To The Editor,
For what its worth, I attended the recent regular school board meeting at Patton middle school on May 17th and thought you might appreciate reading my observations and analysis.
First off, I must say that I was impressed with all members of the board. Several members seem to play the roll of the “bad cop” but that (in my opinion) is healthy and brings balance to the nine-member body and helps to counter some of the more confrontational audience members.
I had met several of the board members in the past and I read the school board web-site regularly but this was my first time attending the actual school board meeting. I came away with the impression that all of the members are dedicated, thoughtful, DELIBERATE, and 100% committed to giving our children the best possible education, while at the same time being fiscally responsible.
It was clear to me that the board also realizes that just as important as educating our children is the ability of future generations to pay for the decisions they/we make today.
To set the scene, the UCFSD basic budget is allocated approximately as follows:
71%: Personnel Costs (salary, health, retirement plan, etc.)
11%: Debt Service (principle & interest payments on loans)
18%: All remaining costs (books, supplies, programs, etc.)
As you can see, with a scant 18% of the budget remaining for discretionary spending, the school board has a fiduciary responsibility, and as part of their required due-diligence, must periodically look at all possibilities when trying to stretch the budget dollar. They look at everything.
To make this point, retiring school Superintendent Sharon Parker gave the example that they actually looked at selling the school system’s vast art collection valued at over $200,000 to make ends meet. In a sense they are looking under the couch cushions to find extra change.
Of the many topics discuss during the 3-hour meeting, I will address the three that I feel are creating the most controversy/alarm.
1. Superintendent Sharon Parker’s Retirement:
Despite what you may have read, Sharon Parker is not resigning, she is RETIRING. At age 64 (?), the long work weeks have become to much for her. Add to that the health issues associated with being a senior citizen (sorry Ms. Parker), and it is no wonder she wants to end her long, accomplished career, relax, and spent more time with her family.
At this meeting Superintendent Parker directly refuted some peoples notion that “the school board doesn’t support her, leaving her with no choice but to resign”. Nothing could be further from the truth.
It fact, the Superintendent and the school board went out of their way to emphatically reiterated their deep, mutual respect and appreciation for each other.
No retirement date has been set and Superintendent Parker said she will remain at her post until a suitable replacement has been found.
2. Elementary School Re-alignments:
> Not gonna happen,
Since the school board must be pro-active to keep future education costs sustainable, they must be realistic enough to look-at and plan-for worst case scenarios. Anyway…I guess at the last school board meeting the results of this feasability study was discussed or mentioned. Due to PA “Sunshine” laws and this boards’ great desire to be open, public, and inclusive, the disclosure that this nascent study even existed caused a deserved and corresponding panic.
Last night the school board said it is NOT even being considered and I believe it is just a remote doomsday plan. There is no vote scheduled or pending on this scary option and I believe it will be quickly put in a drawer.
The bottom line is, I think we can relax and breathe a collective sigh of relief on the re-realignment issue. Of course that is not to say don’t be involved, engaged, or part of the checks and balances that make our school system so great.
3. Privatization of the School District Transportation Department (our school buses):
> Possible but very unlikely.
Our school system is the only one remaining in Chester County that owns and operates It’s own school bus fleet (a point of pride for all of us).
Apparently privatization in the surrounding school districts has brought mixed results, dubious savings, and in some cases, deep regret for liquidating such a valuable asset.
There is more to it then this but in a nutshell: There were 5 proposals (bids) that were considered. The best bidder would save the school system the miniscule amount of approximately $146,00 a year over 5 years if we privatized our bus system.
What is great is that since the study to privatize the buses began, the drivers and administrators of the transportation department have found over $200,000 in savings by becoming more efficient and in some cases voluntarily taking less pay. Several of these employees testified last night and it was very emotional indeed. I get a sense that they love their jobs and love our kids even more. This is something you won’t get from a private for-profit company. Our experienced, caring drivers are an intangible resource that more than makes up for the scant savings associated with privatizing this capital asset.
With the exception of one board member (the bad cop), the board doesn’t seem to see the benefit of liquidating our great transportation department. One of the board members said it was akin to “selling your car to a dealer and then leasing it back from him”
Please support our drivers and tell them how much you appreciate them. They feel they are on the chopping block to the lowest bidder and want to resolve this issue asap. Make them some cookies too.
The board will vote on this issue as soon as possible and it should happen sometime before June 6. Please email the board members and ask them not to privatize our bus system. I believe they have already come to this conclusions but it won’t hurt to let them know how you feel.
I applaud the school board for putting all options on the table but I also thank them for making informed, fact based, and sound decisions.
The elephant in the room:
For 16 months now, the teachers union bosses and our school board have not been able to agree on a labor contract.
The school board is offering a generously averaged 3.5% pay raise each year for 3 years. Add to this the ballooning and unsustainable costs of the teachers union retirement plan (PSERS) and their exploding health care costs.
Our school district is approximately the 29th highest paid out of over 500 school districts in PA. The average salary for our 330 teachers is over $74,000 per year. 70 of the 330 teachers make the maximum at over $101,000 per year.
With national unemployment at 9% and our economy in shambles, why are the teacher’s union bosses demanding an averaged 5.6% pay raise each year for 3 years? (a 17% raise over 3 years).
Why are they NOT willing to pay more into their retirement system and health care plan?
I’ll tell you the answer: The teacher’s union bosses are trying to double-fist the 18% remaining in the school budget cookie jar. Like most public-sector unions, they always try to take more than their fair share and they don’t care where the money comes from (they just want more).
While these teacher union bosses sit on their hands, our school system is sinking into a sea of red, as everyone else (except them) is bailing water.
The contrast between the shared sacrifice of our school bus drivers and the teacher union bosses’ greed is astonishing.
Many militant supporters of the teacher’s union regularly attend/disrupt the school board meetings. They wildly agitate anytime someone approaches their bowl of gravy. I would strongly encourage anyone interested to attend these school board meetings to counter the generational theft being committed against our children.
Not many parents or taxpayers show up. They are open, inclusive meetings, and they allow public comment.
Respectfully
Ray Farrell
Pocopson Twp.
ucfsd Teacher, administrators will work the same days and not receive any pay increase despite having an agreement to receive two percent. Instead of reopening our agreement, administrators felt the furlough was the best option. In hindsight, I regret that decision if it has caused some to question the motivation of a group of committed employees who care about maintaining the best for our students, parents, and staff. By the way, this will be the second year administrator’s pay is frozen. This current year, no furlough, no pay increase, no fanfare. Please remember, everyone, that there are real people behind the comments you make.
Dear ucfsd Teacher,
Please post your examples of how:
1. The teachers union bosses are “trying very hard to keep costs down”.
and
2. The teachers union bosses have “supported” the bus drivers and service staff.
Hopefully one of your examples will read something like this:
“The teachers union negotiators have enthusiastically agreed to sacrifice half of their increases in pay & benefits so our deserved bus drivers and service staff will no longer be “gouged” & “underpaid”.
Ray Farrell
Pocopson Twp.
Dear ucfsd Teacher,
Enough with the old “bashing teachers” & “hard working” union boss talking points you screech every time someone fingers the unsustainable greed of public-sector labor unions like the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA).
Since you brought it up; If you don’t mind, name me several concrete and meaningful examples where the teachers union bosses are “working very hard to keep costs down”.
While your’e at it, do the same thing for the buss drivers and service staff. Other than lip service and supportive clapping, give me several meaningful and concrete examples where the teachers union bosses have “supported” these people.
Being told no by a school board that won’t let the union bosses double-fist the cookie jar anymore is not the definition of being “slammed”.
News alert to union bosses: You are not entitled to automatic pay raises and endless increases in benefits every year, especially during these difficult economic times. Be happy you have great paying jobs and stop whining all the time. It is not the union bosses’ school system, it is owned by the forgotten taxpayer and you work for us.
Thank god the School board is saying “no” to higher, crushing taxation.
Ray Farrell
Pocopson Twp.
Dear Ray,
Are you kidding? Crushing taxation? Forgotten taxpayers? Union bosses? This taxpayer is grateful for what the teachers in our district do (most of what you will never know), and the scores that keep people moving to our district. Thankfully we will have three new people on the ballot for school board director in November…two that were last minute write-ins I might add. There is hope for those of us who value our teachers and the programs that are in plac to make our children’s education the best it can be. In my opinion the current school board has begun to micro-manage every facet of the administration, teachers, and stakeholders. And make no mistake, you ARE bashing the teachers, support staff, bus drivers, and all workers who make UCFSD a community. Do you have children? Did they go to our schools? Your hostile tone is uncalled for, especially since you only choose to paint some of the true picture. You certainly are entitled to your opinion, but perhaps you should get more of your facts straight. And, let us know if your children benefitted from an education here…
Deleted at poster’s request.
I liked your comments until you started to bash the teachers. First of all if the board is offering 3%per year – we would take it – Done. That is not the whole truth. The “union bosses” as you say, are also hard working teachers from k-12 who are trying very hard to keep costs down too. Who have been lied to and slammed for a year at the negotiating table. In fact one of the first offers to the board over a year ago suggested a 0% tax increase or cost increase to district with 1% raises -board said NO. Look it up.
If you are referring to teacher applause as disruptive during meetings – really? You admitted to only attending one meeting, so hopefully you will attend more to get the full effect of the interaction.
There are NOT 70 teachers making $101,000. There are other salaries at the “top”. I’ll get you the figures for next week.
The teachers have supported the bus drivers and the service staff, who in my opinion are the most underpaid group and recently gouged with a new costly health care plan and a pitiful 1% raise of a poor salary. We appreciate all they do. The administrators will be working 5 less days next year with a pay increase which works out to appear like a pay freeze-give me a break. Tell it like it is UCF. We are not asking for the 5.6% you mention either.
Yes this is YOUR opinion and above is mine. That is the great part of the USA. We hope the public will attend the board meetings and get informed too. For the facts look at the ucfea.org website.
I’m not sure where the above poster, UCF Teacher, got his or her numbers, but they are wrong.
I’m going to take these figures directly from the union’s submission to the neutral state Fact Finder. These are the numbers calculated and submitted by the union leadership; not the district
Salary Increase
year 1: 2.08%
year 2: 3.97%
year 3: 3.96%
Compensation Increase (salary+benefits)
year 1: 2.44%
year 2: 4.95%
year 3: 6.54%
I’m not sure where UCF Teacher’s 1% fairly tale number came from, but I’d sure like to know.
UCF Teacher also emphatically states, “There are NOT 70 teachers making $101,000”. When bargaining began over a year ago there were exactly 70 teachers making $101,427. Now, because of retirements or resignations since that time, the number has been reduced to 62. Again, these are not the district’s numbers; these are the numbers directly from the union leadership.
UCF Teacher bemoans the “gouging” of the “underpaid” bus drivers and service staff. It should be understood that when one employee segment that represents 50% of the overall expenditure pie (the union) asks for far above inflation compensation increases (an average 4.64% for each of 3 years) it leaves very little left over for others. I applaud the bus driver, the other support staff members and the administrators for bringing their compensation requests in line with the difficult economic environment we all are experiencing.
.
Notes:
1. The numbers quoted above are on documents submitted to the Fact Finder by the union. After I check to make sure they are public records I would be happy to release them.
2. The union and the district have slightly different costing methods. If the District’s costing method is used, the percentage increase number are even higher.