School Board Appoints President, VP
Peters Township School Board voted Cindy Golembiewski as president and Lori Cuervo as vice president at its reorganization meeting Monday night.
By Andrea Bosco
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December 5, 2011
The Peters Township School Board met Monday night for its annual reorganization meeting.
New members were welcomed, directorial positions were chosen and numerous agenda items, including a preliminary budget, were discussed and approved.
Members Lynn Erenberg, Sandy Gregg, Thomas McMurray, Ron Dunleavy and Bill Merrell were sworn in by Judge James Ellis.
The board voted 7-2 for Cindy Golembiewski to serve as president and Lori Cuervo as vice president—Gregg and Merrell with the opposing votes.
Golembiewski and Cuervo will fulfill their new positions until December 2012—a one-year term.
Personnel Matters
The board approved the retirement of Dr. Thomas Hajzus effective June 30, 2012 subject to the payment of all regular retirement benefits.
McMurray Pyrite, a Rocky Issue
Lawrence R. Elliott Surveying, Inc. completed a pyrite evaluation at McMurray Elementary on Nov. 28. The original measurement showed no movement, according to Superintendent Nina Zetty; however, a second measurement revealed negative readings.
Zetty said not to worry—she believes it was “an error in measurement.” The full report and analysis will be available for review and discussion at the next Buildings and Grounds meeting, scheduled for Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Board Stresses Budget is Preliminary
The board approved a $52 million preliminary General Fund Budget for the 2012-13 school year, which includes a $200,000 contingency. Cuervo reiterated how preliminary the budget is, and that it’ll be worked on heavily in the coming months. The final budget must be adopted prior to June 30, 2012.
The board also approved a $1 million tentative Technology Budget for the 2012-13 school year. This budget will be included in the finalized General Fund Budget.
Motion carried to adopt a $912,000 Tentative Capital Reserve Fund Budget, as well as a $161,049 Curriculum Budget.
Thespian Advisor Resigns, New Position Posted
The board Monday night approved the resignation of Thespian Club Advisor Kelly Barefoot, and is now searching for a new candidate. Email info@pt-sd.org for more information about the position.
Celebration of Excellence Continues
Zetty noted numerous recent achievements including:
McMurray students earn Calcu-Solve honors
A PTHS musician selected for Honors Band
Student volunteers lend a hand to paint holiday windows
An administrator earns Outstanding Young Educator Award
and, Dave DiFilippo, honored as a model music educator by Carnegie Mellon University
'Tis the Season to Make Peace
Board member Sue Smith followed comments from the floor with her wish for the new year.
"With lower revenues and a $900,000 (budget) cut, it has been one of the most difficult years for the board so far," she said. "My wish, as we begin as a new team, is to keep in mind peace on earth and good will toward all men."
Gregg agreed.
"Disagreeing isn't a bad thing," Gregg said. "As long as you respect each other's opinions."
"You can disagree without being disagreeable," she said.
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36 comments:
Pathetic President this should be fun to watch. Sue Smith perhaps you just need to be seen and not heard or just go vote YES
More educational programs will go down the tubes. Roll in more of kids having to teach themselves and more technology. Certainly more downward spiral to come! Will any of these people ever really show up in any school to see what is going on?
@ the 12:47 pm message. Why are you calling her pathetic? I want an answer! As for Mrs. Smith, how dare you!!
2:04 message How can make a statement like this, do you have solid facts to prove it? Go put you head back in the sand...
To 9:57 pm: You head??? Or YOUR head???
I am not the previous poster but here are some facts for you. I know this all sounds negative and please enlighten me as to the positive changes that have happened within the past two years with the current sitting board. I am sure some good things have happened as well. They did hire a great new administrative team at the high school!
Fact: They required the online classes without making them available to students until two years later. According to the recently posted teachers contract, teachers are not required to provide online classes until September 2013.
Fact: This board created a graduation project without having the tools available for the students during their freshman year as promised. Students were given conflicting information. They justified that debacle by saying, 'Of course, things need tweaked along the way'.
Fact: The grad project is now on track for 9th and 10th graders (good news!), but not for 11th graders. They hung that entire class out to dry on so many levels, for so many years and they claim to care so much about kids? What a crock.
Fact: Policy changed regarding the high school scheduling process and students or families were not notified of the changes. I am sure board members were well aware. Regular folks do not get communication about those kinds of changes.
Fact: The board had to create an online Graduation Project class and shuffle staff to fix the mess they made.
Fact: The online classes use blended schools; which is an elementary level technology to masquerade as online classes.
I heard someone did fix the 3.7 GPA requirement. I can not claim that as fact. That is hearsay and a good thing.
Fact: They allowed Odyssey of the Mind, which is a proven program for "STEM" and "21st Century Learning" to be eliminated at the elementary level. They also allowed several other extremely valuable educational programs to be eliminated, yet threw more money into the athletic budget. The budget numbers do not lie.
Fact: They let special education flounder until the public spoke up. Although I do know and understand that the reason is that PTSD was without a special education director for quite some time.
Fact: They spent money on a new turf field over improvements needed in educational facilities. Lets see if they really stick to the PV field planned use document.
Fact: They implemented pay to play with no upper limits for families unless they participate in only athletics, not academics.
When was the last time you saw any school board member at any monthly PTA meeting or student function at the elementary, intermediate or high school levels? That will certainly change with Sandy Gregg on the board. This school board regime has thrown the value of education under the bus.
Do you really think things will get better with state budget cuts? Mark my words. Watch what gets cut.
Sue Smith is, (and Diane Ritter was), the only board member(s) that have ever publicly spoken in favor of valuable educational programs and speaks in favor helping kids achieve academic success and encourages rigor. Actually, over the past year Sue Smith has been at various school events and meetings. I do not know why she does not speak up more at meetings.
This board says 'of course we care about the education of all kids'. They might very well, but they certainly never show it by discussion at public meetings. Perhaps those discussions are happening behind closed doors that the rest of us are not seeing?
As the old saying goes 'Actions speak louder than words'. The board and administration talk so much about technology yet why do they not have it on their own website and why do they keep removing more and more information? It is time for them to get with the program and publish the facts, contracts, detailed budgets and meetings like other school districts do.
Actions speak MUCH louder than words.
Someone went over the personnel changes during Kirk's superintendency and compared it to Zetty's. Unbelievable. You can't even keep up. We won't even talk about leadership as this will make you cry.
In her years, Zetty has gone through numerous administrators, tech. directors, asst. superintendents, secretaries, and the list goes on. I don't know if it is true or not, but someone has the opinion that she has had more turnover than any Super. in the history of PTSD. People who were offered jobs and other opportunities didn't want to leave when Kirk was here. And when Kirk was here, the state of education was excellent and people could go where they wanted. Now, jobs are difficult and there are few openings and those folks still want out of PTSD. Is it true that every admin. in the district who was or is within 3 years of retirement is seeing if they can afford to get away now - and because how she treats them? But hey, they will go on and smile TO HER FACE, and say nice things TO HER FACE, but behind her back...
"You can try to cover up the truth, rationalize, and blame others, but that doesn't change the facts."
Nice job school board, you have done PTSD proud.
But maybe you don't all have an undergraduate 3.7 so you aren't able to do what is needed.
December 7, 2011 11:22 AM
I know of five that retired, 1 death and 7 were high school assistant principals. Please share the others that were not retirements or not 'temporary' to those of us that are unaware.
@ the 12:47 pm message. Why are you calling her pathetic? I want an answer! As for Mrs. Smith, how dare you!!
Obviously you do not attend or have not attended any school board meetings nor have you watched them on TV. That is my final answer. You need to get your head out of more than sand
December 7, 2011 11:22 AM
Where did you get that data? makes no sense! Maybe do your homework a bit better!
12/7/94. Great Post. Please know that just about every issue mentioned and is not successful was begun by the superintendent. So, she will be known for a lot!
"...Is it true that every admin. in the district who was or is within 3 years of retirement is seeing if they can afford to get away now..."
I have some news for you the school board and district are ENCOURAGING early retirement, on all levels, due to the budget crisis. They are actually offering incentives for people to retire early. At least that is what has been being said at various school district meetings.
"Please know that just about every issue mentioned and is not successful was begun by the superintendent"
You are absolutely correct. HOWEVER the school board is the ULTIMATE authority to hold the superintendent accountable to make sure she follows through. The only thing the board quickly followed through with, and required accountability for, was building a brand new turf ball field...NONE of the educational follow up was done!
Like someone else here keeps saying....Actions (or lack thereof) speak much louder than words'.
The district didn't encourage some really good people to leave. They left because they didn't like working for a district that doesn't have leadership as it should be
"The district didn't encourage some really good people to leave. They left because they didn't like working for a district that doesn't have leadership as it should be"
And who might those 'really good people' be that have left because of the leadership (not retirement)? Or is it just one or two that frequent this sight?
December 9, 2011 9:20 AM
Retirement has been one way to "get out" from what has been described as a poor situation. Please be real and don't confuse that with someone simply leaving for the good life. I have spoken to at least two former administrators who would be in that retirement class who indicated they would still be working for us had it not been for the evil queen! Wake up and quit trying to make excuses for a person behaving so very badly for oh so long.
ZETTY DECISION DOES IT AGAIN!
LATEST INFORMATION TO COME OUT OF PTSD
-Zetty is sending 4 administrators and herself to FLY to Philadelphia this week.
-Does anyone remember this being on the board agenda last meeting? I don’t.
-How about the money she is spending. Don't blame the 3 HS principals and central office lady, they weren’t “asked” if they wanted to go. Special education kids need some things, regular kids need some things, but hey, let’s use the $$ to fly and look at a HS in another part of a state.
-Based on what data Zetty? I wonder what the data says comparing this HS to Mt. Lebanon, USC, or even PTSD? Last time I looked, two of the highest performing high schools in the state were 10 minutes away. Go visit them.
-Now this is confusing! Zetty wouldn't send 2 HS admin. away last week and SAID it was because she didn't want one HS administrator left in the building alone. Oh, so let's send all 3 HS administrators this time. That makes sense, doesn't it?
-Hey Mr./Mrs. School Board Member, remember during school board meetings how concerned you would be about not wanting to approve things when they should have been on the board agenda first for you to vote. But you did vote yes because kids were involved. No kids here. So if it’s on the agenda, what are you going to do? We know what the 3 ladies will probably do. The rest of you?
-Hey NEW school board members, what do you think? Oh, some of you didn't know about the trip? Oh, some of you found out after she purchased all of the tickets. But Zetty called and invited some of the board members to go. You didn’t know? You say you weren’t invited.
-Will this trip be on the next agenda for you all to vote retroactively?
-You say it may not need a vote. Hmm, that is interesting.
-Were you told there was money for THIS but not other things? Remember that she can transfer money in the budget.
-Does someone out there own a calculator - Take the amount that flying 5 people to Philly and back and compare it to have 5 people in one car and driving? Hey, but I am sure there is a logical reason not just for going but for flying (:
-Wasn't there something else that was bought for the board members and administrators? I seem to recall that recently, each board member and administrators were bought ---
I CAN NO LONGER SUPPORT THE SCHOOL BOARD:
PHILADELPHIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was always a big supporter, not looking at their lack of supervision, because I believed since they weren't educators, they really didn't know how to supervise an educator, but today I talked with some people to find out if this Philadelphia trip is true. Sadly, it is. It should no longer have nothing to do with the fact that they aren't educators.
I was also told that any time anyone wanted to do anything different, she would say, "Where's the data?" So where is the data that shows students in the last 3-5 years attending this high school have achieved higher compared to other high schools? I don't think it exists!!
If there isn't something done about this trip by the board then they are worse than I thought. I know that people don't have to be able to make logical decisions to run. They run - they won. But even people who are close to clueless have to see this one. For the 3 ladies on the board, doing something might mean saying Nina, you shouldn't have done this. Then they will say There, we addressed it. How about the other 6 members?
I did get a calculator and they could have left probably at the same time people have to leave to get to the airport early and saved over $1,000 by driving back and forth.
Hey teachers - remember this trip - and the $$ spent - and the next time Zetty tells you that you need to cut something because of the budget, SMILE at her and say Philadelphia.
Hey District Employees, the board is letting this happen, the next time you are told by the board or they announce at a meeting that the district has money problems, smile and say Philadelphia.
Hey parents of special education students, the next time you get turned down for a piece of equipment for your child (The super. will make the admin. or sp. ed. director say no-and they will have to take the heat) because it cost $ You don't have to smile - but say Philadelphia.
Notice Ieft out the administrators - they are scared to death of her. But wouldn't you be too?
We will see if the papers will answer calls to do a story on this - but I am sure the PR lady will be calling them and asking them not to do a story. NO more board support! Philadelphia!
(Will the school board AGAIN ignore this MAJOR travesty?)
I guess one positive thing she only wants to go to Philly and not China....remember the staff meeting where she showed everyone the classrooms/schools in China? She then said if we cannot get the budget passed and the new and/or improved high school that we would all be speaking Chinese? I still say she should be fired for making racist remarks!
Good point. But everyone knows the board doesn't have the confidence or intestinal fortitude to address anything done by the superintendent. They work for her. Heck, I bet the three new board members have no clue that they can find what is actually going on by reading all of this information on this site - by the people who are scared to death of her. Just look at everything she has done and nothing done about it. Wait till she starts shoving down something she saw in Philly down the throats of the HS staff. Let me see, does that mean she asks for no input?
Philadelphia
Does anyone know what school in or near Philly is being visited?
OK...We get the point. She and others went on a trip to Philadelphia and we paid for it.
According to the most recent budget, the district shelled out about $2.5 million last year for special education--yet the district will not give out a few hundred bucks for a high school academic student group, that won countless state awards, to go to a national competition. Yet, this board of idiots will let these people jet off to a meeting.
What REALLY ticks me off is EVERY SINGLE ONE of these people are shoving electronic technology and online learning down the throats of the kids, so WHY in the heck are they NOT utilizing teleconferencing and other technology themselves??!!!
THIS IS UNCALLED FOR!
If they were to attend a tour of something, guess what? -->Carrying a laptop with a camera and utilizing skype, with a big screen on the receiving end is really super easy. Oh let me guess, the only thing they can use is blended schools....(What a joke for a use of technology for online classes. Then they gather the kids around one computer like it is camp fire because they do not have enough technology to go around.)
-Why is all the teachers contract information, budget data, testing data and all the other data that should be available to the public not online? They always present that stuff in spreadsheet and power point format. It is because they do not want us to know!
-Why are the video's of the meetings not online.
-Why do half of the links on the web page not work?
-Why does data keep DISAPPEARING from the web site, instead of us getting more?
-Why is it we never get to see the 'see attached' portion of the school board agenda?
The board has shoved useless requirements upon the children in this school district, it is about time they shove some requirements and accountability upon our district administration and employees!
They shouldn't be going anywhere in a car either. Where is all the teleconferencing technology? They want the students to learn and communicate via computers and technolocy. They should be doing the same! I am guessing, just as in the schools, the computers are broken or they do not have enough computers to go around.
Yah, she is the one who said we don't need to go on field trips because we can use technology? Obviously she doesn't include herself. Is it true that she used more district money to buy a book for every board member and some administrators? Something never asked for? Does anyone know? Some reading book about China!!!!! Wow, if this is true you couldn't write this script if you tried.
THANK YOU, Dr. B. - You Spoke Up
As we go into this holiday season, I can't help but say a special thank you to a former board member who I didn't always agree with, but no matter what, knew the importance of speaking up in public, especially if having a different point of view. That is now gone.
I have talked with people over the last few days who said they heard that nothing will come of the trip to Philly and everything so incorrect about it. I heard she may be wanting to send teachers there soon - so you didn't video tape your visit??? So now that this is written, the board is off the hook even more. They really won't deal with her about it.
It wouldn't have mattered.
Those aren't the only things ignored.
It seems like some board members think that if they bring something up, that means it is being addressed. People say some board members follow others blindly. It appears that a few board members tell people whatever they want to hear. All of these are a representation of politics in our world today. Special education parents believe they are treated like second class citizens. Many employees will tell you they are bullied. Some in the community think that micromanaging and being mean is leadership and supervision. They don't have the experience or understanding to know this is everything leadership isn't.
I remember a time when our board members didn't sit at the public meeting like mutes, weren't led around by a few, and understood that they are the ones who supervise the superintendent, not the other way around. One person asked me the other day if I remembered when we had a district that was as good as any around us. I did.
That time is gone.
As was mentioned on another post, if really good people don't run for school board then we don't get really good people on the board. Why don't board members speak up - maybe afraid of being bullied by others? - I don't know.) Will the 3 newly elected board members show some leadership?
As I think about all of this, I thank a recent board member who I bet probably doesn't even read this blog. Thank you Dr. B. for speaking up and trying to do the right thing for our kids, our families, and the Peters Township Community.
I have almost always disagreed with Mr B and boy did his kids receive some 'perks' too. Big favors. They were permitted to go to the elementary school of their choosing in the district when other students were not. There is laundry list-but it no longer matters. Just like a lot of the others, he was on the board to be self serving.
All that being said, he did encourage rousing conversation and a very different perspective on many issues. He certainly made a huge contribution to the district and I will honestly miss his thoughts and perspective. I have to agree, public discussion no longer exists. We have no idea about the reasoning for school board votes or what their honest thoughts are on particular issues. We have a zombie school board.
I have a gut feeling that will change with the two new board members and I am guessing they will be shunned by the rest of the board. Childish games or politics?
Yes, it may change with two board members for themselves, but the one gentleman recently elected - well it has been said that he is the puppet of a spouse of one of the board members.
I am also very disappointed in Lori C. Being a businesswoman I just always thought she would be more of an independent thinker. Maybe she doesn't have time or maybe she has been sucked into the 5 who let Zetty do what she wants. I thought she would be better.
Some of you need a reality check. When you have a superintendent who survives by one vote, is disliked by the administrators, community, and staff, and who will be lumped in with the other PTSD superintendents who were poor leaders, do you think she has kept her job because the board is strong? If it was a strong board with leadership they would look for the same thing in a superintendent. This is so simple: she supports the fields, they keep her as superintendent. Nothing more complicated. The district goes down the tubes.
"This is so simple: she supports the fields, they keep her as superintendent."
I have heard this echoed throughout the district. I now actually believe it. I have tried to give this school board the benefit of the doubt, but after what they have permitted those kids to go through at the high school, they no longer have my support.
We are so doomed with the 5 Zetty board members and Zetty. Things aren't going to change because the board can't see and the Super. is so slick she has them all duped. The only way the Superintendent would ever change is if the Ghost of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future visit her and show her what she has done, what she is doing, and what she will continue to do. It ain't gonna happen. Maybe it's time to move to Canon-Mac.
Well said! Actually sad that we have school board members who are mushrooms...and you know how that saying goes! Maybe their new years resolution will be to "grow some" (fill in the blank)and stand up for the taxpayers in this district. After all we live here and pay taxes. Nina rides off to Brownsville everyday and does not care about what or how we feel.
USC Super. Was just named Super of the year. Sure glad we go to Philly to look at places.
I also heard the Super. from South Fayette is competent, is well thought of by her administrators and teachers, and hasn't started running around the district telling people she is building her legacy as Zetty is. Zetty shouldn't worry about her leaving a legacy. She has already made a legacy and it is not a very flattering one. She is now compared to two former superintendents, both who were asked to leave early.
"I also heard the Super. from South Fayette is competent, is well thought of by her administrators and teachers, and hasn't started running around the district telling people she is building her legacy..."
So? What does that have to do with PTSD?
"So, What does that have to do with PTSD?"
What does taxes in Harrisburg have to do with PTSD? What does other districts who have excellent communication have to do with PTSD? What does other districts not building new fields have to do with PTSD? You're kidding, right? It provides other examples of how school boards, when working diligently and caring about kids, FIND effective superintendents and put them in a leadership role because they can lead! It points out that why can other districts find strong superintendents?
"You're kidding, right?"
No. I was not kidding. I agree with you, but I thought the functioning school districts all around us were quite obvious to everybody, well, almost everybody. We all know of the decent examples that are all around us and we certainly have a few poor examples in this area as well. We can point out flaws and good examples for days.
-What does it accomplish?
-What do you feel is the solution or action for repair?
To me, it translates to "we need a new school board" (I could be wrong). It seems that the current school board has no interest in accountability unless it personally benefits them. Any ideas or solutions? State run schools? Do you have something beyond the 'tisk tisk' or 'lookie how good that other district is'? I think you are preaching to the choir here.
For some reason I checked one of the student handbooks - saw something - checked another - checked another - How do you spell EGOMANIAC? When my kids went to school there was a greeting at the beginning of each one from the principals of each building. Now there is one from the Superintendent instead. Wow, talk about someone who has MAJOR control issues!!!!!!!! And she probably wonders why the administrators don't support her. And on top of that, the PR lady probably tells her whatever she wants to hear when she sees things like this written. I guess she is afraid for her job too.
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