John
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On the article Bus Drivers Irritated by Low Summer Pay
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On the article 2% Tax Hike 'A Realistic Number,' Parkland Officals Say
John
7:15 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
Reply8, it's not stealing. If you see $100,000 laying on the ground or someone just gives you whatever you want....none of us would say no. The Board just has to learn to say no to the unions, re-write the benefits package, and regarding pension, give the monies already earmarked and allow the teacher to put it in a 401k.....just level the field, and stop making a $90,000 / year average rate seem like a pittance.
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On the article 2% Tax Hike 'A Realistic Number,' Parkland Officals Say
John
9:10 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
ReplyI do recognize your appreciation for teachers paying 20% like everyone else. I am not part of the problem. I have tried approaching the Board. John, do the math....$4 million from OUR savings PLUS the proposed 2.34% of $140,000,000 is over 5% increase. Finally, "contract stuff"? You make that sound as though it's untouchable. Board needs to learn to say "no", period. And "Parkland Parents"? They are the creation of an administration failing to stand up to them with school policy...and in MANY instances supporting the teacher in confrontational issues. Again, been there, seen it.
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On the article 2% Tax Hike 'A Realistic Number,' Parkland Officals Say
John
9:01 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
ReplyWow, sounds as though I hit a personal nerve, Mr. Anderson? Squeeze teachers? Are you aware that the average faculty member in the PSD makes $72,223/ year. When the average person works 250 days (minus vacation days, 10-15/yr)... So let's use 235. Teachers work 190 days/yr, which is 81% of average American. Now take the $72,223 and divide that by the .81, that same rate is $89,164...AVERAGE. I am guessing the vast majority of Parkland taxpayers footing the bill don't average $89,000 of salary. As for solutions, I have provided on numerous occasions regarding how to decrease the budget....but I will make it condensed. $14 million saved as noted above regarding benefits...board v union...win, ONCE! Second, remove all non-educational activities from the budget. All for quality education. How many Parkland kids/yr get D I athletic scholarships....bad net investment...allow the teams, clubs and parent organizations to raise money, tap support from local businesses and begin living in the real world. If they require more money, tell mom and dad to reach into their pockets. They do in elementary and middle school, why in HS do these monies come from taxes? Same for band and drama. Allow the school to subsidize the transportation and 10% of the overrall budget based upon participation...my guess, FB takes up greater than 70% of athletic budget. Solutions, yes....but does the board listen to ANYONE at its meetings? Been there...waste of time!
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On the article 8 Will Join Parkland Athletic Hall of Fame
John
7:14 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
ReplyC'mon Kim, those Keystone's are a killer! How can we expect our poor overworked athletes and performers to do well in such an unnecessary subject like Biology? And please, our $104 million teachers can only be expected to do so much in a 7 hour day for 190 days per year! Kim, you are simply unrealistic in your expectations! Maybe a little summer tutoring for your kids....at $45/hour.....lotsa PASD faculty are available all summer long!
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On the article 2% Tax Hike 'A Realistic Number,' Parkland Officals Say
John
7:07 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
ReplySo my math suggests the following. We pay $69 million in salary, and $35 million in benefits? So over 33% of personnel costs is benefits? I am guessing that the rest of the business world recognizes that this is @ 13% higher than the average cost, or making it simpler to comprehend, if PASD were a business, it would be saving @ $14 million regarding benefits. So let's take a look why PASD benefits package is costing taxpayers $14,000,000 MORE than it would if it were a business? I have to ASSUME the major differences include % of healthcare paid by the employee, and the PENSION, which this Board has allowed to get out of control. Presently the average working taxpayer pays 22% of their health insurance premium, while the average business owner pays 100%. Hmmmm, what can I guess the average teacher pays? Then comes the mother load of benefits, the teacher and administrative pension, or GOLDEN PARACHUTE we call in the business world, except that is usually limited to executives. However in education, EVERYBODY's in the pool, so when you turn 55 it's more advantageous to retire than it is to come to work....ahhh, those 190 work days will just wear a guy out, dealing with kids everyday!
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On the article Proposed Parkland Tax Hike will Decrease Slightly
John
8:34 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
ReplyWhen are these people sitting on this board recognize they are dealing with adults, and put away their childish child psych 101 of presenting through the press a large number, then "waddling" it down through 'laborious work' to get the INCREASE under 2.5%!!! Do they think we the taxpayer doesn't realize that 2.5% of $140 MILLION budget is $3.5 MILLION! The bigger question is will we see annual increases because of the INCOMPETENCE of this Board? Please attend the meeting on May 25th and let the Board know that this is unacceptable
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On the article New Parkland Community Library Hopes to Break Ground in Fall
John
9:17 am on Sunday, May 12, 2013
Adam, I appreciate your insight, as you have a considerably greater knowledge of this project. Could you help us understand better than this article where the monies are coming to build, and what the percentage of budget is being covered by the taxpayer? Utilization of the present building, and need based upon those numbers would be justified and better understood. Thanks.
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On the article New Parkland Community Library Hopes to Break Ground in Fall
John
9:14 am on Sunday, May 12, 2013
I would sincerely like to HOPE that you are correct. I WISH the Patch would present a more detailed review regarding such a facility during these economical times. Naming two major companies, which are only accounting for less than 10% of the necessary 50%, suggests to me that the money is coming from a source that the library doesn't want published, or those donors have been pushed aside because they haven't put up over $100,000. My point is if you are publishing a story, explain more than 9% of the story. Why the skepticism? Look at the PASD spending, where it is nice to have things, yet we have no idea how we are going to pay for it. The taxpayers of this area cannot maintain bigger and better under these economic times. SOMETHING has to give, and building a new library just doesn't seem to be a highest of priorities in my view at this time. Show utilization, show the lines of people standing outside the present library trying to gain access, demonstrate the plans of utilization for the new and improved...and according to Adam, if the none s "clearly there", then why present less that 50% of the necessary 50% required by the project managers to actually build the building. Let's not been so niaive to think that this project's costs will continue to increase. SOMEBODY please be honest and present a 5 year analysis with a BUDGET as to what this will end up costing the taxpayer...in yet another venture that 3% utilize, while the other 97% pay for....forever.
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On the article New Parkland Community Library Hopes to Break Ground in Fall
John
8:56 am on Saturday, May 11, 2013
ReplyHELLLOOOOOO....while the Parkland Library Board has made attempts to raise money, the cost of the project has increased @ 13% ($1.5M/$11.5M), the listing n this article according to my math raised $360,000/$3.5M from corporate donors. Fact is the money raised thus far HAS NOT met the 50% mark, yet dates are being set to break ground on a project that has not demonstrated the ability to raise its half! However, my greater concern is the COSTS associated with daily running of such a facility, and where the revenues will come in maintaining such a facility as well as provide personnel to service the facility. Or will this library just become yet another DREAM project that taxpayers will continue to fund, increasing taxes.....RAISE the 50%, demonstrate some financial responsibility, and explain to the taxpayer how this will be financed to provide service to the community....simple question. WHERE WILL THE REVENUE TO MAINTAIN THIS PROJECT COME? Please do not tell us the late book charges!!!!!
John
7:39 am on Friday, May 24, 2013
Wow, everyone in agreement? Could this be a trend? How dare our taxpayers leave these poor skilled laborers with such a pittance over the summer? Those heartless taxpayers....maybe we should simply pay them their $100 a day because of their dedication? How about we charge them for providing them "counseling" as we gave them a sounding board ---- our Bd of Education. What's next on the board agenda, our favorite color? Aren't there any administrators in our $143 million budgeted system that can hear these complaints, or can any vagrant come off the streets and address our senseless school board? What happened to chain of command? Bus drivers pleading their case to the board of education? Really?