Tuesday, June 5, 2018
How DARE you David Young
How dare you David Young respond to this woman in this manner. You and the rest of this dead horse board work for US and you answer to us. We voted you in and we and will vote you out.
Do your jobs? You haven't done your jobs in 3 years, you allowed Miller to run rampant and destroy our schools. You allowed teachers careers to be destroyed who were loyal and the best for these kids to be fired because they spoke out against Miller and you! How dare you speak to anyone this way. Ken Mullen is 100 % correct this SC is totally dysfunctional and let us just go over your incompetent email. ( Which I am not so sure you were allowed to write without the rest of the SC involved) But, they will know now.
Teacher Ken Mullen was quoted (Recorder) saying of the School Committee dysfunction, “We need to start exchanging ideas, making connections, coming up with solutions, instead of pointing out problems”. I agree. The School Committee needs to do this. We need to stop taking up valuable meeting time with a continued public comment.WHAT! The public who pay these taxes has every right to speak up and it is your job to listen. We need to deliberate as a body without having ideas opposed by the audience at every turn. We will never do our best four hours into a meeting. Let the committee meet. It is the inaction that comes of heeding every of the public’s admonition not to cut, not to RIF, not to change that got us here.NO, Miller got us here and your inability to listen to the public who warned you of her destruction from day one! Don't you dare put your dysfunctions on us when it was your job to be in control and you haven't been in 3 years! When we heed the public we generate unrealistic paper budgets that can’t obtain. Again WHAT!!!!!! You allowed a new building that cost more than was affordable and than had to be removed costing, even more, unrealistic raises for a first time principal, VP, ASST Superintendent and Superintendent..to name a few and let us not forget a no teacher classroom program. We under budget expenses and we make rosy revenue assumptions. Doing so we fail our mission. The time for hearings is over. ( YOU CANNOT STOP OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
My second point is, I think it better that we pick our own poison. From that view I find the message from Chairman Shearer to the committee and many who have written us troubling, “We will only do what the state agencies force the district to do to climb our of the financial hole we are in.” Gads! I bet she meant to assure folk that we are not going to go overboard, we aren’t going to overreact. It sounds too much like what got us here: blind faith, hopeful optimism, denial. We twelve are in this together. Lets work through it, compromise, and get the job done of making and ranking cuts. From there we can seek more funds, track the next year and free up funds we prudently reserved for Unemployment, Health Insurance, Special Needs as we prove we have a doable budget. We can’t risk more losses. Lets be the stewards we were elected to be. WE DID ALLOW YOU TO BE THE STEWARDS YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO BE AND HERE WE ARE. YOUR INCOMPETENT AND THE FACTS HAVE SPOKEN FOR THEMSELVES.
Kind regards,
David Young
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisory/cm1115gov.html
To the members of the PVRSD School Committee,
I write to you as a current parent of a student within the PVRS district as well as a concerned citizen and would like to pose several questions to the committee, as well as express my deep concern as it pertains to the upcoming interview and selection process regarding the position of Superintendent.
I ask the committee as a whole, what the process entails for interviewing candidates? Is there a standardized interview/selection committee formed when interviewing each candidate and is the said committee using standardized interview questions, so as there is equality and the ability for appropriate comparison of each candidate. Also, is there a rubric to determine your assessment of the candidates during the interview/selection process?
As a citizen/parent that is employed full time, I ask your reasoning for holding the upcoming Superintendent interviews, that are scheduled to begin at 3:45pm, when this is a time when the majority of the community cannot attend this meeting and am concerned that this time was intentionally chosen in order to reduce the amount of citizens able to observe the interviews and minimize the transparency between the committee and citizens during the course of the selection process.
Regarding the amount of time allotted for the interviews, I am interested in knowing why all but one candidate would be provided thirty minutes for an interview, while one candidate is being provided 45 minutes, as it is outlined on the posted meeting agenda.
Lastly, I would like to express my deep concern regarding the fact that this is not the first attempt on the committee’s part to interview selected candidates, and would like to stress the importance of selecting a candidate who is true to the students and community of PVRSD, who is competent and is able to think “outside of the box” to help improve the current state of the district and feel that all of the candidates, EXCEPT for Jon Scagel, would not only create additional stress on the current situation at PVRSD, but have a public history of creating undue stress, executed decisions with negative financial implications, and have lacked complete transparency, while serving other educational districts or in varying educational roles. I respectfully ask that each of you understand the much of the community’s preferred candidate, being Jon Scagel, and take into consideration that as our elected officials you have the ability to create tremendous positive change while collaborating with your community to ensure that moving forward, our students can be educated without compromising the future quality of their education.
Thank you in advance for your time and attention.
Respectfully,
Kristen M. Gonzalez
Reply:
Teacher Ken Mullen was quoted (Recorder) saying of the School Committee dysfunction, “We need to start exchanging ideas, making connections, coming up with solutions, instead of pointing out problems”. I agree. The School Committee needs to do this. We need to stop taking up valuable meeting time with continued public comment. We need to deliberate as a body without having ideas opposed by the audience at every turn. We will never do our best four hours into a meeting. Let the committee meet. It is the inaction that comes of heeding every of the public’s admonition not to cut, not to RIF, not to change that got us here. When we heed the public we generate unrealistic paper budgets that can’t obtain. We underbudget expenses and we make rosy revenue assumptions. Doing so we fail our mission. The time for hearings is over.
My second point is, I think it better that we pick our own poison. From that view I find the message from Chairman Shearer to the committee and many who have written us troubling, “We will only do what the state agencies force the district to do to climb our of the financial hole we are in.” Gads! I bet she meant to assure folk that we are not going to go overboard, we aren’t going to overreact. It sounds too much like what got us here: blind faith, hopeful optimism, denial. We twelve are in this together. Lets work through it, compromise, and get the job done of making and ranking cuts. From there we can seek more funds, track the next year and free up funds we prudently reserved for Unemployment, Health Insurance, Special Needs as we prove we have a doable budget. We can’t risk more losses. Lets be the stewards we were elected to be.
Kind regards,
David Young
WE ARE THE PANTHERS AND WE FIGHT
Do your jobs? You haven't done your jobs in 3 years, you allowed Miller to run rampant and destroy our schools. You allowed teachers careers to be destroyed who were loyal and the best for these kids to be fired because they spoke out against Miller and you! How dare you speak to anyone this way. Ken Mullen is 100 % correct this SC is totally dysfunctional and let us just go over your incompetent email. ( Which I am not so sure you were allowed to write without the rest of the SC involved) But, they will know now.
Teacher Ken Mullen was quoted (Recorder) saying of the School Committee dysfunction, “We need to start exchanging ideas, making connections, coming up with solutions, instead of pointing out problems”. I agree. The School Committee needs to do this. We need to stop taking up valuable meeting time with a continued public comment.WHAT! The public who pay these taxes has every right to speak up and it is your job to listen. We need to deliberate as a body without having ideas opposed by the audience at every turn. We will never do our best four hours into a meeting. Let the committee meet. It is the inaction that comes of heeding every of the public’s admonition not to cut, not to RIF, not to change that got us here.NO, Miller got us here and your inability to listen to the public who warned you of her destruction from day one! Don't you dare put your dysfunctions on us when it was your job to be in control and you haven't been in 3 years! When we heed the public we generate unrealistic paper budgets that can’t obtain. Again WHAT!!!!!! You allowed a new building that cost more than was affordable and than had to be removed costing, even more, unrealistic raises for a first time principal, VP, ASST Superintendent and Superintendent..to name a few and let us not forget a no teacher classroom program. We under budget expenses and we make rosy revenue assumptions. Doing so we fail our mission. The time for hearings is over. ( YOU CANNOT STOP OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
My second point is, I think it better that we pick our own poison. From that view I find the message from Chairman Shearer to the committee and many who have written us troubling, “We will only do what the state agencies force the district to do to climb our of the financial hole we are in.” Gads! I bet she meant to assure folk that we are not going to go overboard, we aren’t going to overreact. It sounds too much like what got us here: blind faith, hopeful optimism, denial. We twelve are in this together. Lets work through it, compromise, and get the job done of making and ranking cuts. From there we can seek more funds, track the next year and free up funds we prudently reserved for Unemployment, Health Insurance, Special Needs as we prove we have a doable budget. We can’t risk more losses. Lets be the stewards we were elected to be. WE DID ALLOW YOU TO BE THE STEWARDS YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO BE AND HERE WE ARE. YOUR INCOMPETENT AND THE FACTS HAVE SPOKEN FOR THEMSELVES.
Kind regards,
David Young
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisory/cm1115gov.html
To the members of the PVRSD School Committee,
I write to you as a current parent of a student within the PVRS district as well as a concerned citizen and would like to pose several questions to the committee, as well as express my deep concern as it pertains to the upcoming interview and selection process regarding the position of Superintendent.
I ask the committee as a whole, what the process entails for interviewing candidates? Is there a standardized interview/selection committee formed when interviewing each candidate and is the said committee using standardized interview questions, so as there is equality and the ability for appropriate comparison of each candidate. Also, is there a rubric to determine your assessment of the candidates during the interview/selection process?
As a citizen/parent that is employed full time, I ask your reasoning for holding the upcoming Superintendent interviews, that are scheduled to begin at 3:45pm, when this is a time when the majority of the community cannot attend this meeting and am concerned that this time was intentionally chosen in order to reduce the amount of citizens able to observe the interviews and minimize the transparency between the committee and citizens during the course of the selection process.
Regarding the amount of time allotted for the interviews, I am interested in knowing why all but one candidate would be provided thirty minutes for an interview, while one candidate is being provided 45 minutes, as it is outlined on the posted meeting agenda.
Lastly, I would like to express my deep concern regarding the fact that this is not the first attempt on the committee’s part to interview selected candidates, and would like to stress the importance of selecting a candidate who is true to the students and community of PVRSD, who is competent and is able to think “outside of the box” to help improve the current state of the district and feel that all of the candidates, EXCEPT for Jon Scagel, would not only create additional stress on the current situation at PVRSD, but have a public history of creating undue stress, executed decisions with negative financial implications, and have lacked complete transparency, while serving other educational districts or in varying educational roles. I respectfully ask that each of you understand the much of the community’s preferred candidate, being Jon Scagel, and take into consideration that as our elected officials you have the ability to create tremendous positive change while collaborating with your community to ensure that moving forward, our students can be educated without compromising the future quality of their education.
Thank you in advance for your time and attention.
Respectfully,
Kristen M. Gonzalez
Reply:
Teacher Ken Mullen was quoted (Recorder) saying of the School Committee dysfunction, “We need to start exchanging ideas, making connections, coming up with solutions, instead of pointing out problems”. I agree. The School Committee needs to do this. We need to stop taking up valuable meeting time with continued public comment. We need to deliberate as a body without having ideas opposed by the audience at every turn. We will never do our best four hours into a meeting. Let the committee meet. It is the inaction that comes of heeding every of the public’s admonition not to cut, not to RIF, not to change that got us here. When we heed the public we generate unrealistic paper budgets that can’t obtain. We underbudget expenses and we make rosy revenue assumptions. Doing so we fail our mission. The time for hearings is over.
My second point is, I think it better that we pick our own poison. From that view I find the message from Chairman Shearer to the committee and many who have written us troubling, “We will only do what the state agencies force the district to do to climb our of the financial hole we are in.” Gads! I bet she meant to assure folk that we are not going to go overboard, we aren’t going to overreact. It sounds too much like what got us here: blind faith, hopeful optimism, denial. We twelve are in this together. Lets work through it, compromise, and get the job done of making and ranking cuts. From there we can seek more funds, track the next year and free up funds we prudently reserved for Unemployment, Health Insurance, Special Needs as we prove we have a doable budget. We can’t risk more losses. Lets be the stewards we were elected to be.
Kind regards,
David Young
WE ARE THE PANTHERS AND WE FIGHT
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Perfect storm - Right
Hey, Pat remember this?? Wednesday, June 08, 2016 :
The criteria were based on whether each school’s students were performing better than statistically expected for students in that state (using the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, or MCAS test results in Massachusetts).
Pioneer Valley Regional High School was ranked as 69th in Massachusetts, while the Mohawk Trail Regional High School was 74th in the state. Both schools ranked within the top 21 percent of all Massachusetts public schools that were evaluated for this report.
According to US News, about 32 percent of Pioneer Valley Regional School students take Advanced Placement courses, and the graduation rate is 91 percent. Based on MCAS scores, 97 percent of students ranked proficient in English and 93 percent are proficient in math.
Hey, Pat, do you remember how kids, teachers, parents and TAX Payers fought to keep Duprey and others teachers and YOU turned your back on them and allowed them to be fired instead of paying Miller out of her contract to save our school? Let us give you a reminder
School Committee Meeting May 26, 2016
https://vimeo.com/168402830
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vimeo.com
Only the public comment segment of the meeting was filmed.
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Or how about the warning from Templeton themselves
smartJune 2, 2016 at 8:18 PM
Does she work for them or does the school committee work for her?If pioneer school district people will take any advise it's this. Please form and support a group to keep an eye on her and the school committee or your kids will pay the price if you don't. You're kids and their education should be on the top of this list.
lets hope the School Committee where you are going is a strong one, so the community still has money to run the town when you are through.
https://pvrsconcernsandissues.blogspot.com/2016/06/ruth-miller-old-school-in-templeton.html
The perfect storm LMAO.. Miller you started off as a liar and you know and I know every school you have been employed at ended in the same manner. UNLIKE the SC we did investigate you. We warned them to :
1- NOT ALLOW YOU AS BUDGET MANAGER- your good at hiding things.
2-WATCH THE BUDGET CLOSELY
3-WATCH ADMIN SALARY
4-WATCH YOU CLOSELY DUE TO YOU WOULD ELIMINATE ANYONE WHO STOOD AGAINST YOU. YOU DID JUST THAT!
5-THE DAMN LIST WAS ENDLESS ( GO THRU THE BLOG )
Per your usual hide and seek move you will not show up to face what you have done. Doctor excuses have been made before. Your BS is getting old. Every school you have attended you left in rubble and you destroyed our school, you and that worthless SC.
We warned you about Duprey if he left you would lose school choice, funny how that worked out for you. Vernon has the students, but the parents don't trust the school PVRS has become. His presence was more important than you imagined, but I am sure you are seeing now.
You need to look deeper into the lunch program ( this seemed to also be a huge problem in her past schools) You need to take a deep look at the Admin salaries especially hers. Look in areas you wouldn't normally look at for problems, phones, stamps, supplies etc.
Removal starts in ADMIN.
Bacon needs a reduction in pay
Perry - removed
Healy- Removed
Healy's sectary - Removed
This ridiculous class on the internet removed - This is trash
SUGGESTION- KEEP SPORTS AND MUSIC AND THE ARTS OR YOU WILL CLOSE YOUR DOORS. THIS KEEPS PVRS FUNCTIONAL.
ANOTHER SUGGESTION- DUE TO THE LACK OF SUPERVISION BY THE SC THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICES FOR FREE. THIS MESS IS ON THEM AND HOW DARE THEY EXPECT TO BE PAID FOR DESTROYING SCHOOLS FOR POOR AND LACK OF LEADERSHIP!!!! THEIR SALARIES SHOULD BE PUT INTO THE SPORTS, ARTS, AND MUSIC. PERIOD!!!
Russell Dupere repeatedly made the point that the district is now dealing with a years-old structural problem: the amount of money being spent on each school is incommensurate with the number of students. Really? How much waste of money that could have been put towards the students and buildings lost to Millers special building at 36,000.00 plus a year? Excuse me but where was the concern when this abuse was going on???
You just want to cry reading this knowing if only they listened this would not be happening now. Shearer and Young remove them now. Miller should not be allowed to not face people demand she shows up.
A once happy high spirited school has been destroyed.T he destruction has been completed and I am not so sure this one can be undone. All those who loved this school so deeply and the kids are gone and now you risk the rest. Loss of sports and music is devasting.
Parents take a damn stand, taxpayers stand up, students and teachers. It is up to you now.
Once again fitting '
YOU STOOD SILENT BEFORE ARE YOU GONNA NOW?
NORTHFIELD — “Pioneer Valley Regional School District finds itself in the perfect storm,” wrote Pioneer Valley Regional School District Superintendent Ruth Miller in a letter May 22.
The storm hit at the School Committee’s May 17 emergency meeting when School Committee Chairwoman Pat Shearer shared the results of a recent audit, according to which Pioneer Valley Regional School District is projected to be at a deficit of roughly $1 million by the end of July. On Wednesday, the School Committee must vote on what cuts it will make from the coming year’s budget to begin correcting that deficit. The committee had planned to make its decisions in a vote at its most recent meeting on May 24, but postponed. This time, the deadline is probably real: Teachers’ contracts need to be renewed, or not, by Friday, June 1.
At the May 17 meeting, the School Committee instructed administrators to come up with a list of cuts from next school year’s budget for the committee to review.
The administrators’ proposed cuts — “none of which,” Healy said at the May 24 meeting, “we recommend as educationally sound or in the best interest of teaching and learning” — include reducing or even completely cutting PVRS sports, consolidating or cutting special curricular programs like art and music, cutting preschool, moving 6th grade to PVRS and closing Warwick Community School or Leyden’s Pearl Rhodes Elementary or both.
“Our school is enviable by anyone’s standards,” wrote Warwick resident Jennifer Core in an email to fellow residents, pleading that it would be shortsighted to close the school, and accusing Warwick Town Coordinator David Young, who is on the School Committee, of “attempting to push through a vote on closing the Warwick Community School.”
But Warwick Community School may just be too expensive to run, Young said. According to school district treasurer Tanya Gaylord’s estimates, Warwick and Leyden’s elementary schools respectively cost about $22,750 and $24,600 per student. Young said in his own calculations, Warwick Community School’s cost per-pupil is closer to $32,000. Statewide, the average per-pupil cost is about $15,500, according to the Department of Education’s expenditure report of September 2017. In Gaylord’s calculations, Bernardston and Northfield’s elementary schools cost about $16,500 per student, and Pioneer Valley Regional School is about $17,500.
“Over the past decade, there have been changes in the Massachusetts education system that have put Massachusetts at the top in the country and competitive in the world,” Miller wrote. “All of this comes with a cost. … We are the ones that have to fulfill all of the required mandates at a time when there are fewer students and less resources.”
Miller cited declining enrollment and the state’s failure to properly reimburse the district’s transportation costs as the main causes of the deficit. Similarly, at the May 17 meeting, the School Committee’s attorney Russell Dupere repeatedly made the point that the district is now dealing with a years-old structural problem: the amount of money being spent on each school is incommensurate with the number of students.
“Pioneer Valley Regional School District finds itself in a position where they have to decide if they need to close a school or two,” Miller wrote, “and have their kindergarten and elementary school students ride a bus to school and home that will take a minimum of 90 minutes. This may be financially prudent in the short term, but what comes next? Closure of the remaining two elementary schools? There is a need in Western Mass that is unique and demands a unique solution.”
The proposed cutsThe following is the list of cuts proposed by the district’s administrators at the request of the School Committee. The School Committee will make its decisions at its meeting on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Regional School.
Staff reductions:
eliminate 1 teacher at NES
eliminate 1 teacher at BES
eliminate 1 teacher and reduce some offerings in material tech engineering/architecture at PVRS
consolidate foods/nutrition and health positions at PVRS
reduce admin assistant
reduce custodian
Restructuring options:
cut preschool
move sixth grade to PVRS
Extracurriculars:
reduce number of sports or number of teams epr sport in athletic programs at PVRS
eliminate sports at PVRS
reduce budget support for after school clubs by half
eliminate all budget support for after school clubs
eliminate late busses
eliminate elementary field trip support for non-academic and out-of-district trips
Specials (art, music, PE, technology):
consolidate art and music and PE positions at the elementary schools
consolidate are and music and PE positions at the elementary schools and reduce to four days per week
consolidate instrumental music instruction 5-12
consolidate vocal and instrumental music at elementary level
eliminate elementary technology education
cut all specials at elementary level
School closures:
close Pearl Rhodes Elementary
close Warwick Community School
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
To all of the Turners Falls and Pioneer Football parents and players:
Please forward to all you know in the area. Time to get involved Parents. Trust me it will be the best times of your lives. Don't let them win ( Miller, Bacon and SC) This is how you fight back with a vctory and support. Show the Panther Power :)
To all of the Turners Falls and Pioneer Football parents and players:
Please reach out to Candice Putala Dodge at 413-522-5387 or Christie Carme as soon as you can so they can start sending you messages about upcoming events that help support our team. We would love to have as many parents involved as we can get. All events are a great time and are an opportunity for adults and players to get to know each other.
To all of the Turners Falls and Pioneer Football parents and players:
Please reach out to Candice Putala Dodge at 413-522-5387 or Christie Carme as soon as you can so they can start sending you messages about upcoming events that help support our team. We would love to have as many parents involved as we can get. All events are a great time and are an opportunity for adults and players to get to know each other.
Our first fundraiser event is in 2 weeks. It is a golf tournament at Thomas’ Country Club. We need your help and hope to see everyone there.
Please share this post with any parents that may not see this.
Thanks very much for your help.
Please share this post with any parents that may not see this.
Thanks very much for your help.
Well Well Well ...Welcome to your Karma
Well, Pat its really too bad you didn't listen to our warnings. What I am really happy to see is that people now see this SC for what you actually are and its the fact that you are totally incompetent. Knowing you are on the committee to find a new superintendent should scare people to death. David Young on the budget committee is a damn joke.
You did no due diligence on Miller. You chose her because you DID NOT want to go thru another search.
You did not listen to Templeton's warning and how they advised against this hiring. You also did not listen to the committee you sent to check her out who also advised against her.
We posted you facts, newspapers articles, our long-time Admisntration came to you with concerns and instead of listening and DOING YOUR JOB you turned your back on loyal employees and allowed her to destroy their careers. Not only did we warn you in 2015 to WATCH THE BUDGET, you also made her business mgr! We warned you against that as well. Templeton told you she can hide things really well. You were also warned about school choice and the 2017 graduation class would be your last large paycheck from Vernon over 500,000.00. Vernon has the kids to send you the problem is you fired all those who made PVRS what it was and they don't feel you're capable of giving their children the education they need. Nobody wants to be a part of this shit show. You now have parents in your own towns looking elsewhere for there education needs. No sports will close your doors or music programs.
Now, it's your turn Pat and the rest of this SC to lose your positions. People want you out, all of you because you lost the trust of the people who depended on you to do your job and they now see you are not capable. Step down.
It's also time that the Selectboards in Northfield, Leyden, Warwick, and Bernardston calls for an investigation of you, Miller, Young, Healy, and Bacon. You Pat and this SC are responsible for destroying a once happy and high spirited school. Great job.
But this article today was the last straw for many. But before we get to that let me make this very clear to you. We are watching you all and we will do due diligence on each one you select. Let us be clear you will not hurt this school again. Suggestion beg Dayle Dorion, Mike Duprey, and Cathy HH, to come back and put this school back in order, without them you will continue to fail.However, with a Mass Revenue audit, I think you have more problems coming than your prepared for.
Now onward.
“It’s like a shell game with them, moving the money around,” said Tracy Derrig, a teacher at Pioneer Valley Regional School. “It’s in this line; no, it’s in that line; no, we consolidated lines. No one ever saw what the math was. Now here we are at the eleventh hour of the school year and a million dollars in the hole.” YOU WERE WARNED TO WATCH THE BUDGETS AND SHE COULD HIDE MONEY WELL.
Extensive layoffs and potential school closures are expected after an emergency meeting of the Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee last Thursday, where it was revealed that, according to an audit conducted the prior week by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, the district will be at a deficit of nearly a million dollars by the end of July. IF MASS DEPT OF REVENUE IS DIGGING THEY ALREADY HAVE ANSWERS WHERE THE MISSING MONEY IS , WHICH IS ALSO WHY YOU HAVE A MISSING MILLER.
“It’s like a disaster happened,” said Aimee Brown, in her 20th year as a teacher at PVRS. “No one really saw it coming — nothing leading up to these profound problems.” EXCUSE ME AIMEE BUT BULLSHIT. IN 2015 WE WARNED YOU OF THIS DAY , AND YOU ALL CHOSE TO IGNORE IT. 2015, 2016, 2017. TEMPLETON WARNED YOU, DUPREY WARNED YOU. SO DON'T GO DOWN THIS PATH OF SHOCK AND AWE.
The School Committee voted unanimously to seek financial oversight from the state, and instructed administrators to plan to reduce at least $400,000 from the budget for the coming school year. Those plans are to be reviewed at the next School Committee meeting, Thursday at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Regional School.TAKE AWAY SPORTS , MUSIC OR THE ARTS AND YOU MY'S WELL CLOSE THE DOORS.
Ariel LaReau, a teacher at PVRS and president of the Pioneer Valley Regional Education Association, said the teachers demonstrating on Sunday blamed the “horrifying crescendo” of the district’s financial problems on mismanagement from Superintendent Miller, and on the School Committee for not holding Miller accountable. YOUR SPOT ON
“At this point she (Miller) is done, she’s gone, she’s gonna get away with it,” LaReau said. Miller has been planning to leave her job in the Pioneer district since before the budget issue escalated. Her last day is June 30. Efforts to reach her on Sunday were unsuccessful.SHE KNOWS HER TIME IS UP AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME FOR THE REST OF HER DOMINOES TO FALL.SHE KNOWS SOMEONE TURNED HER IN .
“We need a new school committee that knows what’s going on, that pays attention, that wants our schools to exist,” LaReau said. THEY ALL NEED TO STEP DOWN AND THE SOONER THE BETTER ESPECIALLY PAT AND DAVID YOUNG.
When reached Sunday after the demonstration — which spanned from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — School Committee chairwoman Pat Shearer spoke in support of the teachers.LMAO IT TOOK HER 3 YEARS TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS UP TILL NOW SHE IGNORED ALL OF THEM AND THE WARNINGS. SO I CALL YOU A DAMN LIAR PAT YOUR CORNERED AND YOU KNOW IT.,
“I think the teachers understand what the problem is more than we realize they do,” she said. “The teachers are a smart bunch of people who are very dedicated to making our kids the best educated kids they can be. They are doing what they can do.” WITH NO HELP FROM YOU OR THIS COMMITTEE IN 3 YEARS. GREAT TEACHERS WERE LOST, CAREERS DESTROYED,YOUR A POS .
For the past two weeks, a subcommittee of the School Committee has been interviewing candidates for a new superintendent. Shearer, who is also on the superintendent subcommittee, has said the subcommittee will select two applicants for the whole committee to interview and vote on at the next School Committee meeting.GET SHEARER OFF THIS COMMITTEE.
Teachers on Sunday were also collecting donations from passing drivers. LaReau said the money will be donated to the School Committee with instructions that it be used to help pay for substitute teachers. By 1 p.m., they had collected $400.
District administrators drastically reduced spending on substitute teachers two weeks ago as an effort to avoid overspending the current year’s budget.
Principals were instructed to seek creative alternatives to using substitutes. At PVRS, classes are being pooled into large study hall sessions where, PVRS student Dana McRae said, “you basically sit there for a block and don’t do anything.”PRICELESS
When they’re available, teachers say they are being asked to cover classes outside of their subject area.
“I had a calculus class in the chorus room,” McRae said. “The chorus teacher doesn’t know how to teach calculus.”
Some teachers said they might plan another demonstration next weekend in Bernardston.
“There needs to be accountability,” Brown said. “There needs to be a change to be able to manage the funds that these towns so kindly and generously vote in to support our schools.”
IT'S TIME YOU ALL STAND YOUR GROUND AND SHOW UP AT THESE MEETINGS AND DEMAND THIS SC STEPS DOWN. HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE THEM.
Listen your gonna need teachers and administrators who love this school and know it to bring her back and to once again bring school choice back to PVRS. What you have now won't cut it. You need Mike Duprey and Dayle Dorion and Cathy HH, and teachers whos careers were here and dedicated to this school and these kids. They are who made PVRS and its time to undo a wrong that has been done or close the doors cause this is over.
For years I have kept you informed and fought for you its now time that you all step up and fight for your school , teachers and kids beccause you are the warriors they need .Fight now or lose all that matters . I pray God saves PVRS.
You did no due diligence on Miller. You chose her because you DID NOT want to go thru another search.
You did not listen to Templeton's warning and how they advised against this hiring. You also did not listen to the committee you sent to check her out who also advised against her.
We posted you facts, newspapers articles, our long-time Admisntration came to you with concerns and instead of listening and DOING YOUR JOB you turned your back on loyal employees and allowed her to destroy their careers. Not only did we warn you in 2015 to WATCH THE BUDGET, you also made her business mgr! We warned you against that as well. Templeton told you she can hide things really well. You were also warned about school choice and the 2017 graduation class would be your last large paycheck from Vernon over 500,000.00. Vernon has the kids to send you the problem is you fired all those who made PVRS what it was and they don't feel you're capable of giving their children the education they need. Nobody wants to be a part of this shit show. You now have parents in your own towns looking elsewhere for there education needs. No sports will close your doors or music programs.
Now, it's your turn Pat and the rest of this SC to lose your positions. People want you out, all of you because you lost the trust of the people who depended on you to do your job and they now see you are not capable. Step down.
It's also time that the Selectboards in Northfield, Leyden, Warwick, and Bernardston calls for an investigation of you, Miller, Young, Healy, and Bacon. You Pat and this SC are responsible for destroying a once happy and high spirited school. Great job.
But this article today was the last straw for many. But before we get to that let me make this very clear to you. We are watching you all and we will do due diligence on each one you select. Let us be clear you will not hurt this school again. Suggestion beg Dayle Dorion, Mike Duprey, and Cathy HH, to come back and put this school back in order, without them you will continue to fail.However, with a Mass Revenue audit, I think you have more problems coming than your prepared for.
Now onward.
Pioneer teachers air frustrations with school budget woes
NORTHFIELD — Pioneer teachers were holding signs on the corner of routes 10 and 63 (Main Street) on Sunday, publicizing their frustrations with the School Committee and Superintendent Ruth Miller.
“It’s like a shell game with them, moving the money around,” said Tracy Derrig, a teacher at Pioneer Valley Regional School. “It’s in this line; no, it’s in that line; no, we consolidated lines. No one ever saw what the math was. Now here we are at the eleventh hour of the school year and a million dollars in the hole.” YOU WERE WARNED TO WATCH THE BUDGETS AND SHE COULD HIDE MONEY WELL.
Extensive layoffs and potential school closures are expected after an emergency meeting of the Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee last Thursday, where it was revealed that, according to an audit conducted the prior week by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, the district will be at a deficit of nearly a million dollars by the end of July. IF MASS DEPT OF REVENUE IS DIGGING THEY ALREADY HAVE ANSWERS WHERE THE MISSING MONEY IS , WHICH IS ALSO WHY YOU HAVE A MISSING MILLER.
“It’s like a disaster happened,” said Aimee Brown, in her 20th year as a teacher at PVRS. “No one really saw it coming — nothing leading up to these profound problems.” EXCUSE ME AIMEE BUT BULLSHIT. IN 2015 WE WARNED YOU OF THIS DAY , AND YOU ALL CHOSE TO IGNORE IT. 2015, 2016, 2017. TEMPLETON WARNED YOU, DUPREY WARNED YOU. SO DON'T GO DOWN THIS PATH OF SHOCK AND AWE.
The School Committee voted unanimously to seek financial oversight from the state, and instructed administrators to plan to reduce at least $400,000 from the budget for the coming school year. Those plans are to be reviewed at the next School Committee meeting, Thursday at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Regional School.TAKE AWAY SPORTS , MUSIC OR THE ARTS AND YOU MY'S WELL CLOSE THE DOORS.
Ariel LaReau, a teacher at PVRS and president of the Pioneer Valley Regional Education Association, said the teachers demonstrating on Sunday blamed the “horrifying crescendo” of the district’s financial problems on mismanagement from Superintendent Miller, and on the School Committee for not holding Miller accountable. YOUR SPOT ON
“At this point she (Miller) is done, she’s gone, she’s gonna get away with it,” LaReau said. Miller has been planning to leave her job in the Pioneer district since before the budget issue escalated. Her last day is June 30. Efforts to reach her on Sunday were unsuccessful.SHE KNOWS HER TIME IS UP AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME FOR THE REST OF HER DOMINOES TO FALL.SHE KNOWS SOMEONE TURNED HER IN .
“We need a new school committee that knows what’s going on, that pays attention, that wants our schools to exist,” LaReau said. THEY ALL NEED TO STEP DOWN AND THE SOONER THE BETTER ESPECIALLY PAT AND DAVID YOUNG.
When reached Sunday after the demonstration — which spanned from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — School Committee chairwoman Pat Shearer spoke in support of the teachers.LMAO IT TOOK HER 3 YEARS TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS UP TILL NOW SHE IGNORED ALL OF THEM AND THE WARNINGS. SO I CALL YOU A DAMN LIAR PAT YOUR CORNERED AND YOU KNOW IT.,
“I think the teachers understand what the problem is more than we realize they do,” she said. “The teachers are a smart bunch of people who are very dedicated to making our kids the best educated kids they can be. They are doing what they can do.” WITH NO HELP FROM YOU OR THIS COMMITTEE IN 3 YEARS. GREAT TEACHERS WERE LOST, CAREERS DESTROYED,YOUR A POS .
For the past two weeks, a subcommittee of the School Committee has been interviewing candidates for a new superintendent. Shearer, who is also on the superintendent subcommittee, has said the subcommittee will select two applicants for the whole committee to interview and vote on at the next School Committee meeting.GET SHEARER OFF THIS COMMITTEE.
Teachers on Sunday were also collecting donations from passing drivers. LaReau said the money will be donated to the School Committee with instructions that it be used to help pay for substitute teachers. By 1 p.m., they had collected $400.
District administrators drastically reduced spending on substitute teachers two weeks ago as an effort to avoid overspending the current year’s budget.
Principals were instructed to seek creative alternatives to using substitutes. At PVRS, classes are being pooled into large study hall sessions where, PVRS student Dana McRae said, “you basically sit there for a block and don’t do anything.”PRICELESS
When they’re available, teachers say they are being asked to cover classes outside of their subject area.
“I had a calculus class in the chorus room,” McRae said. “The chorus teacher doesn’t know how to teach calculus.”
Some teachers said they might plan another demonstration next weekend in Bernardston.
“There needs to be accountability,” Brown said. “There needs to be a change to be able to manage the funds that these towns so kindly and generously vote in to support our schools.”
IT'S TIME YOU ALL STAND YOUR GROUND AND SHOW UP AT THESE MEETINGS AND DEMAND THIS SC STEPS DOWN. HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE THEM.
Listen your gonna need teachers and administrators who love this school and know it to bring her back and to once again bring school choice back to PVRS. What you have now won't cut it. You need Mike Duprey and Dayle Dorion and Cathy HH, and teachers whos careers were here and dedicated to this school and these kids. They are who made PVRS and its time to undo a wrong that has been done or close the doors cause this is over.
For years I have kept you informed and fought for you its now time that you all step up and fight for your school , teachers and kids beccause you are the warriors they need .Fight now or lose all that matters . I pray God saves PVRS.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
PVRS SC never learns
OMG. This would be funny if it wasn't
for the fact that PVRS has been warned about this since Miller came.
Templeton also warned them. One of my favorite quotes from Templeton was
from Bev who stated "I hope PVRS has deep pockets because your gonna
need them" Also stated was by another Templeton SC member was "Watch
your budget". PVRS SC was warned over and over and did nothing. It was
also stated not to let her be business MGR, they ignored it. Miller was
not at this meeting because she is busy readjusting numbers. Heres
another heads up PVRS- Bacon should be watched very closely. Are readers
aware she suspended a TEACHER for a week because she did not agree with
her? I could go on but its time you do your own research, so,
Suggestion start digging people. Good luck.
NORTHFIELD — Having gotten off to a particularly slow start in the budget process this year, the Pioneer Valley Regional School District budget subcommittee hopes to push back the annual budget hearing until March 8.
However, because the regional agreement requires the district adopt a budget by Feb. 15, the subcommittee intends to ask the selectboards in Leyden, Bernardston, Northfield and Warwick, by letter, for an extra month of time.
Pushing the budget hearing back was discussed during Thursday’s meeting, the second budget subcommittee meeting of this budget season where there was not enough financial information. The subcommittee was presented only with current fiscal year figures rather than projections for FY19, and unclear facility budgets for the five schools.
By comparison, budget meetings were underway in December of 2016 to prepare the current fiscal year’s budget.
Last year’s budget hearing was rescheduled multiple times due to weather, finally being held on March 2. Given pushback from residents at the hearing, the School Committee was forced to reconsider its proposed increases, and was not able to approve its approximately $14.2 million budget until March 7.
The inexplicable delay in planning distressed community members.
“This process should be well in place, going on, in December as in years past,” said Frank Ribeiro, past chairman of the Bernardston Finance Committee.
Looking at the presented documents, Ribeiro admitted he felt sorry for the budget subcommittee for the little information it had available.
“This is, I’ve gotta say, kind of pathetic,” he said. “This is sad, and I think it reflects on what’s been talked about as far as this administration. Hopefully we’ll never get into this mess again.”
Superintendent Ruth Miller was not present at the meeting, which budget subcommittee Chairman David Young said was because of illness. However, her absence created confusion among the subcommittee.
“I can’t make heads or tails of this,” subcommittee member Jim Bell said while looking at the documents. “We need more of an explanation is what we need.”
“We’re second-guessing and nobody knows what’s going on,” subcommittee member Patricia Shearer agreed.
Given the lack of information, members thought it necessary to push back the budget hearing if possible.
“We aren’t ready to finalize a budget,” subcommittee member Peggy Kaeppel said. “It’s the 18th of January!”
“It’s not a permanent thing,” Young said of moving the deadline. “It’s just a this year thing.”
Pioneer has violated the regional agreement before, involving an election cycle mix-up in 2016. At the time, Christine Lynch, a consultant with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, who oversees regional agreements, said violations to regional agreements are local issues and should be worked out among the involved towns.
However, Young also hoped there could be a pre-hearing this year so the budget subcommittee could use public comments and suggestions to frame the budget process. The budget pre-hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.
Following a full School Committee meeting next Thursday at 7 p.m. at Pioneer, the next budget subcommittee meeting will be held on Jan. 30.
NORTHFIELD — Having gotten off to a particularly slow start in the budget process this year, the Pioneer Valley Regional School District budget subcommittee hopes to push back the annual budget hearing until March 8.
However, because the regional agreement requires the district adopt a budget by Feb. 15, the subcommittee intends to ask the selectboards in Leyden, Bernardston, Northfield and Warwick, by letter, for an extra month of time.
Pushing the budget hearing back was discussed during Thursday’s meeting, the second budget subcommittee meeting of this budget season where there was not enough financial information. The subcommittee was presented only with current fiscal year figures rather than projections for FY19, and unclear facility budgets for the five schools.
By comparison, budget meetings were underway in December of 2016 to prepare the current fiscal year’s budget.
Last year’s budget hearing was rescheduled multiple times due to weather, finally being held on March 2. Given pushback from residents at the hearing, the School Committee was forced to reconsider its proposed increases, and was not able to approve its approximately $14.2 million budget until March 7.
“This process should be well in place, going on, in December as in years past,” said Frank Ribeiro, past chairman of the Bernardston Finance Committee.
Looking at the presented documents, Ribeiro admitted he felt sorry for the budget subcommittee for the little information it had available.
“This is, I’ve gotta say, kind of pathetic,” he said. “This is sad, and I think it reflects on what’s been talked about as far as this administration. Hopefully we’ll never get into this mess again.”
Superintendent Ruth Miller was not present at the meeting, which budget subcommittee Chairman David Young said was because of illness. However, her absence created confusion among the subcommittee.
“I can’t make heads or tails of this,” subcommittee member Jim Bell said while looking at the documents. “We need more of an explanation is what we need.”
“We’re second-guessing and nobody knows what’s going on,” subcommittee member Patricia Shearer agreed.
Given the lack of information, members thought it necessary to push back the budget hearing if possible.
“We aren’t ready to finalize a budget,” subcommittee member Peggy Kaeppel said. “It’s the 18th of January!”
“It’s not a permanent thing,” Young said of moving the deadline. “It’s just a this year thing.”
Pioneer has violated the regional agreement before, involving an election cycle mix-up in 2016. At the time, Christine Lynch, a consultant with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, who oversees regional agreements, said violations to regional agreements are local issues and should be worked out among the involved towns.
However, Young also hoped there could be a pre-hearing this year so the budget subcommittee could use public comments and suggestions to frame the budget process. The budget pre-hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.
Following a full School Committee meeting next Thursday at 7 p.m. at Pioneer, the next budget subcommittee meeting will be held on Jan. 30.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
She screws up again.
It amazes me how she screws up and manages to come up with an excuse every time. However, you did notice that her raise and those raises in her office and principal and VP were not undercut.
She is not just trying to balance the books but balance her mistakes now that PVRS hired a business manager, which was also long overdue. $282,514.00 is a big request and also why would you depend on reimbursements you were not sure of to fix an underlying issue? One thing is for sure her constant mistakes sure do add up. Seems the ones who suffer the most are teachers and students.
The Pioneer Valley Regional School District
is in a tight fiscal spot once again, this time with its substitute teacher budget.
Superintendent Ruth Miller recently presented the School Committee with expenditure reports showing that while the elementary schools’ substitute teacher budgets were well-funded, half-way in the year Pioneer’s substitute budget has only $1,494 unencumbered, or 4.27 percent.
“What’s scary is how much has already been used,” she told the committee last week.
Earlier this year, Miller reported the district needs another $282,514 to balance the books for the current school year, a deficit which primarily resulted from the district receiving $303,601 less in regional busing reimbursement than she anticipated. Though the School Committee has floated ideas of possible cuts, it has taken no formal action.
School Committee members wondered how Pioneer’s fund could be so near depletion by mid-school year. Because there are more staff at Pioneer than at the elementary schools, Miller explained, there are more opportunities for needing substitutes. But the substitute budget was cut for this year in step with teacher cuts. Substitute budgets at Pioneer, Bernardston Elementary and Northfield Elementary were each cut by $5,000.
“It looks to me that relative to the elementary schools, we under-budgeted for Pioneer,” said committee member David Young, noting that Pioneer represents approximately half of the district’s student population. “I don’t think we’re overspending as much as we under-budgeted.”
How it comparesPioneer’s $35,000 substitute budget represents 41.62 percent of the district’s total amount budgeted for substitutes, $84,100.
Bernardston Elementary School’s $15,000 substitute budget has $7,555 unencumbered, or 50.37 percent; Pearl Rhodes Elementary School’s $6,600 substitute budget has $4,835 unencumbered, or 73.25 percent; Northfield Elementary School’s $20,000 substitute budget has $10,532 unencumbered, or 52.66 percent; and Warwick Community School’s $7,500 substitute budget has $5,907 unencumbered, or 78.77 percent.
Miller seemed unsure how to reconcile the pending shortage.
“Our reluctance in budgeting is, do we really want to put another $35,000 in (the Pioneer substitute budget) and then what are we going to take away from the students to be able to meet that $70,000?” she asked committee members.
However, when asked Wednesday, Miller said “if the trend continues the way it is right now, there’ll be money left in the elementary schools’ substitute budgets” to hopefully offset Pioneer’s spending. In the past, if the substitute budgets go over, Miller said superintendents adjust the rest of the budget accordingly.
“It’s not an exact science,” she said. “It’s just not predictable. You can’t predict when people are going to get sick or when they’re going to have a baby or when they’re going to be injured.”
She is not just trying to balance the books but balance her mistakes now that PVRS hired a business manager, which was also long overdue. $282,514.00 is a big request and also why would you depend on reimbursements you were not sure of to fix an underlying issue? One thing is for sure her constant mistakes sure do add up. Seems the ones who suffer the most are teachers and students.
The Pioneer Valley Regional School District
is in a tight fiscal spot once again, this time with its substitute teacher budget.
Superintendent Ruth Miller recently presented the School Committee with expenditure reports showing that while the elementary schools’ substitute teacher budgets were well-funded, half-way in the year Pioneer’s substitute budget has only $1,494 unencumbered, or 4.27 percent.
“What’s scary is how much has already been used,” she told the committee last week.
Earlier this year, Miller reported the district needs another $282,514 to balance the books for the current school year, a deficit which primarily resulted from the district receiving $303,601 less in regional busing reimbursement than she anticipated. Though the School Committee has floated ideas of possible cuts, it has taken no formal action.
School Committee members wondered how Pioneer’s fund could be so near depletion by mid-school year. Because there are more staff at Pioneer than at the elementary schools, Miller explained, there are more opportunities for needing substitutes. But the substitute budget was cut for this year in step with teacher cuts. Substitute budgets at Pioneer, Bernardston Elementary and Northfield Elementary were each cut by $5,000.
How it comparesPioneer’s $35,000 substitute budget represents 41.62 percent of the district’s total amount budgeted for substitutes, $84,100.
Bernardston Elementary School’s $15,000 substitute budget has $7,555 unencumbered, or 50.37 percent; Pearl Rhodes Elementary School’s $6,600 substitute budget has $4,835 unencumbered, or 73.25 percent; Northfield Elementary School’s $20,000 substitute budget has $10,532 unencumbered, or 52.66 percent; and Warwick Community School’s $7,500 substitute budget has $5,907 unencumbered, or 78.77 percent.
Miller seemed unsure how to reconcile the pending shortage.
“Our reluctance in budgeting is, do we really want to put another $35,000 in (the Pioneer substitute budget) and then what are we going to take away from the students to be able to meet that $70,000?” she asked committee members.
However, when asked Wednesday, Miller said “if the trend continues the way it is right now, there’ll be money left in the elementary schools’ substitute budgets” to hopefully offset Pioneer’s spending. In the past, if the substitute budgets go over, Miller said superintendents adjust the rest of the budget accordingly.
“It’s not an exact science,” she said. “It’s just not predictable. You can’t predict when people are going to get sick or when they’re going to have a baby or when they’re going to be injured.”
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