I don’t question that teachers and perhaps even some WCBOE bureaucrats need to travel for conferences, seminars, etc. However, if the Wicomico County Board of Education really needs to send employees on junkets to Vegas and Disneyland, why do our elected officials have to fight to get that information?
Why do WCBOE educrats hold the taxpayer in such low regard that they spend our hard earned money on expensive dinners at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse? Why do taxpayers have to buy WCBOE employees their morning coffee at Starbucks? Why can’t bureacrats drive home in the evening when they attend a seminar in St. Michaels (just over an hour away)?
We deserve answers. Sadly, stonewalling is the preferred modus operandi over at the WCBOE. If you think about it, that’s the answer – we’re really nothing to the WCBOE but a pile of human cash registers to be robbed.
Tomorrow – Part II Why do taxpayers pay BOE employees to eat WHILE THEY ARE IN SALISBURY?
38 comments:
Well G.A. I see it like this. An elected school board would put an end to a lot of this wasteful spending. You know I've been working on that recently. We are one of 3 counties left in the entire state with an appointed school board. I spoke today with someone who once taught in Pennsylvania and now teaches in maryland. He told me that for the four years he taught in PA he never saw such waste in a school system. Their BOE was elected. He said that the entire WCBOE is so top heavy it isn't funny. He told me that the waste of salaries paid to people who do nothing is unbelievable. An elected school board that answers to the public would not be refusing to return phone calls nor would they be ignorant to the people. I will bring everyone up to speed at the next AFP meeting. A lot has been happening in that arena.
Today, in the Daily Times, you can read an essay by a man who should be one of this countys treasures. Joe Ollinger is a bright, common sense man who sees logic before emotion. JA, he is your kind of man. Please find a way to bring us his thoughts and opinions (his past op-ed letters) and encourage him to become more active. We will all be better off.
The scrutiny that you think hold the WBOE to is ridiculous. You seem to be one of those people who think that all the BOE should be is a group of teachers who report in the morning, babysit the kids, and then leave. No administration. No skill development. No improvements. You're suggesting a level of micromanagement that would impede on an already delicate balance and process of educating our children.
Fredericksen sure has lunch/dinner quite often with Ms. Wright, according to the receipts.
absolutely disgusting! It really infuriates me that the WBOE allows their staff to stay at Disney World, Disney Land and eat at Ruth Chris.
Damn, I get sick reading this kind of stuff. I got furloughed last year and had my pay cut - permanently. No raise in 3 years. Cost of benefits keep going up while allowing you less. Still found reason to feel blessed - until now. Come on you jerks - eating at Ruth's Chris? I can't even eat at Plaza Tapitia or Tequilla Mockingbird let alone a place like that. And spending the night at a fancy motel??? please... my idea of a fancy hotel is one where the a/c works, there is some sort of continental breakfast all for under $70 bucks - well I guess that's a reach. Hotel rooms cost more than that at good places - you know, like the type of places these guys and gals stayed at.
They get away with it, G.A. because we Wicomico County residents LET them get away with it. Where is the outrage? the indignity? the sense of moral corruption? Answer - other than Joe Holloway, there is NONE. Get it while you can, boys, while these dumb Wicomico citizens keep opening up their coffers for us.
Its getting to the point where I don't even care anymore. No one else does, so why bother. You want proof? This post will generate no more than 30-40 responses and then tomorrow all these other new topics will come up on line and everyone will just forget about it. Wait and see
Here is a story to follow Joe. Wicomico High School Yesterday, Tuesday, kid running down the hall pushing people out of the way, and gets pushed back or kid stands tall and does not move like he wanted him to. The kid drops his books turns and punches the other kid in the face, the kid that gets hit defends himself and fights back.
Teacher breaking up fight gets hit twice from the first kid that started the whole thing. Now the kid that got hit first and defended himself is 4.0 or greater honor roll student, Can probably attend College of his choice because of grades, music, art and sports. Now the kid has his first suspension ever because he defended himself, and the kid that started it all probably does not have clean record but because he is varsity football everyone is saying he will not be expelled even for hitting the teacher. Now look into this one and keep us posted.
I see no issues with any of the locations where the dinners were purchased. I looked at every receipt in detail and according to the travel guidelines of the BOE, they are in line.
Also, since you took the time to share these receipts, can you please separate them into taxpayer money vs. grant money. In most of the receipts, I bet that it is federal or state grant money that was written into the grant.
Bet you can't do that one GA...the challenge has been set!
You are way over the line on this one. There is too much information shared on your big document that is setting you up for a lawsuit or some retribution. Information like this should not be visible to the public. You could be liable for identity theft if some of the information is used in the wrong way.
From an attorney...
9:28, you must be a teacher, and you are an idiot. Where the hell do you think grant money comes from? From the money tree? No, idiot, it comes from TAXPAYERS.
I personally saw the Superintendent at a very CLOSE mexican lunch spot (which we all love) eating yesterday. I had to wonder, does my land taxes pay for that?
"Also, since you took the time to share these receipts, can you please separate them into taxpayer money vs. grant money. In most of the receipts, I bet that it is federal or state grant money that was written into the grant."
OK, smarty-pants education related person. If this grant money isn't taxpayer money, where did it come from?
After reviewing these documents, I want to know what this MABE thing is. It's really expensive!
BOE should work like the private sector and Federal Gov't - pay a per diem for food but only when you are away from home. If you want to spend it on 1/2 of your meal at Ruth's Chris, or Combos, or whatever, so be it. You pay the balance out of your own bank account. Eat a can of tuna fish for dinner, and pocket the difference.
9:28, what sort of grant money allows one to eat at an expensive place like Ruths Chris? anyway, you really are an idiot! I HOPE you are not a teacher, we need smarter people than this teaching our kids.
The BOE does have a per diem. I am not sure what the amount is, but it doesn't matter if they ate steak at Golden Coral, Texas Roadhouse or Ruth's Cris, you only get a certain amount of Board money to spend it on, the rest is up to you. What DON'T you people get about that?
how much did the 95 dollar inside out care care invoice help the children? this is bs. buy your own coffee and food. get off your asses and our nickle and teach. that is what you are there for. this should not be tolerated. its funny how govt employees compare themselves to private employees when its convenient. if this crap happened in my business they would be collecting some of obamas change from the unemployment line. kick a joe.
Anon 2037 -
Did you READ what I posted? I didn't argue that some (perhaps most) of these trips may be useful or necessary. Do I think we ought to pay for Mark Thompson to work on his tan in San Diego? No. I also don't advocate "babysitting". Get a grip. If the WCBOE actually started to show some concern for the people who actually pay the bills then they might actually see support for public schools go up. It's not the vast majority of teachers who are the problem. It's a few teachers and a lot of bureaucrats who are the problem.
Anon 2111 -
It's not just Joe Holloway who cares. However, we need more people to stand up say NO! If you just walk away, that's when the government class has us beat.
Anon 2128 -
Since you are so familiar with WCBOE travel guidelines I can only assume that you work for the WCBOE. I only pray that you are not a teacher.
You state -
"Also, since you took the time to share these receipts, can you please separate them into taxpayer money vs. grant money. In most of the receipts, I bet that it is federal or state grant money that was written into the grant."
As Anon 2211 points out, if it's state or federal money it's still taxpayer dollars. You obviously failed the same economics class as your fearless leader John Fredericksen.
Again, I pray that you are NOT a teacher.
Anon 2229 -
MABE is the Maryland Association of Boards of Education. In fact, the link under "(MABE)" takes you to their web site. Honestly, I can't tell you whether it's worth the money sending people there or not. I know a couple of former board members who are good people and they said they actually learned quite a bit.
It's not the trips that bug me half as much as some of the stuff you'll see in Parts II and III. Sure, trips cost money. Some may be worth it, others may be a waste of money. It's just the attitude of some of these educrats. An example - why do you have to stay overnight in St. Michaels when it's just over an hour away?
8:36 - Michelle Wright and Dr. Freddy do seem to dine together often. Charles, you better be asking your wife some questions, man.
Anonymous said...
Fredericksen sure has lunch/dinner quite often with Ms. Wright, according to the receipts.
8:36 PM
I was getting ready to ask if I was the only one that thought something was going on with these 2.
Anonymous said...
Today, in the Daily Times, you can read an essay by a man who should be one of this countys treasures. Joe Ollinger is a bright, common sense man who sees logic before emotion. JA, he is your kind of man. Please find a way to bring us his thoughts and opinions (his past op-ed letters) and encourage him to become more active. We will all be better off.
8:35 PM
WTF!! Joe Ollinger is a POS. He is right up there with Mackes and the rest of the Criminals pimping the county tax dollars.
Anonymous said...
I see no issues with any of the locations where the dinners were purchased. I looked at every receipt in detail and according to the travel guidelines of the BOE, they are in line.
Also, since you took the time to share these receipts, can you please separate them into taxpayer money vs. grant money. In most of the receipts, I bet that it is federal or state grant money that was written into the grant.
Bet you can't do that one GA...the challenge has been set!
9:28 PM
Look BOZO
Grant Money = Tax Dollars
Joe Ollinger??? Are you kidding??? His vision is as limited as his intelligence. Please
If 9:40 is an attorney, he is an out of work attorney. Money spent by govt is public record.
Well at least I now understand how Goin Nuts stays in business. I always wondered that.
Gee lunch for four at Hooters for 24 dollars? Sounds like a money savings to me. Or are you so tight assed that you just can't let anyone go to Hooters because it does not fit your moral thinking. Please get off it. Who is the one with the problem here????????
Fredrickson,s and Mackies salary combined are almost $300.000 a year. Why are we buying their lunch?
This comment is to anon 9:28
You have clearly been employed by the gov't for too long. First of all it does not matter if it's grant money, county,state,or federal dollars, it,s taxpayers dollars. The sooner people like you wake up and understand this the better off we all will be. (I hope you don't teach economics at the WCBOE)
Going to Hooters for a "Closing the Gap Conference" Hmmmmmmmm
Hey 9:40
Your an idiot , bring em on!
9:40
Liar , Liar, pants on fire.
9:12 that same thing supposedly occurred down in Somerset with the same results. The wrong person or child was suspended.
I'm a parent with two children in Wicomico County, and I looked at each reciept and I don't see what's wrong with them, and please don't come on here trying to insult my intelligence either just because I don't agree with the poster. As long as it was school buisness than that is fine by me. Now if you had told me that they were eating dinner on the taxpayer's dime and couldn't provide documentation then I would be concerned.
MABE is the Maryland Association of Boards of Education - the teacher's union. Oh wait, they don't have a union...
JOE,
PLEASE post copies of some of those food receipts on your blog!! Tell me why the HELL they need to eat a Ruth's Chris on my dime and spend $271!!!. Must be nice to be eating steak and shrimp at one of the most expensive rest. on the east coast on OUR MONEY. WTF!!!!
MABE serves lunch, why are they not eating at the conference????
Anonymous 8:08 - MABE is not the teacher's union. The MSEA (Maryland State Education Association) is the teacher's union. Keep in mind that board members and teachers are very differnt positions.
Fredrickson needs to go. The Board made a bad hire here.
Dr. F. is socially friendly with many of the Board members. That's why it's so hard to get anything passed that he disagrees with.
? Mark Thompson working on his tan is hilarious since he is black you stupid idiots.....
I dont see anything to indicate since Mark Thompson and Dr. Frederickson meet quite often that this would mean they are "gay" like you are insuating something between Ms. Wright and Dr. Frederickson. This is way out of the line and you should be ashamed of yourselves. I thought the topic is spending outside of what you consider the guidelines not to take it to a level you have NO BUSINESS DOING... SHAME ON YOU ALL..
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