17,000 Reasons why we must prove Gandalf wrong

Like Chicken Little running around claiming the sky is falling, there has been a lot of naysayers out there talking about why the next levy will not pass. Even some of our own school board members have openly expressed their doubts.

Historically speaking, districts who go on strike do not pass the next levy. It's true. Strikes are generally contentious and divisive leading voters to lash out in the only way they can, at the polls. So people are right to be concerned. The naysayers may be right to assume the worst.

But we aren't naysayers here. We are "way-sayers." When others say nay, we say let's find a way! Rather than worry about whether the levy will pass, how about we do something to make sure it does.

Pasco Hates Children!!! This summer proves it!!!!!!

In order to pass the levy, we've got to deal with two major groups of people. Those who plan to vote for the levy and those who don't.

The first group are already on our side. Great! Unfortunately saying you hope the levy passes, and actually doing something about it are two different things. We have got to get people to turn out to vote. We are fortunate in that we can vote from the comfort of our own homes. So getting people to "turn out" just means reminding people to fill out and mail their ballot.  It sounds easy, but sometimes its not. People get busy, people forget. So when the ballots come in the mail, we need to be messaging all our friends and neighbors and reminding them to fill out their ballot.  Will people get tired of hearing it? Yes. I don't care. I'm tired of substandard education for our children. So no more wringing our hands and worrying about what can be done. We can do something. We can vote. We can remind our neighbors to vote. And we can hold the school boards' feet to the fire to make sure they use our funds wisely. No more nay-saying. We want way-saying.

Then there is group number two. Worse than the doubters, are the people who are saying they won't vote for the levy. They are saying they want to send a clear message to the district that they aren't happy with how things are going.

Didn't work out so well for this guy did it?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

That's like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Ouch. Also, historically ineffective.

Not only is that a bad idea, but it won't work anyway. We know because we've already tried it. In 2011 the bond failed. Many who voted against it said they wanted to send a clear message to PSD that they were not happy with how things were going. Did the district internalize that and change their policies and priorities? Of course not! In fact, when certain board members were specifically questioned about voter confidence and whether they felt a failed bond or levy was a reflection on their own policies, they indicated people who voted against the bond were stupid and selfish (I'm paraphrasing here). And to add insult to injury the board and district administration has continued to use the failed bond as an excuse for every other problem under the sun in PSD.

I've uncovered PSD's secret medical files.

Bottom line, around here it appears that failed bonds and levies hurt students and do nothing to influence administrative decisions. Never in the history of failed levies has an administrator said, "The levy failed, I guess I should take a salary cut." Nope. Always when funds are cut short, administrators respond by cutting programs. So if you meet one of these misguided voters, please kindly remind them of the results of the last failed levy (remember 30 years of a gutted music program?) and encourage them to voice their concerns in a board meeting and not at the ballot box.

Seriously, people. Voting no on this levy to get the administration to change their policies will work out
about as well as going to Doctor Snake and asking him to suture your face. Sad, yes. But true.

Sooooooo, there is a lot of stuff being said.... something about a bond thingy.... I like Orchestra and buses for sports and stuff but....  I don't know I'm confused, what are we suppose to do now?

Let's take a minute and get back to basics shall we?

What is the difference between a bond and a levy?

Click HERE for an awesome video about Levies and Bonds

Why should I vote for the levy?

Levies pay for a LOT of stuff. Too much to name it all, but let's just list a few: elementary music, band, orchestra, library, p.e., nurses, technology, buses for sporting events, buses for any event, chess club, robotics club, every other club under the sun, para-pros for primary grades, special education, bilingual, dual language, etc!

PSD is the largest employer in Pasco by a lot (nearly twice as many employees as the second runner up, Tyson Foods). Pasco's economy literally (and very strangely) revolves around our schools. When a levy fails, jobs get cut. A levy failure would drastically affect the majority of people in Pasco. We can not let that happen.

How can I find out more about our current levy? Or better yet, how can I get involved?

There is a committee that meets every Monday at 5:15 at the downtown Pasco library to work on promoting the levy. Everyone is welcome. Please go and find out what you can do to help. The committee also has a Facebook page you can check out Pasco Citizens for Better Schools.

If I don't like what PSD is doing and voting no isn't an option, how can I get my voice heard?

Sadly, a LOT of people have been telling me that are voting no on the levy because they are unhappy with PSD's spending priorities. And while I can agree with them in some respects, a levy vote is NOT an effective place to voice those concerns. If you are unhappy with the district's spending priorities, then go to the board and tell them so. Write them, call them, email them, speak at a board meeting!  Let your voice be heard.

A "no" vote on a levy tells the district "I want to spend less money but I don't care what you do to make it happen."  Everyone wants to spend less money, that's a given, but sending a message this way amounts to no message at all. "HOW" we spend the money is what's important, and that can't be expressed at the polls.

What if Gandalf is right? What if the levy doesn't pass? Statistics say that districts that go on strike don't pass levies.

YOU CANNOT HAVE CURRICULUM AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BAND PROGRAMS!!!!
(this is just Gandalf's opinion, and in no way expresses the opinions of this blog)

PEOPLE. WE CAN NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!

WE ARE NOT LIKE OTHER DISTRICTS!

Those statistics are completely meaningless. That's like looking at history and saying teams with blue jerseys are more likely to loose than teams with red jerseys.  It may be a true statistic, but there is a lot more at play than just the color of a jersey.

Pasco is more than just a statistic.

Our community is more unified than ever. We love our schools. We spent all summer fighting side by side for a better education for our kids. WE CAN DO THIS!

The levy MUST pass!

The levy WILL pass!

Tell your neighbors. Tell your friends. Tell your aunt. Tell your dog. Get involved and do what ever it takes to make sure the this community continues to provide for the 17,000 students living here. They are worth it. Now let's prove it.

It's a hard knock life... for some.

Ah, Christmas break. A chance to relax, to spend time with family, to enjoy a little break from the stresses of life.

Just kidding. I know you’re all madly trying to find one of those Razor Hoverboards. And sorry, I bought the last two from Kennewick’s Target. Good luck finding your own.

I know none of you have seen a sight like this any time in
the last week or so. Or we all have. And the madness
has finally taken us. 

Anyway, the first day of break, PSD is busy looking ahead to the new year. Today I got a couple of PSD info highlights; information on January's PSD study session and school board meetings, along with two community discussion meetings in January. The board's first focus of 2016 will be a Pre-K center, with New Horizons High School to be discussed in February.

PSD  junkies like myself are familiar with these two issues, and they are pretty hot-button issues around here. For those readers not versed in PSD history, here is the back story:

A long time ago in a bond far far away… okay that doesn’t make sense. A bond was put forward in 2011 to build a Pre-kindergarten facility, in addition to a middle school and other maintenance and facilities expansions. This bond failed. The next bond, supporting several new elementary schools with the plan to move 6th grade back to elementary, as well as Stevens Middle School and New Horizons High School remodels, passed in 2013.

These taxpayers want to know what you did with the New Horizons money, PSD.

In July of 2015, prior to finalizing teacher contracts and the yearly budget, the superintendent made an unprecedented (seriously, this does not happen, no matter what anyone has told you) request that $8 million in reserves be transferred out of the general education fund and instead be designated to a preschool facility. This money, moved to the capital projects fund, can now only be used for building and maintenance, and the district has already identified a building they intend to purchase and remodel for this use.

No, this is not the kind of "Mouse Problem" we have.

So, PSD seems pretty determined to make us a Pre-K center, despite that pretty obvious bond failure. Also, despite voter approval and a dedicated funding source for New Horizons. THAT less shiny, sparkly prospect of a school continues to sit in horrible disrepair. PSD teacher Eric Hayes brought pictures to a board meeting this fall, showing pictures of rodent feces, rotting floors, dead birds found in ceiling tiles. That’s right,  BIRD CORPSES AND RODENT POOP. I cannot eew enough about that.

IF you can stand the feces, you can find Eric's story here:

http://keprtv.com/news/local/movement-towards-a-cleaner-new-horizons-high

We know how much PSD loves their buckets!

But if feces isn’t enough to get your attention, and apparently it wasn’t enough to capture PSD’s administrative or Board attention, with December's snow, ice and rain, teachers and students out at NHHS are also hard at work putting out buckets to catch multiple leaks in almost every classroom. Just so you know, WET corpses and feces smells slightly mustier than the dry variety.

Also, While many kids eagerly look forward to snow, the 300 students of New Horizons likely don't, as they can't all fit into the 10' by 10' cafeteria room, and most must eat outside in the cold. Though of course, there is still that rodent (with accompanying feces!) problem at the school, so maybe the kids prefer the fresh air. And, you know, looking on the bright side I guess mice can be cute, right?

Attention students, it looks like we have a few more class pets today!

We have a serious priority problem here. Pasco’s citizens and taxpayers, according to their votes, want to remodel New Horizons. Students and teachers need a clean, safe school, and the money has been there since 2014 -  so what is taking so long? And why is the funding, timeline and priority for a Pre-K center being fast-tracked when Pasco has overwhelmingly said "no, thank you" or “not now”.

I have a guess. And my guess is, it's all about the money.

Pasco school district and school board members have said Pre-K is a great opportunity because they will get funding from the state to support the facility. We must only front a lean $8 million in funds and we'll get a bunch more money to serve students!

Taking advice from a close friend, Miss Hannigan, PSD admin may soon
begin fostering for profit - think of all the stipends! 

This points out one of the the biggest (and that’s saying something) problems we’re sporting here in Pasco School District #1. PSD is happy to take on more responsibility if it brings them more cash in the end. BUT PSD is failing to use that money on the kids it is intended for - failing in the responsibilities they have been given already. Bond funds are dwindling and New Horizons hasn't even been discussed.

So far this year, We’ve found out that teachers have been without curriculum, students and teachers have been without supplies, schools are in lawsuit-worthy disrepair, and until recently the only employees being competitively paid and "promoted" were those making the budgets. Yet somehow we have squirrelled away an extra $8 million to dedicate to a new school, quality service to students... Source of REVENUE!

Do you see a problem here yet? And I’m not talking about the feces. I am starting to think I should have had a “Feces” warning at the beginning of the blog, but I’m now too lazy to go back and add one now. Even if I did, it’s not the biggest problem here. And when feces lying around isn’t your biggest problem, it’s time for some serious reexamination of priorities.

This might make you think about a certain high school I know of. But it might not, it's actually a cookie. 

---

Now, back to our relaxing. I hope, dear readers, that you all have a Merry Christmas. Be safe, be happy, be healthy.

If you, like I, consider the fecal problem to be a bigger concern than how we can vacuum up a few more state and federal special program dollars, I hope you will all consider attending any or all of the school board community forums and board meetings to participate in discussions on the Pre-K center in January and the New Horizons remodel in February.

And if you, like me, would like to see the board rearrange these community forum priorities, or dedicate the Board-donated capital funds to other building priorities, please consider writing your School Board or Deputy Superintendent Michelle Whitney. Be sure to use the word “feces” frequently. ...I mean, if you want to.

*              *               *

Get your PSD Board Schedule fix here: http://www.psd1.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=7446&ViewID=BFDB0E41-E373-404B-B8D3-19C77276CE2D&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=11697&PageID=1

Happy Holidays, You Got Underwear.

Dear Pasco School Board,

As we head into the new year, I resolve to face the fact that nobody really wants my opinion, you least of all. However, in the spirit of the season, I feel inclined to give you a gift. The gift of knowledge. Don't thank me just yet; I'm not doing this to be generous. I simply feel obligated to bring something to your attention before it has the chance to plant it’s teeth into your collective behind.

The Gift of Awareness

I’d like to speak to you about a couple of contracts I was recently shown (apparently word got out that I'm a PSD junkie and I'll read anything they print, so now that's all people send me anymore). They are for your current Superintendent, Saundra Hill and her presumed successor and Superintendent-Currently-in-Action, Michelle Whitney. Now, before I begin, I need to remind you that these documents are both a matter of public record, since both these individuals are employees of a public entity. In fact you should be very familiar with them since you are responsible for enforcing them. But times are hectic and I'm sure you've been busy trimming the holiday tree, so maybe you haven't read through them lately. Some of their content, however, may surprise you, given that I know how concerned you are with our current financial state. That is why I'm bringing them to your attention now.

Michelle’s position is technically Deputy Superintendent. I am not sure what the responsibilities of the job are, since they are not listed in the contract at all. But I'm sure you know what it is she does right? Before this promotion, Mrs. Whitney was payed a little over 113,000 dollars a year. In her current contract, her salary is listed as 145,000. That's quite a leap. In fact, this is a salary jump of over thirty thousand dollars in a single year and without any stipulations of additional duties or responsibilities in the contract. 

Contrary to the popular belief, Scrooge McDuck did not work
as an assistant superintendent at PSD.

For this price tag our district could hire another full time teacher and pay all associated benefits for this teacher. I am not going to argue for what I assume the reasoning is behind this massive pay raise. However, I am going to point out that this district was, at the time of this contract's signing, claiming to be unable to provide more than one hundred and twenty copies a month for teachers to make worksheets. So this is a hard sell for me.

Also in Mrs. Whitney’s contract (which you did not sign, leading me to believe you may not be aware of the details) twenty-two vacation days are provided for a 12 month period. This is in addition to twelve sick days and three personal days. All these are listed after a work year of only 226 days is stipulated in the contract, so for a point of comparison, you should know a standard work year is 251 days. I personally do not know anyone in any line of work who has this large number of paid vacation and leave days provided for them, nor a 12 month work year with such a small number of workdays. And that's just the perks for the deputy superintendent. Mrs. Hill’s contract is even more generous than Mrs. Whitney’s with 30 vacation days and the perk of cashing in unused days.

I don't know how many work days are fair for a person of Mrs. Whitney or Mrs. Hill's status, but I would like to take you on a little stroll down memory lane. As you know we are suffering from a terrible shortage of substitute teachers. Our own teachers are having to give up their planning time to cover for other teachers. This means that instead of having a quality substitute in class for the day, a child in kindergarten may have as many as six different frazzled and overworked teachers popping in to cover their class for an hour or two. Now for that stroll I promised you. Two years ago, Mrs. Hill announced that she and her staff would be working as substitute teachers in schools to help cover classes that had gone unfilled. To date, Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Whitney have covered zero classes each, for a grand total of zero classes. Perhaps it is time to rethink our leave policies for our upper administrators until our students’ needs are being taken care of. If they have so many days off, perhaps they could volunteer some of their free time to come and cover one of those classes they promised to cover.

This is Mz Your Child's Teacher. She has a temperature of 101, ran out of sick days
when she broke her leg, but she's still at work because the administrators are all on 3 week
vacations. I bet she's going to do a great job and not get anyone sick.

I'd also like to talk about how both our Superintendent and deputy are receiving generous healthcare benefits. Though it’s not stipulated in either contract, public record indicates the amount of their compensation last year was just over 18 thousand dollars each last year. I guess it's hard to pay for your own health insurance when you only make six figures. 

In addition to these benefits, we are also paying handsome retirement benefits to each of these individuals. Mrs. Whitney’s contract indicates that she will receive seven hundred dollars monthly, totaling $8,400 yearly, deposited into a tax-safe retirement account. Even though the contract also suggests Mrs. Whitney contribute to this account, it does not require her to do so before contributing this flat sum. Mrs. Hill is currently receiving an additional 9% of her compensation each year for her own retirement account. Her contract indicates this number has a maximum amount of $15,500 per year. For a closer reference, your teachers are obligated to put in their own money towards retirement.

Dear, I'm thinking we need to get a job in Pasco School
District's corporate office. We're having to spend entirely
too much of our own money on our golf club membership.

To me, both the percentage and the actual number of Mrs. Hill's retirement compensation are simply staggering. My personal feelings on Mrs. Hill are not a secret at this point. However, knowing that between these two administrators, without their being required to contribute a single cent, our district is providing almost twenty four thousand dollars every year for their retirement, makes me feel vaguely nauseated. I guess one could argue that these numbers are simply the norm, but then buying curriculum is also the norm and we haven't bothered to worry about that in years.

I do not know if you are aware of this, but our school district is also paying over 1,300 dollars to two individuals every month FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF OWNING A CAR. Mrs. Whitney’s contract and Mrs. Hill’s contract both include a vehicle stipend, $450 and $850 per month, respectively. Do you get paid by your employer to own a car? I sure don't. And I doubt that any of the families served in our district do either. I am not paid to be available for my employment, it is assumed by my own employer that I must get myself to and from work. I do not personally know anyone who is paid by their employers an additional sum to simply own a car, something which I assume both Mrs. Whitney and Mrs. Hill already did previous to their signing of these contracts. 

The lease on this puppy is a killer. Just kidding, a public school district pays for it.

Ostensibly, this stipend is provided because of the large amount of travel these positions entail, but these contracts also provide for reimbursement if any travel is done for work outside Franklin/Benton county, which seems to render these stipends more than a little frivolous. Maybe for the sake of argument we can assume that these are simply perks necessary to draw in quality candidates to fill these important positions. But wait, are we really trying to draw in quality external candidates for important positions? Historically, the vast majority of our high level promotions are internal. Guess we're just glad-handing our own high rollers.

We thought about getting these kids a classroom computer but we decided
one of our admins needed a nicer BMW to get to work.

Isn't there a better place we could be spending that money? For thirteen hundred dollars a month, our district could outfit an entire elementary school with a lab of test-taking computers over the course of a single year. For thirteen hundred dollars a month, our district could provide an additional para-educator for some of our most desperate SpEd learners. I wonder how much mold could be cleaned out of New Horizon's for $1300 a month? We have been told we cannot afford the curriculum our students really need. How can we afford thirteen hundred dollars every month for two employees to simply own their own cars? Does that add up to you?

Pay attention now, this last bit is actually really important. The last item I feel the need to draw your attention to in Mrs. Whitney’s contract is the language of Article VIII. The second paragraph states “Prior to December 31, 2015, and again prior to February 29, 2016, the Board shall evaluate and assess the performance of the Employee using a mutually agreed-upon form based upon the transition plan and goals and objectives established by the Board for the employee.” I do not know if you have assessed and evaluated Mrs. Whitney yet this year. I do not know if you have agreed upon a form based on the transition plan, goals and objectives you established for her. Heck, I'm not sure you even have goals or objectives for her. But I do know that if you do not fulfill this part of her contract, our school district will be in breach of contract (again!), further proving that we are suffering from a major failure of leadership and opening us up to potentially very expensive litigation.

The most expensive present the taxpayers ever got from
PSD.

Nowhere in this contract do you stipulate any particular duties or responsibilities Mrs. Whitney is intended to perform in this position. I don’t know if you know what she is supposed to be doing as Deputy-Successor-Superintendent of the Pasco School District. I am beginning to believe that no one does. With the way have threatened to cut important and much beloved programs in order to simply provide law-mandated curriculum for our teachers and students, I would hope that such a large investment had some guarantee, no matter how small, of a return. After all, there's only so much money left in those buckets.

The Bucket in the middle has all of Mrs. Hill's Per Diem reimbursements in it.
Just kidding, there's nowhere near enough in that bucket for what we pay her.

Pasco School Board, if you are as concerned with your fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers as you frequently indicate you are, I would urge you to take some time to reflect on the costs we allow ourselves to incur in upper management hiring and contracts. More especially when a frank look at our administrative compensation packages seems to be rather long overdue. Any reasonable person takes a look at their own budget now and then to see where money is being wasted. That gym membership I haven't used in fourteen months? Yeah, that's not good use of my money, and it's got to go. The same may be true for some of our beloved Boothies.

So there it is. My seasonal gift to you, Pasco School Board. I realize my offering may feel like the proverbial underwear under the non-religiously-specific tree but I feel it's the gift you really need most right now.

Happy Holidays,

Alice

All other PSD Junkies may read both contracts here

Saundra Hill's Contract: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4y0Myz3brEiaWRRcUlpaGVEYms/view?usp=sharing

Michelle Whitney's Contract: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4y0Myz3brEiOVpHOGpQY0E1Z1U/view?usp=sharing