A Code Blue Response
POTTSTOWN, PA – Code Blue, the grassroots organization dedicated to improving all aspects of life in the Borough of Pottstown, submitted to Save Pottstown!! the following response to the “advertorial” placed in Monday’s print and online editions of The Mercury.
We are only too happy to post it here for our readers. Enjoy!
“This letter is in response to Mr. Hylton and Citizens for Responsible Government and their recent opinion piece (published 4/12/2010). We agree that ‘we’ can’t afford to keep raising school taxes; we take offense to the suggestion that eliminating positions is a solution so apparent that many people have ‘missed it’. While times are tough, on all of us, hard choices will need to be made to endure and provide education that is high-quality, affordable and satisfies all mandates by the Federal and State Governments.
We believe that we, as a district, must look for a solution which is as complex as the problem we face. We need more money to maintain what we have, at present, as we fall short of the budget and have greater demands, as do all Pennsylvania schools, to satisfy our obligation to the PSER Fund. We can’t look to cut costs in one area, namely staffing and benefits, and have that be the medicine we need to get well. It is short-sighted to think that staffing levels from 10 years ago will make up the budget shortage and ‘miraculously’ lead us to sustainability while safe-guarding the educational achievement we currently have, much less surpass it.
IF the district budget is 54 Million dollars and 2/3 is consumed by salaries and benefits (as are many district budgets) the proposal to save 3 Million annually means that we would still be spending better than 60% on salaries and benefits, effectively a 6% reduction from the current situation; we believe that in order to save 3 Million annually we need to be more proactive and share the losses in funding on more than just one line item.
IF the goal is to save 3 Million (if that is the Board determination) then state that, CLEARLY, and work to find a multi-faceted solution. Start with small things before making proclamations based on 10 year old comparisons and seemingly ‘obvious’ choices.
Tighten the reigns, don’t choke the horse.”
Can you imagine how long it would have taken to publish this letter in the Mercury? Weeks….thank you for being part of the revolution!!!
Jeff Leflar Code Blue
I was wondering if anyone was going to address the , “dah, people it is soo obvious how to reconcile our balance sheet…”
How Mr. Hylton thinks is a mystery to me…making people believe he is the solution guy without explaining the complexity of the problem first is really reaching to incite ire in people. I believe he has made a habit (for way too long) of pushing panic buttons and getting people upset about fringe issues instead of identifying the root problem and offering all information instead of selected information.
A holistic problem requires a holistic solution – not a quick fix and not one that only temporarily solves the prolem. Similarly, I agree that allowing lack of funding to ‘squeeze’ the system is harmful and something that could cause more damage in the long run. Education is constantly evolving and to make comparisons between today and 10 years ago is ludicrious and a bit dumbfounding, to me. Makes me wonder when was the last time he took the opportunity to observe or ask why certain positions are needed (you know ‘ask the expert’ – or just he just ‘phone a friend’).
Code Blue gets a green light in my book!
Glad to see that we can get an opportunity to respond to this while the iron is hot!! BTW you can get all your code blue goings on right here on our own blog site!
http://codebluepulse.blogspot.com/
Power to the Pottstown People!
He (Hylton) added, “I was willing to entertain a tax increase this year if we were going to address the elementary schools, but since we’ve decided to kick that can down the road, I will not be voting for a tax increase.”
Whether you agree or disagree with him, this statement tells me “it’s my way or the highway” Only promote a tax increase if it is for his pet project? I don’t think so. I hope Mr. Huss sees through this, and keeps the course on the elementary school project.
I hope he keeps the course, period!!
Staying off the Hylton voting block is critical in this budget process, too!!
We face GRAVE challenges with v.8 of the budget…let alone v.10 on May 6th, thanks Tom!! Keep wheels spinning while Rome burns – how’s that plan workin’ for ya?
June 30th is coming awful soon…any clue who is assuming the Super spot? I think we should know where that train is heading, too.
Wow, thanks so much for posting alternatives to Mr. Hylton’s advertorial. Its so refreshing to have someone actually post definitive ways to reduce spending without just spewing stuff about how complex problems need complex solutions. Oh wait…
Cut the crap. This isn’t a new issue or a new situation. There has been plenty of time to come up with all sorts of “complex solutions”. Reiterate them.
As for getting people upset about fringe issues. Heres a radical statement and far more core to what are considered core issues here. The Department of Education (US) is unconstitutional. Ask yourself how many fewer mandates local school districts would have to pay for if that department didn’t exist. Oooo..radical.. But, that seems too big a dragon to go out and slay, so we sit here slaying lizards and drakes while the big dragon burns the village down around us.
Oh, and Ms. Weand and Ms. Pargeon…if you don’t want to take the time to pick over a budget item by line item…get out. Thats what you’re there for is to oversee and approve. You should be questioning every nickel and dime that the administration wants to spend. You may have the luxury of absorbing increased taxes and accepting the seemingly uncontrolled swelling of the school discrict, but others of us are either unable or unwilling. Even if you don’t want to go through the budget yourselves (why are you there, then?) at least don’t sit there and block others from doing it. I know you both like nothing more than to be anti-Hyltons, but that really wasn’t the best issue to take a stand on. The coverage in the Mercury made you both look petty, nasty, and obstructionist. That may or may not be true, but for crying out loud, at least consider how things are perceived in the public. Hint…its called politics…
Off to make cupcakes,
P. Spence
I only wonder how obstructioist Mr Hylton sounded making the statement “I was willing to entertain a tax increase this year if we were going to address the elementary schools, but since we’ve decided to kick that can down the road, I will not be voting for a tax increase.”? His plan was going to add an additional 1 million dollars at least to the deficit we already have to address. This school board needs to works together rather than work on their own agendas!