Pension perk assailed as 'abuse of the system
A law lets school retirees stay on the job, collecting both paychecks and pensions. How many do? Nobody knows.
By Dan Hardy
Inquirer Staff Writer
John Baillie retired from his $228,826-a-year job as the Chester County Intermediate Unit's executive director in January with an annual pension of $163,289. But he didn't leave until six months later, after receiving almost $80,000 in pension payments along with his salary.
Barbara Burke-Stevenson retired as superintendent of Bucks County's New Hope-Solebury School District on Aug. 1, 2006, with an annual pension of $80,802. She stayed for another year, collecting retirement payments while getting a salary of $155,000.
Baillie and Burke-Stevenson are among hundreds of school administrators and other employees - no one knows how many - who have been "double-dipping" since the passage of a 2004 law that allowed them to work while collecting pensions for up to a year if employers say their departure would create an emergency, or if there is a shortage of qualified replacements.
The law's proponents, including the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the state's Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS), say the practice is needed to staff unexpected vacancies or difficult-to-fill jobs.
But PSERS, in a ruling made public Monday, said Baillie and his board manipulated the system and broke the rules because the board had a qualified replacement. He was ordered to return the pension payments. PSERS said it was not conducting a general review but was responding to citizen complaints.
When Perzel's "come back and teach act" came up in 2004 the House Educ Committee was warned it had nothing to do with getting substitute teachers; it had to do with double dipping and was being promoted by school administrators. This is the arrangement you created!!!!
When this bill was before the committee Rep. Rohrer and Metcalf argued it was ripe for manipulation. Rohrer pointed out it was easy for administrators to "arrange" their emergencies with the collusion or cooperation of boards. It has proven to do just that.
Rep. Grucela and Pallone pooh poohed the arguments against the bill. Pallone said his grandmother told him not to worry about other people's money just take care of his own. Well he can pay my taxes. School boards all complain about pension costs and say they have no control over most costs. These fake emergencies and the large amounts of hidden compensation are something they can control.
A state developed uniform superintendent contract is needed. It must include complete disclosure of all current, accruing and future costs!!!
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521 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 521 Newer› Newest»The truth will prevail, it always does. It just might take longer than we would like. Look at the records yourself and everything we have written here have come directly from the school district.
You are the one that said snake, not me!!! We have many OCC'ers writing on here.
Good Night Mr. Right, NOT!!!
Great joy and love to our children and all of the children in this district that try their hardest.
Remember we are all here for the children and WE all want what is best for them, RIGHT?
You sound very worried when you attack the OCC on the facts that they receive from the district.
Just look for yourself.
God Bless and remember to be nice.
Hey 5:11 and 5:23 you sound the same. Why not meet for coffee and go over the things you say are not true and are not happening in this district. Come on, I would love to know who you are. Bring all YOUR facts with you so you can attack us the "OCC" for not telling the truth.
Sorry to tell you but we have people writing on here from as far away as Nebraska.
My relatives that live across the country cannot believe what is going on in such a small district.
His kids are in a county wide school district with 1,700 kids per grade in the HS and they do not see this.
Yes it is true, some schools are honest with the taxpayers and some are not, we picked the wrong one.
Honesty is what we always have asked. I been dealing with this school board for 7+ years and look here we are and still the same.
Hopefully the new members with choose to vote with their hearts and minds and not by how the others vote.
We will see. Too early to tell!!
Who needs a board meeting? Some funny stuff right here.
Go Oley Football!!
Other comments are on the bottom, you need to hit the word "newest".
How do you all like our education govenor, Fast Eddie Comcast Rendel telling the world that PA might not be ready to vote for a black man? I guess he is right. PA didn't vote for Lynn Swann - but I did. I wish I could have voted a few more times for him. If I was a democrat I could have.
I guess that proves that Rendel thinks we voters are ignorant racists. Sad part is he and the democrats control the black vote in PA.
Maybe they all have better things to do than read through countless rants and conspiracy theories about how the entire district is "out to get you".
Al, I'm not surprised the HB 1275 didn't go through. I'm pretty sure I posted here a while ago saying that it wouldn't go anywhere.
They try to pass that at least every year and it NEVER goes through. It started in the early 90's I believe.
Speaking of the "black" vote, did you ever notice on TV news how deomcrat candidates are allowed to make speaches and campaign in churches and republicans get abused if they go near a church.
"You are the type that can't stay away from this thing. You are so full of crap the crap factory delivers right to your house."
This message was the courtesy of the leftist hate group who attack anyone who has a different view. They also claim they care about children. Family values has no place in their home.
Did the teachers have fun today doing their computer in-service????
so there was no school on Wednesday because of weather, could it be that there would have been no one to blame if a bus went missing? It was the right choice though to cancel school that day.
Mr. no b---s walking the halls today checking up on the good hard working teachers. Are they 1st. grade students that needed checking up on or are they adult educators that teach the children???
The way the administrators treat the taxpayers and the teachers it is a big disgrace.
When are the administrators contracts up?????
9:01 you are wrong. Yes it was good we closed the school but the time Dr. Z. made the phone calls to all the families was way too late. Kids are at the bus stop at 6:30. We got our call at 8:30 which means the children are already at the bus stop. What are working parents to do when they think the children have a 2 hour delay to find them sitting at the bus stop not knowing that school is closed. I guess when the bus did not show up they went back into the house. Safety should always be the #1 priority. Weather that we had Wednesday morning and having all the schools around closing and Dr. Z. waiting for the last minute to call is not good at all.
What did I hear??? The district wants to put the lights in around the track in the spring. They have to dig to get the electric run and they want to do this during track season?!??!!!?!!
Who is running this district???
Why wasn't the electric run during the construction of the track?? Now you have to dig to put the electric in.
How much is this mess up going to cost us??? How much is it going to cost to run these lights at night for events etc.????
Did the district budget for this?
They still have lawsuits pending and they still find something else to waste money on.
I need rolaids!
Heard Bonnie and Clyde were roaming the school hallways this afternoon. As usual, Clyde's cat got his tongue and Bonnie had to do the talking!
A quality education at an affordable price is more important than wasting money on football.
7:20 am is right on.
10:08, I hear it is like that at Clyde's house!!
I see we've returned to childish personal attacks again. Great example for your children
"Why wasn't the electric run during the construction of the track?? Now you have to dig to put the electric in."
How can a board be so incompetent? Isn't there a law where government officials can be held responsible for gross misconduct?
4:10, we could only wish. That is the big problem. The officials that run this district and others seem to do whatever they want, when they want and nothing is ever held against them. The state does not know what the locals are doing with our money and when they are told what is going on, they run away. The school district and the state need to held accountable for all the wasteful spending. We could feed a 3rd. world country for many years with all the wasteful spending going on here.
12:10, Other people were in the school when Bonnie and Clyde were walking the halls and what they witnessed was laughable. And what do we pay these two clowns??? The students could run this district better then the Administrators we have running this circus of a district.
8:25: maybe that is why good administrators are leaving
OCC has the facts. The rest are rumors.
Yeah OCC rules. Everyone else is stupid. Only OCC has the facts.
7:53 you said it, not us.
Hey what about this: FACT: Many 9th graders this year have to repeat Alg.1 because a certain M/S Teacher who's related to a certain board member did not teach them and prepare them for Alg. 2. They started Alg. 2 and had to switch back to Alg. 1.
I know of many children as they have told me themselves. What a damm shame. A whole year wasted.
Now say that we are making that up and I will ask the children to talk to you themselves. Just because you are related to a certain board member does not make you a good math teacher.
How come this is not being brought up at personnel committee meetings. Maybe I need to start going to them.
"Yeah OCC rules. Everyone else is stupid. Only OCC has the facts."
The tax and spenders of others money are so angry at OCC for publishing facts that they do not want the public to know.
Even is the football players "paid to play" I'm sure you people would find something else wrong with having a football team. You're right let's not offer a sport that many people would like to play...why don't you offer them crime and drugs as an alternative?
"Even is the football players "paid to play" I'm sure you people would find something else wrong with having a football team. You're right let's not offer a sport that many people would like to play...why don't you offer them crime and drugs as an alternative?"
Pigs will fly when tax and spenders of others money "pay for play". Their personal entertainment in the name of the children will never be satisfied.
"You're right let's not offer a sport that many people would like to play...why don't you offer them crime and drugs as an alternative?"
The FACT is that football or any other sport does not stop crime or drugs. It is how parents raise their children. The example parents set when they do not get their way over sports is telling.
Board Meeting 2/20/08 Highlights
Football:
By a 6 to 3 vote, the board voted not to approve a Motion to start a pilot Middle School Football Program for the 2008-2009 school year.
Robert A. Heckman, Ralph C. Richard, Mary Anne McCarthy, Robert J. Cappa, John C. Bieber, David M. Maloney, Sr vote against the program, while Carl J. Kubitz, Christopher M. Hannum, Stephen S. Burns voted in favor.
The primary reasons the measure did not pass was that student enrollment is going down and therefore could not supply enough players and that an undertaking of such potential magnitude was too expensive.
Tax Delinquent List:
The board approved by a 9-0 vote to submit the Delinquent Real Estate Tax list for 2007-2008 to the Berks County Tax Claim Bureau.
There are a number of people having problems paying their school property taxes.
Alsace - $220,825.87
Oley - $111,124.41
Pike- $53,463.87
Ruscombmanor - $173.813.67
HB 1275 would eliminate school property taxes, but so far, the politicians in Harrisburg have turned their backs on homeowners.
Track:
The board approved to accept contract specifications and bids for the installation of lighting at the new High School track.
Christopher M. Hannum asserts the project would not require the damaging of the new field for the additional work.
There was a discussion about the priority of such an expense due to the other educational needs of the district.
What will I do now?
Last Saturday I took my little Johnny to Sears and bought him a brand new jock strap (with optional cup insert) but now he will have no where to wear it since there will be no football for him next year at the middle school.
Does anyone know what is the Sears return policy for slightly worn jocks?
The board approved to accept contract specifications and bids for the installation of lighting at the new High School track.
I understand last night's vote is only to get bids from contractors. Bids would still have to be accepted and voted on again to go through with it. Correct me if Im wrong. Thanks.
Go Oley Football - oops
My goodness. I just got back from Sears. What a place that has turned out to be. Get this, they have an entire table of returns which are marked down for quick sales. The darnedest things I ever saw. Looked like some sort of sling shots. I can only imagine the kids that will get stuck with some stupid used toy like that for their birthday present. Poor, poor kids.
Jock strap -
Looks like Mr.Bieber is the only one on the board that could wear a jock. He is the only one with enough b-lls to vote no on both football and lights. Thanks for not giving away our money.
"I understand last night's vote is only to get bids from contractors. Bids would still have to be accepted and voted on again to go through with it."
The approved motion to accept bids may seem benign but it is not.
Some board members felt they were not getting enough bid selection for lighting.
It is not politically easy to reject bids. The argument is that money has been spent and decisions are time sensitive,therefore,right or wrong, proceed anyway.
This process is typical of past boards. Let's hope this matter is decided in a more deliberative and frugal manner.
Looks like snow. Everyone ready for the Oley wake up call tomorrow at 5:30AM ?
Seriously I think the emergency call system is a very good. Our child's bus was delayed Tuesday this week for just about 15 minutes and we got two phone calls telling us about the delay. I read in the paper that Muhlenberg -I think, is going to get the same.
The system worked again today. I didn't have to get up early and check channel 69 and wait for the scrolling list of schools. I just got up 10 minutesa ago and the kid is still in bed. I really like this and it will probably just get better.
Lets hope they use the new phone system for all things that could come up, i.e. bomb scares, monkey on roof, etc. The parents should be informed on ALL that pertains to our children's schools.
Hey Cindy, I think you should give the school board credit for shooting down the football mob.
That's what you wanted, right?
Knock it off....this site is only for complaints....
"Knock it off....this site is only for complaints...."
Congratulations to the school board for not approving football. The paper said it all, enrollment, cost, and support were not there for the sport.
Knock it off....this site is only for complaints....
This site could be used for positive communication if the negative "school board is evil" types could restrain themselves and not name call. If all would be courteous, stay on subject and try to be objective this blog could be interesting. As it is now, this is not worth looking at. I check in every few days just for a laugh and to see the same comments recycled over and over. I think Mr.Jacobs trys to start new topics, but he is slanted toward the conspiracy theory side. Were you ever in the newspaper business Mr.Jacobs? Some of your topic headers look like they were written to sell newspapers.
if its a snow day does the monkey still go to jail???
"This site could be used for positive communication if the negative "school board is evil" types could restrain themselves and not name call."
In other words, we should stick our heads in the sand and make believe the district is being run well. With this logic we can expect continued reckless spending and continued outrageous tax increases. Denial never accomplishes anything.
So you are saying that you can't point out problems and conerns in a civil way. OK. Thanks for the objectivity.
"So you are saying that you can't point out problems and conerns in a civil way. OK. Thanks for the objectivity."
Censorship is for those who want to hide a problem. How civil should family be to those who want to force them out of their home for a track!
The track was paid for by the Nextel windfall, a grant and community raised money. The track lights if done, will be mostly taxpayer money. Your rhetoric about forcing people out of their homes is not valid. Your biggest enemy regarding high taxes is Harrisburg. Tell Mr.Kessler to keep his promise about tax elimination. And don't tell me he voted for it last time around, because he did ONLY when it was certain it did not have enough votes to pass, and ONLY when he got the OK to vote that way from his democrat bosses. Kessler should be replaced this time around.
Stop whining about the track....it didn't cost the taxpayers a cent.
Also, once again take a look around the county. Oley is on the lower end of the middle on taxes.
The grass isn't always greener.
Move to Fleetwood or Brandywine or Antietam and then you'll be begging to come back.
"Stop whining about the track....it didn't cost the taxpayers a cent."
The track was paid with tax dollars. The Nextel windfall was not a donation or gift, but rather the result of selling a district asset which is taxpayer owned. The proceeds belong to the taxpayers.
At the very least the money should have been shared with educational needs, but instead, the entire $1,400,000 was spent on an athletic facility.
The yearly lease money the district receives from the Nextel deal will also be spent on maintaining the field/track and facility, and not on education.
The board has planned projects totaling in the millions.
Since, the $1,400,000 and lease payments will not be used to defray these operational expenses, the taxpayer must make up the difference.
It would have been nice to see the windfall defray some of these expenses.
The idea then that the track did not affect and will not affect taxes is fallacious.
The Nextel money is "found money" and yes it belongs to the taxpayer. The assets sold to Nextel were not being used and it was dumb luck Oley had them in the first place. I see nothing wrong with taking advantage of the opportunity to make a great facility with money that literally fell from the sky. Your assertion that the Nextel money "will not be used to defray these operational expenses," is wrong. The board comitted to set asside operational money from the deal for future years. The track will not take up all of the Nextel future years money. Whatever not used by the track should go to the general fund.
"I see nothing wrong with taking advantage of the opportunity to make a great facility with money that literally fell from the sky."
I don't either, but only a portion of the money. The district has many other educational demands. Putting the entire $1,400,000 into an athletic facility was political and foolish.
"Your assertion that the Nextel money "will not be used to defray these operational expenses," is wrong. The board comitted to set asside operational money from the deal for future years. The track will not take up all of the Nextel future years money. Whatever not used by the track should go to the general fund."
Unless the board makes a 180 degree change from their public comments at a recent board meeting, they intend to use all the Nextel lease money towards maintaining the field complex.
The synthetic surface is not as maintenance free as it was sold to the public.
"Unless the board makes a 180 degree change from their public comments at a recent board meeting, they intend to use all the Nextel lease money towards maintaining the field complex."
This is incorrect. They never dedicated ALL the Nextel money toward the track. I confirmed this with a board member who was on the board at the time. That total deal amount is about $5 million and could not possibly all be spent on the track. The first couple of years worth of money will be set aside for track maint, but after that the current or future board will decide where the money goes. Hopefully to the general fund.
"Hopefully to the general fund."
You are an optimist. Based on past board's thirst to lavishly spend money, it would be a miracle if they did not spend more than budgeted.
Wishful thinking 11:39.
"Based on past board's thirst to lavishly spend money, it would be a miracle if they did not spend more than budgeted."
Maybe, but I have seen some positive signs from some of the new board member action. Rather than be a pessimist you should encourage the positive.
We have been waiting for anything positive for a long, long time.
The track is one thing, what about the AP/Honor courses that are weighted courses but the weighted grade does not show up anywhere on the child's report card or transcript. My child has taken every AP/Honor course available in this district and she gets credit for nothing!!!!!!! Get with the program people, if you earn the grade, you receive the grade. Why do we need a whole committee to figure this out??? Another waste of time. This district does not give the children what have work so hard and earned and credit and that stinks!!! I am very glad at least one of my children will be out of here come June!!! It is a shame that I look forward to this June, but I do. The only thing I know is that my child worked hard to get to where she is going, which is the United States Military Academy. Her whole family could not be prouder of her and we pray other children in this district can have the same work and study habits and family support as she has had. It is great to see our child and other nice children going off to good schools next year. Good luck to the whole class of 2008.
The Swartz Family
I just came back from working at the Jazz Festival at the M/S and other parents that have children in the H/S are also upset with the AP weighted grades not going on the report cards or transcripts. One parent told me that she has protested this to the Asst. Super already. So administrators, what are you going to do about this terrible problem and unfair problem you have presented to the children who have worked so hard to achieve a grade that they cannot even have???? We want answers NOW!!!
Are you waiting to change the grading system for these smart children until a certain child graduates????
We are all waiting for justice with this matter!!!
Wow! Are you saying that your child is successful? I didn't think that was possible for an Oley Valley students!
Yes she is, and yes thanks to the teachers and family she has. The administration is the problem! Look at all she did and what does she get, NO CREDIT!! My child is a determined,focused and has great work and study skills. She has been in many different schools in different states and she has risen to all the challenges in every school she went.
All we ever wanted and still want is for the children that take the AP/Honor subjects to get the full weighted grade they worked to get.
You are taking away and not giving what my child and other children worked for and that is WRONG!!!
Why is the number of students in the 12th grade lower by over 30 than when they all started 4 years ago???
207 - 9th grade
181 - 10th grade
161 - 11th grade
155 - 12th grade
You cannot say that over 30 families moved out of the district. Did these students drop out???? This is a big number of students!
We would like an answer! Honest please!
Where do you get your numbers from?
It is possible that they are now home schooled or in private school.
Those are last years numbers...and each class doesn't start the with the same number of students. Try tracking the same students from 9-12 and see how the numbers fall...
Those numbers are for the class of 2008 and that was what we were told at the end of each year when we asked for the class rank. These are the numbers that the guidance office gave us. The board this past week just gave out the numbers of students in each grade and the numbers are going down everywhere. If these children are leaving for home school or private school that is one thing, but if they are dropping out that is another thing. We want to know why the number of seniors this year is over 30 less than when they started as freshmans??? If alot of them dropped out, that is terrible.
OK for the class of 2008 here goes:
In June 2005 - 186 children
In June 2006 - 166 children
In June 2007 - 161 children
In Jan 2008 - 151 children
So if you can subtract you will see
that from the beginning to now we have some 30+ children less!!! These are the numbers we received from the guidance office at the end of each school year and at the end of January of this year.
The numbers are different from the earlier post but the amount of children is still over 30+.
Well, the numbers certainly won't go up since the dutchies have basically prohibited new construction in the district
"Well, the numbers certainly won't go up since the dutchies have basically prohibited new construction in the district"
Oh so you want the beautiful fields of the valley to turned into hideous developments?
30 kids missing...
I checked with my senior child and he pulled out one his year books and counted 19 kids that he knows that moved out of Oley since he was in 9th grade. So figure another 2 or 3 quit school and the others are probably in privates schools, cyber school or home schooled. That dosen't sound so bad. He also did not know of any or many new kids in his class that came to the district during his time here.
That's not all the Dutchies turn these nose up at. They don't like anything NEW. New is Bad!
Oley...
The old Indian word for:
"If you were born and raised here, you may stay. If you're new here, shortly we will make you wonder why you came, and then help you pack.
Well, we won't really help, but it's nice to think we would.
Dutchified
My family has been in this area, these townships for many generations. I don't have a problem with new things, look I even own a computer and a cell phone.
There is something annoying about people from north Jersey though.
:)
AUSLANDER!
"That's not all the Dutchies turn these nose up at. They don't like anything NEW. New is Bad!"
Wow I like how nice and friendly this fourm is critizing 3/4 of Oley's population. Calling people "dumb dutchies" will really get their support.
North Jersey ROCKS!!! There are many people with all different back grounds that all get along with each other. They are friendly, accept all people from all regions of the world. They are not nasty and non-welcoming. Taxpayers get to vote in North Jersey of ALL school budgets!!!!! So there you got it!!! Honesty is the best policy. The people around here that cannot accept people from outside of the Berks County line have a problem. All people should feel welcome in this county. What makes you better than me???? NOTHING!!! I do not lie and I tell the truth on school issues and concerns and you do not like that!!!! You will never get over yourself with the fact that we have a blog to write the truth about this school district. The public should be inform on where their tax dollars are going. If this board was honest with the taxpayers and citizens, this blog would not have been created. Thanks Al for all your hard work in keeping the public informed!!!
Have a Great day and go Yankees, Giants, Devils, Rangers, Islanders, Nets, Nicks, Mets, Jets!!!
Ya Ho!!!!
God Bless ALL the people of Berks County including you!!!
Mary, Take a chill pill. Didn't you see the smiley face on the N.jersey comment. Relax. Maybe the North jersey comment was correct. You seem to jump on your high horse at the drop of a hat.
Oley is the indian word for
"farts like a cow."
Mary Swartz said "If this board was honest with the taxpayers and citizens, this blog would not have been created."
Are you saying that every school board member is dishonest? I happen to know one very well personally, and I have every reason to believe he is a honest, upright man. Your problem Mary is that you paint with a very broad brush especially since you have no first hand knowledge of any of the issues you write about here. Your base of thinking is from the point of view that everything in the Oley school district is bad, (unless your child is part of it), board members are all evil, and there is some nasty scheme to drive everyone out of their homes with high property taxes.
Your "facts" are base on rumor, third hand information, and comparing it to your homeland of north jersey where everything is better that Oley. (What state had the last gay governor to burst out of the closet and resign from office?) There is no evil conspiracy in Oley. Nothing is perfect but there are people working honestly to make it better.
4:04 are you kidding. Look at the voting records of the board. We want honesty and if that is for the whole board oh well. Ask B. Bieber why she told me 7+ years ago to come to a board meeting "you will not believe what is going on and how they treat the taxpayers". She got yelled out a bunch of times just asking questions of concerns. Do not tell me about how people are so nice here. Yes I have met a lot of nice, wonderful people in this district, ones that truly care for the children and citizens. My children have met a lot of nice friends. It is the pro-boarders that think everything is OK. In this world including North Jersey not everything is OK, but they worked through it and the local boards and schools do what is right for the children and taxpayers. The taxpayers get a say in the budget, it is called they VOTE!!
If you do not like the facts being put out of this blog, do something about it. Go to a board meeting. The facts of this blog "NOT RUMORS" are given to the taxpayers from the district.
PS: I did say God Bless you before, can't you be nice in return. You need to do what is right for the children and taxpayers. Say Hello to the board member you say you know so well and I hope he or she does a good job for ALL of us, most of all the children.
And we have Fast Eddie!!! Yuck!
Good job Mary, I am glad you and Al and Cindy and even Linda keep us informed.
5:08, you are welcomed. Also, I have spoke to teachers that have also thanked the OCC for the blog and for the factual information that is written of here by the OCC from the school districts information that they give to the OCC.
Good night and keep dry.
Before you trash areas like North Jersey, New York, or any other major city, walk a mile in their shoes. They are not your average citizens. They are trained to be survivors. How about you?
3:41 you are the one that jumps when anything honest is put on this blog. I am proud of where I was raised just like you are of this area. The difference is that in North Jersey we do not turn our backs on people just because they are not originally from there. I went to school with many different children and there were over 550 children that I graduated with and we all got along with each other. Rich, poor, black, white, who cares!!! This area does not like new folks coming in and that is not the American way. You should have been brought up like I was to like everyone. The OCC wants the board to be honest and held accountable for how they run this district. They owe it to the children and the taxpayers. I do like a lot of teachers and the students in this district are great, maybe you could learn from them.
Go teahcers and children go!!!
Go teachers and children go!!!
The Oley Valley School District is not BAD, just the people running it to the ground are!!! Think about all the votes in the past 5+ years and how we have had many tax increases that we could of avoided if the district manage the money correctly. Law suits, reckless spending, many business managers coming in and out, etc. The voting record and the of this district is nothing to be proud of.
Three Cheers For Hoboken High!
"Your base of thinking is from the point of view that everything in the Oley school district is bad...board members are all evil.."
School Board politicians pandering to special interest pork may not be evil, but it is divisive and wasteful.
".and there is some nasty scheme to drive everyone out of their homes with high property taxes."
More like elitist, callous, indifference to families trying to keep their homes. It is not unusual for a group of self anointed to force out the "undesirables" with taxes.
"Your "facts" are base on rumor, third hand information,..."
It is hard to dispute the fact of taxes going up 10 consecutive years, then see dismal test scores.
8:30, my friend, THANKS!!
As one of the homeowners behind on real estate taxes I must express my disgust in the decision making of this school board.
I do have a financial reponsibility to spend within my means but the board does not. There is no control. Our vote is the only control. I am watching the battle for real estate tax elimination and taking notes on those reps who are truly behind it. The rest of the state does not feel our pain yet. They may be up for reassessment which will open their eyes.
Eddie and the teachers union is another factor. They stand a chance of losing control if the school boards lose control over our taxes. I am sure most of you are well aware of these facts. However, how many get involved when it is time to vote? Do you talk up the rep who will help us eliminate these tax burdens? We are getting more organized and I feel the teachers union era is coming to an end. Let's continue to organize. My family will be fine as we are blessed and able to make arrangements to pay the back taxes. But please pray for those who do not have the means and are also struggling because this school board can't manage their own household budget.
The latest news on tax reform is that all bills associated with this matter have been sent back to committee to languish.
Strong lobbying efforts by special interest groups prevented any relief for homeowners.
The politicians in Harrisburg are more interested in using tax reform as a means of leverage rather than providing a solution.
The legislatures who played games by giving themselves midnight pay increases lost their jobs.
The same fate awaits those who ignore the taxpayer demands.
A list of these obstructionists will be forthcoming at election time.
Time for more change.
Al said "The politicians in Harrisburg are more interested in using tax reform as a means of leverage rather than providing a solution."
This is 100% correct. Mike O'Pake is among the worst of them. In Harrisburg since the 1960's and has delivered squat. OK, he can deliver a map. Remember and remind your friends that O'Pake voted for the middle of the night pay increase they voted themselves. Lucky for him he wasn't up for re-election last time. Ask former senator Brightbill or Dennis Leh how well that went over with the voters. O'Pake Must Go and take Kessler with him!!!
Affirmation of the Day: I am thankful not to be one of the OCC bloggers. I am thankful to be able to see people and things in a positive light. I am thankful that my children can attend a beautiful country school such as Oley
"I am thankful not to be one of the OCC bloggers."
You just did blog!?
"I am thankful to be able to see people and things in a positive light."
What do ostriches eat for breakfast?
Oh Yes:
The high school with multiple drug hits. The police and dog visited last week.
Let's see if mentioned at the next board meeting like they did the last time the dogs were in.
I believe the comment was something like this - This is for you, Press, I just want to say that we had the dogs and police in the other day and we only had seven hits, and the only thing found when the lockers were open were candy wrappers and soda cans.
This is really something to be proud of!
"What do ostriches eat for breakfast?"
A track seasoned with feel good.
OK Mrs.Drug Expert.
Six drug dogs were at school Thursday las week. There were several hits and one locker when opened did have pot. The kid spent time with the police.
A hit does not mean that there is something in the locker. It usually means that the clothing in the locker was around or near drugs and trace amounts are still in the clothing and are detectable by the dogs.
Sounds like you prefer that the school never search for drugs. I guess you are the one with your head in the sand. I'd like to see the dogs there every month.
You totally missed the point 4:43. The last comment in the blog was meant to be ironic, meaning the opposite of what was said.
The comment by a particular person in charge at Oley, that the mere fact that there was a hit meant nothing, because they only found candy wrappers and soda cans.
And yes, you are correct, it means that the clothing and person was around drugs.
The point of that blog was that Zackon was proud of the fact that we ONLY HAD SEVEN HITS.
I think it is disgraceful to be proud that we only had seven hits.
The only fact to be proud of is that we HAD NO HITS.
How you came to the conclusion that YOU THOUGHT I would prefer that the school district not bring the police and the dogs is is mind boggling.
I'd like to see them there every week.
The dogs are not trained to sniff candy wrappers, soda cans, cupcake wrappers, etc. They are trained to detect DRUGS!
And just for your information, I am not the person speaking about ostriches, head in the sand, etc.
So, right back at you with your comment about who has their head in the sand.
Ok 5:22
Obviously you do not have the gift of irony.
You say "I think it is disgraceful to be proud that we only had seven hits." You can not blame the school district for the number of drug hits. Responisblility for what happens off campus falls in the laps of the parents. If, for example, some bad parent smokes pot around their child and blows smoke on the child's coat and that is sniffed by the drug dog, that is not the fault of the school. Somehow you think the school district is the source of all the problems in Oley.
I don't care if you wrote the ostrich comment or not, you still have your head in the sand.
Where in my blog did I blame the school disrict as being the source of all the problems in the district.
My point was that the school district believes that there is nothing wrong with seven drug hits, and the fact that they brush every bad finding within this school district, UNDER THE RUG AND SAYS IT DOES NOT EXIST.
No one expects the school district to do everything right. But to not admit there are issues when there clearly are, is wrong. To deny there is a problem just creates another bigger problem.
To 6:10
Congradulations. After 3 tries you finally made your point.
But remember that the drug problem is outside the school. 99% of the time kids don't bring drugs to school to use or sell. Only the stupid kids bring it and they should get caught any way. This is an issue the parents or guardians must be responsible for.
"This is an issue the parents or guardians must be responsible for."
The district sent a terrible message to kids about responsibility when they wasted money on a track rather than investing in the classroom. Children take that as a signal that having fun is priority. Is it any wonder why they find the school as a safe haven to try and hide drugs in a locker. Schools can give birth control pills without parental consent or knowledge. Are drugs the next step ?
The dogs are also trained to detect explosives (gun powder, and so on). So if a student was hunting or was at target practice, the dog would "hit" that locker.
Well, it looks like the next excuse has already been prepared.
I may be wrong, but I think that the dogs that were brought in were to detect drugs, not guns.
The school can't give birth control pills......show me your facts that say they can.
I believe the comment regarding birth control pills that they are referring to happened in Maine and it was all over the news a couple of months ago. I do not believe they said it was happening in Oley. I believe it was just meant as a general comment.
Drugs, Birth Control pills, yes the children in our district are using both! We have heard the same saying before, "the dogs did not find any drugs", it was soda and candy wrappers!!! I heard this from Dr. Zackon at a board meeting when asked why we had hits in the HS and MS and what was found. He thinks we were born yesterday and that Oley lives in a plastic bubble. We have kids using drugs, selling drugs, girls and boys having sex, etc. Yes it is everywhere, not just here, but for once tell us the truth not some stupid answer. The kids in the HS should not wait until 11th grade to have health class. They have not had a health class since 7th or 8th grade. By 11th grade they are full aware of what is what or how to find what they need and want. We should also find some night activities for the HS age children in this area, something fun and clean. There is nothing to do around here for the children. We should have more dances, game night, open gym, etc.
Maybe you would have to stay and not be able to go home right after school, but for the kids sake so what. Do something positive for the kids.
There is nothing to do around here for the children. We should have more dances, game night, open gym, etc.
Maybe you would have to stay and not be able to go home right after school, but for the kids sake so what. Do something positive for the kids.
WOULDN'T AN ATHLETIC FIELD WITH LIGHTS PROVIDE THIS...
Not in the dead of winter!!!
Unless you make the field and ice skating rink. With the stand open for some hot coco!!!
When I was growing up all the kids went to the outdoor ice skating rink. We had alot of fun and it was nice to be together for an afternoon of fun or evening with lights!!!
to 11:41am Yes you are wrong.Those same drug dogs are also trained to detect bomb materials, including gunpowder.
to 8:27am Oley does NOT give out birth control pills or condoms. Again you throw around these things in a desperate attempt to make the school district sound bad. Never a positive word from you OCC types. If Oley is so horrible why would you leave your poor defenseless children there?
"The kids in the HS should not wait until 11th grade to have health class. They have not had a health class since 7th or 8th grade. By 11th grade they are full aware of what is what or how to find what they need and want."
Here is another example of a parent shirking their responiibilty to educate their own child about sex. Why can't you do it when your kid is 8 or 9 years old?? You like being part of the "nanny state"? You want to wait till your child is in 7th grade till Mike O'Pake and Ed Rendell to educate your child about sex?? You want govenment to do everything for you. oh my gosh!
Are you afraid to discuss sex and drugs with your kids? Be the grown-up!
The district sent a terrible message to kids about responsibility when they wasted money on a track rather than investing in the classroom. Children take that as a signal that having fun is priority. Is it any wonder why they find the school as a safe haven to try and hide drugs in a locker. Schools can give birth control pills without parental consent or knowledge. Are drugs the next step ?
8:27 AM, March 02, 2008
Are you totally on drugs yourself? How can you make the leap of an argument that because of the new track we have a drug problem? That is wht you are saying.
Al, I think you should do some training for your OCC bloggers on the use of coherent thought and remaining reality based in blog writing.
6:47, hello, my children have been told by both their parents of the junk that is out in the real world and to keep their hands off of it. My children also were told by both parents not to have SEX until they are married. They are also in full belief of this.
But there are many parents that do not talk to their children about anything!!!
The school does teach health class to the children. They should have more than 1 year of health class in the HS.
Why does the HS bother to teach health at all?? You say the parents should be the ones to educate the children.
If you are going to teach health in any school, it should be done more than once in the HS.
Have a good day!! And remember, it is the children that we should all be concerned with. Who cares what you really think of the OCC!!!
It does not bother me one bit, as I know the OCC cares 100% about the EDUCATION of all the children.
7:16 the district did give a bad example to the majority of the students that are not going to ever use the track, but could have used the money to advance their education. Ask the children what they know about the issues in this district, when they go to have lunch with Dr. Z. and ask him all kinds of important questions of concerns. You might just be amazed at what they know. The children seem to be on top of what this district does and does not do.
100% goes to all the children!!!
7:16, what are YOU smoking?????
Case Law
Parents United for Better Schools v. School District of Philadelphia (1998)
The Philadelphia School District started a program to give information, counseling, and condoms to interested high school students. The District wanted to deal with the problems of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Some parents became upset and sued to stop the condom-distribution program. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in favor of the school district. The program didn't violate parents' or students' rights; it was voluntary, the school district told parents about the program ahead of time and parents could use an "opt out" provision if they didn't want their children to get condoms. The school district could continue to distribute condoms to students.
Minors have a right to privacy that includes access to birth control.
Parents keep out!
Legal Eagle is correct and the ONLY thing that can prevent that kind of nonsense is a school board not willing to trample on children and parents.
"The program didn't violate parents' or students' rights; it was voluntary, the school district told parents about the program ahead of time and parents could use an "opt out" provision"
I never received an opt-out notice. Does the district send out a form automatically at the beginning of each year? Why should the school assume parents want their children in this program in the first place and then be required to opt-out?
Opt out forms for high school sex ed have been sent home for years. Very few have ever chosen to opt out.
Senior Fashion Show this Friday Night at the High School.
You complain there is nothing for kids to do, well this is a great activity/ program run by the seniors as a fundraiser for their after graduation activity.
Get to school, see a fun show and help out!
7:13 yes my daughter is in it. Yes I am donating food!!
That is one great event, we need more than this one time event!!
This is for money for the after graduation function that I will be staying and helping at ALL night long.
We should have fun clean activities all year long and not just to make money, for the kids to get out and have some fun with their friends and all their classmates!
I heard that Oley will be getting another woman as principal for the middle school, and another woman for elementary assistant principal. Why not men for principals? I think children behave better with a male in charge and what about families with no fathers that would be good for them to. I never had a woman as a principal when I went to school and we had no problems. Does anybody know if this true?
A person commented above that there should be more events for kids other that the one fashion show. My high school kids do not have a problem getting together with their friends at our house or other homes to have good clean fun. They play with their computers together, Playstation and the new Wii game. They have gone to play paintball and gone snow boarding on their own. Very good kids who are creative and not lazy. Why should we be dependant on the school for activities? You are too dependent. Do it your self!
Do you also want the school to arrange a babysitter for you if you want to go out with your spouse?
Well said!! Thank You!
I am also tired of people wanting the school to provide everything. What the heck do you people do during the summer? Who tells you what to do then? I agree with 5:02pm, don't be so dependent.
Go Oley Bowling !!!
Interesting comments, seeing that a small faction of Oley parents stomped and whined and got a $1.2+ million dollar track installed.
It was touted by the school board as a boon to the COMMUNITY!!!!!!
The few prior posts weren't put up in objection then. But then who cares, it's only a million here and there, right?
An interesting question that appeared on the Pennsylvania State Education Association questionnaire sent to the representatives in Harrisburg seeking PSEA endorsement.
5. PROPERTY TAX
There is ongoing discussion in the General Assembly about the need to “reform” property taxes. Much of this debate centers around the need to reduce the burden of property taxes placed on certain homeowners.
However, there are those that seek to completely eliminate property taxes, a move opposed by PSEA.
These plans fall short in a number of areas, mainly because they fail to address the inequities inherent in the current public education funding structure. Additionally, PSEA believes it is crucial that the state and local communities share in the funding of their public schools.
Would you oppose legislation to completely eliminate property tax?
to 9:02AM, What are you talking about? You didn't get to Al's blogger coherent thought training class did you? Do you think only mind readers read this site?
"Would you oppose legislation to completely eliminate property tax?"
First, I wonder if an "educator" wrote that question? Isn't completely eliminate redundant? It is either eliminated or it isn't. No need to add completely
Second, I'm not as interested in the question as I am the answers they receive from the candidates. I guess only members of PSEA will get to see those responses unless one of them who monitors this blog would share some of them with us.
Since you will be anonymous you will not have to fear union retribution if you provide some of the answers. I would especially like to see the response given by Mr. Kessler and Mr. Santoni.
For anyone interested in knowing how much Pennsylvania politicians receive from political action committees and others, click the "Link":
Link
Hey 1:53, that's pretty funny. You're right. I have no idea what two ideas he/she is trying to put together, and I AM a mind reaader!!!!!
Yours truly,
Kreskin
Dear Kreskin,
I have the same problem trying to understand the Oley Concerned Citizen school board haters, and I also am a mind reader.
Sincerely,
Karnac
PS; Do you know where I can get some liver pudding in Oley? I only like the grayish blue kind.
Did ou hear some jack off wrecked his car, then pitched a fit when he saw photos of the accident on the fire company website?
I think the fire company should show pictures of calls they go on... at least they have nothing to hide!
Thats great. If that clown would have killed someone or himself, they should have put his photo of him in hand cuffs or his photo from the morgue.
It's all about personal responsibility.
Hey Al. I appreciate your effort to introduce taxpayer issues here. It seems difficult for people to stay with your topics sometimes. I am at the point where I don't really care what the state reps do because I know it won't be in the best interest of the taxpayers. (There is a very small handfull of reps who are excellent - Sam Rohrer for one) My strategy is to encourage people to vote and to vote out the encumbent.(especially Mike OPake and the flunky kool-aide drinking Kessler from Oley) I know the is very simplistic, but I think is has the most impact. I'll support the good guys to the end, but sadly there are so few.
Kessler thinks that holding town meetings and health screenings is all he has to do and people will rush out to reelect him. That might have worked for O'Pake all these years but Kessler doesn't have the personality to pull it off. For most voters it will be his less than spectacular voting record that matters.
Year 2007:
According to Pennsylvania Campaign Finance Reporting, Pennsylvania State Education Association Pace made contributions to the following:
Doug Reichley - $250.00
Dante Santoni - $250.00
Thomas Caltagirone - $500.00
Michael O'Pake - $500.00
All the girls (and Moms) had a special treat at the Senior High Fashion Show last night. A senior boy put on a demonsration of his body building prowess.
I just viewed the Oley Fire Co. web-site. Your members do a wonderful job in every way. Thank you very much for all of your dedication and hard work.
Note to the web page editor:
Check out your punctuation. Your numerous errors speak volumes for Oley educational standards.
To 8:22
Thanks for nothing...
You said,"I just viewed the Oley Fire Co. web-site. Your members do a wonderful job in every way. Thank you very much for all of your dedication and hard work.
Note to the web page editor:
Check out your punctuation. Your numerous errors speak volumes for Oley educational standards."
You presumtive jerk. You pat them on the back with one hand and give them the finger with the other. How dare you presume the "errors" were made by an Oley grad? There are volunteers who went to other schools. Do you think Oley has 30 ft. high walls around it? These fire fighters risk their lives to save lives and property and you can't resist making some snotty comment about their website. Shame on you. If it bugs you so much why not send them your errors comment privately - directly to their site on by regular mail rather than embarrass them here in public - and you do it in a cowardly anonymous way. I can't wait to see what you have to say to defend your nit picking swipe at these good volunteers.
To 8:22 AM
You write like a bitter, frustrated, middle aged Oley graduate female who never left the Valley. You have some deep personal hate toward the school district. Maybe you were one of the less good looking girls in high school and fell into a permiscuious life style, married badly and are trying to take your frustration out on the school district because in your twisted mind you think that is where your life's problems started.
Just a guess.
This time change has some people all in a snit. Must not have gotten a good night's sleep. Get out the popcorn, this ought to get good.
For a farming community, it's odd that you never spot a plant.
No, not odd at all.
"..your twisted mind you think that is where your life's problems started.
Just a guess."
Dr. Freud...just a guess..
Hey 8:54...who are you? A Dr. Phil drive by blogger look-a-like?
I read that post about the fire co website and it clearly states a thank for for all the good things they do. If someone was interested enough to make a comment about the punctuation, maybe it's because it's a NATIONAL problem. Look around, look at plenty of professional websites...they are nearly all filled with typos, grammar flubs, and mis-information. No big deal, unless you think we still live in the best country in the world. We used to!
to 4;11
You are clueless. That person clearly went out of their way to insult the fire company and the Oley school district in one cheap shot.
Don't give me this national punctuation problem baloney.
And YES this is STILL THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
There isn't any country even remotely a close second.
yet another local advisor
We think you're all a little mixed up. Oley is not the problem, nor is our country. It's the whole world that is in turmoil. A great portion of today's people (0f all ages) show signs of extreme apathy. How sad is that?
Haven't read the blog in a long time, a little surprised to find that you don't know that birth control pills can't be given out like candy - they require a prescription written by a doctor. As for condoms, they aren't given out by OVSD, but just wait till your kids get to college. A co-worker's child is at Millersville, where the RA has them taped to their room's doorframe for anyone to take as needed. Sex Ed. begins at home folks!!
Read in the paper that Home Schooling is in danger. California appellate court ruled parents must either be certified by the state or they must send their children to school. Condoms and birth control given behind parents back. Now the state invades the home and wants to be a parent, as well.
Parents are verboten !
Bravo to the 8:43AM blogger
I could have said the same thing, only I would have thrown the f-bomb and punctuated wrong.
The fire company should get an extra truck to put out the holes the school board burns in people's wallet each year.
We are glad we have a good fire company here, and appreciative. We are not appreciative of a board that taxes the last breath out of everyone. Three cheers for the Oley Fire Co.
Three kicks in the butt for the board that taxes out it's own.
You OCC school board haters are lame and humorless.
At least the people here who knock you around are funny.
Go Oley Football!
Yeah, we're so sad. Too bad people don't keep tabs on spending...from the ground floor, on up.
Property and Transportation meeting Tuesday night 7PM
Your chance to come out and complain about track lights, fixing the high school gym and building the Dr.Howe memorial agricultural shrine and feed mill.
If you bring your cow to the meeting they will name a lab stool after her.
"Read in the paper that Home Schooling is in danger. California appellate court ruled parents must either be certified by the state or they must send their children to school."
No doubt this is the handiwork of teacher union greed and liberal fascists.
Sounds like all the stools should be named the same thing:
"SAMPLE"
Fire company website question:
#1, thank you Oley fire Co.
#2, how does the fire co. feel about driver education being removed from our schools? Even if half of those who caused the accidents were from out of town, that leaves the other half coming from here. Those pictures are proof that driver ed should not have been removed.
About California homeschoolers -
That's right. Only the state has the all knowing knowledge and wisdom to educate children. Parents have no right to teach their children.
More power to the Nanny State.
Vote Commie in '08
The Governator to the rescue:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for the reversal of a recent appellate court decision banning parents from educating their children at home if they lack teaching credentials, the Los Angeles Times reported. If the state Supreme Court fails to act, the governor vowed to push through legislation guaranteeing families' right to home-school.
"This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts, and if the courts don't protect parents' rights, then, as elected officials, we will," he said in a written statement.
"Those pictures are proof that driver ed should not have been removed."
Reinstate driver ed, give it the same standing as AP classes in class ranking.
You're kidding, right? The responsibility of teaching a kid to drive should rest on the shoulders of the parents, not the school. If the parent doesn't feel they can do the job then they should hire a professional driving instructor to do it. I don't believe I should pay, through my taxes, to teach anyone to drive.
Sure, we will no doubt hear the typical complaint that not every parent can afford a driving instructor. But they can afford the insurance, licenses and, in many cases, a car. The only way I would support driver ed in school would be if the student paid for it.
Well, then, with that said, RS, I see why you're no longer on the board. Spend a ton of money on a track and lights, on laptops, on anything they can think of, but eliminate a class geared at preventing exactly what you see on the fire company website. Yes, that makes perfect sense. I sure am glad you didn't have to pay any taxes which would go towards saving lives. What was I thinking?
I don't quite follow your logic. What does my opinion (and it is an opinion) about driver ed have anything to do with not being on the board?
While saving lives is an emotional reason to justify the course there is no reason to believe that parents or private enterprise can't accomplish the same result and for a lot less money.
Excuse me. What did saving money ever have to do with saving lives? That, sir, is my opinion.
"..no reason to believe that parents or private enterprise can't accomplish the same result and for a lot less money."
..and far better...
Leaking roof, athletic field lights!
Which should come first?
and far better.........?
Go back and look at the photos on the fire company web-site. If that is the way the adults drive, better leave the teaching to the professionals.
What building is having roof issues????? The Elem. is 15 years old and the M/S is about 5 years old. The HS and Admin. building got new roofs in the past few years if I recall, what roof would need to be replaced??? Leaking roofs mean MOLD!!!! That is not good for the children to be near!!!
If you put lights up around the NEW track and field, what is going to have to be dug up??? Are we wasting more tax dollars on the boards mistakes AGAIN????
How much is a new roof going to cost US??? Don't we have a warranty??? Roofs should last a lot longer than 15 years!
ROLAID TIME AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"If that is the way the adults drive, better leave the teaching to the professionals."
This sounds like the rallying cry for the teacher's union. The so called professionals performance is not so professional.
SORRY TO DISAPPOINT. IT'S NOT TEACHER UNION CRIES, IT'S CRIES FOR HELP TO SAVE LIVES. WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO DO THAT?
"IT'S NOT TEACHER UNION CRIES, IT'S CRIES FOR HELP TO SAVE LIVES. WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO DO THAT?"
The liberal fascists who think a life is disposable for convenience's sake or for experimentation.
I don't understand anything lately. I must be getting OLD.
The roof leaks, so you install a new track.
A citizen attends a board meeting to question higher taxes and careless spending, and they are greeted by smirking board members.
Is there still a sign that says "WELCOME" in front of our school? My eyes must be failing, because I can't see it.
We pay our teachers more every year, and all we hear about is parents wanting to home school their children.
We ELECT board members to efficiently run our school and THEY chose to home school their children. I must be missing something, I don't get it.
We are asked to look at the shocking photographs of vehicles involved in local accidents, and they are pretty scary. Someone mentions that driver's ed is gone from our schools and the reaction is about MONEY. If your inexperienced driver is killed or kills an innocent bystander, please tell me why I should not question the education that was once a standard and now is gone.
I learned to drive a car, safely, many years back. I leaned in school, I also learned from my father. When it comes to defensive driving, you can't have too many lessons.
A new track is installed and now we wonder how our runners will see where they are going? Minor's helmets? Luminary bags strategicly placed around the outskirts of the track? Glow sticks? It's odd when you think about it. Did anyone ever check out the tracks at surrounding schools? I could be wrong, but I think they all have very large poles around them with some sort of bulb-like apparatus atop each one. Maybe they are marker lights for the airport.
The board mentions that there is a rather large amount of money is a reserve fund of one name or another. I don't know about our board, but I still find time to watch the national news, and the local news, and read a bit here and there. I could be mistaken, but I think our economy is in a bit of turmoil lately. I was thinking of all the things in my home that are already bought and paid for, and I am thankful for them. Does our board ever think about what our school already has, and what money is in reserve? Our teachers may well get periodic raises and fairly attractive benefits, and for them that is great. As for me and many like me, we're on fixed incomes. That means when our taxes get hiked up year after year, and our income does not change, we are knowingly forced to eliminate many things from our budget. Thank you ever so much for allowing my hard earned money to become your pocket change.
It all comes down to common sense. In which class is that covered?
Hey 12:38 nice blog.
Ramble much?
12:38 is 100% correct. Good for you for writing that sad but true blog. As for the blog after you, shame on them. They know you have written the truth and all they can say is "ramble much", cut me a big one. You and I know who wrote that stupid comment! It is sad but the ones that write the garbage are the ones running our schools!!! Keep the faith!!!
JUST A LITTLE FYI GOOD NEWS.....
I HEARD THE FIRE COMPANY IS EXPECTING THEIR NEW TRUCK IN THE JUNE / JULY TIME FRAME!
I FOR ONE, CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE THE TRUCK .... I THINK IT WILL BE PRETTY "H O T" !!!!!!!!!!!
BY THE WAY ... HEARD THE TRUCK CREW IS HAVING AN EASTER FLOWER SALE NEXT WEEKEND!!!
MAYBE YOU CAN SHOW THEM HOW PROUD YOU ARE OF THEM AND BUY SOME FLOWERS TO HELP W/ THEIR NEW TRUCK FUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6:24 I always support the fire company and I buy the chicken dinners they sell every year. The flower sale should be another great hit. Thank Goodness we have these great people to protect us and help us in an emergency!
God Bless them all!
You are right, we are blessed to have such a wonderful truck crew to watch over us! I hope this new truck wil help them and maybe make their jobs a little bit easier.
GOD BLOSS THE OLEY FIRE CO. TRUCK CREW!
SORRY, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE:
GOD BLESS THE OLEY FIRE CO. TRUCK CREW!
SORRY FOR THE TYPO..... SOME WOULD SAY "I MUST BE AN OLEY GRAD." WRONG, JUST HUMAN.
New Math:
Hometown USA has a school board that nobody likes. Hometown USA has a Truck Crew that everybody loves.
How many board members would Hometown USA need to oust to obtain the great results that the Hometown USA Truck Crew gets, all year long?
You do the math.
To 6:50
Better question -
How many annonymous bloggers does it take to create a budget, get less money from Harrisburg every year, deal with new PA Dept of Education initiatives every year, more testing, more teacher demands, rising healthcare costs?
Answer -
Zero. Because you didn't have the guts to run for school board and get into the real game. You are happy throwing rocks at the board from the safety of your little computer.
So-o-o-o-o much for wondering if the board really reads this blog!
Don't have the guts? It's more like don't have the time. We're all in a mess with bills and taxes, but it would seem that our own board could consider more thrifty ways to get things done. If they think they're thrifty, they need to check out some family facts. We're not all married to executives.
6:50 and 7:54:
How many of the current board members are new? At least you could give them a chance. They haven't voted on a budget or a contract and already you are hammering away at them. 7:44 is right. You should step up and run for the board. Don't you think those board members have the same problems you have? The real reason none of you will run is because it would expose you to reality and you wouldn't be able to sit around and throw rocks anymore. You would have to put up or shut up.
Technology Plan Committee
The district is looking to form an ad hoc committee to formulate a five-year strategic plan for technology.
They are seeking volunteers from the community who have an IT background in a medium to large business or educational environment.
A person with systems analyst experience would be a plus.
You can apply for the committee by contacting Assistant Superintendent Dr. Linda Stubits:
Oley Valley School District
Administration building
17 Jefferson St.
Oley Pa 19547
Phone 610-987-4100 Ex. 1191
Someone said, "We're not all married to executives."
I am, and she's hot!
Are you going to apply, Al?
Mr.Jacobs,
Thanks for posting that the Oley School District is asking the public to be part of a committee to discuss the future of it's information technology needs. This applies to all the internal computer and software needs of the business and adminisrtative side of OVSD as well as the educational side.
You can offer your help to the committee by contacting:
Dr. Linda Stubits
Oley Valley School District
Administration building
17 Jefferson St.
Oley Pa 19547
Phone 610-987-4100 Ex. 1191
Well I'm glad to see the board wants to talk to people before rushing out to pay big bucks to some consultant.
Is this a posative change from the new board? Sure hope so!
Good morning 4:41!!!! That would sure be a positive change from what we have been through the past many years!!!
Who's ready for
C H A N G E
? ? ?
Read this article and then think about where your rath should be directed - Harrisburg
Ex-Rendell law firm bills Pa. $1.8Million report
By Brad Bumsted and Jim Ritchie
TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, March 12, 2008
HARRISBURG -- Gov. Ed Rendell's former law firm has billed the state $1.8 million as special counsel for privatizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a pet project of the governor's, according to documents posted on an Internet site. Lawyers from the Philadelphia law firm Ballard Spahr Ingersoll & Andrews submitted hourly bills of up to $637, the Web site www.yardbird.com reported. Two of the lawyers, Adrian King and Kenneth Jarin, have ties to the Rendell administration. Ballard Spahr was hired by PennDOT's General Counsel's Office and initially worked almost three months without a contract "because of the extreme urgency of the work required," the state records show. "I do not comment on our legal work. ... I will not comment on your questions," Arthur Makadon, a partner in the firm, said Tuesday.
The firm's involvement in state government business wasn't disclosed publicly until the Web site posted documents showing what Ballard Spahr has billed since March 2007. The site is operated by William Keisling, a Harrisburg-area author and frequent Turnpike Commission critic.
The Tribune-Review could not independently confirm all of the information. Rendell's spokesman, Chuck Ardo, confirmed the hiring of the law firm for turnpike work and other legal services.
Neither the Democratic leader of the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Barry Stout of Bentleyville, nor the Democratic chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Rep. Joe Markosek of Monroeville, were aware of Ballard Spahr's involvement, both lawmakers said yesterday.
Ballard Spahr's contract for the legal work was issued in May. The firm employed Rendell before he won election as governor in 2002, but Ardo said that had nothing to do with hiring the firm.
"Despite the appearances, we went to the firm that offered the best potential service for a very complicated deal," Ardo said. The law firm gave the Rendell administration a 15 percent discount on its fees, Ardo said. Even with that discount, Jarin billed the state $531 an hour; King, $403 an hour; and Makadon, $637 an hour.
In addition to turnpike privatization, Ardo said Ballard Spahr did work involving the plan to place tolls on Interstate 80, which became central to July's transportation funding bill. PennDOT lawyers don't have the same level of expertise, Ardo said.
Still, said Barry Kauffman, executive director of the watchdog agency Common Cause of Pennsylvania, the Rendell administration should "avoid to the greatest degree possible any accusations of cronyism."
The records show King, a former deputy chief of staff for Rendell and former director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and Jarin, a top Rendell fundraiser and the governor's appointee as chairman of the State System of Higher Education, were two of the lawyers billing for work on the turnpike privatization proposal.
Jarin is married to state Treasurer Robin Weissmann, who was appointed by Rendell to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton.
Turnpike spokesman Bill Capone said King "was assigned as the point guy by the governor's office" on all turnpike privatization efforts, including things such as data collection and site inspection.
Ardo said Ballard Spahr ranks third among Pennsylvania law firms that obtained legal work as outside counsel since January 2003.
The Blank Rome law firm of Philadelphia received the most, $20.2 million, as outside counsel to the state from Jan. 1, 2003, to June 30, 2007. The Pepper Hamilton law firm of Philadelphia received $13.1 million. Ballard Spahr received $8.4 million.
Rendell first proposed leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike in 2006, but the idea stalled without support from the Legislature. Rendell is pushing it again this spring, but almost all of his lobbying with legislators has been behind closed doors.
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