A line like that conjures up a quiet, placid, gentle evening. Bird call, dog bark, cat meow, and cricket chirp, all combining to create their symphony of the night. Well, just like Dr. Johnny Fever transitioning the formerly quiet music station into WKRP by dragging the needle across the LP (kids, ask your fossilized parents to explain what I just said), let's take a look at last night's school board business meeting where the fun and laughs were non-stop.
Thank you to everyone who dropped me a line with their take on last night's meeting. There was a general agreement on one thing: What is the Emperor thinking?
First, let's start off with the rumor that the defeasement cost $2 million dollars. I can categorically report that information is 100% completely false. It was actually about $2.4 million. No one knew about it except the Emperor until it was all over. The public and even a few of the board members pleaded for judicious deliberations at the January 23 meeting, but the defeasement express plowed onward. We now know the true cost. Between the previous feasibility studies and the current debt retirement costs, Morrisville is now the proud possessor of a $5 million dollar sports complex in the rear of the high school. The only good thing this did was provide a closure for the "squandering" squawkers to cease their pseudo-frugal spending chant. No matter what the Gibson board spent as an entity on studies and analyses, the Hellmann board, single handedly, spent more.
A second, and slightly more bizarre note to the defeasement, is that the Emperor will not "dumb down" a defeasement cost presentation for the board or the public. It's too complicated for us mere non-CPA mortals to comprehend. However, he will invite us to feast at the right hand of power and trek to his office where he will personally lead us through the magical mystery money tour and show us his spreadsheet. There's something about that that sounds vaguely unsettling in a sidewalk flasher type of way...
The new board secretary, Marlys Mihok, was not in attendance last night. Also missing in action are the minutes from the January 2 special meeting; the January 9 agenda meeting; the January 30 special meeting; and the February 13 agenda meeting. So now the Morrisville School District will pay for someone else to do her job. This is in addition to the stipend that she receives for not doing it and is keeping, despite past board practice of donating it back to the financially strapped community. It figures. One of the few times that I want the Emperor to exercise his financial fix-it magic pixie dust, he's asleep on the job, voting to allow Marlys to continue piling up missing minutes faster than a state work crew on a coffee break.
Then, it got interesting. With reliable toadies Mihok, Angry Al and Gloria Heater not in attendance, the first cracks in the Emperor's invincibility aura appeared.
The Emperor was ready to deny tenure to a dedicated and caring teacher if it involved a raise for her. Even if it did (and it does not, until next school year), that's a very petty attitude, but perfectly consistent for the Emperor. Congrats to our MHS vocals teacher who gained tenure last evening.
The Hellmann Building Report, formerly known as the defeasement fig leaf, was used as the rock solid cornerstone for an emergency safety repairs resolution to spend an open ended amount of money (only some $200,000 was identified, the rest was "to be determined"). At first the Emperor wanted to table the motion because his vote counting skills showed three storm troopers missing from the front lines. When the board refused to table, the Emperor became passionate about spending the money because the "professional engineers" identified these issues. Very passionate. Extremely passionate. So passionate that one has to wonder what might be in it for him.
This is not a swipe at the engineering firm. They are a well respected company with a long track record of success. But we have noted the lapses in the report, including that it is, by the candid admission of the firm, incomplete. What did you expect for $2500? A full report complete with Power Point slides?
So then, a voice of reason started to speak. It was persistent, clear, and unambiguous. Robin Reithmeyer wanted to know enough information so that she could make up her own mind, rather than relying on royal pronouncements of whim to guide her vote. She even mentioned an email that the Emperor had sent to her instructing her to keep quiet and just cooperate.
The plot thickens. More later.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
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11 comments:
I have to say that I am getting a little tired of Mr. Worab and Sharon Hughes referring to parents that care about their childrens education as "these people".
Is the light starting to shine thru now that Mr. Hellmann has an agenda? Do ya see it yet? Take off the blinders. How many times did he reference the $1.9 in bills each month. Then he used his head calcutor to add up a years worth of bills. Isn't that what happens when you run a school district? Aren't bills supposed to be paid? Was he trying to point out to his "people" the yearly savings Morrisvill would have if we "got rid of the kids" Sure felt like that to me!
This morning's Courier Times article only scratched the surface:
$2.4M needed to dissolve bond
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE - Morrisville school board members were angry Wednesday night after learning the district had to use another $2.4 million to dissolve most of the $22 million bond issue earmarked for construction of a new consolidated school.
The school district has already used about $2 million of the original $30 million bond for architectural and engineering fees tied to the proposed facility.
Board members did not know that the district would need to add $2.4 million to get rid of the bond before they voted to dissolve it late last month. The money was needed because current interest rates are so low and the extra money ensured that there would be enough in the account to pay off bond holders over 20 years, said district business manager Reba Dunford.
The $22 million is part of an original $30 million bond issue. That money had been borrowed by the previous board to fund a new pre-K through 12th-grade school building for the district's 1,000-plus students. The new building would have replaced an existing high school and two elementary schools that need renovations.
Board member Robin Reithmeyer expressed her frustration, saying that the current board was repeating mistakes and wasting money.
Frustration continued throughout the night as board members battled over renovation plans and recommendations for the district's existing schools.
A vote to act on fixing 10 items that the engineering firm Wick Fisher White recommended earlier this month failed when the six attending board members tied 3-3. Board members Gloria Heater, Marlys Mihok and Alfred Radosti were absent.
Items included correcting the height of fire alarm system devices to comply with code, installing an emergency gas shutoff station to the science classroom, and other items. The costs for each item ranged from about $5000 to $50,000.
Manasee Wagh can be reached at 215-949-4206 or mwagh@phillyBurbs.com.
February 28, 2008 7:00 AM
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Comments To This Article:
David - .
(02/28/2008 )
Another example of incompetent school board members not knowing what they got theselves into.
- wow
(02/28/2008 )
the PSBA really needs to step in here and take control at that district. those school board directors are a joke. a sick joke.
Other school-related news in this morning's BCCT:
Board defends lack of referendum on new school
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The Centennial school board is defending its decision not to have a referendum before going forward with building a new high school to replace part of William Tennent High School.
Michael Monaghan, the board president, said that while he respects community members' involvement in decision-making, “to ask them to vote on a construction process, without all the information they need to make that decision, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This wasn't part of their everyday life.”
At a cost of $79 million, a portion of the high school will be torn down and replaced, and the rest will be renovated.
The expected annual tax increase of about $254 to pay for the project has sparked heated arguments for and against the new school building. And the board's decision not to put the tax increase to a voter referendum was similarly controversial at Tuesday's board meeting.
At least 60 people attended the meeting. Some supported the board's decision, saying the board they elected would handle the job adequately. Others were against the decision not to have a voter referendum. Not allowing the residents to have a say was undemocratic, some said.
But a voter referendum would not be a wise course of action, Monaghan said Wednesday. Each board member spent from 500 to 1,000 hours diligently assessing all the nitty-gritty details of the proposed project before going ahead with any decisions, he said.
“This board and administration were involved in this process from the beginning. They came to all the meetings, finance and operations committee meetings.”
Some board members were eager to commit to a new high school, because various costs could change a year from now, said Monaghan. The $79 million cost estimate could go up or down because of factors like the rising cost of oil and an economic recession. But Monaghan has confidence that the estimate is accurate, because the board asked the architectural firm for the best price, he said.
“Let's stick with what is going to get us the things we need and at the best price and best opportunity for students and the community,'' he said.
The design for a new high school will be completed this year and the district will look to get bids for construction in early 2009. Construction would begin that spring and finish in 2011.
And more.......
District hopes buyouts save $1M
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The Centennial school board this week voted unanimously to offer teachers an early retirement incentive in hopes of saving a lot of money.
District officials hope that at least 25 teachers take advantage of the incentive, which would generate a cost savings of $1 million or more for Centennial.
“What it would do is shave off some expenses for a teacher who is at the top of the scale,” said Michael Monaghan, board president. He said the district would replace retired teachers with new ones hired at or near starting salaries.
That would translate to a reduced tax increase for next year, said administrators.
Taxes are expected to increase by about $254 because of plans to build a new high school that would replace the front section of the existing school and to renovate the back section, which includes the gym, pool and other common areas of William Tennent High School.
Officials and board members were reluctant to attach more concrete numbers to the retirement savings. How much the district would save depends on how many employees take the offer and other factors.
According to the incentive program, teachers are eligible if they have worked 25 years under the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System and the last 10 years as a professional employee for Centennial. They would be able to retire by June 30 and receive $25 for each unused sick day to a maximum of 200 days, a maximum of $5,000. They also would get the level of medical insurance benefits currently received under the Keystone HMO-10 plan and prescription drug program. The coverage would last for seven years or until age 65.
“If what we give in the way of benefits would differ in the next teacher contract cycle after 2010, their benefits would include that change,” said Assistant Superintendent Sandy Homel.
The salary for a teacher with 17 or more years of experience and a master's degree, plus 40 more graduate credits is $100,180. An incoming teacher's salary is $42,652.
There are 63 teachers in Centennial eligible for the early retirement offer. Realistically, only those with 30 or more years as a teacher would likely take the offer, said Homel. That means about 30 might take it, she said. The deadline to apply is April 15.
Al Catarro, president of the Centennial Education Association, said he had no comment, because the offer was a board policy and didn't involve negotiation with the union. It also only affects a small amount of teachers, he said.
One of my favorite things about last night was when Mr. Farrell told Mrs. Worob, "Don't coach me." when as he was about to give his opinion regarding the Wick Fisher motion. Desite him still voting "Yes", it was good to see that kind of underhanded maneuver brought out into the open. Shame on Mrs.. Worob for her "smoke and mirrors" tactics.
Also, thank you to Mrs. Reithmeyer for her comments last night bringing to light the strong-arming tactics that Mr. Hellmann uses.
"However, he will invite us to feast at the right hand of power and trek to his office where he will personally lead us through the magical mystery money tour and show us his spreadsheet."
This is spookily reminiscent of Steve Worob's tactic of accusation and then invitation to "Come over to my house, we'll sit in the dinning room and have a beer and I can show you all of my evidence". That statement, by the way, was highly inflamitory, especially when directed at a recovering alcoholic.
"She even mentioned an email that the Emperor had sent to her instructing her to keep quiet and just cooperate."
This is JAWDROPPING!
This says it all: the PSBA really needs to step in here and take control at that district. those school board directors are a joke. a sick joke.
I was the one Hellmann offered to sit down with and explain the "complicated" defeasement finances.
I plan to decline his offer because I'm only 1 of about 10,000 people in Morrisville that it needs to be explained to. The info should be boiled down and posted on the district's website or in some kind of readily accessible package that anyone from the public can see. Actually this should have been done BEFORE the Jan. 30 defeasement vote. And the other 8 board members should have been provided this information BEFORE they voted. At least 3 of them might have wanted to see and evaluate it before they voted.
Hopefully, more people post about Mr. Hellmann's massively rude, arrogant, and outrageous statements and antics at last nite's board meeting. The word "incorrigible" comes to mind. He had some really choice quotes. I urge anyone who wasn't there live to watch the televised rebroadcast. He squandered a great deal of both taxpayer and political capital.
I second that jon. I want to see the figures on defeasement made public.
Agreed, we need to see the breakdown of defeasement costs. Not only is it the right thing to do but it is our legal right to have this information.
Everyone in agreement should email/call/or write to the Board asking for it under the Pennsylvania right-to-know law. Mine is in their inbox now.
Righto. I would even venture to say that those who voted yes to defease without knowing the full cost implications are skating on thin ice in terms of their legal and fiduciary responsibilities as board members.
I haven't seen much evidence that "hard core" board members care about such things. Although nothing seems to move them like the threat of a lawsuit, especially one in which they could be held personally liable.
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