Dallastown school board member wants to probe staff political activ...

Dallastown Area School Board member Carroll Tignall Jr., who is chairman of the policy committee, requested the board vote Thursday night to have the policy committee investigate administrative and staff political activities during the 2009 primary and election.

[Dallasown Resident]

Smoke and mirrors. This is to throw people off the trail on the immoral and corrupt nazi who is superindendent you got a 22,000$$ pay raise.

Dallastown is Morally Dead. Move out people and shake the dust from your show. Better yet Osma bin Weinburg why dont you move back to Alaska. But then again this was the furthest place who could not track your personal antics there before your in the ocean geographically

[Just Sayin]

This article is poorly written, for anyone not in the district that may have any knowledge of what is being asked. Very cryptic. Again YDR editorial staff, assumes the reader thinks like they do.

[Yorkie]

Can you say witch hunt????

[ThankfullyCentra lResident]

um...wow.

[In The Know]

The facts of the case start withnm Stewart Weinberg, the superintendent, using the district's phone system to mobilize parent particiapation in the school board election.

He used it twice.

The first time he deliberately mentioned a Parent Teacher Organization questionaire of school board candidates that was designed to promote anti-taxpayer candidates.

A public school employee, Lauren Rock, also active in a PTO, was running as a school board candidate last year against pro-taxpayer candidate Larry Wolfe.

There are questions about what other staff did in connection with the election including the allegations that teachers were giving students favors in class for bringing their parents "I Voted" stickers to school after the school board election.

All this points to a delibrate effort by employees of the Dallastown School District to mobilize the parent voters to support the tax and spend candidates who ran last year.

[Overtaxed Springfielder]

In The Know wrote:

There are questions about what other staff did in connection with the election including the allegations that teachers were giving students favors in class for bringing their parents "I Voted" stickers to school after the school board election.

All this points to a delibrate effort by employees of the Dallastown School District to mobilize the parent voters to support the tax and spend candidates who ran last year.

....not to mention the professional (and part-time, extra curricular contract) staff who allowed their various email lists for players and Booster clubs to be used for "get out the vote" efforts out of fear that Larry Wolfe might be elected and succeed in merely investigating and discussing "pay to play".

Some things should just not be talked about in public....meetings, that is./sarcasm

[And TheTruth Is]

ThankfullyCentralResident wrote:

um...wow.

Central's strategy right now is to bait and switch taxpayers over a new teacher contract with the union in on the action.

Union lawyer Clinton Gibbs says pension legislation in Harrisburg is delaying the start of contract talks.

The union backed legislation that sailed through the State House last month 192-6 postpones until later the big payouts needed from school district to sustain the pension system.

Meanwhile, the Central York newsletter is out with School Board President Eric Wolfgang touting the set aside of funds in this year's budget for pension payments.

If the legislature changes the amount the district has to pay out in that pension legislation, expect Mr. Wolfgang and Mr. Gibbs to be signing off on a pay hike for Central teachers justified by taking some of that "not needed" pension set aside money.

The politicians in Harrisburg, the local school boards and the union all working together to keep lining union members pockets in Pennsylvania.

Lets follow the New Jersey example where the governor there is calling for a teacher pay freeze and superintendent pay cuts to offer property taxpayers relief.

[Enough]

Overtaxed Springfielder wrote:

<quoted text>
....not to mention the professional (and part-time, extra curricular contract) staff who allowed their various email lists for players and Booster clubs to be used for "get out the vote" efforts out of fear that Larry Wolfe might be elected and succeed in merely investigating and discussing "pay to play".
Some things should just not be talked about in public....meetings, that is./sarcasm

YES! this was a prime example of Spendberg and his flunkies doing there best to try and re-rail Larry Wolfe, who they knew would look for ways to reduce costs to the taxpayers. Instead we got Lauren rock, just another vote in Spendbergs back pocket. Our school board is a disgrace.

[And TheTruth Is]

Lets spend less in our school districts by cutting administration salaries in future contracts.

Lets freeze teacher salaries in future contracts.

Lets have school board candidates run on this agenda.

Pay and benefits are where the bulk of taxpayer dollars get spent for education.

Controlling spending is the key to controlling taxation.

[Dtown Mom]

In The Know wrote:

The facts of the case start withnm Stewart Weinberg, the superintendent, using the district's phone system to mobilize parent particiapation in the school board election.
He used it twice.

So freakin' what. Weinberg urged parents to vote. Sad that parents need to be urged to vote, but I don't see the problem.

In The Know wrote:

The first time he deliberately mentioned a Parent Teacher Organization questionaire of school board candidates that was designed to promote anti-taxpayer candidates.

Totally false. The questionnaire asked the same questions to all candidates. Parents were coming to PTO meetings asking questions about the different candidates and the PTOs decided to put together a questionnaire that would outline the candidates' platforms in a fair and equitable manner. There is no basis for this allegation that the questionnaire was biased in any way.

In The Know wrote:

A public school employee, Lauren Rock, also active in a PTO, was running as a school board candidate last year against pro-taxpayer candidate Larry Wolfe.

Larry Wolfe is obviously still really miffed; hence this complete waste of time.

In The Know wrote:

There are questions about what other staff did in connection with the election including the allegations that teachers were giving students favors in class for bringing their parents "I Voted" stickers to school after the school board election.

This was not the first time that students were encouraged to vote or encouraged to have parents vote, so I don't think this can be construed as a conspiracy. Every election is used to educate kids on the political process and the importance of voting.

In The Know wrote:

All this points to a delibrate effort by employees of the Dallastown School District to mobilize the parent voters to support the tax and spend candidates who ran last year.

Time to move on, folks. Time to move on.

[Dtown Mom]

Obviously from my post above, I think this is a ridiculous waste of time. Tignall is crotchety and only on the school board to seek revenge on Weinberg.

That being said, I am a taxpayer as well as a mom. And I think that Weinberg should have forgone his bonus and/or pay raise. If I were superintendent :), I would have graciously thanked the board but said it would be unfair to accept the bonus and/or raise in such tough economic times. I think this would have gone a long way in appeasing some of us over-taxed Dtown residents.

[Overtaxed Springfielder]

Dtown Mom wrote:

I think that Weinberg should have forgone his bonus and/or pay raise. If I were superintendent :), I would have graciously thanked the board but said it would be unfair to accept the bonus and/or raise in such tough economic times. I think this would have gone a long way in appeasing some of us over-taxed Dtown residents.

Even better, if he would have directed that the raise be given to Dallastown Dollars for Scholars.

It IS all about the children, isn't it?

[Spot On]

In The Know wrote:

The facts of the case start withnm Stewart Weinberg, the superintendent, using the district's phone system to mobilize parent particiapation in the school board election.
He used it twice.
The first time he deliberately mentioned a Parent Teacher Organization questionaire of school board candidates that was designed to promote anti-taxpayer candidates.
A public school employee, Lauren Rock, also active in a PTO, was running as a school board candidate last year against pro-taxpayer candidate Larry Wolfe.

There are questions about what other staff did in connection with the election including the allegations that teachers were giving students favors in class for bringing their parents "I Voted" stickers to school after the school board election.
All this points to a delibrate effort by employees of the Dallastown School District to mobilize the parent voters to support the tax and spend candidates who ran last year.

Very well put. Thanks for filling in the blanks for those less informed than you and I. I questioned these tactics all fall. I do not attend Booster Club meetings, banquets, and/or Meet the Team Nights to hear Weinberg spout off on his political agendas and insult Board Members that don't rubber stamp everything he wants. Not only is it unprofessional, it is unwelcome and inappropriate. That goes for the Coaches, Booster Club members, and everyone else who included me in their mass e-mails. Perhaps Weinberg's behaviors at these venues should be investigated as well....only not by the Board that he has, for the most part, put in place. The Board of Ed might need to look into this.

Frankly, the pay-to-play threat was a strategy used by Weinberg to alarm parents into thinking that was even a possibility. Honestly, every Coach, PTO, Booster Club Officer, and teachers who sent mass e-mails urging people to run to the polls to prevent pay-to-play was simply his pawn.

Just wondering, Dallastown Board Members, were these some of the "goals" he accomplished when you rewarded him that astronomical bonus??

[You are misinformed]

And TheTruth Is wrote:

<quoted text>
Central's strategy right now is to bait and switch taxpayers over a new teacher contract with the union in on the action.
Union lawyer Clinton Gibbs says pension legislation in Harrisburg is delaying the start of contract talks.
The union backed legislation that sailed through the State House last month 192-6 postpones until later the big payouts needed from school district to sustain the pension system.
Meanwhile, the Central York newsletter is out with School Board President Eric Wolfgang touting the set aside of funds in this year's budget for pension payments.
If the legislature changes the amount the district has to pay out in that pension legislation, expect Mr. Wolfgang and Mr. Gibbs to be signing off on a pay hike for Central teachers justified by taking some of that "not needed" pension set aside money.
The politicians in Harrisburg, the local school boards and the union all working together to keep lining union members pockets in Pennsylvania.
Lets follow the New Jersey example where the governor there is calling for a teacher pay freeze and superintendent pay cuts to offer property taxpayers relief.

Ummm....Looking for actual facts here regarding the Central teachers. Oh right, there aren't any.

[Snake doc]

You are misinformed wrote:

<quoted text>
Ummm....Looking for actual facts here regarding the Central teachers. Oh right, there aren't any.

Is there another kind of facts? Or is that an oxymoron? I don't know becuase I'm not a Dallastown Alumi, I am married to one though. I think it's kind of funny that D-town cuts benefits for retirees and teachers make concessions on their contract and then Stewy gets a fat raise and an $18K bonus check? Wow, Stew you should be a state legislator.

[Dtown Mom]

Overtaxed Springfielder wrote:

<quoted text>
It IS all about the children, isn't it?

No, it isn't. That's why I said he should have rejected his bonus and raise. And I also don't think that taxes should have been raised this year. Not one dime.

I wish the school board could be filled with people who can look at each side (taxpayer and education) and make fair decisions. Instead we are left with Weinberg's cronies who can't exercise moderation and crotchety old taxpayers with no interest in the education of our kids. And both sides involved are more concerned with destroying the other than their actual task at hand.

[Springfield Taxpayer]

Dtown Mom wrote:

<quoted text>
I wish the school board could be filled with people who can look at each side (taxpayer and education) and make fair decisions. Instead we are left with Weinberg's cronies who can't exercise moderation and crotchety old taxpayers with no interest in the education of our kids. And both sides involved are more concerned with destroying the other than their actual task at hand.

I'd like eight more like Don Jassman.

[Downtown Man]

Dtown Mom wrote:

Obviously from my post above, I think this is a ridiculous waste of time. Tignall is crotchety and only on the school board to seek revenge on Weinberg.
That being said, I am a taxpayer as well as a mom. And I think that Weinberg should have forgone his bonus and/or pay raise. If I were superintendent :), I would have graciously thanked the board but said it would be unfair to accept the bonus and/or raise in such tough economic times. I think this would have gone a long way in appeasing some of us over-taxed Dtown residents.

Ifin I wuz superindent I wuld do it fer haff of wat Weinbeg gits.