Also, didn't the Reading Eagle state an amount of $5 million? I thought the board was recieving 1.4 now only another million or so over the next 15 years?
Under the terms of the Sunshine Law individual board members can be personally liable for up to $100.00 plus cost of prosecution for each violation.
A complaint must be brought before the Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of the violation. That in itself makes it impossible to file a charge on this particular issue.
Thank's RS for a concise answer. I would 'assume' that if they were found to have acted against the sunshine law, per advise provided by the solicitor, then they would intern be able to pursue the solicitor for malpractice? Is that a logical conclusion?
I believe cited an exemption to the sunshine law that dealt with Real Estate. Is that the cover that the board has when being tight lipped about the OVMS law suit?
MS lawsuit, Real Estate lawsuit, and yes it is not too late for a lawsuit for the Nextel deal. It is 30 days after the agreement was signed. 30 days is not up yet. Hopefully the district will receive the money promised, but you never know. Also they will never let the public have an input of how to use the money. They could of used some of the money they just received for a no-tax increase but choose not too. Also why should we take the mouthing off at the people that pay the bills when they are wrong. We want an apology from BB and the rest of this no-brain soup of a board. This is another example of poor management from the top on down. Clean sweep in this district is overdue.
A few days ago I tried to rationalize the board's reasons for holding these "secret" talks by speculating that it could fall under the real estate portion of acceptable reasons for executive sessions. However, as someone rightly pointed out, broad bands would not qualify as REAL estate. The fact (and I do mean F-A-C-T) is that the board screwed up and instead of owning up to it and saying they erred, they do what they always have done and circle the wagons and blame others. This time it's the "biased" press. What possible reason would the paper have to be biased against them? No, instead of acting like adults and admitting a mistake they act like children and deny any wrong doing even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
I know most of the board members and have worked along side them. In spite of what some say on this blog I know them to be good, honorable people. Why they allow these things to go on is a real mystery to me. Someone has set up the press as a straw-man and convinced the board that it's "us against them". I hope these board members soon stop listening to whoever that is and begin thinking for themselves.
Under the terms of the Sunshine Law individual board members can be personally liable for up to $100?????
Wow, a whole $100! That would sure keep me in line!
2:12 just to know you are being fined any dollar amount should be enough to fess up and stop lying to the public about the Nextel deal and now a Real Estate lawsuit. We have a M/S lawsuit and what else is this district going to be in trouble for? This is nothing new, this board being in trouble but they continue to think they are above the law.
They make anyone with a brain sick of their actions and nasty I am better than you attitude.
I am ashamed to even be part of this district.
If I only new I would of never entered this area of PA. My Lord this place is in need of major prayer.
Oh course here we go the pro-boarders are coming on saying who cares what the Reading Eagle wrote, we are better than you, NOT!!!
$100 fine who cares, YOU SHOULD, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY MORALS AND YOU THINK YOU AND THE REST OF THE BOARD ARE ABOVE THE LAW!!!
BB, YOU HAVE PUT YOURSELF IN AN ALL TIME LOW!!! HOW SAD!!!
Every time the board gets caught "red handed" they feel very comfortable blaming it on the Reading Eagle. That, too, is sad.
Speaking of the Eagle....How come board members dislike the Eagle, but write so many letters to the editor???? You either believe in the paper, or you don't. You're playing both sides.....as usual.
All's quiet in the happy valley. At least there were plenty of newspapers to choose from today. How strange!
The recent editorial of the Reading Eagle "Oley School Board remains in denial" is not news to the taxpayers in the district.
Each year they present a budget that tells only part of the story.
This year is no exception.
They increased the millage for the ninth consecutive year,yet,they had over $5,500,000 sitting in surplus funds.
They deny us at least one year of tax relief under the guise it would bring financial ruin to education.
Based on how they mismanaged the windfall from the Nextell agreement, they are hardly in a position to lecture anyone about the proper use of money.
"The ends justify the means" decision with the lease, further divides rather than unites the community.
This may be their agenda anyway.
" The ends justify the means decision...further divides rather than unites the community"
Al, I doubt that "the community" is aware of much of this and if they are, care very much about it. These days, more and more people actually believe that the end justifies the means in all areas of everyday life. This school board is just an extension of the community they represent and the voters who continually reelect them. Sure, there are a few who question and are "concerned" but they don't come close to being a majority and probably never will. Poor governance has its roots in apathy.
I am beginning to believe that the residents of this community just don't care what happens and who spends their money and dictates the education that their children receive.
Perhaps when these elitists are knocked down a peg, or lose their cushy job and have to give up one thing in order to purchase what is really needed, they will understand.
Unfortunately then it will be too late.
Another prime example of the Oley School board violating the LAW was the flagrant violation of the Pennsylvania School Code that occurred a few year's back when Dr. Zackon resigned and was immediately hired back for a new 5-year-contract and a $13,500 raise.
Interestingly this occurred in Year 3 of his then-current contract and also in a year that there were seats open for school board.
At the end of one of the board meetings the board went into executive session.
When they came out a blue paper was handed out to those in attendance stating that Dr. Zackon had resigned and was then immediately rehired for another 5-year contract with a pay raise.
The PA School Code was violated in that it expressly states that the Superintendant MUST give 150 days notice when resigning.
At a subsequent board meeting a question was asked to which the solicitor replied that because of his hiring that 150 days was waived.
This would have had to been made by board motion and no such motion was made at any meeting, the one in which he was resigned and immediately rehired or any prior board meetings.
This is a prime example of the underhandedness of this school board.
Zackon must have felt his job was in jeopardy to arrange this little fiasco.
The public should really start attending our board meetings and see firsthand how meetings are conducted in the Oley school district.
Agenda items are never really discussed at our meetings - motions are made, seconded, and they quickly move on to another item. Nothing is ever discussed at meetings.
The fact that a board can get a meeting in in 45 minutes (7:00 to 7:45) when there is no school program is a disgrace and grave disservice to the community it serves. PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE LAST THREE WORDS - COMMUNITY IT SERVES.
That's right board members - you are elected to SERVE.
Oley School Board has delusions of grandeur!
Being on the board, for some reason, serves to feed the massive egos that miraculously mushroom into phenomenal proportions...with nearly every person that wears the "School Board Member" hat. Why? Nobody really knows! Board members don't carry near the weight they want people to think they carry. I'm certain RS and others may disagree, but they will have to admit....a person that can resign and be rehired at an increase of over $13,000 a year, must have some tremendous pull. HE has the pull, not the board.
“Al, I doubt that "the community" is aware of much of this and if they are, care very much about it.”
The question is why. Is it because of a complacency or futility?
Probably a mixture of both, but families cannot keep pace with 72% millage increases much longer.
When they realize they can make changes at the local level, they will elect people who are more fiscally responsible.
“These days, more and more people actually believe that the end justifies the means in all areas of everyday life.”
The leadership in Washington and nearly all levels of government perpetuate short term, expeditious decisions for the sake of self-preservation rather than maintaining and building strong foundation for the future. Some large corporations suffer from the same malady.
Taxpayers bail out incompetence, bankruptcy deals with business ineptitude.
Change will not come from the top, but from the bottom.
“This school board is just an extension of the community they represent and the voters who continually reelect them. Sure, there are a few who question and are "concerned" but they don't come close to being a majority and probably never will”
The board enjoys the support of their clique, but they are by no means the majority of potential voters.
Those who think there is a better way should always have a voice.
Never say never.
“Poor governance has its roots in apathy.”
As long as people buy into the idea that government will solve all life’s problems, politicians will leverage this weakness for themselves.
Unprotected borders to runaway school boards will be the fate of those who do not pay attention or participate.
What's up Doc? Were you told to shut up?
If I was a school board member, I would be embarrassed to show my face around town.
'...If I was a school board member, I would be embarrassed to show my face around town...'
It is a shame you are too lazy to be a school board member.
If I was part of the bashing "blogasphere" who does not attend at least two meetings a month, because "I am too busy!!!", then I would be embarrassed to blog.
JUST A THOUGHT.
(ps: I am not a board member, and I don't play one on tv)
How do you know that person is too lazy to be a board member? Maybe they don't feel the need to become egotistical, self-important know-it-alls who get their kicks from spending other people's money. You say that doesn't describe the board? Prove it!
'...Maybe they don't feel the need to become egotistical, self-important know-it-alls who get their kicks from spending other people's money...'
You infer that any individual is unable to serve her/his fellow citizen w/out being a self-centered, egotistical individual.
Based on such a closed minded opinion, then maybe the board should be eliminated because there are no individuals worthy of serving.
Many of us would be grateful to eliminate the board, and some 'unconcerned' citizens may even be infavor of eliminating various long-held traditions such as sports , band and possibly even public education.
However, to complain, and not step forward and act in accordance with ones comments, in my eyes, is an act of laziness.
You can make excuses like I have to work, take care of kids, elderly, don't drive, etc. However, if you are truly a concerned citizen, you will be able to find a way to participate. "Where there is a will there is a way".
Hey 4:45. Haven't seen you at any meetings lately or pretty much ever.
Unless you're Burns, Kubitz, or Bieber.
Come to think of it, you're hardly ever seen.
One would think now that you're probably going to be elected, that you would be attending every meeting the school board has - OR NOT!
dEAR 1:21:
You may not be a board member or play one or TV, but you certainly have a very high opnion of yourself.
Don't be misled by reading about how much the current board is disliked. It's not narrowed down to the current board. For the old timers that still can afford to live here in the valley, the long list of weird board members is still fresh in our minds. A peculiar lot, for the most part. With few exceptions, there have always been some strange folks that run for board. Certainly not as strange as some of the current members. I would not mention names, it's not my style. But certain characters were weird long before they got on the board. Did I mention weird?
Weird
Weird
Weird
There! Now maybe you can understand why most concerned citizens DON'T want to be directly involved with the board. They argue amongst themselves, constantly. They do nothing to ease the ill feelings created in the board room. They don't invite participants with open arms. Truly, they don't.
As for the members that serve primarily for the good of the children, thank you for your time. It's a pity the good members carry no weight. Even those elected because of very good intentions end up acting like puppets, and we all know who pulls the strings.....
Property ownership right - Types of property
Most legal systems distinguish between different types (Immovable property, Estate in land, Real estate, Real property) of property, especially between land and all other forms of property. They also often distinguish between tangible and intangible property as well.
In common law, property is divided into:
real property (immovable property) - interests in land and improvements thereto
personal property - interests in anything other than real property
Personal property in turn is divided into tangible property (such as cars, clothing, animals) and intangible or abstract property (e.g. financial instruments such as stocks and bonds, etc.), which includes intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trademarks).
Which of these 2 categories does bandwidth fall into? Does it matter that it is restricted to a very specific land area?
No, not at all.
What's the square root of
root beer?
The Solicitor will say nearly anything is legal as long as it preserves his job. If a taxpayer files a legal challenge, not only does this make more money for the Solicitor, BUT the Board will use it as an excuse that they can't say anything because it's a legal issue. The difference, well there is no difference. The Reading Eagle knows the Oley Board violated the Sunshine Law, but if Slick Willie can show his face in public and collect big speaking fees, it looks like there is no controlling legal authority (to use Al Gore's words). The Oley School Board feels entitled as royalty. The Solicitor reinforces their authority to tax their subjects.
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