EastburgBELT
Watchdog for the East Stroudsburg School District
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BYE BYE BADER
ESASD BUSINESS MANAGER
PAT BADER RESIGNS
April 26, 2012 East Stroudsburg, PA
The Business Manager and CFO for the financially beleagured East Stroudsburg Area School District resigns quite unexpectedly and immediately. The BELT has learned that facing a monumental shortfall, a vote of no confidence in the extension of the controversial Wolfington Bus lease program and a host other financial woes, Bader says, 'no mas'. The question on our minds is how will this void affect the financial prospects and accountability of the district. How long will it be before our Board will fully and independently perform an outside audit - only time and the Budget Meeting on April 30, 2012 will tell.
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KNOW YOUR BOARD MEMBERS
A game not for the overtaxed and the under appreciated
For our loyal readers and in an effort to expand our readership we have designed a little game, to see if you know your Board Members. Over the past 4 months we have gathered a series of quotes that have been made by our Board Members. See if you can correctly identify who said what. Then we would like you to assign a rating for each of the remarks. I you feel comfortable complete the form and return it to us at info@eastburgbelt.com . For those who just completed the game as a mindless diversion, make a couple of copies and share it with your friends, but this is just our way of saying, thanks!
THE BELT
MS Word VersionPDF format
DISTRICT CLAIMS THEY ARE BROKE, BUT ADVERTISE TO SPEND MILLIONS
East Stroudsburg, PA - February 19, 2012
The East Stroudsburg Area School District claims to be $10 Million short on their Preliminary Budget and promise a balanced budget will all work out in the end through either firing the least senior employees, eliminating educational standards or raising taxes more than any other district in the region is their proposed solution; yet today they advertise millions of dollars in additional spending at J M Hill, a school that is targeted for closing. (click for full story)
READER COMMENTARY – Feb 12, 2012
A SOLUTION
FOR UNEQUAL EDUCATION FUNDING
On September 1, 2012 Deposit your school tax bill into an escrow account
For many years the state formula has short changed districts that have had growth in student population. East Stroudsburg Area School District receives 22 % of its educational funding. ESASD is one four or five districts in the State with growth. The other Four Hundred and ninety five districts having the same number or less number of students receive 45% to 65% funding. PERHAPS THIS WILL GET EVERYBODY’S ATTENTION
Only a hand full of legislators from growing Districts would like the law changed. None have introduced a Bill to make any changes. But the other 245 legislators are quite happy with the current formula.
WITH EQUAL STATE FUNDING YOUR LOCAL TAX BILL COULD BE REDUCED BY 60 PERCENT.
Senator Lisa Baker @ 717-787-7428
Senator Lisa Boscola @717-787-4236
Rosemary Brown @ 717-260-6171
Call our officials now and put them on notice that you will be paying your taxes very late or not at all until the East Stroudsburg Area School District gets it fair share.
Now is the time for the tax payers to unite and demand a ESASD Forensic Audit to see where all our money has gone. And then hold those guilty of wrong doing responsible for any and all infractions.
The Auditor General April 2011 Report questions millions of unaccounted , where is the ESASD Ethic Investigation?
Withhold your payments legally till the last minute. This could convince the ESASD Administration to act differently.
EDITORIAL
POCONO RECORD COMPLICATES THE BUDGET PROCESS
March 15, 2012 -East Stroudsburg PA
Monday May 14, 2012 approximately 75 East Stroudsburg resident taxpayers and the entire Board and most of its senior administration were assembled for the purpose of conducting a work session to finalize the 2012-13 operating budget in advance of the rapidly approaching deadline. That meeting had to be postponed because of the clerical error on the part of the local newspaper.
Last week the East Stroudsburg Board Secretary filed an advertisement announcing the public meeting to be held at the ESASD Admin/Secor Building for Monday May 14, 2012 at 7:00pm, sadly by the time it printed for the public was advertised to be held on April 30, 2012 – go figure. As a part of law each and every school board is required to advertise in advance all meetings in the local newspaper absent this perfunctory operation no special meeting may be called to order. While simple this task an act that many competent newspapers provide at a cost to their advertisers on a regular basis was muffed – big time, and as such this pivotal meeting could not even commenced creating many complications. Not one word appeared on the front page, or any other page for that matter, recounting this human failing on the part of their ad department – therefore the decision to publish a totally different and incendiary financial matter can only be viewed as hubris, plain and simple. Just when it looked that our totally polarized board was on the verge of compromise it would seem this article was designed to infuriate and panic the public while simultaneously reigniting the tensions within the board. We have learned that may not be the case; discussions contrary have been reported and recriminations have been drawn over the timing and statements issued in recent articles. The public has asked to remember that the Administration does not speak for the board and we have been assured that opinions have changed and some positions have softened, unfortunately announcements and decisions will have to be stalled until Monday May 21, 2012 when the monthly public meeting is called to order in the auditorium of East Stroudsburg High School North at 7:00pm- this advertisement cannot be mangled in that this date was reported and advertised several months ago during a Pocono Record period of efficiency. Only time will tell how this all works out. All things happen for a reason, and we think that all public tabloids particularly local ones are neither above reproach nor beyond scrutiny – everybody has an agenda no matter how vast or limited their circulation and it seems that community unity and healing is not the concern of the institution our board has chosen to handle its advertising. Perhaps that business relationship should be rethought along with policies on public comment inside and outside of the board.
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CITIZEN COMMENTARY
EAST STROUDSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT
NEEDS A HOUSE CLEANING.
April 16, 2012
On April 12, 2011 the District received the Auditor General report.
Finding No. 1: School District Did Not Follow Proper Bidding Procedures. Our audit of the ESASD records found that the board and administration did not adhere to the provisions stated in Sections 807.1(a) and 751(a) of the Public School Code pertaining to bidding requirements. Furthermore, ESASD did not adhere to their Board Policy #610 which requires that supplies in excess of $15,200 be purchased only after advertisement for bids. (Click here for full commentary)
CITIZEN COMMENTARY
EAST STROUDSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS A HOUSE CLEANING.
April 16, 2012
On April 12, 2011 the District received the Auditor General report.
Finding No. 1: School District Did Not Follow Proper Bidding Procedures. Our audit of the ESASD records found that the board and administration did not adhere to the provisions stated in Sections 807.1(a) and 751(a) of the Public School Code pertaining to bidding requirements. Furthermore, ESASD did not adhere to their Board Policy #610 which requires that supplies in excess of $15,200 be purchased only after advertisement for bids. (Click here for full commentary)
DISTRICT FORCED TO REINSTATE WRONGFULLY TERMINATED EMPLOYEE.
MARCH 1, 2012 EAST STROUDSBURG
The East Stroudsburg Administration is forced to reinstate an employee that was wrongfully terminated. Through a court order the Administration of East Stroudsburg has been told they must rehire one of their support workers, and compensate them retroactively and this has outraged one of our Board Members to speak on the record. It seems that the Administration has been using the Solictors, the legal budget and our financially challenged general fund to selectively persecute its workers.
Facing a monumental shortfall in the Preliminary Budget and suggesting the furloughing dozens of employees, closing two elementary schools and withholding the purchase of educational supplies have been proposed as measures to balance the budget, we now learn that we must now rehire an employee that should never have been terminated, what has this cost the district?. Lewis Carrols's Queen of Hearts has nothing on our Superintendent. It seems that the she answers to no one including the Board, as she dispatches her Solicitors upon employees, not matter what the expense, we are currently investigating the district's continued appeals despite repeated losses that have resulted in a threat of being held contempt if they did not reinstate. Justice is dispensed at her whim and it appears no expense is ever spared except for the increase of taxes and the educational welfare of the students.
When questioned about this, a Board member who is friendly to the BELT has informed us of an independent investigation that is being launched in support of this recently reinstated worker. "I was mislead by the Administration and I am sick and tired of this and I will get to the bottom of this myself and expose all the sorted details, said Mike Meachem". It appears that not even the Board members are given all the details when they vote; which begs us yet again to ask, Who is in Charge?. The story is developing and we will update you as more information becomes available.
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CITIZEN COMMENTARY
WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO HIDE?
March 22, 2012
The East Stroudsburg School Board is in great distress with tapped out taxpayers driven to foreclosures and a $10 million spending gap. There are no painless solutions to these problems and the choices are necessarily divisive. Which school(s) do we close, which programs do we eliminate, what employees do we cut? Will a tax increase bring in more revenue or drive more homeowners away?
We need a thoughtful honest approach to these difficult questions but that is impossible to achieve given the broad public perception of our School Board. Some believe it is simply a Board lacking in discipline and accountability.. Others believe that we are victims of graft and fraud and that prosecution is appropriate. A forensic audit would provide an opportunity to resolve these issues and can satisfy all parties. Those who believe in fraud and corruption will be affirmed or silenced. Those who deny graft can be vindicated by a clean forensic audit. Board members can regain their reputation by a clean forensic audit.
But Monday March 19, 2012, the Board voted not to discuss this issue or to accept one word of public input on it. By a 5-4 vote lead by W. Searfoss whose campaign included a commitment to the audit, buried the question. The message to the community facing school closures and to employees facing termination and to students losing programs is the same: "Don't rock our boat. We have no intention of accepting the accountability that comes with a forensic audit."
Name withheld by the Publisher
Citizen Commentary
H.R.H. King William of Searfoss
School Board President or Modern Day Tyrant
William Searfoss the East Stroudsburg Area School Board, President is out of control, and he the Superintendent and the Solicitor run operations and spending in the district with little or no accountability- and they have successfully fended off a request for a credible audit. Their working lyric is SPEND SPEND SPEND, with a refrain of - Just Trust Me, because there is always more money out there- just raise taxes... Let them eat cake. This scandalous triad call all the shots and the Public are the unwilling subjects with little or no recourse, other than foreclosure, bankruptcy or just walking away from their homes- as suggested by several Board Members.
There have been military dictatorships that have operated with more compassion and accountability than the East Stroudsburg Area School Board, but Searfoss has no worries now because he has been reelected and answers to no one. During the campaign for his third term, on a platform of: Change, Accountability, Transparency and a move away from the old ways Searfoss said he wanted cohesion, and progress and he also assured the voters he fully supported a Forensic Audit. He stated all this while placing his arm around the shoulder of Mike Meachem a more outspoken School Board Member, whom he [Searfoss] now routinely attacks in defense of the often unprepared Superintendent. He told the voters, “I want things to be better – different and if you reelect me I can do it.” Now that he has been gotten what he wanted, and typical to most politicians, he broken all the promises and promotes the practices he promised to rise-up against. He is insulting and condescending to the Public, using or allowing the use of phrases like 'You People'. He refuses to acknowledge his obligation to hold substanative meetings in the Northern part of the district – but he claims he represents all. He has voted to raise taxes, and in conjunction with the Superintendent and the Solicitor he now rules with an Iron Fist. Rather than acknowledge and address recently exposed unaccountable spending, he protects and excuses the Superintendent and Business Manager's status quo actions and suggests limiting reckless and unaccountable spending as Draconian and reactionary. Yeah I guess it’s good to be the King.
While facilitating meetings, he has chided taxpayers with the phrase, “No - you can’t yield your time, this is not Congress”; no Congressman are elected every two years- right now Searfoss is safe for the next 4 years, and now he is in a position to vote in his own self-interest to the detriment of all taxpayers. Should Searfoss and other self-serving board members remain on the panel that will decide the fate of JM Hill over Smithfield Elementary, it is a foregone conclusion that Smithfield is as good a gone. So for now
The Seafoss Afterschool Empire is safe because it is unlikely that he would vote to stiffle his partner or oust his neighbors from employment, and what is the logical conclusion to this abuse of authority and total lack of accountability… we can only recount a quote from fictional characters The Ferengi of Star Trek's DS9 , “Yes Yes, our word will be our Bond – …. Until We Change our Minds!”
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CITZEN COMMENTARY
THE 2012-2013 ESASD BUDGET
March 16, 2012
One of East Stroudsburg School Board Members asked everyone at the Board Meeting last night to contact our state representatives and demand our fair share in additional state funding for our school system. He also asked that we call weekly but I have elected to call once and follow with this letter making our case for additional funding. (Click here for full commentary)
EDITORIAL
POCONO RECORD COMPLICATES THE BUDGET PROCESS
March 15, 2012 -East Stroudsburg PA
Monday May 14, 2012 approximately 75 East Stroudsburg resident taxpayers and the entire Board and most of its senior administration were assembled for the purpose of conducting a work session to finalize the 2012-13 operating budget in advance of the rapidly approaching deadline. That meeting had to be postponed because of the clerical error on the part of the local newspaper.
Last week the East Stroudsburg Board Secretary filed an advertisement announcing the public meeting to be held at the ESASD Admin/Secor Building for Monday May 14, 2012 at 7:00pm, sadly by the time it printed for the public was advertised to be held on April 30, 2012 – go figure. As a part of law each and every school board is required to advertise in advance all meetings in the local newspaper absent this perfunctory operation no special meeting may be called to order. While simple this task an act that many competent newspapers provide at a cost to their advertisers on a regular basis was muffed – big time, and as such this pivotal meeting could not even commenced creating many complications. Not one word appeared on the front page, or any other page for that matter, recounting this human failing on the part of their ad department – therefore the decision to publish a totally different and incendiary financial matter can only be viewed as hubris, plain and simple. Just when it looked that our totally polarized board was on the verge of compromise it would seem this article was designed to infuriate and panic the public while simultaneously reigniting the tensions within the board. We have learned that may not be the case; discussions contrary have been reported and recriminations have been drawn over the timing and statements issued in recent articles. The public has asked to remember that the Administration does not speak for the board and we have been assured that opinions have changed and some positions have softened, unfortunately announcements and decisions will have to be stalled until Monday May 21, 2012 when the monthly public meeting is called to order in the auditorium of East Stroudsburg High School North at 7:00pm- this advertisement cannot be mangled in that this date was reported and advertised several months ago during a Pocono Record period of efficiency. Only time will tell how this all works out. All things happen for a reason, and we think that all public tabloids particularly local ones are neither above reproach nor beyond scrutiny – everybody has an agenda no matter how vast or limited their circulation and it seems that community unity and healing is not the concern of the institution our board has chosen to handle its advertising. Perhaps that business relationship should be rethought along with policies on public comment inside and outside of the board.
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