At the next Laurel Highlands School District board meeting, we here in the patch hope that someone pulls board member Bill Elias aside and reminds him to stop biting the hand that has fed him.
In his commentary, "Students hurt by budget cuts," (Herald-Standard.com, July 24), Elias railed against the $2 million cut in state subsidy to Laurel Highlands that "Harrisburg imposed."
While Elias correctly recited that Gov. Tom Corbett's budget "drastically short-changed public schools," he failed to make an important distinction when applying the rest of his tar and feathers.
Elias teed off on the legislature in general, ending his commentary with: "I will continue to work tirelessly to garner state support for their fair share of local school budgets. Furthermore, I ask local voters to demand our state political leaders to work tirelessly to ensure a fairer return to local school districts."
As a retired Laurel Highlands school teacher (he taught driver's ed, we hear), Elias surely knows that the Democratic legislators who have represented his school district for time immemoriam have worked tirelessly to bring big state subsidies to the district. The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the union representing teachers, is after all a key Democratic constituency.
And Elias is surely aware that not one local Democrat, in the senate or house, voted in favor of this year's state budget, largely out of protest over the cuts to education. But those Democrats are seriously outnumbered by Republicans in both chambers -- Republicans from other areas who, apparently, are working tirelessly to curtail the practice of paying for their own schools AND those like Laurel Highlands.
A May 19 news story noted that Corbett's proposed budget cut Laurel Highland's state subsidy by $2.2 million, or 9 percent. But when we checked the state Department of Education website, we found that Laurel Highlands' basic education subsidy for 2011-12 actually increased 2 percent, or $250,000, to $13 million. (The board still raised property taxes for this year.)
At least some of that state money goes toward allowing Laurel Highlands to enact a policy of paying retirees $100 for each unused sick day. We don't recall Elias speaking out on altering that policy during the recent budget discussion. Could that be because he cashed a pretty hefty check for his own unused sick days when he retired as a teacher?
The state subsidy also has allowed Laurel Highlands, in part, to continue paying family insurance coverage to early retirees until they reach age 65, at a huge cost to the district. We don't recall Elias uttering a public peep about ending this costly practice. Was he a recipient of this perk, as well?
In slightly more than 40 of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts, employees this year agreed to take a one-year pay freeze to save programs and/or avoid tax hikes. Laurel Highlands, which is still getting a pretty hefty state subsidy, was not one of them. Does Elias think it should have been?
After years and years and years of increased state subsidy, all because it qualifies as a "poor" school district, how has all that extra state cash affected the performance of the students that Elias claims are hurt by this year's budget cuts? It is a fair question, but one that few dare to ask.
In student performance on state standardized test scores, Laurel Highlands ranked 425th out of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, accordng to the Pittburgh Business Times.
http://www2.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/events/pennsylvania_schools/statewiderank.html
That is 75 spots from the bottom, out of 500. We would like to know what Elias' plan is for changing that poor ranking, other than blaming Harrisburg and asking for even more money. There doesn't appear to be any correlation between state subsidy increases and better student test scores.
In an editorial that appeared next to Elias' column, HeraldStandard.com once again called for school districts to adopt anti-nepotism policies. The only public school district in the county that has done so (Frazier) also happens to reside far from the basement when it comes to student test scores.
It is a commendable position to stake out. But it will also never happen. Too many school board members look at you like you're from another planet for even mentioning the topic.
It is easier for them to pass the buck by asking for more state bucks, just like Elias.
Showing posts with label Laurel Highlands School Board. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laurel Highlands School Board. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
All options explored?
We here in the patch are getting quite a chuckle out of the little dog-and-pony show going on as the Laurel Highlands School Board ramps up to its inevitable raising of property taxes, which we boldly predict will occur at tonight's 7 p.m. meeting.
Today's story in the Herald-Standard, "LH ponders tax increase or furloughs," reveals that LH needs $280,000 to balance its budget. Based on comments from key sources, the public gets the impression that all availabe options to close that gap are being given equal weight, including faculty furloughs and tapping the capital reserve fund.
What's missing, though, is ANY board member who has spoken up AGAINST raising taxes. We don't know if that occurred during Tuesday's planning meeting. It is possible that someone did, but it wasn't reported (our sources say this is sometimes the case).
In the story as it appeared, the stars are lining up for tax increase. First up, business manager Greg Hensh, noting that the maximum tax increase permitted under the state index would hike taxes $2.67 per $10,000 of assessed value, or $27.50 on a house assessed at $100,000.
Next up, retiring superintendent Dr. Gary Brain, noting that the district has already lost 10 to 15 teaching positions due to retirement or resignation, and he won't recommend further cuts in that area.
Third clue? Board president Angelo Giachetti said he doesn’t want to lay anyone off.
Fourth one? Solicitor Gary Frankhouser noted that borrowing from the capital reserve fund at this time could impact future tax increases.
Number five? “Twenty-seven dollars for a $100,000 home and we save our whole educational system. We can’t lose 18 teachers,” said school director Jim Tobal.
Tobal is, of course, a former teacher who retired under the district's generous retirement policy, so his bias in this area comes naturally.
It would have been very interesting -- and no doubt wold have caused a little squirming -- if the Herald-Standard had asked some questions at Tuesday's dog-and-pony show. Questions like, "Are LH administrators taking a one-year pay freeze, like the administration at the neighboring Albert Gallatin Area School District did?" And, "If they aren't, why not?"
As a public service, we here on our little blog present this story "Wage freezes reflect cold, hard reality," from the Valley News Dispatch, June 28:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_744249.html
Teachers, administrators and staff in some Alle-Kiski Valley school districts won't be taking home as much money as they may have been expecting in the new school year.
After Gov. Tom Corbett in March called on school employees to accept a one-year pay freeze, freezes and other concessions have been agreed to in a majority of area districts.
A pay freeze for the 2011-12 year was included in the new contract between the Riverview School District and its teachers. It saved the district up to $220,000, and avoided teacher furloughs or the need to balance the budget by dipping into cash reserves, said Business Manager Frank Thompson.
Please note that this pay freeze in Riverview saved the district $220,000, which is within striking distance of the $280,000 that LH needs to balance its budget.
The Valley News Dispatch also provided its readers with some other interesting facts:
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association lists 137 school entities -- including school districts, vocational-technical schools and intermediate units -- where wage freezes have been adopted for the 2011-12 year.
(Pennsylvania State Education Association spokesman Wythe) Keever said 65 out of the PSEA's 500 locals have agreed on a pay freeze. A number of others have agreed to other concessions.
At the Kiski Area School District, saving the jobs of eight furloughed teachers was an objective for their peers, who accepted a two-year freeze.
Freeport teachers agreed to cut four working days from their calendar, from 188 to 184; give up pay for extra morning duties; and freeze salaries for supplemental positions, such as serving as coaches and advisors.
At Franklin Regional (School District), the teachers union offered a wage-and-benefit package that totals $1.6 million in savings over three years. It includes increased health insurance contributions and a wage freeze beginning in 2012-13.
It seems that in the bigger world outside of Fayette County, there are a few other options beyond raiding the capital reserve fund, furloughs or raising taxes. But when board members and administrators have relatives on the payroll, a frequent occurrence in Fayette County, it's easy to understand why those other options aren't explored.
Today's story in the Herald-Standard, "LH ponders tax increase or furloughs," reveals that LH needs $280,000 to balance its budget. Based on comments from key sources, the public gets the impression that all availabe options to close that gap are being given equal weight, including faculty furloughs and tapping the capital reserve fund.
What's missing, though, is ANY board member who has spoken up AGAINST raising taxes. We don't know if that occurred during Tuesday's planning meeting. It is possible that someone did, but it wasn't reported (our sources say this is sometimes the case).
In the story as it appeared, the stars are lining up for tax increase. First up, business manager Greg Hensh, noting that the maximum tax increase permitted under the state index would hike taxes $2.67 per $10,000 of assessed value, or $27.50 on a house assessed at $100,000.
Next up, retiring superintendent Dr. Gary Brain, noting that the district has already lost 10 to 15 teaching positions due to retirement or resignation, and he won't recommend further cuts in that area.
Third clue? Board president Angelo Giachetti said he doesn’t want to lay anyone off.
Fourth one? Solicitor Gary Frankhouser noted that borrowing from the capital reserve fund at this time could impact future tax increases.
Number five? “Twenty-seven dollars for a $100,000 home and we save our whole educational system. We can’t lose 18 teachers,” said school director Jim Tobal.
Tobal is, of course, a former teacher who retired under the district's generous retirement policy, so his bias in this area comes naturally.
It would have been very interesting -- and no doubt wold have caused a little squirming -- if the Herald-Standard had asked some questions at Tuesday's dog-and-pony show. Questions like, "Are LH administrators taking a one-year pay freeze, like the administration at the neighboring Albert Gallatin Area School District did?" And, "If they aren't, why not?"
As a public service, we here on our little blog present this story "Wage freezes reflect cold, hard reality," from the Valley News Dispatch, June 28:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_744249.html
Teachers, administrators and staff in some Alle-Kiski Valley school districts won't be taking home as much money as they may have been expecting in the new school year.
After Gov. Tom Corbett in March called on school employees to accept a one-year pay freeze, freezes and other concessions have been agreed to in a majority of area districts.
A pay freeze for the 2011-12 year was included in the new contract between the Riverview School District and its teachers. It saved the district up to $220,000, and avoided teacher furloughs or the need to balance the budget by dipping into cash reserves, said Business Manager Frank Thompson.
Please note that this pay freeze in Riverview saved the district $220,000, which is within striking distance of the $280,000 that LH needs to balance its budget.
The Valley News Dispatch also provided its readers with some other interesting facts:
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association lists 137 school entities -- including school districts, vocational-technical schools and intermediate units -- where wage freezes have been adopted for the 2011-12 year.
(Pennsylvania State Education Association spokesman Wythe) Keever said 65 out of the PSEA's 500 locals have agreed on a pay freeze. A number of others have agreed to other concessions.
At the Kiski Area School District, saving the jobs of eight furloughed teachers was an objective for their peers, who accepted a two-year freeze.
Freeport teachers agreed to cut four working days from their calendar, from 188 to 184; give up pay for extra morning duties; and freeze salaries for supplemental positions, such as serving as coaches and advisors.
At Franklin Regional (School District), the teachers union offered a wage-and-benefit package that totals $1.6 million in savings over three years. It includes increased health insurance contributions and a wage freeze beginning in 2012-13.
It seems that in the bigger world outside of Fayette County, there are a few other options beyond raiding the capital reserve fund, furloughs or raising taxes. But when board members and administrators have relatives on the payroll, a frequent occurrence in Fayette County, it's easy to understand why those other options aren't explored.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Watch your wallet in Mustang country
We knocked on the door of House 222 here in the patch, and asked 99-year-old Stutta Bubba if we could again borrow her crystal ball to make a quick prediction.
"Vat for?" she wanted to know. "And make it quick. I am in middle of making halushki."
When we told her that we wanted to predict whether the Laurel Highlands School Board would be raising property taxes, Stutta Bubba slammed the door in our face. "You don't need crystal ball to make dat prediction. It is done deal."
Based upon what board members and administrators are saying, and more importantly are not saying, we would have to agree with the patch matriarch.
All school districts in Pennsylvania are struggling, because the increased state operating subsidy they count on like clockwork isn't going to automatically roll in this year. That means some tough choices have to be made.
Gov. Tom Corbett has asked all school district employees, including administrators and teachers, to accept a one-year pay freeze in order to help out. Your chance of winning the Powerball drawing is greater than seeing even two Fayette County school districts agree to that.
Another option is to cut staff. That's going to be tough in a county where one of the unspoken duties of a school board member is, in many cases, to be a job creator for family members. It would be easier to find a coal baron still living in Brownsville than to find a board member willing to sacrifice the gainful employment of his or her relative(s).
Which brings us to option number three, raising taxes. And that's what leads us to boldly predict that Laurel Highlands property owners are about to get soaked.
In the story "LH board struggling with budget," published in the Herald-Standard on June 2, the public relations groundwork for this tax hike was plainly laid down.
The first clue comes in the lead paragraph: Even if the Laurel Highlands School District puts every penny of its estimated $2.9 million fund balance into the 2011-12 budget, it will still have a $900,000 shortfall.
This gives the subliminal impression that the school board is in such dire straits, it may have no choice but to raise taxes.
The next clue is this quote from board member Jim Tobal: “It seems like we can get through this year, but if we spend all of our fund balance, where will we be next year?” Tobal is softening up the tax hike beach, even though he has no real clue what the state subsidy will be two years from now. He should solve this year's budget crisis and cross next year's budget bridge when he comes to it. Also, as a retired LH schoolteacher and thus a recipient of the district's generous retirement policies, Tobal is used to seeing the money roll in from one source or another year after year.
The third clue comes from LH curriculum director Randy Miller, who said, “We’re not just looking at the cuts, we’re also looking at how we can bring in additional income.” You can bet your sweet bippy that the "additional income" Miller speaks of isn't going to be generated by a hoagie sale, hosting bingo in the auditorium or passing the hat at the next football game.
While Miller did say the school district is looking into the possibility of layoffs, we doubt that those will amount to much if they even occur. If anyone gets the ax, look for it to be support staff like janitors and cafeteria workers, not administrators. And we have a sneaky suspicion that anyone who has a strong board connection will still be collecting a paycheck when the dust clears.
Part of the problem with Laurel Highlands is in its generous policies, like the one that provides retirees with $100 for each unused sick day. What private employer in Fayette County provides a benefit like that?
Another part of the problem, for Fayette County school districts in general, is that they give out multi-year contracts to employees that are predicated on steady increases in state subsidy. When that fails to happen, as appears to be the case this year, they inevitably turn to the taxpayers with the explanation that, "We have all these fixed costs, so we have no choice but to raise taxes."
That is a lie. They have other options, which include, in order: laying off employees, reopening contracts to reduce wages and benefits, and negotiating new contracts predicated on current economic realities.
We wish the Herald-Standard would have the courage to do some simple math and inform the public just how much of a millage rate increase would be required to close an existing $900,000 deficit. That would give people at least a rough idea of what is lurking around the corner.
"Vat for?" she wanted to know. "And make it quick. I am in middle of making halushki."
When we told her that we wanted to predict whether the Laurel Highlands School Board would be raising property taxes, Stutta Bubba slammed the door in our face. "You don't need crystal ball to make dat prediction. It is done deal."
Based upon what board members and administrators are saying, and more importantly are not saying, we would have to agree with the patch matriarch.
All school districts in Pennsylvania are struggling, because the increased state operating subsidy they count on like clockwork isn't going to automatically roll in this year. That means some tough choices have to be made.
Gov. Tom Corbett has asked all school district employees, including administrators and teachers, to accept a one-year pay freeze in order to help out. Your chance of winning the Powerball drawing is greater than seeing even two Fayette County school districts agree to that.
Another option is to cut staff. That's going to be tough in a county where one of the unspoken duties of a school board member is, in many cases, to be a job creator for family members. It would be easier to find a coal baron still living in Brownsville than to find a board member willing to sacrifice the gainful employment of his or her relative(s).
Which brings us to option number three, raising taxes. And that's what leads us to boldly predict that Laurel Highlands property owners are about to get soaked.
In the story "LH board struggling with budget," published in the Herald-Standard on June 2, the public relations groundwork for this tax hike was plainly laid down.
The first clue comes in the lead paragraph: Even if the Laurel Highlands School District puts every penny of its estimated $2.9 million fund balance into the 2011-12 budget, it will still have a $900,000 shortfall.
This gives the subliminal impression that the school board is in such dire straits, it may have no choice but to raise taxes.
The next clue is this quote from board member Jim Tobal: “It seems like we can get through this year, but if we spend all of our fund balance, where will we be next year?” Tobal is softening up the tax hike beach, even though he has no real clue what the state subsidy will be two years from now. He should solve this year's budget crisis and cross next year's budget bridge when he comes to it. Also, as a retired LH schoolteacher and thus a recipient of the district's generous retirement policies, Tobal is used to seeing the money roll in from one source or another year after year.
The third clue comes from LH curriculum director Randy Miller, who said, “We’re not just looking at the cuts, we’re also looking at how we can bring in additional income.” You can bet your sweet bippy that the "additional income" Miller speaks of isn't going to be generated by a hoagie sale, hosting bingo in the auditorium or passing the hat at the next football game.
While Miller did say the school district is looking into the possibility of layoffs, we doubt that those will amount to much if they even occur. If anyone gets the ax, look for it to be support staff like janitors and cafeteria workers, not administrators. And we have a sneaky suspicion that anyone who has a strong board connection will still be collecting a paycheck when the dust clears.
Part of the problem with Laurel Highlands is in its generous policies, like the one that provides retirees with $100 for each unused sick day. What private employer in Fayette County provides a benefit like that?
Another part of the problem, for Fayette County school districts in general, is that they give out multi-year contracts to employees that are predicated on steady increases in state subsidy. When that fails to happen, as appears to be the case this year, they inevitably turn to the taxpayers with the explanation that, "We have all these fixed costs, so we have no choice but to raise taxes."
That is a lie. They have other options, which include, in order: laying off employees, reopening contracts to reduce wages and benefits, and negotiating new contracts predicated on current economic realities.
We wish the Herald-Standard would have the courage to do some simple math and inform the public just how much of a millage rate increase would be required to close an existing $900,000 deficit. That would give people at least a rough idea of what is lurking around the corner.
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