MARKILINSKI: Did Somebody Say DUCK(s)
There has been so much said about the impending State budget disaster scenario and one of the main culprits will supposedly be the teacher pension fiasco that is lurking idly by, ready to pounce on US poor taxpayers.
I decided to do some of my own research.
Did you know that teacher pension legislation was changed in 2001 and 2002, not by the local school board, but by the PA State Legislature. Since the PA State Legislature does not just give away monies from the state coffers in a willy nilly fashion, I am supposing that someone from the state teachers union approached a Democratic Legislator and “licked his or her ear and promised them the moon”. Shortly after this first date, House Bills 26 of 2001 and House Bill 27 were passed into law, again not by your local school board, but by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. What this established is this:
Take the average salary of a teacher’s last 3 years in the classroom, and the same goes for any administrator, and you get what that employee’s yearly retirement income will be. Here is a true fact example:
A teacher from the Armstrong School District decides to retire from teaching this year after 30 years of service. They are at the top of the Masters scale on the ASD-AEA contract making $75,002 per year. That teacher will probably receive pretty close to 100% of their last year’s salary as a retirement benefit.
I will repeat, they will be making $75,002 as their retirement benefit.
If Dr. William Kerr, Superintendent of the Armstrong School District, were to retire today, his retirement benefit would be approximately in the neighborhood of $147,500 per year.
There are all kinds of solutions floating around Harrisburg right now and I have been keeping my eye on them. My last trip to Federal Court enlightened my life in that the 800 pound gorilla can be beaten. Perhaps the legislation of 2001-2002 can be challenged at that level for the benefit of all taxpayers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and not just a few.
By the way, Michael Ohare, the only ducks quacking right now number THREE, and their names are Huey, Dooey, and Louie!
Comments to: mmarkilins@aol.com
Uncategorized | markilinski March 5, 2010
By Jan, March 5, 2010 @ 7:39 AM
Finally…..the topic of the Pension Plan fund comes up… this ought to be interesting. MJM,you state that you finally decided to look in to this. I would have thought that as as collective board, you wouldn’t be waiting to the eleventh hour to finally decide that it needs addressed. What you fail to discuss is the cost that the district is responsible for- you would rather just skirt the issue by placing blame on someone when in actuality, the Pension Plan is going to hit the ASD, like many other districts hard and heavy. The question being asked is, how is this current board going to pay for it? Starting in 2011-2012, the clock is ticking on payback, and it will cap off in the year 2014 to the tune of “multi-millions” (PSERS source)so again, what is this boards plan to pay for this? One would think that if an expenditure of this magnitude was looming ahead, one would not be spending money on other frivilous agendas.
With the economic conditions in this state, I doubt seriously that they are going to be lenient in how this fund is paid. My suggestion for you MJM and the rest of the board is to start paying attention to this issue, address it with the ASD public so that all can start making plans to move out of the area when we can’t afford to pay the taxes that will be passed down to us. So tell me again why it’s wise to start spending money on another project when we have this enormous bill looming?
I will you give you this- at least you decided to open up this discussion.
By ASDpayer, March 5, 2010 @ 7:54 AM
Mr. Markilinski is not up on his facts.
A teacher with 35 years of experience would retire at 87% of his/her final salary averaged over the last three years of service. So his figure that a teacher retiring this year with a final salary of $75,002 and that would be the retirement income is just plain wrong.
This is from the PSERS web site.
Not all teachers have a Master’s Degree and 30+ hours of education.
As a school director he needs to be more careful with his “true facts.” While it is a good retirement income, it is similar to other state employees and many in the private sector.
By scott_starr, March 5, 2010 @ 9:53 AM
@ASDpayer:
I’m not sure where you work in the private sector, but there are few, if any defined benefit plans. We have 401K, and it’s not doing so well in this environment.
By ToddLuke, March 5, 2010 @ 10:05 AM
He has the facts. He just chooses to bring them out in a negative manner to suit some purpose other than helping the district solve problems. It helps him stir the pot. That is much easier than actually offering suggestions to help our region.
There are three type of people:
Those who makes things happen.
Those who watch things happen.
Those who wonder what happened.
This region needs some problem solvers.
By ASDpayer, March 5, 2010 @ 10:08 AM
Just a further comment. What really shows up in the editorial by MJM is that he hates teachers, administrators and people who work for ASD. His misuse of data is evidence of his dislike of teachers. Why did he run for the board?
By Mike Fichthorn, March 5, 2010 @ 10:27 AM
He ran for the board to protect Little Jimmy Solak…that was in one of his slanted columns.
By ASDpayer, March 5, 2010 @ 11:18 AM
I looked up some more information.
The average retiring salary of the last three years of retiring teachers in ASD( those retired in the last two years) was roughly 57,000. When you take 87% of that and the retirement package is roughly 49,000. A far cry from 72,000. The major employers in the area, Westinghouse, UPMC, colleges and universities all have retirement packages that are similar. Those employers who have gone to solely 401 k packages do a disservice to their employees. To ToddLuke. He doesn’t have the facts. He just throws out numbers to inflame and incite and confuse.
By ToddLuke, March 5, 2010 @ 11:53 AM
@ ASDpayer
He has received emails from me as well as documents that contain the facts. Keep is mind he is a Lenape graduate and according to his words, probably skated through the math part of his education.
By H C, March 5, 2010 @ 12:02 PM
Excellent! It is a great idea for a neutral, non-political, and objective state-level agency to academically examine the school based upon the ranting found in Mr. Markilin$ki’s letter. No further action involving Lenape Tech shall be taken until the non-political examination of the Tech is complete! I am confident that Lenape Tech will pass non-political scrutiny. The results of such an examination will show that Mr. Markilin$ki has no more business being near the field of education than a kid who boils a hotdog suddenly believes he can run a restaurant. The results may indicate a childish, vicious, attack-mentality not rooted in reality or facts. A nonpolitical examination will demonstrate Mr. Markilin$ki’s incompetent, narrow-minded and politically driven agenda. Once the school is exonerated, a person with a shred of decency, integrity or honor would resign the position after giving a public apology. Anyone running for The School Board should have to take a competency exam equivalent to the PSSA. Egomaniacs should not use the School Board to serve as stage to demonstrate that they are glittering jewels of colossal ignorance – it reflects poorly upon the ASD and the residents of Armstrong County.
Mr. Markilin$ki, why don’t you have a meeting for your Manor Township neighbors and constituents to explain your position in this matter? You sit up on a stage well-insulated from the garlic eaters, riff raff and skaters. You can explain your post-secondary education and how it relates to your insights into the field of education. You can explain your business dealings to us as and relate those dealings as to your how academia should be run. Your letter to the Secretary of Education is Priceless since it demonstrates an unhealthy degree of megalomania. After the Department of Education investigates the school for competency, maybe it should investigate your competence and place on the ASD School Board.
By Mike Fichthorn, March 5, 2010 @ 12:40 PM
HC you took the words right out of my mouth. My question is once the Department of Education dismisses Markilinski’s baseless babblings, they need to step over into the ASD school board.
They’d have a field day there.
Of course it would take a team of mathematicians and attorneys to unravel all of Solak and Markinski’s schemes and shell games.
Come out from hiding Mr. Markilinski. You’re very bold sitting in Canonsburg attacking and putting down our students. Have a meeting with your taxpayers and explain yourself.
By DANBOY, March 5, 2010 @ 12:55 PM
Don’t everyone on this side of the Judge Graff bridge feel good that we have ROCKY and BULLWINKLE looking out for us.
By Bolt Upright, March 5, 2010 @ 1:19 PM
I wonder. Can a school board director be impeached? Is there any way to remove someone who isn’t doing the taxpayers will beside voting him out?
By Jen16226, March 5, 2010 @ 1:20 PM
What we should all be doing is writing letters to the PDE and faxing them with our concerns and complaints.
I have found this fax number
717-787-7222
If you wish to call, the main number is 717-783-6788.
The email address is 00admin@state.pa.us
I urge EVERYONE to contact the state and let them know your displeasure.
By Jen16226, March 5, 2010 @ 1:23 PM
For those of you commenting on having a town hall meeting.
We are in the middle of getting a facility set for this and we should know sometime next week a date and time.
More details will be coming soon!
Watch on http://www.asd-news.com for them!
By Jen16226, March 5, 2010 @ 2:16 PM
In addition…..please make sure you go to the asdnews website and click on the petition.
By swilson, March 5, 2010 @ 2:16 PM
@ Bolt Upright
I’m not an attorney but my understanding is State law doesn’t currently provide for any mechanism to impeach county officials. So we can only beg for their resignation or vote them out.
By Jan, March 5, 2010 @ 2:31 PM
Bolt Upright: As far as I know you can’t impeach a school board member per se– you can impeach the President of the USA though— how scary is that!
However, if “proof” can be made that a school board member is acting in a malicious manner, and jeopardizing the a district, there are some things that can be done. Hence, why a law suit is pending against the “super 6″ right now. The best thing to remember– during the next elections- choose your school board member wisely, along with your commissioners, reps, etc. This is a wake up call to everyone who lives in Armstrong County. Know all you can about a person who is running for an office- ask questions of them, scrutinize them under a microscope and then make an educated decision at the polls.
By gcaves, March 5, 2010 @ 4:08 PM
It’s a shame Mr M is on the Board again. The last time he was there we had a major strike with our teachers. It seems like he’s up to his old tactics. It’s too bad. We had made major progress and as I understand it, ASD has had no problem, lately, attracting quality candidates for the positions in our district. Now we are back to the “old” way, slinging mud, negotiating in public and name calling. Who would want to move into such a distict? When I taught junior high, it was always easy for me to spot a trouble maker. Unfortunately, I see one again. Unfortunately too is the fact that he has a public platform and the chance to throw our county backwards to the dark ages!!!!
By rfullerton, March 5, 2010 @ 4:13 PM
HC: VERY well said!
By H C, March 5, 2010 @ 8:27 PM
I hope your fascination with Ducks has not replaced your fascination with the concept of Honesty. If you wish to be Honest to yourself and your column, you must now change the commentary’s name from “A Rural Conservative Commentary” to “A Rural Liberal Commentary”. You are a Liberal. A true conservative does not whine about the achievements of others but rather focuses on improving his life through hard work and sacrifice. Class Envy is at the core of any fired-up liberal. A good liberal looks around at someone who has more than he does, becomes jealous, and assumes the “more fortunate” person won some kind of lottery or used deceptive means to acquire what they have worked hard to obtain. Mr. Markilinski, what stops you from taking out loans, investing years of your life at a nearby college or university and earning a teaching degree? You have a friend who has an advanced degree in education. Doesn’t that person have a lucrative pension? Are you jealous of your friend and do you attack his credentials and accomplishments as well? Do you tell him that he is compensated too much with his retirement? If you attempted to insult your retired friend with the PhD in Education, he would be justified in telling you that he earned what he has obtained and you are merely a victim of Liberal-Minded Class Envy. Climb down from the pedestal. Get off your duff and get yourself a job that pays well and has benefits – that is if you are willing to earn the skills necessary to “make the grade” and pay some dues along the line.
By JMPC, March 6, 2010 @ 12:49 PM
I am very impressed with Mr. Markilinski. In such a short time you have been able to do something I didn’t think was even possible. Your radical and completely egotistical ideas and comments have actually made Mr. Solak seem not as bad. I have sat by and witnessed you call people names, put your own agenda ahead of the welfare of the students, teachers and parents, but I cannot remain silent another second. Instead of using your money to buy space in a newspaper, and I use the word “newspaper” very loosely, why don’t you invest $10 in a calculator and sit down and add up how much money your self-serving agenda will cost every person living in this district. You have proven that you know how to buy an ad, and write copy for an ad, but it doesn’t seem like you know how to actually add. If you are so sure that all of your ideas are so good, you should continue to present them to the voters and let them decide what is best. It seems like you can afford to purchase advertising space, and it appears that this “so called” newspaper is in your hip pocket, so use it to make your case. Stop calling people piggies, skaters and ducks. Enlighten everyone with real facts. Present your case and let the voters decide. I know you will not do that. You and your 5 friends, The “Self-Serving” Six, don’t care what the teachers, students, parents or anyone in the district thinks. I wonder if the people in Kittanning Twp will still think of you all as HERO’S when they realize that closing their school is part of your master plan. I imagine that you will continue to hide behind your purchased space in this paper for as long as you can. I get the feeling we will have to wait to get some real answers out of The Self-Serving Six until your right hands are raised in the air and someone is asking “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, So help you God”
By admin, March 6, 2010 @ 1:10 PM
to JMPC: Vocabulary lesson: (from reference.com) “newspaper – a publication issued at regular and usually close intervals, esp. daily or weekly, and commonly containing news, comment, features, and advertising.” We believe we fit that category and defend your right to comment.
to all posters: You are most effective when you are able to present facts and figures. We should not be debating a person… we are debating an issue. Bringing it to a personal level in a blog is like the few who could not control themselves and stood up in a public meeting and yelled comments interrupting the meeting. It only shows two things: a person who is out of control emotionally and a person that cannot respect the process. Hopefully that person doesn’t carry a weapon.
By JMPC, March 6, 2010 @ 1:44 PM
Thank you for the vocabulary lesson. I didn’t say you weren’t actually a newspaper. I said that I used the term loosely. By your definition from reference.com (how impressive), the tabloids on display as you check out of the grocery store are newspapers.
As for your advice to all posters. I agree with your advice. However, you should practice what you preach. Mr. Markilinski isn’t required to stick to facts and figures. He shows no control. He shows no respect. You publish his words. I know he pays for it, but you publish it. You permit him to do the things you are advising the rest of us to avoid. Since you provided me with a Vocabulary Lesson, I would like to provide you with a Human Nature Lesson: If you publish the rantings of an individual who has no facts or figures to back up his arguments. If you publish the words of a man who is out of control emotionally and a person that cannot respect the process, then you should not be too shocked that the response to what you publish is going to invite emotional responses from angry and offended readers.
By scott_starr, March 6, 2010 @ 3:24 PM
@admin:
does this mean that you will now start checking “facts” rather than print the rantings of certain schoolboard members?
Isn’t that one of the “responsibilities” of a “newspaper”, unlike the tabloid versions of The STAR and The National Enquirer?
Also, please tell MJM that the issue is not about William Kerr, isn’t that debating ( and debasing) a person?
Finally your scare mongering tactic of “carring a weapon” is silly and ruined what could have been a rather cogent post.
I personally find that last sentence contemptuous and disgusting.
By admin, March 6, 2010 @ 4:05 PM
@starr
If you are referring to our articles… our purpose is to report the event. We do that by stating what people said. We are not the experts. We can only report what people say and our readers decide the validity of the statement. On our television side – Family-Life TV… we do it by showing the event without commentary (except for talk shows designed for that purpose – which is different from news gathering). At KP, we try to find interviews with alternate views as is logistically possible in a given time frame for publication. We did this with Mr. Markilinski’s letter to the DOE. We waited until we could obtain a response from the DOE before publishing the article so it could be as accurate as possible.
If you are referring to our paid advertising (whether display or columns)… we do not check the validity of any item being advertised, whether at Mr. Rush’s State Farm Insurance policies or with Mr. Markilinski. We do not endorse our advertisers’ statements.
I stand by my comment of carrying a weapon. I have had to deal with my friends in other churches who have had a person come into a service and kill people over a difference in idealogy. I am concerned when emotions are so intense that debate is lost and someone may go over the edge and do something irrational. That is not grandstanding on my part or inciting fear. It is a real concern because I have experienced it in the lives of others.
Final comment @starr: Please consider giving KP a copy of your next speech at an ASD board meeting. I want to make sure we correctly quote you. Actually, this goes for anyone who plans to address the Board. Feel free to make us an extra copy. It is greatly appreciated and helps insure accuracy.
By Ruscoe, March 6, 2010 @ 5:10 PM
If we are giving opinions on this newspaper or on local newspapers, in general, I would like to pose a few questions for the admin. person(editor? or reporter?)
I posed a question for the People for Progress. Who are these people? What is their entire platform? What are their long-term goals for the ASD?
Also, would it be possible to see how these People for Progress feel about the move of the YMCA from the borough to the new designated area?
I am not sure if these People for Progress are just associated with school issues or are they also involved in supporting other endeavors?
Who was behind selecting the new destination for the YMCA? I seen in the other local newspaper today that the borough wants to try and keep the YMCA within the town. I support council on this matter.
Are their names that cross-match on both of these issues? I don’t know, but I would like for somebody to look into this. I think that is newsworthy.
Everything occurring within the county/district lately seems to be chaotic, and all of these issues are heating up with tension, but nobody wants to hear from the people.
Call me paranoid, but it seems to me that there is a huge game of tug-of-war going on behind the scenes, but I just cannot identify it. There is so much rhetoric out there to sorth through to possibly find the facts.
I just do not get it. I support some issues and ideas that seem contrary to others while vice-versa occurs on issues and ideas that I do not support.
I do not think that I am the only one out here wondering if many of these individual issues are not part of a much, much bigger problem within the region and area, and a lot of us are getting hoodwinked by minority groups on different sides.
By Mike Fichthorn, March 6, 2010 @ 5:28 PM
Admin,
Actually most people who carry weapons are law abiding citizens.
Yes, your comment was grandstanding. Nobody in this forum has gone out of control or threatened anyone else.
If you permit Markilinski to spew his half truths, insult our students and ignore the actual truth, you will get angry responses.
Look around, the people of this area are as frustrated as they could possibly be.
Other areas are being built up, ours is stuck in 1960. Part of the problem is the people with money don’t want anyone else to come in and take a piece of their pie. The other problem is people like Markilinski and Solak who are so afraid of change and moving into the 21st century, that they are willing to destroy anything good we have in place to hold onto their shred of history, the crumbling school in FC.
By DANBOY, March 6, 2010 @ 6:08 PM
UNBELIEVABLE.Why would you even mention weapon?
But you know what frightens me if a certain school director would propose a resolution(which would take him about two hours to get the right wording) to allow weapons motion would pass 6 to 3.
By Jan, March 6, 2010 @ 8:58 PM
Ruscoe- correct me if I’m wrong, did you not ask this question once before about who the People for Progress are and what their platform was? I beleive I tried to answer that question. Are you looking for actual names or rather just wanting to know what they are looking for as an agenda. As I mentioned once before in this forum, the PFP (and I honestly don’t know who all of them are)were a group of people who gathered several years ago, much like the HERO group, or the HERC group etc. for the common goal of exploring how to make this district better. You can’t blame them for that can you? Why is it a problem for one group to express their concerns/wishes- but not another? And what does the PFP have to do with where the YMCA is placed? I doubt very much that anyone but the commissioner’s and whoever else who has something to do with the Y can answer that. What is the obsession with the West Kittanning area or the West Hills area? Everytime an issue comes up- it is automatic that there is some hidden agenda to make this area the taj mahal of the area…. it’s laughable. What’s there? A McDonalds and a few other fast food restaurants and 2 strip malls ( with several empty store fronts) That is progress! If only any of these groups had such power- we would all certainly not be in the position we’re in now. The power appears to lay in the hands of this school board- they control the purse string, they control the reputation that we now have as a district, they control the lack of industry to this area. If you want answers about the Y–perhaps you should ask them that question. Where would you like to see the Y move to? I’m guessing that the present location has outlived it’s capacity to serve the members. There is little parking there (which is why I don’t use the Y) and it’s an old building. Oops, there’s that word- an old building. Hmm, do you suppose the board could float a bond to renovate the Y? Honestly, where they put the Y is of little concern to most people at the moment.
By scott_starr, March 7, 2010 @ 12:26 AM
@Ruscoe:
how can you even compare the YMCA with Schools?
The YMCA is an independent entity, I’m waiting next (not necessarily you)for someone to claim that Kerr is behind the “Move of the YMCA”.
Hey, I’d bet if the FC folks would give the YMCA some of the land that’s not been developed for the last 10 years the YMCA would take it.
That may put an end to the conspiracy theories.
By Ruscoe, March 7, 2010 @ 9:10 AM
Scott,
I explained to you earlier that I can compare the situation with the schools and the YMCA, because I believe there was or is another agenda or faction out there who are in the middle of this school issue with no real interest for the kids or the taxpayers.
Let me be clear…I do believe that the MAJORITY of people, like myself, want to see Elderton closed for the fundamental reasons of saving money and possibly improving the academics of the ASD. Lets’s all be clear on that.
I am also thinking or believing that there is a group of people supporting the Elderton closure who are using this monet to possibly push for their plan of utopia in West Hills.
You can dismiss it all you want as a conspiracy theory, Scott. All I am asking for is clarification. Is there a faction of people driving both ideas? I do not think Kerr is behind this.
I think these are legitimate questions.
Like I said before, let’s try to get as much information out as possible so people can make rational decisions.
By Ruscoe, March 7, 2010 @ 9:49 AM
Scott: I was thinking more of Bauer Block’s old site or even the IUP property.
By realisticone, March 7, 2010 @ 10:47 AM
I have been patiently waiting to post my disgust with all things ASD Board-wise. I now don’t have to…you posters are doing a wonderful job!!!
My Idea after all this time: To offset HERO is “KOOO” which means KITTANNING, ON OUR OWN!!
Take the majority of the populus, the majority of the taxpayers who have been footing the bill for the years of waste and secede from the ASD. You can have Elderton, Ford City open till the walls fall in.
Since the Department of Education does NOTHING but require needless tests that test for nothing educational..won’t step in when waste and mismangement run rampant…they should have no problem with letting our attendance area go off by ourselves.
What do you think!!
Bye the way! The Armstrong Central Debacle in the 1990′s was not a ‘consolodation’ because you closed no buildings, cut no jobs and saved no money. Dr. Solak stated that himself in his many fights to keep Ford City going. That 2 year stint was called a “cross-bussing.” Junior High at Ford City, Senior High at Kittanning. Sort of like “Forced Integration” like in the 60′s down south.
PS…I’d love to see a state of the art CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL with all of the best kids from Armtrong County being in an aestetically pleasing building with new technology, a wide variety of athletic complexes and facilities that would enhance education…not destroy it.
Our facilities for Armstrong are the worst!!!
Thanks for reading…
By ASDpayer, March 7, 2010 @ 2:58 PM
The bottom line comes down to this. MM said he decided to do some research. Well he needs to do better. The change in pension occurred in 2000 when Republican legislators wrote legislation to change all state pensions, including legislators, who really got a deal. The change in the law was signed by REPUBLICAN TOM RIDGE.
For all teachers, they must teach 35 years, not 30 as MM asserts. And then the retiring income is 87% of the average of the last three years of salary.
After this, MM needs to have someone do fact check, and look at his research with a skeptical eye.
By dee, March 8, 2010 @ 6:18 AM
Admin
I agree with Scot_starr. Wow, if you are so concerned about intense emotions and people going over the edge, why do you continue to sell the space to Markilinski. His coments do more inciting than the comments in these blogs since his are actually printed in the paper version of KP. If you truly are as concerned as you say you are, you will stop selling him space.
By scott_starr, March 8, 2010 @ 11:31 AM
@Ruscoe:
Thanks, I suggest the following;
1. Look on ASD Website. There is no mention of Consolidated School at West Hills, It states specifically Lenape Complex. It’s there in black and white.
2. The YMCA is a national organization, they bring people in to run the YMCA.
The issues of the YMCA are :
a. Lack of parking
b. age of current facility
c. Where to put a new building Downtown? the IUP site is being used for Sr. Citizen Housing, which will be a huge boon to the area (sarcasm off).
d. Bauer Block is owned by a private company and I doubt they would do anything for the betterment of the community ( watch Mr. Potter of It’s a Wonderful Life).
Here is the YMCA’s statement:
http://www.armstrongymca.org/
The YMCA, like most institutions here, has been raped and been the tool for a lot of self serving people, in my opinion.
Here is what I suggest Ruscoe:
1. check the tax records of who owns the land out near Wible Road in West Hills. If you can find a connection, Let me know.
2. PFP has nothing to do with HERC-ACT. HERC-ACT has memebers from Kttg. F.C., burrel twp. kittanning twp, elderton, dayton and east franklin. What we want is good government, and good schools. If we have to organize to throw any and everyone currently in power out, we are preparing to do so.
I do have to thank the idiocy of this county for one thing, I’ve made some good friends through this ordeal.
People are angry, most thought they were alone. They are not alone. It’s time to take it back!
By Jan, March 8, 2010 @ 12:27 PM
I will reinforce Scott’s remarks. There is no agenda for building a school in the West Hills area. There is NO agenda for building- period. I’m not sure what part of what you are reading from these postings you aren’t getting. We CAN’T AFFORD to do anything- nada, nothing. Look around you- the economy is bad here. We have no major industries here and we are all going to be hit hard with taxes. If a day would come and this county could afford new schools- I could care less where they put it. I do care about education and I want our students to get the best- but right now- we’ve got to give them the best with what we have now…..unfortunatly
By Bolt Upright, March 8, 2010 @ 4:04 PM
Scott Star: May I suggest that you put a way to contact someone from HERC-ACT on the web site ASD-News for questions and suggestions. I have a question which I do not want to ask on here. Thanks.
By Ruscoe, March 8, 2010 @ 4:21 PM
Jan: You can be upset and adament all you want and make claims that there is no plans for a school in West Hills. You did not read my post closely. I said the majority of the people like myself are for the closing of Elderton, but we want to ensure that “certain” individuals do not take advantage of this platform to push their own agenda. I doubt if you seriously know if there is a plan for a school at West Hills. I have been around long enough to know how these things work, and it is not based on past speculation and paranoia. This district can do whatever it pleases, you just need to look what is going on right now. Just because you do not have an agenda and just because you think the district is broke in regards to money, does not make it a reality. How much more of an example do you want than you have with the reopening of Elderton?? There are alot of things that can be “proposed” especially when emotion are high, so to just dismiss any such issues is reckless on your part. You may have too much emotion invested.
Scott:
I know that HERC has widespread support throughout the whole district/county. I think this is very, very good thing. My only worry is that this movement does not stop with the ASD but continues with other issues within the county. If it truly is a grass roots local revolution, then this is a great thing. I just would not want this movement to be compromised by people using the movement to their advantage. That is all that I was trying to say. This all could be the beginning of more positive things, but it is the nature of the people in these parts to take a good thing and then try and take advantage of it. I think you know what I am trying to explain.
By Jen16226, March 8, 2010 @ 5:02 PM
Ruscoe,
What started out as Help Elderton Remain Closed has become alot more through our discussions. I think each of us in the group has different things that touch each of us in the communities and as a group will work on them.
Right now, however, the big issue of the moment is the ASD fiasco.
I, personally, do not feel there is one person persently in HERC-ACT that is trying to do anything underhanded. I do feel the group will continue to grow for the better! If someone does happen to jump on board that does not have best interests at heart, it can be dealt with then, but the core group of us is just that…..the core…….and we want layers and layers of informed people around us that are willing to stand up and help make a change and help our county grow.
By Jan, March 8, 2010 @ 5:21 PM
Ruscoe- I absolutely read every word you said and I’m telling you that the grass roots campaign has nothing to do with another agenda to build a super school in the West Hills region. We all came together with HERC-ACT because of the reckless spending of this current board. They are tearing the integrity of this school district to pieces and with that- whether people want to argue this case or not- we will not see any type of progress in this county. It likens that of “what came first, the chicken or the egg” Do we need industry first in order for the ASD to provide quality education or do we need a good educational system in place to entice industry to this county. As I stated many times before- there was a movement back in the 80′s to build a new school in the West Hills region but again, that was almost 30 yrs. ago- and yes- I was around then and had children in school- so I have seen and been active most of my life for the many fiascos of this district. I see the real problem of this district as being too large. Everyone can not be pleased all of the time. I’ve seen schools closed before and they remained closed, and it worked out fine. When KHS and FC merged- it was working and it was cost effective, but after 2 years, “yours truly” changed that. I’ve seen students from North Buffalo and East Franklin Elemenetary played like chess pieces; going to kintergarden at N. Buffalo, and 1st. grade at East Franklin and then on to West Hills. Imagine going to three different schools in three years in the most formative years of education– and guess what- they closed those schools and put them all at West Hills. Oh, and I forgot about Kittanning Elementary- they did the same thing. So please, the west side of Kittanning has taken it’s fair share of beatings from this board and in the end, it worked. There is no agenda Ruscoe- I can’t say it anymore than that. If this current board has its way- they will bankrupt the entire ASD and then what? The state will come in, close every little school we have and we will be at the mercy of the state in determining what happens then. If I’m being accused of being emotional about this issue- I am, and everyone in this district should be. We all have a vested interest in what’s taking place.
By scott_starr, March 8, 2010 @ 5:42 PM
@Ruscoe:
All I can say is this, if HERC were not a grass roots organization, I would not be active in the organization.
I have no interest to socialize with the “monied folks” or the connected folks. I was very happy with anonymity until the amusement of what has been going on wore off.
Honestly, I didn’ think many kids cared about education here, I was wrong. I’ll put our kids up against anyone, if we have acess to the same curricula. I’m tired of our kids “settling”, we are cheating them.
Frankly, I can’t wait for sanity to prevail. I don’t know of any HERC members who have political ambitions. I think most of us are waiting for the day we can have our lives and privacy back…. but we will always be watching.
By scott_starr, March 8, 2010 @ 10:21 PM
@Bolt upright
Here are e-mails
Info@asd-news.com
hercasd@gmail.com
By mcfee, March 9, 2010 @ 12:52 AM
Regarding the subject of a new high school for some or all built somewhere in the district, at one of the board meetings in January when the subject was brought up by the board a whole lot of people started clapping and one man sitting on the left side of the auditorium, I believe he was sitting near the Reefers (or maybe it was Mr. Reefer) stood up and shouted “that’s what we want.” I guess he should have said instead that was what he wanted if the “grass roots campaign” is not interested in a new high school. Are there are really two factions of the HERC-ACT group?
By reed619, March 9, 2010 @ 7:01 AM
Mcfee:
I have no idea who you are,but apparently you think you know us. I’m Debbi Reefer, and no, my husband did not jump up and yell that. My husband was sitting at the far end by the door, behind Mr. Pyle,at the open caucus meeting you’re referring to. He or I didn’t shout out a single thing during that meeting or any others that we’ve attended, and I don’t appreciate your accusation. I know the gentleman who shouted that out, he was 2 rows behind us, but I’m not going to drop his name on here. My daughter is in college and my son will be in 9th grade this fall.. a new high school wouldn’t even even be built before he graduates so it doesn’t even effect us and besides, we’re very happy and content with Kittanning. We transferred him there from the Elderton Attendance Area, and we’re much more satisfied with the educational experience he’s receiving now. So get your facts straight and don’t throw names around on here.
By scott_starr, March 9, 2010 @ 8:58 AM
@mcfee:
What you need to understand is the following.
First, the district must get is fiscal house in order. We are not doing that.
Second, your tactic is a little off handed, if you want to go down that road that’s fine. So will I.
I wonder if it was the HERO group who threatened a Kittg business owner, inside his own store, after he spoke about keeping Lenape full time?… was it was you McFee?
By Elizabeth Walker, March 11, 2010 @ 12:22 PM
I haven’t had time to read all the responses in this paper. Has anyone looked at the Kittanning area pulling out of the district. I know we looked at that 20 years ago and we could not pull out because the rest of the district could not operate without our taxes! I for one am tired of my tax money being frivously spent without regard to what is OBJECTIVELY best for the district and the area. From what I learned in school a person is eceted to represent his constituents, not help someone else on the board. Clearly Mr. Markilinski you are not doin what you are elceted to do. You and Mr. Solak are destroying any chances of Armstrong County to progress into this century. We will not attract any business to the area with our obsolete school district. There will no doubtedly be an increase in school taxes again with the reopening of Elderton. we all in thinking with our hearts would like to keep our Alma Maters open but with the economy today we can not. Big business is down sizing. We lost the Mushroom mine, Eljer, Etc. How can we justify opening another school and fiscally support it woth a decreaseing tax base. I’m not a business person but I do possess common sense.
By Observer, March 12, 2010 @ 2:03 AM
Ruscoe—Enough already!!! If you are going to constantly allege there is a vast West Hills conspiracy, despite the fact that no one seems to know about it…well, we’re willing to listen.
No innuendo. It’s time for you to name names, and explain what these conspirators are up to and what they have to gain.
Here’s your chance. Let’s hear it. You may convince some of us. I, for one, am willing to listen.