Panther Valley gives early OK to 19% tax increase for 2008-09

Get back to basics and make the cuts. The system has become unaffordable.

Taxpayer wrote:

Get back to basics and make the cuts. The system has become unaffordable.

Tell your state and federal representatives, to stop mandating all these programs for the uneducable. My parents taught me how to tie my shoes, tell time, go shopping, and wipe my nose, not some $50K a year special ed teacher with an aid for every couple of kids. Then your education cost will come down to a reasonable number and they might even be able to afford soccer.

And I'm sure that the special education students include the gifted and talented, right? I'm sure the budget for them is huge.

That old codger Mickey is on a roll again. Who woke him up from his nap to vote during the meeting? More from Mickey on his weekend radio show - "Air your Stupidity" on WLSH - the voice of the valley.

Before everyone starts burning effigies of the school directors,please remember,the state only allows a 5% tax increase.As Mrs.Porembo said,they have no numbers to work with---they try to just figure expenses,and hope the subsities from the state help them out.Which usually doesn't!!!Blame your legislatures.The cost of special ed in our district is horrendous---a lot of it is for children,God Love them,who weren't born to be educated.Also,teacher salaries.It's a known fact that at PV,teachers do nothing extra for nothing.Everything they do has a price tag,even monitoring a parking lot.And then they use sick days like they're going out of style,which means we're(taxpayers)paying 2 teachers that day!!!A lot of them take 4 day weekends.So complain to them!!!!They get too many perks---that's part of the problem.So next time you read about the new tax increase----thank a teacher!!!

Valley Girl wrote:

Also,teacher salaries.It's a known fact that at PV,teachers do nothing extra for nothing.Everything they do has a price tag,even monitoring a parking lot.And then they use sick days like they're going out of style,which means we're(taxpayers)paying 2 teachers that day!!!A lot of them take 4 day weekends.So complain to them!!!!They get too many perks---that's part of the problem.So next time you read about the new tax increase----thank a teacher!!!

1. When was the last time you brought home work past your work schedule?
2. When was the last time you brought work home on weekends and didn't get paid for it?
3. When was the last time you had to discipline another adult's child because they are not taught manners or dicipline at home?
4. How would you feel about giving up your 30mins of lunch to tutor a student who's parents could care less?
5. How would you feel about not even being able to go to the bathroom when you wanted to? Do you have to wait until all the people in your office/workplace go?

I love when people who do not work in a school/education setting think they know what teachers do (or don't do) all day. I don't teach at PV, but I did attend school there. I had wonderful teachers who helped me excel and graduate with honors both in HS and College. I came to school with the mentality that I am there to learn and do my best. To any PV teachers who are reading this, thank you for taking your time and putting your effort into making my life better.
Apparently many of those who blame the teachers' salaries on higher taxes:
a) should become educated themselves on what the state and federal government do NOT fund.
b) listen to and believe Tom Shober and Mickey who have nothing better to do than run our schools into the ground.

End school district authority to levy taxes.

Fund schools through a sales/ income tax, collected by the state. Paid on a per student basis.

Reduce number of school districts/ overhead not directly related to educating.

Infrastructure projects vetted/ voted on by the taxpayers.

Contracts for teachers/ benefits mirror the private sector.
No teacher strikes.

Home ownership does not exist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Once you pay off the bank, the school district is still your landlord.If I own something, then I own it. It cannot be taken away from me. Not so with my home.

VOTE! Hold lawmakers accountable for not doing as they should.

Kelly listed:

1. When was the last time you brought home work past your work schedule?
2. When was the last time you brought work home on weekends and didn't get paid for it?
3. When was the last time you had to discipline another adult's child because they are not taught manners or dicipline at home?
4. How would you feel about giving up your 30mins of lunch to tutor a student who's parents could care less?
5. How would you feel about not even being able to go to the bathroom when you wanted to? Do you have to wait until all the people in your office/workplace go?

I do this all the time ... I'm a NON-public school teacher!

I do have to qualify #4 because almost all of our parents do care.

Kelly wrote:

<quoted text>
1. When was the last time you brought home work past your work schedule?
2. When was the last time you brought work home on weekends and didn't get paid for it?
3. When was the last time you had to discipline another adult's child because they are not taught manners or dicipline at home?
4. How would you feel about giving up your 30mins of lunch to tutor a student who's parents could care less?
5. How would you feel about not even being able to go to the bathroom when you wanted to? Do you have to wait until all the people in your office/workplace go?

1. In the REAL WORLD, it's called a "salaried worker". We work how many hours it takes to get the job done for a set salary. I do it all the time, whether by staying late or bringing it home.
2. Ditto.
3. N/A. Although some of the people I work with have lousy manners.
4. That's very commendable of you to give up lunch. I do it every day in tech support because I must solve staff computer problems while they are out to lunch to minimize downtime.
5. Well that Depends.
6. Why do you feel you deserve a guaranteed retirement pension when in the REAL WORLD, we're subject to market fluctuations?
7. Why do you feel you deserve a guaranteed salary increase every year no matter how poorly (or well) you perform?
8. Why do you feel you deserve a medical plan with little or no deductibles?
9. Why do you feel you need to go on strike (thereby hurting the students) when you don't get your way?
... I could go on and on...

Before you start, I'm a parent; I was a teacher and was later a school director. I've seen it from all sides. It's not the good teachers I have a problem with, its the bad teachers/staff/administrators and the unions that they hide behind.

Let's give more to those like you who contribute and go beyond "the contract". But let's also ferret out the riff-raff who feed off the system, were only looking for the bennies or are too tired to perform anymore.

I've had a teacher tell me, "I'm not contractually obligated to stay past 2:45PM" when I went to discuss my child's progress. I've had bus drivers brag about how they double-dip the system if administration accidentally overbooks a school trip (they get paid for a no-show trip)

To the good educators and staff, way to go! To the leeches, just go!

Not Kelly wrote:

6. Why do you feel you deserve a guaranteed retirement pension when in the REAL WORLD, we're subject to market fluctuations?
7. Why do you feel you deserve a guaranteed salary increase every year no matter how poorly (or well) you perform?
8. Why do you feel you deserve a medical plan with little or no deductibles?
9. Why do you feel you need to go on strike (thereby hurting the students) when you don't get your way?

#6 My pension is so poor that I'm considering taking out another 99-year certificate so that I can continue to teach until I'm well passed dead.

#7 I received an increase this year of $520, after taxes. This is with almost 40 years of teaching and at least a Master's Equivalency. That's the system I contracted to serve.(By the way, check out our student successes for yourself. They ARE impressive.)

#8 My medical insurance is something for which I am grateful. The plan is so good that I sometimes wish I were sick so that I could enjoy the options. Too bad I can't afford to keep it when I retire. Maybe the Diocese of Allentown will put me and my wife into a nunnery when (if!) I do retire.

#9 Strike? What's a strike? Never heard of one where I work.

A number of year's ago, a student gave a speech honoring a teacher in which she pondered the meaning of success. Being young, success, to her, meant making a lot of money. She pondered out loud why any Catholic school teacher would continue on in light of the "money" made by public counterparts. Her conclusion: "Either they are really dedicated, or they are really stupid." Sometimes I wonder about that myself.

Kelly wrote:

<quoted text>
1. When was the last time you brought home work past your work schedule?
2. When was the last time you brought work home on weekends and didn't get paid for it?
3. When was the last time you had to discipline another adult's child because they are not taught manners or dicipline at home?
4. How would you feel about giving up your 30mins of lunch to tutor a student who's parents could care less?
5. How would you feel about not even being able to go to the bathroom when you wanted to? Do you have to wait until all the people in your office/workplace go?
I love when people who do not work in a school/education setting think they know what teachers do (or don't do) all day. I don't teach at PV, but I did attend school there. I had wonderful teachers who helped me excel and graduate with honors both in HS and College. I came to school with the mentality that I am there to learn and do my best. To any PV teachers who are reading this, thank you for taking your time and putting your effort into making my life better.
Apparently many of those who blame the teachers' salaries on higher taxes:
a) should become educated themselves on what the state and federal government do NOT fund.
b) listen to and believe Tom Shober and Mickey who have nothing better to do than run our schools into the ground.

Did you finish rehab already or did you fail out of it again? I think it was the later

The new school should not have been built. Can't afford it, don't build it. This crock about 30 bucks a month tax increase for the average homeowner is a farce. Lets not forget the hundreds of thousands a year to staff, heat, and run new programs that weren't included in that cost....plus the unforseen change orders. Now the Vo-Tech is trying to do the same with this "build it they will come" attitude. Enrollment is down up there so lets take a chance on spending 20 million in hopes that will bring enrollment up. IT AIN"T HAPPENIN!

do away with all sports. when is the last time you can remember a big PV star who went on to be famous and make millions playing sports?(with the exception of Snisky in the WWE of course).

it's amazing that the depressed PV area has the lowest property values, the highest taxes, and the highest influx of dirtbags!

Wait a minute wrote:

Not Kelly wrote:
6. Why do you feel you deserve a guaranteed retirement pension when in the REAL WORLD, we're subject to market fluctuations?
7. Why do you feel you deserve a guaranteed salary increase every year no matter how poorly (or well) you perform?
8. Why do you feel you deserve a medical plan with little or no deductibles?
9. Why do you feel you need to go on strike (thereby hurting the students) when you don't get your way?
#6 My pension is so poor that I'm considering taking out another 99-year certificate so that I can continue to teach until I'm well passed dead.
#7 I received an increase this year of $520, after taxes. This is with almost 40 years of teaching and at least a Master's Equivalency. That's the system I contracted to serve.(By the way, check out our student successes for yourself. They ARE impressive.)
#8 My medical insurance is something for which I am grateful. The plan is so good that I sometimes wish I were sick so that I could enjoy the options. Too bad I can't afford to keep it when I retire. Maybe the Diocese of Allentown will put me and my wife into a nunnery when (if!) I do retire.
#9 Strike? What's a strike? Never heard of one where I work.
A number of year's ago, a student gave a speech honoring a teacher in which she pondered the meaning of success. Being young, success, to her, meant making a lot of money. She pondered out loud why any Catholic school teacher would continue on in light of the "money" made by public counterparts. Her conclusion: "Either they are really dedicated, or they are really stupid." Sometimes I wonder about that myself.

Its nice to see respond in a somewhat intelligent matter to something that doesn't involve Lansford and Soberick bashing. We know who you are.

School taxes in PV are out of control as was the old school board, you may not be a Mickey fan, but he researches everything. It is good to have someone out spoken on the board instead of business as usual, there should be debates at the meetings as it is good way to run the school and not have everything so cut and dry. I applaud Mickey and the people that voted for him, people are tired of being held hostage by these run away school districts. Listen stop dreaming that PV sports is going to bring home the state tittles, this isn't Hoosiers. You never hear about how we are going to spend money to equip the teachers to better teach are children like purchasing new books, lap tops, projects, etc. Everyone worries about sports, remember our kids are there for an education FIRST!!!

schmitty loved your comments, "it's amazing that the depressed PV area has the lowest property values, the highest taxes"

Libertarian wrote:

School taxes in PV are out of control as was the old school board, you may not be a Mickey fan, but he researches everything. It is good to have someone out spoken on the board instead of business as usual, there should be debates at the meetings as it is good way to run the school and not have everything so cut and dry. I applaud Mickey and the people that voted for him, people are tired of being held hostage by these run away school districts. Listen stop dreaming that PV sports is going to bring home the state tittles, this isn't Hoosiers. You never hear about how we are going to spend money to equip the teachers to better teach are children like purchasing new books, lap tops, projects, etc. Everyone worries about sports, remember our kids are there for an education FIRST!!!
schmitty loved your comments, "it's amazing that the depressed PV area has the lowest property values, the highest taxes"

I don't think Mickey could stay awake long enough to research anything, he dozes off during the board meetings, he'll realize 3 agenda items later, that he had some useless input to say about something they voted on 10 minutes before. His research consists of calling the admin office and making the girls look up all types of info for him, a waste of tax dollars, he's suppose to protect. Then he takes all this info and drawls the most asinine conclusions from it. This is the same guy, that pushed the crap out of the sunshine laws, before he was on the board and now that he's on it, he thinks all committee meeting should be private. Only because if the public was there, he can't speak his mind. I guess he didn't realize god gave him those big ears, so he could listen more and speak less. I can tell you never attend any of the board meeting or you'd be familiar with Mickey's tactics and you'd also be aware of the fact that PV did make it to states in the only sport Mickey wants to end. You would also know about the money being spent on education, since that doesn't sell papers, TMC doesn't bother to write about those things. I can understand why you're a Mickey supporter, a lot of it has to do with your lack of education. Just in your support of schmitty's stupid comment. If it cost a certain amount per student to educate them and you only have half the real estate value as your neighboring district and you have just as many students, the milage will be about twice as much. Blame some of the boroughs around here for driving all the business and industry away, which in turned lowered the property values. This in turn made the area ripe for slum lords, which in turn, taxed the school system.

PRELIMINARY budget. Relax people.

Your ramblings are hard to follow it must be you who is distraught and uneducated as I have a college degree and I seen Mickey in more meetings than you have seen him in, they may not have been school board meetings (Council Meetings). Could you please give me the year the last time PV was in a state championship, because I believe that hasn't happened in my life time and you seem to no everything. Why don't you put your name on the ballot next time and let's see if you get elected.

Libertarian wrote:

Your ramblings are hard to follow it must be you who is distraught and uneducated as I have a college degree and I seen Mickey in more meetings than you have seen him in, they may not have been school board meetings (Council Meetings). Could you please give me the year the last time PV was in a state championship, because I believe that hasn't happened in my life time and you seem to no everything. Why don't you put your name on the ballot next time and let's see if you get elected.

What were you born last night?
PV was in a state championship last season. Didn't they teach you in college, that it should be "know everything", not "no everything".

Go Dumbo wrote:

<quoted text>
What were you born last night?
PV was in a state championship last season. Didn't they teach you in college, that it should be "know everything", not "no everything".

My life doesn't evolve around PV sports, but I am sure yours does and you believe school are there to produce atheletes and not students. I guess that is the only time they made it right? What sport was it?