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Subject: Latest on the budget
39502 New Subject Score 1
I have posted the results of last nights budget workshop meeting on the superintendent's forum accessible from the district website. Your comments are welcomed.
Martin Handler on:5/11/2010 12:24:31 PM
39504 In Response To: 39502 Score 2
Comments? How about using a spell check program.
Bah Humbug! on:5/11/2010 4:40:02 PM
39505 In Response To: 39504 Score -3
Honestly!! The errors were distracting. I had difficulty grasping the points he wanted to make due to the poor state of his writing skills. No excuses.
agreed on:5/11/2010 8:20:11 PM
39507 In Response To: 39506 Score -3
Some times the fingers work faster than the eyes. I am pretty sure he has a lot more on his plate than to sit and proof read every post he puts on this site and his forum. Always want something to bitch about.
get a grip on:5/11/2010 8:47:19 PM
39508 In Response To: 39507 Score 0
He is the head of the school district that educates our children. It's concerning and a bad perception, if his grammar and spelling aren't perfect. He should take more time to work on the written word. We expect the same from our students. Why shouldn't the highest paid employee of the district be criticized for poor writing? It is the education business.
Anonymous_240115030133 on:5/12/2010 6:53:27 AM
39510 In Response To: 39507 Score -1
That is a load of BS. We demand better from our students- he is in charge- he should set an example. At $135000 he needs be able to spell and use proper grammer. He is the head of our school district!
Anonymous_21601620890130 on:5/12/2010 8:47:04 AM
39511 In Response To: 39510 Score 0
"Grammer"?
Say What? on:5/12/2010 9:14:44 AM
39514 In Response To: 39511 Score -4
Okay, so it is fine for the superintendent to have spelling and grammar problems when he is presenting to the public- but we better get it correct here?
Anonymous_21601620890130 on:5/12/2010 11:11:49 AM
39515 In Response To: 39514 Score -1
I think the point was that people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Looks pretty bad when you criticize someone then turn around and have the same things in your own post. I'm more concerned that the math doesn't appear to add up in his post. 151,500 in reductions to the budget - 120,000 in additions back into the budget = 31,500 net savings not the 51,500 as listed. Of course I was just doing the math in my head so I could be wrong. Not sure if that affects the percentage of tax increase or not.
Anonymous on:5/12/2010 12:20:10 PM
39516 In Response To: 39515 Score -7
The tax rate was based on $31,500 savings from the previous attempt.
Robert Lowry on:5/12/2010 1:45:18 PM
39517 In Response To: 39515 Score -5
I am sorry for any errors I may have made. The net reduction is $31,500. That reduction will lower the tax increase to .343 mills above the current level or a 1.1% increase.
Martin Handler on:5/12/2010 1:53:22 PM
39543 In Response To: 39504 Score -5
I will give him a break on the grammarrrrrr issisue but not the vast other iscues.
You thinks hesc a bit distracting. Eyez wills give yus a headic!!!!
ShamWow... on:5/18/2010 11:06:58 PM
39544 In Response To: 39543 Score -6
Once again, posters on here show their ignorance..the post is "Latest on the Budget" and most of you are bitching about Dr. Handler's grammar (or as some geniuses said...grammer)....what a bunch of A......s
Anonymous_20801010138021 on:5/19/2010 8:07:11 PM
39547 In Response To: 39544 Score 2
I'll post something about the latest budget. According to the Superintendents forum the board has directed the admin to put the renovations at Longswamp on hold while they look into other ways of housing the enrollment, i.e. close Longswamp. Apparently we are afraid to say it. The question I would ask is how many thousands of dollars have we already paid to the architects for the plans for these renovations that have now been put on hold? We just spent a small fortune on a facilities study that we were going to be following and now already are waivering off that path. And will any of the current renovations that are being done at the middle school and DT have to get ripped out to do more renovation work at those buildings to provide housing for all of them? I think this board is showing very little clue as to the direction this district is going. Seems like we are just pissing into the wind and to be honest the spray back isn't too nice.
Anonymous on:5/20/2010 6:14:56 AM
39548 In Response To: 39547 Score 0
I assume you have already submitted your resume for the opening on the Board. If not, why not?
Your opinion and wisdom might be welcomed in showing the other board members the errors of their way. Certaininly you are only speaking to a limited audience on this site. Think of all the good you good do as a board member.
Wondering on:5/20/2010 6:53:37 AM
39549 In Response To: 39548 Score -3
It shouldn't take an individual to show them the error of their ways. Just a little common sense should do. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that.
Anonymous on:5/20/2010 3:09:33 PM
39550 In Response To: 39547 Score 1
To waver off a path you have to be on a path. The firm gave several options, We were looking at one of them. Firmer cost estimates that came in higher, current economic conditions and future mandated funding demands called for another look at the other options before commiting to a 20 year bond issue.
Robert Lowry on:5/20/2010 4:42:12 PM
39554 In Response To: 39550 Score 5
My bet is they will look at building a new building in another 4 or 5 years. They can't pull the trigger to fix anything over the past 20 years. But they sure are good at new buildings and additions.
Slightly Confused on:5/20/2010 6:25:59 PM
39557 In Response To: 39550 Score 7
With all due respect Mr. Lowry, if we were looking at ONE of the options that is choosing a path and if we are now already looking at other options that is waivering from the path. Firmer cost estimates in the architectural/engineering world mean that more detailed plans have been prepared which means we have spent more money after already spending a small fortune on the facilities study and associated preliminary cost estimates. I stated on here a long time ago that those preliminary cost estimates included in the facilities study would ultimately end up higher. It's the nature of that business. Current economic conditions around here are no better or worse then they were a year ago and the funding mandates have not really changed over the last year. The pension funding crisis has been bantered about for awhile now. So overall I call bullsh!t to your reply and attempt at justifying the lack of direction the board is taking. I'll ask again, how many thousands of dollars have we spent on plans that we now may not use all while we pay them more to study more options. Didn't we just do that with the facilities study not too long ago?
Anonymous on:5/21/2010 6:18:18 AM
39559 In Response To: 39557 Score 1
Thank you. This A&E study has been a boondoggle from the beginning. The facilities manager already had the list of critical repairs and the budget numbers for them prepared. All the A&E firm did was to take that list, put it into some 8x10 color glossies and gave it to Marty to sell it to the community. They collected in excess of $20K for that little example of blind justice and I thought I saw a tear running down Officer Obie's cheek -- but I digress.
Give the facilities manager the resources to apportion out the repairs in a reasonable way and kick the A&E firm to the curb. Bundling means bonds, legal expenses, prevailing wage, more debt and hightened costs. Oh, and let's not forget the vig for the A&E firm. Fix what needs to be fixed, explain it to the community and do what is required in a managed way. Using an A&E firm for this is lazy and shows a lack of respect for the taxpayers.
It's not rocket science, although Marty would have you believe it. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." How apropos.
amused2 on:5/21/2010 7:57:40 AM
39560 In Response To: 39559 Score 8
Using an A&E firm has some positive sides though. Does the district have staff that can design and write the specs for all of the trades required for the full scope of the work. Does the district have staff who is fully versed in every trade and can supervise every aspect of the project? An A&E firm can be held accountable for mistakes in the design or actual project.
Slightly Confused on:5/21/2010 4:32:09 PM
39563 In Response To: 39560 Score -1
It's obvious that an A/E firm is required for large scale projects. My original point is that if we keep changing our minds as to what we want them to design we are just pissing money away. Make a damn decision as to what direction we are taking and take it. Virtually nothing has changed over the last year to cause a change in direction. How much money are we going to waste over the next few months to study new options again and how much have we wasted on the old direction?
Anonymous on:5/24/2010 6:06:36 AM
39566 In Response To: 39560 Score 3
I agree with you to some extent, when it comes to major projects. However, the approach that has been bantered around has been to bundle small projects and do a bond issue. My issue with that is that it raises the costs tremendously.
If we need a roof, hire an engineer and pay him to spec the job and inspect the result. If the roof is $80K, pay for it and move on. Take care of another major project next year.
The issue with bond issues is that we are taking a mortgage out and paying interest on the mortgage. That makes sense for school construction and major additions/renovations. It does not make sense for deferred maintenance.
That is my issue with this process. I would rather pay a few dollars more in taxes and keep our debt down than saddle the district with long term debt for maintenance. We are already carrying long term debt for the high school. Don't you think it would be better to retire that debt rather than add to it?
amused2 on:5/24/2010 9:32:41 AM
39823 In Response To: 39502 Score 1
Did the Eagle make a mistake? Where's Marty?
The Issue: At least seven superintendents in Berks will receive no raise or give back part of their increase to their districts.
Our Opinion: This is leadership by example.
When teachers in the Twin Valley and Oley Valley school districts demonstrated last year that they understood the plight many taxpayers were facing, we praised them, in the case of Twin Valley, for accepting a new contract that called for no salary increase for three years, and in the case of Oley Valley, for granting significant contract concessions. Now it is time to focus on the superintendents.
At least seven of Berks County's 18 superintendents will receive no salary increase this year or have given back a portion of their raises. One other offered to give back part of her salary but was refused by the school board.
In each case this is leadership by example. They understand the economic conditions as well as the need to provide a quality education for the children in their charge. They realize many of the taxpayers in their districts are unemployed or underemployed as well as what it takes to run a school district. Perhaps most of all, they understand that the days of making tough decisions haven't ended.
Dr. Rudy Ruth of Wilson donated 1 percent of his salary to the Wilson Education Fund.
Dr. Solomon Lausch of Schuylkill Valley gave back one-quarter of his 4 percent raise.
Dr. Dion E. Betts of Boyertown gave back one percentage point of his 6.1 percent raise.
Robert R. Gross III or Kutztown refused a 2.5 percent to a 4.5 percent raise.
Dr. Beverly A. Martin of Exeter gave back one-quarter of her 4 percent raise.
Dr. Gary L. Otto of Daniel Boone declined a raise.
Dr. Robert L. Urzillo of Conrad Weiser is subject to the district's salary freeze.
Dr. Theresa D. Haught of Muhlenberg offered to give back two percentage points of her 3.5 percent raise but was refused.
Some taxpayers might try to call this an empty gesture since the lowest-paid superintendent in Berks County receives $123,500, far more than the average yearly wage in this community. They also might say that these givebacks don't mean very much when talking about school district budgets in the dozens of millions of dollars.
They would be wrong on both counts. Giving up all or part of a raise is a big deal, no matter how much money one makes, and the dollar figure is far less important than the tone it sets for other school district employes - union and nonunion.
One could argue that the salary each superintendent gets is not as much of an issue as is the fact that there are just too many superintendents - that Berks does not need 18 public school districts with 18 superintendents making a combined $2.55 million this year. Perhaps, but that is a debate for another time.
For now we salute those leaders in education who have demonstrated that they understand exactly what the taxpayers are facing and have sacrificed personal gain in an attempt to set an example.
Their givebacks are not going to be enough to head off any tax increases, but they should be enough to demonstrate to beleaguered taxpayers that these educators feel their pain and share it.
It also sets an example for teachers and other school employees. There seems to be little doubt that more than a handful of districts are going to ask for concessions from them next year.
amused2 on:7/15/2010 8:50:56 AM
39843 In Response To: 39823 Score -4
wow, you are all over this site. amazing.
anonymous on:7/15/2010 8:00:13 PM
39854 In Response To: 39823 Score 0
How much of your salary did you give back so as to keep the costs down for me, the consumer, who likely spends my hard earned money on your product? Or me, the taxpayer, who is likely footing the bill for your kid's education (present or past)? Before you jump on this bandwagon, think about it. We are all affected by raises in salaries, but we also expect them, or hope for them. But we complain when the prices of things and services rise. It's all connected.
really? on:7/16/2010 11:06:45 AM
39856 In Response To: 39854 Score 1
I gave back 5% of mine after not having had a raise for three years prior. Plus the cost of my benefits went up 12% last year. Overall the small amount those Supers gave back is nothing. While I agree it's better than nothing it may just as well have been nothing. They as well as ours could and should be doing a lot more in these tough economic times. Next question.
Anonymous on:7/16/2010 11:20:03 AM
40020 In Response To: 39856 Score 0
Here's one for you Mr. Kurzweg and Dr. Handler. Back when the budget discussion started, you all mentioned how there are great substitutes in the buildings who would love to step into a contract at the last minute then have nothing at all. Then tell me why the people being hired are from outside the district or new to the district?
Disappointed on:8/13/2010 6:53:02 AM
40021 In Response To: 40020 Score -1
Don't you want the best and most qualified candidate to be hired? Perhaps the subs that were interviewed paled in comparison to other outside candidates, after due diligence. That's the whole point of going external with your search. Why would you be disappointed at that? What's your beef?
amused2 on:8/13/2010 8:25:53 AM
40022 In Response To: 40021 Score -1
Just wondering what happened to all these "great" substitutes?
Disappointed on:8/13/2010 8:41:25 AM
40023 In Response To: 40022 Score -1
At the last board meeting the administration reported that there were hundreds of applicants for the open positions. They went through all of the resumes and decided on 10 to interview. While being a substitute does give one an advantage, elementary education is a highly competitive field. Other teaching positions lucky to have a choice in candidates.
Robert Lowry on:8/13/2010 10:19:03 AM