Guest Blogger: MM in the BCCT

A big welcome to Marlys Mihok, today's guest blogger, as she appeared in the BCCT.

At least we have the answer to the Kate Fratti's question of "What are they hiding?" The answer: A big fat super-grande enchilada filled with nada.

Updated May 12 with more comment goodness from the BCCT website. Who knew Marlys had so many fans?

Raising scores, lowering costs
Bucks County Courier Times

The Morrisville school board has four seats to fill in the primary election. Every candidate has cross-filed and the ballot positions do not follow any order. But beware; there is a world of difference between the "Stay On Track" candidates and the other hopefuls.

Over the last 16 months the "Stop the School" board majority has kept the promise of increasing test scores and lowering taxes without affecting the educational programs. Just ask our superintendent and business manager. Rumors rumbling around town could not be further from the truth. We have not cut funding for special education, music or sports. We actually added girls JV Softball to the extracurricular roster. We will not fire para educators or classroom aides and in fact hired four more. We have only reduced our administrative staff by one elementary principal and one high school assistant principal, through attrition.

Do we really need a principal and assistant principal for the high school and two principals at the elementary school when total district enrollment is just 855 students? Morrisville has been top heavy with highly paid administrators for decades.

Our opponents say we don't have a plan. Truth is in just 16 months the Morrisville school board has installed fire alarms in every classroom. Placing children in classrooms without smoke detectors was outrageous to us. A kitchen ventilation system and fire suppressant hoods have been installed in the cafeteria. We have completed renovations in our junior/senior high school to upgrade the electrical system. This summer all the windows will be replaced with state of the art triple pane windows which will keep in the heat from our new gas-fired boilers scheduled to be installed before students return in the fall.

Since taking office, the Stop the School majority has reduced health insurance costs keeping the same coverage, telephone system costs, and copier lease costs. Remember the Sandy Gibson School Board said renovations to our buildings would cost more than building new? New building costs from Vitetta Architects and engineers predicted their new school building costs to be $48 million for the new Pre K through 12 campus. The renovation budget in reality is only $7 million and all of our bid proposals are lower than estimated.

And speaking of the budget, Morrisville Borough School District has a balanced budget this year. Taxes in our borough decreased last year by 39 mils or 600 for the average homeowner. This year on July 1 your tax bill will be another pleasant surprise as the board majority will propose another reduction to our business manager.

Two men running on the opposition have publicly stated that they were in favor of building the new K through 12 campus and if elected they will build a new school. With enrollment declining every month does this make sense to you? They have invited everyone receiving their flier to a rally serving free hot dogs and soda. Trust me, that free hot dog in exchange for your vote will really cost you $1,500 dollars a year every year in tax increases to house their own children in unnecessary new construction.

In summary the Morrisville school board "Stop the School" majority in our first 16 months has raised test scores, lowered taxes, reduced wasteful spending, and has renovations under way. So it is my recommendation that we "stay on track" on May 19. Re-elect Brenda Worob, a board veteran now in the majority; and we need your vote for Ronald Stout who saved us almost a million dollars with his common sense suggestions; and Jack Buckman, who has served Morrisville residents in many capacities for years; and John DeWilde, a special education teacher who will be an advocate for students and families in our district.

May 11, 2009 02:00 AM

Submitting your vote...
RATING:
Not rated yet. Be the first who rates this item!
Click the rating bar to rate this item.
Print Print Email This E-mail this Buzz up! ShareThis
Viewing threshold:
Comments
charley, 05-11-09, 8:38 am | Rate: Flag -3 Flag | Flag Report
Raising scores, lowering costs, exploding boilers...yep. The current Mo'ville school board is doing a fabulous job.

charley, 05-11-09, 10:11 am | Rate: Flag -3 Flag | Flag Report
"...in just 16 months the Morrisville school board has installed fire alarms in every classroom."

Well, I'm sure those fire alarms came in handy when the boiler exploded. Safety first, huh?

leatherk, 05-11-09, 1:32 pm | Rate: Flag -3 Flag | Flag Report
There is no plan. The district business administrator, under penalty of perjury, has certified that the six point plan that both Bill Hellmann and Brenda Worob claimed the district was developing (as reflected in approved and posted board meeeting minutes) does not exist. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Open Records has confirmed this finding and also cautioned the district regarding factual errors of this type causing legitimate cause for concern.

https://www.dced.state.pa.us/public/o...

It's too bad that Marlys was unable to attend the candidate meet and greet last Sunday at Williamson Park even though she called up one of the "opposition" candidates and asked to be invited. As a result of her phone call, all four candidates from the stop the school side were invited. Not one of them showed. Two mayoral candidates did attend and some excellent discussions took place between the public and the candidates that were present.

The point isn't the hot dogs and soda. It's the open communication between people that makes this important. Instead of hiding things from the public, like the $2.5 million spent to re-sell the defeased bond monies back or holding secret meetings out of the public eye, the candiates and the public met openly. For example, we openly discussed that the "new" K-12 school idea is completely dead. Everyone who attended is in agreement that any new school would need to be approved by public referendum and that there is no way the town would approve. Only the stop the school people continue to dredge up the memory of the "new" school just to scare people.

charley, 05-11-09, 2:37 pm | Rate: Flag -3 Flag | Flag Report
Hey all you "thumbs downers." Why not try to rebutt some of what has been posted here instead of clicking a little red down arrow and thinking that somehow qualifies as thoughtful debate.

From an AP article reprinted in EducationWeek.c om: "No one was injured, but the explosion seemed to some to be another indication that the Morrisville School District needs to get out of the education business. Despite having one of the highest school tax rates in Bucks County, students learn in aging facilities and have less-than-stell ar test scores to show for it."

Hear that? Members of the current Morrisville School District need to get OUT OF THE EDUCATION BUSINESS!

Anonymous Coward, 05-11-09, 3:08 pm | Rate: Flag -3 Flag | Flag Report
"stay on track" includes blowing up schools. "stay on track" means trailers for elementary school kids. "stay on track" means looting the emergency fund to appear to balance the budget. It means lying about the other candidates who have NEVER said they are building another school. It means lying about a 6-point plan. It means forcing Dr. Yonson to take a contract cut. It means forcing the principal to do two jobs. It means shipping out the high school students to the lowest quality alternative school (stopped only by huge numbers of irate parents). It means lowering taxes with no consideration to the safety or education of the students.

floating duck, 05-11-09, 3:36 pm | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
How about being told to GET OUT OF YOUR HOME? That is just about as rediculous as telling families that sorry but Morrisville needs to get out of the education business so we cannot have your children here so there goes your home value! Some young families moved here FOR the small school system. Our child is not a number but has a name and I do not feel that children should wonder were they are going to attend school! How would you feel not knowing were you go to work day to day. Ignorance is bliss and I'm saddened by all of the ignorance in this could be amazing small town. If you do not want to live in a family oriented town YOU GET OUT. We are staying and fighting FOR OUR CHILDREN and quality of LIFE.

False Profit, 05-11-09, 3:49 pm | Rate: Flag -3 Flag | Flag Report
More than a few lies or distortions packed in there, including:

1. This board majority raised test scores.

This board majority had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the higher PSSA test scores. The most recent tests Mihok's crowing about were taken in Spring 2008, before the board majority's 1st budget was even passed. BLATANT LIE!

2. Taxes in the borough decreased last year by 39 mils or 600 for the average homeowner.

Huh? First off, 39 mils equates to $702 in Morrisville, so Mihok's math is WRONG. Actually, school taxes decreased by 17.8 mils ($321) for the average homeowner. Another $217 per homeowner (12.1 mils) came from gambling revenue that the school board had NOTHING TO DO WITH. Way to try to take credit for that!

Boro taxes INCREASED by 3.5 mils ($70) - does Mihok want to take credit for that?

Why did school taxes go down $321? The board defeased (gave back) most of the bond money for new school construction or renovations (which cost taxpayers $2.5 million long-term), and took $1.1 million (19 mils) from the district's "fund balance" (savings account).

So, in effect, Mihok's really saying..."Hey, reduce taxes last year, we cost taxpayers $2.5 million over the long-haul, and drained over $1 million from the savings account left by prior boards - don't we look GOOD???"

No, I don't think you do.

False Profit, 05-11-09, 3:57 pm | Rate: Flag -3 Flag | Flag Report
"I will never, never, ever be responsible for any child because I am a school board member."

- Marlys Mihok
Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 9:27 a.m.

False Profit, 05-11-09, 4:07 pm | Rate: Flag -3 Flag | Flag Report
Mihok sez --> That free hot dog in exchange for your vote will really cost you $1,500 dollars a year every year in tax increases to house their own children in unnecessary new construction.

Then why does the flier being handed out by her allies say the tax increase will be $3,300?

Forget about the fact that no new school can be built without voter approval. Can you and your cronies at least get your lies straight and settle on a number?

At least the blowhard McCarthy-like Senator in "The Manchurian Candidate" eventually settled on 57 card-carrying commies in Congress after checking out a Heinz Ketchup bottle!

False Profit, 05-11-09, 4:15 pm | Rate: Flag -4 Flag | Flag Report
Oh, and why did Mihok and crony board candidate Ron Stout camp out across the park on the rainy Sunday when many citizens and school board candidates were under the pavillion actually having reasonable discussions with their hot dogs & soda?

Creepy and sad, but TRUE!

Mihok should have taken a picture - it would have lasted longer! Then again, maybe she did?

ADDED May 12: Wow. Who knew Marlys had so many fans?

Note To Self, 05-11-09, 5:07 pm | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
Call the IRS:
To make sure I am correct that the QSRE is violating their 501C3 status by campaigning in any way for/against political candidates during any election cycle!
Have a nice day :)

davidi n Morrisville, 05-11-09, 5:32 pm | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
I have been accused of wanting a new school, by Mrs. Mihok. I believe that in a perfect world, we would all like to live in, go to school in, work in, brand new buildings. I have said that the people of Morrisville would like a new school, but we flat out cannot afford it --- and state law mandates a referendum to decide the matter by the people of Morrisville. Apparently, again, Mrs. Mihok doesn't know the law. She spews lies about people she disagrees with but won't have the respect to face someone and argue truths, not fantacy of her own making. She claims 2 candidates made pro new school comments. She doesn't even know who they are. One of those she accused isn't running for anything, he made some comments at a meeting about closing M R Reiter school. Shes not a very detail orriented person I guess. I haven't heard them talk at all about the students during ANY of their meetings. When asked if they could hire a 1 on 1 aide since 5 have left the district, Hellman and Mihok only asked what was their salary, did they get benefits, and do we pay into retirement for them. How about do we need them? how are they being utilized now? How many students are they helping and do we need more? The only way any were hired is because the pres and his wondrous sidekick Al weren't at the meeting. Sad, very sad. They care only about the checkbook. I care about the students and the taxpayers. I have payed taxes here for 18 years and have 1 duaghter who grasduated from Morrisville and 1 in 9th grade. Between the entire sitting board, there is 1 child in the system. Mrs. Mihok has told bald faced lies for her own agrandizement and benefit. It's sad she can't hold her head any higher than the curb she has stooped to.

slimjim01, 05-11-09, 5:34 pm | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
The above article is a low blow...even for you Marlys! Marlys seems determined to destroy Morrisville. As the mouthpiece for the "Stay on Track" team, she should get her facts straight before spouting off in the press...maybe the water in the hot tub was too much, and she is not able to think clearly these days, or maybe it was the flash from her camera while taking pictures of children(creepy , I know!!)and she is not able to see things for what they are. Morrisville deserves better!!!

charley, 05-11-09, 5:42 pm | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
Does anyone have pictures of the post-explosion boiler from M.R. Reiter? Those pics need to be circulated throughout Mo'ville so the residents can see how effective the current board has been and how much they care about the students.

It's a shame that a nice town like Mo'ville gets shackled with a school board that is led by a sneaky, arrogant knucklehead like Hellmann.

To "floating duck," my point in my last post was that the current school board is rotten and they should not be in the education business. I'm sorry to have not made that more clear. I have nephews in the Mo'ville school system and they've had wonderful teachers. There are great educators, staff, and students in that school district. The kids are loyal to their schools and my one nephew who was in Reiter and is now stuck in a portable at Grandview still talks about his "old" school and misses it terribly. I feel the current board has woefully short-changed the students in Mo'ville and should be too ashamed of themselves to even consider asking to be re-elected.

gratefullee, 05-11-09, 10:16 pm | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
As the blog so nicely points out, Quid Pro Quo.

From http://savethemorrisvilleschool.blogs... :

-----Original Message-----
From: bill hellmann [mailto:bill hellmann cpa@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 10:55 AM
To: Heater, Gloria
Cc: bill hellmann
Subject: RE: engineering services, high school boilers
i am the one that stirs the drink. if i sit there, yonson's spending
will kill this town. she has two puppet board members that do whatever
she tells them, and the TINY pro-schoolers crew. ha ha ha! they are all
sand pounders. ha ha ha !
one by one they are either leaving or being replaced. soon, yonson will
be by herself. i have been talking to bill farrara and i like him and
so do other board members. he likes the consolidation we are talking
about (tuitioning out). i assured him we will always need a super and
at least one principal.
i know i am not polite at the meetings. i will work on that and try to
be more patient and respectful to the other fools. my problem is i
have little patience for incompetence and i am surrounded by those
types of people up there.
--------------- --------------- --------
Is this the kind of person you want running your town's school? No school = no one moving in and investing their family's future and money. Ironic that he talks about Yonson's puppets, given that Mihok and crew vote lockstep with Hellmann who, as you can see from the aforementioned e-mail, is a mature, thoughtful, individual who cares so much about the future of the school and students (can you feel the sarcasm?).

leatherk, 05-12-09, 7:24 am | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
A vote for Worob, Buckman, Stout, and DeWilde is a vote for Hellmann and Mihok. Staying on track is voting to continue intolerance, secrecy, and an "us versus them mentality".

charley, 05-12-09, 8:57 am | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
"Mr. Leather filed a timely appeal of the denial on April 3, 2009 seeking copies of the “six-point plan.” Mr. Leather subsequently indicated that he was only appealing the denial of a copy of the “six point plan.” After the filing of the appeal, Mr. DeAngelo provided the OOR with a sworn attestation that a record containing a “six point plan” does not exist."

Is this the kind of school board the students of Morrisville deserve? I believe they deserve much MUCH better than Hellmann and his current cabal.

lurch03, 05-12-09, 9:30 am | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
I find it mindboggling that Marlys and her crew would take credit for the higher test scores. They had nothing to do with it. The real test will be this years PSSA results. The current board majority has done nothing for the education of the children. They are only interested in lower taxes!!Some in their crew even want to eliminate them altogether!http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/l...
Isn't the author of this a big supporter of Hellman&Co? Morrisville voters should be vary aware of the tactics Marlys and her crew are up to. Unethical...yes ....Do not vote for the "stay on track" candidates!!!!T hey will further derail Morrisville!

lurch03, 05-12-09, 9:44 am | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
"Placing children in classrooms without smoke detectors was outrageous to us."

Marlys.....why did it take you 16 months to install fire alarms? If children were of your concern don't you think this should have been done sooner?? Oh that's right....

"I will never, never, ever be responsible for any child because I am a school board member."

- Marlys Mihok
Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 9:27 a.m.

You have already answered that for us!!

ANGRY PARENT, 05-12-09, 10:04 am | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
Marlys is there any reason you need to LIE? Are you scared you're going to lose? You know darn well that there is NO TALK about a new school being built!!!!! Test scores ha ha That's a big THANKS to Dr Yonson! She is the one who made the difference, how can you take credit when you weren't even on the board yet? you could careless what our test scores are. you know if they keep falling Moville will be in trouble,,,like shutting down schools...That would just make your day HUH?
We need BECK, MILLER, JENKINS & STONEBURNER for our school board. THEY CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE!!!!
KEEP UP ALL YOUR LIES BECAUSE THEY WILL JUST HIT YOU IN THE FACE LATER.....

False Profit, 05-12-09, 10:05 am | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
PSSA scores have been trending higher for about the last 5 yrs., which coincides with Dr. Yonson's arrival as Superintendent.

When the Mihok board majority took power at the end of 2007, what did they do? They spent a couple grand of taxpayer $$$ for a law firm to evaluate Dr. Yonson's signed 5-yr. contract, then ripped it up and handed her a 3-yr. deal - take it or shove it.

Dr. Yonson easily could have not signed it, sued for breach of contract, and won - all at taxpayer expense. She didn't, which is a testiment to her placing children's and taxpayer concerns above her own personal concerns.

But Dr. Yonson knows a hostile board majority that doesn't properly value education when she sees one. She's now a finalist for a Superintendent postion in Springfield, Montgomery County. More turnover, more turmoil.

Just another of many short-sighted, hard-headed, hostile, arrogant decisions by the board majority.

A gimmicky tax cut isn't worth the price. Let's give others a chance. Please vote: BECK, MILLER, JENKINS, STONEBURNER.

lurch03, 05-12-09, 10:11 am | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
Well said angry parent!!!
The whole town knows the new school is a dead idea!!If ever a new school idea is brought up again it will have to go to a vote by the people of the town(ie: referendum). The only ones who do not get this are the current board majority(Hellma n & co.).
Vote May 19
BECK,MILLER,JEN KINS,STONEBURNE R for school board!
They will not lie to you!

False Profit, 05-12-09, 10:19 am | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
I keep wondering when all the lies are going to catch up with her. I hope the increase in lying about baseline levels is a sign that the election is really close this time, and may not go her way.

But stranger things have happened. For example, Mihok, Worob, and many others campaigned for the now-hated Sandy Gibson board she blasts. In many ways, she helped make the stinky smelly bed we're all now lying in. Thanks! All told, we spent about $5 million to plan and then tank a new school - so in the end we're getting $7 million in renovations for $12 million. What a bargain! And still we have trailers at Grandview Elementary.

And wasn't Mihok on the 1990's board that improperly locked out teachers/aides, which ended up costing taxpayers over $1 million?

As Sonny & Cher said, the beat goes on......

False Profit, 05-12-09, 10:20 am | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
Ooops, I meant above, not about, baseline levels!

False Profit, 05-12-09, 10:39 am | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
Mihok was caught in a lie to Courier Times reporter Kate Fratti last year.

Mihok lied and said Dr. Yonson hadn't informed the board about a deadline for passing a tax cap resolution. Dr. Yonson had informed the board, and she had the tapes to prove it.

Given Mihok's documented history of lying, I'm surprised the Courier Times didn't fact-check her article before printing it. Newspapers have an obligation to print the truth, and she has burned them before.

charley, 05-12-09, 1:08 pm | Rate: Flag 0 Flag | Flag Report
From Kate Fratti's column on the situation in Mo'ville:

"In an e-mail written to the rest of the board fewer than 24 hours after the boiler blew, board President Bill Hellmann indicated a shuttered M.R. Reiter is just what he’d hoped for. The emphasis is all his.

“If we close both elementary schools and put everybody in the high school, we will save a FORTUNE in operating costs. EVERY YEAR. The pro new-schoolers wanted a K-12 school. Well here it is. The other people who might not want a K-12 are a minority and when they see their reduced tax bill on July 1 of each year, they just may change their minds in these new tough economic times. We will save ANOTHER fortune by not repairing either of those two buildings. We will solve the M.R. Reiter problem. CLOSE THIS RAT TRAP NOW.”

Hellmann’s e-mail makes it clear why in June he eliminated Reiter from a list of buildings to be examined by engineers in preparation for eventual renovations that might have prevented the explosion. And, it’s clear, now, why the board’s been dragging its feet on fixes to Grandview Elementary School, too.

Rat traps.

Hellmann, Brenda Worob, Marlys Mihok, Al Radosti, Bill Farrell and Gloria Heater were voted into office by an electorate that desperately wanted to stop construction of a new K-12 building it could not afford. The winning slate promised voters they’d renovate existing buildings instead.

They lied. Some of them have said privately they’d like to rid the borough of the entire school system.

One school down. Two to go."

Oh, and keep up the good work clicking on all those little red down arrows. Whoever is doing that should have the guts to jump in here and defend the current board. I guess they won't because the current board is indefensible. Period.

lurch03, 05-12-09, 1:48 pm | Rate: Flag 1 Flag | Flag Report
Its people like Marlys Mihok that give Morrisville a bad reputation.

Vote May 19
BECK, MILLER, JENKINS, STONEBURNER for school board!

False Profit, 05-12-09, 2:55 pm | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
Remember this Bill Hellmann, CPA (aka King, My King, Emperor, My Emperor, etc. to Marlys Mihok) email?


Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 9:51 AM
i just spoke to mike [presumably Fitzpatrick, Board Solicitor] about school closings. he said it would take a year for hearings, etc. but we could put mr reiter kids in grandview or high school in an EMERGENCY situation. this is good. it will give us an excuse to get them out, quickly. once they are out of mr reiter, lets keep them
out! also, we do not have the money to build out anywhere. we need to renovate and ADAPT, only.

False Profit, 05-12-09, 3:01 pm | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
Or this one, just 4 days after the MR Reiter Elementary furnace explosion:


December 17, 2008, 9:21 am, subject Injunction – “I think they [presumably the Borough] would have filed an injunction if the school board tried to reopen it without consent from the Borough Engineer as far as safety is concerned. Here is our chance. CLOSE THIS RAT TRAP NOW. TELL FRATTI!!! HA HA HA. I AM THE ANTI-CHRISTTTTT TTTT.”


Check the January 5, 2009 board meeting minutes at the link below if you don't believe it.

http://www.mv.org/files/16907/JAN.5.2...

charley, 05-12-09, 4:08 pm | Rate: Flag -2 Flag | Flag Report
Also from the 01/05/09 meeting minutes:

"Marlys Mihok read a statement:
At the February 27, 2008 school board meeting Mr. Tim Lastichen, our building maintenance supervisor stated that his main concern was the heating system at Reiter. It scared him. Tim stated that we should be looking into the heating system at Reiter. At that meeting Mr. Hellmann made a motion to have an engineering safety study done on both elementary schools. Board members voting yes were Hellmann, Farrell and Worob. I was absent. Members voting no were Kemp, Reithmeyer and Frankenfield. The motion was defeated 3-3. The safety study was not done. Mr. Hellmann wanted the record to show that the safety issues and the nay votes were not following. These are safety issues that should be fixed immediately. On March 12, 2008 when the full board was present Mrs. Reithmeyer brought up a paper called “House Rules.” This is not a part of our board policy. The House Rules state in part “motions defeated can not be reintroduced until the 3rd business meeting.” Dr. Yonson supported Mrs. Reithmeyer
Special meeting of Board of Directors on this issue. Subsequently, the engineering safety study on the elementary schools was not put on the agenda on this night. Mrs. Reithmeyer not only voted against having the engineering safety study done at the 2 elementary schools on February 27, 2008, her, Mr. Kemp and Dr. Yonson also blocked it from being put on the agenda meeting on March 12, 2008. Nine months later the furnace exploded at Reiter and windows shattered. What would the parents of children say to Mr. Kemp and Mrs. Reithmeyer if the windows blew out in their child’s face? Our children were put at risk of injury or worse by Mrs. Reithmeyer, Mr. Kemp and Dr. Yonson.

Mr. Hellmann: stated that everybody on this board has made mistakes in the past year. If we keep fighting we will not get anything done. It’s time to get together and solve our problems.

Mr.Kemp: you say this after asking Marlys to read this pointing fingers and me and Robin, Dr. Yonson and Ed who at the time said we already have a report, why do we need another one? We know what’s wrong why not fix it?

Mrs. Reithmeyer: Mr. Lastichen did say it needed to be fixed and your half-baked report, that your company admittedly told us was a ‘cursory” report. Then when we looked at the boilers I sat here and argued vehemently with you because you wouldn’t put Reiter on the list. You didn’t want to include Reiter. You only did two burners are Grandview because Tim begged for it.

Mr. Hellmann: I wanted Reiter left off because I didn’t think that school was safe.

Mrs. Reithmeyer: That’s right; so don’t be blaming me for it. It’s on your shoulders. You and Marlys can burden it."

Okay, so Hellmann & Co. KNEW that Reiter was dangerous and DID NOTHING to keep the kids in there safe, but Mihok sure was quick to lay the blame on three others, including Dr. Yonson. Oh, wait, they did install some fire alarms in some classrooms. Safety first, huh Mihok?

False Profit, 05-12-09, 4:38 pm | Rate: Flag 1 Flag | Flag Report
At the Feb. 27, 2008 meeting, Hellmann wanted to do cheapo, flimsy, walk-through, open nothing reports for the 2 elementary schools.

In Jan. 2008, he hired a firm to do this for the High School. He hired them ON HIS OWN, without board authorization.
The board had to bail him out by voting at the Jan. 30, 2008 meeting to pay for the High School report, or risk being sued by the firm for failure to pay.

Hellmann has demonstrated over and over again that he can't or won't follow rules, and only gets away with it because he has loyal followers like Mihok, Worob, and Buckman to bail him out.

Enough is enough! The ends don't justify the means!

Please vote:
BECK, MILLER, JENKINS, STONEBURNER for school board on May 19!

False Profit, 05-12-09, 4:46 pm | Rate: Flag 1 Flag | Flag Report
Refresh my memory again on who was ABSENT at the Feb. 27, 2008 meeting and could have broken the 3-3 deadlock?

Oh, that's right. Marlys Mihok.

Hellmann Mihok crony Al Radosti was absent too.

Gloria Heater was absent too, and might have voted with them back then, but I think she has since seen what a horror show they really are.

And what would a winning vote have achieved? Why, 2 more cheapo, flimsy, walk-through, open nothing reports for the 2 elementary schools, even though the inadequacies of, and problems with, all 3 schools had already been thoroughly studied.

Bucks man testing open records

From the BCCT.

Bucks man testing open records
By GEMA MARIA DUARTE

Dave Cahill is the first Bucks County resident to take the state's new Right-to-Know law for a test drive.

He submitted two appeals to the state's Office of Open Records after he said Penndel denied his requests for public information in early January.

A year and two days ago, Gov. Edward Rendell signed the new Right-To-Know law, changing the way Pennsylvanians access public records from state and local governments. The new law became fully effective Jan. 1.

Cahill said he hopes his challenge, received by the state Jan. 23, will pay off with copies of third-party reports paid for by the borough that detail the results of inspections of two privately owned properties in the borough.

Penndel's denial letter dated Jan. 7 states that the investigation reports were conducted by Building Inspection Underwriters based in Feasterville.

"The inspections and reports were paid by taxpayer money, so it should be public information," the borough resident said.

The company inspected two homes on the 400 block of Cynthia Avenue after complaints were filed that allege those properties have apartment-like structures, also known as equivalent dwelling units, in addition to the main house on the property. If that's the case, and the EDUs are rented, those property owners would be required to pay separate fees for garbage collection, sewer service and a renter's tax.

Penndel tax records show that one of the property owners is former council president Janet Myers, who earlier this month resigned as tax collector due to health concerns. She had been appointed to the position in 2008. Myers has said that she doesn't have a rental unit on her property.

The other property is owned by James and Susan Anderson. Susan Anderson is a member of the borough's Long Range and Finance Committee. The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching the Andersons for comment Friday.

Penndel council President Ward McMasters said he didn't want to comment on the issue, saying that it's a matter between Cahill and the state.

Under the Right-to-Know law, a record is presumed to be public unless a government agency can prove otherwise by citing specific reasons detailed in the law.

Penndel did that.

In its denial letter, the borough said the law "does not mandate the disclosure of records of an agency relating to a non-commercial investigation including investigative materials, notes, correspondence or reports. In addition, it discloses an unwarranted invasion of privacy."

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records has 30 days to determine whether the information Cahill requested is public or private, office deputy director Barry Fox said last week. The office's appeals officer, Dena Lefkowitz, contacted Cahill and Penndel in a three-paragraph letter dated Feb. 6, advising them of the procedure.

Since Cahill's appeal, the state has received four others from county residents, including one from Fairless Hills resident Jihad Ali, who has requested information from a nonprofit group in Philadelphia. Two appeals are from Chalfont resident Mitchell Meyerson. And the other was submitted by Allison Dukes of Warwick.

A lively first month for Pa. Open Records Office

From pennlive.com

Has anyone had any experiences with either the school board or the borough with the new open records law that they would like to share?

A lively first month for Pa. Open Records Office
1/31/2009, 12:33 p.m. EST By PETER JACKSON, The Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's fledgling Office of Open Records, defender of the public's interest in a transparent government, turns one month old this weekend.

It's been an interesting start.

Inmates at state prisons have written to the agency under the mistaken impression that it can help them obtain records that prove their innocence.

A man planning a tribute to the "Marlboro Man" of cigarette advertising fame was convinced there are Pennsylvania records that would help his cause and appealed to the office for assistance.

"We had people who've asked us if they can get the address of an old high-school buddy," said Terry Mutchler, the reporter-turned-lawyer who is the agency's director.

Of course, the office itself is not a record repository, but rather the agency that enforces the newly expanded state Right-to-Know Law and settles disputes over records scattered throughout state and local governments.

In the months and years ahead, after it finishes hiring its seven or eight staff lawyers and becomes fully operational, the office's appellate rulings will be instrumental in fine-tuning the boundaries of that law.

In the meantime, the staff spends a lot of time answering dozens of e-mails and phone calls that arrive daily from citizens, journalists and government officials.

It also has to weed out "appeals" that lack legitimate grounds. For example, the law allows agencies a specific time frame to respond to records requests, and some people have tried to appeal before the end of that period.

"There's a lot of confusion here at the beginning," Mutchler said.

More than two dozen legitimate appeals are pending, most of them filed by citizens whose requests for records have been denied by local agencies.

The office also issues nonbinding "advisory opinions" on specific questions.

For example, the Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Association questioned whether the law even applies to its members, who maintain real-estate records in each of the 67 counties, and, if so, whether they must comply with the 25-cents-a-page limit that the Office of Open Records has imposed on photocopying fees.

In her opinion, Mutchler noted that recorders of deeds are listed in the state constitution's definition of "county officers" and, therefore, covered by the law.

However, because other laws trump the Right-to-Know Law in the event of conflicts, the recorders may continue charging 50 cents per page because the state Judicial Code permits it, she said.

In a pending request from Allegheny County, the borough council of Franklin Park asked Mutchler whether tape recordings of council meetings that the borough secretary uses in compiling minutes of the meeting are considered public records under the Right-to-Know Law.

"The borough needs to know whether it is proper to continue to maintain the recordings only for the short amount of time needed to create the written minutes or if it needs to undertake a new practice of storing the tapes and making them available for the long term," wrote borough solicitor Robert Max Junker.

A request from Franklin County suggests that a number of elected county offices — district attorneys, sheriffs, registers of wills, clerks of court and prothonotaries among them — should be treated as "judicial agencies."

Using that interpretation, affected agencies could withhold all but financial records, instead of having to comply with the much broader disclosure requirements that apply to nonjudicial agencies.

The county solicitor cited state law and a Commonwealth Court ruling to buttress his argument that the offices in question should be considered part of the state's unified judicial system.

Mutchler said she hopes to issue an opinion in that case next week.

"We're overworked already," she said.

Pennsylvania Right to Know Law

From the Altoona Mirror: The new Pennsylvania Open Records Law.

New law puts burden on government to seal records
By Walt Frank, wfrank@altoonamirror.com

» View the new law

The new year will bring a new way of open government in Pennsylvania.

A new Right to Know law will make it easier for the public to request and obtain public records, and places the onus on government agencies to justify why records shouldn't be released. It is a significant legal change from the state's current law, which leaves residents with the burden to justify their requests. In some cases, this burden has allowed government agencies such as school districts and municipalities to ignore public requests until an attorney is hired.

"The new law is based on the presumption of access. The old law did not. Previously, the person making the request had the burden to prove the item was a public record," said Teri Henning, general counsel for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association. "Under the new law, all records are presumed to be public unless they are privileged, confidential by law or fall under an exemption under the Right to Know law."

The new legislation also creates the Office of Open Records to assist government officials and the public in complying with the changes.

Terry Mutchler, appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell as the office's first executive director, called this "one of the most significant changes in Pennsylvania law in the last 50 years as related to government access."

The law will force agencies to disclose all records beyond a list of exceptions, rather than the old law's narrow list of public records available.

Revising the Right to Know law became a cornerstone of the Legislature's reform agenda.

For the first time since the Right to Know Law was passed in 1957, it will include the General Assembly and will give citizens the ability to appeal open records disputes to an administrative agency, the Office of Open Records, without the need to file a court action.

The law guarantees access to public records in the possession of government contractors performing "governmental functions" on behalf of an agency, establishes an online, searchable database for state contract information and requires state affiliated universities to make certain financial information public.

The law also shortens agency response time - not to exceed five days under normal circumstances - and increases the civil penalties - up to $1,500 - that can be awarded against an agency acting in bad faith.

For example, community colleges, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and its related entities are now among the covered agencies.

A key element of the new law is the creation of the Office of Open Records, housed in the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The office will hear most open records appeals, hold hearings, issue orders and advisory opinions and provide training.

"My first role is to get the office up and running to do all the law requires. My other goal is to insure there is proper enforcement of the law," Mutchler said. "My role is to insure this office gets created to be a resource to citizens and government officials so everyone is ready to play ball here once it is set up. My role will be to enforce the Right to Know law, monitor and handle the appeals."

Although local municipalities and school districts say they receive few, if any, requests for public records, Mutchler said those numbers are likely to increase under the new law which now allows requests to be submitted by e-mail.

"Come January, I expect they will see a significant increase around the state as people test the law. Municipalities and school districts should anticipate the number of requests in the beginning from people who claim to be watchdogs will increase. After a while, it will go back to the normal routine," Mutchler said. "In the beginning, we may see more media requests than before. Once they take it out for a test drive, it will go back to the citizens requesting information about their government."

Henning isn't sure what to expect.

"People who are interested will continue to seek reports. It is possible there could be an increase in the number of requests made," Henning said.

Local officials aren't expecting a significant increase in requests but may receive more than usual after the new provisions take effect.

"I wouldn't expect an onslaught. There may be a few more out of curiosity. I may get a few more requests because it is newly implemented, but I don't expect an onslaught," said Brian Toth, superintendent of the Bellwood-Antis School District. "Now, if we get one a year, it's stretching it."

"There may be some more initially. I don't really expect it to be massive. At least in this region, it won't be inundating us," said Mary Beth Whited, Penn Cambria's superintendent.

Jeff Westover, business manager and board secretary for the Glendale School District, doesn't expect to see an increase in the number of requests.

"It may peak some interest for a little bit, but people know they can come in and get what they want. It is not a big deal in our district," Westover said.

"I think that anyone who has an interest in a specific item, that individual will certainly seek out that information,'' said Joe Macharola, Cambria Heights superintendent. "Do I anticipate a wealth of requests? No. Do I anticipate preparedness for those requests? Yes.''

Logan Township Manager Bonnie Lewis and Bruce Nicolls, interim superintendent of the Clearfield Area School District, aren't sure what to expect.

"From time to time, we have had requests. We always try to respond in a timely fashion. We have not had a great many. Sometimes they come in waves,'' Lewis said. "I have no gut feeling on what impact it may have on us, but we will be prepared.''

"I don't know if we will get more requests. I don't think we will,'' Nicolls said. "These requests are more need-driven than availability-driven. If someone really needs these, they will jump through the hoops if they need them. They won't just request them because they are more easily available. Most of us don't have the time to be that curious.''

Most of the 30 municipalities and school districts contacted don't expect to see much of a change in the number of requests, if any.

"I haven't received any requests for public records here and in Woodward Township for the past 10 years. Every once in a while, someone will request a meeting agenda,'' said Kim Caldwell, secretary for Beccaria and Woodward townships in Clearfield County. "I don't think that will change.''

"I am in my second term as a supervisor, and I have never had anybody ask for a public record,'' said Brian Weaver, chairman of the Liberty Township supervisors in Bedford County. "We occasionally get a question about our ordinances or building requirements, but as far as open records or anyone wanting to see our ledgers, no one has requested that.''

Everyone is gearing up for implementation of the new law. They say they have followed the law in the past and will continue to do so.

"To me, it is public information. It is the law and we will do what we need to do. People think school districts hide things. We have so many laws, rules and mandates it is hard to hide things. I want to be as transparent as possible,'' said Royce Boyd, superintendent of the Everett Area School District. "Certain people want certain information. If they want it, they will find a way to get it.''

"Anyone can come in and look. If they want a copy of the minutes, we have never withheld anything from anyone. Some [municipalities] give people a hard time; we have nothing to hide,'' said Vicki Harshbarger, secretary/treasurer of the Smithfield Township supervisors in Huntingdon County.

"Anyone who comes in or calls us can get anything they want, I don't think the new law will do anything. I guess there have been some places where it has been difficult to get what you sought, but I am not aware of anywhere around here,'' said Dan Penatzer, Ebensburg borough manager. "We complied with the law before and will comply with it now. What you want you will get - we don't have a lot of information people want.''

A goal of the law is to make it easy for people to get what they want and need, and Cambria Heights has been doing that, Macharola said.

"We have our minutes online. I also put on an executive summary. We do it as a courtesy, as a professional accounting of the business that is conducted here at Cambria Heights. I believe that's very helpful to our residents and for anyone who wants to know how we conduct our business. We want our information to be accessible to anyone.'' Macharola said. We won't conduct our business in any other way but to be in compliance with the law.''

Jim Foster, Juniata Valley School District superintendent, said requests for public records can be a nuisance.

"I would rather [people] come in and look through the books in person. It takes time out of our normal day. If they need it, that's fine. We will give them everything they need. We comply, what is public is public,'' Foster said.

If all goes as planned, the new law will be a benefit to Pennsylvanians.

"If the law works the way it is supposed to work, government at all levels will be stronger and better,'' Mutchler said.

Mutchler said between now and Jan. 1, she will be busy.

"We will be conducting training for the media, citizens and public officials. When they walk away, they will know what they need to do to be in compliance with the law. Citizens will know their rights,'' Mutchler said. "Our goal is to get everybody on the same page.''