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Post by techie on Aug 15, 2005 20:25:02 GMT -5
For those of you that didn't know about the Community Bulletin Board site this news might not be as important. But for those of you who have just started to use it and found it to be a good way to reach out and find other common or differing viewpoints in this community, this is a disaster. All inputs to this Bulletin Board were thoroughly screened and filtered by the Board's administrator. For once, however, some of use were enabled to talk in a one to many mode, rather than the one-to-one mode of regular e-mail. This was a beneficial and very democratic method of exchanging ideas ~ and a very necessary service in this particular time. Information that should be distributed in a widespread manner to other residents was enabled by this service. Since information distribution about School issues has been narrowed in this community (No School newsletters or Calendars printed and mailed this year, mailers to each home reduced or eliminated, etc.) this service was very needed, even though it was limited just to the Computer literate in our district. To illustrate just how narrowly screened and filtered the public's information base has become ~ I ask you to answer this question: Just what went on at the School Board meeting held last Thursday night (on Aug 11)? What, you didn't know there was a meeting? Gee Whiz, information about it was first published in an obscure area of the School Web site on the afternoon of August 11! Why didn't you see it? The meetings were not posted as they usually were on that date. Now the one for next week is.
With all the signs on the lawns in front of the schools and that very nice electronic billboard at the new school, why aren't the meetings posted where the people can see them? After all,... If we do show up they can still keep us outside like before.... Again! ~ What did go on? The Schools have a Web site and they have all the audio and video equipment needed to webcast the meetings to the public. Although, then the meetings would be public information instead of the way it is now with the Minutes of the Meetings posted MONTHS after the actual meetings.
With only one pair of eyes desparately seeking information, we can often miss significant events. With a Forum that allows the results of many pairs of eyes seeking information to exchange info, our chances of keeping abreast with events improves tremendously. Please send e-mails to the Board and Dr. Richman to have the Community Bulletin Board restored to the site.
Superintendents email: jrichman@plainedgeschools.org
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Post by justfacts on Aug 15, 2005 22:21:27 GMT -5
What is so important about what went on at the meeting on 8/11/05? Nothing other than it is past time for the School Board to post information about the Contingency Budget ~ and its breakdown. The Budget should broken down into 3 parts: The Administration Cost, The Programs cost and The Capital Costs.
By Contingency Budget requirements (and the mailing made by the School District confirming this) The Administration Cap allows no more than $5,680,798 for that part, The Programs Cap $40,080,119 for that part, and the Capital portion remains the same EXCEPT THAT IT STILL CARRIES THE $390,000 INTERFUND TRAN-FUND FD (CODE 9950)
When Rich-man claimed he took this out of EXPENSES, he did not remove it from that FUND - He left it in! This means the Capital portion is too high by that amount and should be reduced to its proper amount of $11,341,532.
No more than that! This brings the total Contingency Budget to $57,102,449.
No wonder it still remains a deep dark secret! For if the Board approved the loaded total Budget number that they sent around on the Contingency Budget Mailer (Just before the last vote) they'll take $390,000 too much in the way of property tax ~ and be able to spread it back into the Budget during the coming year.
They'll be able to do this with nobody being the wiser that they are spending money they should not spend! Have you ever checked the year end audit? Thought not.
Bottom line: the Contingency Budget should be $57,102,449. If its more, they've played another game with the numbers (Jeff Burns has called these "innocent arithmetic errors" in a sworn affidavit) Innocent or not, this $390,000 interfund transfer never was approved by the voters and SHOULD NOT BE IN THE CAPITAL PORTION OF THE BUDGET.
Why is the final Contingency Budget, in its three parts as required by law, not put in front of this community by the Board? Is it not adopted? Is it "Loaded" with "innocent arithmetic errors"? Has it never been finally decided or computed, only the famous "Cuts" Or, is it planned to be quietly ignored, and used during the year as a source of funds for other non-capital parts of the Budget?
Hoping that the community will overlook this amount will no longer work. There are too many of us watchdogs out here that are no longer going to go to sleep during the year. Section 310 Appeals to the Commissioner will become very abundant unless the rules and laws are followed by the School Board. We've given you all the grace you are allowed. From now on the game is Hardball.
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Post by scotchboy on Aug 15, 2005 23:26:29 GMT -5
I would like to bring everybodys attention to the fact that in our budget cuts there was no attempt to cut the over staffed addministation part of the buddget where there are several assitants to the the supperantandant and the board looks like its just a rubber stamp for mr richman who"s first cut was whith the children and I also would like to know when the school board and the addministration became a dicktatorship its our school district lets take it back
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Post by techie on Aug 17, 2005 6:34:06 GMT -5
Here is the Board of Education announcement from the districts own web Site. If you notice at the bottom it has the date that it was announced, which was the SAME DAY as the last meeting. This makes it virtually impossible for most taxpayers to find out about the meeting and go. Also, since the times are also listed for the NEXT meeting, be prepared to be there early. [/color]
2005-2006 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS & IMPORTANT DATES
PLAINEDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2005-2006 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS & IMPORTANT DATES
BOE Public Work Session BOE Business Meeting July (Reorganization) 12 August (Tax Levy) 11 (8:15 PM) 30 (8:15 PM) September 13 15 October 18 20 November 15 17 December 13 15 January 10 12 February 14 16 March 14 16 April 11 27 May 9 11 June 13 15 Budget Workshop & Community Discussion 7:00 PM, Board Room Monday, April 3, 2006 Topics to be announced Budget Workshop & Community Discussion 7:00 PM, Board Room Tuesday, April 4, 2006 Topics to be announced Budget Workshop & Community Discussion 7:00 PM, Board Room Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Topics to be announced Budget Hearing (Last opportunity for community input) 7:00 PM, Board Room Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Last Day for Filing Nominations for BOE Last Day for Receiving Petitions for BOE Monday, April 17, 2006 Budget Adoption by Board of Education 8:00 PM Thursday, April 27, 2006 BOCES Budget Vote Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Public “Hearing” on Budget (Presentation) 7:00 PM – Board Meeting to Follow No Public Comment Will Be Permitted Tuesday, May 9, 2006 Budget Vote 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Copyright © by Plainedge School District All Right Reserved.
Published on: 2005-08-11 (43 reads)
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Post by honebee on Aug 17, 2005 7:31:26 GMT -5
Well, if Richman left in the $390,000 and that puts us into a higher tax bracket, how do we make him rectify this error so that the right amounts are reflected? It amazes me that the administrator and all his cohorts have this much power over our money. I was under the impression that he decided to use the $390,000 to put programs back into the school, such as clubs restored, etc. instead of holding it for use for building maintenance or to pay for things that go wrong with the buildings. If he, indeed, used the $390,000 for reinstatement of clubs, programs, etc., then we have no buffer in case of emergency. At our next year's vote, he will show that we are in the red and therefore substantiate his reason (through the Board) to increase our taxes by double digits (threats of 12% from the Board who denounced us for not passing their bloated budget). So what steps can we take to change things before we are once again monetarily raped by this school district?
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Post by techie on Aug 17, 2005 10:38:28 GMT -5
Well, if Richman left in the $390,000 and that puts us into a higher tax bracket, how do we make him rectify this error so that the right amounts are reflected? It amazes me that the administrator and all his cohorts have this much power over our money. I was under the impression that he decided to use the $390,000 to put programs back into the school, such as clubs restored, etc. instead of holding it for use for building maintenance or to pay for things that go wrong with the buildings. If he, indeed, used the $390,000 for reinstatement of clubs, programs, etc., then we have no buffer in case of emergency. At our next year's vote, he will show that we are in the red and therefore substantiate his reason (through the Board) to increase our taxes by double digits (threats of 12% from the Board who denounced us for not passing their bloated budget). So what steps can we take to change things before we are once again monetarily raped by this school district? Thanks for joining in! The thing about the Contingecy Budget is that no matter what, that money could not remain in the fund as it was. By law it had to be moved. There are others on this forum that can explain the legalities and consequences of this better than I. Mr. Richman and the Board have said that the money IS going to the kids. THAT IS GREAT! As far as building repairs, the new school should have construction warranties, money has been allocated for projects already in the schools. New York State is pressing for it's Forms to be used by all districts in the next budget year. For us it means we have to be very watchful and compare the figures from the past few years to see how they will be used on the next budget forms. The new forms make it easier for us all to understand and watch where the money is. Actually, the forms will also make the Boards job easier when they convert to using them. Of course the first year or two may have some issues. Right now if we are concerned about repair money, we should first look to see a complete report of what money has come in and where it is spent. (this is called an actual budget, something we do not have) When asked about the NYS Lottery contributions a taxpayer was told it was about $4000.00 dollars. In truth it was $1,504, 60.00 for the period questioned. I don't see how 1.5 million can be overlooked. This is why the State forms should be used.
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Post by justfacts on Aug 17, 2005 21:49:50 GMT -5
Some very active members of the community, who have tried their damnedest to communicate with Dr. Richman over the last few years, have tried to get info about what happened at the last Board meeting by means of personal e-mails to him.
In two words they were: "Blown Off" His reply, which took more effort to do than a simple reply to the question, went on about how harried he was (Shades of the Book ~ The Games People Play!) How difficult with everyone on vacation, how the "Austerity" is making it harder, [He still can't use the proper word ~ it's CONTINGENCY ~ (maybe because there's a legal definition of CONTINGENCY and none for "Austerity"?)], etc., etc., etc.
We'll just have to wait until they get around to approving and publishing the minutes of the meeting. Let's see, the last published minutes were from the April Meetings and this will soon be September - Hey! look forward to seeing those last minutes somewhere in December or January! For the money we pay for a high-tech school, computers and video cameras, etc., one would think that we should be able to go to the School site now and "replay" that last meeting!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Why don't we make that a condition of passing the next Budget! Cameras in the Board room and videos of the meetings on the site the next day. (Oh, by the way, NO SITE CENSORSHIP PERMITTED!) We have the equipment and paid for it, why can't we have it put to use for our benefit? For those that say it's too much of a task! ~ think back to "Meet your Candidates" night! The Student did a good job of recording that ~ when it suited the Board's needs. Hey Board! Now suit the community's needs. Video in the Board Room!
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Post by yruohk on Aug 18, 2005 12:50:03 GMT -5
We'll just have to wait until they get around to approving and publishing the minutes of the meeting. Let's see, the last published minutes were from the April Meetings and this will soon be September - Hey! look forward to seeing those last minutes somewhere in December or January! For the money we pay for a high-tech school, computers and video cameras, etc., one would think that we should be able to go to the School site now and "replay" that last meeting! As for the posting of the minutes, an email I sent to Richard Mallow on 6-28-05 and his reply is as follows (the ? mark is his, guess he didn't understand part of my email regarding the BOE email addresses):Subject: RE: Board Minutes Date: 6/28/2005 2:36:19 PM Eastern Standard Time From: RMallow@plainedgeschools.org Reply To: To: Yruohk@aol.com ? Minutes are posted after they have been approved by the Board. Therefore there is a one month delay. Hope this is helpful. Rich Mallow ________________________________ From: Yruohk@aol.com [mailto:Yruohk@aol.com] Sent: Tue 6/28/2005 3:08 AM To: Mallow, Richard C Subject: Board Minutes Dear Mr. Mallow, Because of Doug Pascarella's email to me of how to get in touch with the members of the board, I am able to write you. Although I searched the website for the members of the board's email addresses, I was unable to locate them. Mr. Richman indicated your email addresses were listed on the site. I think he needs to be better informed. Just a question. What took so long to post the minutes of the board? As of this past weekend, the last minutes that I saw posted was February's. Only tonight after the meeting did I notice the added minutes through to April 14, 2005. Thank you in advance for you response. Seize the moment! Someday is not a day of the week. To Life & Health Jennifer Grinberg-Microscopist Regional Director ID # 26651 Alkalize & Energize SuperGreen to Stay Lean? www.greens4life.com/www.phmiracleliving.com/
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Post by frawg88 on Sept 30, 2005 15:57:41 GMT -5
I just noticed this message poted on the school district website:
"Due to conflicts with a very busy fall calendar and the Jewish holidays, the first community coffee hour of the year will be held on NOVEMBER 14TH at Schwarting Elementary School beginning at 7:00 PM. The topic is "The Budget." There will be no formal presentation. In place of that, the evening will be devoted to a conversation among community members, board members and the central administration. The purpose is to hear the perspective of this year's budget defeat from all parties and to begin to formulate a plan for the next year. In addition, time will be set aside to discuss strategies for influencing the budget process on the State level. Please be sure to mark this date on your calendars now. If you would like to submit questions ahead of time, please e-mail John Richman, Superintendent of Schools, at jrichman@plainedgeschools.org. " read more...
If you go to the website home page and click on "read more", you'll find a link that will let you send the notice to a friend. How about we all do that and tell each friend to pass it on to other friends. Then people will have 6 weeks to formulate their questions or suggestions, and make arrangements to attend the coffee hour. (Get babysitters, leave work a little early, etc.)
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Post by Go Plainedge! on Oct 3, 2005 20:17:45 GMT -5
Still!
The latest minutes posted are from July 6th!
I thought there was a one month delay to approve the minutes.
Frawgg, it's little things like this that make is so disheartening as it pertains to the BOE. If they want more people involved, this is one way of getting them involved. Not everyone has the time to go to every meeting. Posting the LATEST minutes is a great way to keep people up to date.
This is a VERY SIMPLY way to get the word out as to whats happening with the school district. By not posting the minutes, it gives the impression that no one cares or even sees this for what it could be and how helpful it could be.
Is there a summer hiatus from posting minutes? Was official "minutes poster" let go due to budget cuts? What is so difficult in getting them posted?
Please someone fill me in here. Am I missing something? The question was asked and answered and no follow up action was taken.
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Post by justfacts on Oct 4, 2005 7:18:08 GMT -5
;D For all that might be interested: From the "OPEN MEETINGS LAW" concerning meetings held by a Public Body conducting public business and performing a governmental function for the state. Section 106 of that law covers minutes and states: "3. Minutes of meetings of all publc bodies shall be available to the public in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law within two weeks from the date of such meeting except that minutes taken pusuant to subdivision two hereof shall be available within one week from the date of the executive session." In a nutshell - compliance with the law is being (winked at)! Enforcing compliance with the Law is something we should not get overly concerned with - it is up to the School Board to insist that the availability of minutes be done according to the Law. There is a general statement made by Public Bodies that they have to wait until the minutes are approved before they can release them to the public. This is not true. Minutes have been traditionally subjected to review (with comments) and approval at the next meeting of the Public Body. However, the first minutes of a meeting must be released within two weeks of the meeting - and can be marked "Subject to review and change" Reviewed and changed minutes of a prior meeting are also to be made available to the public within two weeks of their being changed at a subsequent meeting, along with the minutes of the subsequent meeting. The system works only if the Public Body follows the Law.
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Post by elphaba65 on Oct 8, 2005 1:09:57 GMT -5
Just Facts
I searched over the Library website and I don't see any minutes posted at all, can you tell me where I might find them? I also noticed that the old information regarding our schools and the chat rooms for kids and links to other chat rooms are still available. I am also still waiting to see your Library budget posted on the website. Interesting that the budget is the only page missing from April's newsletter. You seem to find a lot of time to try to tarnish the school's reputation but do little to correct the misinformation posted on the site to which you are a trustee.
Regardless of what you claim, we all know who we received e-mails from last year during budget times, lots of e-mails and information given from someone who never attended a Board meeting. I hope people read your e-mails for what they are this year, someone with a gripe that has no children in school so a defeat of a budget does not hurt them.
In your spare time why don't you try answering some straight forward questions that you were asked throughout this site?
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Post by justfacts on Oct 8, 2005 14:11:31 GMT -5
Re: What happened at the last Board Meeting? « Reply #11 on Today at 2:09am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From a Post from Elphaba65 to Just Facts:
Elphaba65: "I searched over the Library website and I don't see any minutes posted at all, can you tell me where I might find them?"
Reply: You'll find the minutes at the Library. Requests by Patrons for minutes, whether by mail, telephone, e-mail or personal visit, are always complied with at no charge for reproduction and in the most convenient way possible for the patron.
Neither is there a need to file a formal FOIL for this information, as one of the School Board members recently found out upon their request for: the Director's contract (there is none); Director's benefits package (there are only the barest minimum, no health, no dental, no severance, no car allowances, no bonuses, etc.); Trustee expenses for travel, meals, rooms, etc. at conferences (there are none) or; "refreshments & meal" costs at meetings (there are none)
Apparently, this FOIL request was done to "check out" one of my prior posts - which was substantiated by the Director's prompt and freely given letter of reply to the request. Techie had asked that the information be shared on this site. To date, this has not been done by the letter's recipient - who now has the "no benefits", "no refreshment costs" facts for herself.
There even have been cases of externally mislead and incited patrons coming into the Library in an irate manner requesting various kinds of information, even monthly financial statements, budgets and minutes - which they were promptly supplied with. They often have been shocked at the prompt and courteous response to fulfilling their requests and left wondering out loud as to why the reaction of the Library is so much more responsive and pleasant than that they've received from other public entities in the District.
I've personally paid to receive a legally required copy of the Proposed School District Budget prior to the vote. This was after being told I had to wait for Mr. Burns approval to do so (not according to the legal requirements of making proposed budgets available to the public prior to a vote), thus requiring me to make a trip back to the District Office when the Budget became available, and pay for the copy.
My purpose in obtaining the Budget was to make it easier for the general public to review of the proposed Budget by giving it to the Library where many copies were made and patrons could conveniently look at the budget and make copies of items they were interested in. Costs came from my pocket, not the public's pocket.
Elphaba65: "I also noticed that the old information regarding our schools ..."
Reply: This is strange in that the link to School information at the Library site is a direct link to the School Site! The source of the old information has to be at the School Site which the Library's Site administrator has no control over.
Elphaba65: "... and the chat rooms for kids and links to other chat rooms are still available."
Reply: Untrue. The only links to "Kids" sites are links provided for homework help, U.S. Government provided children's information sites and Nassau Country Library System's links to Homework Help sessions provided by Educators. To the best of my reviewing of these sites there are no links to "Chat Rooms" as you allege. Chat rooms per se are not encouraged to be used by any patrons of the Library on library provided computers since they reduce the availability of the computer to other patrons and are often the source in Internet abuse - which is also not encouraged by library policy and practice.
Elphaba65: "I am also still waiting to see your Library budget posted on the website."
Reply: Why wait? Simply request an additional copy if you threw away the one that was mailed to you! The approved Library Budget was mailed to each home in the District, as you noted, in April's newsletter - from which it is missing from the site posting in itself - because the Budget was an insert into the newsletter in a format that did not reproduce well. Plus, as they say in the Commissioner's Appeal lingo - "the point is moot!"
Elphaba65: "Interesting that the budget is the only page missing from April's newsletter."
Reply: And, as noted in the Budget edition and other newsletter information, the format of several items within newsletters was not of a nature that would reproduce on the site page. Your innuendo that something is amiss because you threw away the information or did not request further copies - but selectively perused the newsletter site to imply there might be some "wrongdoing" at the library speaks volumes about your own motives in commenting about the "missing page" (shades of Nixon's seven missing minutes on tape!) on this forum.
Since the Plainedge Public Library Budget was passed by the largest margin of any library budget in Nassau County, it would seem that the Community at large has demonstrated a great degree of confidence and support for the Library and its service to the community, and by the voting portion of the 8,462 registered Adult Patron's of the library. That's more than twice the number of voters that turned out for the last School Budget vote. I advise you not to stir up that potential "hornet's nest" of voters with such innuendos and diversionary attacks upon the library.
It is with the School Board that the bulk of the forum members are directing their comments and questions - not the library. Obvious attempts to divert attention from School Board issues by such diversionary attacks- tried by a few forum members - will not change the issues with the Board, its budget, its attitudes and its actions towards the public.
Elphaba65: "You seem to find a lot of time to try to tarnish the school's reputation but do little to correct the misinformation posted on the site to which you are a trustee."
Reply: How many more times will you try to incorrectly define my personal motives for me? I do not try to tarnish any one's or any entity's reputation. I simply try to bring forth facts - many of which you call "misinformation" without any detailed rebuttal of the facts in question - such as the fact that there is a $600,000 "simple arithmetic error" (as verified and acknowledged by Mr. Burns in a Sworn Affidavit to the Commissioner) on the Proposed Budget - or, there were no planned cuts in Administration, only in Programs, in the Contingency Budget information of the two Proposed Budgets (a fact that was verified and corrected by a mailing from the Board to resident's homes AFTER the submission of this information to the Board in my Appeal to the Commissioner)
Or is it the fact that there have not been more than 17 +/- 2 persons in the class 1 through 3 categories of Administrators for the past nine years? Or is it the fact that there has been an overall cost growth rate in Administration salaries of 7 1/4 % per year for the past nine years?
Or, maybe it is the new fact that despite the claim of "no fault found" that among the items found to be in need of correction by Hevisie's audit - there were $73,729 in paid expense claims for the Board and the Administration that were not properly supported by documents and receipts? That, of the $16,400 in claims by the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, that only $6,100 in post-facto support documentation could be supplied? That the remaining $10,300 still had no supporting receipts or documentation? Or, that there was $20,000 in meals and refreshment expenses for which no adequate receipts or documentation was supplied? (Just how many car washes does that amount to?)
Elphaba65: "Regardless of what you claim, we all know who we received e-mails from last year during budget times, lots of e-mails and information given from someone who never attended a Board meeting. "
Reply: Who would that be that "never attended a Board meeting"? We are both aware of the fact that I have attended meetings, and participated in Board meetings - and sometimes I've been openly mentioned at Board meetings and falsely credited with, - by means of my one vote which was YES -, causing the School Budget to be rejected.
I've even been subjected, at a school board meeting, to finger jabs in the chest by a school board member who threatened to come down to a library board meeting and disrupt it! He was a "never show" And, again at another school board meeting I was characterized by the school board president as an "Angry young man that comes to one meeting a year" What is so ludicrous about that is he is at least a decade or more my junior in years - and it was on the occasion of my second meeting that year! Apparently, at Board meetings and beyond, members seem to see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear and speak what they want to speak without regard to facts of an issue.
Elphaba65: "I hope people read your e-mails for what they are this year, someone with a gripe that has no children in school so a defeat of a budget does not hurt them."
Reply: Again, you make statements not based upon fact. The failure of a School Budget does hurt me! It hurts whether I have children in school in this or any other district (which I do have!). Unfortunately, you shown yourself to be so self-centered in your objectives that you can't allow yourself to accept the fact that there are other community members who recognize the hurt caused by an improperly prepared and presented budget that was bound to fail because it was put up again against the expressed will of a large portion of the voting public. The second Budget failed in the main cause because the budget was not changed from the first.
My e-mail to a Board member , show how the now famous "Packard Fund" could have been removed from the second budget before the fact - thus reducing the bottom line of Expenses and Revenues buy $390,000 - and allowing a second budget reduction of $390,000 less to be presented the second time around - which would have materially aided its passage (not guaranteed it!) - fell on deaf ears. The net result was a failed second budget - and a removal of the "Packard Fund" from this year's budget after the fact anyway!
Elphaba65: "In your spare time why don't you try answering some straight forward questions that you were asked throughout this site?"
Reply: What "straight forward" questions? Are they like the gross distortion of truth and implication of wrongdoing attached thereto, that occurred when I was requested to answer "Is it true that you get a pension from the Library?"
I had wished to save you the embarrassment of exposing the tactics behind such a question to the other members of this forum and the community at large - but now, since you prod for an answer - here it is;
As a Trustee under the State Education Law of New York State you have been exposed to the complete information about Trustee renumeration given in the Trustee' Handbook, by the Education Departments Rules and Regulations and by the State Education Law. As you should well know if you are a competent reader or listener, there is no renumeration to Trustees!
Such a falsely based question; composed and published on this forum site, flouts with the slander and libel laws of the state; such a muck-racking and mudslinging question; does not fit with the purposes of this forum. And you must personally know it is an untrue statement created to divert and disrupt. Shame on you for pursuing it!
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Post by elphaba65 on Oct 9, 2005 8:31:24 GMT -5
Response to Just Facts:
Will the minutes also indicate why the times of meetings were changed without 24 hours notice? Now that I know where to obtain them I will, thanks. I will also request the copy of the budget that I threw away, the point is not whether the Library budget passed or not, I for one would like to see the amount of salary and benefits as compared to the entire budget. This is the question out there-- Can we deliver the services in a far more cost effective manner? Do you care to share with us the percentages?
Just Facts:Apparently, this FOIL request was done to "check out" one of my prior posts - which was substantiated by the Director's prompt and freely given letter of reply to the request. Techie had asked that the information be shared on this site. To date, this has not been done by the letter's recipient - who now has the "no benefits", "no refreshment costs" facts for herself.
What makes you think that the Board member who obtained this information even looks at this site? I also don't unmderstand why you and techie are so upset by the request. The board member has the same right as any individual to request information, you stated that yourself.
Just facts:They often have been shocked at the prompt and courteous response to fulfilling their requests and left wondering out loud as to why the reaction of the Library is so much more responsive and pleasant than that they've received from other public entities in the District.
I have never had a question not answered, enough said.
Just facts:Reply: This is strange in that the link to School information at the Library site is a direct link to the School Site! The source of the old information has to be at the School Site which the Library's Site administrator has no control over.
The direct link to the school district is accurate. Let me walk you through YOUR website to where the old information is. It even shows Massapequa General as open. If the information posted is incorrect it is the Library's responsibilty ( as noted on the pages) to have it updated and/or corrected. Check out your site that says Community Information, notice all the links on the left hand side? Try entering each one, I can even gamble on line! When you finish reveiwing all those sites go to L.I. Pages- the L.I. Seek Personals is my favorite!
Just Facts: I simply try to bring forth facts
If there were errors, as a concerned member of the community I would definitly bring those facts to the attention of the District. The difference is bringing them to the attention of the district for correction and sending e-mails out indicating that the district is trying to hide things.
I will respond to the rest of your post later today.
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Post by justfacts on Oct 9, 2005 16:04:09 GMT -5
Just facts to Elphaba and all others of the forum:
Overall comments to your persistent queries about Library operations as a diversion for community wide queries about the School Budget:
1) There is an old saying about getting your own house in order before you start telling others how to run their house.
2) There is a common sense approach to money management that says saving money on penny items is best done after you save money on big-buck items.
On the later point - let me illustrate it more clearly for you. What the community has often said loud and clear in Board meetings and upon this and the former forum is that Administration costs costs seem to be too high. That's because they've risen 7.25% per year for the last seven years (NY State Education Department report on Plainedge Administration salaries)
This year, just the administration salaries portion of the entire School Budget is reported to be $2,459,158. That's more than the entire Library budget!
You wonder about salaries and benefit costs at the library - yet you do naught to resolve your wonderment for yourself - but continue to make an issue of it on this forum. Well, for the last time I'll do some of your own homework for you.
The school budget is $57,492,449, the approved library budget is $2,197,274, or 3.82% of the school budget. That's less than the amount of the Contingency budget increase this year from last year's expenses. Conversely, the school budget is 26.2 times as much as the library budget. (I'll leave it to you and other members of this forum to guess where the biggest savings can be made)
Library salaries are $1,012,105 and benefits are $472,329. This compares to school salaries of - Well! What do you know! The School District did not provide a budget that separated salaries from other costs - as would have been done if they prepared it according to the State supplied "Annual School Budget" reporting form SMB-1 - as will be required for the coming budget year!
But the Benefits costs are there for the Administration, Programs and Capital portions of the budget! Hang on awhile - I have to add them up to get the comparative totals - - - they come to $9,477,103. Whew! Lacking school Board supplied info - I had to add and adjust for the Contingency budget - which hasn't been mailed to homes. These numbers are close enough to what the Contingency Budget should be to use them for comparison purposes. If not, I leave it to you to supply on this forum the three components of the Contingency budget!
Let's see now, With School District benefits at $9,477,103 and Library benefits $9,000,000 less than that at $472,329 - - - Why! The school benefits are only 20 times what the library benefits cost, not 26 times like the total budget is! Gee! What are you going to make of that! Everything, if your purpose is to cause trouble - nothing, if you have any business smarts and practical experience.[/b]
The last time this salary info was used on the site was to compare budgeted salaries to budgeted new book costs - in a negative manner. Where the person doing the comparison showed their ignorance in comparing these two numbers is that there are $4,000,000 of existing assets in patron available materials - the listed new book purchases are only a small portion of the total assets available to the patrons! As is often said - Compare Apples to Apples - - - not salaries to books acquired - - - and certainly not added assets to an already full collection which is regularly weeded of little used materials. One should know how a library is properly run before trying to take pot shots at it.
Also - not one is upset, as you mistakenly claim, by a request for information by FOIL - what was noted was the readiness of reply from one source vs the reluctance to reply from another source - that's all. After all, the Library's prime mission in life is to make all sorts of information and material readily available to the public for their convenient use. They do well at fulfilling that mission.
While I can't guarantee any one Board member looks at this forum - but we all know that at least one Board member does do so. And now that one Board member has verified my previous post about Trustee expenses, Meeting refreshment expenses and Director benefits at the Library - brought up as a reply to a Board member's question who does participate in this forum - one would expect that the FOIL information would be shared between School Board members. Are you implying that Board members don't share information obtained from this site and/or by means of FOIL?
As a closing remark - There was no regularly scheduled Library Board meeting that was changed. Therefor your statement about that having happened "without 24 hours notice" is totally untrue and without merit.
The only meeting compliant that ever occurred happened this year when the Library was forced to call an emergency meeting of the Board due to the school not passing Library operating funds thru its hands in the manner as it had been doing for four decades.
A School Board member telephoned and irately complained about the "illegal meeting" prior to the meeting convening (This means that she was aware that the meeting was being held due to the prior postings about it by the library) For the record - and for your pursuit of further knowledge about public meetings and their notice publications - the Attorney present at the meeting reaffirmed to the Library Board that the meeting call was in full compliance with all requirements for an emergency meeting and all notices for the same. It was only the Board member's lack of knowledge that caused the complaint to be made. [/b]
Check it out with your own retained attorney if you doubt my facts.
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