North Penn Answers - Edition 3

Here is the link to the new edition of North Penn Answers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_wS5U2RIJI

Also, here is the rebuttal from the NPEA:

North Penn Answers: Episode 3
During the first 3:20 of this episode, Mr. Sherpinsky provides background on the Act 1 Taxpayer Relief Act signed into law on June 27, 2006.
REAL TRUTH—Mr. Sherpinsky provides a detailed explanation about Pennsylvania’s Act 1. It is important to note that Act 1 will limit tax increases in the future regardless of who serves on the board of school directors. It is also important to note that while the Act 1 index ceiling was 1.4% for the 2010-2011 school year, this board chose to implement a 0% increase—a decision that will handicap the district for many years to come. A 1.4% increase in school taxes would have generated over $2 million dollars for the district last year and for EVERY school year going forward. Mr. Sherpinsky correctly projects the 2011-2012 Act 1 increase at under 1 percent. The truth is that ANY future school board will have difficulty generating the necessary revenues to maintain programs and staff.
At 2:52-Mr. Sherpinsky discusses Act 1 exceptions at 3:16 stating, "North Penn has never applied for the Act 1 exceptions because we didn’t need it."
REAL TRUTH—In the fall of 2010, the NPSD business manager strongly advised that the district apply for the Act 1 exceptions for 2010-2011. Exceptions were available for both pension contributions and special education costs. Evidently the board chose to ignore his advice. There is support in the state legislature to remove these exceptions for future budget seasons. Another opportunity to generate revenue for maintaining programs and staff may have been lost.
At 4:53-Sherpinsky states that, "The impact for Act 1 was the introduction of competition for tax dollars for education. These limits mean that there is only so much money for education."
REAL TRUTH—The NPSB has NEVER taxed the community up to or over the Act 1 limit. There has always been money left on the table every budget year since the implementation of Act 1.
At 5:34-Sherpinsky states that, "This board takes a hard line against increasing any spending that doesn’t improve the quality of education."
REAL TRUTH—According to reporting in The Intelligencer, the board spent $224,000 in taxpayer money on legal fees, dozens of newspaper ads and mailers, and the hiring of a PR consultant on a monthly retainer during the 2010 teacher contract negotiations. The board currently employs three different law firms to represent their interests on labor issues and negotiations. The only hard line this board takes is against its own teaching staff, the very people who actually do improve the quality of education in the district.
At 7:04-Dr. Dietrich reviews the district process for evaluating vacancies in the district.
REAL TRUTH—Of the over 40 teaching vacancies this year created by retirements or resignations, only one new permanent teacher was hired from outside the district for this coming school year. Over 70 teaching positions have been eliminated over the last two years due to "living with vacancies."
At 11:03 Mr. Sullivan addresses a question about the loss of a guidance counselor position at Pennfield stating that staffing, "….is within the PA state counselor ratio guidelines and has been deemed adequate."
REAL TRUTH— Do we now simply aspire to be "adequate?" Further questions follow: PA state counselor guidelines from whom? What is the ratio to which you are referring? Are we at the top or the bottom? How do we compare with other districts in our region?
At 11:57-Mr. Sullivan continues to address the issue reading the following graphic, "Pennfield will have a contracted counselor from Northwestern 1.5 days per week to conduct group sessions, provide staff development and see students individually."
REAL TRUTH---Mr. Sullivan admits in this statement and graphic that outside counseling services will be needed at Pennfield due to the reduction in staff. Furthermore, this contract with Northwestern represents the outsourcing of work that should be performed by our staff, a violation of our collective bargaining agreement with the school district. For more information, please visit the NPEA website at www.npennea.org
"The REAL Truth"