Five years ago, the track coach approached the board and told them they needed to repair the track because it was not PIAA compliant. What started out as an alleged repair request has mysteriously turned into a $2,000,000 athletic complex.
The latest add-on is lights for the new facility to the tune of $286,000. In so many words, the light supporters say the fixtures are for their convenience to watch various sporting events.
The entire project was sold on the basis that tax dollars were not used but rather the windfall from the Nextel agreement was the source of revenue.
The Nextel money was taxpayer money because it was revenue received from an asset owned by the district. All monies the district receives are taxpayer owned.
None of the Nextel money was used for education. It was all used for certain sports.
When a small school district such as Oley spends millions on a wish list item, at some time, the bill will come due for payment.
At public meetings, it was revealed there are a number of important obligations to be met.
The repair to elementary school roof, $1,000,000+, the repair of the high school gym, $1,000,000+, the Ag Technology classroom, $750,000+, computers, laptops, printers, routers for the classrooms, $750,000+, the lingering lawsuit from Middle School construction, $1,400,000 +, and the repair to a boiler.
At to this list is the escalating cost of fuel, food, health insurance and teacher pay increases.
The tab on the capital expenses exceeds money set aside for capital projects.
Therefore, as the district drains the Capital Reserve to pay for the “big-ticket list”, it will raise taxes to replenish the fund. Since the reserve has approximately $4,500,000 and one mill represents $650,000 of taxes, it will take nearly 7 mills of new taxes to restore the fund. The new taxes do not cover any operational needs.
Obviously, none of the $2,000,000 spent on the field and track can be used to defray these enormous expenditures.
The assertion then that the track was tax-free and will have no impact on the community is nothing more than hyperbole.
Four board members stepped up to the plate and met their financial obligation to use tax dollars wisely. Instead of bowing to populist demands, they voted against the lights. John Bieber, Steve Burns, Carl Kubitz , and David Maloney are to be praised for their leadership.
As the pigeon comes home to roost, expect next year’s budget to be substantial.
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50 comments:
What is this school board going to do when its taxpayers are OUT OF MONEY?
The hard times that all are going to experience have not even begun to hit. This country has not yet tasted all the financial woes that are going to hit.
We'll see then what these special interest groups will have to say. They may be financially comfortable now, but when they start to lose jobs and have no way to pay for their homes, we'll see how anxious they are then to pay for non-educational desires.
I am pretty sure every board member who voted for lights was a democtat. Coincidence? No just spend and tax as usual.
Heckman: "This one step completes our vision." What in the he** does that mean? The vision statement for the Oley Valley School district is "Enter to learn...leave to serve" How do lights fulfill that vision?
It will be interesting to see how many times those lights are used over the next year, how much they really cost to install, what the increase in the electric bill will be for the district and how often they will be turned on when no games are being played. Bottom line, I'm afraid, will be a very poor return (if any) on the investment.
Also, Mr. Simpson has alot of nerve saying he was "disrespected" by the board. If anything, he disrespected every taxpayer in the district with his actions. Instead of meekly reading a statement and "looking into creating a policy" the board should have fired him.
RS
"Four board members stepped up to the plate and met their financial obligation to use tax dollars wisely."
Stepped up to the plate? Sounds to me like they should have stepped up to the track! Thank you to the five board members who voted to spend MY taxpayer's dollars wisely by providing a safe, useful arena for my children!! Kudos board members! At least some of you have common sense! :)
Hey 7:09:
When you are at risk of losing you home, we'll see what you have to say.
You're an ungrateful loser. I guess your parents bought you everything you asked for when you grew up.
Now you're asking for things for your children that other people, not just you, have to pay for.
How about you pay my property taxes.
Better yet, how about if you feed my children, and pay for my gas.
I hope there never comes a day when you are struggling, because I won't be stepping up to the plate to help out. I'm sure you'll have your hand out, though!
Oh, how nice to see that the ever-so-lovely OCCers are still spewing their kindness and goodness! ;)
The track coach had no right to put that letter out. Mrs. Kehoe also had no right to print out the labels that went on that letter.
It's also nice to know that these two people had the means to get into the school on a Saturday.
What else are these folks using the school for that no one knows about?
Funny how Heckman and Richard changed their tune this meeting in front of the audience. What a show!
Last week they were chastising the track coach and this week they apologized.
The people who used TAXPAYER MONEY to push for THEIR CAUSE are the ones who should be apologizing to the taxpayers.
The response we got was "I forgive you".
What they did was wrong. I wonder if I could get a letter typed, printed out, use the school's paper and copier, and the postage machine to further a cause that I believe in, and do all this on a Saturday when the school is closed.
How about that? What would the answer be?
How many people have keys to our school buildings?
On one side you have Mrs. Kehoe getting an award last evening, and in the next breath she is there on a Saturday printing out letters for a special interest group. Her name wasn't mentioned, but they do know who is was.
Very interesting how the chips fall in this district.
Well 7:09 you have shown yourself to be selfish and uncaring about the plight of those who are barely able to pay their taxes and at risk if the millage climbs any higher. It's all about you and your kids and to hell with everyone else. Shame on you and shame on the five board members who obviously agree with you.
"MY taxpayer's dollars wisely by providing a safe, useful arena for my children!! Kudos board members! At least some of you have common sense! :)"
Gloating over taking money away from the majority of students and using it for the pleasure of the few and the selfish is a hollow and shallow victory, shame.
It is true that not a dime of the 1.4 million dollar Nextel money was spent on education. Now it looks like Heckman wants to spend the rest of the Nextel money on paying off the lights and track maintenance and soon you'll see him wanting a nice concession stand and more outdoor rest rooms and better bleachers for the visitor side, then a new score board and then a new sound system for the field. Oh and some day they'll figure out they don't have enough parking for night games so he will want to pave something and make some more parking spots or better yet he will want taxpayers to pay for shuttle busses from the fair grounds because not enough parking. And all this at the same time they have to struggle to find money for reading and math coaches. How about some luxury sky boxes on top of your new ag-science building so you and Weidner can watch some field hockey huh Bob? What the h-ll happened to education? What about the non-athlete student? What's she gonna get Bob? You've got some vision there Bob. Why don't you just sell the whole thing to National Penn bank and we can rent from them?
I love retired Dr. Cappa's lame excuse for voting for lights. He asked some people at King's and they said it was OK.
Very scientific polling there doc. You missed me in the polling. You missed my neighbor who has lived here forever and never had kids in the district and still pays your school taxes and will until she is dead. You said you were waffling on the subject for a time before voting. If you would have just tossed a coin instead and voted the other way my taxes wouldn't have to take another hit.
Heckman has vision all right.
TUNNEL VISION - but what he doesn't see is that soon everyone's lights are going to be out, including his.
I'm sure he'll be the first one in line for handouts, thinking that because he was the egotistical head of the Oley Valley School Board for 20 years, that he should be taken care of first.
When that time comes, BOB, you'll be just like everyone else, and don't expect those whose money you so unwisely spent, will be there to lend a helping hand.
I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't booted to the END OF THE LINE.
Congratulations to the track team, the hockey team, the soccer team, and the community members who walk on the track! Thank you school board for making an excellent decision that will benefit MANY people in the community (despite what the naysayers say).
Just remember, for every dollar being spent on tracks, lights, and fields that is a dollar less the district will have left to pay the teachers when their contract comes due for renegotiation. You teachers who think these expenditures are such a great thing will be the first ones whining when you don't get the raises you think you deserve.
Thank your school board then.
How much money did all the hockey and soccer kids raise for the athletic shrine?
They raised squat.
Nice effort kids. I hope you kids like paying taxes because you will be paying for this field a long time and again when it has to be replaced in 10 or 12 years...oh I guess Heckman forgot to tell ya that part.
"what the naysayers say".
9:54 PM, May 23, 2008
How much nay can a naysayer say, if a naysayer can't pay his taxes?
"Don't worry naysayer", as Bob H. would say, "now we got lights so let 'em play while all you tax payers pay and pay."
all this money and anxiety spent on track, a sport that oley as been notoriously mediocre in for ever and football which is the fastest growing sport in the valley with over 240 kids ages 5-17 and successful is told by the board "no money,no interest". when , unlike track or soccer or hockey, football raised all money needed. Interesting.
The oley colts football team and the ovfa will end up being the envy of the county. Wait and see!
I'd like to know what Bob Heckman's "vision" for the Oley Valley is. It must be an expensive vision at the rate we are going now. Should we call Bob's vision "Wyomissing East"? Nice vision Bob but you don't have the means here in Oley to do it. Wyomissing actually has business and industry and expanding growth.
Econ lesson for Bob:
Rule #1 When the school district is your largest employer - you're screwed.
Rule #2 When you have NO meaningful growth in residental home building - you're screwed.
Rule #3 When you have the same school board president for 20 years - you're screwed.
Who gets screwed? Us taxpayers do.
Mr. Jacobs - sorry for using "screwed" here on you site. Just couldn't find a better word that fit the meaning of getting bent over and taken advantage of. Actually I can think of several but Mom wouldn't like them.
Happy Memorial Day
Go thank a Veteran
"Thank you school board for making an excellent decision that will benefit MANY people in the community "
If that is the case, why didn't the "MANY" come up with all the money to pay for the track as they had promised? Why haven't they done any fund raising for track maintenance? Simple, it is easier to force others to pay.
According to Mr. Bieber, the "MANY" that was referred to, only came to 20 people who donated for the track, plus some businesses.
For over a year we were told that they raised $230,000, but the truth came out from Mr. Bieber, that it was only $125,000, toward a $1.4+ million track.
I believe it's called LYING.
Then we have Mike O'Pake, adding to the pot, who somehow got us STATE (taxpayer) money to the tune of, I believe, $50,000. Again, TAXPAYER MONEY that should have been going towards education.
I believe it's time to ask for the resignation of Dr. Zackon.
He is the root of the problems within this school district, and has gotten away with it because of Heckman and his cronies, and you all know who you are.
Dr. Zackon has single-handedly ruined this school district. Yet, he gets away with it. I don't quite understand how.
Good point. I thought donations were gonna pay for half of the track. The $800,000 track? $175,000isn't close to half of the track cost. Then of course it blew up into a 1.4 million dollar complex
+1,400,000 track & turf
+ 286,000 Lights
- 175,000 Community donations
- 75,000 National Penn Bank
+ 70,000 O'Pake Tax money
= $1,506,000 Spent TAXPAYER MONEY
It's OK though, the Youth League is happy!
We can only guess who wanted the track to be named after them -
Could it be Oley's new best friend - W.W.?
Oley Ice Hockey Team signs up.
Sign up at the High School.
Next thing the parents will want an ice hockey rink.
We can build the rink when we redo the gym!
GO ICE HOCKEY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"If that is the case, why didn't the "MANY" come up with all the money to pay for the track as they had promised?"
We did. It's called putting our tax dollars to work wisely! ;)
you can thank Kessler and the supervisors for rule #1 and rule #2. You can thank the voters for rule #3
I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day and remembered those who gave their lives so we could have the freedom to expess our opinions on this and every blog.
To: 10:26
You are right. We taxpayers deserve what we elect.
But it would be nice if those elected would do the right thing not just work toward their own agendas. You know, look out for the common good. Dosen't seem to happen in Oley school district.
"If that is the case, why didn't the "MANY" come up with all the money to pay for the track as they had promised?"
We did. It's called putting our tax dollars to work wisely! ;)"
"We" ?????
According to the paper it was only a handful that pushed the track. It did not have community support.
To pay for the $2,000,000 toy for parents, the district should eliminate something from the budget: all extra-curricula activities,books, computers,supplies,teachers, ,busing,trips,banquets, heating, lighting, etc.
Mr.Simpson should have been terminated for cause, insubordination. He had no respect for the School Board because Simpson knew that the Superintendent would wink away the infraction with his faux apology. Simpson should be running around the track with taxpayers chasing with baseball bats and pitch forks.
Does anybody out there know when the terms are up for each board member?
"Does anybody out there know when the terms are up for each board member?"
I would be interested in knowing about Heckman, Hannum, Cappa, Richards, McCarthy.
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=93370
see Oley is not the only place where good principals leave!!!!!!
What does it matter when their terms are up? Which OCC'ers are going to step up and run? None? That's what I thought.
The elementary school needs a principal. Oley should hire the one that left Wyomissing. It sounds like she dosen't put up with crap administrators.
Oley will never attract the great employees - our school district has a reputation
GREAT PAY - LOUSY ENVIRONMENT
The five board members who voted for new lights must not read the paper or listen to the news. Energy will cost a lot more. Stadium lights do not operate on air.
Maybe they will install solar lights. How about erecting windmills to power them?
"Oley will never attract the great employees - our school district has a reputation
GREAT PAY - LOUSY ENVIRONMENT"
Sorry you seem have us confused with Wilson.
Don't think so - it's Oley all the way.
Can't attract principals.
There's a reason for that.
It's our illustrious leader.
His reputation keeps all the decent ones away!
well the guy who should be the elementary principal, is now in another district, I wonder if he was told that Mrs. Rabena was retiring before he left, maybe we should try to get him back, the kids want him back, they started a petition to do so. The majority of the parents also would like him as the principal and from what I hear the teachers had the utmost respect for him as well.
That horse has left the barn. Once they are gone from Oley they are gone forever. There is nothing that can lure them back again.
I say the powers that be need to eat some humble pie and ask the guy if he would consider coming back, I thought education was about what is good for kids and he would be a great leader and advocate for kids. The kids in the school gave a petition to the superintendent supporting the idea of him as the principal, Kids are usually the best judges of character. Use our tax money for what it should be used for, getting the best possible employees to help our kids succeed.
Why would he come back for a pay cut?
9:21 AM, May 31, 2008 said,
"I thought education was about what is good for kids and he would be a great leader and advocate for kids. The kids in the school gave a petition to the superintendent supporting the idea of him as the principal, Kids are usually the best judges of character."
This is pretty interesting. You really want kids to choose their principal? Do you think the kids are concerned about curriculum, policy, budgets, hiring teachers, leadership, mentoring teachers, and the 1,000 other things principals do? No. Kids just like someone or they don't. They don't judge character either. They haven't lived long enough to know the sneaky bad characters from the average good ones.
You are so right! Kids lie and cheat. They aren't all angels. Where did this stupid myth that kids are so innocent come from? They aren't smarter or wiser than adults. What nonsense.
wow I am so glad that all of you have such a positive outlook on kids. way to go, not all kids are bad, I bet some school board member in other districts lie and cheat as well as some tax payers lie and cheat as well but not all of them do, I think the point that was trying to be made is, the kids liked the guy, the parents respected the guy and the teachers would work for the guy.
Some kids cheat, some kids lie, but it is probably becuase that is the way they were raised, just like some tax payers cheat, some tax payers lie and some school board members cheat and some lie, but that does not mean there is bnot good in those groups of people.
Wasn't the track not up to league standards because it was not the right distance? How did that make an artificial track and field necessary? By the way, how do an artficial field (outdoor rubber rug) and towering lights fit within HARB's iron-fisted historical vision? How about using tax money to help the townspeople of the town rather than focusing on material objects? Maybe a fund to help pay for the extra costs that HARB creates for homeowners? Maybe school property tax relief?
Where can I get a copy of the school distict audit report from the external CPA firm? I do not see it posted anywhere?
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