I’m a huge fan of Daily Times editorial page editor Susan Parker. I don’t agree with her that often, but I do admire her ability as both a writer and an editor. I would also be surprised if Parker wrote Sunday’s unwarranted screed against the Wicomico County Council. Her arguments are typically too well reasoned (even when I disagree with her).
Whoever did write yesterday’s rant, one thing is certain; they weren’t in attendance at last Tuesday’s meeting between the Wicomico County Council and the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE). This piece reads like Pravda come down from the bureaucrats on Long Avenue (the WCBOE).
Any objective individual who had bothered attending a few school board meetings as well as meetings between the WCBOE and the council would immediately see the disjunction between reality and what they read in Sunday’s paper.
Riddled with so many falsehoods and misstatements, this op-ed forces you to question if the piece was written by Supt. John Fredericksen himself:
In the past, locations alternated between the school board and council facilities, but the council has recently refused to meet on school property, instead demanding the school board come to them, which it has done. And rather than the conversations that were intended to take place at these meetings, the council has taken to presenting the school board with lists of questions, an act that creates an atmosphere of suspicion and places school board members on the defensive.
I can’t speak to ALL of the past Wicomico councils. However, at least since 2006 the council has not “alternated” locations for meetings between the council and the WCBOE. Yes, the council has, on occasion, met with the WCBOE over at Long Avenue. I have not found ANY evidence that the council has refused to meet on school property unless there was a scheduling conflict.
To the best of my knowledge, the WCBOE has asked for meetings at a “neutral” location. This borders on childishness and begs the question – Who is making a power play?
As for “presenting the school board with lists of questions”, this is true. The council has done this WITH GOOD REASON.
If the author bothered to attend as many of these meetings as I have, they would have noticed a pattern:
- The council or an individual council member asks a question.
- The WCBOE gives them an answer (I guess this is the “constructive” give and take the author pines for).
- Later on, the council or council member is made aware that the answer provided was either untrue or somehow obfuscated.
- At the next meeting between council and school board, this is brought up and the explanation is given that they obviously misunderstood the question but here is a NEW answer.
- It is then discovered that this answer wasn’t really addressing the council’s question. And on… and on… and on.
So … The council has come up with a better alternative. Certain questions are asked IN WRITING. It’s a little harder to say that the question was “misunderstood”. The WCBOE still obfuscates or delays whenever possible. A great case in point is the request for information on salaries.
Information has been requested by council regarding salaries for years. They receive one report. They find instances where the information is (to be charitable) “incomplete”. They request more complete information. DITTO. Finally, they request the information which appears on each employee’s W-2. NOW, after multiple attempts, the council finally receives the information that they originally requested – after requesting, re-requesting, clarifying, and re-stating their request for MONTHS!
The travel information which has been referred to so often is another great example. The WCBOE claims that this information has been provided AND that it cost THOUSANDS of dollars to put together the information. This isn’t exactly true.
Last year, councilman Joe Holloway (R-5) requested a reporting of the WCBOE’s travel expenses. This was after repeated statements from Fredericksen that travel had been cut back to bare essentials.
After FOUR MONTHS of waiting, and re-requesting the information, the council FINALLY received a report of travel expenses for the previous fiscal year. When this was mentioned to WCBOE controller Bruce Ford he was at a loss. It only took a few minutes to generate the report.
After Holloway received the report, he poured through it and requested supporting documentation for a relatively small number of transactions. This was how the public learned that WCBOE employees were going to Hooters, eating out at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and getting coffee – in town – all on the taxpayers’ dime. SHAME ON YOU Joe Holloway!
No doubt, there was a cost in digging up and duplicating this supporting documentation. Sorry guys! The WCBOE is spending taxpayer dollars. The elected representatives of those taxpayers not only have a right, but a DUTY to examine how those tax dollars are spent.
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Tomorrow we will continue to examine the vain attempt of the “Daily Times” to criticize (ATTACK?) the Wicomico County Council for the unpardonable crime of trying to see that our tax dollars are efficiently spent.
24 comments:
While you're at it take a look at teh mayor of Salisbury, who is employed by the BOE, and his rant (along with that of Laura Mitchell) in an editorial written by the two in Sunday's paper. It is filled with half truths and no real reasons why they wnat busses to go down Only Road to the detriment of the residential setting. Go find out what Frederickson said to the city council. Maybe the BOE is learning for the playground bullies rather than the other way around.
Kudos to the county council for keeping the pressure on the BOE.
Hooters? Ruth Cris? Taxpayers should be asking for a rebate not a tax increase!
Tracy Shaler was at that meeting, who is the wife of Eric Shaler editor of the Times, she also picked up a $20,000 a year raise a couple of years back from the BOE. Being best friends of Pollitt's I am sure her prints are all over that letter.
I am only a taxpayer without any specific opinion of the county council or the Board of Education, however, I read the editorial in yesterday's Times wondering who from the staff had written such a biased piece. It was apparently someone who totally supports the school system and wanted to put the Council in bad light. I wasn't at the meeting that is referred to but for sure it was obvious that this piece didn't present an accurate view. I think one thing that is totally left out is that the council is elected by the taxpayers to manage the revenue that is received. Maybe if we could have a board of ed who has to answer to the taxpayers then just maybe the councl and board would be closer in their thoughts.
Seems to me there is too much tit for tat on both sides. Too much emphasis on who is scoring points and not on working together. Attitudes on BOTH sides need some adjustment. You put your slant, the paper puts theirs, and the kids are ultimately the losers. You want to portray this as black or white, (and for the obtuse,I'm not talking about race)and us vs. them, and it's never that simple. There is enough blame to be shared. Let's try to get over the egos and work together - for a much needed change.
Dig and you will find.
G.A., Thanks for clearing this up. I thought as much when I read the Daily Times yesterday. Council members continue to do you job just as you are doing. Maybe one day the BOE will understand.
After years of having councils that did not ask questions or care I am sure this is hard for the Board to get use to. As Robert Zimmerman (aka Bob Dylan) said The Times They Are A Changing.
Once again, If they give you $20 to spend on dinner, what does it matter where you go to eat? I could spend $20 at Hooters, Ruth's Chris or at McDonald's. Anything over $20 is paid for by the employee. It is the same for every meal, a certain amount is given and anything over that is paid for by the employee. Who cares where they go?
I have been in sales for years and businesses have sent me to conferences and sales classes that were paid for by the business in order to make me a better employee. The BOE does the same for teachers by sending them to conferences. Business meetings have a continental breakfast provided when meetings are held (this includes coffee). Or lunch is provided if the meeting or class last all day. So, the BOE id just doing what is common to all entities that want their employees to improve and provide a professional working environment.
Maybe we should just run the BOE the way Joe Holloway did his store in Parsonsburg and that restaurant he had in Whaleyville. Just wait until an elected school board makes decisions based on politics instead of what is right. Education sure will be pretty on the Lower Shore if some of you have your way.
One of the Saylors should be fired. There is a conflict of interest. And, the DT needs to be more objective with Pollitt too. I support the Council. The WCBOE needs to be transparent just like Pollitt (should be). They answer to voters who pay their salaries and their budgets. They BOTH need to be TRUTHFUL rather than deceptive or repeating falsehoods.
The County Council is making the same mistake many parents have made: thinking that if you ask the Board of Ed. a question in writing, they have to answer truthfully. Even if the Board's answer is in writing, it's rarely the truth.
The council should put a freeze on the amount that BOE wants UNTIL they have all the information the council wants. The children may be out of school for a couple of weeks. Hey now they are out more than they are in.
I'll bet the boe would come up with the information real quick.
Keep up the great work Joe and Bob I backed you for council just keep up the good work and "kick a$$".
Anon 0843 -
I am sorry to disagree, but the city made a commitment to the WCBOE before the new HS was built. As far as Fredericksen being a bully, you are absolutely correct. I hope to find time to do a post on his behavior before the city council.
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Anon 0902 -
I may have missed her, but I did not see Tracy at the council budget session. Try to be objective about this. Tracy is the PIO for the WCBOE. She is a paid spokesperson. I have also found her to be very courteous and professional. To the best of my knowledge she has never lied to me. Does she try to "spin" stuff? Of course, that is part of her job. When I ask her a question, she either gives me an answer or she doesn't. When she does, it is my responsibility to wade through the "spin".
As I noted in the post, this didn't sound like Susan Parker. If Erick Sahler wrote the editorial and didn't disclose it (because of his relationship with the WCBOE), his bosses should be ashamed and Erick should be summarily dismissed. However, I don't know who wrote it and don't think Susan will tell me if I ask her.
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Anon 0903A -
AMEN!
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Anon 0903B -
Sorry to disagree. I am willing to take criticism for "scoring points" and having a bias (unlike the MSM, I am happy to admit to mine).
You are wrong to criticize the council for this. How many meetings do you attend, or even watch? The council members are asking legitimate questions and get stonewalled on a regular basis.
When the WCBOE begins being straight with our elected representativese, then I think that you'll see less criticism heaped on them.
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Anon 0909 -
Sounds good, and I'll admit that you are right on a certain level. However, when John "Holier Than Thou" Fredericksen tries to claim that all travel is ABSOLUTELY essential and that the WCBOE is such a good steward of our tax dollars and then obstructs the council from getting this information; people get a little cynical. I think that the problem with Hooters is that we spend tax dollars to send someone out of town and they are hanging out at Hooters. I think the problem with Ruth's Chris is that the vast majority of folks who pay these people's salaries can't afford to go to Ruth's Chris, but they have to pick up the tab for a WCBOE employee to.
Who said this?
Just wait until an elected school board makes decisions based on politics instead of what is right. Education sure will be pretty on the Lower Shore if some of you have your way.
Are you kidding me? So there is no politics in the BOE now? Let me issue a sincere and strong 'GUFFAW" in you rface.
Again folks, if we follow the logic of people like this guy, we would be back to having kings and queens telling us what to do.
After all it would be free of politics.
Who teaches these Dem tools their logic skills?
The Kremlin?
to all on the council: please keep up the good work. hold ALL accountable that use our tax dollars in any way. the BOE is no exception. i know they think they are above being accountable to anyone but they are in for a rude awakening.
Anon 0843 -
I just found out that I was mistaken. While the Mayor's office did enter into a public works agreement with the WCBOE, there is no record of the Salisbury City Council passing any legislation which commits the city to making changes at the Onley / S. Division / Bateman intersection. There is mention in the PWA of the city agreeing to "improve" the intersection, but the council never approved it.
Who paid for Joe Holloways Millard Tawes Crab Feast ticket ?
Tax payers?
Joe did. Want to try again?
It is not relevant that "the vast majority" can't afford to eat at Ruth's Chris. Twenty dollars is 20 dollars no matter where you spend it. If that's what they are allotted, it is ridiculous to make the "where" an issue. I would say the council is making an issue of nothing if they want to complain about where the allowance allotted is used. Not their job to micromanage that.
Joe Holloway is one of the most honest politicians that I have had the pleasure of meeting. He is very concerned that the taxpayers are not getting ripped off. We need more politicians like him.
3:17
Joe Holloway is an idiot...plain and simple. All he wants to do is stir things up.
Again, the BOE gives $60 per day to eat, $10, $20, and $30 so wherever they want to eat, who cares.
GA, you trying to discriminate against Hooters? As far as I remember, they serve food there. The money is not to buy alcohol as the receipts must be itemized so it can't be done. Shoulds to me that you just have an issue with the waitresses with makes you a pig.
Council members needs to understand the government per diem policy before they start attacking vouchers. You all look so stupid attacking these receipts when the proper proticol was followed. Its all a big drama with the drama queen at the wheel.
Anon 1729 -
It's ironic that the council and Joe Holloway in particular are being castigated for "stirring things up" and not being civil. Yet, it's you (and other WCBOE supporters) who are calling folks idiots and attacking people.
As far as your comment to me, you have a right to your opinion. However, I just think that it's funny as hell that we send people out of town, on the taxpayers' dime, so they can go to Hooters. FYI - I don't have an issue with the waitresses. Only been once and didn't care for the food.
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Anon 2150 -
I think that council members do understand the per diem policy. This is nothing but a poorly executed misdirect on your part.
Again, read the post. The WCBOE tells council that travel has been cut to the bone. Yet, there were trips to Disney World and Vegas. Again, Fredericksen goes out to get coffee (in Salisbury) and charges it to the taxpayer. This was not for a conference.
Let's face it. Certain folks in the bureaucracy don't appreciate having their spendthrift habits examined. I, along with a lot of other voters, are grateful that our elected representatives want to take time to study these expenditures.
The Council or a reporter should ask about the money cut from the budget of every school's media center. Each school lost about $2,000 this year when compared to last year. Ask any principal. The $50,000 was "moved" from media to an account that was used to fund multicultural speakers at the Board. $50,000! Rumor is it may have been more. Ask and I bet you'll be told the money for those speakers didn't come from the media account. Slick. They won't tell you it was moved from media into a different account that did pay the speakers. So kids have fewer books and PTA volunteers run book fairs to compensate. The Council and the parents need to pursue this, but getting a straight answer will require months of asking and asking again and asking again.
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