Looks like it was a good meeting last night.
It's 12:20 AM Thursday morning and I just came home
from a marathon school board meeting. Among the
protests of whether or not a reduction on the increase
in special education is a cut or not, Bill Hellmann
finally unveiled his death blow to the Morrisville
school system.
Close Reiter and Grandview
Renovate the high school and use to house grades K-8
Tuition out grades 9-12
I really hope everyone who voted for the stop the
school group is happy tonight.
I'm not sure this is a done deal just yet. Seemed like the turnout at the January meeting was overwhelmingly against a tuition plan, and they can't renovate the high school with only seven million in the bank. Besides, there's always the issue of {cue dramatic music} the teachers union and their contract.
The bigger question will be if the people of Morrisville have had enough. Is anyone going to stand up?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
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13 comments:
I don't think there's even $7 milion in the bank to renovate anymore. Hasn't it been drained to the $3-4 million range at this point?
I'm hoping this is exactly how it was described on the agenda for last night's meeting:
"Mr. Hellmann's Alternative Plan for the School District"
Mr. Hellmann's plan - and no one else's.....
Did he mention where he plans to tuition out the 9-12 kids? I remember reading recently that the 'alternative school' whose mission it is to serve behaviorally challenged students i opening a Bucks County campus soon. Any correlation?
It was a late night and we were all tired, but Marlys Mihok provided the hilarity of the evening. When Hellmann presented his plan and kept saying "We this" and "We that", the other board members objected, pointing out that this was the Hellmann plan.
Marlys, being a good little toady, piped up, "Mr. President, you can make me we."
Potty humor is always a good way to start the day.
He doesn't have that information yet. This is just HIS suggestion. That is all he kept saying. Personally I think it is load of BS that the ENTIRE board hasn't sat around and come up with some sort of idea what is next.
Marlys needs to get herself removed from Hellman's hip. I wouldn't want to be within 10 feet of him now that he has revealed his big plan!
In between tanning appointments, maybe she can schedule that surgery.
Given the unlikelihood of the "Hellman Plan" to ever come to fruition, (Such an arrangement would require PDE approval, etc.), What's next? Millions of dollars and a lot of anger and bile later, no one is happy and nothing's resolved. Perhaps those who are selling and moving have the right idea. The cycle of madness in the ville seems destined to continue.
Answers: Jon) That's exactly how it was on the agenda and when Mr. Hellmann started using the plural pronoun when presenting his plan, Robin asked who the "we" was and he stammered until Marlys threw him a lifeline, saying she'd be a we.
Sandy) Coincidence, DVHS was already planning to open a Bucks campus (they bought out Middle Earth on Jacksonville Road in Warminster (my old stomping grounds and a 35 minute ride on the weekend to my dad's house). David Shulick, pres. of DVHS (alternative for behaviorally troubled students is their only real educational experience) offered to take all of our high school students at a deep, deep discount. Many of us had very serious questions, but discussions have not taken place between Mr. Shulick and the board as a body.
Dianne) Gotta tell you it's tough to work with this board, but there is a committee that met for the first time this week to consider what we think should be done with the district. We will meet again on June 24th at 7 and as we had an open door policy for the first meeting, I feel good about holding that door open for the next meeting.
Anonymous) Welcome to the roller coaster. Fight or flight? You have your ticket, enjoy the ride! Try not to vomit.
His plan is completely contrary to what several of the other Board members said during their response to public comment. They were pleading for everyone to pull together and get along and than he drops a bomb that will forever separate us.
"Given the unlikelihood of the "Hellman Plan" to ever come to fruition..."
*Raises eyebrow*
Don't under-estimate this. So far, Hellmann has gotten almost everything he has put on the table.
And he now has Mike Fitzpatrick on his team.
Joe,
After reading what I wrote, I'd like to revise (because I meant no disrepect to you or Robin)
I think it is BS that all the voices of the board members aren't being heard. I'm all for coming to the CAP meetings.(Family obligation got in the way of the last one)
Monkees Fan, (Ima believer) He may be able to bulldoze the townies, but he has an entire different challenge when facing real bureaucrats like those at PDE, the PSBA, the State Teachers' Union, and the court system that will all be involved in any such attempt. I understand the eyebrow, but realistically don't think this has much chance.
A gentle-persons wager, then. No money involved. *shakes*
Helmann is no idiot, (though maybe of questionable motives and morals), as the BCCT notes.
Not for nothing, a conservative CPA with an established business in town does not take this type of risk lightly. His reputation as a shrewd financial consultant is on the line here. His policies may be unpopular with some, but he is not going to hang it out there without having some serious insurance in his pocket. I believe that insurance is a connection with MF and maybe others in PDE. He knows what he is up against, and plays a hard-ball game of chess here.
I'll concede (with relief) to your confidence IF and when PDE says "NO".
(PSBA has nothing to do with this, they are only a policy setting and advocacy group. The Teachers Union is strong, but really, there is only 1 or at most 2 voting teachers that live in district, a weak constiuency at best.)
OK, wager taken. **Shakes**
I certainly agree Mr. President is no idiot. However, as local yokels, we are often unaware of the complexity of issues that appear simple on the surface, but are much more complex when acted upon. Take buying a house, it appears simple, but once you get started, you realize just how many little details require attention, and many of them can easily derail the entire process. It's so complicated in NJ, that you are required to use a lawyer for the contract and transaction. Also, never underestimate the power of a seemingly innocuous group to create disruption in any process. Just look at the Philly casinos for an example.
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