Each year, an auditor reviews the district’s accounting practices to see if they comply with the state’s standards and procedures. They analyzed the 2005-2006 budget year.
Act 48 of 2003 says the district may not have more than eight percent of the budget in fund balance.
The auditor found the district exceeded the regulation by $741,000.
The board claimed they knew nothing of Act 48.
The code clearly states on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website,
"For the 2005-2006 school year and each school year thereafter, no school district shall approve an increase in real property taxes unless it has adopted a budget that includes an estimated ending unreserved, undesignated fund balance less than the percentages set forth as follows:
Total Budget Expenditures equal to or greater than $19,000,000, then the “Fund Balance Limit %, Less Than or equal to 8%.”
The Oley Valley 2005-2006 Total Budget Expenditures were $25,678,823.
Furthermore, the law states,
“By August 15, 2005 and August 15 of each year thereafter, each school district that approves an increase in real property taxes shall provide the Department of Education with information certifying compliance with this section.”
The certification form requires the School Board President, the Secretary of the Board, and the Chief School Administrator signatures.
The board hastily voted to assign the $741,000 into a “designated fund balance”.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education says however, “You are required to formally reopen the budget to account for additional local revenue.”
The directors may create another problem when they “designate” this surplus. It may not belong to the district as they contend, but rather to the taxpayers as part of the tax relief package under House Bill 1.
If there were proper oversight, there would not be these problems. The tax dollars in question could have lowered the 2005-2006 school property taxes, as well.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
414 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 414 Newer› Newest»An "educated guess" would be any of the following:
over-priced, over-rated, super-duper track. ....running into big bucks, for HOW many people to utilize???
Possibility of adding football to a school budget that is already suffering....
the above are but two of the many items placed on the "wish list" of the moment....and they are NOt state mandated items for our students to enjoy or our taxpayers to pay for.
Yeah, and if the football folks and track people get their way, then the swimming pool people will demand their cut of our tax dollars too.
Mark these words. It's gonna happen.
Perhaps we could save some tax dollars if
we install a "slip-n-slide" on our current track and have a goal post at each end. Then we could have track, swimming, and football---all in one spot...for a pretty good price. And I'd love to see the prospective coaches explain this one....
"This is something all school districts are doing now. Check and you will see that the BCIU now has computer tracking systems available for all districts. It just so happens that this is the year it was started. ....no other reason than the fact that it is now available. Check with other districts. You'll find that they are doing it the same way (as of just recently)."
6:48 PM
This must come from a board member or member of the administration.
This is not the year this reporting was started.
The BCIU has had this program for a few years, now, three that I know of, and the Oley School District was not using the program correctly. In fact, when Janet Keehn was asked at a board meeting how they kept track of the teachers' time off, personal days, emergency days, etc., she said that it was done on an individual basis in their personnel file.
There was no total accounting of this time at this school district.
Incidentally, whoever posted the above 6:48 blog, the Oley Valley School District does not use the BCIU any more, as they have switched to Schuylkill County IU.
So, please stop with the misinformation.
Oley was using the program incorrectly, and was not tracking the time taken off by the teachers OR BY ANYONE.
If I am wrong, then I would like to see the report. The reports that I have copied from the school district's records, show nothing.
The report that was shown to me, just showed the amount of sick time that the teachers had left, and how much they took. I will not presume that this information was entered correctly either.
I have spoken to the BCIU about this, and they told me that Oley did not use the program correctly.
And STUFF the heresay comments.
The bottom line is that Oley was not keeping track of the teacher's time off, and now they are, and I believe the program is from one that the school district has formed, and not a report from the IU.
The new forms still do not have all the information on them.
The key is still not correct.
If I am wrong, PROVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Incidentally, blogger 6:48 missed the entire point of the post.
The post was that the taxpayers in this district have been paying for teachers' time off and substitutes, and no one even cared to check whether or not these employees had this time off coming to them.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE WERE AGAIN RIPPED OFF BY THIS SCHOOL DISTRCT, AND IF THE DISTRICT WANTS TO SAVE SOME MONEY, KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME OFF.
Also, it appears that if a substitute teacher only worked half a day, this is now noted on the new form.
On rethinking my conversation with Ms. Stafford, the person who handles the substitute call-in list, hand writes them on the paper, and then the secretary enters this information in our computer.
My question would be, why has this not been done all along?
"Hey smiley, what's next?
"Honk if you love the school teacher's union?" "
Smiley here....No, as a matter of fact, I do not love the teacher's union. I do not even like the teacher's union!
To blogger "11:26"
No, I am not a board member or a teacher. I do know some people at the BCIU though.
The new system is available this year!
Oley Valley is a school serviced by the BCIU. Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit!?! Who in the world gave you that incorrect information?
"So, please stop with the misinformation." Ahem...what was that?
"I have spoken to the BCIU about this, and they told me that Oley did not use the program correctly."
Huh, WHAT? Who at the BCIU told you that?
Oh, and by the way...you really should stop taking those anger pills!
My information is coming from the reports that I am currently reading.
Oley does not contract with the BCIU any more for these services.
I am reading my reports right now, and they have SCIU at the top.
And by the way, I do my research.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU GETTING YOUR INFORMATION?
And no I am not taking angry pills, but I am upset that the school district is using taxpayer monies to pay for these absences.
I guess the fact that Oley throws money away doesn't bother you.
I am glad to know that you are wealthy enough to afford this, and the many other instances that our money is thrown away.
Also, I am glad that you know people at the BCIU.
So do I!
Hope you have a good night's sleep.
We have the right information and you do not like that! TOOOOOOOO BAD! Do the research yourself. If YOU really cared Mr. board member or retired teacher or secretary you would have not had this district wasting money that should of went to the children and EDUCATION. The whole board and administration is of fault AGAIN. You are recking this district with your I do not care attitude. Get off the board and let someone that wants what is best for ALL the children get on this board. It is also time for Zackon to leave this district. Ever since he has taken over we continually see reckless spending, money being found, test scores going down the tubes etc. The list goes on and on.
What about the school district during Act 50 they got BCIU to give them addresses of all the children so they could send scare letters out to each family. That information was not and is not for public knowledge. I know someone that works at the BCIU and when I told her what the district did to get those addresses she was very upset. You twisted your reasoning on why you needed the addresses and they gave them to you. It was wrong and probably illegal. You scared the parents into thinking Act 50 would recked this district and take things away from the children. You should talk. Ever since the Act 50 days and before you the board have been recking this district. You do not know what you are doing. You are not a banker and a person that knows inside and out of a $25 million budget but you continually vote not caring about the results.
The correct spelling is "wrecking"
Is that all you can do is correct spelling mistakes? How about answering the questions we have been asking you for years? Come clean and be honest and be held accountable. Wrecking, wrecking, wrecking I think I got it now. Thanks teacher. How about teaching yourself how to be nice to others and to tell the truth to the citizens of this district?
Does not matter how anyone spelled wrecking...it was the meaning behind the comment. And the meaning was 100% on the money.
Isn't if funny that someone has enough time to correct a typo on here, but never had the time to see the way the board and administration stood in the pathway of the general public and did everything in their power to halt act 50?
JUST AMAZING ISN'T IT?
Good Sunday morning!
Let's all enjoy the freedoms which our country provides for us, and remember to thank the veterans for their service to all of us. Pray for our service men and women's safety. Their devotion to our country is what THE USA is all about. God bless them, one and all!
We want to know about Nextel! The newspaper today says we the taxpayers have the right to know everything about this confidential agreement. We will be asking at the next board meeting so be prepared. Incidentally, John Stott, you words will no longer be taken at face value.
Yesterday's question:
What can you get for $1.75 these days, that's really interesting and worth having?
a:_____________
Today's question:
Did you buy today's "Sunday Reading Eagle?" Only $1.75 at the news stand
And......you can see, AGAIN...IN PRINT...
"Public Business Must Remain Public"
"Our Opinion...THE OLEY VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD TAKE NOTE..."
WELL, SCHOOL BOARD, PLEASE DO TAKE NOTE...IT'S NOT AS IF FOLKS AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION.
MAYBE YOU COULD CALL EVERYONE AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I HEAR THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OUT THERE WITH NEXTEL.....?
Great lawyer we have here at our school district. We want you and the rest of this board to come clean regarding all issues of this district not only nextel. You have kept money away, balances away, test scores away, teachers day's off away and the list can go on and on. You are in clear violation on the public's right to know laws.
Reading Eagle....
"Worth reading every day...."
Nextel agreement: We need to know all of the financials regarding this agreement. Who is paying who? How much is this worth to the district? How much is this going to cost the taxpayers? This is not confidential information.
Hey board what do you think of the paper today?
Perhaps a remedial reading class for adults could be offered as an evening class. Then, everyone concerned could read, and understand, important news. They could start with today's Reading Eagle. Editorials....read this. Take notes, there will be a test.
If you pro-boarders still don't like the way the Reading Eagle reports about Oley's problems, here's a suggestion:
Get another paper to do the reporting.
Try the Sentinel. Fair reporting at a price we're already paying for in our taxes. Can't beat that! Our fine young students can learn all about their school system...how the Board operates, etc. Let's see the Board treat the staff of The Sentinel as nicely as they seem to treat everyone else that dares to enter their world.
great idea
get a paper you already own to print what you want others to see
by they way, wasn't his first name Nikita?
OVSD owns a newspaper! When did this happen? Who pays for it?
we pay for it. The school district when it with the Boyertown Times for the Sentinel paper. Our students write the articles. We pay for the paper. We pay to have it shipped to all of you taxpayers. It is a quarterly paper. How many of these have you thrown away?
Meeting tonight at 6pm. The tax study group is going to present what they want to do with the earned income tax. Raise it or not. Come one come all and bring your rolaids.
ignorance is bliss
The Tax Study Commission voted tonight to recommend to the board that the Earned Income Tax be raised by the minimum amount allowed and, further, that voters reject (vote "no") the proposal when it appears on the ballot in May.
The Tax Study Commission Meeting - December 4, 2006
(Russ posted the commission's recommendation to the board.
Thank you Russ and the other commission members for your efforts on behalf of the community.)
Some reflections on the meeting:
The commission was not pleased with the legislation and expressed these views to a state representative at the meeting. In general, they felt the law was flawed and the state reneged on their obligation for a viable tax system.
Mary Ann McCarty’s complaint was the law did not give the district a “good” tax base.
She apparently prefers a personal income tax rather than an earned income tax. The personal income tax would tax nearly all other sources of household income besides wages and would raise the local tax even higher.
Her preference would defeat the purpose of tax relief.
Scarlett Gotwals, a school board member attending the gathering said that the referendum would force the district to raise taxes higher to maintain a tax base. This would be true if a board continues to spend large sums of money in a short period.
The school property tax millage increased sixty percent in the last six years with no referendum.
However, with the referendum on budgets over an inflation index, in this year’s case, 4.1%, and it was in effect over the same six years, our millage would be far less.
Contrary to the implication, referendums are not designed to raise taxes more than unfettered access to people’s wallets.
Another comment floated at the meeting was that the House Bill 1 would only save the taxpayers money in the first few years, but after that, they all would be paying more.
This depends on which tax bracket discussed.
The low and fixed income households would probably benefit the most for the longest period of time, maybe indefinitely in some cases.
Depending on the definition of middle-income wage earners, they would most likely see overall taxes decrease by scaled amounts or remain about the same in the first few years.
After the initial phase, they would see a far slower rate of increase under referendum than if, the board had no controls on spending.
The upper income households would see increases from the first year.
At this point, the break-even point is around $75,000 dollars.
Households that earn less than this amount will benefit from the package but varying amounts.
Households that earn more than $75,000 would be paying more by varying amounts.
House Bill 1 is a tax relief program and not a tax reform program.
The prospect for tax reform in the near future does not appear to be bright.
Realistically then, to get the most out of the current available tax package, the legislators should tighten or eliminate referendum exemptions.
E-Mail addresses of the state legislators are on the home page of the blog.
This is not a good package at all. The people in this state must contact all in Harrisburg and tell them we need real tax reform. This is a joke and will not help alot of people. And the people that will get a decrease it will not be enough to even help them a little. This is very bad. Yes at least it is better then nothing, but we need real reform. Stop the local schools from purchasing big ticket non-mandated items and get back to the basics of teaching our children.
Our district needs to be watched from Harrisburg. Harrisburg needs to know what the local schools are doing with our money. We need a watch dog group in Harrisburg for the taxpayers. They need to start investigating the local schools and see what they are spending our money on. We have seen alot of wasteful spending on legal matters, salaries that are not warranted, non-mandated items that are not in the best interest of ALL the children.
Does not matter where you go, business is business. If the workers don't produce, they're OUT THE DOOR. If the management is not making progress, they're out the door, too.
Looks like Oley needs BIGGER DOORS.
The local school boards have demonstrated the need for the state to pass a law that strips the boards ability to tax.
The school board performance clearly illustrates their inability to manage budgets in a fiscally responsible manner.
The nerve of McCarthy. Tax yourself out of your own home. Leave us alone. We are already paying toooooo much. We have the one of the most expensive teachers contracts in this county yet we have the lowest total wages in the county. This is just another example of why we need to take taxing authority away from school boards.
The reason we have millions in off budget funds is that so our board can use that money to buy votes to be re-elected rather then for education.
"...She apparently prefers a personal income tax rather than an earned income tax. The personal income tax would tax nearly all other sources of household income besides wages and would raise the local tax even higher.
Her preference would defeat the purpose of tax relief..."
OCC -I respectfully disagree with your analysis. A PIT is a much more effective form of taxation. First and foremost, it allows an exemption threshold that would allow to not collect minimal taxes. Since government agencies must pay something per return, the board would not be interested in collecting taxes that do not provide a positive cost/benefit. Therefore, if an individuals Interest income is a few $'s, they would not be pursued, but exempted (if done correctly).
What you do not convey in your comment is that the difference in the PIT and EIT tax bases(In OVSD), is $40+ million dollars. I will guess that this difference is primarily 'dividend income and capital gains income' which are not subject to EIT. In otherwords, if an individual owns a business, LLC, PC, Sub C, etc., they may not elect to take a substantial salary, but take their businesses profits as a dividend. Therefore, they elude (legally) the EIT taxes, increasing the burden on those who are working to make a living.
Based on that viewpoint, it would be my preference that the PIT would be considered more strongly. A sales tax solution would be best!
PIT, EIT, Sales Tax or Property Tax, the solution has to come from Harrisburg and not the school boards or local Tax Study Commissions. In addition, the legislature must also implement a sweeping education reform package that addresses the cost and design of new construction, special education mandates, state subsidies to local school districts and the stranglehold the PSEA has on the education system in Pa.
McCarthy or whatever other board member who wrote the above blog, the first Sam R's package was the best one. This current package that is out there with a PIT is no good. The board members of this district want to tax everything any of us have. They will not be satisfied until we are all kicked out of our homes. They are heartless people. They need to be replaced. We need to be called POT's People over taxed.
“OCC -I respectfully disagree with your analysis. A PIT is a much more effective form of taxation.”
Thank you for your response, however, I respectfully disagree with your opinion.
Based on the content of your entire post, it appears you suggest the PIT is more “effective” because it will raise more revenue.
Tax relief and tax reform should mean less taxation not more. At the very least, it should include accountability and preferably controls on spending.
“First and foremost, it allows an exemption threshold that would allow to not collect minimal taxes.”
You are describing a tax system, which is cost prohibitive at a local level. To hire enough people to implement this plan would require raising taxes higher.
“Since government agencies must pay something per return, the board would not be interested in collecting taxes that do not provide a positive cost/benefit.”
The return on investment of school tax dollars is a quality education.
We spent millions of additional local tax dollars to improve education over the years, yet we have seen little or no improvement in PSSA or SAT test results.
The “cost/benefit” theory is not working.
“What you do not convey in your comment is that the difference in the PIT and EIT tax bases(In OVSD), is $40+ million dollars. I will guess that this difference is primarily 'dividend income and capital gains income' which are not subject to EIT.”
You forgot to mention interest.
Many seniors rely on modest interest income to survive. To now tax, that income as well as their other sources of income would be contradictory to the concept of tax relief.
What you are suggesting is that there are more pockets to pick. Why not find ways to save $40,000,000 dollars of wasteful spending.
We can start with cutting the plan to spend over $1,400,000 on a state of the art track, which is not state mandated or fulfills any academic need.
“In otherwords, if an individual owns a business, LLC, PC, Sub C, etc., they may not elect to take a substantial salary, but take their businesses profits as a dividend. Therefore, they elude (legally) the EIT taxes, increasing the burden on those who are working to make a living.”
You are implying that business owners are rogues who do not work for a living. They would disagree with your portrayal.
If they take an unusual amount of money from the business as dividends, then the state and federal government will audit them.
If the government takes the time and money to audit them, these businesses will probably pay back taxes, penalties, fines, and interest.
Also, they will be placed on a random audit list.
The cost of being a rogue far exceeds the cost of not paying taxes. The ethical and smart business owners understand this equation and they represent the vast majority.
In addition, if these companies have employees, they would not have the luxury of stashing money into dividends rather than paying taxable wages. If the did, they would be out of business.
The bottom line is not to give the school boards more money to spend, but rather hold them accountable for what they do spend.
Meaningful referendums on excessive spending are one of the solutions.
Exactly how (?) is the average working guy supposed to figure out all of this mumbo-jumbo? We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. A hearty "thank you" to the greedy board members that SPENT us into this mess. We're not Beverly Hills. We're not NYC. We're not Hill School. We're OLEY. Little, old Oley. Get used to it and get us back where we belong. The board members are the ones that are setting this whole town on edge, it's not the bloggers. We're the fools that are stuck scrambling for ways to cover your mistakes by way of our check books. And, we're not happy.
Al's blog is right and the one below his is right. Hey board now what do you want to say?
"...You are implying that business owners are rogues who do not work for a living. They would disagree with your portrayal.
If they take an unusual amount of money from the business as dividends, then the state and federal government will audit them.
If the government takes the time and money to audit them, these businesses will probably pay back taxes, penalties, fines, and interest..."
I believe you misunderstood my comment, or I did not articulate it well. My comments were that Dividend income from these entities is not subject to EIT tax. This income is subject to the PIT and the Federal income taxes, and therefore they would not be penalized under audit, etc., by the state and/or IRS. My comment was geared towards explaining that the EIT tax is not imposed on this type of income. In no way should my comments be portrayed in a manner that I was inferring that these individuals are not working hard or that they are rouge. They are not doing anything wrong. It is the EIT tax that is flawed
I also, in my comments, did not elude that budgetary controls are not necessary and long over due. My comments were a comparison of the EIT v. PIT, which was the object of the Tac Commission. The commission was not responsible for commenting on the budget, or expressing opinions on the poor legislation that our governor scammed the people with.
Blame it on everyone else but the local school boards. We have heard this before. Any more taxing then what is already being taken from us is wrong. People cannot afford medicine, food, shelter and you want to tax them even more. Shame on you. Work with what you have. You do not need anymore money. This district is wasting toooo much already. Start being fiscally responsible for once.
Is anyone who disagrees with you ever right? ...just wondering
disagrees with me. Who care if you do not agree with me. What else is knew. The facts speak for themselves. Ask the board members yourself what they said last night. They will not be happy until they try to add a PIT with the EIT and Property Tax. And we say we are already POT "PEOPLE OVER TAXED".
Board:
You make us sick.
Could someone please tell me why they find it so blatantly wrong to ask the school district and school board to watch their spending?
This aspect in itself could save some money. Perhaps not a million dollars, but every little bit of money adds up.
JUST LIKE THE MONEY THEY PUT INTO INVESTMENTS EVERY MONTH!
We have millions of dollars invested every month shown on the treasurer's report.
Is anyone out there in blog land understanding this concept?
What do you not understand about having 5-10 floaters in every day at school, to the tune of a minimum of $70/day per times X number of years?
This money adds up folks.
To that, add the Butler's Pantry catering, the bills at the Sheraton Berkshire, the secretary's gifts, the support staff getting savings bonds for perfect attendance, etc., etc., etc.,
WHAT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION.
We are now on to you and you don't like it. Your free ride on the taxpayers' backs is over.
Incidentally, has the Auditor General's audit found anything yet?
Auditor General at Oley OH NO!!!
I hope we do not get a fine for sloppy bookkeeping again. We the taxpayers will have to forked up that money as well as all the other mishandling's that has cost this district money. It is like we have to bail them out all the time.
Auditor General?
In reading OCC's 'Auditor' article, I don't believe it mentions an auditor general review. I believe the article is merely referring to the annual audit performed by the CPA firm (Herbein & Co.). That review is done each year, as required by law. I had not heard anything about the AG doing a review. Can someone expand on that with facts as to whether that is true?
Al's article in the paper today in the editorial section sums it up 100%.
Yes we do get audited from the state every 2 or so years and this year is our year. So yes we have an auditor from the generals office doing an audit now at our district.
No one answered my question. Who here feels that it is possible for someone who disagrees with you to be correct?
Anythings possible, but highly unlikely. JUST LOOK AT THEIR RECORD!!! LOOK AT THEIR RECORD!!! If they the board would be honest and be accountable we would not be in the mess we are in at this school district. Yes it looks great from the outside but if you look on the inside we have some major problems. One big one for me is not being able to speak at board meetings and we live in America. Cut me a break on how this school systems thinks we should live like the people overseas, do not speak more than a few minutes. Next they will ask us to put vails over our heads and not be allowed to remove them. They are the ones with a mask over their heads. They are mean and they do not care at all for the people of this district. We live in America people wake up. Our rights are being violated. When my child serves in the future in the Army I hope she will not remember her time in this school district when you cannot speak what is on your mind. We have the FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THIS COUNTRY!! Also we want our money that was just found in the tune of $741,000.
Anything is possible --- after all--- Clinton never got a "SNOW" JOB.
And Clinton never played the Har-Monica.
Okay, Oley, keep sweeping all the mistakes under the carpet....
sweep
sweep
sweep
Wow, what's next?
Keep quiet at Board meetings, and everyone wears a BERKA???
Hold your breath...there goes another burst of wind and dust...blowing out of the Board Room door...
I see a lot of wind (hot air) but it's not coming from the Oley board room
You see a lot of "wind?" How do you see wind? You must have some special talent. Did you obtain a particular degree to utilize such a wonder? Can you instruct others?
Brooms are on sale ... everywhere.
Sweep
Sweep
Sweep
to anonymous at 10:18
Such intellectual debate. I am wowed by the factual presentation defending the board.
Wow! the board sure has a brilliant posse - NOT
Individual's opinions are not correct or incorrect. But liars figure and figures never lie.
Dear pro-boarders, please do as much research as AL and then present your FACTS. Or, at the very least, prove Al wrong. Haven't seen you do that yet.
Al's correct and that is it.
"individuals' opinions are not correct or incorrect"
Not true, they have to be one or the other.
Opinion is not fact. An opinion does not have to be true for someone to believe it.
In my opinion coffee ice cream is better than vanilla ice cream. Does that make me wrong or opinionated?
You know what they say about opinions....everyone has one...and....
Peanutbutter ripple
Oh, too sweet.
This conversation is unfair to the lactose intollerant amoung us....
Who is this Al guy that everyone seems to worship? He must be amazing!
CERTAINLY MUCH BETTER THAN EITHER ONE THE SCHOOL BOARD SEEMS TO WORSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE BIG DIFFERENCE BEING, AL IS HONEST, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ON THE BOARD CAN CLAIM, AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT THE BIG CHEESE CAN'T CLAIM.
Everyone seems to worship?? EVERYONE?? You must be reading some other blog because if you read this one regularly you would know that first, no one "worships" him and, second, a good half of all the comments are from people who seem to despise him.
No, Al isn't amazing. He's just a "concerned citizen".
Al is out for the interest of all the people of this district. He wants fiscal responsibility, honest board, a board that is held accountable for their actions and votes, a board that does not hide money's away. This board is only interested in taxing people out of their homes when they have money tucked away that can be used for a no tax increase. You all should be as concerned about this district as Al is. Not a single person should talk negative about Al and what he does for the good of this district. Not one board member has given any facts on this blog since it has started to make Al's facts not true. He gets his information from the district and puts it on this blog for all to see. He has worked hours to hold this board accountable. He has been able to lower our tax increases in the past years by his questioning of this board. DO NOT EVER SAY HE IS NOT OUT FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT. YOU ARE DEAD WRONG IF YOU EVEN TRY TO SAY THAT.
THE ABOVE BLOG IS RIGHT ON.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. NEXT YEAR WILL BE A VERY INTERESTING ONE TO SAY THE LEAST.
to rs...
You say Al is not amazing? Sorry, but many would disagree with that comment. You don't think it's amazing that Al puts this much time and effort into a blog that can and will benefit all citizens, not just the concerned ones?
Sorry, you have underestimated Al Jacobs.
Anyone 10 year old can create a blog...
Any 10 year old? Well, speak of the devil.....
I'm just saying -- Don't make a person a god just because they know how to use a little HTML. It isn't brain surgery. Ok...I"ll wait for the name calling now...begin....
"Who is the Al guy that everyone seems to worship? He must be amazing...."
You're no eye doctor, but you certainly are a spectacle.It's pretty easy to spot a set up on here. But, as soon as we "call 'em as we see 'em, we're then accused of being nasty.
We're not nit-picking over little "things" the board does or doesn't do right. We're not talking "little" anything. We're sick of being "put in our place" at meetings that should be anything but secretive. Sooner or later, plenty of people will get their belly full of this elitist crew.
You people are so easily agitated! ....although you do provide some very good entertainment!
...."you people...."...???
That says it all.
Someone needs to be reminded that we're all in the same boat. Pro-boarders--teachers--and retired teachers sucking the life out of the young couples and senior citizens.....remember...
what goes around, comes around.
It's Sunday. As you worship today, be thankful for your many blessings. Appreciate what you've got, and cross your fingers you don't end up in the "boat" in which you have placed others.
They are in a boat that is sinking everyday. When the state takes over the school system do not say we did not tell you this district was a mess. If the pssa scores keep falling the state will put our district on a warning list. Also if the auditor general finds more mishandling and sloppy bookkeeping of our moneys we are in for more fines.
Some of you should read "Chicken Little" You're a bunch of doomsdayers. OVSD is in no danger of being taken over by the district. It is by far an above average school district. We should all be thankful for being so lucky to have a good place to send our children. We shouldn't take our advice from a carpetbagger from Daniel Boone.
Thank you for your input,
board member
teacher
system feeder.
In case you are a parent, you might want to reserve your comments until your child has taken a few college courses.
Why is it that anyone with a positive thing to say is an employee of the district. Maybe I am just a happy parent with student that DID take college courses. If it were up to many in here, there wouldn't even probably be any college courses. All many care about is themselves and how to keep their taxes low. They could care less about education.
How to keep their taxes low? It's a little late for that, isn't it?
As for this "above average" school system.....get out of your zip code once in a while. Other areas are miles above this one. Miles and miles and miles...
Does that make me a doomsdayer? No, it makes me a realist. Been there, done that. Paid high enough taxes here, sent my children to Penn State, and there was no way they would ever have gotten through in 4 years. Thanks, Oley. Thanks a lot.
Where do you expect to find lowers taxes and receive the same quality of education? Name one place (all things being equal). Not Montgomery (higher taxes). Not Cheser (higher taxes). Not Lehigh (higher taxes). Not Lancaster (higher taxes). Not Bucks (higher taxes). If you want lower taxes, then maybe you should head up 61 to the coal regions, and see how nice the schools are up there. The quality of education in Berks is several times better
Well,
there have been plenty of OVHS grads who have graduate from PSU in four...
The success of Oley Graduates depends on one thing, and it's not the school teachers or their system. It's the parents and the amount of time they've got to spend with each of their own children. That's where the problems really start. Get a board that is hellbent on spending mega bucks for non educational "things" and taxes DO go up. When taxes go up high enough, both parents have to work, and that leaves less and less time for parents to pick up the ball that the over-rated teachers drop. Some of our teachers are pretty good, and some of them have nerve signing their checks. It's hard to argue those points.
Maybe 20-30 students every year go off to college and succeed in 4 years but what about the other 120 or more? Do not be so naive to think our school will not get in trouble from the state for low pssa scores and attendence rates. We have been warned already. You live in lala land to think we should compare our school to any others. The board and SUPER has said more than once that they do not compare us to other schools. Only when they are in trouble that is when you will hear them say oh so and so are doing this, etc. Cut me a break. We waste a ton of money on non-educational wish list items instead of teaching and getting our children all of them to succeed. We do not prepare the majority of our students for the real world. Go visit and spend a day in any of our schools and you will see what I mean. We do not care about other schools, our children and our neighbors children are at Oley. We all should be as concern as the Oley concern citizens. We need to clean house from the top on down.
The above comments are right on the money. Frankly, who cares how other schools are doing? We don't pay their taxes, and they don't pay ours. We need to focus on these three things:
OLEY
OLEY
OLEY
There, we've simplified the issue for those challenged readers and bloggers that can't figure this one out.
We're Oley. Let's get our combined act together. We pay taxes for educating ALL of the students, not just the 30 or 40 that are lucky enough to have parents paying attention to all of the facts. Oley has many great things to offer. It's scenic, far enough away from the cities to be fairly comfortable, and for the most part, there's a lot of really nice people here. It's the big money folks that enjoy being the big fish in the little pond so much that they are making it increasingly difficult to live here, stay here, and prosper. Get off of your high horses. You're no different than the worker ants, you just have fatter check books. Take off your blinders and look at the WHOLE scene, not just what is directly in front of you.
The fancy new track and all the chatter about football, etc, should be placed in areas like the Oley Youth League, and should not be forced upon the shoulders of the already overburdoned general public. What good is a "fit looking" bunch of students that can't hold their own in the real world?
Just wait until the draft is reinstated. You'll see just where the undereducated fit in...no questions asked. Need a quick history lesson?
V I E T N A M
Got any more questions?
So you are comparing Oley to Vietnam?
Maybe someone is comparing YOU to the part of the turkey that goes over the fence last....
As usual, someone missed the whole point.
I think that blogger was trying to compare Oley....
TO OLEY...
Gosh, why was that so hard to understand?
As for Viet Nam....perhaps the point was missed there, too. Any vet can see the patern here, and if you're not a vet and don't have a vet to discuss this with, we think you should find one.
Maybe we should try this one:
..."Be prepared..."
Maybe a quote from the Boy Scouts of America would bother you less. Bottom line, you're going to see plenty of "tall kids" filling the shoes of adults...somewhere where there's a lot of sand and oil. I want my children and grandchildren to be prepared. For the sake and safety of my family, I hope your family is preparing their children for the future that most certainly will be dumped in their laps.
I hear that they are thinking about reinstating the DRAFT. I believe that is what the above blogger meant.
Not comparing the town of Oley to Vietnam.
And I agree, as usual they missed the point.
"They could care less about education."
Spending $1,400,000 on a track is about education?
What planet feel good are your from?
exactly!
spend spend spend
and where's the great scores for education?
oley is more interested in throwing kids around on a football field and having a track that looks good TO OTHER PEOPLE
Since the inception of the Oley Concerned Citizens blog in March of this year, there are 15,051 visitors and 20,098 pageviews.
The blog's readership continues to grow.
But, Al, you know what the pro-boarders say about that. Four or five people sit around all day and log on and off to pile up the numbers.
Thanks for the info, Al. It comes as no surprise to the "dark side" that there's a growing number of citizens in this district that are anything but happy with how it's run.
Those numbers are irrelevant. I've just reloaded my page 20 times. Up go the numbers. Bwhahaha. Must mean I'm unhappy with the school.
You sound like a Republican.
I read in the paper yesterday that the word Oley comes from the Lenni Lenapi word Olink, meaning "a hole". I guess that says it all.
"Those numbers are irrelevant. I've just reloaded my page 20 times. Up go the numbers. Bwhahaha. Must mean I'm unhappy with the school."
Is this similiar to how the school board pads a budget?
...Is this similar to how the school board pads a budget?
Well, that's an interesting parallel you've presented. Perhaps it's the comparison that's easiest to follow. Sort of like how an improved track was in the neighborhood of $300,000, and now it's over a million. And it's one idea which was frowned upon by current and past board members. Let's not forget Dr. Cappa's comment that a new track was not necessary. Something about..."you can always find 3 or 4 miles to run in this district..." Perhaps not a direct quote, but close enough. Mr. Moore also was in disagreement with a mega-priced track. Perhaps this was because a new track does not a scholar make.
" Anonymous said...
Those numbers are irrelevant. I've just reloaded my page 20 times. Up go the numbers. Bwhahaha. Must mean I'm unhappy with the school. "
No doubt, Mr.or Mrs. Anonymous is not familiar with new versus return visitors site statistics.
Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous is not familiar with how easy it is to spot a fake, either.
Pretty sad, I'd say. It's a terrible thing to see that there actually are that many concerned citizens. And a handful of creeps that think they can turn us around by blogging up a smiley-pickle-pro-board storm!
Good Luck... Pickle Puss...
No smiley for you....no respect, either. You're see-through.
Is it just me or did that last entry make absolutely no sense...? Perhaps it is some type of grassroots code to tell all the members to go to the meeting tomorrow.
It's just you.
It's Tuesday. Do you know where your grassroots are?
It's best served cold.
Tonight meeting in the Administration Building at 7PM. See what the board now has planned for us!
Cappa you can do better than that stupid article in the paper this morning. How can you say the money is a wash when you did not even know you had it. You and the board cannot be trusted. The auditor general has fined our district for sloppy bookkeeping in the past and this just shows us you do not know what you are talking about. You are not a banker, accountant. You do not know what moneys are for what. You say you spent it already and you did not even know you had it. What have you been drinking?????
What article are you referring to? In which paper? I didn't see anything in this morning's Eagle about the board meeting last night.
Rob Cappa says that "there was no extra money spent"
The Business Manager says the district overspent the budget by $740,000. Who do you choose to believe?
Rob Cappa says that "the truth is that we received more than expected revenue from a variety of sources..."
The Business Manager says that they spent the additional $740,000 by spending down the fund balance, NOT using $741,000 in additional revenue. Who do you choose to believe?
Rob Cappa said "some of it was used instead of drawing down our reserve fund."
The Business Manager says just the opposite. Who do you choose to believe?
Will we ever really know what happened and, other than a few people, does anyone really care? The prevailing attitude seems to be that whatever the board did it's OK. Maybe it is but how can we know if we don't get straight answers.
The discovery by an auditor of $741,000 apparently is very embarrassing for the district because they are now mounting a campaign to whitewash this problem.
The first salvo started with a letter to the editor by board member Robert J. Cappa.
He tries to explain away the issue as trivial and he asserts ignorance for those who comment on the surplus money.
However, he is confused about using money from a general fund balance, and unexpected revenue.
According to the business manager, the district overspent the 2005-2006 budget by $740,000. They did this by drawing down on the general fund balance, not using $741,000 of additional revenue.
They could not use the $741,000 because the district did not know of its existence.
The $741,000 is not a wash as Mr. Cappa suggests, otherwise he could not have voted to "designate" these funds to a reserved balance in the 2006-2007 budget in a recent meeting.
You cannot vote to "designate" funds, which according to Mr. Cappa do not exist.
He does not appear to understand district finances or the meaning of his votes.
This money can be used for a No Tax Increase 2006-2007!
On final thought is how can the district overspend $740,000 and nobody from the board says anything.
It is the board's responsibility to oversee the spending of our hard-earned tax dollars, yet they say or do nothing.
The stupid article that Cappa wrote is in the B section Editor section of today's paper. Read it and weap. This board should not be allowed to deal with our money. It is time that the state take over. This is a true disgrace. He makes himself look like a complete fool. The Super and board should silence him. He and the rest of the board are recking this district.
Many of us DO care about all the wrongdoing. Unfortunately, there seems to be more of them than us. I've been fighting this losing battle since the late 80's. With only a handful of us actually working for change, running for vacant board seats, showing up at meetings and VOTING, this madness will continue.
Over the years, many people have complained about the state of affairs with the school system. When asked if they vote, many said they didn't. Then, as far as I'm concerned, they've forfeited their right to complain.
The board gains support through veiled intimidation, scare tactics, and convincing the uninformed that any new people coming to the board will "take away" things from the children and are anti-education.
If more sensible people don't get involved, and short of an Act of God, nothing is going to change except for the worse.
I always thought doctors were supposed to make people better. Seems like some are only capable of making people sick.
How much does one cost and where can the taxpayers get one?
HI Kids!
Today's story is called
THE LITTLE BOARD THAT COULD
Once upon a time, in a valley far from reality, there lived a few folks that wanted ever so much to be the rulers of their own little kingdom. When they matured, or got tall, they reached the conclusion that ruling their own kingdom may not be possible, they decided to run for school board. What better way to feed their egos than to control an entire community and dictate how much each family will cough up to the school system? Good or bad, the townfolk were bound by the laws of the kingdom to pay up or leave. Nothing instills trust, confidence and a feeling of well being quite like a little room full of people that are allowed to over-spend, mis-calculate, and then tell the general public..."speak when you're spoken to...and there's no guarantee that we will listen."
So, kids, when you grow up, be very careful where you choose to set up housekeeping. Research the neighborhood carefully. Eat each meal as if it's your last, because it may well be. Always keep a "safety net" of emergency funds at your disposal, because you may have little or no warning when your school may need to pay teachers for not showing up. You may never know in advance that your taxes will be the first thing you think of when you wake up, and the last thing on your mind as you complete your many jobs and attempt to retire. Retire? It used to mean that you stopped working and relaxed. Now, kids, it means you're going to get new tires for your bicycle, so you can get to that extra job you'll need to keep the roof over your head in this pristine valley, AKA Oley.
Sorry kids, there's no smilies at the end of this story. Not even a complimentary pickle.
Night kiddies...sleep tight!
Maybe that story should have been called
the little board that never should
Why did this school district hire a new business manager for her big salary when we have a board member feeding off our system with his wife's big retirement package so smart in finance and thinking he knows everything about our schools budget! He should be able to balance the budget and run the books for this district. We could save a big salary. He is Mr. know it all. "NOT"! Actually he is a laughing stock of this district. The last laugh is on us. Thank you for the humor CAPPA!
HEY ZACKON WHAT DO YOU PAY THE STUDENT TO VIDEO TAPE THE MEETINGS? HE IS NOT THERE FOR THE HECK OF IT! YOU REALLY LOOK RIDICULOUS DOING THIS.
So, now we're going to attack students...Don't reach a new low. At least stick to the adults.
ZACKON IS USING KIDS TO PROTECT HIMSELF. I work with the children in this district. I know they respect the people that care about them. They can see the bad and evil in you board members. They are smarter than you. What teenagers would go to a board meeting and tape the monkeys on this board for nothing. They have better things to do.
We could never go as low as you are already Cappa, Dale B. or whoever you are. We care about all the kids of this district not just the select few that you look out for.
We need to spend our tax dollars on education not building up a huge amount of confort with our money to buy votes to get re-elected in May. You cannot possibly think people will fall for you again. But then again this is Oley you never say never. We have seen Dale B. in action before at the polls and we will see him again before long. Scare tactics do not work on all!
comfort
Okay, somebody owes me a new keyboard. What good is mine, now that my hot chocolate is spewed all over the place?
Lucky you.... I was eating soup!
For the love of Pete! Why are we paying a music department? This talented board could donate their free time, save the taxpayers a bundle. Come on you ding-a-lings...ching ching your cans down to the music department and cut us all a break!
What next? Musical Chairs? Who ever gets stuck with no chair..is off the board! Oh boy!
was that old show...
Name that Tune?
or name that goon?
I'm old and having trouble with my brain....help me out on this one!
Was that video playing Christmas music? Where were the smiling faces???
Go Doc, Go...
What enthusiasm!
Hey Doc, looks like you are sleeping in your chair! Was the music and children that boring? Hey was BB there? She must be hiding behind Hannum. What is the problem? Is she shy? We want to see all of the board singing for the holiday season. They all look like they do not want to be there.
"...there are 15,051 visitors and 20,098 pageviews."
It would be much more accurate to say that there have been 15,051 visits, not visitors! BIG difference!
"They can see the bad and evil in you board members. They are smarter than you. What teenagers would go to a board meeting and tape the monkeys on this board for nothing."
All I can say is that I am thankful that my family and friend would never speak of another person like this! I hope you find some happiness, and you definitely won't find it by staying on the path you're on.
Is that how this blog works? ...trying to intimidate and humiliate the board members! That is a very big part of why you and your group is simply treading water! Trying to make change by spewing hate always backfires!
I applaud the board for showing Christmas spirit! You anti-Oley people in the audience should have joined in as well. Instead I could see on the video that some of you were sitting there laughing at the board members! Wow! You must feel like a class act!
The taxpayers were not the only people videotaping the the board showing some Christmas spirit.
The board had it taped also, so Bah, humbug to the last blogger.
No one is making fun of the board. It was nice to see them joining in the Christmas spirit!
Now who wants to talk about being hateful, and where in the world did you come up with anti-Oley?
Why is everyone in a huff when questions are asked regarding school finances?
Why is everyone in a huff when when questions are asked regarding school finances?
HELLO??? EARTH TO BLOGGER???
Earth to bloggers with endless questions about MISSING FUNDS...
Are the people in the valley (pro-boarders) this stupid? We have been talking about the school boards fiscal responsibility forever. Come to a meeting and ask for a copy of the auditors report. You will see that $741,000 just showed up. And for the board members in the holiday spirit, come on they look like they are being forced to play the bells, just look at their faces. It is a laugh. Thanks Al I enjoyed the video.
To see the whole video click on goggle, more Christmas cheer! Full size entertainment, in almost living color.
My path is the path of accountability, responsibility. You people do not talk to the children, I DO! They know what is going on here before I utter a word to them. Most of them are at the HS level that are preparing for a future that is bright and away from this valley. God Bless the children and all the citizens during this holiday season. I hope everyone will have a blessed Christmas and find it in their hearts (if they have one) to start being honest with the public once the new year comes. I will not hold my breath! Very Happy with a supported family, concerned citizen and taxpayer, thats me.
HAPPY, HAPPY JOY, JOY Mrs. Lightcap is the only one that looks like she is enjoying the music in the google video. Full picture, moving in her seat to the music.
To 11:45pm anonymous:
Of course we were laughing, it was supposed to be FUN. Everyone was laughing in the spirit of the moment. I guess you would have just sat there stone-faced watching the board and administrators wearing antlers and shaking bells. This has become an annual tradition and it was always taken in a lighthearted manner. You, whoever you are, should lighten up and get in the spirit of Christmas:)
"Is that how this blog works? ...trying to intimidate and humiliate the board members!"
Obviously you ignore board member Cappa bringing a camera to a meeting to intimidate and humiliate female speakers or his policies to prevent Free Speech at meetings.
A hypocrite is not hard to spot.
This reindeer antler and jingle bells "tradition" started when? Public schools are not allowed to celebrate the Christ of Christmas so why celebrate bells?
Board meetings seem to have become "anything but" serious about the taxpayers money. Their cutesy little act should be saved for an assembly. On the other hand, their attempted showmanship is far better than their actions as an elected board "seriously" responsible to the "people."
Didn't Nero fiddle while Rome burned?
Perhaps endless questions from bloggers could be compared to Dr. Cappa driving around in a car with a sign attached to the top of his Toyota that says do not buy from Tri-County Toyota.
That could be considered endless.
I wonder if Tri-County has tried to stop his freedom of speech?
I wonder if he delivers pizzas?
I recieved some bad medical advice from a local medical practitioner a while ago, yet I don't drive around town with a billboard atached to my vehicle,indicating my dissatisfaction. Nor have I taken paint brush in hand and created a primative billboard to adorn my highly visible property. A matter of disgression I suppose. Oh, and maturity, too.
To display such items in public points to the early shades of mental illness. The larger the display, the deeper the illness. Pray that the patient gets the help they need.
Oh Russ, we certainly know how much Christmas spirit you have now don't we....
Hi everyone!
Merry Christmas! Really...merry, merry Christmas!
Love and glad tidings,
T. L. R.
Thank you for observing that. I didn't think anyone outside my family knew how much into Christmas I am this year. How can anyone not be in the Christmas spirit when they focus on the miracle of the birth of our Lord and the fact that He will be coming again very soon.
You have a very Merry Christmas and try not to take everything so seriously in the coming year. I don't know what I ever did to you but, whatever it was, I apologize.
This is as good a time as any to bid farewell to this blog. The hateful atmosphere, and personal insults accomplish nothing. It's not that I can't take it, it's just that I don't need it. I can't deal with cowards that hide behind "anonymous" in order say things they never would have the nerve to say to my face. God Bless You All...
Russ I feel the same way tooo, but I feel this is the only way to get the facts out to whoever goes on this. The board has silence us from speaking, they continue to play sneaking games with our money, but I feel unless we clean house from top on down they will continue this road of distruction. I feel bad for the little kids of this district. I have seen in the past 7 years changes that are not for the good of the children. Harrisburg needs to start controlling the schools all of them. They think they can spend, spend, spend on anything but education. This most stop. I am in the Christmas spirit and I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday. Your friend and I think you know who I am!
The people and you know who you are that cannot put the facts on this blog like the concern citizens have done but continue to attack the messenger it would be very odd to say the least for you to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. You better go to confess your sins first. You are not nice people. You have hurt the citizens that care about this district. God Bless the citizens that truly care about this district and the well being of all.
So now the "concerned" citizens are God? Telling people to confess their sins. I actually recall a verse that says "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar". Bwuahaha
The Lord be with you. You need his blessings. To say someone is God! Their is only one God and he is watching you and all your evil doings. Think twice before you write from now on. Ijust ate, I feel sick reading your stupid comments. Give me some facts about this district and start being a responsible adult. You act like a baby. Have a nice day.
Listen to what Mr. Brumbach said last night and maybe you will be nicer in the New Year. He said we should be blessed to have love ones and freedoms that we have. I almost laughed at the freedom part. We lost our freedom of speech at board meetings thanks to a so called Doc. Maybe I will have to talk to our Music Director at the HS and tell him what is going on here. He would be shocked but maybe not!
Well, if some in here had their way, there wouldn't be a music department. They view it as frills
B W U A H A H A
For those that don't know that word, it's Pennsylvania Dutch for
yadda yadda yadda.
Your a thrill and a half. You make anyone laugh. It costs a heck of alot more for sports than the music dept. spends. Get a life.
At least Mr. Brumbach knows what is right and cares about more people than you will ever care about. What he said last night was very nice. You do not know the word nice.
Yadda or whatever is stupid. We are American. We speak English not Penna Dutch.
We are not frilled with you!
I was at the band concert last night and my son played. It was beautiful. It put a smile on everyones faces. The music selection was very warm for the holiday season. At least the people there can be happy for the 2 hour show.
When is the charged to get into the concerts going to start?
Yea the board crys being broke, haha thats a joke.
This Christmas, don't forget the most important thing! Spend little on yourselves and your children, and put the monies aside that you'd like to have spent on your own personal wants and needs...for next year's taxes. Please remember, the teachers and staff come first. Our families only get leftovers.
If you hate it here so bad..then move to a country with lower taxes.....oh there aren't any
BUT, there are other Pennsylvania counties, and other states with lower taxes.
Anybody can raise taxes. It takes brains and
resolve to manage other peoples money with wisdom.
Did you see the newspaper today and the
huge tax deficit for teachers pension everyone
else is going to have to sacrifice to pay.
For all you folks who LOVE higher taxes, bet you can't wait until the pension funds come due.
Knock yourselves out ... but not with our money. We're leaving and soon.
Grab your coat and get your hat....
that's what you'll be seeing a lot of. It's not a handful of people that don't like the way Oley's board handles things...it's a growing crowd. And you're right, many are leaving.
Yea...Oley's population is really going down...If I were you, I'd take a look at the census numbers...
People like you who like taxes are moving in. People like us who don't like being fleeced are
moving out. Census doesn't indicate individualist vs. socialist.
The number of children in our school district is going down, drop outs, other schools, home schools, leaving the area, not having tons of kids cannot afford them. We do not have the numbers we used to.
When people such as school teachers find their "pot of gold" in jeopardy, they will say and do almost anthing to protect their cover. They, themselves, are the ones that are guilty of making all of our taxes reach outrageous levels.
There's no quick and easy solution for this...but here's a suggestion:
Teachers could be paid by the hour, the same as most of the rest of the country funtions. It's crazy to get paid all year long, when teachers are off all summer. When they come back in September, can you guess what the first comments are that come out of their mouths? They are complaints about summer being over, being back in school where they are forced to deal with "children." Complain about their drive to work, their cost of living, etc. Anyone passing through the doors of the school can hear these complaints. What nerve! You don't like your profession, quit and go into the real world and work a real schedule...and it sure would be amusing to see these pampered teachers working on all of the holidays that the rest of us work.
In the real work world, if you don't do your job, you don't have a job. So, teachers and board, if the scores are dropping off of the charts, get rid of the dead wood you're employing. They are worthless. Don't bother sending they back to college for more credits, etc. They had 4 years or so to get it right. If they didn't catch on, that's their fault, not the fault and responsibility of every taxpayer.
Our students deserve the best we can provide, but we are currently ripping them off. Just wait until they get to college, for the most part, they will totally go into shock. I'm not referring to the children of school board members, I'm referring to the general population of our school. Shame on an administration that shoves these kids through like cattle. Shame of us for allowing it.
The above comment is right on with the facts of this district. Start doing what is right for a change.
6:51 you are right, sorry to say. There's one real reason people run for school board. Sadly, it's not for all the kids, it is for their kids. Maybe we need a board restructuring. Make every parent a board member, that would be something! Imagine actually having a voice in what our BOARD does? WOW!
Okay, all you pro board bloggers, you know there's a good reason why subjects like this keep coming up. It's because we can't trust the handful of board members we've got right now. Have a problem with that? Then prove me wrong. I don't get a comfy feeling when I hear about their decisions, and who would? Only the few that benefit from those decisions, and that sure isn't the majority of our taxpayers.
You are kind of hard on our Board, aren't you?
Come to the meetings and see if you can do better.
Oh, that's right, we're barely allowed to speak at those meetings.
Sorry, looks like we just have to pray things will change for the better, so our students get a fair shake. Look at the scores the other schools are getting, Oley should hang their heads in shame. Not the kids, the faculty and their bosses.
God Bless our students, extra blessing they will need down the road.
We're signing off for the holiday season; and wish EVERYONE a blessed Christmas and happy and healthy New Year.
R.S. Please don't abandon this site. Many of us appreciate your insights and thoughts.
Until the New Year -- Blessings to all!
God Bless you Linda and Barry and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Changes are coming, but it might be tooooooo late for some of us. I feel this coming year will bring us some hope. It cannot get any worse.
Your Friend!!!
"It can't get any worse" !?!?!
Tell that to the troops fighting on the streets in Iraq so you can post on this board! Let's put things in perspective!
Good point! And here's another angle.
Keep the poor teaching practices up, the way they are now. Every kid that gets left back a year can buy themselves an extra year of civilian life.
Perspective?
Oley?
What are you, a comedy writer?
Please, let us know when it's okay to laugh. And inform us in advance if laughing counts against the three minute rule.
Thanking you in advance!
Hello there, 8:22 blogger
Let's hope you're a veteran. If so, thanks for your insight. If not, thanks for your ignorance. Try thanking the WW2 Vets for your current freedoms. You can save this new Thank You for when you're filling your gas tanks and heating your homes.
It cannot get any worse at the Oley Valley School Board/District, not the whole country. We have many problems in this world, but we have many right here in this school district. The Army is going to come to Oley soon if this board continues this road of destruction.
I would welcome the US Army at board meetings. Bet you'd hear PLENTY of free speech that night! Even our board isn't that stupid!
Maybe all the US forces could come for a visit and tell Doc why they are fighting for our freedoms that he took away from us.
BB is interested in the MS volleyball program because her daughter plays at her catholic school and if she decides to come back to OV she could play. Another reason to be on the board, like Mr. Maloney and his track family.
Whats that word EDUCATION oh yea thats it. How long is this Business Manager going to last?
Hey Kids do talk, whatever happened to the girls that got in trouble the other night at the basketball game for bringing "drinks" into the school? That is a real shame, and it happened in another county and school district.
Hey Cappa, Russ was correct with his blog of 10:43 pm. I heard you were asking the Business Manager last night who was right. Russ is right.
Post a Comment