The Oley School Board’s behavior is getting so humiliating that taxpayers may have to put bags over their heads from embarrassment.
The board’s actions are attracting continued negative coverage in the news media.
“Oley School Board remains in denial”, “Proposed changes block Sunshine Act”, and “Public’s business must remain public” are the glaring editorial headlines describing the board’s blatant defiance of the Sunshine Act.
Preventing the public from seeing a public document or inhibiting participation at meetings casts a dark shadow over the valley.
What does not receive attention in the local media is even more concerning.
The board surrenders to the wage and benefit demands of the teachers union.
Duplicate tax bills are sent to some residents.
The district loses track of $741,000 of revenue and they must hastily patch the 2005-2006 budget.
The board lets a track repair turn into a feeding frenzy of spending on a non-educational expense.
The district still owes a steel contractor for Middle School work. They run up hefty legal bills and lose in court.
They waste the windfall from the Nextel lease agreement on a grandiose athletic facility and ignore education.
They refuse to release the list of Big Ticket Items of future spending.
The eleventh grade PSSA test scores are discouraging.
Finally, the board raises taxes for the ninth consecutive year, while having over $5,500,000 sitting in surplus funds.
At this pace, there will not be enough bags to hide the shame.
Posts
574 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 574 Newer› Newest»mutual you say, you cannot even compare! The faces they make at board meetings are not ones they were born with. Maybe they have inner beauty.
Unbelievable!! Don't you think it is this way in every district around the country? What to fund, what not to fund? Education or extracurricular activities? Use the energy you are expending on questioning every little thing the school board does or doesn't do, not to mention the wasted time sitting at your computer basically blogging with yourself, and spend time where it is needed most, with your kids. It is great that you have a passion for "fact finding" and holding the school board accountable, but not at the risk of making your kids miserable because that is all you talk about and do when you are home. It is one thing to be a quiet, soft-spoken observer who is passionate about things with a willingness to voice concerns constructively, but to be an over zealous, persistent nay-sayer who just spews criticism is not doing anyone any good. Especially those kids............
In the last nine years, Dr. Jeffery Zackon has been the superintendent of the Oley Valley School District.
During the same period, the millage increased 72 %. The community invested millions in the hope of improving educational results.
However, independent test scores remained static, at best.
For some reason, the board votes to give Dr. Zackon a new five-year contract and a one-year $13,000 pay increase.
If these expensive and dismal results happened in the private sector, those in charge would have been discharged.
Only an indifferent school board would reward such a poor performance.
"Unbelievable!! Don't you think it is this way in every district around the country? What to fund, what not to fund? Education or extracurricular activities?"
For those truly interested in the education of their child, it is a no brainer.
But for school board politicians and their apologists it becomes a matter of getting away with shortchanging others.
Unbelievable!!
"Use the energy you are expending on questioning every little thing the school board does or doesn't do, not to mention the wasted time sitting at your computer basically blogging with yourself, and spend time where it is needed most, with your kids"
This comes from someone who struggles with whether to spend tax dollars on education or recreation.
Unbelievable!!
jheacock>>>
"Don't you think it is this way in every school district around the country?"
No, pal, not a chance. Unbelievable as it may seem to you, and/or others, there are plenty of school districts in this state, and the entire country, that know how to run a school. They're the ones you don't hear anyone moaning about, because their school boards are run by BUSINESS MINDED PEOPLE. Before a school can worry about providing a great education to each and every student, they need to know how to finance their system. That's where Oley is making it's biggest mistakes. Just because those people that get elected have a name the voters recognize, it doesn't mean they know ANYTHING about working with the taxpayer's money.
12:36 am, There are alot of people writing on this blog about the facts and concerns of this district. I for one have 3 children in this district and they thank me for speaking out and writing the facts on this blog. Some people work 2 or more jobs just to keep a roof over their families heads, if the taxes were not so out of control maybe the people could only have to work 1 job. People in this district are fed up with what is going on with their childrens education and the reckless spending from this school board and administration. It is not a few people, it is many.
My neighbor who is a school teacher at another district cannot believe the taxes in this district. When they are told that over $5 Million is sitting in reserve funds the neighbors get even more mad. The word is getting out about how this school board is running our district and it is not a pretty picture.
If the taxes are so high, the education so bad and the board so incompetent why don't you move somewhere else? You should have no trouble selling your home. Houses in this district sell pretty fast mainly due to the lower taxes and the good education that's provided. Since you hate it so much why don't you let someone else move in who will appreciate what you don't? Also, would you please name one of those school districts that know how to run a school? Maybe there is a house for sale there for you.
10:48...what are you, totally decaf? To what dream valley do you refer? Only a totally mellowed out person would make statements like yours. Have one of your ultra happy, well-to-do neighbors treat you to a nice strong cup
@ Starbucks
Maybe that would help you focus!
It's nice to be upbeat, but pointless to make our average country neighborhood look as if Walt Disney, himself, designed it and put all the figures in place.(or, maybe, Stephen King)
Have a great day! We plan to, even though we are aware of the strenghts and weaknesses of the Valley. We LOVE the good parts and are WORKING TOWARDS straightening out the rest. We'll be happy for ANY improvements!
Blessings!
10:48 talking about being mad. You should re-read your blog. And for your info, the houses in this district are not selling fast. You sure are twisted. We have had on our block 2 houses sitting here for over a year on sale. There are all types of houses big, small, old, new for sale and they are not selling quickly.
Hey 10:48 are you going to pay for the closing costs and packing and shipping of the items in our home? And you are funny, who will buy the house? Only a few houses are selling in this district. :)
"If the taxes are so high, the education so bad and the board so incompetent why don't you move somewhere else? "
Give us your name and phone number and you can buy our home and we are out of here.
9:32 your good!! I like your posting!!
I thought about moving, but then I did a quick evaluation:
Daniel Boone, but then I would have to support the LaCrosse Team, and the 4 new schools, Exeter and help litigate the there need to build three new schools or even to Wyomissing where they are looking at the $10 million+ athletic stadium.
No property tax increase in Reading - There is a hot spot, if you speak espanol!
Twin Valley - highest paid Admin. in the county. Hamburg and SV, both with multiple schools in the works. Muhlenberg = toxic dump.
Brandywine Heights is growing out of control, Wilson already to big for its britches.
Kutztown sounds like a nice spot if you can handle the college drunks (who are only half as wild as they were when we were kids- political correctness is killing everything).
I guess I am going to stay in Oley, the grass really isn't greener on the other side of the fence.
Vote against change; Vote for more of the same:
Vote O'Pake; Vote Kessler; Vote Rendell!
The OCC is glad you decided to stay. Otherwise the membership of would fall below six.
12:24 stupid as always. What, are you not a number? If you only knew what we know about how many people from all parts of this state and country for that matter are reading and writing on this blog. Al wrote about how many people have visited this blog, don't you read or do you just type stupid things that make no sense?
Back to Starbucks...
AVERAGE country neighborhoods...
Homes for sale EVERYWHERE in Oley .....
Average students, some smart ones whose parents work very hard with them....
Average, average, average.....
"The OCC is glad you decided to stay. Otherwise the membership of would fall below six."
Readership grows:
Jan 1,2007-Jul 10,2007
Visits - 9,681
Pageviews - 13,612
Jan 1,2006-Jul 10,2006
Visits -3,501
Pageviews-5,866
These numbers do not include people still visiting the old blog.
Is your six a typo?
House for sale:
4 bedrooms
3 baths
two car garage
huge shed
large deck
wooded lot
pool
sun room
large garden
above average lot size
Cash purchase only
monthly taxes equal to average
mortgage payment
Hurry, this has only been on the market for 2 years.
Must see!
You can't possibly believe that those numbers reflect support or agreement with the OCC. 9,681 visits in 191 days only averages out to about 50 a day. A dozen people visiting 4 times a day can do those numbers. No, six was not a typo but an accurate estimate.
8:59 you are wrong!! There is not point in talking to you, you do not want to know the facts. You refuse to tell the OCC that they are correct. You need to see someone. We are correct. People from everywhere are on this blog. From this state and other states. I know someone close to me in the mid-west that is reading this blog, he has relatives in the district and he is concerned for their education. So please cut me a break.
He actually cannot believe what goes on here. His kids are in a school district in a city with only one SUPER and many, many children to educate.
"no" not "not"!
The test scores are even higher in the mid-west city I am talking about. Do you want to talk about this district now??? Why not try to help this system instead of always attacking the OCC and the facts. Facts are facts and if we all joined in to educate the children and stop spending all of our tax dollars on non-educational items we all would be alot happier. The board and admin. must be honest to the taxpayers. The nasty looks and the lies must stop.
"No, six was not a typo but an accurate estimate."
Wishful thinking....
The word is getting out and the liberal board and their leftist apologists are furious they cannot keep a lid on the truth.
1:57 right on!!!!
Wow! I've been away for awhile, but I see you're all just as happy and pleasant as usual! ;)
Ahhhh, what to do today? It's Friday.....our day to do meals on wheels, watch the grandchildren, and set up for tomorrow's rummage sale at the church. We're up early today so we can make sure we're saving time to enter at least 6 posts on the OCC blog. OH, that's right, we don't go on there six times a day! That's the fuzzy math of a reader on here that has enough time to do that sort of math...but not enough time for anything constructive???
We're praying for you, bad math blogger.
Wheeeewww..this is my 12,251 post this morning on the blog. Is there anything for sore fingers? Maybe CVS has a sale on Finger On!?
TAX ON
APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE CHECK BOOK
TAX ON
APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE CHECK BOOK
TAX ON
APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE CHECK BOOK
BLUFF ON
APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE TAXPAYERS
BLUFF ON
APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE TAXPAYERS
BLUFF ON, AND ON, AND ON, AND ON...
CENSORED.
COMPLAIN ON. APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE BLOG SITE.
READ ON
APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE REASON SO MANY CITIZENS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH OLEY SCHOOL BOARD
Thats it, show the whole world what idiots you are.
Oh really! I beg to differ. Will you stop looking in the mirror before you write, idiot, YOU!!!
Who puts sandals on in the dead of winter and walks up and down the Main St. and now he is on the board making a fool of himself. Talk about an idiot!!
sandals in winter,
and
scandals all year long...
There was another man that wore sandals. He's got my respect, always.
Well stated, 1:06pm!!
The man in Oley that puts on sandals in the dead of winter can never be compared to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
God Bless
Oley Valley in the paper today: Prime Real Estate, beautiful scenic land. If you decide to move to Oley you must beware if your not Dutch you not much. Also, do not speak about any issues you will really be looked act like a nasty outsider.
The township and school board will like the taxes you will have to pay, but not you.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!! OBL IS ON THE TV AGAIN, LOOKING QUITE ALIVE!!!
Sandals in Winter? Maybe that's all the poor man has to cover his feet! Yet, he covers his ass.
An individual Board member may ask an intelligent question, but will not take a stand. The warm herd feeling of following the Superintendent's lead is more important to the individual Board member. The Solicitor will ALWAYS back the Superintendent, not because the Superintendent knows the law (afterall the School Code actually states the students in order to be good citizens are to learn about the republican government), but because the Superintendent can have the Solicitor fired for embarrassing him.
To George:
On what do you base those observations?
Until George answers, I will add to his thoughts:
A concerned citizen, or even just a curious one, only needs to attend two meetings to see where George is coming from.
The first meeting could be clouded by the fact that YOU are the NEW black sheep, and THESE sheep don't get ANY feelings of encouragement from the Board. The second meeting would confirm your gut feeling. First impressions count. And the first impression of this Board is very hard to change. This Board, the previous Board, and more than likely, the following Board. Until the Hitleresque upper crust voluntarily, or by vote, steps aside, NOTHING WILL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. A Board with only one or two possessing a sound mind will never change a thing.
8:44 you are correct about seeing the board in action and the way they treat anyone that has a question or concern!!
If we are paying $$$$$$$$$ for a new track we can get a new board for FREE..vote the bums out!
"vote the bums out!"
You had your chance in May, what happened? This blog is full of big talkers. Wake me up when you finally decide to do something.
10:01 you are funny. Why don't you run?????
In order to RUN, we should practice on the TRACK we're all paying for. Great theory...
Until they put up the FENCE and locked us OUT....
10:56 fence is up already. And in order to run for the school board and get ALL the board members kicked out we need 9 good solid caring people in this district to take over. It can be done. In the newpaper today they talked about a district by State College that the people voted 5 members out after they wanted to spend $117 Million on renovations to the HS. The people could not take it anymore and Oley is not far behind in doing the same. If the next 3 new members do not work for the people, all the people and not just the special interested groups they will not have a fun time being on the board. We will be watching them closely to see how and what they vote on. Lets hope they have some back bone and not fall into the same trap as the current members. I have a feeling they will not represent all the people in this district. It would be a dream come true if they did.
Also instead of telling us to run for the board, why don't you tell the current members that been on the board way past there time to get off!!!!
They get in from a few hundred votes, nothing to brag about. It is quite pitiful.
They get excited thinking the people in this district like them, NOT!!!
The people in this district need to come in car loads to vote these bums out.
It's pretty hard to vote them out when only five candidates run. The OCC just can't back up their talk with action.
The OCC doesn't need to back up facts that are taken right from the horse's mouth. If anyone really wants to help, forget voting them out. An old fashioned town meeting would be all that is needed. Not a school board meeting. Have a town meeting, where the school board doesn't carry any weight.
Considering the amount of pay they receive for the amount of work they do, I highly doubt that any of them would mind being voted off. Step up to the plate folks! Take your turn! Fix all the problems.
6:12 Heckman is being on the board for 18+ years and not because we are NOT twisting his arm to run all the time. Just the opposite, WE WANT HIM OUT!!!
6:12 YOU RUN!!! THEY LOVE BEING ON THE BOARD, IT IS AN EGO TRIP, SAD BUT TRUE. THEY GET THEIR KICKS BEING ON THIS BOARD. THEY ARE SICK INDIVIDUALS!!! :)
There's another issue everyone is forgetting about -
Zackon.
In addition to the board needing to go, so does Zackon!
He rules the roost by inducing fear over those he rules.
People do talk, and everyone knows.
This entire situation is just very sad.
We're mind readers again, I see.
No we don't expect you to read minds.
You can't even see what's right in front of you.
Sure I can, silly. It's a computer screen! ;)
..Mind readers
..Knowers of all facts
..Holders of the knowledge of all solutions to all problems
..Judges of all
..Absolutely correct in all opinions
That's our OCC!
Go to a meeting and see for yourself. Every question, comment, every single issue....BEFORE any board member opens their mouth, they promptly jerk their head to the center of the table and wait for Jeff Almighty to give the okay to speak. Every board member but SANDALMAN who doesn't care what anyone thinks, or if his comments make any sense.
Watch that and then try to figure out exactly what sort of concerned citizen would willingly place themselves in that mess.
6:07 you are right. The name is Silverman I think. And yes the board does look right at the Super Duper before speaking. They are stupid and 11:33 you are right and finally are realizing that we care for all the people of this district. Good going 11:33 I am proud of you to come forward and write this beautiful comment. :)
'...Watch that and then try to figure out exactly what sort of concerned citizen would willingly place themselves in that mess...'
The answer is a truly concerned citizen or those who are truly concerned with the overall end product being produced by the school district.
Residents should be concerned by merely reading the stupid slogan the school promotes 'Enter to learn, leave to serve'. Serve whom, what type of crap is that.
It s/b enter learn, leave with the education and skills to prosper and succeed'. The attitude to serve is a matter best left to our parents and our churches to influence.
What kind of person looks at serving others as "crap"? Serve whom you ask? Your country, your community, yourself. Only a completely negative person would find fault with that motto. Is there even one thing concerning the Oley Valley School District that you can't find fault with or have something positive to say?
8:05's last paragraph is right and I like the way he/she changed the motto on that last paragraph. It sounds better than the one we have now, but the motto of this district should be the least concerning to the people. We have other more important issues to deal with.
God Bless the Armed Forces that do serve this great country. I 100% back them up!!!
"Enter to Learn....
Jog on new track
Run like Hell
And don't look back....."
I thought you would be, 7:46. Boy, my perceptions of you were right on the money! Thanks for confirming! ;)
and don't look back
ENTER FOR SPORTS
THOUGH YOU CAN'T ADD OR READ
A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP
COULD(?) MAKE YOU SUCCEED.
3:33 do not say things you do not mean. We tell you the facts, if you choose to believe them or not that is your business. It is a wonder myself or anyone else would have believe your nice blog about the OCC knowing the facts and caring for all, 11:33. You lied again, you do not like the OCC and you never will. You are one of the nasty ones in this district we could all do without. Good Day and try to smile if you know how too!!!
11:33 and 3:33 you are one creepy person that will not tell us what facts that the OCC has written on here over the last 2 years that are not true. Can you please tell us why on earth you cannot face the facts and deal with the issues of this district? If you have nothing worth writing, don't. I guess you are not involved in the day to day goings on in this district and do not care to know anything but happy talk. You are the one like the others that hide things under the big braided rug. It is so full they had to roll it up. :) :) :)
Boy, you just keep adding to the confirmations. It's a shame a few of you have such mean-spiritedness. It just taints the whole image of the occ.
7:41 you are the tainted one. We are the ones confirming your actions and the actions of this school board and administration.
"Boy, you just keep adding to the confirmations. It's a shame a few of you have such mean-spiritedness. It just taints the whole image of the occ."
This is a post from the hate the taxpayer crowd not too long ago..
Bye LB ! As the self-described former "school board member people love to hate", you'll be missed....like a migraine...some higher power made me do it- maybe the same one that enabled her to leave town.
Another example of the leftist venom leveled against a person who gave more to this district than her detractors will ever give.
These self proclaimed high grounders with their collective noses in the air, are nothing more than a back stabbing, rumor mongering drain on society.
Good post 9:43.
Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black.
One can be at the top of the world one day, get caught up in the wind, and suddenly find themselves at the bottom of the pile - and it can happen to anyone.
"These self proclaimed high grounders with their collective noses in the air, are nothing more than a back stabbing, rumor mongering drain on society."
They will suck our community dry for all its worth to them, then move on to society.
Doesn't anyone else think it's funny that the OCC talks about the Reading Eagle only when it spews their side of the story...but wait, I read the paper on Sunday and talked about how great Oley is and how it's difficult to get property here. Wait a second, I thought that people were moving out of the valley because taxes were so high. Strange how the article didn't mention that.
THEY REPORT....YOU REVISE!!!
BWAHAHA
9:07 you are a twisted individual. Hello, the article was talking about how the old farm houses and land are prime real estate for horse people to move in and raise their horses. The person buying these big lands and old farm houses are not coming from the average Joe, they are big money people from other areas of the country who will not be welcomed and looked at very nasty by people like you. The taxes they will pay will be taken without a blink of an eye. You cannot even compare this article to what the OCC has been saying. Also anyone that wants to move in this district better investigate the area and people before making the move, it is cut throat around here.
You cannot write one honest blog if you wanted to. :) :)
Odd choice of words, 9:07am. The Eagle "spews" when they write something the OCC agrees with and "talked about" when the article is pro-Oley. No bias in your comment, right? The fact is that the article was about the community, not the school district. A big difference. Another fact is that some property sells fast while others don't. It has little to do with taxes and alot to do with location, condition and whether or not it's priced right.
To anyone that ever lived in a really old house in Oley:
You can toss all the paint and paper around that you want to, but what's underneath is still there. Mold in between the walls, age old pathways for critters that slither through those old homes...all night long. Substandard electrical wiring, horsehair plaster which falls off at will, warped woodwork, and that's the good part. Not hooked up to public water? Now you can look forward to lugging bottles from the store or having it delivered. You CAN'T filter out enough of the junk from the wells in the Oley Valley to have good, healthy water. Our place was built in 1760, nobody ever condemned the well water, but if you filled a glass with tap water, it had all kinds of VISIBLE "minerals" swimming around in it, BIG AS LIFE. Add to that the fact that those huge stone homes generally have NO insulation. Cool in summer, ice cold in winter. Your children can be entertained by the curtains blowing around, all by themselves. Drafts are unreal.
If your fond of bats, you're in luck, they are behind all of the shutters. Anyone smart enough to dump their treasured old house for any decent price, is lucky to find someone that doesn't know what they're in for. Huge heating bills, crummy water, terrible mold, snakes, ETC., and if that's not enough, then there's the taxes you will pay for the price range they mentioned in the paper. AND, there's the school system.
GOOD LUCK!
Pray for the people in Minneapolis tonight! They are going to need it bad.
"Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black."
Well, if I were "the pot," then maybe you could say that. I, however, am not "the pot."
I repeat: A few mean-spirited bloggers ruins the reputation of the whole OCC!
7:40pm: You must be a joy to be around. If I were you I would probably shoot myself just so I'd feel better. Ever consider doing everyone a favor and move out of the area? Why stay in a place you hate so much? If you allow your house to be in that condition you have no one to blame but yourself.
9:53:
You really don't know who is blogging. It's been said before on here that pro-boarders, etc., for lack of another word, have blogged things stating that they are from the OCC when they're not.
So you really should not make that statement, because you REALLY do not know for sure who wrote it.
Everyone is entitled to their OPINION, and if you don't like what you are reading, perhaps you should find something else to read.
Life is not always fun and pleasant and kind - if it were, this blog would not exist.
10:45:
You missed the whole point of that blog.
Signed,
Not from the person who wrote the blog.
"Another fact is that some property sells fast while others don't. It has little to do with taxes and alot to do with location, condition and whether or not it's priced right."
More fuzzy math from the left. Only a screaming liberal zealot would think taxes don't affect buying decisions. If taxes are so unimportant, why are we forced to pay them?
"Unbelievable"
.."you missed the point..."
You aren't kidding they missed the point. The point is NO big old house is worth $300,000, $5,000,000 or $8,000,000....Not around here.
As for the condition of those houses being the fault of the owner? Try the fault of the SELLER. There's no limit to what some residents will NOT spend on themselves, or their houses. That's called CHEAP! Not thrifty, not econimical, CHEAP.
On the flip side, with the taxes going up like they are around here, you'll be seeing plenty of houses that need paint, a new roof, sprucing up....because the buck only goes so far. You don't pay your taxes, it's a big deal.
Actually the taxes are middle of the road compared to the rest of the county......I guess the OCC is happy to settle with middle of the road for education. Actually, they would rather be bottom of the barrel.
A radio talk show offered a quick way to identify a liberal from a conservative.
"The conservative wants small government and a lot of individual freedom, while a liberal wants big government and little individual freedom."
Pop Quiz:
Is the Oley Valley School Board liberal or conservative?
Hint:
The school board raised taxes 72% in the last nine years. They approved a policy to limit public participation at the regular board meeting.
I get an A on that quiz, Al. They love to spend,spend,spend!!!! They do not care what they have to do to get the money to spend even if it means you losing your home, medicines, life!!!
Don't compare me, my house, or my neighborhood to the rest of the country. My job is to put a roof over my family's head, provide the best I can for them, and since we're HERE, make it all work. Middle of the road terminology does not apply to my checkbook. Taxes going up 72% in 9 years is A BIG DEAL, but it's not a GOOD DEAL. Others may think it's a bargain living in Oley, but you'd have to consider the source. Many residents came here to live in homes that are cheaper than their old town. That was THEN, this is NOW. Another couple of years, you'll be seeing those residents migrating off to another "promised land." Behind them, they will leave run down homes which received little care or attention, all their money went to commuting, and higher taxes.
6:01
Touche!
Dear 10:47,
The phrase "The pot calling the kettle black" is used when referring to one person casting judgement upon another who bears the same trait as himself (or herself).
I did not make the statments you referred to, therefore, when I said a few OCC bloggers are mean-spirited, the phrase that you used would not apply. I am not "the pot".
I repeat... A few of the mean-spirited OCC bloggers ruin it for the rest.
A non-doer is very often a critic-that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It's easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change.
Dr. Wayne Dyer
Is Dr. Wayne Dyer buying one of those $800,000 homes in the Valley?
"Stupid is as stupid does."
F. Gump
Doers?
If that refers to the folks that have found the time to serve on the school board....? Well, that is interesting. How about the board members that found time for serving on the board, but did not find the time to make "our school" work for "their kids?"
There are many ways to serve our community, and not all of them get your picture in The Sentinal. Many good and caring citizens spend countless hours, all year long, helping those that can't make it alone. Thankfully, those volunteers don't ask for anything in return. They don't get the big pat on the back from the community, and they don't need it. They don't need photo ops while they are throwing shovels full of dirt into the air which will surround a track that our community neither needed, wanted, or could afford.
After the big soil toss, which relative offered to surround the magnificent track with a big, expensive, shiny fence?
Dear 9:25:
Better to put someone else's words in quotation marks and not sign their name to it. Unless, of course, you are Dr. Wayne Dyer.
Maybe it's a Doc portraying a Doc!
No, I don't think our Doc reads those kinds of books on wisdom and goodness.
'...There are many ways to serve our community, and not all of them get your picture in The Sentinal...'
You are correct, and to all of them I give a very heart-felt thank you. Whether from the volunteer military to the volunteer fire company. The Girl/Boy scout leaders, Oley fair committee, volunteers at the schools, those working the blood mobile and the book mobile, volunteers coaching youth sports and those volunteering at the churches, and the list goes on.
THANK YOU, YOUR EFFORTS ARE TRULY APPRECIATED!
Also, I promise not to criticize you for putting forth your best efforts (whether I agree or not).
Fleetwood residents join in to say THANK YOU to all the above mentioned volunteers. That's what makes America...AMERICA!
THANKS FOR BEING PART OF WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A BAD STORY BETTER.
To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being.
John Lubbock
"It's easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change.
Dr. Wayne Dyer"
The kind of doers the alleged Dr. is admiring are those who spend educational money on public relations, ie. a track rather than the real needs of the entire student body.
Applauding this mismanagement is hard to understand, especially from a "Dr."
Life be not so short but that there is always time for courtesy.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Jesus
Note to 5:56
"Better to put someone else's words in quotation marks and not sign their name to it. Unless, of course, you are Dr. Wayne Dyer."
If you read the whole post, you will see that "anonymous" posted it, and Dr. Wayne Dyer said it.
...unless of course you're trying to nit pick (which I highly doubt).
"It's easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change"
Translated...peons be quiet. The only time we want to hear from you is when it is time to pay your taxes.
Which is rather interesting since the doctors in this state screamed like stuck pigs over their liability insurance costs.
Or how about teachers at contract time. They whine, complain, and threaten by using children as hostages to their greed.
The First Amendment belongs to everyone and this causes problems for the liberal elite.
"What-me worry?"
Alfred E. Neuman
I sincerely hope that I don't get put in the hot seat over that one. Then again, what-me worry?
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." "But wisdom is proved right by her actions."
Matthew 11:19
Still want to do the Bible quotes?
The school board needs to acknowledge this fact:
A half-truth is a whole lie.
Have been up to visit the track and show it to my children.
It looks great, however, I guess people don't know what no trespassing means or don't care what no trespassing means, or feel that they are one of the "special" people and have been using the UNFINISHED track.
Hopefully these people have not ruined the NOT YET FINISHED track, as I believe with this type of installation, that one must wait a certain period of time before it can be used.
The lower end of the playing field, near the woods at the end of the property looks like it has the turf ripped up already.
Please, oh please tell us that the taxpayers are not going to have to foot a repair bill before this project is completed.
I have not had the opportunity to see this new "wonder" for myself, yet. I had heard that there is a fence around it, though. IS there a fence? Did trepassers break in to snoop around? Just curious at this point.
If there is damage, that's another story. And that's not what we'd call a happy story.
All is not well in TURF land.
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies."
Jesus
Dear 7:06,
I think you should continue reading on about the tax collectors.
Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.
Kahlil Gibran
turn the other cheek? Most of us only have 4, then what?
Yeah:
After the four cheeks, then it's give us your home.
Loving your enemies is not the same as turning the other cheek.
As soon as your recognize that you are able to control your thoughts happiness will come within your reach.
David Baird
.."as soon as you recognize that you are able to control your thoughts....you run for school board..."
me
"As soon as you realize that you can control others... you, too, run for school board.
Oh! come on. This site makes it sound as if all school board members are out to get you. Don't be stupid. They don't want you, they want your money.
Oh, I didn't realize that they get paid. What is their salary?
What? Why don't you ask Doc's wife? She should be able to tell you how that works. Unless you ARE Doc's wife....then you can ask yourself!
Boy, with the summer reruns, this is a kick, isn't it?
I don't get it. What is their salary?
or are they paid by the hour?
Stop!
Look!
Listen!
That is how you learn the answers to the questions you're repeating tonight.
Why are you being so sarcastic? I'm asking a serious question. Will someone else answer me please?
Get to know sarcasm. The above was not sarcastic, it was an illustration. (Get some rest, you seem tired....See, that's sarcasm)
If anyone really questions the "pay" which goes to a school board member, they have not learned much about life. But, there's always time. Those board members who are not getting said benefits are amazingly thick. That's not sarcasm, that's the truth.
If only the entire board actually ran for the position purely for the good of the students, well, no need to worry about that. It's never happened.
The very few people that run, get elected, and actually try to make things right....get NO help from the rest of the super's sheep. May as well put in those foggy looking contact lenses, jerk your head in the direction of the super and president as if you have no idea if you're ALLOWED to answer...and zone out for your entire term.
But you still didn't answer my question. I wanted to know if they get paid, and if they do, do they get a salary or are they paid by the hour?
They do not get paid.
They run for the position of their own volition.
They are not forced to run, so for those who want to use the argument, but they don't get paid -they knew that when they decided to run for the position.
Okay, thank you for answering my question.
You're very welcome.
They don't want you, they want your money.
Wow, crazy night of blogging.
Pay for school board members? They are not paid here, but they should be. Paid employees generally do a better job than volunteers working with OUR money. Paid employees that make careless mistakes resulting in expensive LAWSUITS, get FIRED.
So Long, Volunteers
by Erma Bombeck
I had a dream the other night that every volunteer in this land had set sail for another country. I stood smiling on the pier, shouting, "Good-bye, phone committees. God-bye disease-of-the mon. No more getting out the vote. No more playground duty, bake sales, rummage sales, thrift shops, and three-hour meetings."
As the boat got smaller, I reflected; "serves them right, that bunch of yes people. All they had to do was to put their tongues firmly against the roofs of their mouths and make an"O" sound--no. It would certainly have spared them a lot of grief. Oh, well, who needs them?"
The hospital was quiet as I passed it. The reception desk was vacant. Rooms were devoid of books, flowers, and voices. The children's wing held no clowns, no laughter. The home for the aged was like a tomb. The blind listened for a voice that never came. The infirmed were imprisoned in wheelchairs that never moved. Food grew cold on trays that would never reach the hungry.
The social agencies had closed their doors--unable to implement their programs of scouting, recreation, drug control; unable to help the retarded, handicapped, lonely and abandoned. Health agencies had signs in their windows: "Cures for cancer, birth defects, multiple sclerosis, heart diseases, etc., have been canceled because of lack of interest."
The schools were strangely quiet, with no field trips and no volunteer classroom aides. Symphony halls and the museums that had been built and stocked by volunteers were dark and would remain that way. The flowers in churches and synagogues withered and died. Children in day nurseries lifted their arms, but there was no one to hold them in love.
Alcoholics cried out in despair, but no one answered. the poor had no recourse for health care or legal aid. I fought in my sleep to regain a glimpse of the ship of volunteers just one more time. It was to be my last glimpse of a decent civilization.
How about volunteering as much time as it took you to print Erma's manuscript...to a local cause that actually could use your hejp?
Okay, as soon as I find out what hejp stands for!
Ever hear of cut and paste? I think we should all volunteer much more time than that!
Well, until you go get the rounded tip scissors and edible first grade paste, you could have done all sorts of things!
You ARE being careful with your scissors, aren't you? And that paste, that nasty smelling paste. Oh my, Erma warned us about that, too. I think it was a passage from, "The grass is always greener...."
Erma, rest in peace! YOU were worth the read.
To work in the world lovingly means that we are defining what we will be for, rather than reacting to what we are against.
Christina Baldwin
Christina....you go girl!
Taxpaying citizens ARE working FOR a sound school board, because we're AGAINST the format we're enduring NOW!
"Another fact is that some property sells fast while others don't. It has little to do with taxes and alot to do with location, condition and whether or not it's priced right"
The article in the Reading Eagle totally refutes the idea that property taxes play a small role in financial decisions.
A Richmond homeowner is so concerned about his assessment, he is going to sue the county to raise our taxes so he can pay less.
His action mirrors the sentiment of many new homeowners. This does not sound like people think taxes are of no consequence.
People are moving to Berks to pay less taxes not more.
You just contradicted yourself
I think Christina is reminding you to act and not just complain.
I think I saw this episode of "All My Children," years ago.
Yes, unfortunately this blog is filled with 'em!
Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.
Benjamin Franklin
"You just contradicted yourself"
Only the clueless don't understand the obvious. Contrary to the leftist assertion on this blog, taxes high or low are important parts of a decision to buy a home. Daaaaaaah...
So sorry to hear that
....that it is hard for the clueless to see the obvious. Although, in reality, I don't know of anyone who is truly clueless. We all have one gift or another. Thank you God!
Anyone hear how the track and turf field are progressing?
I heard in the community that there are issues between the subcontractors and that the turf people cannot come back until the track people have finished. Some are estimating that this won't be for about three weeks.
Heard the installers also put too much black grit (stuff) on the field and that is has to be raked out.
Also heard that the seeder broke down and that the hockey field that was expanded still needs to be seeded.
Where exactly does that leave Oley with fields to practice on, let alone play games on?
Perhaps this project should have started in May before school let out.
But then again, Mr. Heckman wanted to have graduation outside on the field, and didn't want any construction equipment marring the site of the UGLY, NEEDING TO BE IMPROVED TRACK AND FIELD!
That was a good idea. It's nice to have graduation outside.
Thank you doc. That comment is so typically you.
Tell that to the kids who are looking forward to fall sports.
Where are they supposed to play?
Does us all a favor. Time to be quiet and GO TO BED!
I'm not the doc. I'm just looking at the positive. Have a good night!
Tell it to the children.
I suppose now you'll be saying that they cannot have all they want -
Kind of like those of the OCC that you accuse.
How interesting.
Our new track....
From what we hear, read, and actually see:
One would think that for the amount of money spent (or being spent) on our new track, we would not be hearing, reading, or seeing any problems with construction and completion of this well publicized project. The board was to have researched the available companies to complete this project. Who dropped the batton on this project? The gigantic price tag on the track project should have meant that every single detail was carried out properly, the first time. I seem to recall reading about how the company chosen to complete this project was awarded the contract because of their expertise in this area. Outside of extreme weather conditions, (like maybe a tornado, hurricane, or snowfall of monumental proportions) a thoroughly experienced contractor should not have any trouble completing the project which they proclaim to be their specialty.
If readers question the progress of this costly venture, they need to address the people solely responsible for installing the new track. I believe that's our very own school board. The everyday taxpayer had little to say about any of this. We just get to pay for it, and every other project the board approves. Forget about the glorious photos in the papers, quit patting yourselves on the back Mr. and Mrs. School Board Memebers. At least quit congratulation yourselves until the job is complete and up to the standards we are all paying for this non-educational project.
Quote the board member that stated, "there's plenty of roads to run on in Oley." Remember that comment? You can still view the entire quotation on the Reading Eagle's School District News online. Our board members should be careful what they state at meetings that have the press taking notes! Good or bad, once it's in print and you are directly quoted, you can't take it back. And you can't fault the Reading Eagle for printing words taken directly from the horse's mouth.
Let us believe neither half of the good people tell us of ourselves, nor half of the evil they say of others.
J. Petit Senn
Happiness grows at our own firesides, and is not to be picked in strangers' gardens.
Douglas Jerrold
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest."
"Don't let schooling interfere with your education."
"College isn't the place to go for ideas."
"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye."
....A simple phrase such as this, points to several notations regarding our school board meetings, and how nobody at that big table seems to be able to look the public straight in the eye.
This is bothersome.
This post sure hits the mark. It sounds like the district is fumbling the ball again, except this time it is the track. Guess who pays the penalty for this incompetence?????
Are the problems with the new track true or urban myth. I stopped today (curiosity got the best of me)to see and the field and track and it looked like it was going along fine. However, I don't know if I would be able to tell if there was a problem.
Are the 'set backs' in the construction, and are they verified by 'credible' sources, or are they Oley Valley grapevine rumors?
Do not judge, and you will never be mistaken.
-- Rousseau
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
-- Mother Teresa
"The more you know your school board, the more you want a change"
Taxpayer
"Follow the money and you will find the motive"
Taxpayer
"Incompetence is not the sole property of the uneducated"
Taxpayer
"Feeling good at others expense is greedy and selfish"
Taxpayer
"Big fish in a small pond think their fins are larger than life"
Taxpayer
"Ostriches are not the only ones who stick their head in the sand"
Taxpayer
"I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly."
Michel de Montaigne
(1533-1592)
"People hate those who make them feel their own inferiority."
Wow! We've got all kinds of personalities going on here. I take it all those quotes don't belong to the same person. Some of you are telling us to love each other and some are spewing hate all over the place. Either that or we have one very confused person! ;)
How about this one...
Taxpayer needs a smiley!
:) :) :)
Feel better?
Yes, that was the way of thinking in the 1500s....Back when the earth was flat.
IF our board was doing a wonderful job, nobody would be looking for online smilies. We'd be happy as all get out. Nobody would be searching for the most unique quotation to post on here. Nobody would give the board a second thought, would they? When all's well, the crowd is happy.
Looks like the crowd is not happy. Perhaps all is not well.
Reminder:
We need to EARN smilies! Gifts don't count.
If the board wants big 'ole smilies, they have to earn them. Secret Nextel deals, hush hush this, whisper that, closed session meetings, etc...
NO SMILIES FOR YOU!
When kids act like that, they used to stand them in the corner. Does anyone know of a room with 9 corners? Maybe the board could vote on that. Request money for a 9 sided room. With a revolving pedestal for the super.
While standing in their corners, they can look at eye charts, training their eyes to FOCUS.
The taunting and attacking of taxpayers can only come from those who abuse the system or feed from it.
A man is about as big as the things that make him angry
Winston Churchill
Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame
Benjamin Franklin
Love one another.
Jesus
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it
George Santayana
..and this board and their apologists sure have a history.
Only a fool believes they have the right to tax people out of their homes.
Welcome to the fool's Valley.
"..and this board and their apologists sure have a history."
What a minute, I thought the board and their cronies were the upper crust in Oley, big hitters with big time degrees. Makes you wonder if their resumes are not the right stuff.
No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.
Napoleon Hill
Love one another
Jesus
Put all hatred and anger aside for you will not reach the truth unless you reach for the loving spirit that resides within you.
M. Lee
Hey, 5:12...if we promise to put hatred and anger aside, would the board members that look, sound, and act crazy....set that aside, too? That would be a great deal.
"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."
---Plato (427-347 b.c.)
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