"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."
- Pastor Martin Niemöller
Amidst the celebrations and merrymaking of St. Patrick’s Day, New Jersey State delivered a very sobering reality - the state is broke and cuts in state aid for school districts are going to be much deeper than anticipated. State aid for the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District will be slashed $2,917,577, about $1.2 million more than projected.
There will once again be calls for higher efficiencies, higher taxes, anything but the only solutions that will actually close the budget gap – reduced personnel and program cuts.
Once again, the ball is in the teachers union’s court. Will the MRTA agree to wage and benefits concessions to save jobs? They didn’t do it for the 73 employees previously slated to be terminated. Will they do it for the bus drivers who came to the last board meeting? Will they do it for the teacher aides, the non-tenured staff, the child study teams, the guidance counselors, the computer instructors, the librarians, the secretaries . . .
Will they agree to lower stipends so we can continue to fund after-school programs and athletics?
The union membership loves our children and they love their colleagues. They would agree to small concessions to save jobs and programs in a heartbeat. But will they be given that option?
Carl Kosmyna, you have a rare opportunity to craft your own legacy. Will you be remembered as the union leader who marched your most vulnerable members off a cliff or will you be the hero to the Matawan-Aberdeen community and your colleagues?
We are all awaiting your decision. >>> Read more!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The St. Patty’s Day Massacre
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166 comments:
Or perhaps O'Malley and the rest of the administration in this district (both Central and at the schools) will realize that cuts need to be made with the ridiculous amount of fat in district administration. Stop cutting teachers! Students are DIRECTLY affected by that. Losing SEVERAL administrators in our district would help close the gap between what we can afford and what we cannot. Stop putting it all on the union and the teachers. It's getting old, and all your inflammatory rhetoric is doing nothing to change that.
Okay, show me how we can cut $1.2 million from the administration. That would be about 9 administrators.
That's all fine and well, and what concessions will our Superintendent be making? What ever happened to leaders leading by example in this Country? Im not an employee just a tax payer, but the way I see it is whats good for the little guy should be good for the big guy too! Concessions should have been made at the top, but the chance to craft that legacy has now passed! Thanks largely in part to the great philosopher who hosts this blog!
As you have suggested, tough times demand tough decisions. There are at least three non-tenured administrators in the district between the high school and the middle school (four, actually...the guy who was moved to Cliffwood Elementary too) - cut them and you are on your way to making up some of the money. Not all, but some. And that's a hell of a lot of teachers (who directly impact students) you can keep. The middle school principal is retiring, so move one of the tenured high school admins over there. You put more demands on remaining administration and hold them accountable, those who want to work will stay and those don't/can't will retire (there are plenty of them).
only 9 administrators equals 36 custodial salary?
There's a huge cost difference between eliminating a position and outsourcing it.
Okay, so the previous anon wants to promote two of the tenured vice principals to principal.
Let's have their names. Who do you feel would be the most qualified?
Isn't O'Malley being paid a lot of money to figure that out? I would imagine that he would be best qualified to determine who would be the best for that based upon their evaluations.
Yup. And Dr. O'Malley decided to put the best qualified people in the principal positions, not the best qualified tenured people. And I agree with his decision.
Interesting how so many want to call the shots but so few want to pull the trigger.
Aberdeener,
Do you have any sympathy for the custodial workers who have only months or a year to reach 25 years of service and have the age to retire? Why can't something be done for these people? They have worked almost half of their lives to keep the schools clean, presentable, and a safe place to learn.
That's fine, and I agree with that decision to put the best people in those positions (obviously). But why is it that teachers and programs are the focus of cuts, and not administrators too?
I've had several discussions with Dr. O'Malley about reducing the number of administrators.
The problem is that all the non-tenured administrators are very good at their jobs and we've not found any way to remove tenured administrators.
To use one example, I am very happy with Ms. Irons as the business administrator but she doesn't have tenure. We could fire her and downgrade Joel Glastein to business administrator. We'd save about $160,000. I don't think that would be a good move.
As for the custodians, we are allowed to save jobs according to seniority. How many custodians are we talking about that are near retirement and have seniority in the district?
I know of at least one custodian who falls into the category. Please take a look at this. He deserves to be treated with respect for his service to the district.
I agree with you. I'll see what I can do.
I just want to hear what you have to say about leading by example. I understand that tough decisions have to be made, and that sometimes that includes cutting peoples jobs. Those are tough decisions that Im sure our Superintendent took no joy in making. But negotiating a higher salary and an extended contract in sinc with firing people potentially ruining their lives as they know it, I will never understand! This is a great indication of ones character, and I dont like what I see one bit!
Mr Warren, you lost me there!
How much money is being saved by outsourcing the custodial staff?
When Mike Kalvon was superintendent the state gave us money to reduce the number of administrators we had. He reduced them down to the bare minimum and we received funds. That may not be an option for payment anymore but it's still feasible for it's immediate cost savings.
Also- the suggestion from another poster about replacing some non-tenured principals with some lower earning vice principals could work too. There are a lot of teachers with principal certificates that could take their places for savings.
Dr. O'Malley got a contract extension, not a raise.
As for the custodians, projections are a $500,000 savings this year and up to $1 million dollars savings each following year.
Are you putting the outsourcing out to a contract bid? I hope you do your homework and only contract for one year at a time. I can guarantee you are going to have problems.
Why not outsource the district office?
Aberdeener..... however you want to call it OMalley will continue to get his 3,000.00 dollar increase yearly guaranteed until 2014 plus a (good job) increase if the board deems.
I call that raises and nice ones at that
Are we currently pursuing federal assistance by way of education or green initiative grants for which the district may be eligible?
We do apply for grants but not as many as we could. However, we also need to be leery of those temporary grants that fund the creation of permanent programs.
Ok, avoid my leadership question! Let's say he didn't get a raise. Did he make any concessions? You started this blog out by talking about legacy's and concessions. Im asking you, what concessions has our Superintedent made? You see its quite simple when a ship is sinking the Captain is supposed to be the last one off of the ship. By not making any concessions, extending his contract, and seeing to it that his salary will continue to increase, it looks to me like our Captain jumped off the sinking ship before anyone else even had a chance. All of that without ever even getting his feet wet! If I am seeing this all wrong please someone explain it to me so I can understand!
Under his old contract, Dr. O'Malley was able to cash in unused vacation days. The county superintendent indicated she would allow him to keep that provision.
Surrendering that right cost Dr. O'Malley more money than the $3,000 increases he's getting over the two-year extension.
Pay the man what he deserves to run the district and better educational opportunities. But Joel, Wayne and others stay? That is the true crime in this district. They know no shame.
We should be pursuing federal assistance to clean up the beach. Its a disaster area.
For those that haven't noticed, O'Malley isn't making $1.2 million, and his position isn't about to be eliminated. You can quibble all you want about the 1.5% salary increases he's taking in lieu of payouts for vacation days not taken, but it's not going to make a damn bit of difference in the budget.
Here is how to cut over 1.2 million from administration. What about the building that administration is housed in. More than half of the building is not being used at a large expense to the district. The other half doesn't need cozy offices at such an expense. Close it and move the administration somewhere else that costs a lot less.
Joey,
Up to this point in the budget process you have assured us that Dr. O'Malley has reviewed all areas of the budget prior to addressing staff reductions. You both agree teacher reductions were the last resort as they should be. Since we should take you at your word and their is no place else to cut in the budget, and you both refuse to make cuts in the administration area, it only leaves one to assume you will be cutting another twenty teachers. 1.2 million dollars in additional cuts = 20 teachers on the conservative side. This type of leadership becomes questionable.
Not exactly. Program and service cuts were a last resort. They still are.
Also, don't assume the administration is immune. I agree we have more administrators than we need. Wait till Monday to see where the axe falls. Everything is still in flux.
Aberdeener,
I had the custodians age wrong. He is close to 25 years but he does not have the age. Seems to be a shame that after almost 25 years of service he has to start over. Sorry for the misinformation.
Abeerdeener you are a big bag of wind , see what I can do , lets see if we send the district children to china for education and we can provide housing too for what it cost here now that inovative think , just tell the kids its a fie3ld trip
Prior Anon,
You still made a good point. I intend to look into it. There may be others.
Bet you wish you had that football field money now , maybe we can sell the turf as a commeberitive piece,s of the state championship now that s an IDEA whooopie
here is your comment about Joel explain why not a good move do you think Joel is not competant
To use one example, I am very happy with Ms. Irons as the business administrator but she doesn't have tenure. We could fire her and downgrade Joel Glastein to business administrator. We'd save about $160,000. I don't think that would be a good move
Hey, FEMA's in New Jersey doing assessments of storm damage. We should get them to look at our shoreline at the beach and sea wall. The might pay for it.
For some of the posters who may not be aware of the State requirements that mandate the specific number of administrators that ANY district must have based on enrollment and the certification requirements for being able to hold a particular position: The State dictates the exact number of assistant principals required in a building based on the number of children enrolled in that building, in the lower levels I believe it is around 5 or 600, and then there must be an assistant principal. I am not sure of the #'s at the middle or high school levels. As for shifting around administrators willy nilly, it is not that simple, if a person is not properly certified for a position or lacks any experience in a certified area ( sometimes the state sells certs in a "bundle" deal) that can end up COSTING us money and doing damage in the long/short term. If anyone remembers this district just delt with three improperly certified employees just last year. The damage will take years to undue educationally, financially and systemically. So, while there may be a few administrators who can be moved or removed without causing more problems in the future, it is simply not as simple as it sounds. I am also rather tired of this stupid "$3,000.00" issue concerning the Superintendent, as someone acurrately pointed out earlier, it is a drop in the perverbial bucket compared to 2.9million dollars. I happen to agree with a poster from yesterday, let EVERYONE give up cost of living adjustments this year. Across the board, O'Malley, Principals, other administrators,teachers, whoever. The sad fact is once the State and Feds take their share, none of them would miss it anyway. People have to face facts here, none of this is Warren's fault,the board's fault or O'Malley's fault, hell, it isn't completely the local union's fault. This is the cost of years of overspending,pay-to-play,favors and on and on, both here and across the state. It could not last forever and now it has come to bare. I for one do hope that this union is smarter than some and agrees to stay flat this year, maybe they could save teachers jobs. Afterall, isn't the district in the "business" of education?
lAST POSTER WAS PROBPLY THE MOST REASONABLE ONE I HAVE SEEN , I HOPE THAT IF THE UNION STAYS FLAT THEY SAVE JOBS NOT JUST MONEY , I AGREE THREE THOUSAND IS A DROP IN BUCKET BUT REALLY THREE MILLION IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY THAT WOULD RAISE YOUR TAX MORE THAN A HUNDRED BUCKS AND EVERYONE IS SOMEWHAT HAPPY THE PROBLEM IS THE WAY WE FUND SCHOOLS WITH PROPERTY TAX , MULTI DWELLINGS ASSEST ABOUT THE SAME AS SINGLE BUT PEOPLE LOAD UP APARTMENTS WITH 3 BEDROOMS HOUSING WITH SISTER BROTHER GRAN CHILDREN AND HAVE 5 PEOPLE USING THE SCHOOL AND PAYING 6000.00 TAX BILL AND RECEIVING 60,000.00 WORTH OF EDUCATION THATS A LOST OF 54,000.00 PER HOUSE THAT IS DOING THIS SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO GET WITH TOWN COUNSEL AND VERIFY ADDRESSES WITH OCCUPANCY OF RESIDENTS , I SEE IT IN MY NEIGBORHOOD 3 MEXICAN FAMILIES RENTING ONE HOUSE . YES I AM YELLING DID NOT FORGET CAP LOCKS PEOPLE ARE NOT PAYING THERE FAIR SHARE AND LOW INCOME DISTRICTS LIKE ASBURY COST TWICE AS MUCH TO RUN
I thought the point to cutting the aid was to force the school districts to make it up with the so called "emergency funds" that they are required to have. No?
Also does the school district have a "Chain of command"? I would be interested to see how many admin there are along with secretaries. I agree there are definately admin that can go.
Cut the fat lady who eats pig nuckles five of her six hour days. can't do that, sharpton would have a fit!
Let's not get personal or nasty. Let's think of other ways. What about any savings to redistrict back the way it was? Neighborhood schools cut down on busing costs. What about using our fields to hold tournaments, concerts or events for profit? What about using our schools at night to hold classes for adults for profit? I like the idea of moving Central office to a smaller building but where would you put preschool? And what about combining our district with some others close by like Keyport? Couldn't we reduce expenditures that way like the Freehold Regional District?
The township has already applied to get help from FEMA for the beach area clean up.
Charter Schools are the long term answer as the governor suggests. This
school system is broken and it needs a radical fix. Too expensive for the service it delivers!
Freehold is a bad example. They're looking to raise taxes by 8%.
As mentioned, there are ways we can try to raise revenue next year but we can't budget with the expectation that we might raise more funds.
As for merging with other school districts, it's a complex issue considering all the different labor contracts and I don't know that larger school districts are more efficient. It's certainly not something that can be implemented in the next couple of months.
As for closing One Crest Way, it's an interesting thought but I don't know if we have the additional capacity in the other buildings.
Space in other schools would be great but that will just be used as an excuse to not do it. Commerical real estate, especially office space is cheap right now and the perfect time to downsize an enourmous expense. Let Carl give you a deal on his office space. He can do it with his union while we can't? This could save a lot of money but the excuses for not doing it will be many, especially because of who will be affected by it. Someone needs to start thinking out of the box and get out of their comfort zone.
What is the total estimated cost to keep One Crest Way open all year with no instruction taking place? Also, has the union come up with any concessions before the budget is put in place Monday night?
The union has been pushing their members to call for a 4% tax increase.
They're asking for concessions from the taxpayers but none from themselves.
As for One Crest Way, the main costs are maintenance, cleaning, and electric. We don't have those numbers broken out by building but I could ask for a ballpark figure.
Mr. Warren can you answer this. Gov said he would sign a bill to limit the cap of vacation time and sick time for public employees. If I am not mistaken he will sign that bill next week. So why would you and the Boe vote for a contract extension because he agreed to that cap?
I personally applaud the Gov everyone must share the burden, Dr O salary and all township employees and teachers salary should be frozen. no raises at all this year...
The extension is to keep O'Malley around. It was a personnel decision, not a financial one.
O'Malley's raise is contractual. With or without the extension, he was getting the 3K raise.
FYI. "Paddy" is a racial slur. Its St. Patty's Day. Patty for Patrick.
You're right. My apologies. I've edited the title.
When is the next board meeting?
Look if everyone on here would go to a b.o.e meeting then they would have to listen to us. How about if we picket the schools. We have more power as a whole the anyone realizes. Please go to a meeting and have your voice herd. Stand up for the childern and yourselves.
O'Malley may be one of the highest paid Superintendents in comparison to the size of our school district. Great job.... give him more of our tax payers dollars.
He'll be gone soon and you can be back to the past ways-low test scores, high taxes and high teacher morale. Good luck to you, I'm moving!
How is it with all of these assistant principals and stipends for the drivers ed guy and more, that paying O'Malley what he is worth is so terrible. I get the whole timing thing and all but look at what we pay coaches who are also athletic directors and assistant principals, all wrapped up into one salary.
Do they have the responsibility for the entire school system or its $64,000,000.00 budget? The whole thing is screwed up from Washington DC to Trenton to Matawan and Aberdeen, but the solution will be no better with the unions and everyone wanting their special program or teacher saved at any cost.
Many of us are greedy and as a society we have wanted it all and have cared little what the cost is. That time is over. Don't blame O'Malley for the debt we have to pay that is built into our debt service and bonding. Go out and hunt Quinn and BARZA down and berate them since they were a big part of it all. They left the mess that O'malley has now along with the taxpayers. The same goes for anyone and everyone in the State House in Trenton even one day before Chris Christie took his oath of office. They are too blame for all of it.
I apologize for being the realist in the room. I will not apologize for pointing out the obvious and who is to blame for the disgraceful signs that say "Vote for the school budget" and "it is for the children".
I agree Joe. And Dr. O'Malley has NEVER complained about the mess. He just goes about his business and keeps on cleaning it up.
I guess it was Barza and Quinn who put every school district in New Jersey in the same situation. Not defending, just talking the real reality. They bloated the budget, leaving O'Malley room to work. The blame game solves nothing at this point. Living in the past to confirm your hatred solves nothing. If we have to much administration it is O'Malleys job to fix. He will not. If salaries and stipends are to high, he is the one that wanted the board to settle the last contract. Lets see what he does with this one, that's all that matters now. How he handles THIS budget will be the true test of what he is worth, and only time will tell if he makes the right decisions on where to make cuts. That is where a little more experience may have come in handy. When we have better graduation rates, better SAT scores, more consistent test score improvements, less dropouts, a clearer financial picture of being able to do more with less, better public and employee moral, that's when, he should be rewarded for his services. He may be the man, but he hasn't proven it yet.
Perhaps One Crest Way could be used as an alternative placement for students who need a more "hands on" approach to learning. They could gain job skills while completing their education. This would rid the schools of students who make it impossible for their peers to learn.
Tuition from sending districts would help defray the cost of the program. This would also free up space in small and overcrowded classrooms. The "traditional" classroom environment does not meet the needs of every child.
"Don't Hate" is a breath of fresh air! I agree. But don't discount youth! Energy and a fresh young perspective has its advantages too.
Carl and MARTA-
Thanks for sending people to my front door with one of you scare tactic flyers! I really appreciate that the guy was kind enough to hand it to my 8 year old before I could get to the door. Thank you for telling him that bad people are going to be in his school because the board of education wants to cut the little guy. You have a right to protest at a board meeting or whatever, but don't involve kids. And just an FYI, I am NOT willing to pay higher taxes for the union to get a 4 or 5% raise. If you want to save jobs take nothing! Blaming everyone but yourselves for the cutodians and teachers is just sad. You as a union should be trying to help your members not point fingers at O'Malley or the board. They did not take all the state aide away and have to make ends meet now.
What an ass! Go out and hunt Barza and Quinn and berate them? How will that solve anything? Keep the focus on the many problems facing us.
Talk about an ass!!!! Quinn and Barza are a REALLY BIG part of the reason we are in this mess! Who raised our taxes 48% in 6years? Quinn and his BARZA board majority!
Who hired friends and family for jobs we did not even need but they stayed more than 3 yrs so now we are stuck with them? Demerest says she is a fix for the district's ills? She was part of the crew that put us here to begin with! You can't move ahead a learn from mistakes unless you acknowledge them! CHANGE and new blood on the board is what has to happen. Now rewind board members! Just look at her voting record in past minutes! Hard choices are being made now but face it we all know that there have been too many people working here at jobs that are not essential just because they know someone or did a favor during elections or something. Time to get real! and O'Malley sound get his salary because he has to take all the garbage everyone throws at him and still keep kids learning. None of you could take that kind constant beating up on but you all think you are so smart. stop being led down the blind path year after year by theses self serving fear mongering morons!
Unions were created to make sure teachers were well compensated for arguably societies most important occupation, molding young minds. Those who choose the profession, and do it well, deserve to be paid well. But, somewhere along the line the unions lost their way. And now they've gone from advocating for teachers rights to impeding childrens rights. Most teachers want whats best for kids, but not the union. The union is a bully, full of people who want power. Teachers are not gods and their unions are not benevolent organizations. As in most things in life, it comes down to money and power. This union is not afraid of using these tools of persuasion or intimidation. Teachers unions, not teachers are the great obstacle of educating our kids.
If you feel strongly about the teachers' union, use your name.
Unions were created to prevent school districts and state governments from constantly firing good workers when they met a critical pay scale. Without a union teachers with experience would constantly lose their jobs when school boards wanted to make budget cuts. Boards of Education would ALWAYS vote to get rid of teachers reaching the top pay scales with no regard to whether they were the best or not. (This happened to my father in a private company and luckily he and his co-workers won an "age discrimination" suit) The constant firings and hirings would really disintegrate any school district. "Continuity of instruction" is a buzzword that would NOT apply. Remember... every raise a teacher ever got was negotiated and approved by a Board of Education who represents the people in their town. I don't see anything subversive in collective bargaining.
If you feel it so important for the teacher to leave his/her name then lead by example.
Nsection-
How can you begrudge anyone from earning extra money while coaching a sport. The stipend is earned money for 100s of hours worked.
So if the town told you that you could earn an extra monetary amount to go above your original job descrition, you wouldn't take it?
Better yet, your wife who we always hear about that is a teacher, if she was offered a stipend to WORK after school, you would advise her not to take it? Or would you criticize her on this blog?
Prior Anon,
I had to approve a $250,000 expenditure for a program that a majority of the board and the administration agreed was useless. Why? Because those particular teachers were so bad we had to spend that money to keep them out of the classroom.
We could save teaching positions by removing low-performing administrators except they, too, have tenure and seniority. I'd love to eliminate certain secretaries about whom there have been numerous complaints but they too have tenure.
Tell me how it's fair to the children and the taxpayer to be forced to employ people who no longer do their jobs.
Why do you think tenure guarantees anyone a job? It does not. It guarantees a teacher will not be terminated for "no reason", not for a good reason. To remove a teacher there must be documentation and lots of it from various administrators, not one who has a grudge. If the administrators did their jobs effectively then bad teachers would be removed.
What program are you referring to I'd like to know?
I am posting on behalf of a teacher friend of mine. She is worried about being "found out" if she does it herself. The message she wants to send out is this: There are some teachers in Cliffwood and MAMS particularly, both with and without tenure, who don't agree with or support the union's position on refusing to agree to a freeze on the contract this year and they don't support the tactics being taken to scare parents. That is all, just a message to let people know that some teachers feel they are being held hostage too.
Aberdeener,
Are the superintendent and board going to keep our tax increase at 2% or take the unions suggestion and raise it to 4%?
HERE ARE SOME COMMENTS YOU MADE IN PAST
Dr. O’Malley and his team cut school spending by $600,000. This isn’t one of those fictitious numbers that politicians like to throw around by first raising spending by millions of dollars and then cutting from the inflated number. Our district is spending $600,000 less than we did last year.
Look at what happened last year when the administration proposed we raise the school tax by the legal limit and the school board praised the administration for showing fiscal restraint. Look at the surrounding neighborhoods – Holmdel proposed raising the tax levy over a million dollars. So did Hazlet. Old Bridge held the line at just a $560,000 increase. Only Keyport, a district less than a third our size, was able to cut taxes.
Dr. O’Malley could have simply frozen spending at 2008-09 levels and the board would have sung hallelujahs. He could have hedged his bets by cutting less and leaving room for more cuts in case the district rejected the school budget for the 8th consecutive year. O’Malley could have but didn’t.
We’re spending $30,000 more on a team that saved us at least $600,000, including the cost of their raises. We didn’t use any gimmicks such as delaying pension payments, cutting services, or increasing class sizes. Plus, our accounting procedures are finally in compliance so the money that is spent is definitely going where it should.
Will that extra $30,000 be spent every year? Yes, just like that $600,000 annual savings will continue forever.
As for the economy, are you referring to the private economy where unemployment/underemployment is over 15%, where the housing market has crashed, the stock market has crashed, gasoline is creeping back to $3 a gallon, and property taxes keep going up? Or are you referring to the public sector where school administrators continue to get pay raises despite dismal records?
Dr. O’Malley and Ms. Irons will still be making less than their peers in comparable districts after the raises. We got them on the cheap because, at the time of their appointments, they only had K-8 experience. That’s no longer the case. Just like teachers get monster increments upon reaching a certain level of experience, so do administrators.
By comparison, let’s look at Middletown’s superintendent. She’ll be making $189,000 plus $3,600 to cover her gas and tolls driving to work, and get full health insurance for $100 per month. (Dr. O’Malley, like all administrators, pays 1% of his base salary.) Not to mention, Middletown recommended raising taxes 2.6%, “the lowest increase in a decade”.
Again, look at what O’Malley and Irons accomplished during their short tenure. Do we really want to run the risk of having them shop their resumes to other districts? If we lose them, not only do we lose two highly capable professionals, their replacements will likely cost at least 10% more than we’re currently paying
Now it still costing us 30,000 and show where is the 6oo,ooo savings from last year and that same money could represent what it would cost this year why not absorb the janitors with that so called 600,000 every year savings that we paid 30,000 for Hmmm
See the front page of AP Gangs that is why people need to invest in things that we all dont take as value added Golf, ceramics and other activities or just do nothing and add police as the youth find Gang activity appealling
Where did that $600,000 cut come from? Could it be that the money he saved was actually money they got from economic stimulus money?
Who's to say that if O'Malley and Irons left we wouldn't get someone even better? And cheaper? Maybe someone even younger and more enthusiastic like you want your teachers to be? Maybe someone more proactive who knows how to create opportunities to make money? Maybe someone who has the magic formula to make all our kids geniuses. Maybe someone who wants to live here and send their kids to our schools? Even the newspapers and your own Board members said you jumped the gun in extending his contract. All you did was make him even more attractive to other districts. The first district that offers him $200,000 will get a new superintendent. But don't worry...we may get someone even better!
The person that wrote about gangs is absolutely right. School activities engage our kids and keep them out of trouble. There is gang activity in both Matawan and Aberdeen. Look on the wires for the hanging sneakers. We even had a shooting right on Lloyd Road. I'm all for those stipends for golf and bowling. Let's add lacrosse and hockey while we are at it!
To the person who wrote for her teacher friend.... Why the hell don.t they speak up? What are they afraid of? The union, there tenured co-workers? I thought this is America!!!! It's time to grow up and standup for what you believe in is right....and this is the type of people we have teaching our kids?
To the economic "genious" who wants to know why we don't absorb the janitors with the $600,000 less we are spending:
We are spending less to be in a much better position than most districts around us right now. You might have actually seen another 0% increase but look around you! There is a shortfall in state aide,"genious". It is nearly 3 million dollars that would have been given to this district if Christie didn't have to balance a budget at the expense of kids and education. Everyone wants to make O'Malley out to be a bad guy, but if he just jacked up taxes and played voodoo economics, you would be twice a pissed off. Don't shoot the messanger. I suspect most of you posting are just union foot soldiers, doing the bidding of your General Custer. I agree with the last poster, if teachers don't agree and want to save jobs by accepting a freeze-- SPEAK UP!
To the anon who says we're able to remove tenured teachers, either you're lying or you're clueless. Not one tenured teacher in New Jersey has been fired for over a decade just because he couldn't teach. Unless there's criminal activity, it's virtually impossible to remove a tenured teacher.
To the guy asking about last year's cuts, that's $600,000 less we're spending every single year, not a one-time deal as you suggest. So, yeah, we're getting our money's worth in Dr. O'Malley.
And, no, it wasn't a "savings", it was a spending cut. Spending cuts have nothing to do with stimulus funds.
The budget being proposed is a 2% increase. That hasn't changed.
As for the union's intimidation tactics, I find them both disgusting and inept. If the union leadership cared about its members, it would have offered concessions to save jobs.
Message to Carl - There's still time to save jobs but not much.
Not a foot solder or a genius just a person that has respect and compasion for my neighbors that work in the school . It seems that you need to go back to charm school and learn some manners or just get an old fashion ass whooping, still nobody truely ever answered where the 600,000 caving cuts, never said O Malley was a bad guy was putting a Idea out there, and as far as the other district in trouble please post how bad they are so we all understand , sounds like you are a republican
So when you defended Omalleys raise you said savings every year and it covered his and MS Irons raise, so they did not save money they took from peter to pay O Malley here is your quote
Will that extra $30,000 be spent every year? Yes, just like that $600,000 annual savings will continue forever.
So actually we are paying 30,000 a year more every year and not saving 600,000 dollars
To Mr genius I am not the one mixing up the facts Joey is and now he eats his words agan true politician
Arent there rules about what you can say to the public about the negotiating process?
How is this legal that you blab all over about "supposed" proposals from the MRTA? That you have a place where you can "tell what is going on?"
Is this negotiating in good faith?
I do not get it.....
We haven't begun negotiations yet with the teachers union because we're still hoping they'll offer us something that will save jobs. I haven't disclosed any confidential information.
As for the prior anon who can't understand that reducing the budget leads to annual savings, sorry but I can't help you.
I should clarify the prior statement. We're prepared to begin formal contract negotiations whenever the teachers union is ready but we haven't been pushing because we're still hoping they'll offer us concessions for next year.
Aberdeener- Read the paper. Toms River's Superintendent is saving money by NO administrator taking a raise next year-including principals and ice principals. Is our administration willing to do the same? If it's good for the goose (teachers) is it not good for the gander (administration)? Show some GOOD FAITH in your negotiations. What would the savings be then if NOBODY had a raise? And don't tell me it's in their contract- this is voluntary.
I don't have the numbers in front of me but I think about 20 people are covered by the administrators contract including the CSA, BA, and Deputy. Freezing them all I think would be about $80,000, maybe more.
As you note, those administrators are under contract as well. As for the CSA, he's already sacrificed some money under his new contract.
To the anonymous teacher who doesn't like the public being informed about what your union is doing should know negotiating in good faith has been a joke. With all the "rules" in your favor this has to be killing you when you can't stop it. If the thugs could have stopped it they would have. Even before negotiations begin you are trying to stifle Joeys rights.
Why would we even consider cutting advisors and coaches for sports, clubs, extra activities, etc? This is where kids are staying safe, healthy, active, staying out of trouble, learning valuable lessons. The insignificant stipends the coaches receive can not even be compared to the amount of time, dedication, and education they provide our children. They see our children usually more than we do, purchase them food, assist them into college, help them with school work, give their weekends/nights up to see our children excel, etc. They are the reason why our children want to go to school everyday and we should be supporting them on this journey.
We're spending nearly a million dollars on sports and clubs. If you don't want to cut there, where do you want to cut?
I agree with anonymous above regarding the value of coaches, clubs, and extra activities. As a taxpayer and parent,I can see the importance of children having the opportunity to participate in the above activities. The coaches encourage the students to work hard in and out of the classroom. These sports and activities keep the students involved in a healthy interest and away from bad influences such as alcohol and drugs. The students most involved in a variety of school sports and activities are the ones who want to go to school and often the ones who excel academically. I have witnessed this not only with my own children, but with others, as well. Yes, cuts have to be made. However, you really need to get creative! Perhaps cutting some administrators, some at the top so that more teachers can stay with the children, and coaches with their sports (such a small stipend anyway to keep the students involved)would be one solution. As a parent and taxpayer, I know that many members of the Board look at the running of this district as strictly a business decision- money, money, money. Everything in the world, all programs do boil down to that. However, I wish the Board would PLEASE remember that our district is not Corporate America; we are in the business of educating children. Cuts have to be handled with great care to address the needs of all the children. Please preserve our teachers' and coaches' positions for the sake of our children!!! Thank you.
Parents I think that you should be at the meeting tonight because I am getting the feeling that major cuts to activities programming are going to be substantial. We need to cut vice principals and administration to the core before we take away from the kids. In addition, all administration should be on a pay freeze for one full year.
I agree as well with everyone above. Aberdeener, I would suggest cutting administrators. Also, look into where the money is being slipped through the cracks. Little things shutting lights off, emails instead of papers, administrative positions, - everything that does not involved the children directly. Holding events that can raise money – more sports at school, fairs, etc. Sports and clubs should be the last to go! Tell me what these children would do without these supportive adults? Cutting things that encourage students to do well will have a negative effective on the entire community. Also, have focus groups with students, teachers, parents, etc.
We are slashing into the administrative overhead but even if we wiped out the administration it still wouldn't be enough. We're looking at a $7 million hole.
For the district as a whole, we need to cut 10%. From sports and clubs we're looking at cutting 5%.
If I had my way, we'd also be cutting bowling and tennis but I don't see that happening.
How are we deciding what sports, clubs, and advisors are cut? We should see the academics and GPAs of these students involved. What about directly talking with students, parents, coaches, advisors, etc?
anything we can cut in the special ed budget? Seems as if that area has not been touched at all.
For clubs and sports, the CSA has discussed these with the principals and athletic director - a big criteria is level of participation.
For special ed, out-district placements have been cut 10% and there may be staff cuts.
As for remedial programs, we cut RTI.
Please explain CSA and RTI. Thanks.
As a senior citizen, it is important to my husband and I that property values stay up! Good education includes sports and activities. My kids wouldn't have probably gone to college without their coaches encouragement. I want to see the children of today have the same chance.
Parents, go to the meeting tonight and speak up! We did!
CSA is chief school administrator - i.e. the superintendent.
RTI is response-to-intervention, an elementary school program to assist struggling students in language arts and mathematics.
Here we go with another bad choice by the CSA on where to cut. Choosing what sport to cut or keep will not be done fairly. In order to save money and be fair all freshman sports should be cut and put more players on JV. Most freshman sports run with barely enough students to run them anyway. That would save thousands with all those stipends for freshman coaches. This is how other schools are handling this problem and we should do the same.
Fifty thousand out of a million will only hurt certain programs and certain students and is only a token gesture. Make a real cut to freshman teams and maybe you can save all sports or something academically important.
Cut an administrator or two. Administrators can share jobs. Doesn't tenure only apply to teachers? IF an administrator came in as a teacher and earned tenure, then bump them down and eliminate the administrative position. Do we need an athletic director? Keep the coaches, throw out the AD or bump him/her down. The kids should feel this the LEAST. As far as RTI goes, reading intervention works. Better readers make for better classes, across the board. Cut down on paper, etc. As far as programs go, don't cut, just minimize, get parent volunteers. Again, the kids should feel these cuts the least. What about greening the schools? Cutting down on lawn maintenance by planting native landscape. GET CREATIVE. No, it won't save 71 jobs, but maybe it'll save 5????? Cut administration.
As you note, those administrators are under contract as well. As for the CSA, he's already sacrificed some money under his new contract.
What a BIG JOKE......
You'll see the cuts tonight. We are cutting administrative overhead. And, yes, administrators do have tenure as well.
It's important for we, the taxpayers, parents, and students to have a say in what clubs and activities remain or are cut. Is this just a preliminary discussion tonight, or will there be suggestions tonight and another opportunity for the public to speak? The Board should not be able to simply represent what they think that We want. They should hear what we want and allow us to have adequate meetings to voice opinions if you really are concerned about the town.
Cuts are being proposed but the only thing being voted tonight is the proposed tax levy.
Except for this site this district has not had any input from it citizens. Tonight for the first time you will see all the cuts and it will be voted on tonight and be final. How about a parent and community member budget committee in the process along the way? How about a change of venue for tonights meeting if overcrowded? This superintendent does not like criticism. His way or the highway. Come tonight and see for yourself.
You will hear many board members tonight using the excuse of not voting for the proposed cuts just the tax levy number. While technically true the presentation is so vague you will not now whats really cut anyway. They know the specifics of whats being cut and will skit the issues with not committing to any specific cuts tonight. But, this is your last chance.
I don't get it- the superintendent says the scores are up but the Response to Intervention program is not working. If you get rid of the program, the teachers, the aides, and increase class size won't all these gains go away? Makes no sense. I'll be at the Board meeting.
Aberdeener,
This board of education and the school leadership should be ashamed of itself for not having a facility that could hold the public for the budget hearing. I, like many others did not get in. The county superintendent and the governor will hear what you did to its citizens. This was planned and is a travesty on the most important meeting of the year.
Anon at 6:00 knew it, yet all you "smart" people didn't?
Yup, we blew it. What can I tell you? It's the largest turnout we've had for a budget meeting since who knows when.
Meeting is being moved to the high school for anyone still interested in coming.
Hope you can come.
Yes- you did blow it...you had the opportunity to ask for a 4% cap and you only asked for 2. Any budget increase will be defeated by the voters and more cuts will be made. My children thank you :-(
We represent the community and the community doesn't want any tax increases.
I was there last night, am not a teacher, am not in the union and am part of the community. I support a 4 % increase so you are incorrect when you say you support the community and the community doesn't want a tax increase. Last night, you addressed that crowd as if the only people there were union members which was flatly wrong. Many speakers said they weren't teachers. Were you listening??
I completely agree. Planning a proper meeting should be a simple task compared to organizing a budget. The tone of voice, sarcasm, and overall demeaning attitudes represented by certain members was astonishing. It was clearly represented how passionate multiple people in this town feel about certain issues, and were not given the respect they deserved. However, some did speak in a professional matter which I highly respect, and would love to see more of. As a taxpayer, I would like people to listen to the community’s opinion, work together, and above all show the respect that many people have shown you and was not given in return. A community is made up of all sectors and these “leaders” should guide by example to work together for what’s best for the district’s children.
TENURE WHETHER IT BE FOR TEACHERS OR ADMINISTRATORS IS THE SCURGE OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
TENURE BRINGS YOU PEOPLE LIKE JOEL G AND WAYNE S AND OTHERS WHO KEEP BUSY AND WORK HARD TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING. THEY ARE NOT ADDING TO THE OVERALL FUNCTION OR HEALTH OF THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.
MANY OTHER SACRED COWS IN OUR DISTRICT ARE NO BETTER. ONCE AGAIN THEY WON A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. ONE TIME OUT OF NINE YEARS. HE IS SAFE. VERY OVERPAID BUT SAFE.
TENURE IS THE SCURGE OF OUR DISTRICT AND THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.
BUT KEEP BLAMING O'MALLY FOR DOING WHAT WE PAY HIM TO DO. KEEP BLAMING HIM FOR MAKING THE TOUGH CHOICES IN THE FACE OF AN OUT OF CONTROL BUAURACRACY THAT RIVALS A DICTATORSHIP BY THE NJEA UNION MONSTERS. KEEP BLAMING O'MALLY WHILE ROME BURNS AT THE HAND OF THOSE THAT LIT THE MATCH LIKE THE NJEA, GREEDY ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS WHO KNOW THE SYTEM FAILS THEM AND THE STUDENTS THEY TEACH.
THE NJEA TAKES IN 124M A YEAR LOOK AT THE SALRIES THEY PAY THEMSELVES. LOOK AT THE BUILDING LOCATION TO THE STATEHOUSE. LOOK AT THE BUDGET OF THE NJEA AND YOU WILL SEE WHY BLAMING O'MALLY, CHRISTIE OR ANYONE ELSE SEEKING TO STOP THE NJEA DICTATORSHIP MUST BE SUPPORTED.
PLACE YOUR BLAME PROPERLY NOT HAPHAZARDLY. SET YOUR SIGHTS ON THE TRUE PROBLEM AND CAUSE THAT BROUGHT US HERE. THE NJEA IS THE CAUSE OF OUR PROBLEMS DUE TO THEIR GREED AND SELFISH MONTRA.
You can bet the post above will garner many derogatory comments for speaking the truth. Put a book down your pants it helps ward off the pain from the spanking you will get from the union zombies.
The union zombies were the ones who were not listening last night. This should be a shared sacrifice exercise and a 2% tax increase is fair. The unions empty attempt at lying about possible concessions was just grandstanding and they do not want to share in the sacrifice. The administration is no better as they continue to get raises. Also the mob rule tactics while others speak is very disturbing from supposed professionals.
It's very difficult to say "The community doesn't want tax increases", because even on this kind of obvious statement you can always find a counterexample. This is why all generalizations are bad.
Speaking for myself.. I don't want a tax increase. I've been increased enough in the past 4 years. At some point, you have to figure out how to make do with the money you already have.
I moved into the district 9 years ago. My taxes increased 60% since then. ~ 6%/yr.
I don't want any more taxes. I don't mind paying a fair share, but this is too much too fast.
Joey,
Your response last night was great. The audience should be ashamed of themselves for their behavior while you were speaking. The lying on both sides was overwhelming. Chuckie Kenny did not handle the meeting well and blatantly lied many times especially in denying the existence of this site and being unclear on what you were voting on. The union leaders lies about him trying to reach a concession agreement was embarrassing and his followers should wake up. Dr. I don't have any information O'Malley didn't do well in defending his positions and didn't earn his money last night. While it is a difficult time for all this could have been handled much better on both sides, especially in a suitable venue. Unfortunately the taxpaying public didn't get much information on its one and only budget hearing and was dominated by the people on the payroll and their sympathizers.
I was at the meeting last night. Just want to mention the following:
-Incorrect statement to say that there has never been a large turnout in who knows when. For many years while I was actively involved, the meeting was always at the high school and should always be. NO exceptions if you want to include everyone.
-It was VERY clear last night that both the parents and teachers are strongly against privatization of custodians. The custodians that I have worked with in the past for volunteer work have always been extremely helpful, and have always gone out of their way to aid and keep safe any adult or child in the district. I definitely feel that it is disloyal to do this to your fellow employees who need to support their families, as well. However,on a strictly practical note, I would not want any young child to have to be exposed to strangers on a daily basis. You may find that after the money you spend to examine the company, etc., that you have to deal with even bigger issues from custodians who don't have a vested interest in this district. Issues of absenteeism, poor quality work, questionable backgrounds are some, as well as, the one hardest to measure-but easy to see for those of us who have witnessed the work of these loyal, hardworking custodians firsthand- their kindness and care of the children. The last point is the most important, and apparently, the one that you are willing to sacrifice.
-Mr. Kenny, how embarrassing that you spoke softly, and as one of the commenters above mentioned, in a very vague fashion when it came to explaining that although you were voting on the tax levy last night, the line items, the cuts could be changed. You really tried to skirt the issue several times. Honesty, with a direct explanation, is always respected. Even Mr. Warren on this blog was honest in answering that question directly. You, Mr. Kenny, gave the impression of not knowing the answer, or not wanting to answer it clearly.
-Big mistake to settle at a 2% tax levy full well knowing that if the budget fails, the town councils will make further cuts- then we just lose more.
- The teachers were NOT the only ones there, and not necessarily the majority. I recognized and know a large part of the audience who are parents and taxpayers. We, the parents, not the teachers were supporting a 4% tax levy for the above reason. YOU ARE NOT representing the people who are the most involved in the community, those who care enough to volunteer in the schools, to show up at meetings, etc. You are making a decision based on what you believe the people sitting at home want, the ones that don't understand that the 2%or 4% tax levy will still lead to further cuts by the towns if the budget is voted down. They are the ones who vote the budget down and then wonder why we are getting further cuts. They are the ones that obliviously vote "No" to the budget to take a stand against a tax increase when we will get one anyway, and just lose more programs and teachers as the town councils do what they must and cut.
WHY NOT represent those of us that want to support, literally with our tax dollars, and figuratively with our time in the schools and at meetings, by setting the tax levy at 4%? Common sense and past history tells us that the 2% or 4% will not make any difference to the uninformed citizens who will vote the budget down anyway. SO, Please tell me why the Board made this move? The Superintendent is supposed to lead as an educational leader and do what's educationally sound within the framework of the finances. He and the Board have definitely failed us! It's your job, Mr. O'Malley to choose the 4%, and explain to the public and the Board, why it's necessary educationally, not your job to choose the lower 2% to make an outwardly good appearance when the children are losing. Which side would you have been on in your own town where your children go to school? Where is the leadership here? Contd. in next blog...
(contd. from above blog..)
-Please be sure to schedule a meeting for teacher and administrator input, but also a meeting at night to allow parents input regarding the areas that may need to be cut in any way. Parents and community members are the taxpayers and should be included.
-I agree with Mr. Warren and all of you that there needs to be creative financing. Obviously, there are limited funds. I find it upsetting that some of you rely too heavily on your corporate and business backgrounds when it comes to school finances. You forget that this is a business involving children, not just a business. Perhaps, there is one place where looking at a corporation would help. In a corporation or any small business, as well, the wise leader would recommend a pay freeze for everyone, from the Superintendent on down. Compromise involves everyone, so does setting the correct tone. If we really are all here for the children, and I believe down deep, everyone is, then why can't common sense rule? Please let's work together! Thank you.
Three points:
- You're going to have a hard time convincing me that the children know all of the current custodians the day they start school. They're still strangers. Just, perhaps, different strangers.
- Assuming there's a nationwide epidemic of pedophile outsourced janitors based on a couple reported incidents is irresponsible. I would like to assume (and perhaps this should go in writing) that the district would properly screen any company it brings in and enforce background checks, and that should be the end of it.
- Any "pay freeze" needs to be approved by the teacher's union. O'Malley can recommend anything he wants, but he doesn't have the power to unilaterally take money away. Only Christie can do that, apparently.
Obviously, Joey, you do not represent the community because the community was there and asked for a 4% cap to save custodians, teachers and programs. You just weren't listening. You obviously haven't lived in the town long enough to know that all final budget meetings should be held at the high school. You also knew the teacher's union and custodial staff was going to be in the building. I'm just surprised it took the fire/police so long to shut you down and move you. Had you really wanted to represent the community you say you "know" you would have suggested a postponement of the meeting to the following night so everyone could be heard. I too will be calling the County Superintendent. Nobody wants a tax increase but if it's affecting the kids then I support it. And so did the parents that spoke at the meeting.
It's good to see the "ZA" in BARZA had some great ideas for saving money. She recommends that the administration make the same concessions the Board wants the teachers to make- no raises for next year. Toms River is doing it! Maybe she should run for the Board again! She's got my vote!
I was there last night! Just the teacher's union was there. The only parents that were there were the parents on the payroll or those Barza asked to come and promised to get jobs. And if the parents that were there wanted a 4% tax increase, then they are also the parents not voting, check out the last slide. MRTA stop the nonsense! O'mally will not let the union roll him like Quinn did for you!
Joey if I am not mistaken how do you represent the people you ran unopposed , who voted for you , yourself and O Malley
Now that we are 7 mill in the hole do we get our 30,000 back in raise we gave for zero tax increase last year, instead of 2% now we need 4 % or have less services , pay now or pay latter
Is it not amazing how all of these self preservationsit can come up with all of these ideas and tell O'Malley what to do to fix such a significant finacial hole from cyberspace. Some things in life are certain. We are born and we die. BARZA sucked. Norman Kauff is a low life rat bastard. Bruce Quinn had no idea what he was doing here and got an even more lucrative job for his dismal failures elsewhere in the educational process from the good old boys just as stupid as he is. Quinn was just like Klavon and don't forget that. And finally a man like Mr. Warren is held out for ridicule because he expresses himself and puts himself out there for all to see.
For those people who actually want a 4% tax levy speak for yourselves. There is enough fat in that budget to keep the tax levy 0 for the next 5 years.
Once again Mr. N. K. makes the cut on the evil that stifles the areas taxpayers. I am glad they keep his name out there. Soon I hope we see his name on page one as one of the latest political scum taken away in handcuffs for robbing the tax payers.
My wife and I have been discussing the changes that are needed by Gov. Christie to fix the budgetary problems caused by years of abuse, backroom deals and far worse by that our political leadership caused in varying locations.
We taxpayers have not been the priority for far too long in Washington and Trenton, which is all too obvious. Now it is unfortunate that with the exception of Gov. Christie, who is making the tough decisions that will never be popular with many who have been part of the problem and insider deals or who were the major contributing factor to our states dire financial troubles and more.
To say the least something needs to be done but we are trusting those who got us where we are to fix what the problems that they themselves caused. There is something very wrong with that equation. Many sent Christie to Trenton to bring chage. The sad this is that many gave him the exact same legislators to fix the massive financial problems, that they created. It is truly insane this political system of ours for just these few reasons.
Yesterday my wife attended a meeting and advisory panel in her district about contracts and cuts expected in her district. Main among the speakers was an NJEA Union representative who told my wife and all others present that Gov. Christie was insisting on an additional 1.5 percent increase in their health costs. Really?
Yesterday on 101.5 radio NJ State Speaker Steve sweeney was on the radio stating the exact opposite of what the NJEA told my wife yesterday. Several other facts my wife and others were told were not to be true as well that came straight from her own union people. What is so wrong with being told the truth by your union leadership?
While this fiscal debacle is still unfolding almost on a daily basis, the fact that my wife was lied to by her union leadership is very troubling. What we all need to realize is the supposed political leadership that tells us how good this healthcare bill is and how much it will save all of us, are the same people who got us where we are with a national debt that boggles the mind. It should be noted that they are also not part of the exact healthcare bill they worked to put together for us to use. They have a special deal for their healthcare and a retirement package many have no idea how much more beneficial then those of us who pay the bills. Politics in D.C. and Trenton aside the decisions made by the few are far more damaging to us then most of us realize.
The real problem is that in the face of their union membership yesterday my wife was lied to by those whom her and her fellow teachers contribut over 100 million dollars to each year. Of course with little information to them of how that money is really allocated or spent on their behalf.
Maybe we all need to ask ourselves when our politicians lie to us and our union lies to us, where are we to look for the truth.
My wife has another meeting today in her district. I wonder what they will tell her tonight. Will it be the truth?
Did the truth, and all his aliases die, or go to prison? What happened to that dope?
Joey,
At the meeting the other night, many union members expressed their displeasure with this site. They do not like the public being informed about their tactics. Has any pressure come from anywhere about the content of this site? Do you really feel board leadership and the CSA did a good job of presenting and defending the schools position on this budget? You always talk of a united board, yet it didn't appear that way, especially when Mr.Kenny and Dr. Gambino tried to publicly embarrass each other when answering the union leaders question. Is the board beginning to split in factions again? It seems their is less support among members for Dr. O'Malley, or do I have that wrong.
There's been zero attempt to restrain what I post on this site so long as I don't post any confidential information or give the appearance that I represent the board, which I don't.
As for the presentation, Dr. O'Malley shared an abundance of information. Nothing we did last night was going to change the union's stance but the public will see the truth - that amidst a $7 million budget hole and mass firings, the union still refuses to offer any concessions.
Why not have committees that consist of students, parents, teachers, community members, etc. come together and help give their input if this is such an important factor? If it’s for the town then everyone who wants to speak should be able to. If done in an orderly fashion everyone could learn something, brainstorm, and come up with a closer-to-perfect solution. Also, people should observe how other districts work as well in means of communication – watch another board meeting, visit other schools, etc. Everyone can learn something and try to move forward not backwards. The future is where we need to look to, but being closed minded is not going to help anyone. Having a cooperative and open-minded board is imperative (some members said we need to reevaluate, while others were extremely closed off to any suggestions from the public sector). Members should be respectfully representing us, while representing themselves the way we want our children to behave. Let’s face it; we are in a tough economic time period, we each have different careers, different skills, and various items we could all bring to the table to better our community, our district, and our children’s future. Why not use these to our advantage. Start listening to the people – respect needs to go both ways.
THE TRUTH SQUAD (aka Minutolo, Aljian and Garaguso) will return for the next municipal election. Until then, they will be not be participating in local politics, charities, events or the community whatsoever...
They'll only be back when it means something to them, but will then ironically claim that their opponents are self-serving...
FYI the superintendent's new contract that the board voted on in March at a non-televised meeting is now on the web in the minutes. If you read carefully and compare it to the old contract you can see that O'Malley can now choose to NOT attend his professional dev. conferences and get the cash for them instead. So the district will be paying the same and getting LESS. At least when the teachers get paid for Walden they have to actually enroll. What benefit do we get from just giving him the cash??? This is outrageous in this economy. In addition, he did not lose money as implied, he just can't cash-in his last week vacation anymore. Use it or lose like the governor wants in all contracts. I think the board was just trying to skirt the new laws that will prevent cashing out on vacation so they compensated with the benefits exchange. When you want concessions from the MRTA, it is just wrong to put these little cash out perks in his contract. The clause itself is pretty vague. It appears that he can just exchange any benefit for cash. That might not always be in the best interest of the district. Could he do it with his medical benefits and get the full cash??? In addition, the contract says that the board must give him a performance evaluation by April 1. Why would they make changes to his contract before they see the evaluation. I guess the results will be useless since they already made changes to his contract.
In case anyone else thought it was chicken of Kosmyna not to give his address like everyone else at Monday's meeting, see below. This guy who says raise our taxes to 4% cap but still want raise while custodians got pink slips registared mail yesterday, DOES NOT LIVE IN OUR TOWN! By the way, he said custodians should let him handle trying to save jobs, he did NOTHING! Don't believe his lies anymore!
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Prior Anon,
My compliments to you. That's quite a hit piece. So many outright lies and half-truths in such a short space. You've got quite a future as a propagandist.
However, next time you might want to choose a forum that isn't managed by someone who cares about the truth.
"superintendent's new contract" - Yes, technically any modified contract is a "new contract" but this was essentially a contract extension. The total cost for compensation and benefits remain the same as do the job requirements.
"that the board voted on in March at a non-televised meeting" - Yes, it was a non-televised meeting as are all Committee of the Whole meetings. It was also public like all COW meetings. And 90% of all the public debate and discussion of board items take place at COW meetings.
"is now on the web in the minutes" - The revised contract was posted days before the meeting and discussed on this blog.
"O'Malley can now choose to NOT attend his professional dev. conferences" - O'Malley has never been required to attend any professional development seminars.
"and get the cash for them instead" - As previously discussed, O'Malley can now decline one benefit and direct that expense towards another benefit. He can not receive money in lieu of a benefit.
"the district will be paying the same and getting LESS" - The district is paying the same and getting the same. That's why it's a contract extension.
"he did not lose money as implied, he just can't cash-in his last week vacation anymore" - Well, that's a loss of money. To date, he has been cashing in vacation days.
"the board was just trying to skirt the new laws that will prevent cashing out on vacation" - The new laws don't effect current contracts. O'Malley could have retained the benefit by sticking with the old contract. Furthermore, we had permission from the county to extend the benefit but O'Malley declined.
"he can just exchange any benefit for cash" - The contract states the superintendent may waive a benefit "in return for an exchange of the same amount to another benefit (excluding a salary increase)". He can't get cash.
"Why would they make changes to his contract before they see the evaluation?" - We don't need to do a formal evaluation to know we want O'Malley to stick around.
Just to add to what the Aberdeener said and the prior poster:
Does it bother you that Glastien gets $151,000+ salary, $7300 expenses allowance, can cash in 13 vacation days a year AND it costs us $40,000 a year in benefits/after employment vs. just over $3,000 per year for O'Malley?
Do the math, who actually makes more money and does NOTHING for it!
Anon,
Just to add to your comment, notwithstanding performance, O'Malley is far cheaper than Quinn. If you recall, Quinn had a personal secretary who was earning 60K plus benefits. O'Malley doesn't have a personal secretary.
"Could he do it with his medical benefits and get the full cash??? "
I don't know the answer to this question, but I will say it's standard practice in the corporate world. Generally if there's 2 working spouses, they'll elect to take coverage through the one with the better benefits, and take cash from the other when they decline the benefit. After all, that benefit was part of the total compensation, was budgeted for, and is owed to the employee.
Aberdeener,
You and this board vowed to be more ethical than boards in the past and even made a big issue of others past actions. Do you feel it was ethical for Mr. Donaghue to vote on the budget now that his wife works full time for the district? Shouldn't he abstain from votes that affect his personal income?
Talk about ethics- is it ethical to present custodians with pink slips before the budget was approved? The post date on their registered letters shows the letters were mailed BEFORE the board voted and the public got to comment.
For Mr. Warren to suggest he represents the voters is ludicrous. He ran for the Board unopposed and even still received the least amount of votes.
Finally- if there has been no negotiations with the teachers union in over a month how Mr. Warren say what the union is asking for? I thought he was on the negotiating committee?
My taxes are going to go up just to support the thousands of teachers state-wide that are getting laid off.
Now these teachers will be going into the private sector to get jobs and come in at the bottom of the pay scale and bump the business execs that are at the top of the pay scale.
That should stimulate the economy ...businesses can make bigger profits!
Why didn't Christie keep that tax on people earning over $400,000 per year and end this nonsense.
come on now, be real, the slips had to go out by a certain time to comply with the contract and if something should change then they can go in the garbage. It didn't matter if the BOE voted down the budget on Monday, everyone who could be cut has to be told by a certain time. Registered mail makes sure everyone got it. We all know how this works, people. This has happened before. Other workers could get cut if budget fails and the councils cut more. And don't yell about 4% that would not have helped anything. Look at our union leaders and ask them if they are ready to do what needs to be done. If not, we could all go down while Carl watches. He never gave a rat's ass about the little guy why do any of you think he does now?
$79,000,000,000.00 individuals and their money left the state last year as far as personal wealth goes. They owned businesses and much and were big taxpayers. So tax wealthy and more will leave is what we are told. It makes sense to me. Ask yourself when $400,000.00 was wealthy. You must look at the percentages that individual income qualifies you to be wealthy. Since when is $150,000.00 wealthy for some programs but $400,000.00 is just to be taxed more beacuse some pencil pusher decides they can afford to pay more. Corporate welfare, generational welfare, abuses of social programs, political innerworkings, political corruption, political favoritism and more is where the waste and abuse really are.
Obama signed a bill that he will not have to use. A bill that does not really take affect until after his next run for election. And a bill that is supposed to save money. Name me one governmental program that saved money. Did they go after the doctor who owns the MRI machine, EKG machine, Echocardiagram machine that every patient is told is needed? The root cause of the problems with healthcare is not the care people recieve it is what doctors and hospitals charge for many useless procedures. Think about it on a national scale and you will see where the abuses of the system really are. The bill they signed into law does little to reign in such deficiencies or abuses. that is why it will not save one red cent.
That is the reality of our governmental system at its worst.
The answer is zero. If they do not go after all of the above in our sate the fiscal problems will stay. As for Obama and his healthcare bill it is as flawed and full of holes as every other governmenatl program that they are supposed to implement, monitor and control. Government fails miserably when they are supposed to monitor things. Just look at recent events, bailaout, stimulus programs and more that were supposed to fix that which the government regulators and checkers did not do. It was the job of many governmental agencies to watch wall Street and many other such businesses and more. Government fails us each and every day. And still we reelect them to fail us again.
Big Joe hit it on the nail again.
If all staff, that
Would have to include Omalley, took a 0 for the year, would that save the janitors, and teachers slated to be cut?
There's a $7 million hole so there will have to be some layoffs but a district-wide salary freeze could save the teachers and custodians.
Nsec I agree with most of your post. Should'nt you be afraid of ranting against the government ? I ask this since you work for the government ?
Were you at the BOE meeting? Sounds like the union has been wanting to talk but the BOE has been MIA.
Why bother having public meetings if it is a done deal? I could have been watching Dancing with the Stars instead of standing in the rain watching the BOE pretend it cares.
Hey NSEC- the money makers over $400,000 will not leave, they will get better accountants. The money that left the state is manufacturing jobs. Thank NAFTA for that. What's left behind? The workers that worked for those companies that can't afford to move. It's not the rich stimulating the economy, it's us little people. We are the ones who need the tax breaks, the property tax relief (not not just from school taxes), etc. We are the buyers.
Can anyone tell me if this wage freeze for one year from all school employees is going to solve NJ's problems? What about next year? And the year after? Are we going to expect our teachers and government workers to be like Walmart? Roll back the prices? I can't see how freezing salaries for ONE YEAR is going to end NJ's tax woes. Christie should be using his energy to woo companies back to NJ to create jobs. After all, the laid off teachers and cops are going to need companies to apply to.
For all those who are interested, Christie couldn't just keep the tax on those earning $400k or greater! The law was written so that it would expire on 12/31/09. Let's not blame Christie for another gimmick that was the brain child of our former fearless leader and the rest of the blob in Trenton! The facts remain, we have serious problems at the state & local levels that can no longer be put on the backs of the tax payers. The waste has to stop! Throwing more money at the problem has to stop. What we're doing is akin to trying to bail water out of the Titanic with a teaspoon. Can anyone answer the question why children in other states get a good education, while less is paid in property taxes? Anyone... maybe it's because the funds that are received are spent and used wisely.
Nsect, IMHO those tests are great drivers of health costs. But, not so doctors can bill for them. Rather, to prevent lawsuits and prove their diligence. In other words cover their buts. I do agree it's opened up the opportunity for some to do tests just so they can bill no doubt.
Just getting the uninsured to pay something, anything will help greatly.
Just found out the whole school transportation department got pink slips today. Privatized busing! Thats bad!
Nobody's been fired yet. We had to give notice to anybody who might be fired. By end of May, we should be able to rescind many of those notices.
When is the next COW meeting? On MARSD's website, there is not a scheduled COW meeting b/w this week's regular mtg and 4/26.
Years of misspending!! How many jobs could that stupid football field have saved? Yeah we sure have our priorities straight around here.
I think the next COW is on the 12th.
Still unclear on the process. After the boards meeting on Monday it was said that once voted upon, the cuts and who gets fired could not be changed. If that is the case why is it still up in the air as to who might be fired. Is their still time for the union and or administration to make concessions to save some or all jobs? Is it true the boys freshman football and soccer, girls freshman soccer and basketball programs will not be in our district next year?
The board has approved a budget that includes the presented cuts. However, there's nothing blocking the board from recommending changes to the budget.
So, if we have concessions, we can reinstate some of the cuts.
As for the sports you mention, some coaching positions are being eliminated but not the activities.
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