tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43329469723197327032024-02-19T04:28:37.146-05:00Neshaminy InfoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger477125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-17693471757662988272012-01-06T16:43:00.006-05:002012-01-06T16:57:19.365-05:00Board president comments on teachers' strike<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNboFIP87Z_nsvQNIjH5UaqbMI-M1-upf1C__uSucIp9ETIgszMr8KfSaYmyZxNqxydRnXkejlknc0oqKPWh50Fd865rKlT1Oisnjvp_Yg97Gjl_aLciajj2dFWsEKFWkkSMy5LHvzXIs1/s1600/webb+press+conference+01062012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694641328258062834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNboFIP87Z_nsvQNIjH5UaqbMI-M1-upf1C__uSucIp9ETIgszMr8KfSaYmyZxNqxydRnXkejlknc0oqKPWh50Fd865rKlT1Oisnjvp_Yg97Gjl_aLciajj2dFWsEKFWkkSMy5LHvzXIs1/s320/webb+press+conference+01062012.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Neshaminy School Board President, Ritchie Webb, issued the following statement in reaction to the strike declaration made today by the Neshaminy Federation of teachers:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000066;"><em>“Earlier today, the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) declared a strike beginning on Monday, January 9th.<br /><br />By instituting a job action aimed at our children and their parents, the NFT’s actions are inflicting financial harm and inconvenience to families in our district. As school board president, I am also concerned that our teachers are causing irreparable harm to their reputation within the Neshaminy community.<br /><br />Most of the issues in our contract dispute with the NFT concern money, but a strike won’t put a single dime into our coffers. The key to settling this impasse is not to deny our children their education. The answer lies in understanding the economic times in which we live, and having the willingness to negotiate an affordable contract.<br /><br />The Neshaminy School Board will continue to negotiate in good faith with the NFT, however we will not tolerate any behavior which exploits our students. For now I have notified our attorney, Mr. Sweet, to immediately suspend any further negotiations with the NFT.<br /><br />I urge all members of the Neshaminy community to stand with us during this difficult time. I ask that you call NFT headquarters to demand they end this strike immediately, and return to the bargaining table willing to negotiate an affordable contract.<br /><br />The NFT’s phone number is 215-547-2001.”</em><br /></span></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-78204510781733790822012-01-06T13:01:00.005-05:002012-01-06T15:38:02.064-05:00STRIKE!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6YPiRQpx-z6l53J8zg-l-YSL0Y1qJkiPalMm0avAE70vjb5yROwV58yEbzzJ2zR9peeV85Pt71qyD5BfUvcdGHkyNarNOhDbMlmiY6bnKFQT7Asnt5mehYWtSl6C9i4hR8BBXZBGqfy7/s1600/Teacher+Strike+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694585799353003058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6YPiRQpx-z6l53J8zg-l-YSL0Y1qJkiPalMm0avAE70vjb5yROwV58yEbzzJ2zR9peeV85Pt71qyD5BfUvcdGHkyNarNOhDbMlmiY6bnKFQT7Asnt5mehYWtSl6C9i4hR8BBXZBGqfy7/s320/Teacher+Strike+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><font face="arial" color="#000066">Yes folks, believe it or not the NFT has once again raised the stakes in this high tension game of contract negotiations. Perpetrating a work-to-contract action against your children is no longer enough, so now Neshaminy's teachers are depriving children of their education by instituting a strike effective on Monday.</font>
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<br /><div><font face="arial" color="#000066">Make no mistake about it, this job action is aimed directly at YOU! But now is an opportunity for this community to draw a line in the sand. We can no longer remain quiet while the school board fights the battle to save our children's educational programs. It's time to stand up and vocally support our school board.</font>
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<br /><div><font face="arial" color="#000066">The school board is asking community members to call the NFT headquarters at 215-547-2001 demanding they end this strike immediately, and settle on an affordable contract.</font>
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<br />
<br /><div><font face="arial"><font color="#000066">Here is an announcement that was posted on </font><a href="http://www.nsdboard.blogspot.com/"><strong><font color="#000066">the school board's website</font></strong></a><font color="#000066"> just a short time ago . . .</font></font></div>
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<br /><div><font face="arial"><em>The Nesaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) announced today that our teachers will be striking effective Monday, January 9th.</em></font></div>
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<br /><div><font face="arial"><em>Please visit the school district website at </em></font><a href="http://www.neshaminy.k12.pa.us/"><font face="arial"><em>http://www.neshaminy.k12.pa.us</em></font></a><font face="arial"><em> for important updates.</em></font></div>
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<br /><div><font face="arial"><em>We urge every member of our community to contact NFT Headquarters at <strong>215-547-2001</strong> and demand that teachers immediately end this job action aimed at our children, and return to the bargaining table ready to negotiate an affordable contract. </em></font></div>
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<br /><div><font color="#ffffff">.</font></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-73190860008618459822011-12-02T11:20:00.004-05:002011-12-02T11:26:00.159-05:00NFT's scorched Earth strategyThe ballot below was distributed by the NFT to teachers in at least one of our elementary schools recently. Although not a binding vote, this paper asks teachers if they should target a strike during our PSSA's.<br><br />Perhaps union officials see no harm in asking, but the Board finds it reprehensible that the NFT would even consider targeting our students and the educational well-being of the district as a form of intimidation.<br><br /><a title="View NFT Strike Ballot on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/74515297/NFT-Strike-Form-122011" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">NFT Strike Form 122011</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/74515297/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-jlvvxknzqfot22sbw36" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.879136690647482" scrolling="no" id="doc_32126" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();</script><p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-68260602744237497192011-11-23T14:46:00.000-05:002011-11-23T14:47:07.261-05:00Playwickian questions NSB, NFT on contract<a title="View Playwickian Article 11222011 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/73600004/Playwickian-Article-11222011" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Playwickian Article 11222011</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/73600004/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-11xp79qydp8meid9auuk" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.646934460887949" scrolling="no" id="doc_3200" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();</script><p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-49354043982576778372011-11-17T17:40:00.001-05:002011-11-17T17:43:57.524-05:00Thank you<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>This Tuesday will be my final meeting as your representative to the Neshaminy School Board. It has been my honor and privilege to have served our community over the last four years, and I truly appreciate the support and confidence you have shown me during this time.<br /><br />Unfortunately as my term ends, so does the Neshaminy Info blog and Facebook group page. While I have been pleased to share both news and my opinions via these resources, I can no longer devote the time necessary to maintaining them. I thank all of you who frequented these websites over the years.<br /><br />Neshaminy is a very special place, full of very special people. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the members of this wonderful community.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />William O'Connor<br />Neshaminy School Board Director</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-8348469506521840312011-11-01T20:32:00.003-04:002011-11-01T20:49:58.977-04:00Board doesn’t see any significant change in NFT offer<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Meeting #36 lasted 90 minutes, with the mediator spending the first 20 minutes with the NFT, and the final 70 minutes with the Board’s Negotiation Team.<br /><br />The mediator presented the NFT’s counter proposal which included the following highlights:<br />• Full reinstatement of salary steps<br />• 80% of retroactive pay (instead of 100%)<br />• As of 7/1/2012, Masters Equivalency (MEQ’s) courses will be approved by joint committee equally represented by district staff and federation members<br /><br />After flatly rejecting the offer for 80% of retro pay, the Board did agree to carefully review and consider the NFT counter proposal but noted they didn not see any significant change in the NFT’s position.<br /><br />Both sides agreed to further talks on December 6th and December 14th.<br /></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-75876097913251081322011-10-28T14:09:00.001-04:002011-10-28T14:10:47.054-04:00NSB fires back at SLCS<a title="View NSB Press Release SLCS 10282011 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/70685898/NSB-Press-Release-SLCS-10282011" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">NSB Press Release SLCS 10282011</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/70685898/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-1jljb96ega2e5pzuydif" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" scrolling="no" id="doc_73475" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();</script><p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-73034093582581050242011-10-20T12:45:00.000-04:002011-10-20T12:46:13.191-04:00Board Prez: NFT claims of uncommitted funds are "numbers out of a hat"<a title="View NSB Press Release Uncommitted Funds 10202011 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/69612150/NSB-Press-Release-Uncommitted-Funds-10202011" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">NSB Press Release Uncommitted Funds 10202011</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/69612150/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-26by9e9f3cejyjdxu0v8" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" scrolling="no" id="doc_49" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();</script><p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-35368589821432905992011-10-18T07:54:00.001-04:002011-10-18T07:54:31.999-04:00New round of talks scheduled<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Representatives from the School Board and NFT will meet on Tuesday, November 1st at 6pm for further negotiations.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-58820792455892783182011-10-12T15:54:00.007-04:002011-10-12T16:31:08.789-04:00The $62 million ticking time bomb<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKtJmIpppnEfsH1cVFVU-SWq0b7la1GJ19_LrXbcaHR-HaQIij_fmCFJZlIRpBcD2wP0mbfPZ9u_juApYi338S-ocfwYLKQ1DP5TfgEw6_MYofJ0-sVJXqBy6g9zdIXUqMpwV-XoKFMdg/s1600/PSERS+Time+Bomb.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662701215274475938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKtJmIpppnEfsH1cVFVU-SWq0b7la1GJ19_LrXbcaHR-HaQIij_fmCFJZlIRpBcD2wP0mbfPZ9u_juApYi338S-ocfwYLKQ1DP5TfgEw6_MYofJ0-sVJXqBy6g9zdIXUqMpwV-XoKFMdg/s320/PSERS+Time+Bomb.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">As the NSB and NFT continue negotiating salary and benefits, there is one not-so-little issue that everyone better keep an eye on – The Public School Employees Retirement System, or PSERS. <a href="http://www.psers.state.pa.us/content/pfr/resources/fact.pdf"><strong>With the long anticipated hike in employer contribution rates almost upon us</strong></a>, Pennsylvania school districts are looking at rate increases from the current 8.65% up to 12.19% next year, and as high as 26.26% in the 2020/2021 school year.<br /><br />Just how bad can it get for tax payers? Well, if you gotta ask . . .<br /><br />Our district’s annual payroll for teachers is $50,202,222. Multiplied by the current employer contribution rate of 8.65%, this means Neshaminy’s contribution for this year will be approximately $4,325,000.<br /><br />Now let’s just assume teacher salaries remained exactly where they are for the following 9 school years. Even with a flat payroll in 2012/2013, the increase in the PSERS employer rate means that Neshaminy’s contribution will jump by a little under $1.8 million to $6,119,650. And it gets worse as the employer rate jumps. By the 2020/2021 school year, the 26.26% rate translates into a $13.2 million contribution, which is $8.8 million more than what we are contributing now.<br /><br />When you add it all up, over the following 9 years Neshaminy tax payers will be fitting the bill for a staggering $62,608,994 in increased employer PSERS contributions. And that’s assuming teachers don’t get any salary hikes between now and then.<br /><br />Of course we could pray that Harrisburg comes up with some magic bullet fix to PSERS without bankrupting tax payers, but we cannot plan on that. So for now, every contract offer that increases teacher salaries must also be viewed in light of its potential impact on our employer contribution.<br /><br />And in the midst of all this, we still have a school district to run.</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-40486613511014174222011-10-07T14:51:00.000-04:002011-10-07T14:52:28.494-04:00NFT claims credit for class size<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Soon after Ritchie Webb's Monday clarification on class size, </span><a href="http://lowersouthampton.patch.com/articles/nft-is-pleased-with-no-change-to-class-size"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>the NFT stepped right in to take credit by telling Patch.com</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"> they were pleased to learn that the Board has taken the possibility of class size increases off of the table "following NFT leafleting and contacts with parents about the issue."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">The NFT would have you believe that the pressure they applied somehow manipulated the Board into making a decision we didn't want to make, but nothing could be further from the truth. They've used far more aggressive tactics that have accomplished nothing, so it's ludicrous to believe their handing out of leaflets had anything to do with the Board's decision regarding class size.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">In reality, credit for this decision rests with the Board's negotiation team and the Citizen's Advisory Panel. During their review of the collective bargaining agreement several months ago, it was agreed that nobody wanted to see an increase in class size and so this issue was removed from consideration.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Although some confusion was caused by the circulation of an incorrect version of the last offer to the NFT, it doesn't alter what the Board intended nor does it change who is responsible for the idea.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Let's give credit to where it is truly do in this case ... Thank you to the Citizen's Advisory Panel for putting the concerns of our students above of all else.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-29019730708689060182011-10-07T11:56:00.001-04:002011-10-07T11:59:28.659-04:00Playwickian earns award<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Congratulations to the 2010-2011 Neshaminy High School Playwickian editors and staff writers for receiving the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Gold Medal Certificate of Excellence for High School Journalism.<br /><br />The CSPA judges stated, <em>“What a delightful read! Your coverage is fair and diverse and really covers all aspects of your school and community. Your paper is engaged in what is going on at school and around you.”<br /></em><br />The CSPA has critiqued The Playwickian for the past 35 years and has received a Gold Medal for an outstanding 24 years.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-735146937779584182011-10-03T14:20:00.002-04:002011-10-03T14:24:01.531-04:00Webb: Board won't increase class size<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">In an effort to clarify the Board’s position on the issue of class size, Ritchie Webb today reaffirmed that the Neshaminy School Board has no intentions of increasing elementary or secondary school class sizes as outlined in the last teachers' contract. The only change sought by the board concerns adoption of the State Board/Department of Education recommendations as they relate to special education case loads. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Webb said, <em>“at the very next issuance of a Board contract proposal to the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers, we will include clear language that will put aside any concerns the public may have regarding elementary or secondary school class sizes.”</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Webb added that he hopes this clarification will bring an end to those people trying to exploit the issue in an effort to draw attention away from the many key outstanding issues which are part of the current negotiations with the NFT. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-8230422544237576202011-09-29T08:21:00.002-04:002011-09-29T08:25:07.506-04:00Not nice in Neshaminy<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><a href="http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/opinion/editorials/not-nice-in-neshaminy/article_f35c0fc7-f910-596e-86a9-282ea847cd20.html"><strong>An editorial in today's Courier Times</strong></a> . . .</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:180%;color:#000066;"><em>Not nice in Neshaminy</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><em>“Never let a crisis go to waste ...” That advice, famously offered by former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, seems to have resonated with the Neshaminy teachers union, whose leaders are getting lots of mileage out of a shoving incident at the high school.<br /></em></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>Details are scarce, but the shoving match allegedly involved a high school secretary and a union leader. A criminal complaint was filed by the union.<br /><br />We’re not dismissing the seriousness of the incident. If a union leader was shoved, as the union contends, it’s a serious infraction — if not criminal — and district officials are obliged to take disciplinary action if police determine that the secretary was the aggressor. That said, union officials are using the incident in an opportunistic way — to blame a school board member’s private blog as well as board inaction for inflaming the community.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>This is what can happen, union Vice President Anne Schmidt said, if the school board allows “open season on teachers.” Schmidt was referring to comments on board member William O’Connor’s blog — some of them not very nice. She also referenced public comments at school board meetings, some of which union officials say are either false, inflammatory or both. They said that by letting the comments go unchallenged, the school board is allowing animosity to build up within the community regarding the district’s longstanding contract dispute with the teachers.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>There’s some logic to Schmidt’s argument. But her charge against O’Connor and the board absolves the union of any responsibility for ill will. We’ll accept that there is ill will, because to deny it is to deny reality. After four years of acrimony between the union and the board — including two work slowdowns and a boycott of last year’s Back-to-School Nights — well, yeah, the community is a little ticked off. That residents are wearing T-shirts to board meetings in support of the board says something about the community’s feelings.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>But let’s not forget that teachers clad in union T-shirts have been a regular part of meetings for some time now. And those union members are hardly silent. Likewise, the union has hardly been understanding of the difficult financial situation both the district and district families are in.<br />The “Great Recession” is taking its toll on the incomes of both. Yet the union’s demands reflect not today’s tough times, but the boom years of earlier decades. No wonder the community has gotten fed up and perhaps ill tempered.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>Still, we’re not excusing bad behavior; it’s simply not acceptable. To that end, the board has a responsibility to address the inaccurate comments of misinformed citizens speaking at meetings. People need to know the truth so misinformation doesn’t unfairly bias anybody.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>O’Connor’s situation is a little more dicey. Policing blog comments can be a time-consuming, frustrating and thankless task. We know of what we speak. But if you’re going to invite commentary, the least you should do is remove threatening and tasteless commentary. We trust O’Connor has the sensibility to know what’s acceptable and what’s not.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>While we agree with O’Connor that “people are responsible for their own actions,” when people act irresponsibly, those in authority must step in. That goes for board members and union officials alike.</em></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-7616354465067020392011-09-28T09:15:00.029-04:002011-09-28T17:06:57.729-04:00Miscellaneous musings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_8wgYd6X_bOl-ugTPfNRSCBfL4aqYTDS4cHyHgfKVGjb0Cad_GpopNJkKTkrS8VL0S0DrmPGMvmIT1iNFsfOYCw6n6hAIySCzvXeiTWsNqsAcXPVIrsJGDGEYG6ZRmhEC558_EXnO1-k/s1600/stealing+lawn+signs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657509325074402530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 164px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_8wgYd6X_bOl-ugTPfNRSCBfL4aqYTDS4cHyHgfKVGjb0Cad_GpopNJkKTkrS8VL0S0DrmPGMvmIT1iNFsfOYCw6n6hAIySCzvXeiTWsNqsAcXPVIrsJGDGEYG6ZRmhEC558_EXnO1-k/s200/stealing+lawn+signs.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Yesterday’s NFT press conference blamed the district, the board, and yours truly for “indirectly” causing “increasingly dangerous acts against members of the NFT.” Their evidence – several allegedly defaced lawn signs, and a shoving incident between a secretary and a teacher last week. Oddly enough, the only documented evidence of a problem between a teacher and a parent/tax payer occurred in Levittown, where the spouse of a teacher was observed removing a pro school board lawn sign from the resident’s lawn.
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<br />Undoubtedly union officials will blame this spouse's actions on reading my blog and Facebook page.
<br />
<br />Patch.com has </span><a href="http://lowersouthampton.patch.com/articles/nft-asks-district-to-defend-teachers#video-7935605"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">the NFT press conference posted on their website</span></strong></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">.
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<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Regarding last week’s shoving match, while I cannot comment on the specifics, I must say that I’m shocked the NFT will throw a member of their sister union, NESPA, under the bus publicly just so they can make a baseless accusation against the Board. Should the NFT ever go on strike, I wonder how many members of NESPA, if any, will stand by them on the picket line.
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">The irony of this confrontation between secretary and teacher is that it has absolutely nothing to do with the school board or bloggers or the angry vocal minority. There is so much more going on here than meets the eye.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6jkPgIHpi6MAe9fdNg-3NXIA0Ig5Nkrdf5EE85vLTK9y7A_L-RTVEVwPnXPyEftOf7oQiJOblzrRN9qf3diM0vdItvbTQPSKuEFZCMoseSpRjCrVy3qoQYjo7vH-tb7_9ebX8o-wqraB/s1600/Anne+Schmidt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657506857513077874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 74px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 117px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6jkPgIHpi6MAe9fdNg-3NXIA0Ig5Nkrdf5EE85vLTK9y7A_L-RTVEVwPnXPyEftOf7oQiJOblzrRN9qf3diM0vdItvbTQPSKuEFZCMoseSpRjCrVy3qoQYjo7vH-tb7_9ebX8o-wqraB/s320/Anne+Schmidt.jpg" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">And for today’s “REALLY?!?” award … To Anne Schmidt for even hinting that things could escalate to the point of what happened to US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RPVJFU0ywiMgyIkGujhyS2G315064YtyssXwawL4zo4S0Vrv0E1TOEIvt3Gv6dNDootwTrXvLbvzHWuSzl1T5VSZ5cU7sL8jHg1vftMjC8QM-uetM2Gm9KLMhJAHSfY6KHnnLLPD8d1Y/s1600/Kouts+head+shot.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657507226751997954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 56px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 88px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RPVJFU0ywiMgyIkGujhyS2G315064YtyssXwawL4zo4S0Vrv0E1TOEIvt3Gv6dNDootwTrXvLbvzHWuSzl1T5VSZ5cU7sL8jHg1vftMjC8QM-uetM2Gm9KLMhJAHSfY6KHnnLLPD8d1Y/s200/Kouts+head+shot.bmp" border="0" /></a>During last night’s Board meeting, Kim Koutsouradis challenged the NFT leaders to allow a 3rd party to count the votes at the upcoming union elections. Excellent idea, and I hope union officials will take that idea and run with it.
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<br />Since there are many teachers at the upper end of our compensation scale who will want to protect those retirement perks, I do think current leaders will survive their election. But if they see a significant amount of discontent among the rank and file, perhaps that will alter their approach to negotiations.
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Yes, you heard right. The cost of NFT retirement perks, including the $27.5k payout and free insurance, have cost tax payers around $40 million since they were implemented. It's one thing to ask residents to share the financial burden of public education, but it's something entirely different when not one dime of that burden ever finds its way into the classroom to the benefit of children.
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Last night I incorrectly stated that an arbitrator concluded that harassment occurred in the case of a union official confronting another teacher regarding back to school night last year. In his ruling, the arbitrator reduced the 5-day suspension down to 1-day, and said that in his opinion this incident “was not harassment … because an ordinary person, although perhaps very annoyed, would not have found it harassing.” The arbitrator added his opinion that the union official did not intend to harass their colleague to the point they could not perform their job, and actually went to the classroom "for the exact opposite purpose." The arbitrator concluded that the District did have a right to “impose discipline for the Grievant’s unwelcome classroom visit.”</span><br>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">I regret the misstatement.
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<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">To resident Lee Kirsh who last night stated that nice comments about teachers posted on my Facebook page seem to disappear - how about a little proof, please. Can you have someone contact me and provide details of any "nice" comments that were deleted? You see, I do not delete comments simply because they may come from someone who disagrees with me. And I certainly don't purge positive things said about teachers.</span>
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<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Perhaps Mr. Kirsh you didn't happen to notice the thread I posted in May honoring National Teacher's Week, and the 70 or so positive comments from readers that followed.</span>
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<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">As you can see from the section above, if I make a mistake I am willing to acknowledge and correct it. Are you willing to do the same?</span>
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<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">In the midst of all the controversy, you should take a moment and enjoy humor when you can. During the second public comment last night, Steve Rodos had reached the 3 minute limit of his speech when he stated his feelings of something the Board could have been doing better. At that very second, Ritchie Webb interrupted him to say his time was up. Everyone started to laugh believing that Mr. Webb was just kidding, and so Mr. Rodos continued to speak. Then Webb jumped in again and said he wasn’t kidding at all and that Mr. Rodos’ time had truly expired. </span>
<br /></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">The exchange between both gentlemen was purely coincidental yet perfectly timed, and it gave the audience a much-needed laugh.
<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">
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<br />Did you see my picture with </span><a href="http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/nft-calls-on-district-to-defend-teachers/article_958cfb2b-5515-52e1-a757-cbe009af1cc9.html"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">today’s Courier Times’ article</span></strong></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">? Do I always look that brooding? I need to cut back on the caffeine. </span>
<br /></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">But I ask you ... what other elected official can pull off a purple shirt and matching tie like that? :-)</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000066;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3Rv2D9y0Heg99GMySeq_uNrAlCbjm2NdhKieCZTI5ogsAyv63d8D0cpgK1daw-Lzwzn3-Fn7EH-de8Urq3y2lTa0EHmpPcfSb2dLppl9o-K7GFouwgI-SLwbx7ANl7cYlHIkQycKxTES/s1600/Barney.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657509086070274050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 82px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 98px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3Rv2D9y0Heg99GMySeq_uNrAlCbjm2NdhKieCZTI5ogsAyv63d8D0cpgK1daw-Lzwzn3-Fn7EH-de8Urq3y2lTa0EHmpPcfSb2dLppl9o-K7GFouwgI-SLwbx7ANl7cYlHIkQycKxTES/s200/Barney.gif" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">I won't be at the October 11th meeting, so that leaves me with just three board meetings left before the end of my term, and it can't happen fast enough for some people, I'm sure.</span></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Let the countdown begin!<div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-62038007179046100822011-09-08T15:15:00.001-04:002011-09-08T17:43:37.721-04:00Board issues clarification<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">The following supplement to last night’s Board statement will provide clarification to the modified proposal put forth by the Board during yesterday’s meeting with the NFT.<br /><br /><em>After careful consideration of the cost factors involved, the Board offered to accept the insurance plan requested by the NFT, Customized PC-20/30/70, in exchange for a 15% premium contribution to be paid by the certified staff. The cost of this plan is actually less than the PC-20/30/70 plan the Board proposed on July 18th. <br /><br />Assuming a 15% contribution by the teachers, the savings to the District is over $4 million for the first year, and will continue to yield significant savings every year thereafter. The 15% contribution would be consistent with the rate paid by all other district bargaining units, and existing retirees would be required to pay this contribution. Future retirees may obtain insurance coverage if they pay 100% of the premium.<br /><br />The Board also offered to reinstate teachers for education credits not recognized over the past three years. The one-time cost of this expense will be approximately $2 million. Again, this is for education credits only, not service steps.<br /><br />By recognizing education credits, the Board is looking to help the younger teachers in a way that will reaffirm our commitment to their valued service. Beyond this point, however, the Board will no longer recognize MEQ credits.<br /><br />The combination of these two moves provides the NFT with some concessions they are looking for, and tax payers will benefit from the net-positive impact that will result from the much-needed savings from the high cost of health care premiums.<br /><br />All other aspects of the Board's July 18th proposal remain in place. <br /><br />This is just one step in the process to resolving this contract impasse, but it is an important development that we hope union leaders will share enthusiastically with their membership. </em></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-64763833222293620712011-09-07T22:17:00.001-04:002011-09-07T22:19:02.279-04:00Board modifies proposal<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Meeting #35 lasted 3 hours, 5 minutes. The two parties did not meet face-to-face but instead the mediator acted as a go-between.<br /><br />After confirming it could not accept the NFT’s recent proposal, the Board proposed to accept the NFT’s requested health plan of choice, Customized PC-20/30/70, provided the NFT members contribute 15% toward their premiums. The board also proposed to pay column movement (education credits, not retro pay) bringing the certified staff up-to-date. With the estimated cost of compensating the younger teachers to be $2 million, the Board would use savings from insurance contributions to subsidize this added expense.<br /><br />The Board is continuing to negotiate from its 7/18/11 proposal and is using that as the basis for its ongoing negotiations.<br /><br />Once again the NFT has questions regarding cost projections. The mediator will meet with finance representatives from both groups to qualify the numbers.<br /><br />No new meeting has been set at this time but one will be scheduled following the meeting between the mediator and the finance representatives.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-26708021773914938122011-09-06T17:06:00.004-04:002011-09-06T17:14:51.049-04:00Board releases details of NFT verbal<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">The Neshaminy School Board issued the following statement to the press a few moments ago . . .</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>Since the NFT was unable to live up to its own promise to submit a written version of their latest contract proposal to the Board, and in order to keep negotiations moving forward, the Board has chosen to release its own notes of the NFT's verbal proposal given during meeting #34, on August 29th, 2011.<br /><br />As of the August 29, 2011, verbal offer the NFT is still demanding that all terms and conditions of the 2002 CBA be included as the basis in the next contract with no changes, unless otherwise proposed.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">August 29th, 2011 NFT Verbal Proposal<br /></span></strong><br />Contract Term 6 Years<br /><br />All Current Bargaining Unit Employees will be moved four years forward and placed on step, with educational credits; NFT estimated total costs $ 7.2 million dollars. The cost of step movement for school year 2008-2009/ 2009-2010/2010-2011 is estimated by the NFT to cost $5.3 million of the $7.2 million. The NFT is recommending that the District reimburse employees in 12 equal payments $ 441,666 or $1,766,664.00 per year for three years 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2011/2012.<br /><br />The NFT proposes the following salary adjustments that would be additional to the above costs.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>2008/2009 -0 %<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>2009/2010 -0 %<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>2010/2011 -1 % plus steps and education credits (Board analysis confirms this to translate to 3.1%)<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>2011/2012 - 2.75% plus steps and education credits (Board analysis confirms this to translate to 5.34%)<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>2012/2013 – 3% plus steps and education credits (Board analysis confirms this to translate to 5.30%)<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>2013/2014 – 3.50 % plus steps and education credits (Board confirms this to translate to 5.5%)<br /><br />Early Retirement Incentive:</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em><br />Retirement Health Insurance would only cover employee and spouse, no dependent coverage; this would require 15 years of service. Retirees will contribute same percentage toward health insurance cost as those currently working. The NFT wants to freeze contribution rate, flat rate at 8% of current costs, with no future increases.<br /><br /></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>The NFT wants to keep current health plan with a few modifications. Rx plan would be same as current with no single source clause. Self insurance would be acceptable to NFT.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>Retirement cash payment, currently $27,500.00, with a ten year service requirement. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><em>Retirement incentive changed to 20 year requirement to qualify. New amount $20,000.00 plus $ 1,000 each additional year of service past 20 years, but will max out at $ 25,000.00.</em></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-33187716512002629682011-08-31T17:15:00.011-04:002011-09-01T12:37:57.456-04:00District puts a "chill" on NFT rights<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em>After being admonished for distributing union literature to parents at a school district event, the NFT once again files a legal challenge to the superintendent's authority</em></span></div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yRzgrtVb8i0nHS4xp3xTgNXxLAPxQi1svfPRhzIkWpm3Gu1RaiGQ3k0mEMjr5txtvlW1-F1OpJ347nOOErsiyh3JL8eUNRpFisocJhcNpmtfEmjYzP9lCPcno5SChYzUp0nau5CAovFS/s1600/NFT+Rights.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647131989512791794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yRzgrtVb8i0nHS4xp3xTgNXxLAPxQi1svfPRhzIkWpm3Gu1RaiGQ3k0mEMjr5txtvlW1-F1OpJ347nOOErsiyh3JL8eUNRpFisocJhcNpmtfEmjYzP9lCPcno5SChYzUp0nau5CAovFS/s320/NFT+Rights.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Not a day goes by that some frustrated parent or tax payer doesn’t blog a demand that administration does something to limit what many consider to be invasive tactics employed by the NFT. What they do not know is that administration does enforce district policies and practices on an ongoing basis, but their efforts are challenged regularly by union officials seeking to overturn whatever administration is trying to uphold.
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<br />Since July 2010, the NFT has filed 9 grievances and 5 unfair labor practices against Neshaminy, most recently in an appeal of Dr. Muenker’s order that the union refrain from disseminating their literature on district property during school-related events.
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<br />An unfair labor practice is filed with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board for alleged violation of the Public Employee Relations Act. A grievance is an appeal of an alleged contract violation, a past practice or a disciplinary action as governed by a collective bargaining agreement. It is filed first to a building principal, then appealed to the superintendent, then onto an arbitrator.
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<br />In this most recently filed ULP (see below), the NFT challenges the actions of our superintendent, saying that Dr. Muenker intended to <em>“chill the exercise of the Union and teachers’ rights … to silence the Union …”</em> (page 5, section 9, first sentence).
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<br />Every time the NFT files such a complaint, administration must exhaust their time and tax payer money for legal fees to defend their actions. So even though the public may believe our administration allows the union to go unchallenged, there are 14 examples filed in the preceding 13 months that prove just the opposite.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">Post Script - Undoubtedly NFT leadership will consider this post to be nothing more than an effort to derail or distract negotiations. Mind you, they didn't concern themselves with starting a controversy by handing out unapproved literature in violation of district policy. And when confronted about the matter, they didn't hesitate to file an unfair labor practice. It appears that when the NFT takes an action, they call it <em>communicating </em>or<em> standing up for union rights</em>. But when anyone in the district, board or public speaks out against their actions, union leaders dismiss it as <em>stirring the pot</em>. How convenient. How chilly.</span>
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<br /><a title="View Unfair Labor Charge 8-26-11 NFT - School Property on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/63682581/Unfair-Labor-Charge-8-26-11-NFT-School-Property" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Unfair Labor Charge 8-26-11 NFT - School Property</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/63682581/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-14xat0be3ugsoop5hezb" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.774683544303797" scrolling="no" id="doc_36459" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();</script><p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-33088148971018243252011-08-29T22:11:00.001-04:002011-08-29T22:14:39.156-04:00Highlights of Meeting #34<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong>NFT offers revised verbal proposal</strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Meeting #34 began at 6:45pm and lasted 2-1/2 hours. At the request of the state mediator, Board President Ritchie Webb and NSB attorney Chuck Sweet met with union leader Louise Boyd and NFT attorney Tom Jennings to review the findings of the AFT’s Washington, DC-based Research and Information Director. As this portion of the meeting ended, Mr. Webb reviewed the data with the rest of the NSB negotiating team while the representatives from the NFT took a 50 minute caucus before returning with a revised verbal proposal.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Mr. Webb requested the revised proposal be put into writing so that the information could be shared with the rest of the school board. The NFT indicated they would submit a written proposal sometime this week.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">As has been Board practice throughout these negotiations, details of the NFT revised proposal will be shared with the public once it has been formalized in writing, and after the details have been vetted by the Board. Until that time, the Board will not comment on the contents of the latest counter offer.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Both sides agreed to meet again on Wednesday, September 7th at 6pm. </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-31840966583098365682011-08-19T12:02:00.001-04:002011-08-19T12:04:21.500-04:00NFT Roadshow coming to a school district near you!<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Interested in knowing where and when the NFT will show up next, and what they will say to you? More importantly, are you concerned where they obtained your home phone number from?
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<br />The NFT documents below are:
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<br />1 – “NFT Roadshow” tells you when and where they will appear
<br />2 – “Parent Script” gives you the very words the teachers will use when they call your home phone (by the way, the author of this document is Dawn Le from the AFT)
<br />3 – “How to Access E-school from Home” proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the NFT is using proprietary, confidential Neshaminy information for union purposes (this info has been sent to our solicitor for review)
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<br />With the assistance of the AFT, it seems the NFT will stop at nothing to protect the status quo.
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<br />Picketing … WTC … inappropriate use of confidential info … calling you at home. This is the NFT.</span>
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<br /><a title="View How Access E-school From Home on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/62653989/How-Access-E-school-From-Home" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">How Access E-school From Home</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/62653989/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-mfd5xh3cv4723zlfcpj" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" scrolling="no" id="doc_76683" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();</script>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-53948159662383905502011-08-19T08:57:00.010-04:002011-08-19T09:42:37.389-04:00Who's calling the shots?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggepFWDxhUSXfaCteQOKgmdwrPARpxixjJ-7pp899ouyO0R_jDzUw-WzjIGzMPA2_8E7fHEcduO0rUH07BnNX5wT3BtGnN2vhKV1c-Lw_AxeRdjJBTIp5kDcAkMXUucpazZVuBCeNOAlGg/s1600/Louise+Boyd+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642553349551251586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 162px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggepFWDxhUSXfaCteQOKgmdwrPARpxixjJ-7pp899ouyO0R_jDzUw-WzjIGzMPA2_8E7fHEcduO0rUH07BnNX5wT3BtGnN2vhKV1c-Lw_AxeRdjJBTIp5kDcAkMXUucpazZVuBCeNOAlGg/s320/Louise+Boyd+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000066;">In recent weeks it has become clear the NFT has a new ally in the battle to protect the status quo as the Washington, DC-based American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has brought their considerable resources to Neshaminy. NFT press releases and media updates now filter through the AFT, and even last week’s infamous town hall style telecon with Louise Boyd originated from the 202 area code. This leaves residents wondering who is in charge of the NFT’s reinvigorated PR strategy.
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<br />If you are not familiar with the AFT, here are some eye-opening numbers for you . . .
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<br /><a href="http://www.aft.org/pdfs/financial/AFTFinancial063010.pdf"><strong>According to AFT’s financial filings for 2010</strong></a>, they had net assets of just under $116 million, and they don’t mind putting that money to use either. Among their 2010 expenditures are:
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<br />Communications - $11.5 million
<br />Organizing - $39 million
<br />Strategic Support - $19.9 million
<br />State federations’ solidarity funds - $5.2 million
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<br /><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?cycle=2010&id=D000000083"><strong>According to OpenSecrets.org</strong></a>, the AFT and its affiliates doled out nearly $5.28 million in federal campaign donations and PAC money during the 2010 election cycle. In fact, since 1990 the AFT has written checks for more than $31 million in campaign donations and PAC contributions.
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<br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703791904576076272235367188.html"><strong>The Wall Street Journal reported</strong></a> that AFT president Randi Weingarten’s compensation in 2010 exceeded $600,000, which includes money from other sources beyond the AFT. Filings from the Department of Labor reveal that the American Federation of Teachers disbursed $428,284 to Weingarten last year. Her gross salary is $342,552, but benefits and other disbursements raise that number to almost half a million dollars.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KTltP1Nx6rrjOQWzXuy8RHV29oj3RGTK_tRnih1RZM0AFzPdmhsHpqAoitLiyGX-4WgzYwN5VmSb8onpPqKS3Kw0studnRmkhILbzfeZw3qQjJfQSZohYz_nQSXwcNlvRZgiBUOKuY5B/s1600/Randi+Weingarten.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642552788646910930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 192px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 110px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KTltP1Nx6rrjOQWzXuy8RHV29oj3RGTK_tRnih1RZM0AFzPdmhsHpqAoitLiyGX-4WgzYwN5VmSb8onpPqKS3Kw0studnRmkhILbzfeZw3qQjJfQSZohYz_nQSXwcNlvRZgiBUOKuY5B/s320/Randi+Weingarten.jpg" border="0" /></a>The fact that Weingarten commands such a hefty salary doesn’t really concern me since she is free to make as much money as teachers unions are will to pay her. And to be fair to the AFT prez, I have read a number of positive comments about some of the humanitarian causes she supports. However those causes aren’t the reason for her coming to Neshaminy. Let’s face it, all Randi Weingarten knows about our community is that she drives through it when she travels the I-95 corridor from her NYC home down to the AFT offices in DC. She and the AFT are outsiders who were invited into our community by Louise Boyd and the NFT, and they’ve brought their powerful influence along for the ride. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreAm00TaizOOV41F7cya_0uigYAMkevnlA8CrGsMtAEKVRsgBS-AGMMq5X1NNFD0rScJ8hnvZO4s_pOOKzt0mwhTXDbTHv4fEJzAXEOwqhyzdilj4Qb6pdiAHbPBHKUrcIuro7l7Ujw7k/s1600/NFT+Tug+of+War.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642561194230921378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 192px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 97px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreAm00TaizOOV41F7cya_0uigYAMkevnlA8CrGsMtAEKVRsgBS-AGMMq5X1NNFD0rScJ8hnvZO4s_pOOKzt0mwhTXDbTHv4fEJzAXEOwqhyzdilj4Qb6pdiAHbPBHKUrcIuro7l7Ujw7k/s200/NFT+Tug+of+War.bmp" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Harrisburg has made sure that school boards have one hand tied behind their backs when it comes to dealing with teachers unions. Now our other hand must fend off a very powerful combination of adversaries. It’s impossible to know just how much control, if any, the AFT is exerting over the NFT. All we know is that they are here now, and the change is noticeable.</span> </span>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-82729822636882526782011-08-15T22:26:00.005-04:002011-08-15T22:34:45.010-04:00Talks continue but little progress reported<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">The 33rd session between the NSB and NFT earlier this evening lasted 2-1/2 hours. Board representative Ritchie Webb and attorney Chuck Sweet spent most of the evening in face-to-face discussions with NFT president Louise Boyd and their attorney, Tom Jennings. The state mediator was not present for tonight’s meeting due to a prior commitment.
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<br />Although there isn’t much progress to report, the dialogue between both parties remained civil and direct. Once again the NFT had no counter to the Board’s July 18th proposal. No concessions were made by either side this evening and no tentative agreements were reached, but Mr. Webb did confirm the top priorities including reiteration of the Board’s position that there would be no retroactive pay.
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<br />Conversation focused on health care, contributions, retirement perks, longevity, and other financial issues. The union acknowledged they are now using the assistance of an AFT (American Federation of Teachers) representative from their research and information service department to help analyze the numbers. The NFT also acknowledged that the step costs reported by the Board at last week’s meeting were more accurate than theirs, but further refinement is necessary.
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<br />Another meeting has been set for Augst 29th, which allows the Board time to gather information requested by NFT relative to contract costs. The state mediator will be available for this meeting.</span>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-54549484193227338342011-08-11T21:13:00.003-04:002011-08-11T21:38:46.291-04:00A "positive" development<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Update on tonight's negotiations with the NFT . . .</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Meeting #32 lasted for 2 hours, 20 minutes, and although there were no major breakthroughs, Board President Ritchie Webb referred to the meeting as "positive."
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<br />The NFT did not offer a counter proposal at tonight’s meeting, so the Board’s negotiation team asked to review its last proposal of July 18th with an emphasis on the costs of the proposal and the savings that would be necessary to approach an agreement. Mr. Webb stressed that we do not want a contract we cannot afford.
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<br />The mediator indicated the NFT wanted to be placed on the salary steps they would have received in accordance with their previous proposal. The NFT believed the cost of this move would be $1.2 million. This differed significantly from the Board's estimate which placed the costs in excess of $4.8 million for the 2011-2012 school year. Further review of this topic is needed. </span>
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<br />It is important to note that this was not a new proposal but rather a review of the Board’s previous offer.
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<br />Both sides agreed more meetings were warranted, and the next session has been scheduled for this Monday, August 15th. </span>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332946972319732703.post-20696867476099070832011-08-09T09:04:00.004-04:002011-08-09T09:12:53.030-04:00Simon says<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxorAXBviJ-i-9tQcNOCK797WGTFWJ-auew5OSlnrSsn4VTZZIgrVbVqaNpyxsVuK8fFckxmjJTrPDJdW0Uv71aY944e19AT5OTI_HPTyrSAK9ayX_w4pCVucMdRrJQuducks5qrNuqty/s1600/Simon+Campbell.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638842415977475538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 157px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxorAXBviJ-i-9tQcNOCK797WGTFWJ-auew5OSlnrSsn4VTZZIgrVbVqaNpyxsVuK8fFckxmjJTrPDJdW0Uv71aY944e19AT5OTI_HPTyrSAK9ayX_w4pCVucMdRrJQuducks5qrNuqty/s320/Simon+Campbell.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">In today’s Courier Times is <a href="http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/langhorne/neshaminy-school-board-s-problem-not-nearly-tough-enough/article_e16cb206-2ae2-518d-ab77-1f1a975efa5f.html"><strong>a guest opinion from Pennsbury’s Simon Campbell</strong></a> who takes aim at Ritchie Webb and the Neshaminy School Board for being “tough but nice” in our teacher contract negotiations. I’m sure Louise Boyd would like a moment for rebuttal.
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<br />Mr. Campbell’s whole gig is based on his anti-union stance, and he feels we in Neshaminy just aren’t as tough as he is. While I respect Campbell’s views and his activism, I’m disappointed by his Michael Moore-like <em>if you don’t believe as I do then you are wrong</em> mentality.
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<br />Since Day 1, the Neshaminy Board has made it clear that our focus was on funding our children’s education in a way that won’t unfairly burden our tax payers. Our stand isn’t based on being anti-union, but it does pit us against the NFT and a burdensome, unaffordable contract. This very fact should put us on the same side of the field as Campbell, but he doesn’t see it that way.
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<br />All of us on the board have opinions about unions, certainly about Neshaminy’s if not all public unions. But that doesn’t mean that argument necessarily must be front and center in our philosophy when it comes to negotiating a new teacher’s contract. It’s perfectly ok for us to be focused first and foremost on our children’s education. It’s also perfectly ok that we don’t go around using tough anti-union speak all the time like Campbell does. It doesn’t mean that we are any less committed to our cause than Simon is to his.
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<br />Towards the end of his rant, Campbell questions if we are “scared of being labeled anti-union” as if that should be important to everyone. Hate to break the news to you Simon, but I don’t care if people think I’m anti-union or not. My primary concern is for the children of the Neshaminy School District. And I’ve never relied on nasty, hateful rhetoric to make my point. I prefer to stay on message using facts. But if anger and tough talk work for you, then go for it.
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<br />What Mr. Campbell fails to see is what we have accomplished in Neshaminy as a board, and perhaps he could learn a few lessons. Case in point: Immediately upon becoming board president a few years ago, Ritchie Webb’s very first action was to contact the minority board members (Bill Spitz and me) to bury the political hatchet and get us all focused on what really mattered to our students, parents and tax payers. Webb didn’t have to do that because he already had a solid board majority. He could have just ignored us but he didn’t. Instead Ritchie Webb saw the value in a board united, and the rest of us were more than willing to comply. No barging in on secret meetings, no in-fighting amongst board members.
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<br />Can you imagine Simon Campbell accomplishing anything like that?
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<br />But all this still leaves me mystified why Campbell would even bother to vent against the Neshaminy School Board. We shouldn’t even be a blip on his radar. Maybe the answer is found in the second sentence of this morning’s diatribe where he makes reference to the “editorial kudos” we’ve been getting. Is that it, Simon? Are you bothered by the positive press we are getting, and think maybe it’s taking the focus away from you? Are you upset that when people in this state talk about a board standing up to a union contract, the first word they utter is Neshaminy and not Pennsbury?
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<br />I sincerely wish Mr. Campbell and the entire Pennsbury Board well in their contract negotiations. I would prefer that this be a time that school boards across Pennsylvania would use this moment to come together in our common struggles rather than find opportunities to divide us. It’s unfortunate that Simon Campbell has chosen to do the latter.
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<br />But don’t worry yourself over what’s happening over here in Neshaminy, Simon. We’re getting along just fine without you.</span>
<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0