Where’s the outrage?
Two years ago, the Matawan Regional Teachers Association (MRTA), was outraged. Over two hundred teachers stormed a board of education meeting at Strathmore Elementary, wearing buttons that read “I CARE about our kids”. They picketed in front of board members’ homes and stuck placards in their car windshields when parking at the schools.
At the time, MRTA President Carl Kosmyna said "Tonight is about making a statement and about making the public aware that things are not what they seem in the district. We also want the board to see that we are standing here united."
Why was the union so outraged? Their salary guides hadn’t increased 4.5%.
Today, the school district is on the verge of terminating 73 employees. The union response? A flyer. Kosmyna’s only public comments, made literally minutes before a board vote on the budget, was a suggestion for the school board to recommend raising taxes as high as possible to avoid personnel cuts.
The union leaders are willing to beat the war drums for a raise but not to save scores of employees’ livelihoods? It doesn’t make sense unless, and this is just a theory, the union leaders were never fighting for their union. Maybe, just maybe, the union leaders were fighting for themselves. After all, even without increases to the salary guide, everybody but the highest paid teachers were still slated to receive a raise.
In 2008, the school board and MRTA ratified a memorandum calling for salary increases and retroactive pay in exchange for a change to the state health care plan, NJ Direct 10.
However, the exact language of the contract still needed to be negotiated, the biggest of which was the salary guide. The memorandum only refers to the total increase to the salary guide, not how that increase is distributed.
In an astonishing act of malfeasance, Board President Pat Demarest outsourced the writing of the salary guides to the teachers union and Joel Glastein, director of personnel. The salary guides were never reviewed by any third party or even by the school board prior to Ms. Demarest signing the contract.
While a district wants to increase salaries at the lower levels to attract the best teachers, unions want raises at the higher levels to boost pension income. With Demarest’s blessing, the union got what it wanted.
The below tables show what the union officers received from the revised salary guides. Comparing salary guides, our senior teachers earn over $3,000 more than their peers in most wealthy “I” districts in Monmouth County (p. 22), which explains the top-line’s slow growth rate – it can only grow so fast without appearing obscene.
However, the real story is the extraordinary spurt in income for those union officers that hadn’t yet reached the top rungs on the salary guides. To use an extreme example, Margaret De Be Voise, a building rep for the middle school, got a 62.30% salary increase over three years plus a five-thousand dollar check for retroactive pay. In fact, a third of union officers got about five-thousand dollars in retroactive pay.
Furthermore, among the officers, only Kathleen Vergaretti (32.35% raise) is earning below $84,000.
In other words, due to seniority, the union officers ain’t afraid of losing their jobs. Nor are they willing to sacrifice any raises to save jobs.
Let’s assume there’s $1.5 million budgeted for increases to the salary guide. The teachers could also shift to NJ Direct 15 for a 5% savings, or about $300,000. Additionally, the legislature looks likely to pass a requirement for all staff to contribute 1.5% of salary towards health benefits – another $500,000. That’s a total of $2.3 million savings. The terminations are saving the district $2.8 million. That still leaves a deficit of $500,000 but one that is far more manageable. Five more retirements could close the gap.
Absent union concessions, 73 staff members will lose their jobs and the district will begin looking for additional places to cut next year. Everybody but the most senior teachers and administrators will be at risk of losing their jobs.
Does the union leadership care? I’m guessing their membership does.
| Name of Employee | 2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | 3-yr Increase |
| Carl Kosmyna | 80,580.00 | 82,330.00 | 85,220.00 | 87,080.00 | 8.07% |
| C. Marshall Gorman | 69,330.00 | 71,900.00 | 86,540.00 | 87,900.00 | 26.78% |
| Patricia Mattern | 82,960.00 | 84,650.00 | 87,540.00 | 89,400.00 | 7.76% |
| Janet Breslin | 82,960.00 | 84,650.00 | 87,540.00 | 89,400.00 | 7.76% |
| Edward Kornberg | 78,450.00 | 80,150.00 | 83,040.00 | 84,900.00 | 8.22% |
| Janette Caufield | 65,998.40 | 69,750.00 | 76,110.00 | 84,350.00 | 27.81% |
| Rose Marie Turley | 73,730.00 | 81,580.00 | 84,220.00 | 85,580.00 | 16.07% |
| Margaret De Be Voise | 54,160.00 | 61,640.00 | 74,700.00 | 87,900.00 | 62.30% |
| Kathleen Vergaretti | 51,560.00 | 54,440.00 | 62,070.00 | 68,240.00 | 32.35% |
| Suzanne Serden | 78,450.00 | 80,150.00 | 83,040.00 | 84,900.00 | 8.22% |
| Barbara Lyttle | 82,610.00 | 84,300.00 | 87,140.00 | 89,400.00 | 8.22% |
| Wenona Dubrowsky | 64,070.00 | 71,900.00 | 86,540.00 | 87,900.00 | 37.19% |
| Name of Employee | Retro Pay | 3-yr Increase |
| Carl Kosmyna | 1168.00 | 6,500.00 |
| C. Marshall Gorman | 5120.00 | 18,570.00 |
| Patricia Mattern | 1168.00 | 6,440.00 |
| Janet Breslin | 1168.00 | 6,440.00 |
| Edward Kornberg | 1168.00 | 6,450.00 |
| Janette Caufield | 4954.49 | 18,351.60 |
| Rose Marie Turley | 1091.66 | 11,850.00 |
| Margaret De Be Voise | 5088.00 | 33,740.00 |
| Kathleen Vergaretti | 2104.00 | 16,680.00 |
| Suzanne Serden | 1168.00 | 6,450.00 |
| Barbara Lyttle | 1128.00 | 6,790.00 |
| Wenona Dubrowsky | 5120.00 | 23,830.00 |
>>> Read more!
235 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 235 of 235Aberdeener
If Dr O and Ms Irons were so good they would have looked at ways of cutting cost not people , any Idiot can just cut people and contract services, look at where the waste is as a parent I have a child attends MARSD and has been told to leave there books home because we have no need for them in class as there are duplicate books that were issued , here is just one example of waste ordering more books than needed or niot needed. Any good adminastrator would look at wasteful spending before labor cuts, Labor cuts are the easy way out his lack of experience in running a district is evident. Any how does he have so much time on his hands that he is a committee member in Raritan, maybe one of the criterias should be no moon lighting as a politician, As far as cashing out vacation days why not just take them cant be too busy he is a politician, or is that a magician he can pull a raise out of his hat , and I agree you are a house b@#$%& everyone is wrong but you
I say that the custodians in town should delay there tax payments like Dr O wants to delay Medical payment , In fact I think everyone that is outraged should withold there tax for a quarter and see how that works
Comeon people do you know how expencive a NK campaign is year after year. That is why they get a half pct more every year. More bullshit from the puppetmaster from injustice lane is all that. How does Nk like his cofee. NK has a bad ticker so no danish for you NK. The legal help could be F.C.TP or F.P.Af maybe. Take a pick they both know NK is a scummer.
Quinn bought the second books honey. Where were you when Quinn and the loon ran the school board.
Aberdeener I know you dont know how to add but here is the vote 5-3 not 8-1
O'Malley, who earns $185,000 with a base minimum increase of $3,000 a year starting in July, had his contract extended from 2012 to 2014 by a 5-3 vote. One of the members who voted against it said he was concerned about "ambiguous" language in the contract regarding performance goals and making O'Malley's campaign finance reports available to the board from his second public job as a Raritan Township committeeman. The board should have insisted he resign that position so he could devote full attention to the school district.
Not questioning who bought books just stating there is waste and this is an example of some so get your head out of your ass, and when Quinn was in I disagreed with him on issues. Thanks Honey and I am not avaiable
Aberdeener,
How can this district be laying off teachers yet you continue to fund MOST, an after school program with no data to substantiate its effectiveness. How can this be more important than classroom teachers? Is this more important than summer school? Is this more important than technology advances? Is this more important than curriculum writing? Is this more important than postponing health care payments? Your priorities don't seem to make sense.
Contract extended for Mat-Ab superintendent
Board of Education approves $185K annual salary
http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2010-03-18/Schools/Contract_extended_for_MatAb_superintendent.html
http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2010-03-18/Schools/Contract_extended_for_MatAb_superintendent.html
So what did the GOV's message mean for our schools?
Better, worse, or indifferent?
Psst....BARZA, I'm back. You said "nice try, not afraid" when I tried to warn you about Detective Wilbert down at the procecutor's investigators office. That is fine it ain't no afront to me but my birdie friend thought you might want to know.... "possible taxpayer fraud, conspiracy,embezzlement,...." are some of the scary words that can be heard when Quinn's file is open in the office. If you have no fear as you say, go along your merry way, it matters not to me, but, make no mistake, you are bound to hear the rat-a-tat-tat at your door one day soon. Just remember, doing Quinn a solid once may have sealed your fate later. I for one care not one way or another what you do, for I will wait to see your miserable faces staring back at me from the front page of the APP.
Quinn and bar-za still we feel the pain they left behind. They suck. Happy St. Patricks Day to all of my Emerald Isle brothers and sisters. Go green or stay home.
Contract extended for Mat-Ab superintendent
Board of Education approves $185K annual salary
BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA
ABERDEEN — The Matawan- Aberdeen Board of Education voted to extend Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley’s contract by two years despite fiscal concerns voiced by several board members on March 8.
The board will pay the superintendent an annualized salary of $185,000 for the period beginning March 8, 2010, through June 30, 2014. O’Malley’s current contract expires in 2012.
“The intent was merely to provide an extension,” said board President Charles Kenny, who explained that the contract was not a redraft of the original document awarded to O’Malley in 2008. “It provides a two-year extension from the original end of the contract term.”
The motion to approve the contract passed with a 5-to-3 vote, with Kenny and board members John Delaney, Elizabeth Hayward, Joseph Warren and Martin Ruprecht voting yes.
However, several board members disagreed with certain aspects of the contract, including board Vice President Thomas Gambino and members Lawrence O’Connell and Jan Rubino, who cast “no” votes. All expressed concerns about the 2010-11 budget and upcoming financial challenges the district will be facing.
Board member Gerald Donaghue was not present for the vote.
“We have a bigger fish to fry than putting together a contract,” Gambino said. “What I’m concerned about right now is that people are losing their houses, people may not have enough money to pay taxes, and services are getting cut in the classroom. We have problems financially in the district we have to address.”
O’Malley’s existing four-year contract expires in 16 months on June 30, 2012. His starting salary was $173,000 in 2008.
O’Malley previously estimated that cuts of $1,027,829 would have to be made to the 2009-10 budget from excess surplus and various funding reserves, leaving the district with “financial challenges” for the upcoming academic year.
Under the proposed 2010-11 budget, 78 employee positions would be eliminated and the tax levy would rise by 2 percent, assuming a 13 percent cut in state aid, O’Malley previously explained.
The board will also be granting O’Malley a minimum base salary increase of $3,000 every 12 months beginning July 1, according to the contract. In addition, O’Malley will be eligible for additional annual increases beyond the $3,000 based upon performance and board goals.
Under the contract, some of the goals include monitoring student reading and writing progress, supporting a budget with tax levy increases at less than 2 percent, and ranking among the top 15 districts on state assessment exams for total proficiency at all grade levels.
O’Malley will have 20 vacation days each school year as well as 12 days of sick leave annually beginning in July.
The contract also states the board will provide, as part of the superintendent’s compensation, individual and family coverage of the New Jersey Blue Cross Hospital Service Plan and Medical Surgical Plan under the state. O’Malley will pay 1 percent of his annual base salary toward the premiums for medical insurance coverage.
O’Connell, the former board president who appointed O’Malley, said the economic times do not warrant a two-year contract extension.
“Overall with a $6 million deficit in our budget, I thought the board’s energy should be spent on doing the best job possible to preserve services to our children to the maximum extent possible,” he said. “I consider renewing Dr. O’Malley’s contract another two years is not necessary. There is no compelling reason to act at this point on this contract, yet we have a huge deficit to deal with.”
He also cited concerns about the superintendent’s political affiliations outside of town. O’Malley is a committeeman in Raritan Township, Hunterdon County, and the contract states: “The board agrees to permit such service and permits the superintendent to receive whatever compensation attaches to such position.”
O’Connell suggested the contract should include a clause requiring the superintendent to disclose information about campaign funds raised for his township committee seat. “My concern here is to protect the public to make sure any funds provided to you from private businesses are made visible to this board,” O’Connell said. “That’s not required by this contract, but I think any fundraising that you do for an elected position should be made visible to this board.”
Kenny responded and emphasized O’Malley’s commitment to the district as “nonpolitical,” citing that he has provided stability and secure leadership through a difficult budget process.
“When you come into something with good faith and good intent, and we have a track record, I’m going to rely on that,” Kenny said.
Under O’Malley’s leadership, all six schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress status in 2009 under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act for the first time in six years. Proficiency and advanced proficiency on state standardized tests have also increased.
Board member Joseph Warren said the contract was merely a two-year extension in order to comply with the current law.
“This is supposed to be a contract extension,” Warren said. “What Mr. O’Connell is suggesting is rewriting the contract, renegotiating the contract, having the attorney review all these terms again, resubmitting it to the county and engage in all these negotiations immediately during the process of setting a budget.”
He added, “I just hope Dr. O’Malley doesn’t find a better position in that time.”
The union reps for our workers in town should put the pressure on Normy. He runs the whole corrupt show and if the new leadership denies it they are liars no better then Normy. Some unelected old coot without being elected is allowed to tell them what to do. That is just wrong.
woo woo train time
We should know by the end of the week how much state funding we'll be receiving but it looks like it could be much worse than expected.
Forget that bastard kauff. We have more important things to worry about then him. He will get his with our new gov. in the seat. I sent a letter not long ago telling what i know since i lived here. I did not get a response but i am all right with that. At least i told them about our own local wayne bryant. I to sat in the lair of kauff and watched him and robinson pat themselves on the back when they won. They are the worse people i know.
If anyone sees St. Patrik today in Aberdeen please just direct him to Justice Lane. Perhaps he can rid our little town of the big corrupt and costly snake that lives on that street. That snake would be Mr. K. of course.
It seems that Mr. O'Connell had more concerns then just being unhappy with the language of the contract as you reported. "I consider renewing Dr. O'Malleys contract another two years is not necessary". 8-1? Distorting the facts to prove a point does not help one credibility.
Anon,
That's pretty funny. You accuse me of distorting the record by only giving half the quote.
Why don't I give you hand with the full quote.
“I consider renewing Dr. O’Malley’s contract another two years is not necessary. There is no compelling reason to act at this point on this contract, yet we have a huge deficit to deal with.”
The point being he wanted to wait until after April to consider all the revisions to the contract that he was proposing, not that he was opposed to extending Dr. O'Malley's contract.
Ms. Rubino also stated at the meeting that she supported extending Dr. O'Malley's contract but opposed any change in benefits.
So, yeah, eight members of the board support extending Dr. O'Malley's contract unless you want to believe they weren't telling the whole truth.
How can that be if he is not even going to be on the board after April? Unlike you, I spoke to Mr. O'Connell and he has many concerns you may not be aware off. Ask him, he does not support this as you say.
You think I don't speak regularly with the other board members? You think I haven't spoken privately with Mr. O'Connell regarding the contract extension or on a host of other issues?
Well, you'd be mistaken.
It seems that Barza and Union "friends" are so outraged by a possible cost of living adjustment in a Superintendent's contract that they can't move on and address anything real as a solution to deal with the financial crisis our district finds it's self in, along with nearly every other in the state I might add, so I propose a simple solution: Carl and the union agree to give up their cost of living adjustment (to start) this year and then we can all ask O'Malley to do the same. Seems fair to me. Unfortunately, we will all then see that this diversionary tactic by Barza/Demerest and Carl has just been an excersise in chasing one's tail because even IF Carl and the union and O'Malley give up the cost of living adjustment, it will only be a drop in the bucket. One person's salary or contract is not even a blip on the financial radar we are facing. If you all are so outraged suddenly, I say SHAME ON YOU!! where have you been for the past 8 years? Where were you when Barza controlled boards and Quinn made shady deals in committee meetings behind closed doors? When They renewed Quinn's contract in the middle of the night with a 3% raise every year? When the taxes were raised 48% in 5 years while Carl and the union got 5% raises? NOW YOU ARE MAD? That is why you give yourselves away, union & Barza DRONES! You hate O'Malley because business as usual is over! You may think because O'Connell and Gambino are suddenly sour that you are gaining support...think again! Sour grapes over personal issues are clouding the actions of some on the boe ..but then what else is new? We taxpayers are done! So, Carl what you say? you and your union gonna give up your cost of living? You all do that and taxpayers will demand the same from O'Malley!
I agree, the residents of Aberdeen should attend this Fire Commissioners meeting on 4/12 and make some inquiries both monetarily as well as this assault that was witnessed by at least two of the Commissioners. I expect there will be some disiplinary measures taken against this so called District Chief? Lets see if the Commisioners have grown a set of balls since this started and will do what is in everyones best interest instead of their own? Apparently Vinci is trying to put this in the closet along with all his other skeletons but we will see if there is room for yet another. Vinci, your even a bigger idiot than I ever imagined, keep grasping at straws and don't loose your balance since your so crooked. Be careful what you wish for, it might bite you in the ass someday. If you ever found out who is writing this. I'm closer to you than you think, real close but keep guessing, I'll take it to my grave.
I just felt a cold draft from that grave! Sheesh, talk about needing to grow a set! I'm imagining a reptilian type, somebody who wheezes when he talks, skulks when he walks and never takes his eyes off the ground!
I was just thinking the same thing. Say it to his face coward.
If the opportunity arose, I would say it to his face, even while knowing who he knows. If I see him coming out of DeMarco's looking for freebies I will certainly call him out.
Tommy would never had let it get this far, God rest his soul.
You said it yourself, you're close to him. You have plenty of opportunity. Just grab your balls and say it to him if you want.
there is now a seperate posting for this fire department debacle if all you posters would not mind leaving this thread and heading over there please.
Thank you Anon for redirecting them.
Regarding the comments about ATFD
This message is for anonymous TODD:
I remember as a kid writing nasty things about people I did not like but I gave that up when I became an adult. I won't tell you how you gave away your identity since you don't have the B___S to sign your trash. I will attribute all the comments made about Louis Auriemma that were posted here signed Anonymous yo you! I don't normally let words bother me, but the comment about fighting fires with one eye really TICKED ME OFF!I want you to know how despicable you are for even thinking that thought!! I won't lower myself by writing garbage about you, but I do know some really embarassing items about you. I have not put my name on this message, not because I am afraid (as it seems you are) but because I want you to wonder and worry about just who I am. People seem to feel freer now to do the kind of rant and denunciation you run across in Anonymous postings. Unfortunate is the loss of face to face exchange where you are courteous and receive courtesy in return.
Nothing more to say....
http://schoolfinance101.wordpress.com/
the board was meeting last nite was disgusting and disturbing..They all sat there with there suits and laughed and smirked and have the time spoke amongest themself. never lisyening to us..It was taped you all need to watch it and see the BOE that you voted in..Now vote them out..
There are ways to save these jobs and it needs to be proposed, if they come up with the money there jobs shud be kept for the saftey and familyness we all love....
For anyone that was at the meeting last night could you please explain what the hell Gerry Donoghue was talking about. He said he was in favor of tabling the vote (got applause from audience) and then voted not to table. Then he voted yes on the budget. Should he be voting on the budget anyway? Isn't that unethical?
Post a Comment