The Nazareth Area School Board Meeting was held on Monday, October 23, 2006. The Express-Times article focused on Board Member Callie's remarks during Public Comment (read the article here) and the Morning Call article focused on the upcoming tax hikes needed to pay for planned building projects (read the article here).
Thanks to the NewsOverCoffee reader who sent an email outlining all of what took place:
There were not nearly so many in attendance this week as recent meetings and two community corners were held, one in the beginning and one at the end.
NAEA president-elect, Aris Asdourian said that at the last meeting he (NAEA) presented the board with some dates that the NAEA would be available to "get together and talk and try and become a family again". According to him, the Board contacted the PSEA negotiator (an "outsider" according to Aris) about a Wednesday session and didn't contact the NAEA negotiating team. He further stated that comments were made that the NAEA was not "negotiating in good faith". He countered that with "We showed the ultimate faith".
There was a long presentation by Scott Shearer of Public Finanacial Management Inc., about the Board acting to refinance some of the outstanding debts. At the last meeting, they anticipated saving approx $200,000, but "due to swift action by the Board" (Shearer's words) they now could realize a savings of approx. $356,000. This motion passed.
There was further discussion about future finances and projects. Some of these plans were discussed (view the NOC article on the building plan here or the full 50 slide deck in PDF on the building projects from the District here) and it was very interesting what the board is planning on doing & spending. Mr. Shearer pointed out Borrowing base issues. Apparently (believe this is a State Regulation), there is a limit to how much the district can borrow in a given year. For 2006-2007 it is ~$13M; 2007-2008 ~$24M and then roughly $10M a year after that. Therefore, they cannot simply borrow all the money up front to finance the new school in one year's time frame. It needs to be spaced out.
There is currently $71M in projected projects (in the above noted link from the district the total was $50 million, now up to $71 million, again visit the above link to view the full plans). $22M in construction fund is now outstanding and earning interest, $20M in grandfathered debt so they need/anticipate borrowing $24M for the $71M. On the books/projections is approx. $60M in future considerations that includes the new school and tech center. Again this money will have to be borrowed over multiple years.
An increase of approximately 5.71 mills spread out over the next 7 years will be needed for the building projects. This does not take into consideration any other increased expenses the district may encounter. The District is restricted by Act 1 and there is the Tax Commission planning that is going on to shift some of the property tax burden to the EIT. Lots more finance talk. Again, very interesting stuff to see where all this is going and how it all fits together. Mr. Shearer went through multiple scenarios of borrowing and tax shifting. Needless to say, people should go to the public tax commission meeting on Nov 13, 7PM in the board room to find out more (learn more about the commission here).
There was an education report on elementary technology given by Elementary tech support from Lower Nazareth and Bushkill. They are doing some amazing stuff, and one thing that caught my attention was that Shafer students get computer lab time once a week, while Bushkill/LN get it twice a month.
Final community corner had a teacher discuss the current administration of the health care benefits. From his personal experience, the claims and fighting to get coverage was fairly excessive/burdensome. Dr. Lesky mentioned that the admin of the HC coverage/claims was a separate contracted group and if this was a problem, it could be discussed when they go over future contract negotiations.
The same teacher mentioned the racetrack proposed development consisting of 1800 townhomes among others. 500 new students was anticipated if this goes through and the township would stand to get approx $10M in new revenue. Mr. Keller & Dr. Lesky noted that the board is looking at these things. In fact, they are in the 3rd year of projected enrollement numbers and they are only 1 off from projections. Mr. Keller also noted (as an engineer) that there are some issues with the proposed development at the racetrack, namely sanitation, water and transportation issues. Dr. Lesky mentioned that while the economics may make sense for the township (in terms of $10M) there is a "tipping point" where it starts to hurt the district in terms of having to house new students. He stated that the average tax in the district is $4000/yr/house, yet they spend $7200/student. So there becomes a point where it's not beneficial for the district, yet very beneficial for the townships/boroughs. (Editors note - in the recent NASD budget the projected cost to educate a child in Nazareth for 2006-2007 school year is $11,395 - read the post and link to the budget here).
Finally, board member Angela Callie read a statement where she said that there had been some disparaging things said about both her and Linda McDonald on "community blogs" (Editor's note - I try to keep this constructive and don't recall specifically disparaging remarks on this site, but there was a reference to the women on the board here). How they sit idly by and not say anything or respond when community corner statements have been made. She reiterated that community corner is the place where community members can make address their complaints/etc. and that it's not really the forum for negotiation/rebuttle/redress of facts or statements. She questioned those who question her integrity and how she and the board have not made personal statements such as the ones that were addressed to/about her and Ms. McDonald. She stated that she was urged to run for a board position by her PTA and that she ultimately cared about the students/teachers. She said that if the NAEA has a problem with the contract (all or parts) they need to address it. Make an offer. Do not disparage or make personal attacks. She pointed out the the admin and the NAEA members indeed have the same health care coverage. She humorously pointed out board members are not paid by the district nor do they have health care coverage by the district. She ended it by saying that "you do not want my health care coverage. I do not get vision. I do not get dental. And for this I have the privilege of paying $500/month".
Additionally she commented to the NAEA leadership that perhaps there is a problem with "people outside this room". Perhaps referring to the PSEA negotiator?
Dan Ifkowitz addressed Ms. Callie and stated that he didn't know where any personal attack had came from and apologized if it was any union member. He didn't think it was and frankly would be embarassed/ashamed if it was.
Again, my thanks to the reader who submitted this email. The links and editorial notes are my own. If you attend any local meetings feel free to email me with what happened and I'll share them with others as well.
Lots of interesting issues were raised, what do you think? The building projects and tax increases that appear inevitable are going to have to be watched as carefully as possible. The tax commission may help reduce the burden on property owners by switching to an income based taxed, but of course while helping those on fixed incomes, it means others will pay more to make up the "loss". There is also the ongoing strike negotiations and now apparently some ill will amonst Board Members. What struck you as most interesting? Of most concern?
6 comments:
The most interesting part of the meeting were Ms. Callie's comments at the end.
She showed class and integrity as well as a very keen sense of what needs to be done to resolve the dispute.
The union needs to show their cards and the PSEA is endangering the effort greatly.
She showed how the board as a whole should conduct themselves in public and private meetings - with composure and respect.
That being said, I hope the union takes her advice and gets on with it - stop being spoon fed by the PSEA and actually tell the public what you want.
It has become painfully obvious that the union has no intention of making its demands public. They have a good reason for this. Their wish list simply cannot bear the light of public scrutiny.
Suppose you had a job where your employer subsidized your gasoline purchases, so that you were still paying 75 cents/gallon. The price of gas has skyrocketed in recent years, so your employer now wants you to pay $1/gallon and bear some of this increase. You become irate and proclaim this injustice to the world, only to learn that everyone else is paying over $2/gallon and they have no sympathy for your position.
This scenario is directly analogous to the health care benefits situation for the Nazareth teachers. For years they have been insulated from the skyrocketing costs of health care. Now they are being asked to bear what to everyone else seems a minimal share of the burden, and they claim this is unfair? The board did not increase health care costs, any more than they increased the price of gasoline or groceries. It's something we all have to deal with.
The union leadership is not stupid. They realize if these issues come out, along with their fantastic pension, job security, etc., they will lose the public relations battle. That's why we are seeing the current strategy of cajoling, attacking the board as tyrannical, caring about "the children", being " a family again", etc... emotional ploys unencumbered by facts.
So far, it seems the board has been handling this exactly right. It will be interesting to see how things play out.
Thanks to both for the comments. And I agree that it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
I think one thing that this situation has done is brought to light within the community some of the very big issues this district faces, primarily the building projects and coming tax increases.
As noted from the meeting we are looking at borrowing 71 million for building projects (up 21 million from the presentation that I believe was made around 12/05), with new buildings comes additional administration, staff, maintenance, utility costs etc.
This is one test to see how the Board handles itself, but the Board will need to be even more responsible when it comes to planning and managing these building projects. We need facilities that meet our needs, but don't need the architectural niceties that run costs up or change orders that add costs and delay completion.
At the school board meeting 2 weeks ago, a board member mention that member of the Naz Historical Society shoud be contacted about the new 7/8building facade. Stating the looks of the new building need to be consider to passer bys on Friedenstahl Ave(funny a huge quarry wall right across the street). He went on to ask the board to consider lookng at 5-7 facade plans to keep in line with colonial Naz. Funny this is where I say put the $$$in the teachers and education forget the more expensive building facade. Clearly the library at the ms is above and beyond the need. Notice none of the schools in the district have a historical coloniel Nazareth look. I think this will be an excuse to go all out with the new proposed media/gym center. As whatever facade is used on the new 7/8 building first will need to be followed through on the rest of new constuction. As opposed to keeping it line with the existing high school. Looks, again, looks good on the outside especially to the board members, like their pride and joy but it is the teaching on the inside that gives the students their quality education. Just say no to excess and expenses not required. Go to meeting and ask! Keep them on their toes while teaching our children needs over wants.
I, too, was wondering why the women of the board never said much and I was glad to hear Mrs. Callie spoke out. We need more women like her.
The concept of keeping building facades within the historical context of the community is great - when they are in the borough, but as far I can tell this building will be in Upper Nazareth Township.
Your right about the MS, there are how many different carpets (each cut and fit in) laid on that single floor to create a visually appealing affect. One nice one would have cost much less than the six or seven fitted in there.
And yet with all these niceties, we ran out of space again.
Thanks for reading! And if you are attending these meetings, PTA meetings, or any others, send me a note telling me what happened - as you say the more we inform one another, the better off we'll all be.
I read the article in the Express Times and wonder how the reporter could get so many of the remarks by Mrs. Callie so wrong. The reporter quoted her as saying she was "fed up" I was at the meeting and Mrs. Callie never used those words. In fact she said several times she understood the teachers frustrations. Could this be one of the levels Mrs. Callie was refering to when she said that teachers should be looking outside of the board at many levels to put their frustrations.
No wonder why Board members don't like to make public comments; the media can put quote marks around words they do not say. There were several other quotes that were wrong as well, including the one about that she spends $5000 a month on health insurance.
Will any teacher representative call the Express Times and ask that corrections be made, they were quick to stand and tell her in front of 40 people they do not support mispresentations of her integrity in this forum, will they make that make that bigger gesture in the media?
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