The*, which is looking to plug an $8.7 million budget deficit, has seen a 13 percent decrease in the number of students attending its schools over the past four years. Pocono Mountain School District
In addition to the 87 teaching positions, another 25 staff support and six administrative positions are also slated for the chopping block.
In addition, here is the Auditor General's report dated December 2010.
On page 7 of the audit:
The current down-turn in the U.S Economy has had a direct impact upon the School District's local revenue stream. Two major revenue items have decreased significantly and caused an additional burden on the District's financial resources. With an economic decline, lagging payments in property taxes and lower earned income tax collections due to job losses has also added to the negative impact on local revenue sources.
Remember, this audit was performed in December 2010 while Rendell was still governor.
So why blame Gov. Corbett?
*Spans 305 square miles and serves a population of approximately 55,000 within seven municipalities and one borough in Monroe County including the Borough of Mount Pocono, and the Townships of Barrett, Coolbaugh, Jackson , Paradise , Pocono, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock.
5 comments:
Interesting perspective, Elaine.
A Pocono Mtn. teacher commented in a board meeting: "Let's show our anti-education governor that Pocono Mountain School District values our children's education," said teacher Lewis Ginsberg. "Have the courage to stand up to the governor! Have the courage to stand up for what's right. Have the courage to stand up for our children. Thank you."
All well and good, everybody's for education right? Except the real world often gets in the way.
"Lackawanna County is nearly $6 million in the hole, according to county commissioners, who predicted a deficit of more than $13 million for the county next year and years to come."
Layoffs and Plant Closure Announced in Williamsport - Nearly 100 workers in Williamsport will be out of work later this year. That is the word from company officials at RockTenn, a cardboard manufacturer that recently bought the plant in Williamsport.
The teacher wants people to have the courage to stand up to the governor and protect education funding. Pennsylvania as we all know is billions in the red. It would be interesting to ask the teacher where they suggest the governor get more money for it, perhaps from those laid off Williamsport workers.
Dick Saunders
Dick Saunders is in good voice when he says, “It would be interesting to ask the teacher(s) where they suggest the governor get more money for it, perhaps from those laid off Williamsport workers.” Across America local school boards seem to confuse their constituents with the Treasury Department.
Concerning the high school renovation/reconstruction project: In all the school board meetings I attended (or heard on Ms. Gillian's excellent Lebo Citizens web site) the feigned concern for the taxpayer was quickly countered by how the project was “for the children” and their future - a catch-phrase so overworked that it has become a cliché. Yes, I know the Board always expresses frustration over “the budget” and how bids for the new edifice must come within it – but that's not the same thing as a real concern or debate about what price this town's taxpayers can afford (expressed eloquently by the retired lady who lives on Pennsylvania Avenue). Whether they mean it or not, Board members give the impression that taxpayer money is out there for the taking - the famous Willie “The Actor” Sutton theory.
If our vaunted school district was so concerned about the future of "our children" it would make every effort not to saddle them with outrageous public debt; which is a real possibility for the (few) kids who decide to make homes in Mt. Lebanon.
Richard Gideon
Thanks Richard for the review! You might ask Elaine to post an article from the NEA on one of the school district's mentioned in Mrs. Posti's "Blowing Smoke" that has been making the rounds.
Its pretty interesting reading.
Dick Saunders
Richard, just found this article from a site called RenewAmerica.com
It has info pertinent on the "its for the children" illusion.
March 15, 2011
Bob Chanin spoke truth about the NEA in his retirement address in 2009
By Michael Gaynor
Chanin candidly explained his union's effectiveness in stark terms that undermine the illusion the union has worked hard to create about putting children first.
"In vino veritas" is a Latin phrase meaning "in wine [there is the] truth."
Apparently there is truth in a retirement address of a teacher union lawyer too.
A dying declaration is admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule.
That's because it is presumed to be truthful.
Former National Education Association general counsel Bob Chanin spoke truth in his retirement address at the NEA's national convention.
Give that man an award for candor.
The NEA bosses must regret not having gotten Chanin to sign a confidentiality agreement to keep him quiet.
Chanin candidly explained his union's effectiveness in stark terms that undermine the illusion the union has worked hard to create about putting children first.
Chanin: "It is not because we care about children. And it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues...."
See the video at http://seeingredaz.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/nea-general-counsel-exposes-union%E2%80%99s-true-agenda/.
That video dispels the smoke blown by the Far Left during "the battle of Wisconsin."
Dick Saunders
Here is the article from the NEA that Dick Saunders mentioned.
http://www.nea.org/home/31126.htm
Elaine
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