7/3/2011 3:35 AM
By Terri T. Johnson
Almanac staff writer
tjohnson@thealmanac.net
McMURRAY - Moments before passing the 2011-12 budget that contained a tax increase, Peters Township School Board approved a $5 million bond issue with about half of the money to be used to upgrade athletic fields above the Pleasant Valley Elementary School.
The bond vote was 6-3 with board members Mark Buzzatto, Thomas McMurray and Sue Smith casting negative votes. Supporting the bond issue were board members Lori Cuervo, Cindy Golembiewski, Lynn Erenberg, Diane Ritter, David Hvizdos and Julie Ann Sullivan, who voted by telephone.
The 10-year bond through PNC Capital Markets has a maturity date in 2021 with an option to refinance in September 2015.
Money obtained through the sale of the bonds must be used for specific purposes, such as the athletic fields or capital improvements to the district's five buildings. The money cannot be used to hire additional teachers or to pay salaries or benefits.
Several parents of students in Pleasant Valley Elementary School pleaded with the board to consider hiring a sixth teacher to reduce class size in the third grade. Some estimates place 26 to 27 students in each of the five classrooms. An email sent Monday by the district to parents in the Pleasant Valley district asked for seven volunteers to transfer to the third grade at Bower Hill Elementary School.
Superintendent Nina Zetty said initially, the district is looking for volunteers. The district is experiencing an enrollment "bubble" in the third grade.
Hiring an additional teacher would cost the district $70,000 when adding salary and benefits, Zetty said. To keep class size at 21, Zetty said three teachers would be needed at a total cost of $210,000. Money is not in the budget to hire additional teachers.
Zetty said the district constantly is monitoring potential enrollment and no decision will be final until August.
As for the athletic fields, the total bids awarded reach $2,184,950. The highest bid went to Amity Asphalt Paving for $1,496,00. Buzzatto, McMurray and Smith voted against all of the contracts.
A contract for general construction on the fields went to DiMarco Construction Co. for $220,000; Hranec Corp. received the HVAC contract for $19,650; J.B. Mechanical was awarded the $52,600 contract for plumbing; and the electrical construction contract went to S.E.. Schultz Electric Inc. for $396,700.
Neighbors have long commented that the new lighting and sound systems will infringe on their property. The district has agreed that no lights or sound systems will be permitted Saturdays or Sundays. Both will be turned off by 10 p.m. weeknights.
No project start date was announced. Improvements call for an artificial turf field, restrooms, handicap accessibility and relocation of the existing batting cages.
Buzzatto, who is not seeking re-election, said the $150,000 annual interest payments on the bonds will impact the next seven budgets before money is used to pay the principal. He said the artificial turf to be installed on the field "will be almost worn out before it is paid for."
Golembiewski, who voted for the bond issue and the field contracts, said the timing may be difficult, but the bond money will fund other capital improvements. She also referenced the large number of students who participate in sports and that the facilities must be maintained.
"It is the worst time to spend money," she said. "But it is the best time to spend money" while interest rates are low. The average interest rate on the bond issue is 3 percent.
Copyright Observer Publishing Co.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
104 comments:
According to the school board meeting minutes these are the costs associated with bond:
-RECOMMENDATION: Consider a motion to approve the following issuance cost for the
2010 bond issue:
-Underwriting discount $4.00 per thousand
-Bond Counsel $12,000.00 plus $1,500.00 expenses
-Solicitor fee $2,500.00
-Official statement printing $3,500.00
-Paying agent fee $500.00
-Moody’s Rating Agency $7,700.00
-CUSIP fee $7,700.00
Yet, they are begging for $10,000 for books to support curriculum for all students and it costs $6,000 to relocate batting cages?
I do not think they will have too long to worry about "enrollment bubbles" with idiotic priorities like this. These fields are really in need of repair and improvement, but the extent to which they are being upgraded is nuts!
Thank you to Smith, McMurray and Buzzatto for actually being a voice of reason.
"Several parents of students in Pleasant Valley Elementary School pleaded with the board to consider hiring a sixth teacher to reduce class size in the third grade. Some estimates place 26 to 27 students in each of the five classrooms. "
Wait, wait, wait. I thought the PV parents were asking that a replacement be hired for a retiring teacher ? It's not a new hire, it would be the same number of teachers? What's the real story?
"She also referenced the large number of students who participate in sports and that the facilities must be maintained"
Did anyone on the board happen to mention the large number of students taking classes during the school day and those facilities must be maintained as well? They can't pay for school books and cut classroom technology, but can pay for the pretty field so we look good for visitors. Of the 130+ scholarships given out by post-secondary educational institutions, to PT students, only 12 of them were for participation in extracurricular sports activities or athletic abilities. The rest were based upon academic achievement. Imagine that!
Please note: the administration has to follow the majority of the school board..sometimes without the district or public knowing they oppose. They may not necessarily agree with their decisions, but the board is their boss and they will not allow anyone to know their opposition.Just wanted to put that out there.We have had boards that follow the supt. blindly and we have had boards that control the supt. I'm not sure where this one is at..or if they work together..
True, "facilities need maintained" but they do not have to be over the top. Three million for after school activities that some students utilize and two million for actual school facilities that all student utilize. Sounds extremely bass-ackward to me!
What will these fields be used for during the school day besides, maybe, gym class and/or elementary recess? They can only be used during the school day when the weather is permitting.
WOW.
This article is incorrect. The PV parents are asking the school board to KEEP the same number of teachers they already have and not cut ONE teacher, which would increase the class size to an unacceptable level. Nobody is asking for a new hire.
The school district wants to CUT a teacher then possibly redistrict. The lack of emphasis on education by this school board is unreal.
July 3, 2011 12:57
Interesting and good point.
If the school district has been planning for these fields, as they claim, for such a long time, then why did they NEVER contact the residents that they were impacting? Residents were not contacted until mid-April and that was by the township! This board does not care about anyone but themselves.
Good point about the school board being the boss of administration. That means they are responsible for predicament and mess that is being thrown at the class of 2013. I am willing to guess that the three stooges have nobody graduating in 2013. They would have zero tolerance for their children being put the wringer, but it's ok to experiment on other people's kids.
"...or capital improvements"
You mean the sinking Mcmurray building? or maybe the HVAC that has not worked at the high school for years or some other broken and dangling building parts?
Nah, safety of our after school athletes are much more important than the students that attend school every day!
Why were these fields suddenly a top priority, when it was not part of building and grounds vision committee findings in 2009?
(Clue: This is rhetorical question!)
Seems the board did not take the recommendation of education vision committee either. They specifically recommended against career cruising because it was not as good as the other career counseling software that is on the market. This board forms committees to do the research; ignores the research, then proceeds to do whatever they please! The ad hoc committees are nothing but facades as are the claims that they represent tax payers.
Here we are again. Taxation without representation.
Many can afford the pay to play, so all the taxpayers will fund the new field for them to play in! It is really sad it takes an education foundation to get books for the classrooms. All of our taxpayer dollars are completely, eventually, going to fund the retirements of the $90K+ teachers. Something is really wrong with public EDUCATION.
Boy;Just ccan't wait to see the pay raises they hand out
"Boy;Just ccan't wait to see the pay raises they hand out"
No I just wan to see the pay raise the super gets. How outrageous would it be if she even got any raise?
I understand what a budget is...I understand income and expense...I think the big picture here is getting lost because the state cut almost 1 million in funding from our district. All of a sudden it is open season on the taxpayers?
Where is all our money really going? How much more are we going to need to pay to send our kids to school here? Are we hurting so much here that our district cannot come up with a million to cover costs or is this school board once again pulling the wool over our eyes? Where does the income go from student parking passes? First of all, why are they even charged to park in the first place? I could go on and on....we are being handed another line of board BS! Pay to play, pay a coaches salary, pay to park, pay for all the supplies on the "supply list", pay for school sponsored field trips, pay to attend your childs sporting/theater or whatever event, pay to park (still my favorite) are we all so caught up that we will continue to let this madness happen? Wake up people and let your friends and neighbors know what is going on....how can other districts supposedly of "lesser means" than ours doing just fine without implimenting any of this crap and not raising taxes???
You know, I came from a school district where the community developed an education foundation. It can be a good thing. It took my former community a few months to get the foundation established and almost a year to generate any funds. The foundation, just like any other foundation that distributes money, had an application process for requesting funds.
It is my opinion that this school district has a lot of nerve begging for educational funds after just dropping $3 million on a ball field.
"how can other districts supposedly of "lesser means" than ours doing just fine without implimenting any of this crap and not raising taxes???"
Please tell me of one good school district, that you would send your own child to, that is not implementing fees or raising taxes or furloughing teachers or shutting down a school. Most are a doing a combination. It is the lawsuits, pensions and benefits that keep getting higher and higher. Many of the salaries are reasonable, it is the jump steps, bonuses and retirements that are taking up half of the budget!
It appears the school district might be trying to eliminate public academic recognition at the high school again by mailing out the academic excellence recognition certificates. Why does this district continually try to belittle or lessen the number of students recognized for their focus on highly achieving academics? PT has students that have dropped athletics and other extra curricular activities so they are able to maintain the heavy workload that honors and AP classes require. It is obvious how wonderful the academics are here based upon the number of academic scholarships.
This district is pushing education and academics lower and lower on their list of priorities.
It is even worse now that children are told they must drop an honors or AP elective to fit in an online class that is not even in existence yet! The online classes they were promised freshman year STILL do not exist!
Where are the EMPLOYEES at the high school during the summer to help the kids with this stupid career cruising? Nobody is there to help them! My child takes all honors and AP classes during the school year and does not have time for such nonsense during the school year. The "MENTORS" run out the door at the end of the school day and do not start the day until 7:20. Why are employees not helping the students with this graduation project?
The class of 2013 is about to embark upon their junior year, the most difficult year of high school, and they are getting NO HELP! The kids are left dangling here!
These instances alone, not the budget, impacts the way I vote. It is quite clear the current school board has no interest in the actual education of students in this school district at the high school level. The encouragement and guidance children received at lower grade levels for academically challenging themselves, is completely absent at the high school level.
Where is our school board representation here?
I would bet my paycheck that administration in this school district will get bonuses and raises this year. The district employees are receiving $30,000 raises for their jump step and also raises in their stipeneds for extra curriculars!
It is my opinion that this school district has a lot of nerve begging for educational funds after just dropping $3 million on a ball field.
July 7, 2011 8:21 PM
Agreed. Along with cutting a PV teacher and instituting a poorly defined pay to play policy.
8:21-July 7th...I totally agree with you..it is aggravating.I just don't understand..
It is my opinion that kids are losing the ability to hand write a report, letter or poem; thanks to the public school system shoving technology down their throats. Kids certainly know how to utilize technology--even more so than many of the teachers! The schools should be encouraging the basics, not forcing them into classes where they are teaching the teacher about the technology. The online classes are a joke.
My Mom always said people usually have money or brains, typically not both. Seems like PTSD has money!
How NICE to FIND this (below) on the counseling webpage after summer is half over! Would have been wonderful to KNOW ABOUT BEFORE SUMMER STARTED! This district is so messed up.Go to the counseling page and click on the FAQ page. AMAZING the answers people are getting on there! Can someone get a freaking CLUE from the questions being asked that the grad project is a mess?
"Online Courses Available
Summer online courses are available via the North Hill Online Academy for PTHS students to earn online/elective credits toward graduation. Students may contact their counselor to see the list of approved classes and complete the registration. Click here for more course details."
"how can other districts supposedly of "lesser means" than ours doing just fine without implimenting any of this crap and not raising taxes???"
Please tell me of one good school district, that you would send your own child to, that is not implementing fees or raising taxes or furloughing teachers or shutting down a school. Most are a doing a combination. It is the lawsuits, pensions and benefits that keep getting higher and higher. Many of the salaries are reasonable, it is the jump steps, bonuses and retirements that are taking up half of the budget!
July 7, 2011 10:54 PM
Assuming this is still a "good" school district.......it is obvious you do not read the newspapers or listen to the news...since you like this blog and are online, you can use the internet to find out the information I am speaking to. Have you looked at other schools and facilities as compared to ours? It looks like we have already let all the maintenance personnel go, the buildings are old and are suffering from obsolesence, we put band aids on most of them to hold them together. In case you have not fol-
lowed the news here, we have lost many positions that have not been replaced in both administration and staff...where have you been? Our administration takes so much pride in our "low cost per student" I will ask once again....then where's the money? The only reason our board implimented all these unthought of fees is because other district have and God forbid we have to model the almighty St. Clair and Lebo, and finally all but about two members of our board are too stupid to come up with a plan or plans so they have to copy cat. Please do your research.
July 9, 2011 1:17 AM
If you read the news paper over the past two weeks and actually visit various school web sites you will see the almighty schools you speak of have also just recently implemented various cost cutting measures, just like PTSD.
I apologize. I live in the current year. I thought you were referring to the current budget and the issues that have transpired over the past few months. I did not realize you were talking about the history of PTSD over the past decade.
"it is obvious you do not read the newspapers or listen to the news....Have you looked at other schools and facilities as compared to ours?"
Looks like you haven't either. Have you seen the number of teacher furloughs at local schools? Not maintenance personal and useless district administration, actual cuts to the educational programs and academics. You have the internet too, check out the local school district web sites that actually inform their taxpayers of the programs, teachers and coaches they are cutting.
This is recent news, within the past couple of months, regarding the pa budget cuts; not the old 'we-hate-ptsd' rehtoric.
Hey, that is how this district operates: "We have great communication, it is all online."
We are supposed to spend hours a day pouring through every ptsd web page to find out what changed and when. Information and rules change at the drop of a hat here. That was probably posted a few days before the registration deadline. I had heard the classes, that were not credit recovery, were well over $300 + the cost of class materials.
Of the 13 online classes that PTSD offers to the students, ONLY 7 of them do not have pre-requisites; and three of the seven are English! What jerks we have leading this school district. Why is the PTSA not standing up for our children?
Hey July 9th at 1 AM...
Did you bother to read the cuts made in the recent budget process for USC? YOU do some research yourself! Personnel in USC that actually works daily with students are being cut in most school districts, along with dipping into fund balances
- 3 elementary school teachers
- 1 reading specialist at Boyce Middle
- 1 secondary math teacher
- 1 high school position that is to be determined
- 1 high school guidance counselor for one year
- 1 teachers Aide
- 1 administrator
The teachers at USC, in the highest wage bracket, rejected a wage freeze in favor of furloughs. They also implemented a sports fee.
Mt. lebo also was also able to negotiate lower healthcare costs with their teachers. They are losing 12 teachers to retirement, with plans on replacing most of them. They are also making big changes to their building construction to cut additional costs. They have implemented fees to pay yet, but it is still in consideration.
Here is the fee structure the district is implementing:
http://www.ptsd.k12.pa.us/pdf_docs_2010-2011/Athletic-Activity Fee.pdf
I have no problem paying fees at all, it is necessary, BUT I have to agree it was not thought out. It clearly states "Clubs and sports may be added throughout the year as necessary".
According to this list, created by ptsd, it is clear they are charging for graded classes that students take during the school day. They are also charging for a select few honor roll societies! The list also does not include a fee to participate one group that provides volunteer services and grants to local schools and other charity organizations; yet another group, which provides provides campus connections and community service has fees.
PTSD could have made it much easier and not so convoluted, by charging a flat $20 or $25 activity fee for ALL students then a fee for athletics. If you look at other schools in PA, as well as other neighboring states, this has been done for years already. That would be too easy.
They are saving at the most, $100,000 a year by implementing these fees, yet they say paying $150,000 to pay back a bond issue is nothing? Look at the fees associated to float the bond! Where is the prospective with these school board members? They really talk out of both sides of their mouths! Yes, raises and bonuses are still in the budget.
Its now the middle of July and I still see the May school board meeting being aired. The municipality is up to date with their meeting and is shown quite frequently.
"Anonymous said...
Its now the middle of July and I still see the May school board meeting being aired. The municipality is up to date with their meeting and is shown quite frequently.
July 11, 2011 6:27 AM"
So much for all those who say, "Watch the meetings." The latest meeting minutes on the board's webpage are also MAY. We get to know what's going on, two months too late. I read new articles but, not everything is reported in news articles.
I suspect school board meetings will now go un-aired since the volunteer that was nice enough to take time to do it, is now running for school board. How will prospective board members, that do not go to meetings, be able to keep up with school district business without tv coverage? Perhaps the board expects a student, paying to be in video club, to come film the meeting? I REALLY want to see the most recent board meeting too. They voted on the budget, the fields and all these fees!
On the surface, a flat fee does seem like a better idea. Leave it to PT to have an ever changing "evolving" (fly by the seat of your pants) plan! Things never change in this school district. Charging kids to do community service in our own elementary schools? That is just hilarious! I bet they will start charging for being on honor roll too.
"This is recent news, within the past couple of months, regarding the pa budget cuts; not the old 'we-hate-ptsd' rehtoric."
You sound like a person who has drunk the Kool-aid or maybe a defensive Board member?
July 10, 2011 10:31 AM
ha ha you have been in the dark haven't you. USC and Mt. Lebo have been heavy all over for years and have cut people and programs for about the past 5-7 years. I have a friend over there who teaches and for at least five years they have had to recycle their paper as the budget over those years has been that tight. Citing cuts from these districts is nothing as they have been cutting for many years. We appear to be using the Gov. as a reason for our woes and using these other districts as models of what to cut. Wrong on both counts!
"Its now the middle of July and I still see the May school board meeting being aired. The municipality is up to date with their meeting and is shown quite frequently."
Since when does out leadership care if we are informed. It will be the end of July and we will still not see those meetings as there must have been something on the agenda that we are not to know about until it happens to us.
At a couple of recent school board meetings didn't the school board members complain about about all the fundraising the kids have to do?
At another meeting didn't they say kids having difficulty paying fees for camps and other costs can do more fundraising?
So which do they want?
Sure the flat fee structure makes sense but did they even discuss other various fee options? I don't think they discuss anything in an open public forum.
Student fees are not a problem, but the message this district is sending about academic education, or the lack thereof, is absurd.
-There is a cap on athletic fees, but not academic fees.
-They spend 3 million on ball fields but not daily educational facilities.
-Lack of planning on countless school district issues that impact students.
I have to say their recent actions have strongly influenced the action I take at election time.
student fees are a problem, at least for our family. we cannot afford the fees. i guess our kids are just crap in this lovely bubble.
"The latest meeting minutes on the board's webpage are also MAY"
1. Actual Meeting Minutes have to be approved and voted on, by the entire school board, at the next official monthly school board voting meeting. The minutes for June are not approved until July.
2. If you are really referring to the agenda, and not the actual minutes, I would suggest clicking the "reload" button on your browser. Your web browser could be reading a cached copy of the web page that lists the agenda. To receive the most up to date copy of any web page hit "reload" button.
July 12, 2011 12:47 PM
Thank you. Neither can we. We have several children. $90 for each sport, per child, on top the already paid booster membership, required fundraiser participation, required camps and required gear/clothing. Then add 3+ academic clubs per child. We were having trouble paying for things prior to the fees. This is the straw on the camels back for our family. Favor the rich sports kids and stomp on the poorer ones. The school board character is showing!
"ha ha you have been in the dark haven't you....I have a friend over there who teaches and for at least five years they have had to recycle their paper as the budget over those years has been that tight."
Sorry, I don't mean to butt into your private conversation but I have to comment, because you are rude and keep talking in circles. Didn't you previously say how these school were so much better than ours? How do you expect people to know things going on in other schools, that your "friends" tell you, that is not published in a news paper or web page? Do you think we all have "friends" that work in these other school districts? You keep on saying how we all should know all the unpublished activities in these other local schools. All we know is what is publicly available to us. You must be a school district employee that expects the public and parents to be mind readers.
"student fees are a problem, at least for our family. we cannot afford the fees. i guess our kids are just crap in this lovely bubble."
we struggle to pay the existing fees and required fundraisers too. our family also has more than one child in the school. when you have a monthly family budget it is tough; although, at least we have some time before school starts to try and save to see if we can pull it off.
Do these newly collected fees actually go into the budget for these extra-curricular activities or is the district throwing into the general slush budget/fund balance?
According to the recent school board AGENDA, the school district is looking at policy 6153 which sets other school district fees for athletic and academic competitions.
I would not be surprised, at all, if parents suddenly see changes to that policy, which in turn, would require additional fees to be billed to families. Someone told me that policy information was not publicly discussed at the school board meeting, but some uncomfortable glances were exchanged. It was probably discussed at a policy meeting.
However, for those posting here that have financial difficulty that particular policy DOES say:
"Students or parents/guardians may be required to provide financial support for the student trip. However, no student will be denied an opportunity to participate in a student trip for financial reasons if the family is economically disadvantaged (based
upon eligibility for free and reduced lunch)."
AND:
"Students on trips remain under the supervision and responsibility of this Board and are subject to its rules and regulations."
There is also a privacy law that families on subsidized lunches to NOT have to reveal their private financial situation to another parent (i.e. booster parent). The school district CAN NOT make you share the specifics of your financial situation with another citizen. I would also boldly assume the school district would probably not force a student or parent to take on the legal obligation of transporting students to and from school sponsored events.
I'm not talkin about the minutes I understand the procedure. Why aren't the televised meetings being aired. They aired the graduation ceremonies the very next day.
I found these statements in our own school board policies. In all seriousness, ask yourself if you think our school board members abide by these policy statements which defines their duties and/or responsibilities:
"To resist every temptation and outside pressure to use my position as a School Board member to benefit either myself or any other individual or agency apart from the total interest of the school district."
"That the public expects my first and greatest concern to be in the best interest of each and every one of these young people without distinction as to who they are or what their background may be."
"Sensitivity to emerging and communicated community interests and demands, with the accompanying need to weigh these against the overall District welfare and interest."
"Commitment to public education in its many-faceted aspects and to the educational well being of students generally as well as individually, balanced against the need for prudent allocation of resources and the demonstration of fiscal responsibility."
REALLY? No self benefit? The list is endless!
You know, my kids went through the ptsd school district. I have to say, when they were in PV, back in the 1990's, my kids had about 27 to 29 in a classroom. Sure, it was not easy and I believe a smaller classroom is much better for students. But as parents, we volunteered in the classroom to help the teacher and made various small study groups. Some of the groups were for Math facts, others were reading groups, some were spelling, it was fun. I reflect fondly upon those days as do the students that went through it.
Just wait one minute here. The district is begging for money, can not afford to keep a third grade teacher and charging for extra curriculars; yet is willing to pay for a previously unbudgeted position for a Graduation Project teacher for $65,500?
What the heck? Sounds like they are participating in some CYA!
What is happening to public education? Sure, sports is great for kids but it is time to get these sports people off of the school board. That is not where tax dollars are to be spent for public education. People here are right. It is time to pay attention and get rid of the soccer Mom's who are handling our money.
I thought posters here might find this years budget outlook interesting:
http://www.ptsd.k12.pa.us/pdf_docs_2010-2011/Budget Outlook11-12.pdf
I think we all agree cuts are needed everywhere and we should be thankful for what we have compared to many other districts (but USC isn't one of them - get real - look at the city and rural schools and feel blessed). Our CURRENT PT Problem is that we are in jeopardy of losing what drove most of us here (good education for our kids). It seeems the majority of the board doesn't see that their own stubborn/foolishness is harmful to the community. Hopefully they check themselves (and dig deep for the truth) before it's too late.
It would certainly be worthwhile to investigate whether any relationships exist between the contractors who have been awarded recent monies) and any board member(s)! That may explain their bizzarre decision making.
My thoughts on your USC comments...
At least the USC superintendent isn't saying foolish things like "class size doesn't matter". They've managed to make ALL THEIR cuts, and still keep class sizes down. For grade K no more than 20 students in each classroom. In second, third and fourth grades, there will be no more than 25 students in each classroom. Our Board on the other hand, TAKES AWAY a teacher from PV WHERE class size was already issue. IF it doesn't matter then I guess they are all BowerHill fans (even though PV's 3rd grade last year pulled PT's ranking up overall, according to rankings in Business Times..
USC PATCH article on their cuts http://upperstclair.patch.com/articles/proposed-school-budget-eliminates-seven-teaching-positions
I just watched the July 27th Board Meeting. It is no wonder so few people run for the school board with the angry guy who stands up and verbal attacks the board at every meeting. The "Wonderful Moms"from PV and Bower Hill made there points with great CLASS. Take a lesson Angry Guy!
There is no problem with upgrading these fields, but why do they have to be so extravagant at this time?
Why can't our board take swift action on some of the serious academic and building issues that are hurting the education of all students?
This board has made it quite clear by their actions what their priorities are.
Apparently, as I have just learned, school board members have been getting favors for years in PT! A friend showed me a very old, school level, student directory where a current sitting board member was permitted choose the k-3 school his children attended. At that time another community member asked to do the same, for special education reasons, and they were not permitted! I find it appalling that the voters and community members have tolerated such behaviors from school board members.
Peters Township School District
July 14, 2011
This message is being sent to inform you that the Buildings and Grounds meeting scheduled for Monday July, 18 has been canceled.
This meeting will be rescheduled for August. The date and time will be posted on the www.ptsd.k12.pa.us website as soon as it is available.
District email
Email blast from school district:
Upcoming Meeting for the PTSD Board of School Directors
On Monday, July 18, the Peters Township Board of School Directors will hold a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. This meeting was previously scheduled for 6:30. The agenda will be available online that afternoon for public viewing.
The Buildings and Grounds meeting scheduled for Monday, July 18 has been canceled. The rescheduled date for this meeting will be posted as soon as it is available.
Information regarding the Board of School Directors is available on the District website including profiles, agendas, meeting dates and minutes. All meetings are held in the Administration Building unless otherwise noted.
Upcoming Meeting for the PTSD Board of School Directors
On Monday, July 18, the Peters Township Board of School Directors will hold a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. This meeting was previously scheduled for 6:30. The agenda will be available online that afternoon for public viewing.
The Buildings and Grounds meeting scheduled for Monday, July 18 has been canceled. The rescheduled date for this meeting will be posted as soon as it is available.
NOTICE
A Special Meeting of the Peters Township Board of School Directors will be held on Monday July 18, 2011 at 6:30 P.M. in the District Administrative Office Building.
Anyone needing ADA special arrangements to attend the meeting should contact Laura Wilen at 724-941-6251, ext. 7207 prior to the meeting.
"Take a lesson Angry Guy!"
No we should take a lesson as to how the angry guy became the angry guy. He has special needs students who are not being serviced and he started as those wonderful other parents but after being denied material, brow beat by the administration and humiliated by board members no wonder he is angry. As public officials you do not have to like what is being said, you do not have to agree with it, you don't even have to like the person speaking but you HAVE to LISTEN and HAVE to be respectful. Our public officials are not and have not been to this man. I have watched the meetings and have seen and heard how this evolved. I am not the angry person by the way! YES to the angry man and there are more of us out here than you think.
Woah, I watched that marathon of a school board meeting. 13 people spoke and it looked like more were going to speak. It appeared the tape stops recording at three hours. I heard the same plea over and over from audience speakers "please keep the focus on education".
The lady that spoke last, at the beginning of the meeting, said she was on the facility committee last year and this board chose to ignore the academic facility considerations and proceed with the fields. As the board kept beating the dead horse that they have to use that money for capital improvements, they in turn are also not hearing the audience or their constituents, saying yes, the fields need improved, but why so over the top? One speaker summed it very well "because everyone else has better than PT".
The administration also had no intention of informing the public regarding the fees for assistant coaches or other upcoming fees that will be part of an administrative attachment for a policy, I think it was 6153. Thankfully a member of the audience brought it up and two board members asked that information be distributed to the public regarding the additional fees, that can be changed on a whim!
It was also obvious not one person on that board or administration had thought out the fee structure for the academics, nor did they realize that sometimes club participate is part of a grade or required! They sure do know their sports details though!
As I heard over and over in that meeting how important athletics are to a students growth, yet they cut education curriculum and technology to the bone? HEY SCHOOL BOARD, my child got a full ride to college without in school sports. Rec sports works!
I do not know what kind of changes are going on the graduation policy but I am guessing that one lady board member is in favor of cutting the academic recognition in that policy.
This meeting was extremely shocking! I am furious at this school board. Where are these people coming from? They certainly do not represent me, my tax dollars, or the reason we moved here, for education. Not one sitting board member that is running this fall is getting my vote (not that it matters!).
"I just watched the July 27th Board Meeting."
Me too. Are they kidding? Associating 3rd grade classes and graded academic classes with after school sports. This school board is nuts. Mr. B nailed it when he said the extent of the field expenditure/bond issue, blurs out the sincere interest this board has for education. I think it would be better to say it entirely erases it, not blurs it! Mrs G said it loud it clear comparing after school sports to various academics. Then they tried to manipulate and justify the need to spend three million because of handicap access! Yes, handicap access has been needed for years, but that justifies three million dollars?
What a bunch of self serving manipulators. The End.
Meeting minutes do not give justice to the three ring circus I saw on channel 19. What a farce. They have done absolutely nothing in helping families get information about the graduation project that is due very soon, nor have they forced district employees to provide the online courses that administration promised to students three years ago. This board imposed both of those mandates upon the students, but have not followed through to see that students are getting the resources they need. Sure, their students get the information because they are on the school board. They get returned phone calls and emails.....But hey, the kids will have a great new field to play on! Tisk, tisk tisk on this school board. The lack of action on matters that concern academics is unconscionable. Yes, I am taking on an extra part time job to save the district $63,000 in coaching/sponsor fees, but $150,000 a year is free money? The $250 bucks in base pay-to-play fees, for one child, I have to pay is a drop in the bucket to most people here, it is a load of groceries for our family!
Add on the fees to watch him play, booster fees, camp fees and equipment and we are well over $400. Based upon this meeting there are even going to more fees!?!?! Guess whose doors my child will be knocking on for those extra fundraisers, instead of doing homework! Anybody else want to join me in the rich neighborhood?
Worst school board we ever had!! All of us should not even vote in the election..I'm not voting for these indiviuals...let them win with 100 votes...they'll at least be embarrassed. Getting in on a low number is humbling!!
I think it is really interesting how these people get things pushed through when it concerns their own children, or perhaps their friends. Only once, in the past five years, have I seen them publicly address any of the educational/curriculum questions, or issues, that have been brought up at any of the PTSA or guidance meetings. Who is answering the academic questions for students and parents?
(Sorry, this question is rhetorical. The answer is 'nobody' and nobody cares to! I am sure they would push for answers if the education of their own child was in jeopardy!)
That angry guy at the meeting was wrong about the February meeting he was so worried about. The audience seats were half full, I was present for a small portion of the meeting. All PTSD board meetings are published in accordance with Title 22 (state law). He does not know how many people have been quitely watching that for years! I swear people have nothing better to do that sit and wait for the board to violate the sunshine law. In my opion, they sometimes walk a very thin line with the open communication and hiring practices.
"....nor did they realize that sometimes club participate is part of a grade or required!"
Are you sincerely shocked they did not know that or are you joking? These people only know their only little "world" and do not care to venture outside of it. It was quite obvious that a few board members and administration were surprised by a couple of audience statements and questions. Me thinks they are blindly playing follow the leader without asking questions or requiring accountability....again!
The administrative response to an audeince question was to ask the speaker if the student group had a coach or sponsor? No way. Shouldn't the school district administration know that answer, not parents? Maybe not.
"Anybody else want to join me in the rich neighborhood?"
i do! how about we get out the tin cup down at the dairy bar? in all seriousness, this school board really needs our prayers and support. i pity them. even though theses people are jerking our kids around, the kids will make it through public school just fine. every single person sitting at that board room table has to live with their own decisions and conscience based on their own favoritisms and lack of vision, or flexibility, in seeing the big picture.
"The administrative response to an audeince question was to ask the speaker if the student group had a coach or sponsor?"
don't all school sponsored activities have a district employee that is a sponsor or coach? if not, they most certainly should!
contrary to what was stated at this meeting, the email from the school district clearly states they are charging activity fees for graded classes. i was shocked they didn't know that history day takes a bus, on saturday to the regional competition. ptms and pths students ride the same bus. some pay, others do not?
i guess it would be wrong to do what other schools are doing by charging for sports, then charging a standard base activity fee for all students? nah, that would be too easy!
Hey, it's pay to play! No surprise at all. Why could they not have just charged a flat fee for all students like other local school districts? Wouldn't that be much easier?
Maybe the district will realize that they themselves benefit greatly from the many student volunteers they have. My children are in several activities that we have encouraged them to participate in. We feel it is valuable to display school spirit and to be involved in helping others within the school and community. The kids usually enjoy it, but it is also a huge imposition upon their homework time. They sometimes are up past midnight doing homework. For them to actually pay to give up their time, the choice is now up to them. I think the kids can volunteer with outside agencies that welcome their services without charging them!
We are charging fees for sports and still do not have a girls basketball coach. In the past a coach went to camp with them and there is none this year. Will these girls get a rebate as they will not have a coach until probably fall. Remember these girls are in leagues etc. NO COACH NO PAY TO PLAY!!!!!!!!
This is such a farce. I agree no one thought through this at all but we are spending $10,000.00 to train the adm on Covey and we can't begin with the end in mind and to do first things first. These are instinctive why train them when it is only one person who needs trained. Yes you know who. The person who has set us back 10 years and is sinking the ship each day.--NZ
This money was never earmarked for or said that it is for Covey training.
I recently viewed this meeting on channel 19 as well. You all here have touched base with many of the topics.
I too can not believe these board members are comparing academic classes, that are part of the learning curriculum, to extra curricular activities!
I disagree, I do not think kids will stop volunteering, they just won't pay to be part of a school organization to do it. We have a lot of kind hearted children in this community. I also think all extra curricular activities sponsored by the school do indeed have a sponsor or coach paid by the school district. Do you know of any that volunteer? I think that line of questioning, "Does that group have a sponsor and do they wear a uniform?" was an attempt to badger or shake up the speaker. I know one speaker at the end of the meeting has a child that only participates in one of the activities she was questioning. She was actually thinking of other students with her line of questions. Imagine that, someone who thinks of other families besides themselves! That entire line of questioning also applies to a number of other various media, video, yearbook, writing classes, not just music and theater. Based on the response, I have to agree, nobody bothered to look into the details of fees except for sports.
As always actions speak louder than words!
and who is supers boss?--the school board. they are ultimately responsible for the direction of this school district. at this point in time, i can't say one incumbent board member is getting my vote; not unless i see some student and taxpayer representation here. although, they will get plenty of votes. the people that wanted to pay 3 million for the new turf field will vote for them. it is all a political game.
The 10,000 is not for Covey. Covey is not mentioned for this and not one bldg. admin has this in their budgets for Covey. They don't know what this is for either. I bet the angry guy could request a specific right to know request, but would he be told? how a out a request for super. raise?
When our kids go off to college or trade school or what ever they are "all" assessed an activities fee. If they don't participate that is their choice but they still pay the fee, everyone pays the same fee and that's that. Simple!
I'm not sure how we will charge fees for activities required as part of a class or for which there are national constitutions that do not allow this to happen (i.e NHS). Y
According to the agenda, they gave the act 93 personnel raises tonight. Probably because they did such a good job slicing and dicing the classroom budgets!
You don't pay until September. According to the agenda they hired coaches last night, along with a bunch of other district employees.
I read the agenda for last nights meeting. Since the district has been unable to provide direction for students for the graduation project or provide any appropriate online courses; they combined them to make a course!
I would love to see a course called: "College Planning: Where to start and How to Look For One Based Upon Your Academic Interests".
Hey, when students get no help from district employees, that were supposed to help them, make a class! problem solved! So let me guess, since the librarian is teaching that new course, the district now has to hire someone?
WAIT, that offered that course to kids at scheduling time and it didn't even exist yet. What is this school board doing?
July 19, 2011 8:34 AM
ummm...did you mean to say that the district offered that graduation online course at scheduling time, without it even existing yet? if you meant to say that, yes they did. they also offered an online science course and the teacher is only being trained this summer. hopefully he passes!
From the school district:
Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
Free Internet Services from National School Lunch Program
**For Households with Children Receiving Free School Lunches Under the National School Lunch Program
Comcast is offering a new program to bring internet services to families that include:
fast home internet for $9.95 a month (+tax)
no price increases, activation fees or equipment rental fees
a low-cost computer available at initial enrollment for just $149.99 + tax
access to free internet traiing - online, in print and in classroom
Please visit internetessentials.com/partner
for details.
THIS EVENT, PROGRAM OR GROUP IS OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PETERS TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT INDICATE ENDORSEMENT BY THE DISTRICT.
From the school district:
3rd Grade Enrollment Update
The District is continuing to monitor enrollment and class size at the third grade level at Pleasant Valley and Bower Hill Elementary Schools:
The current 3rd grade enrollment will be accommodated with the current K-3 teaching staff; however, some teachers may move grade levels for 2011-12.
Class sizes will remain as close to last year's levels as possible.
There will be NO redistricting.
Any NEW students who enroll July 2011 or later will be assigned a school based on enrollment. The students may be assigned outside the normal attendance area; for example, a family living in the Bower Hill attendance area may be assigned to Pleasant Valley. These students will then remain in their assigned building through 3rd grade.
Thank you.
July 18, 2011 7:51 PM.....Yes.
Now that is what I'm talking about! A few of us thought of that and recognized that other public schools, as well as post-secondary schools, implement simple flat fees. Most post secondary schools also implement a separate athletic fee and an additional intramural fee.
-Why did nobody on this school board even ask if this was considered?
-Why should citizens have to ask these questions?
When I voted, I made the stupid assumption these board members would have the wherewithal to think of this stuff!
July 18, 2011 7:51 PM
Exactly! Perhaps they considered it, but not publicly--we never know! Although we do know the school board never even bothered to ask. You know whatever group came up with that fee structure, they really have no idea how some of the academic competitions run.
In some academic competitive clubs, you can not participate in competition unless you are selected. Now, if you are deemed good enough to participate, you also have to have money? If you now have the money you can represent PT in an academic competition. Same with sports. It's not about how good you are but how big your wallet is.
It is another slap to the children to lose that wonderful librarian at the high school. She bends over backwards to help the kids.
The $10,000 is not for Covey. The May board minutes are specific that it is a payment to the Perla Group. You can look up their website: http://www.perlagroup.com/ They are a training consultant for the top leader of companies and non-profit organizations. The board line is that this is for improvement in communications, per the 7/18/11 meeting. Based on the type of consultancy, and the fact that we have mostly open positions for the jobs reporting to Dr. Zetty, it is obvious that this money is for improving the performance of one person: Dr. Zetty.
We should thank the following board members for not only approving the contract renewal of Dr. Zetty, but then spending $10,000 of taxpayer money to train her in a job she has already sat in for three years. These board members are: Erenberg, Sullivan, Hvisdoz, Golembiewski, and Cuervo. It is interesting to note that McMurray voted both against the renewal of Dr. Zetty's contract and spending the money for the Perla Group, which is a good signal that this money is for one specific person.
Unless someone moves on a write-in candidacy, we are stuck with this same majority (Dunleavy replacing Sullivan, probably) for at least the next two years. The "let them eat cake" attitude of the majority board member group is based on the simple fact that they will once again run the district for two more years.
It blows my mind that this board is so focused on the sports agenda. Sports and character should go hand in hand in our public schools. It's not ok to focus on sports and not focus on the educational part of teaching character in sports. We put into our statement of education the YES initiative of character in sports. It's right there alongside the statement of what education stands for in PT. This should be emphasised by every coach in the school district. In all this talk of sports ..Haven't heard it mentioned. We have board members that probably don't even know this is part of our educational and ethics code in PT. I'm afraid they are just focused on the heroics of sports. Sports in public ed. is a teaching opportunity for our kids...haven't heard that. Our board worked hard to get the YES initiative in our student code. It is frustrating to me. -SG
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11202/1161771-55.stm?cmpid=localstate.xml
This is wonderful! We have a group to fund what the school board will not.
I have a child that takes summer gym. They had to shut down the pool because portions of ceiling tile and roof were caving in and crumbling into the pool. Won't it be great? PT will have a pretty new field so we don't look bad to visitors, but we will ignor our own children and let the building fall apart and ignore the hvac system doesn't work. What an arrogant school board we have.
A quote from the article on the new PT Education Foundation:
"Funding would "pay for the extras," like field trips, additional technology, enhanced theater sets, new musical instruments and "to move innovative ideas forward."
The very first thing the school board asked them to pay for? MATH BOOKS. I never realized math books are considered an "extra".
I love the idea of a foundation and I hope they get the corporate and alumni sponsoring they seek! I also hope the school board doesn't turn every teacher request into, "Go ask the foundation."
"It's not about how good you are but how big your wallet is."
yup.
"The $10,000 is not for Covey."
Watch a past Board meeting and this is how DZ described it.
So, what July 20 is saying is those 5 board members not only voted to retain the super. When the teachers, administrators, and community, and 4 board members didn't want her but they voted to spend $10,000 to teach her how to communicate! Are you serious? If this is true, what is wrong with them? Boy, if this is true this is a sad group a sad district and probably the laughing stock of the county. I bet the administrators got raises not only for working with her but so they wont leave either!
I found this interesting information from another article in the newspaper.
I think others might as well....
"....Senate Bill 101, which increases the fines that may be imposed on elected officials who participate in meetings with the intent of violating the open-meeting requirements of the state's Sunshine law.
Formerly, violators were subject to a flat fine of only $100 - not much of a deterrent. The new mandate raises the fine to as much as $1,000 for the first offense and between $500 and $2,000 for a second offense. Furthermore, it bars the violator's agency or board from paying the fine or reimbursing the violator.
.....this may get the attention of our elected representatives in local government. The public should take note, too.
The next time a school board huddles for an executive session, supposedly to discuss "personnel," and then emerges to vote unanimously and without comment on a motion, say, to build a football stadium, it would be a good idea for the spectators to remind directors how personally costly their action might be."
The school district is happy to spend OUR money on a new extra curricular facilities while the roof at the high school is caving in and McMurray school is sinking. Sure, borrowing might be good right now, but why are they not spending on all kids and just sports kids? This is the ultimate example of having an agenda.
More administrative personnel and ball fields, but pt cannot hire teaching staff or fix school buildings? Sure, now they will take a look school buildings; now that we pay for the new field that is underway to satisfy the sports people that can afford to pay-to-play!
http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/localnews/07-22-2011-PT-school-meeting
For those of you that have a sincere financial difficulty PTSD has a policy that states the following:
"All students who qualify on the basis of competition or who are otherwise eligible to engage in the activity shall be accorded the opportunity to participate in the student trip. Students or parents/guardians may be required to provide financial support for the student trip. However, no student will be denied an opportunity to participate in a student trip for financial reasons if the family is economically disadvantaged (based
upon eligibility for free and reduced lunch)."
They can not deny student participation if you can not afford it.
OK think for a minute. How many administrators did we lose and go without for long periods of time? What may I ask happened to the thousands and thousands of dollars in fringe and salary that had to be stock piled? There should be no tax increase and no whining about money unless those spending it have no idea what their doing> Oh sorry enough said.
I saw the new hires in the paper this week. Is the fact that so many women are being hired a ploy to offset the law suit on discrimination against females. The thing I have noted is our district does not discriminate who they will discriminate against. Please don't try to make any excuses we have lost enough lawsuits that someone should have resigned or have been fired by now. Is the rise in insurance premiums a sign that someone has had enough of people behaving badly?
I watched the HS awards assembly on TV. What a sorry performance as far as any of us watching understanding anything that was said. Not only did the speakers mumble but the sound was so bad I simply changed channels. Sorry to the kids but adults should know better and done better. we can do nothing right when it comes to our kids!!!!!!!!
The Perla Consulting also does consulting for entire organizations, not just for one person. It was my understanding the consulting was for the entire the school district. The entire school board voted in favor of that one; the ones that voted to keep the super, as well as the ones that voted against renewing the contract.
The board does seem very content to spend "OUR" money on useless endeavors. But hey, it is "OUR" fault for not speaking up until it is too late and voting for these people we thought would represent "OUR" children and "OUR" interests!
July 23, 2011 9:11 AM
we sure can hear the sports games well! i am surprised they manage to film graduation ceremony as it is considered an educational event. although, i think we are lucky to now see anything. i can't help but wonder if the kids will pay their own money to sacrifice their own spare time to film after school events. if the school doesn't hire anyone to film activities, i do not think we will see too much of anything anymore!
Here are the annotated minutes from the May board meeting. Mr. McMurray voted no on the "Other" section because of item 6, the Perla Group:
VII. OTHER
RECOMMENDATION: Consider a motion to approve other recommendations as follows:
1. Set the June Regular Board Meeting date ...
2. Approve a donation of ...
3. Approve a donation of ....
5. Approve the Access Fund Budget requests to IU #1 ...
6. Approve the professional development agreement between Peters Township School
District and the Perla Group for the 2011-12 school year in the amount of $10,200
(attachment)
7. Approve the DEP Grant agreement ...
8. Approve the bids for the 2011-12 school year for Athletics and Technology ...
9. Approve the agreement between the Peters Township School District and the Upper St.
Clair and Mt. Lebanon School Districts for the mutual rental/use of available school
transportation vehicles ...
MOTION:
Mrs. Smith moved for approval of the above recommendations 1 -9,
seconded by Mrs. Sullivan
• Mrs. Golembiewski thanked ...
• Mrs. Sullivan thanked ...
MOTION CARRIED
(8-1)
Mr. McMurray voted no because he did not support item 6
One can check this on the PTSD website board minute page. So the Perla Group spending was not supported by all members.
I just watched the July board meeting and noted that Ms. Curevo is meeting with the archetect by herself...when Ms. Sullivan asked if she could meet with her she said "no" that is a meeting for me alone. This does not sound right...Ms. Curevo is the chairman of the building committee...any board member should be allowed to attend any of these meetings if they want..a chairman is just representative of someone who comes and reports information..there is no power of being the only one to attend..actually having two present allows for two ears to hear the info...this didn't sound right to me..
Are you kidding me?
http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/07-24-2011-peters-roundup
"actually having two present allows for two ears to hear the info..."
actually, it would allow for four ears to hear the information.....
July 23, 2011 9:51 PM
I agree. There are quite a few things that do not sound right with this school board.
Although Mr. McMurray did not support item 6, that does not tell us if the consulting is for one person or an entire group. The board no longer has public discussion among themselves. They vote without saying. The only people that seem to be looking out for interests other than their own seem to be Ritter, Smith and McMurray. Come to think of it, aren't they the only ones without children in the school system?
So when do these new hires start?
http://www.thealmanac.net/alm/story10/07-20-2011-PT-new-hiring
http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/localnews/07-22-2011-PT-school-meeting
I found the following at the Pennsylvania School Board Association's website. It is listed as the primary responsibility of a school board member. Can they legally be impeached for actually hurting the education of children?
"School board members are acces-
sible to their district residents and
accountable for the performance
of the district’s schools. They also
serve as the community’s watch-
dog, ensuring that tax dollars are
spent wisely on education."
Post a Comment