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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«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 521 of 521You are correct 10:05, but our local school board is also responsible for raising our taxes, and we need to let them know that the days of frivolous spending are over.
Harrisburg certainly need to overhauled, but so do the local school districts, who think they can buy anything they want, whenever they want.
You'll figure it out one day, but at least you can't complain that we didn't warn you.
Have a good day.
"Read this article and then think about where your rath should be directed - Harrisburg"
Nice article, but not very relevant to a school district wasting million$.
Where did you hear that driver’s ed is being dropped? According to the new 2008-2009 Course Selection handbook, handed out to students this week, driver’s ed is still a mandatory class for sophomores for 2009.
Why are the Oley Concerned Citizens caring about the turnpike?
Turnpike dairy perhaps?
"Nice article, but not very relevant to a school district wasting million$.
4:28 PM, March 14, 2008"
It is completely relevant as to why Oley get less funding support from Harrisburg. If fast Eddie Rendell is wasting money taking care of his cronie lawyer friends, it costs us ALL.
9:11:
The state did not mandate that Oley put in a $1.4 million track and field, and then one year later rip it up to put the electric down, that they were supposed to have run before the field and track were completed. The mere fact that Nextel came in at the same amount is quite coincidental, and Oley almost botched that little situation. They also have voted to put the money we get from Nextel into a separate account for field and track maintenance, therefore not having the money availble for the educational items that this school district may need.
That is wasteful and STUPID.
The state also did not mandate that the school district propose an addition whose dollar amount has yet to be stated, or the fact that we have a relatively new elementary school that leaks everywhere. A situation that could have been handled a few years ago when the roof was still under warranty, but we wait until the roof is out of warranty and now the taxpayers are going to have to pay again.
I don't see Harrisburg's hand in that.
However, I do see that we have legislators who come up with laws, like the Public School Code and it's new laws and addendums, and then do not monitor the school districts when they violate the school code.
Why are these laws passed, if there is no intention and no penalty if the school districts violate them?
Try finding out who is supposed to monitor the school districts, and you will find out that there really is no monitoring and that the school districts are allowed to SPEND AND SPEND AND SPEND.
There will come a day when this community will be out of money, and that day looks like it's going to be sooner rather than later.
Who is going to pay then?
I think the bottom line here is that government needs to keep its sorry butt out of education and start trying to make something of this state again.
THIS PATHETIC MADNESS NEEDS TO STOP!
P.S. Only driver education theory is taught in the district. The behind the wheel teaching is not offered by the schools anymore, it is left up to the parents to pay for, either privately or have BCIU teach their child.
5:13 p.m.:
9:54 p.m. is correct. Driver's Ed is a classroom experience, not on the road like in the past. You know what that's worth?
It's about as effective as taking a foreign language ( in any school) and then traveling to the country where that language is spoken. You may know how to break down a sentence in Spanish, French, or German, but having a conversation with the natives is, at best, comical.
You can learn plenty from a book. You can learn plenty from a teacher. You will learn what it really takes by applying those lessons.
Anyone who thinks that it was a real savings to the taxpayers to eliminate the driving experience should:
Ask the fire department
Or
your insurance agent.
Or
the county coronor.
They all know the results.
If you are afraid to teach your own kid to drive from behind the wheel, BCIU offers that training at additional charge. (and that option is in the Oley handbook)
I guess you want every taxpayer to pay to teach your kid?
To Cindy Smith,
I see your Friday night was spent ranting against the school district, again. How about some quality time with all of your kids?
Your comments are wrong in SO many ways. Your problem is that you have one little bit of information and you assume the rest and exagerate most. You never offer an idea of help...I guess because you want the school district to fail so you can say "I told you so".
8:44 am YOU ARE WRONG and what are you doing for the school???????
Also, todays paper has an article that we will be having football in Oley this fall without the schools OK. Good for the Oley Football moms and dads that still care enough for the children to continue the program.
Go Oley Football Colts!!!!
Cindy Smith was with her children on Friday night with some other nice families from this district. She does not need to explain herself, the facts that are written on here are the truth and you cannot stand it.
Get over it and YOU start to HELP the children and citizens of this district.
"Your comments are wrong in SO many ways. Your problem is that you have one little bit of information and you assume the rest and exagerate most."
She offers facts. You attack with slander. Typical of drive-by cowards.
I was not "afraid" to teach my sons how to drive. They are both police officers. They agree with their parents. You can't give too much training.
p.s.
You sound cheap!
"having football in Oley this fall without the schools OK. Good for the Oley Football moms and dads"
Yes that is very good. They found a way to play football and not have the taxpayers pay the bill. And thank you Oley schoolboard for not folding to the whim of the football parents.
10:20 here you go again. I hope you do not come to any of the football games as you do not care about the children and the parents that worked hard to start this program. The board did not vote for football but they did vote to re-do the whole track and field facility that now might have to be ripped up to put electric in for the lights for night events. How stupid is that???????? The electric should have been installed at the same time as the new track and field were installed. Talk about wasting more tax dollars!!!!!
"Who's ready for
C H A N G E
? ? ?
7:53 AM, March 14, 2008"
Sounds like an Obama for President ad. Yeah I'll vote for him and his minister/spritual advisor when hell freezes over. Check that raving loon Jeremiah White out on the news or watch him in action on YouTube. Good judgement Obama. A glimpse of who Obama would surround himself with in the White House.
I cannot pay for rolaids can you share some of yours with me.
To 10:20
The power they want to run for the track lights goes on the outside of the track. It does not "rip up" anything. Lights were never part of the original plan so power was not run there. That is why a small trench would be required (around the track). They are considering an option to put a power outlet/ conduit to the inside of the track at one spot. That will require boring under the track and opeining a aprox 4'x4' hole inside the turf. This part was taken out of the original plan, and no one knows why, or no one is willing to admit who made that stupid decision.
Again your claims are based on a bit of information and the usual exageration.
Sorry, last comment was directed at 10:28
One way or another, our school will survive and still turn out decent kids.
Our country, on the other hand, is in deep doo-doo. We have ZERO choices for president.
You knew you would want lights around the track, why then did you leave it out of the original plans???
You are still going to rip-up a piece of the new turf, so do not say that it is not going to happen.
I also heard that some of the proposals for the lights do require more digging of the turf field.
Did the board decide what proposal they are going with???
With the Elem. school roof now an issue, why put lights up at all???
We now have to deal with a roof problem that will cost alot, alot of money.
We still have a lawsuit from the m/s building!!!
How much more can we pay for these expensive mistakes????
"Check that raving loon Jeremiah White out on the news or watch him in action on YouTube."
There does not seem to be much of a difference between White and an ayatollah declaring a fatwa.
Cindy asked:
You knew you would want lights around the track, why then did you leave it out of the original plans??? LIGHTS WERE NEVER PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN
You are still going to rip-up a piece of the new turf, so do not say that it is not going to happen.
THIS IS AN OPTION THEY ARE LOOKING AT. A 4'X4' HOLE IS NOT RIPPING UP THE TURF
I also heard that some of the proposals for the lights do require more digging of the turf field. WHAT YOU HEARD IS WRONG. ADDING LIGHTS TO THE FIELD DOES NOT IN ANY WAY REQUIRE TOUCHING ANY OF THE TURF. THE ONLY REASON THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT GOING INTO THE TURF NOW IS TO RUN A CONDUIT FOR POWER, CABLE ETC, MOSTLY FOR ELECTRONIC TIMING FOR TRACK EVENTS.
Did the board decide what proposal they are going with???
THE BOARD VOTED TO SEND IT OUT TO BID. BIDS HAVE NOT BEEN RECIEVED YET. THEY STILL HAVE TO VOTE TO ACCEPT THE BIDS AND VOTE AGAIN TO GO FORWARD WITH THE LIGHT PROJECT.
Thanks 5:06 board member. Still I am asking why were the lights left out of the original plan??? You knew you would want them. One year later to put lights up, they should have been done in the beginning of the project.
You do things a-- backwards.
That was not Cindy Smith. She is actually having quality time with her kids, what about you??????
Do something productive for once.
How about if you let Cindy and everyone else speak for themselves? Better yet, if you want to criticize Cindy, try attending all the meetings she goes to, she may love to hear your point of view.
If you know so much about Cindy, you must BE a board member.
Cut Cindy a break, at least she cares about the school, and the education her children receive, not to mention everyone elses.
Shame on you for your anti-Cindy attitude. I WISH I could get to as many meetings as she does. I'm working two jobs, for SURVIVAL.
Mary,
You are so full of it I guess the crap factory delivers to your house too.
Tell Cindy to have a nice evening.
....the Crap Factory....?
Are they hiring?
Could you pick up a few applications when you go in on Monday? Just drop them off at the Board room.
If Cindy goes to so many meetings, why can't she get her FACTS straight? She consistently tells half truths. She takes a little bit of information without knowing the background or all the previous discussion or work that went on and then she loves to act like there is a crisis and make a big stink out of it. I think she has an attention deficit.
Then you have Mary who almost never goes to a board meeting but relies on Cindy's version of everything and spews the same distortions.
OK girls, now you can freak out here all day. But at least consider this criticism, even as blunt as it is. There is truth here.
NOT!!!
It's Sunday.
Uh....proposing a new track and field with no electrical capabiliites? hmmmmm....stupid! Did they look at other facilities before they made their decisions? Sun doesnt always shine on Oley!!
If no truths appear on this blog, then perhaps the BOARD should be more forthcoming with their "DISCUSSIONS" and actually talk about issues instead of side-stepping them.
Try going to a policy committe meeting where handouts are given to the board, and then they talk between themselves in bits and pieces of what is on the handout, instead of actually discussing publicly like they are supposed to.
No wonder THE PUBLIC jumps to conclusions.
Oley only beats around the bush when asked questions, they never want to really discuss anything.
Just wait until budget time and see what we get.
Thank goodness there are four members of the board who have the guts to question the RESIDENT board members, and I hope that their questions will continue.
Thumbs Down:
The Feel Gooders who think lights are more important than fixing a roof and preventing continued mold.
To New Blood, You are correct, and should I say welcome to the Oley Circus!!
You will see more of this as we have witnessed this for years now.
Get the rolaids ready!!
I hope your child or children do not have ashma or mold allergies, your doctor bills will be going up along with your school tax bills.
asthma not ashma
You people are certifiable.....
What's more important to you?
Your child breathing in mold spores all day long, or someone accidently misspelling asthma?
Seems as if you just can't wait for the next post to pounce on, can you?
Yet, you keep on reading, and posting!
"You people are certifiable....."
You people?
Parents who put sports above education or parents who put sports above health?
To change subject completely -
Could we do a fast unscientific poll of who we would vote for, in the final election for President of our USA?
Please only vote once for one of the 3 remaining major party candidates on either side.
Clinton
McCain
Obama
Al for President!
Cindy for Vice President
I bet the world would be perfect then!
McCain
Clinton
without a doubt
McCain for sure!!! We do not need another Clinton in the White House. Slick Billy would be there with her again!!! Yuk,yuk!!!!
Al and Cindy got my vote!!!!
McCain
Clinton
Clinton
ANY DEMOCRAT
The Republicans have run this country into the ground.
Hey 4:23 you voted twice.
You think this is Florida or Chicago or Washington DC or north Philly?
As official vote counter, I'm going to disenfranchise you.
if they can vote democratic twice, I will too
republicans have not done any good since quite a while back
From the Reading Eagle today
"Berks County, PA - Rising prices for gasoline and diesel fuel in Berks County are putting question marks on budgets for BARTA, school districts and municipalities.
They can’t count on what future fuel prices will be and they also can’t cut back on the number of miles driven by buses…"
OK, how will you OCC types blame this on the school district?
Oley could end school bussing. It is not required by law. That would save hundreds of thousands of dollars. They could also lower thermstats to 60 degrees in the class rooms and tell the kids to bundle up.
"OK, how will you OCC types blame this on the school district?"
The issue of current and future fuel expense was discussed at a public meeting. At that time, the former board was well aware of the predicted rising energy costs. They could have planned better by not putting nearly $2,000,000 dollars into a sports complex.
The energy issue is worse today and it will not being going away.
In addition, they must repair an entire roof in the elementary school, refurbish the high school gym, and enlarge the ag technology classroom.
They are flirting with the idea of adding an expensive lighting and timing system for the new field.
We are talking millions of dollars for these big ticket items.
Let us hope the new board is more frugal with our tax dollars than the past board and prioritize these expenditures.
Prudent fiscal planning is not politically incorrect.
What exactly is an "OCC type"? Since I am probably one of those you consider an OCC type I will jump in on this.
First, I don't blame the school board, that's ridiculous. However, since the fact is that fuel costs as well as other costs are higher and will probably continue to rise it is the responsiblity of the board to adopt their 2008-2009 budget with those rising costs in mind. They will need to make hard choices and set priorities when it comes to expenditures. What was feasible in January might not be in June. Some projects might have to be scaled back, delayed or even eliminated. There are some tough choices ahead for the board...
OCC said, "Let us hope the new board is more frugal with our tax dollars than the past board and prioritize these expenditures."
What new board? Do you mean the 3 new first term members? They are still a minority. Maloney is in middle of his first term, not sure about Hanum. The rest have been around too long (Heckman 20 years)
RS, your comment is dead on correct.
Hello 8:18...
Lower the thermostats to 60 degrees? What's good for the goose. In order to meet expenses, many homes, including ours, have their thermostats set at 60 degrees. It's March, we're all surviving. If you ever lived in an old farm house, you already know what it feels like. It's called winter. So, layered clothing works fine.
Eliminate busses? This is nothing new, as many are aware. All over the country, there are school districts that depend on parent's carpools, bicycles, and feet. Larger areas require more planning, but nothing is impossible. Fact is, this country is spoiled. High school kids driving a car to school, for no reason, is also a gigantic waste of fuel. Countries like England have had tiny cars, one per family, and planned trips, for many decades. High fuel prices were the inspiration.
It's not a question of "if" these things will occur in our schools all over the USA, it's a matter of "when".
I, for one, do not admire what our school boards are up against.
"I, for one, do not admire what our school boards are up against."
School boards are their own worst enemy.
Agree, 100%. But the days of tax and spend on cushy items will have to end. You think mumsie and daddy-kins want poor little Susie and Johnie wearing extra clothing in class? You think they want to be forced to organize alternate transportation?
Obama is a good speaker
The polls have officially closed.
McCain wins with 3 votes
Clinton had 2, but one person voted twice.
Obama had zero votes but someone said he is a good speaker.
Sorry Al & Cindy, you didn't get your name on the ballot in time.
Time for bed, Doc.
Didn't know Dale was a Doc.
With the cost of everything rising, the board should only spend our money on the most important items for the schools. Lights are not important at this time. Leaky roofs, mold, lawsuits, books, etc. are important.
We are spending the taxpayers money on big ticket items that are not what we need to run a school district.
Start spending our money the way you are supposed to.
When the jar is empty and the citizens cannot pay, then what??????
Look in the paper today on properties that are vacant.
Perhaps the board should try spending the taxpayers' money the way they spend their own money. I seriously doubt anyone on our board has an income high enough to just throw money out the door.
Some well known,older board members are known to be extremely thrifty. Why is it then, that they get on the board and react as if they are sitting at a giant monopoly board and the money is printed in the back room?
Keep spending foolishly. Keep running families out of Oley. The next thing you know, the only natural beauty left around here will be tumbleweeds, in the Valley once known as Oley.
Please name one family that was run out of Oley because of high taxes.
Please identify yourself, before I do the same.
I can tell you that if my family's situation does not change for the better, we will be saying bye-bye pretty soon. It looks like we're not the only ones.
where are you going to move? Schuylkill County? Taxes may be low, but you won't find a job, and if you do you'll make 25,000 a year. Unless you move to the southern states.....cheap living there.
"Please name one family that was run out of Oley because of high taxes."
It would not matter if we named hundreds because your denial would prevent you from from acknowledging the truth. If the history of the drive-by tax and spenders posts on this blog is any indication, you would blame them !!??
Kiplinger says Pennsylvania is the most expensive place for seniors to live. Why, because of PROPERTY TAXES.I guess they must be wrong too !!??
they could always rent.....
"they could always rent....."
Or the district could spend wisely so families can keep their homes.
The outlook for the Oley School District is bleak at best.
You bleak, everything in Oley sucks people are pathetic.
Are the rest of your lives as miserable as your blogging?
I agree. The black cloud that hovers over the heads of some people here must be terrible.
Oh! If we were all protected by the safety net of organizations like THE TEACHER'S UNION, etc., I guess we'd all be able to slug down a few Starbucks and question the financial doom of "others".
But, alas, we're not. Many are self employed, and working three times the hours that others put in, just to keep up.
Plenty of citizens are employed by family run companies that take care of their family, nicely, while the worker ants gravel for the leftover crumbs.
I pity both sides of the story. The "wealthy" can't understand the struggle of the average wage earners, and the average wage earners are looked down upon because they are just that.
Everybody can't have the lead in the play of life. That does not make the stage crew any less worthy than the star of the show.
So, there are readers that would like a list, or just one name of some family forced out by taxes? How sad is that? We're doing fine but we'd like to know exactly who is not? Generally, the ones on the list of people having trouble keeping up with the budget don't want you to know, because it's their business. Do you go out and brag about your yearly income? I doubt it. Do the lower wage earners broadcast this information? I doubt that, too.
If readers are truly concerned about these facts, do something about it yourself. Head on over to the food bank. Maybe you can get the information you need there.
Oh, and I hope the LENGTH of my comment did not upset anyone in particular. I heard the free speech on here, actually is FREE.
IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A MILITARY FAMILY.
"You bleak, everything in Oley sucks people are pathetic."
Not everything or everyone, just people like you who like to spend others people's money for your personal entertainment. Then you get mad when you think you are "entitled" to your hand outs.
"Are the rest of your lives as miserable as your blogging?"
Get a job that pays for all the toys you want instead of being a drag on society.
I agree with the original posting. Bleak and pathetic describes the school board bashers.
Some people can find the dark side of anything.
8:01 post is frightening. Because it's realistic.
Shiites & Sunnis
Hopefully the next President can keep them straight.
Hopefully the next president can tell if he is listening to racist hate speach for 20 years in his own church or not.
McCain still for president in my home!!! His little mistake is nothing compared to the Dem's problems!!!!
He corrected himself right away!
What can the 2 Dem's say?
"Bleak and pathetic describes the school board bashers.
Some people can find the dark side of anything."
Board apologists are naive to the point of clinical.
Pay to play? How about how much the band uniforms are going to cost. That's fair; they are allowed to have them but the football players can't?
I agree! Thank God for the dedicated moms and dads who want better for their children. Funny isn't it? Football still made its presence in Oley. Uh oh...don't look now but change is happening!!
Change is good, isn't it? Every year when your taxes go up it's change. Wait until it reaches a level that even you find unbearable. Then we will see how good change is.
want some cheese with that whine.....BWhahahaha
Board apologists are naive to the point of clinical.
9:17 AM, March 21, 2008
Board haters are paranoid and conspiratorial to the point of having their own episode on the X-Files.
If the oley school board is so evil and completely out of control, why is it that only Al and Cindy go to board metings? Sure some other people go for special events occasionally, like maybe and extra 6 who attended the football meeting. But overall, and Cindy and Al must admit this, those two are the ONLY peole who go to board meetings. Mary S. never goes unless her kid is getting some recognition. OCC where is your screaming anrgy I'm not gonna take it any more masses yearning to pay less taxes. The truth is there is NO Oley uproar.
I think that most people either just don't care or think that the board is doing OK. I know the OCC will say that of course the ignorant apothetic citizenry is in the dark and they should be greatful for the watch-dog effort of those two. But really, know one cares. If Cindy & Al want to make a actual differnce and stop the madness that they claim to see every day in the Oley school district, I beg them to run for school board. That is the ONLY place they will ever have any impact. Now OCC is for amusement only.
Thank you 5:31 board member.
Entertainment? This was really entertaining when good old Mr. Cappa was posting on a regular basis. Talk about ranting and raving! He is the king. When things get dull on here, like now, we could only hope the good ole doc-like person would grace the keytops with his all knowning presence and bestow his wisdom upon the masses. Ahhhh, those were the days.
By the way, did they post that big banner by the track yet? The one that states that Mr. Cappa said we did not need a new track?
See, there's CHANGE here in Oley all the time.
Well, I would like to see new tennis courts built, and a tennis team started. And while they're at it, they could build a pool since they're redoing the gym.
Those would be two facilities that the public could enjoy also.
Perhaps the Education Foundation could help foot the bill!
Any idea how many citizens are utilizing the new track, aside from the students? I would like to know what times the track is "free".
Mary S. went to meetings with Barb Bieber back 6+ years ago, when she had to remove her children from the district. The board tried to take away her daughter from playing the violin as she was not attending the district anymore. Mary S. with the thanks to Barb got a childs advocate to come to a meeting on her childs behalf. The new policy they tried to pass when right out the door.
Ask Heckman and Zackon how many meetings Mary S. used to go to?
Mary S. used to get physically sick with what she would witness in the board room.
Just ask the Bieber's!!!!!
If you would treat the citizens and children with kindness and if you were honest and fiscally responsible, you would not see anyone at the meetings. Thank goodness Al and Cindy continue to go on the behalf of all of us, asking questions and concerns with regards to the running of this district. It is a shame they even feel the need to come. Honesty and fiscal responsibility is what we have been asking for forever and you still do not want to believe that there is anything wrong with the running of this district.
Wake up and smell the coffee, we have some big problems that this administration has been trying to cover up for years.
Ask the Dept. of Education, ask the auditor, ask the past board members, ask the teachers, students, citizens, ask the steel co. that is looking for their money, the list can go on and on!!!
Mary S. should be proud of her daughters accomplishments. Mary S. had to ask the administration last year to even recognize the champion World Quest team at a board meeting and it took until this past fall to do that. She was told that because they did not win the National Competition that they do not come to a board meeting. Just beating out all the Berks schools was not good enough for the district.
I guess they new that it was not nice to do not recongize the team, so this year after winning again for the 2nd year, they were ask to come to a board meeting the next month, not the next school year.
Good luck to the World Quest team when they go to Washington D.C. in April!!!
At least Mary's daughter's do not take the easy way out and take the tough subjects to prepare them for college and the future. Anything they achieve they work hard to earn it.
What ever happened to Barbara Bieber, anyway? I thought she was running for school board to get them on the right track. To get them to see things the way the rest of us see them? I guess that was some other Barbara Bieber, not the one that was actually on the board, doing nothing.
I'm with you, 7:20. It's a disgrace to have tennis courts in the state of disrepair those are in behind the admin building. I would like to see a tennis program too. Until we have at least four new, regulation courts we can't have tennis teams. I'm afraid that with the current economy and the amount of money already earmarked for other projects tennis will not be on the priority list.
As for putting in a pool, I'll take a pass on that...
If they don't take care of the elementary school roof, we'll have a pool. One we didn't want, or need.
Why does our school have these water/mold related problems? Because they clearly chose to erect a school building on a swamp. Everyone from this area knew that the area where they built the new schools had been little more than wetlands. No farmers ever bothered to utilize that land. If farmers don't want it, what good could it be to anyone else?
Another Oley money pit.
Thanks Mary swarts for your comments. I knew my post at 5:31pm would make you fly out of your bird cage.
You really have to work harder on disguising your attempts to write about yourself.
And so what you used to go to meetings...you don't now. You depend on Al and Cindy to tell you what to think.
There are good things that school board members do that the public will never know. The only way some of these things would be revealed is if they told you. Good board members don't brag. Good ones don't want the spot light. Good ones don't break rules of confidentiality or engage in gossip. Good ones keep moving ahead, driving issues that matter and they don't want to give speaches and stand out front.
Mary Swarts, there are good things that have been done that you won't see because you can't see the forest for the trees.
Who said everything in the district is bad? I did not say that. We do have problems that need to be addressed. We should not continue to hide the issues under the rug and not be honest with the taxpayers. I can think for myself and everything I see that is happening today in this district, happened years ago. It never changes.
Hopefully with the new members we can finally have honesty and fiscal responsibility, even if it is from only 3 or 4 members.
Have a blessed Easter.
7:41 am, your first comment is wrong and ask any past member how many times they used to see me at a board meeting, many, many times. Alot more than even you.
Why should I not be happy to come to a board meeting when my child is getting recognized????
The next time she gets asked, maybe we will decline, you would love that, more nasty things to say about myself and my family.
I am glad to get the facts from the OCC and I can confirm them anytime by asking the administration for their own copy. What is said on here from the OCC is right from the district's information.
Now remember, attack, attack all you want.
"Board haters are paranoid and conspiratorial to the point of having their own episode on the X-Files."
The only persons who use the word "hate" on this blog are the board apologists.
At least Mary Swartz's children have not been arrested for underage drinking, unlike others who post on this blog.
Mary and Andy Swartz are very good parents. I am a neighbor and friend. My name is Roseanne, in case you are ready to pounce on me for being nameless. I have known the family for a few years now, and admire the amount of time they spend with their girls. Quality time, doing educational and fun things with them and for them.
Next time you want to throw stones at Mary, you'd better get a bigger basket. The stuff you're slinging at her is only serving as new subject matter for her to pity you. And I suspect she does pity anyone that spends this much time proudly posting 4th grade level slander.
To Mary and family:
I am proud of you for doing what families are supposed to do. Stick together, support each other, and put your children first.
To the infantile blogger:
Wernersville has vacancy signs right out front. Perhaps you need to check this out. Or, you could grow up and act nearly human.
Roseanne
I think everyone in the Oley community should be proud that Amanda Swartz will be attending West Point next year. Certainly this is proof of how she was raised, along with her own values and how she strived to be the best that she could be in all her endeavors.
CONGRATULATIONS AMANDA SWARTZ!!!
That speaks very highly of Amanda, her parents, and of kids today in the USA.
"You depend on Al and Cindy to tell you what to think."
I don't believe Al or Cindy because I believe in the politicians and the bureaucrats. After all, if you can't believe the politicians and bureaucrats, who can you trust.
Politicians and Bureaucrats?
Yes, I'm left with NO BLOOD.
They even figured out how to get that.
CHRIST HAS RISEN!!!!!
Wishing everyone a joyous Easter. For this day we can put aside our differences and rejoice in His resurrection and promise of eternal life.
Plus, chocolate is okay today!
Maybe we should treat every day as a holiday. Walk the walk. Work together. Too much to ask?
OK, Easter is behind us so time to get back to the name calling and Mary bashing. Isn't it fun?
Well, heathen breath, Easter may be over for you, but real Christians are still pretty happy. Share a smile:)
(even if you have to look in the mirror to find humor)
Note: no names were used here, just a little bit of silly humor. Sometimes we all need to lighten up.
I went first.
Well 10:32 you really brought this blog to a screeching halt. It seems your attempt at humor fell flat.
Oh, really? and it was doing okay when people were bashing parents by their WHOLE NAME?
Go to confession.
Pity the children of this town, since the so called adults feel justified to participate in name calling and the rest of the act. Shame on the people that feel as if it's okay to act exactly how we teach our children NOT to act.
Grow up.
Go to confession.
9:30 PM, March 24, 2008
Oh really Saint Mary?
I don't need some priest or saint to intercede for me. I can have a personal relationship with my savior Jesus Christ outside of the Catholic church.
Many Believe that Mrs lightcap and Mr.C have left because they were not allowed to punish children for fear of the discrict being involved in a lawsuit because they do not have a zero tolerance standpoint on bullying, as much as they claim to.
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