For those of you who did not see the comment Scott posted, I thought it deserved its own post so here it is and thanks Scott!
Sorry I took so long to post happenings from the board meeting, but here's what I've got:
Believe it or not, but all nine members were present.
I had asked about the change orders in the agenda ($80,400 approx). I asked the total change orders to date now - $206,792. This is 0.4% of the total construction cost. Also, the total contingency built into the budget was $890,000. So, we've eaten through over 20% of the contingency. Good thing is that we're most likely more than 20% through the project.
3 students were honored as National Merit Scholars - big honor. Great job.
Bond Swaps - definitely complicated. My take is that the ~22% exposure we have is to variable rate bonds. This was a $25MM bond at a rate of 4.5% at the time. They budgeted 4.99% I think. The rate stayed low and it has averaged out at just under 4.5% to date. The recommendation right now is to do nothing. It would cost about $2MM to get out of the swap.
The new resolution was passed for the remaining debt - $31MM in total. ~$23MM in new money to finish the school and ~$7MM to refinance old debt. If the market stays bad and they can't get the full bond, thy can issue bonds incrementally, borrow from the general fund (not good) or take out short term loans from local banks until the market opens up (really not good). Hope this works out.
There will be a parent meeting in January for those who have kids going to the 4/5/6 school next year, as well as some "parent nights" at the school to look around, etc.
Board policy #606, Tax Collection, was approved 9-0. See the website for the policy.
The admin will be revising the newly revised facility use policy. Apparently, groups like the PTA are getting charged for holding events, making it impossible to raise money. The board recognized the error and will refund the money and correct the policy to prevent the PTA, booster clubs and the like from getting charged.
Here's the fun part - at the very end of the meeting, Board President Ken Butz passed around a new agenda item to amend the contract with Jennings transportation. This amended contract would have NASD partially reimburse fuel costs to Jennings. HUH? Yes, you heard it right. (editorial comment - the price of gasoline at least is down 30% from the highs, not sure about diesel)
Mr. Maher (voice of reason) said that they agreed in principle to wait on this to think it over. He said Butz "really pulled a stunt" putting this in at the last minute. He insisted that the vote be tabled till next meeting at the least. Also, Mr. Maher contends that this amended contract will cost the taxpayers $400,000 extra.
Enough already, I say. The motion was amended to a motion to table the vote. The vote was tabled by a 8-1 margin (Dr. Marino the only no on tabling the vote).
That's about it. The Jennings contract will no doubt be back next week. It was suggested that they discuss it in open during the regular meeting. Pretty good idea, but I doubt it will happen. Probably not allowed.
That's enough for now. Be sure to show up Monday at 7:30 to be involved in the process. That's the only way to make change happen.
16 comments:
I have it from good authority that Dennis Riker will be hired as an assistant super at tonight's meeting. He was formerly super at Easton.
And if true, you wonder why this isn't on the agenda...
Frankly, I'm sick and tired of all the items that get added at the "last minute" and therefore, are not on the agenda.
Since the addendums to the agenda are never posted on the district website (even after the fact) no one ever knows what goes on. And this goes on way too much for it to just be one time events.
In the past couple of months, we have done this very thing (to just name a few):
(a) Hire a controversial football coach
(b) Hire an additional administrator (on a Saturday no less)
(c) Propose a renegotiation of the fuel contract with Jennings
Going back through the past 2+ years that I've been going to meetings, I can't count (that high) how many times this has occurred.
I realize that few people even go to the meetings, but I know some who at least follow the meetings (or minutes) on the district website. With all this "extra" business being conducted in this manner, people aren't aware of it.
And it just doesn't seem right...
Well said Brad. It makes you wonder the real reason the board will not post the correct agenda online for the public to view. This appears to be a "shady" practice. I would like to know if this repetitiveness of late additions to the board agenda, namely hiring decisions, could be challenged legally. I think it is worth further investigation. A call to the state and an attorney may be in order. If anyone is knowledgeable on this subject, I would love to hear feedback on it.
At tonight's meeting not only did it start an hour late even though no executive session was scheduled, but there were no fewer than 7 late addition pesonnel board resolutions added at the last minute----agree it is calculated
they did set a record for addendas to the agenda.
New contract w/ 5% raise for Dr. Lesky, hiring of a new Asst Superintendant (replacing Judi Swigart) and a few others.
I will post later more thoroughly.
The meeting was actually fast once it actually started.
That practice of "last minute or not at all" has been going on for years. A routine practice that seems too fishy and not right.
5% increase for Lesky? Are you kidding me? This guy has put us in a hole that we are not likely to get out of any time soon and the board is going to reward him with a pay increase?
Anonymous 11:08-
The board signs off on everything Dr. Lesky does. Not rewarding him would be self-indictment.
Lesky controls them much like CEOs controlled the boards of the failed companies we have read about recently. As those companies failed, the CEO's were showered with preferential treatment by their boards, at the expense of shareholders. We, the shareholders of the district, are suffering the same fate. And we, the shareholders, can blame no one but ourselves because of our abdication of the oversight of our schools and the stewardship of our tax dollars to these types of people.
Mr. Moulton -
The hiring of the football coach is, in my humble opinion, the worst of the ills you itemize. That the vote was 5-4 says as much. When was the last time they even got close to voting down a recommended hire. The lobbying efforts of the superintendent and Mr. Bradley, whose son will be the direct beneficiary of Mr. Bradley's support for the coach, was apparently enough to override common sense and concern for our children.
I heard from other parents that Ken Butz is somehow related to the Jennings. Does anyone know if this true?
Also, I thought by making all the schools have half days to accomodate the elementary students was supposed to save the distric money. Now Jennings wants us to pay for gas too? Time to go out to bid!
I heard from some parents that Ken Butz is somehow related to the Jennings. Does anyone know if this is true?
Also I thought by making all the schools on the same half day schedule this was supposed to save the district money. Now Jennings wants us to pay for gas too! Time to go out to bid!
Hopefully the board will reimburse the marching band - heard the district charged the marching band about $1500 to use the stadium for their only "home" event all season!
Marching Band is 2007 Northern States Champs, 2007 National Champs and 2007 GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPS
This is good for the district?
Jennings is owned by Mr Tom Oakes, there is no "Mr Jennings", that I know of, although that is how he was referred to by Dr Lesky at recent school board meetings
The owners of Jennings are Tom and Jan Ochs. Ollie Jennings was Jan's father, and Tom and Jan now own the company.
They live in the NASD and are very active in the community and supportive of many activities and organizations.
I'm not personally aware of a family relationship with Ken Butz.
I also don't blame them for making the request, they are looking out for the company's best interest.
The shame is our board hasn't seemed to look out for ours, and that is what they were elected to do.
Agreed. Doing business with a local tax paying company that gives back to the community and school district is not the worst way to spend our money.
Even the sanitation companies have had to add fuel surcharge. Its not like they are crying wolf. There is no doubt their costs have gone up, just like our own. And businesses do not exist to lose money. I expect the next contract will include a clause dealing with an extraordinary jump in fuel costs, regardless of who the vendor is.
If we didn't overspend in so many other areas, this really wouldn't be an issue. But, of course, we do overspend in MANY other areas..
As far as the fuel surcharge request.....
Like I said at the board meeting (which so few people were at - sad), if my garbage company or shipping company, etc. give me a fuel surcharge, I can shop around. In this case, we have no choice and no say in the contract. We elected these 9 people to do that. They have lost sight of that charge.
Also, if this new contract adds $400,000 in costs to the district (Mr. Maher's estimates), what gets cut as a result? We will be facing caps on tax increases for the next 2-3 years (good thing, but it means were borrowed up to our armpits), so that could mean program cuts. Will athletics be cut? Not a chance. Educational programs not deemed "core" will be cut. Or, clubs and activities (i.e., band or others like it) will be cut.
The board needs to be reminded that education is the first priority here.
Thinking about education being a top priority? Why is it Dr. Lesky has been sighted at local golf courses/country clubs when district events are occurring? Are our tax dollars for his salary and memberships taken out of district expenses or as we are scrimping and saving to pay taxes and buy groceries to feed our families; and are his 5% raises and more being spent on luxuries most of us can't afford? Does the Board hire so many administrators so that he can serve as a referee at wrestling meets, golf whenever it is his pleasure, teach classes at Moravian, serve on Moravian Hall Square's Board, etc? Who is running the district? Where are our tax dollars best being spent? Does the Board pay Dr. Lesky to stay out of the district so much so that they (the Board) can run the district? I don't know the answers to these questions, but I am concerned that if the bonds that are being floated are not bought on the market to pay for the new school, my taxes will skyrocket; Dr. Lesky, the Board and the administrators will laugh all the way to their resorts; and I will be funding their expensive hobbies with tax money that is needed for my groceries, children, and medical supplies. Is there a taxpayers group that can look into these areas? Is there enough interest in anyone joining/forming such a group? Or is the Nazareth community so wealthy that it is OK that we just contribute to the administrations' current behind closed doors frivolous spending trends/decisions using hard-earned taxpayer dollars that many of us are finding difficult to get during these suppressed times? The public is concerned about business CEOs and golden parachutes. Maybe we need to look right in our own backyard - at school district leaders? Don't you think that Charter schools and private schools do not look so bad when assessing the local Catholic Schools and their teachers and administrators salaries in comparison to the administrative salaries in the Nazareth School District?
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