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Post by justfacts on Jan 26, 2006 12:13:48 GMT -5
Here's a late-breaking report from Newsday:
At the tipping point on taxes
Study shows many LIers support funding alternatives for public schools, including a county income tax BY JAMES T. MADORE STAFF WRITER January 26, 2006
Fed up with paying some of the country's highest property taxes, a majority of Long Island residents now support alternative funding schemes for public schools including an income tax and redistributing business tax revenues equally among districts, according to a new study expected to be released today.
This apparent embrace of what previously had been considered unacceptable, particularly a county levy on wages, comes as people grow frustrated and desperate at their ever-higher property tax bills. Fifty-four percent of area residents found it "somewhat" or "very difficult" to meet monthly housing costs last year, up from 35 percent in 2003. And more people, including more adults in their peak-earning years, said they are considering leaving Long Island for cheaper locales, the study said.
The wide-ranging report card and accompanying public opinion poll, from the nonpartisan Rauch Foundation in Garden City, also cast a spotlight on the region's multiple layers of government.
Nassau and Suffolk counties are home to 439 municipalities, or nearly three times the number in comparable areas. Westchester County has 120 municipalities, while Bergen County, N.J., has 149 and Silicon Valley, Calif., 28.
When all the special taxing districts are included, Long Island has a whopping 901 governmental entities. Together, they spent $15.9 billion in 2003, the most recent available data, with school expenditures representing almost one-half.
Schools also were responsible for the largest increases in spending during the past five years. They receive the lion's share of their funding from property taxes, which have risen to an average of $7,477 from $6,858 in 2001.
"The steady unyielding property taxes every year are unfair because there is no adjustment in terms of your life circumstance, your ability to pay," said Patrick McGivney, a New York City firefighter who lives in Miller Place with his wife and three preschoolers. "I'm absolutely for an income tax."
McGivney is among the 55 percent of Long Islanders who answered favorably when asked about reducing the property tax by two-thirds and instituting an income tax that could be as high as 9 percent for the wealthiest households. Thirty-four percent of the 1,215 people surveyed last summer opposed an income tax. The Long Island Index poll, conducted by Stony Brook University for Rauch, had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
People were evenly divided about whether to consolidate the region's more than 120 districts. Ann Ricketts, 39, a mother in Bethpage, wants to see her tax bill reduced but worries that combining schools could harm quality instruction. "Sometimes when you make things bigger you don't get the same quality," she said.
Such sentiments are widely held on Long Island and historically have served as a roadblock to change.
Instituting an income tax would be controversial, in part because it would more heavily impact the wealthy and renters. Several Rauch officials acknowledged the difficulty in establishing new funding streams for education despite the public support suggested by the Long Island Index poll.
"It's like going to war against notions and values that are deeply held," said foundation president Nancy Rauch Douzinas.
Still, she and other experts said anger about the escalating tax burden - a record 21 districts are operating on austerity this year after voters rejected budget proposals - was approaching a "tipping point."
Douzinas said: "We have a moment in time to do something because the public is tilted toward taking a risk, being on the side of innovation."
Ready for change?
Residents may consider alternative taxation methods, according to a Long Island Index poll. Bad Idea 34% Don't know/ declined answer 10% Good Idea 55%
Shifting taxes would involve cutting the property tax by about two thirds and increasing income tax by up to 9 percent for the wealthiest. Do you think this is a good or bad idea? Favor somewhat 40% Oppose somewhat 14% Oppose strongly 6% Don't know / declined answer 4% Favor strongly 36%
Do you favor or oppose pooling comercial property taxes so that they are distributed evenly across all school districts in your community? Oppose strongly 24% Oppose somewhat 24% Don't know/ declined answer 6% Favor strongly 17% Favor somewhat 29%
Economists have calculated that property taxes could be reduced if Long Island's 125 school districts were consolidated into larger ones. Do you favor or oppose this? (Note. Some figures do not add up to 100 percent due to rounding errors)
Property taxes (Average per capita in comparable counties) $2,815 Nassau $2,584 Westchester $2,316 Bergen, N.J. $2,213 Fairfield, Conn. $2,115 Suffolk $1,547 Fairfax, Va. $969 U.S. average
Source: Long Island Index 2006 Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
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Post by justfacts on Jan 26, 2006 12:48:26 GMT -5
And to prove that the ideas are plentiful but that action is lacking (no matter what idea is put up - there are dozens ** that will shoot it down - and the result is - NO FIX IS MADE!) ==========================================
New proposal resurrects old idea[/b] JAMES T. MADORE January 26, 2006
With much fanfare 13 years ago, then-Gov. Mario Cuomo unveiled a plan he said would ease taxpayers' burden by allowing school districts to replace a portion of their property tax revenues with an income tax of up to 25 percent.
The powerful Democrat argued that the new funding scheme would aid hard-pressed senior citizens and the poor without shortchanging schoolchildren. "The real property tax is a stupid tax. The income tax is designed to get more from people who can pay", he told a Brentwood audience in March 1993.
Yet despite his soaring rhetoric, Cuomo's proposal met a quick death in the face of fierce opposition from school boards **, state legislators ** and others **. A Newsday analysis at the time found the income tax surcharge would do little to remedy existing school funding inequities and would have to be 33 percent in Nassau County and 40 percent in Suffolk County to cancel half of the property tax.
County officials and Gov. George Pataki have reopened the issue by suggesting that school funding should be re-examined and offering incentives to districts who curb tax increases.
But Carrie Meek Gallagher, project director of the Long Island Index, said people "need a model they can hold on to as a vision of the future."
Michigan may be such an example, though the sales tax, not income taxes, was used to replace $7 billion * in property taxes in the mid-1990s. The move has closed the gap between rich and poor districts and kept property taxes much closer to the national average.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc. =======================================
* Nassau and Suffolk have about $8 Billion in School District Budgets - almost all of it from Property taxes. That means the Long Island area, just for School Districts, has a school district property tax levied that about equals the entire state of Michigan!
. ** These are the very same people that are in Dr. Richman's "high income" bracket. Do you think he, or they, are unbiased when they shout "NO!" and are fiercely opposed to the Income Tax? Ed
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Post by rinx on Jan 26, 2006 15:09:36 GMT -5
No way...Funding schools from another income tax is just taking money out from a different pocket in the same jacket. NYC will tax hotel rooms to ouffset sports team/stadium money but not for education. You know what? It's stupidity like this that as soon as my last child graduates in 5 years I'm outta here.
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Post by justfacts on Jan 27, 2006 22:22:03 GMT -5
Rinx - Absolutely right on! We all can become misdirected to think that the money coming out of our pockets to pay for schools is so high because someone else is not picking up their share of the tab!That type of thinking, and causes that we pursue to get others to "kick in" their share so we are not hurt as much by the large amount of money that comes out of our pocket for schools, only cause us to miss the real target.The real target is excessive cost for schooling. Yeah!, I know, the professionals in the field will bandy about numbers for the dollars spent per pupil - but there are so many others that have shown time and time again, that this figure bears little impact on the quality and sufficiency of the education that a child gets! Dollars per pupil is not used as a measure of successful education in any other nation but ours. And the success of the educational effort in many other nations (not all) is greater than our success.Present Educators gripe about the added costs being due to the "mandates of testing" - but ignore the fact that the testing was instituted because the educational process had deteriorated so badly. Testing is there folks, because you did your jobs so poorly. Any other profession would have invested more back into developing their own standards and improvements so that they did not have to have a "mandate" imposed on them by the political process in order to provide minimal performance standards for the public. The costs to the public are so high because many (not all) in the teaching profession have an overinflated sense of self worth and are disconnected from the realities of earning a living in what has become a very competitive, very tough world without any job guarantees (for some, but not all). And, I am NOT talking about the average hard working teacher at all! * * * * * * * * * * * *
How about we begin to "outsource" teaching jobs via telecommunication links into and out of the classroom - as has happened to so many of the other occupations in the US?
* * * * * * * * * * * *
So what if our children end up speaking in a rapid, clipped and very British manner. It might be an improvement. * * * * * * * * * * * *
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Post by justfacts on Jan 30, 2006 20:21:55 GMT -5
Former William Floyd school official pleads guilty to grand larceny[/u] FROM STAFF REPORTS
Two former William Floyd school district employees pleaded guilty to stealing, and two more officials, one of whom is retired, were arraigned on charges they faked a recommendation letter to get a unqualifed relative a job as a district accountant.
They entered the pleas in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead.
Daniel Cifonelli, 71, Port Jeff Station, former assistant superintendent for business, pleaded guilty to four counts of second degree grand larceny and one count of third degree grand larceny. Prosecutors say after Cifonelli retired, he collected a pension while taking a salary from the district (as a consultant). In all, he took more than $700,000.
Editorial Comment: [ Didn't our former Assistant Supeintendent of Business retire - and then work as a consultant for the District for a few months? ]
James Wright, 57, of Bohemia, a former district treasurer, pleaded guilty to one count of second degree grand larceny and eight counts of filing a false instrument. Prosecutors say he stole more than $750,000; in a separate scheme, prosecutors say he failed to return unspent federal grant money to the government.
Under the plea deal reached with Suffolk prosecutors, Cifonelli and Wright face no more than two to six years in prison.
Dennis Fidotta, the district current assistant superintendent for business and Michael Schildkraut, the district retired assistant superintendent for personnel, each were arraigned on one charge of offering a false instrument; they face one and one third to four years in prison.
Prosecutors says Fidotta solicited a recommendation letter from an internal auditor on behalf of Jennifer Lieber, Schildkraut's daughter in law, saying she had worked as an accountant for the auditor for two years when she had only worked there for one day.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
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Post by justfacts on Jan 31, 2006 11:19:25 GMT -5
District gone 'wrong'?Suffolk DA lashes out as corruption probe at William Floyd school widens, snares more district figuresBY KARLA SCHUSTER AND EDEN LAIKIN STAFF WRITERS January 30, 2006, Two former William Floyd school officials pleaded guilty Monday to stealing from the district and two others were arraigned for faking credentials to hire a relative, as a widening corruption probe ensnares more of the district's top administrators. "It's clear ... that there's something terribly wrong in this district," Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said Monday, blasting schools chief Richard Hawkins. "The superintendent is the person who has to answer to the community for this. He's the leader. I don't know how in God's name the superintendent of schools can continue to say ... that all these crimes occurred and he and every other administrator in that place were blind to it and couldn't have prevented it. That's just not acceptable."Spota would not say whether prosecutors are focusing on Hawkins. Their investigation exploded into public view in June 2004 with the arrest on theft charges of former school treasurer James Wright and is now before a special grand jury empaneled last September to examine Medicaid fraud and school corruption countywide. Hawkins said in a written statement that he has "never once shirked the responsibility one assumes as a leader when something happens on the leader's watch ... "None should ever be painted with the same brush as those who have stolen from the District we have all worked so hard to build." The district also released two prepared statements, one of which vigorously defended Assistant Superintendent for Business Dennis Fidotta, who was arraigned Monday on an indictment for soliciting a phony reference letter for a colleague's relative who was later hired as a school accountant.Fidotta, the district said, was "instrumental" in exposing the thefts by Wright and former Assistant Superintendent for Business Daniel Cifonelli, both of whom pleaded guilty Monday. Fidotta was also "the leading force" behind reforms instituted after Wright and Cifonelli's arrests and will continue to serve as chief financial officer, the district said. " ... the District recognizes the seriousness of this matter. However, the District also recognizes that Mr. Fidotta has accomplished much on behalf of the District," the statement said. "Thanks to the efforts and leadership of Mr. Fidotta, today we have a strong and secure school business function." Those changes have transformed the district and helped restored public trust, said school board member Robert Vecchio. "The district is managed entirely differently from the way it was operating three or four years ago," he said. Spota's office, meanwhile, says Fidotta is not the good government reformer the school district describes."Mr. Fidotta was instrumental in the invention of credentials that allowed a relative of a school administrator to get a job she wasn't qualified for ... ," said spokesman Bob Clifford.John Sicignano, president of the Mastic Park Civic Association, said he isn't convinced the district has cleaned house. "I think there's more to this than we'll ever find out," he said. Monday, Cifonelli and Wright admitted to stealing nearly $1.5 million between them from William Floyd and the state Teacher's Retirement System. Judges Monday promised each prison terms of no more than two to six years when they are sentenced in April. Both are also being investigated for federal tax evasion. "He held a position of trust," Assistant District Attorney Maureen MacCormack said of Cifonelli, 71, of Port Jefferson Station. "This was not a situation where he was stealing to put food on the table. This was plain avarice." Cifonelli and his attorney, Paul Gianelli of Hauppauge, declined to comment. Wright, 57, of Bohemia, also pleaded guilty to changing federal grant forms so the district would not have to return money to the government. His attorney, Eric Naiburg of Central Islip, suggested that many school officials knew Wright was "fudging" the forms. "There's no question that every administrator in the school district knew, or had to know," Naiburg said. Prosecutors say Fidotta and retired Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Administration Michael Schildkraut also faked documents -- to hire Schildkraut's daughter-in-law. Both Fidotta and Schildkraut declined to comment after they pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging each with filing a false instrument and official misconduct. Both were released without bail. Fidotta, authorities say, solicited a letter from the district's internal auditor in July 2003 saying Schildkraut's daughter-in-law had worked for the auditor for two years, when she'd only worked for him for one day. Schildkraut gave the letter to the county Civil Service Department, and hired her. And when she flunked the accountant civil service exam, prosecutors say, the district gave her a job with a lesser title -- accountant-in-training -- but continued to pay her at the higher rate. Neither the auditor, nor Schildkraut's daughter-in-law, who continues to work for the district, have been charged. Schildkraut, 59, of Shirley, retired from the district in 2004. His attorney, Anthony Gallo of Commack, said unlike Cifonelli and Wright, the charges against his client "don't include any allegation that profitted from the alleged wrongdoing, nor did the district or anyone else lose any money." Like the school district, Fidotta's attorney, Richard LaRusso of Mineola, lauded Fidotta's work in William Floyd. Fidotta, 55, of Mastic Beach, has been with the district since 1998. He was Hawkins' assistant from 2000 to 2004, when he was promoted to his current post. "He was instrumental in uncovering some of the theft," LaRusso said. "He has the full support of the district." Staff writer William Murphy contributed to this story. Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
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Post by justfacts on Feb 17, 2006 8:54:45 GMT -5
Why the Feds were asking for Records all across the Island!
Here's one result of the recent request for School Records.
What's remarkable is the comment from a School District Superintendent that: "If we know what we're supposed to be doing, then we'll do it." Isn't that part of a job description you should know about BEFORE you take a job? Especially at the level of pay that most Superintendents are getting?
Did you ever know of a Government gift that didn't have paper-work attached? Paper work that told you in excruciating details about all the forms and requirements that had to be met in order to "get the money!"? Seems like that Superintendent, among others, doesn't bother to read anymore - Could it be that "Know-it-alls" are so sure that they are superior to the rest of us, that they figure they don't have to read? Or - at the least, delegate that responsibility?
But the article also shows that Albany is also to blame for the fiscal "looseness" among all school districts since it doesn't do its job of keeping tight audit reigns on the schools. Superintendents are use to getting away with bending and twisting rules and regulations on a regular basis since Albany is not holding them in check!
Look also at the comment by Theresa Savo, one of the Albany autocrats - about how she found the records to be "EXCELLENT" - and then follows with they had to make several "corrective steps" in what was being done. As so Terry! - follow the rules - never admit to a screw up! Deny! - Deny! - Deny! Terry, you really are a Deputy Commissioner!
------------------ Albany: We'll follow the money --------------------
After William Floyd breakdown, the State Ed department plans to better track spending of federal funding
BY JOHN HILDEBRAND, STAFF WRITER - February 17, 2006
A breakdown in the management of millions of dollars in federal aid in the scandal-ridden William Floyd school district has prompted Albany to promise an overhaul in how more than $1 billion annually in federal money is tracked in schools statewide.
Under fire for lax management, the State Ed Department has pledged improved monitoring of how schools spend "Title I" money - the U.S. government's biggest school-aid program that provides tutoring for low-income students.
The state's plans call for a statewide series of fiscal training workshops for school employees, including two sessions next month on the Island.
The state's pledge comes in response to federal auditors' findings that William Floyd could not account for $4.6 million in teacher salaries and related expenses paid through Title I during the past four years. The findings follow close on the heels of another federal audit that reported $6.6 million unaccounted for in Wyandanch.
Failure to document Title I spending can cost students big in terms of lost tutoring in math and reading. Under federal rules, any aid not accounted for must be repaid to Washington.
In William Floyd, which is getting $2.8 million this year, the biggest weaknesses cited revolved around the district's failure to keep records certifying that more than 20 teachers and other employees were doing work covered by the federal-aid program. District officials, who insisted they were unaware of the certification rules, welcomed the state's action and said they would provide records justifying the $4.6 million in expenses.
"If we know what we're supposed to be doing, then we'll do it," said Richard Hawkins, superintendent of William Floyd schools.
A Suffolk district attorney's investigation that began two years ago triggered the federal audit and extracted guilty pleas from two former William Floyd officials for stealing from the district.
While criticizing William Floyd, federal auditors also slammed the state Education Department for what they characterized as 10 years of neglecting to enforce its own fiscal guidelines. The department had cut back on audits starting in the 1980s in response to changes in state law that turned such work over to private accountants.
Responding to the federal criticisms, Theresa Savo, a deputy education commissioner, said her agency audited William Floyd's Title I records and found them "excellent."
However, Savo's Feb. 2 memo also listed numerous steps to improve tracking of Title I money statewide.
In their Wyandanch audit, federal analysts found that the district's financial woes were aggravated by rapid turnover of administrators.
The turnovers continue. A former superintendent, Sherman Roberts, has just taken over the district again, and four high school teachers have been laid off or transferred. State education officials had no comment on the layoffs except to say they were a local matter.
For hundreds of dismayed students, the layoffs have meant changes in teachers and class schedules during the past two weeks, with state exams only four months away.
Said Porsche Lamorissiere, 17, the senior class president, "There's no reason for classes to be changed in the middle of the year. I still don't understand it."
Copyright (c) 2006, Newsday, Inc.
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Sad part is it's our kids that bear the brunt of the educational impact of these "corrective actions" and it's our pocket books that make up for the financial impact!
Just when it this "Educational Management System" going to get its act together and start doing its job as it should?
The "Checks & Balances" system head in Albany always seems to have an excuse that it isn't staffed enough to do its job - yet it has ton's of Lawyers on its upstate payroll sitting in beautiful State offices every day.
And the working "professionals" in the job - local school superintendents = always seem startled to find out that certain things are required for them to do. "Just tell me, I'll do it" is one excuse heard too often recently.
Other professions seem to do a much better job of setting up their own professional monitoring and standards groups to ensure that members are performing at their best - When are we going to have a School Superintendents Professional Society that monitors and keeps up the standards of the members like the Legal, Engineering and Medical professions have?
Why not State Licensing for Superintendents? Then their "tickets can be pulled" for some of the ineptness we to often hear about.
Ed
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Post by justfacts on Feb 20, 2006 5:18:49 GMT -5
Here's more news about what happens when Districts go bad!
I wonder how widespread this is - having a School Board member working for a company the does business with the District? It doesn't matter if they own the company or just work there - all board members should have their employers listed for public review, and that includes their close family members.
-------------------- Ties to school questioned --------------------
BY SANDRA PEDDIE AND EDEN LAIKIN INVESTIGATIONS TEAM
Three William Floyd school board members who have served over the last eight years have ties to companies that received millions of dollars in business from the district after they were elected, according to district records.
Mark Mensch has been a principal in three companies -- a bus line and two athletic training companies -- that have received more than $9 million. On June 30, 2004, he stepped down from the school board and became the district's athletic director and now makes $119,646 a year.
Board member William Guiducci is a vice president of Long Island Commercial Bank, which handled nearly $20 million last year in school district funds. The district first opened accounts there in July 1998, the same month he started working at the bank.
And board member Patrick Nocerino works as a supervisor in the testing division of Elemco, an electrical contractor based in Bohemia, that has received more than $2.9 million in business from the district.
All three men abstained from voting on the contracts, and Guiducci and Nocerino denied any impropriety. Mensch declined to comment.
The sprawling William Floyd school district, which encompasses Mastic, Mastic Beach and Shirley, is the second-poorest district in terms of taxable wealth on Long Island. In the last 19 months, it has weathered the indictments of six current and former school officials. Three weeks ago, two former top district financial officers pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Asked whether William Floyd has a policy on board members or employees having contracts with the district, school officials said they follow the state's general municipal law on conflicts of interest. That law prohibits school board members from working for a company that has a contract with their school district, unless the school board member has no ownership interest and doesn't receive any money as a result of the contract, said Mark Davies, chairman of the state bar association's government ethics committee. He added that abstaining from a vote or disclosing one's interest does not alleviate the conflict.
The Suffolk County district attorney's investigation into corruption at the school district, which has gone on for more than two years, is continuing, said Edward Heilig, chief of the office's economic crime bureau. Although Heilig said he could not comment on specifics of the probe, a letter released by the school district confirms that the DA has subpoenaed records related to an athletic training company tied to Mensch.
In a brief interview, Mensch refused to answer questions about the athletic training company. He said he never worked for his father's bus company, Montauk Bus Service. When asked about court papers in which he said he was an employee of Montauk Bus Service, he referred questions to his attorney. His lawyer agreed to return a telephone call requesting an interview, but did not.
Guiducci and Nocerino, who do not own the companies they work for, said they did not gain financially from the contracts. They also said they disclosed their interests.
Board members serve two-year unpaid terms. Each time a contract was awarded, the vote was unanimous, with the abstentions. In interviews, other board members defended their colleagues. "Since I have been on the board, I have not seen anyone personally benefit," said Robert Vecchio, who was elected in 2003. "Nor should they."
A 'conflict of interest'
Community activist Dominic Licata, however, said he was troubled by the business dealings because "it's a conflict of interest. You're supposed to be the watchdog for the taxpayer, and you're not being the watchdog."
Asked about the board's business relationships with the district, Monroe Freedman, legal ethics professor at Hofstra University, said the board members had created a "a very awkward situation." He said the conflicts arise because it appears that board members could be trading votes for the business deals.
"In my judgment, they shouldn't continue serving at all on the board," he said. "It's an unhealthy situation. From my perspective, it's not a legal matter, it's an ethical matter and a matter of important public policy. And I think it's very unhealthy and undesirable."
Levittown Superintendent Herman Sirois said none of his board members have such conflicts and that they "should be avoided, whether they are legal or not. It has to be a local decision, but we should try to avoid dealing with the perception of impropriety."
Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota, who recently empaneled a special grand jury to investigate schools countywide, has publicly criticized the leadership of William Floyd Superintendent Richard Hawkins. He has said that officials have not cooperated fully with investigators and that "it's clear ... that there's something terribly wrong in this district."[/b]
'Nothing smells the least bit'
Hawkins, who was appointed by the school board, defended himself and the board. "From a factual standpoint, nothing smells the least bit of anything being wrong. Everything here is being scrutinized, but I don't think this gives anyone pause," he said in an interview.
Responding to concerns raised about board members' business connections to the district, Hawkins said, "It's just perceptual. What we've done is we have disclosed it and abstained from voting. There's nothing wrong with that."
Guiducci was first elected to the board in 1992. In July 1998, he joined Long Island Commercial Bank. On July 8, 1998, records show, on Mensch's motion, the board voted to deposit funds at Long Island Commercial Bank for the first time.
Deposits are an important moneymaker for banks because they invest the funds. They make a profit on the difference between the interest they pay on deposits and the interest they earn on investments and loans.
Guiducci abstained from the vote and disclosed his role. In an interview, he said he was manager of the Shirley branch and that all decisions affecting the account are made in the bank's Islandia office. "I have nothing to do with making those decisions," he said.
Nocerino, who is a supervisor at Elemco, was first elected to the board in 1994. In January 2002, Elemco was the lowest bidder for a $1.5 million co-generation project, a power plant that provides electricity to several school buildings.
The following year, the district awarded $956,532 more in contracts to Elemco, which again was the lowest bidder. Then in July 2005, the board approved an additional $17,030 in work, according to minutes of board meetings.
Each time, Nocerino abstained from voting and disclosed his job there. In an interview, he said, "I work in a different area. I do electric testing."
$1.4M contract in 2001
Mark Mensch was first elected to the school board in 1989. His family runs Montauk Bus, which serves school districts but also offers charters. In court papers, Mark Mensch said he is an employee of the company. Experian, the national credit rating service, lists him as a co-owner.
In July 2001, the school district awarded a $1.4 million contract to Montauk Bus Co., which in July 1997 had filed for bankruptcy, citing $4.6 million in liabilities. The bankruptcy case is pending.
Montauk Bus was the low bidder for the 2001 contract to transport special education students. While Mark Mensch abstained from the vote, he did not disclose any role in the company. Since then, school records show, the district has annually approved contracts with Montauk Bus, paying the company up to $2 million a year. Montauk Bus' annual sales reach about $5 million, according to business records.
That contract was not the only one with a company in which Mensch had an interest. Records show that the board has awarded athletic-training contracts to two Mensch companies since 2001. Because they were considered contracts for professional services, they were not subject to competitive bidding, district officials said.
Mensch abstained from voting and disclosed his role as administrative director of Sports Rehabilitation Network in July 2001. When the board later hired Longwood Sports Network, he abstained from the vote but did not disclose any role. However, business records list him as the company's chief executive officer. To date, the district has paid Longwood $92,727, according to records.
By 2002, Mensch had become embroiled in a bitter legal battle with Southampton Hospital, which had purchased another fitness company from him and sued him for violating a non-compete clause in their contract. At one point, he was even enjoined temporarily from engaging in a sports rehabilitation business. In early 2004, the case was resolved with an undisclosed settlement.
Hawkins, in response to a written question, said he didn't know that a court had ever barred Mensch from engaging in a sports rehabilitation business.
By May, Mensch had decided not to run for re-election to the school board. And in July, he became the district's athletic director.
District officials said they no longer use Mensch's companies for athletic training. However, when a reporter called his district athletic office to ask which company they use, the woman answering the phone referred the reporter to Sports Rehabilitation Network.
Staff writer Karla Schuster contributed to this report.
Copyright (c) 2006, Newsday, Inc.
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Post by justfacts on Feb 27, 2006 18:09:15 GMT -5
Here's a political battle brewing that can cut the legs out from under a letter writing campaign!
This Newsday Article shows how attitudes can get set in stone by just one inappropriate action!
The tactic may or may not work (to "Buy" one party out of an elected majority) But it does nothing to assure better education - In fact, it probably will set back some constructive ideas for several years!
Note that this is an attempt to get $7 Billion more for New York City Schools - and as said - where will the money come from?
Why from Nassau and Suffolk County existing State Aid support of course - among other places!
This is a no-win because the source for "mo' money" is, once again, THE OTHER GUY'S POCKET!
Which always turns out to be another pocket in the same suit!
Here's the latest unwise antagonistic move by an Educational group (No wonder many Legislators turn deaf ears to their requests - Win the Press Battle; lose the Financing War!)
********************************************* -------------------- Bruno says he won't bow to education group `threat' --------------------
By MICHAEL GORMLEY Associated Press Writer February 27, 2006, 5:31 PM EST
ALBANY, N.Y. -- State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno on Monday blasted back at an education funding group that has targeted Republicans in the fall elections who refuse to support a multibillion dollar increase in school aid for New York City schools.
"I don't care how many damn guys raise $3 million to take our members out," Bruno said. "We don't cater to threats."
The League of Education Voters of America, a political action committee, was formed last week to engage "voters in the fight for fair funding for public schools." NY EdPAC plans to raise $3 million to use against 13 Republican state senators the group feels are "refusing to adequately fund New York's public schools."
Republicans hold a 35-27 edge over Democrats in the Senate.
Bruno said his conference won't bend on the issue. Instead of approving $7 billion now for school aid for New York City schools, he wants a negotiated settlement. A group called the Campaign for Fiscal Equity successfully sued the state, arguing that the state has failed to provide the sound education required by the state constitution. That decision is being appealed by Gov. George Pataki.
"Where the hell is the money going to come from for us to pour another $7 billion" into education, Bruno said in a speech to the New York Conference of Mayors. "The taxpayers." Bruno said the judge was suffering from "lunacy" when he made the decision that Bruno said the state can't afford.
Pataki and Bruno said they are already complying with the intent of the court order by providing record amounts of school aid over the last 12 years, rising to about $15 billion a year. The state's average per-pupil aid also is the highest in the country, but that includes funding for some of the nation's wealthiest districts.
Bruno said Monday that school aid remains a priority of the Senate in the current negotiations for the 2006-07 budget. He said Pataki's hospitalization for complications from an appendectomy haven't slowed progress and he expects a budget by the April 1 start of the fiscal year.
"We haven't missed a beat," Bruno said.
But Bruno, Pataki, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other legislative leaders had tentatively planned to meet in their second public budget negotiating session Wednesday. That won't happen now, Bruno said. Pataki remained hospitalized Monday.
Copyright (c) 2006, The Associated Press --------------------
Ed.
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Post by techie on Feb 28, 2006 7:51:10 GMT -5
I think it odd,... that in today's Newsday it was reported that the appointment of a Treasurer for Nassau County, (the whole county, dealing with multimillions of dollars) from Manhattan for a salary of $125,000. a year was voted down.
What I mean to ask is why does Nassau County scrutinize the hiring of an "outsider" to deal with the finances of the whole county for the same salary that we pay an "outsider" for running the computer dept of this district? Mr. Richman himself stated during the summer that this person was not experienced in Web design, and that was the reason for the school's site to be down so long. And still we pay it. By our BOE's way of thinking, Nassau County should be offering an easy $750,000. for the Treasurer position!!
This is NOT to pick on the salary of this one person, just to point out that the way salaries are offered are way out of line for the services we are getting. Either that or, are we paying far too little to our county positions and should we UP the taxes?!?!?
There has to be a guideline for salary caps for these positions.
IMHO
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Post by Go Plainedge! on Feb 28, 2006 9:24:40 GMT -5
Techie:
Lets take this one step further. I find these comparisons amusing......
President = $400,000 Vice President = $208,100 Senator = $162,100 Representative = $162,100 Majority/Minority Leader = $180,100 Speaker of the House = $208,100 Chief Justice, Sup Court = $208,100 Assoc Justice, Sup Court = $199,200 Plainedge Superintendent = $243,111
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Post by patriot2415 on Mar 1, 2006 21:42:09 GMT -5
Dear Resident, At the request of community members the Plainedge Tax Relief Association has drafted a letter for your use in our letter writing campaign. Please use this letter to send to All the Government Officials listed. One letter should be sent to each official. We are hoping that you can dedicate a small amount of time to do this ASAP. The tax situation in Plainedge affects everyone. Your letters will go a long way in helping our representatives deliver our message to Albany. Only as a unified voice will we be heard....Thank you the members of the PTRA Winter 2006 Dear Plainedge Resident: Our school taxes are too high and we must demand more state aid for Plainedge!! We believe we can obtain more state aid for Plainedge if every voter in Plainedge sends the attached letter to each one of the legislators listed. All you have to do is sign each letter, write your name and address, address and stamp 7 envelopes and send a copy to each of the legislators we have listed for you. You should receive a response from the legislators you write to within a few weeks. When you receive a response, we suggest you write back again. If you do not get a response, we ask that you resend your letter indicating that you have not heard back. For more information, or to download a copy of the form letter, you can go to www.plaintalkonline.com or the Plainedge Schools website at www.plainedgeschools.org. Thank you in advance for your support. Plainedge Tax Relief Association The Plainedge Tax Relief Association (PTRA) has been formed by concerned residents of Plainedge to advocate for additional school funding and school tax relief for the Plainedge School District. Below is a copy of the form letter: February/March 2006 To: Governor George Pataki Executive Chamber The State Capitol Albany, NY 12224 Senator Joseph Bruno Senate Majority Leader Room 909 Legislative Office Building Albany, NY 12247 Assemblyman Sheldon Silver Speaker of the Assembly Room 932 Legislative Office Building Albany, NY 12248 Assemblyman Dean Skelos Deputy Majority Leader 55 Front Street Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Senator Kemp Hannon 224 Seventh Street 2nd Floor Garden City, NY 11530 Joseph S. Saladino 200 Boundary Avenue Massapequa, NY 11758 Senator Carl Marcellino Room 812 Legislative Office Building Albany, NY 12247 Dear Sir: I am writing to express my concern over the state education funding formulas and to request that Plainedge School District receive an increase in state aid. I am requesting your action on Bill A.7702 which would allow for a regional cost of living adjustment to be applied to the education aid formula. Nassau County school districts only receive 17% of their school funding from the state, while other areas of New York State receive an average of 37%. Plainedge has no commercial property so the residents have to pay 85% of the school taxes. The state aid to Plainedge for operating costs has decreased every year in the past 6 years – from 25.9% to 18.24% of our school budget. This means the taxpayers have had to pay more, despite the fact that Plainedge has the lowest per pupil expenditure in Nassau County (K-12). Plainedge’s school budget failed in 2005 and the district is now on austerity. This issue is uniting our community, from Senior Citizens to young adults. We all believe the state must make education funding equitable for all New Yorkers. We also are demanding that the state provide for a special appropriation for high residential districts that have little or no commercial property to alleviate the tax burden in communities such as ours. Thank you for your help in this endeavor. I look forward to hearing from you soon to tell me what you are doing on this important issue. Sincerely, Print Name: ________________________________ Address: __________________________________ Signature of Plainedge Resident: __________________________________________
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Post by techie on Mar 14, 2006 7:43:48 GMT -5
Time for schoolwork Two new studies get an 'A' for effort but avoid the tough solutions we need
March 14, 2006
Last year's record school budget rejections inspired some local political and educational leaders to do more than handwringing. Serious players in Nassau and Suffolk organized studies to find ways to slow the skyrocketing rise in property taxes. They deserve credit for at least trying for a broad consensus on issues that, so far, have defied solutions.
But the initial suggestions, contained in separate reports by the Suffolk School Superintendents Association and a group of Nassau educators working with County Executive Thomas Suozzi, were underwhelming. They seemed as much a circling of the wagons as a commitment to real sacrifice.
If the wave of budget no-votes last May made anything clear, it's that taxpayers have reached a breaking point - even on education-friendly Long Island - and are ready to slash and burn school budgets. Considering the importance to the region's economy of high-quality schools, a wholesale gutting of many districts could be a disaster. And, of course, the poorest districts will be hit the hardest.
Don't get us wrong: Most of the suggestions in the two reports are sound. State aid formulas need to reflect regional cost differences that make running schools on Long Island a lot more expensive than upstate. Albany should repeal the antiquated Wicks law that boosts construction costs. Schools should find ways to save through joint purchasing.
But these are easy fixes. Nobody is going to campaign against a school board member for advocating multi-district contracts for buying chalk or computers.
What the studies avoid, however, are the sorts of changes that are certain to be controversial - changes that are necessary if Long Island schools are to rein in costs and maintain quality. These include merging the region's 124 school districts into fewer and larger ones, and making teacher pay raises contingent on longer and more work days and greater contributions to health insurance and pension costs.
Both of the study groups point out that Long Island schools receive less aid per student and as a percentage of their budgets than the state average. But they gloss over at least one reason for the disparity: that Long Island schools spend more per student and, on average, are richer than other regions. And while state aid doubled over the past 10 years, spending tripled.
That's not to say Long Island's higher cost of living - as well as its remarkable results - shouldn't be recognized in state aid formulas or that its poor districts shouldn't receive more help. But our cries to Albany would have more credibility if we did more to cut expenses at home.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
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Post by techie on Mar 25, 2006 7:38:49 GMT -5
This is a early morning thought,....
We have all been involved with pushing Albany for change, but , remember how and why this Forum came about. It happened because our voices were CENSORED from the original "Community Forum" on the School's site. The information was deemed "not appropriate" for a school site and was shut down.
Please REREAD the Posts of this ENTIRE FORUM and follow the links provided. Research the Info and Links for yourself.
The Community has come together and has shown the power that can be had by people being INVOLVED!!
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Post by justfacts on Apr 7, 2006 12:41:37 GMT -5
Latest Newsday Headline -------------------- Turning the wheels of education -------------------- Recently formed coalition holds first public forum to discuss school issues such as high taxes, pensions BY JOHN HILDEBRAND, Newsday Staff Writer, April 7, 2006 By their own acknowledgment, they're a loosely knit organization whose members hold diverse opinions on how to shake up public education: School budgets rejected by voters should not get a second chance for passage; and teachers should pay a bigger share of pension costs and wait longer for tenure. Last night, the recently formed coalition, Long Islanders for Educational Reform, whose members have held local meetings in communities including Port Washington and Manhasset, convened its first Islandwide public forum. While educational quality was on the agenda at the Melville gathering, soaring school taxes were uppermost for many in the audience of 200 who raised dozens of questions about school costs, nepotism in school hiring and related issues. Some of the loudest applause went to speaker Bruce Bent, a Plandome multimillionaire and unsuccessful candidate for Nassau County executive who said high taxation was pressuring him to move his Wall Street investment firm to a lower-taxed state. "I am being pushed out of New York by these do-good politicians!" Bent thundered, as he urged the audience to vote against incumbent officeholders in November. The coalition of about a dozen civic groups was organized last fall against a backdrop of widespread public outrage over soaring school taxes. A record 21 districts out of 124 on the Island failed to win voter support of budgets last spring, forcing parents in many of those districts to raise funds to save sports teams and student clubs. Last week, state lawmakers approved a record increase in school aid, including an additional $142.6 million for the Island that should help districts hold down tax increases here. Still, some financial analysts fear the record funding will tempt schools to expand services in ways that will be unsustainable in the long run, unless the state exerts more control on spending. But how to do this, while maintaining school quality? That's the big question for the coalition, which describes both as its goals. One forum organizer and speaker, Laura Pandelakis of Manhasset, a retired school administrator, advocates that teachers work five years before obtaining job tenure, rather than the current three years. Unions say that could leave many teachers unprotected against arbitrary firing. Another organizer, Frank Russo of Port Washington, favors a change in state law that would restrict school districts to one budget vote each year, rather than two. Still another organizer, Patrick E. Byrne Jr. of Lake Grove, a private financial planner who lost a race for the Suffolk County Legislature as a Democrat last fall, thinks teachers should be required to contribute more to their pension plans and health-insurance premiums. "I'm not anti-school district by any means, but we've just got to figure out a way to pay for this stuff," said Byrne. One of the group's next steps is to try to come up with a cohesive agenda for educational change. Copyright (c) 2006, Newsday, Inc.
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