Board Update - October 16, 2000 First, I have heard several people have had problems getting to my site.  I have "tweaked" it and hope this helps.  Spread the word. Also, I encourage everyone to get on my mailing list by sending me your email address! Well, it's happened.  Last night,  SRASD PSEA President, Lavonne Gilliand, hand-delivered The Notice to Drs. Ahlum and Duryea,  informing the District of a work stoppage to begin on Tuesday, October 24.  And so the meeting ended, with the Board holding an executive session for personnel and contract negotiations. The evening began with a PTCC meeting at the Area Elementary School.  Tony Consbruck spoke on behalf of the teachers' association.  Acting Superintendent Ahlum, Attorney Michael Hnath, and Bussiness Manager Paul Cessar represented the District - and lo and behold - three Board members were there to speak for themselves. Remember that after refusing "early bird" negotiations, the Board began negotiations in January.  The last negotiating meeting was in August, and the Fact Finders report came out in October.  But last night, Board President Duryea told parents and the teachers association, It's time to say knock it off...Let's get together and negotiate...We don't have to go through a strike...It's all up to the teachers. Tony Consbruck, though disagreed and said that indeed, there is something the Board can do... So the tone was set.  The message from the Board?  Aw, come on teachers.  You know we aren't going to budge.  Last week we were unhappy about the comparison with Karns City - we're poorer than they are.  We're more like Grove City.   This week we've decided that we didn't vote for the Fact Finders report because it was all or nothing.  Well, yes, we did know that was the process when we agreed to go into fact finding, but um, er, well... And on to Har-Mer for the big meeting. And I mean big.  Over 250 people filled the gymnasium, and 10 citizens were granted to privilege of addressing the Board (the Board didn't answer, with Dr. Duryea saying he had a statement he would read later...).  All of the speakers supported the teachers, and many were critical of the Board's lack of respect for citizens and teachers. One of the highlights came from a local realtor who figured out that any tax increase needed to fund the raise recommended by the Fact Finder just came down to not buying an extra bag of potato chips a month. Even Adams appreciated that analogy, but said that if we invested that money, why we'd have - heck, I don't know, something like a billion dollars over a 100 year period.  I'm not sure, but  I think most of us would be buying those potato chips... Duryea's statement repeated the party line on the Fact Finders report.  Giesler said we should all sit down as adults and hash it out.  And for a second time, there was a unanimous vote from the Board to reject the Fact Finders report (Thompson abstained, Watson was absent). Gee, Dad.  It's time to "knock it off"?  It's time to "sit down as adults"?  Thanks for the advice.  Ain't it funny how the Board is going to blame the teachers for a work stoppage?  It couldn't be the Board's fault.  Don't forget, the Board knows best (about curriculum, parent involvement, contract negotiations, the Constitution, the economy, world religions, etc...).  They have made their decision (no raises, inferior insurance, a longer school year for teachers), but they'll be glad to "negotiate" - in good faith, too! In Other News Dr. Mariane "Lee" Beaton has been hired as the new Superintendent.Chosen from 22 candidates, she comes by way of the York City School District and is their resident "Core Knowledge" expert.  And continuing with the Board's comparison that we are just like Grove City, Beaton received a four year contract, and will be paid an annual salary of $101,700 (the audience moaned). She's losing benefits by coming here (awww, said the audience)  So I guess Dr. Post, the Superintendent  in Grove City makes that much.  Oops.  His salary is $91,569.  Let's see. We want to pay our teachers like Grove City does, but not our administrators....When asked how much Bonfield made the last year of his contract, there were lots of hems and haws and downcast eyes.  No answer was given. Ron Cokain was hired as principal for SRAE and Har-Mer at a salary of 58,500 per year.  The audience applauded. Core Knowledge- School Reform or Cult? cult (kult) n devoted attachment to a person, principle, etc. Click on the following link and scroll about half- way down to "York City: Core Knowledge" Let the "conversion" begin!

Oct. 13, 2000 Last night, the PTO at Moraine Elementary School held an informational meeting regarding contract negotiations, and the Core Knowledge curriculum.  Over 100 parents and teachers filled the lunchroom. Tony Consbruck spoke on behalf of the teachers.  Representing the Board were Lee Ahlum (Acting Superintendent), Paul Cessar (Business Manager), and Michael Hnath (Attorney).  The members of the Board's negotiating team (Gregg Angerett and John Youngman) were invited but chose not to attend. Consbruck began with the history of the current negotiations and a review of the fact finding process.  Since the initial 10 day period had passed, copies of the Fact Finders report were distributed. We need your input, Consbruk told the audience.  Teachers, according to Consbruck, are frustrated.  Discussions have stalled, leaving teachers with no real options short of a work stoppage - a work stoppage that no one wants.  Ask yourself what you would do in the same situation, he challenged the audience. Then the fun began, as members of the audience submitted written questions.  Some of the questions, though, were a little hard to answer since no board members were there.  And where were they?  What is the Board afraid of?  Why are they unwilling to explain their votes to the public?  We really want to know. It bordered on the absurd as Hnath spoke for the Board.  He hasn't been involved in the negotiating process and has no idea why our Board really voted as they did.  Why did the Board reject the Fact Finders report?  Why  is the Board was unwilling to bring teachers' salaries up to the county average?  Why were no Board members present? Hnath just had to repeat the lines he had memorized.  I can't speak for the entire board.  They had their reasons. Not all Board members have time to participate in negotiations.  They have a firm position and are entitled to adhere to it.  They used the Business manager and the census to come up with the $1000 raise offer. This is the extent of the money they will agree to... Hnath, though, did assure everyone that the Board will vote again on Monday on the Fact Finders report, and we should speak to the Board then. Maybe get on the agenda. Tell them if you disagree on how they spend your money. After all, the Board values your input (And I've got some swamp land in Florida if you're interested...). Why doesn't the Board use the surplus to fund the salary increases recommended by the Fact Finder?  Business manager Cessar explained.  Turns out, that surplus doesn't really exist. I mean, the money's there, but...it isn't surplus.  After all, we have construction costs with two building projects.  And the curriculum, well that costs $300,00 a year (and we know that's been money well spent).  Oh yeah. And we need a million for technology. Heck, we're still trying to wire some of the buildings (now how was that Link to Learn grant spent?). Let's review.  The Har-Mer PTO had to cancel their meeting between parents and teachers because no Board members had been invited.  But last night at Moraine, the Board members didn't show up. Instead, they sent an attorney (who has not been involved in negotiations), an acting Superintendent (who has not been involved in negotiations), and a Business Manager (who has not been involved in negotiations) to explain the Board's position on contract negotiations. Right. But we, as good citizens, can attend their meeting Monday night (7:30 at Har-Mer).  A meeting that will be held in a place that is too small to accommodate a very large crowd.  A meeting where public participation can be limited to 30 minutes (I guess with a five minute limit per speaker, that's a total of 6 speakers.). A meeting where the Board doesn't really have to answer any questions (As the Board and their attorney have often reminded us, the Sunshine Act requires the Board to allow citizens to speak. It doesn't require the Board to answer). A meeting the Board, and the Board alone, controls. Core Knowledge- Heads' Up Teachers Wonder why tonight's Butler Eagle didn't cover the last night's presentation concerning Core Knowledge? Because they like Core Knowledge.  In an editorial on Sept. 22, 1999, the editor went on and on about how great it is.  Main point being something about the "internet culture" and a lack of "shared culture". Sometime last year, I was in the local Eagle office and our local reporter Ms. Miller had a copy of  Everything your 2nd, or 5th, or something Grader open on her desk.  When I asked her what she thought, she said she liked Core Knowledge. So, forget any coverage concerning this very, very, important issue. What is next? Speculation: The Board, next Monday night, will have Duryea read a general statement, individual members might have a statement, then they will vote NO once again. Adams is already showing his cards.  In a letter to the editor in tonight's SR Eagle, he is already talking about the high cost of renovations and the  manipulated, weak board members who voted for the renovations. Now, what did I tell you? Don't forget to read the Message Board!  People are talking! Do you think our teachers should get a $1850 raise even if it may mean a tax increase? Take the poll!