- $45,000 to secure loose panels on the facade of Shafer, which officials stated were no danger
- $88,112 to replace 138 high school lockers, add 81 new lockers and replace 105 athletic lockers that had fallen into disrepair
- $23,000 to replace bad concrete sidewalks at Bushkill Elementary School
- $49,000 to build a supervised middle school play area
- $69,000 to replace carpeting and tile at the Lower Nazareth Elementary School and the new Nazareth Area Intermediate School
- $17,000 in change orders for new Middle School
- $2,777 for additional security cameras
- $3,026 for wiring to power the pool scorer's table sound system
- $9,223 for receptacles for hair dryers in the pool locker rooms
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
More School Board Spending
The Express-Times article on the School Board Meeting didn't mention the transportation issue, but it did mention a host of spending (read the article here).
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13 comments:
$9200 to put some receptacles in..
this is why our country is in the shape its in now..gotta be a union job..
I'm sure there is extra labor involved in installation through the imported Italian marble.
One has to ask, are all of these expenditures essential? Is public and student safety in jeopardy (maybe the sidewalks)?
These numbers add up to $291,112.
But with every board meeting, it seems like we have another spending boondoggle in that ballpark. It doesn't sound like a lot of money now, but add them up and you are talking about a lot of money.
Going back through older posts (only back to February), the NASD board has either proposed or spent the following:
Today's post: $291,112
3/25 post: $1,309,599
3/24 post: $571,000
2/3 post: $125,000
That is a total of:
$2,296,711Of actual and proposed spending in just the past 3 MONTHS!
One thing that stands out is that I have NEVER seen anything about cutbacks anywhere, just more spending.
Am I the only one that sees a problem here?
Just to point out last night the only new spending was the change in MS of 17,000. The rest of the item were approved on 3/24. Last night the board only approved the contracts to the companies, which repeated the already approved spending.
Jacob,
Thanks for pointing that out.
However, it still doesn't remove a lot from the bottom line dollar figure.
The vast majority of people have adjusted our spending habits in light of the recent economic crisis.
For some reason, our Board fails to see this crisis and continues to spend, spend, spend.
Like every tax payer in this district, the school as well as us need new things or need to update something. The difference is, we apply common sense and say "probably better not to spend today" where as the Board just writes another check which equates to more burden on us, the tax payers.
We just spent a whole lot on a new school building, and that has placed a heavy current and future burden on us. We just negotiated a very sweet deal with the teachers union, which puts a heavy current and future burden on us.
Now is the time to be responsible with tax payer money, and pay for only those items that are VITAL to safety and education.
The bells and whistles can wait until we are in a better fiscal position to pay for them.
contracts for secretaries,support staff, custodial/maintenance are coming up soon.
Cant wait to see this one.... not to insult anyone , but what does a NASD secretary make $85,000/ yr.. im just joking, but that number is probably close
NazoRanter, I COMPLETELY agree with your posts.....WHEN will the spending frenzy STOP???!!
I know we gave the power to the Board members by electing them into office, but is it crazy to ask......can we take the authority of spending AWAY from them? Can we FREEZE spending in this district?? I don't know, but something needs to be done. We are in an E-C-O-N-O-M-I-C C-R-I-S-I-S!!!!!! STOP THE SPENDING, SCHOOL BOARD! Remember, you represent US and that is what WE want.
The perpetual problem is that the Admin and Board know they can get away with doing what ever they want because a hand full of people only ever show up at a meeting (and usually when they do show up it is after the big decisions were made) and even online the comments eventually dwindle because people come to recognize they are going to do whatever they want.
The only way we are going to see change is if we hit the wall like Easton has, or if enough people run for School Board to upset the current balance of about 8-1 votes (and while I want a more responsible board, I don't want an anti-tax board that hacks away at everything).
Given the past spending and obligations for the future (debt, buildings, maintenance, etc), I'm not sure there are that many people that want to join a body that is going to have to tax the community at ridiculous rates during a time when most people are hoping to keep a job and probably not receiving any pay increases.
And don't get me wrong, I want to see change in our schools. We've lost sight of what is important - education, and I often think we've forgotten how to provide quality education.
NOC,
Very well stated.
I wonder how these members of the board can sleep at night, or face their neighbors knowing that their actions potentially could drive a home owner over the brink?
You are correct in who would want the job of having to fix the financial problems this current board has given us. There are only two options at this point. Either cut spending, or raise taxes through the roof.
At this point with the current economic climate, higher taxes just aren't an option, which means we have to cut, and unfortunately, cut deep and across the board. Administrators, teachers, and yes, sports and activities. We have to put on blinders to the special interests and do what is best for the community and the district.
If we keep driving taxes up to the point that homes start falling into foreclosure, it will drive the value of homes down, which will have the net effect of eroding the tax base (lower home values = lower tax revenues if you demand a re-assessment). Meaning less money coming into the district forcing them to tax even higher which could push even more home owners over the edge. A very vicious cycle.
How do we fix this? Cut the number of administrators to start, we have to many. Teachers, time to give back some of that sweet deal you got last year. Open your eyes to the reality of what the rest of us are facing and realize your pay increases affect each and every tax payer in a bad way. Freeze all spending unless it has a direct effect on safety. An yes, pay to play for sports and activities (only until we can get our fiscal house in order).
Everyone feels the pain, but with this, everyone is also part of the solution to the problem with a shared goal.
But being a realist and knowing our district, teachers won't give back what they got, administration will increase, and the population will cry that we can't charge to be part of an activity, so we will just continue down this road to our ultimate demise.
A big part of this I can put on the board and admin (ie new buildings, facilities, improvements, etc), but another part is due to the fact the overall educational system needs to be revamped.
We have a massive welfare state supported by taxpayers.
Here is the cycle:
Teachers with no work experience are provided employment starting low to mid $40,000 with full benefits and pension.
Teachers are required to complete masters level coursework to 24 credits.
Courses are reimbursed in full by district at state school rates, thereby filling enrollment at colleges, many of which are also tax payer supported.
Teachers receive pay raise based on credits completed and years served
With 30 credits being a masters degree most continue at least to this level
Coursework is not necessary related to current position, many get principal certificate, guidance, technology or a non-teaching specialty
The school then allows these teachers to fulfill requirements by 'following' a person in a similar position as required. While following, a substitute is brought in to cover class time. Students and taxpayers lose out, while the teacher gets certified and can then apply to other districts for employment based on investment of taxpayers
These specialty positions are filled by former teachers who are in the case of principals, placed into business management positions requiring budget and hr responsibilities of which they have no experience
Principals are also able to continue education, reimbursed, to become superintendents
Again, many apply for positions out of district, again losing the local investment in the individual
Administrators who were teachers don't have business background, have never been placed in a position where cut backs and lay-offs are common, or where they've been obligated to make a budget work based on expected revenue. Instead, they simply raise taxes.
The entire system is one in which the taxpayer spends a lot of money, most of which benefits individuals, while not providing the best management of our schools.
I'm okay with exploring the concept of centralizing top level administration on a county wide basis provided building level districts maintain their integrity and independence (ie I don't want my tax money going to Bethlehem schools).
I'd also be open with administration coming not from the ranks of teachers, but from business as well. I wouldn't exclude either. Some districts, like ours, could benefit from a more grounded, realistic approach to running a $50-$100 million dollar organization.
Why isn't there an outcry over the new proposed fieldhouse? This is a perfect situation for the community to say "NO"....and yet I don't hear it.
It is apparent that the spending cannot be stopped.
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