Two members of the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) displayed open hostility towards the Wicomico County Council this afternoon. Board president Michelle Wright and board member Ron Willey expressed aversion at having to provide the council with requested information.
Willey argued that since the WCBOE had provided information last year regarding travel expenses, they should not have to do so this year:
“We’re getting grilled. I feel like you are just looking to put your finger on something. You asked for travel last year and now you are asking for them again. You asked for salary information again.”
Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman (R-2) explained that all county departments had to answer the same types of questions each year:
“It is not only our responsibility, it is our duty to scrutinize every penny that the county spends.”
Wright’s response to all county departments having to provide such information was:
“We’re not a county department!”
Wright then attempted to argue that they did not come to discuss the budget. However, Council President Gail Bartkovich pointed out that this date was the only one which the WCBOE could all come to discuss the budget. It was their (the WCBOE’s) decision to meet on the budget Tuesday, not the council’s.
Michelle Wright is a RINO and she is hoping to get reappointed to the Board of Ed.
ReplyDeleteThank you county council for not letting the BOE run the show. Ask and re-ask for any information you need for the budget. And as to the comment the WCBOE is not a county department well yes it is if it is getting my tax money from the Wicomico County taxes that is collected each year from my husband and I!
ReplyDeleteThey must be afraid of the council seeing the BOE's "seminars" at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort again.
ReplyDeleteplease hold them accountable. they get "plenty" of our tax dollars every year for their "expenses".
ReplyDeleteMichelle Wright = Clueless
ReplyDeleteThese people dont know who they work for AND these people are in charge of our childrens education?!?!
ReplyDeleteThanks to Prettyman and Barktovich for standing up for our tax dollars. Wright and Willy are what is wrong with this county. Were they protecting Frederickson? Were they Frederickson's mouth piece? Cut--cut--cut but try not to harm the teachers or our children. Oh, but wait, the BOE are the ones who will harm the teachers and children.
ReplyDeleteG.A.---Was the Daily Times reporter there today? It will be interesting to see how he reports this meeting. My bet is it will be favorable to the BOE. Was Tracy Sahler at the meeting, too? Bet she was. What a waste of taxpayers' money. No wonder the Daily Times doesn't give a fair account of BOE meetings with the Council. The "top management" is giving everyone at our public schools a bad name. Come on folks--now is the time to speak out. Help our county council and call them. This nonsense has to stop. Don't let a few(Wright, Willey, Frederickson) run the way our schools run. Stop it Now!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like they're trying to cover up something.
ReplyDeleteWhy else would they get so defensive?
Dr. Freddy must have told Wright what to say. Willey just makes it up as he goes. Let there be no mistake, Freddy runs the show over there.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2246 -
ReplyDeleteYes, Greg Latshaw was there for the DT. I did not see Tracy, however the entourage from the BOE was sizable.
I too am interested to see how the DT portrays the events of today.
Thank you Council Members!!!
ReplyDeleteWe the people want to know how our tax money is spent!
Ron Willey is a jerk. He was a terrible administrator and now he's even a worse executive. He needs to pack in his old wrinkled rear and move on.
ReplyDeleteG. A. Harrison said...
ReplyDeleteAnon 2246 -
I did not see Tracy, however the entourage from the BOE was sizable.
May 17, 2011 11:03 PM
I understand there were numerous Board of Education employees who were at the council work session while on the clock. If their $100,000+ positions were so important then where did they find the time in their extremely busy(cough, cough) schedules to attempt to intimidate the County Council members.
The County Council would do the tax payers justice, by blocking Fredericken's re-appointment as Superintendent as well as Wright's as a board member.
Can you say elected school board!!
ReplyDeleteRW is a jerk. Lives in a million dollar home! Got it on the backs of our community!
ReplyDeletethere is close to a million dollars they could cut out of their budget, without even coming close to harming any type of educational programs. how about cutting out coffee and lunches: paid by the tax payers?
ReplyDeleteDid the County Council ask the BOE why Board employees never got furloughed when State, County and City employees did the past 2 years??
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeletethere is close to a million dollars they could cut out of their budget, without even coming close to harming any type of educational programs. how about cutting out coffee and lunches: paid by the tax payers?
May 17, 2011 11:22 PM
How about FURLOUGHS for all the greedy teachers and board employees!!
There is no way for the county council to block John Fredericksen's reappointment. The Wicomico County Board of Education can appoint whomever they wish. An elected school board may help some of our local problems but it will not end Fredericksen's employment. The members of the board who would be "elected" do not include the superintendent as he becomes a board member "by default" after accepting the position of superintendent. Thank Norm Conway for blowing our chances for the elected school board this year. I'm sure he is all broken up about that. Would have been a step in the right direction for this county. As far as superintendent, nothing much we can do but I have a feeling they will be glad to get rid of him even over at the board of ed. He thought he could claim BMS as a conquest. . .like getting air conditioning installed back in his Minnesota school district. County Council shot that down. Now what has he got? Nothing. Hes a bigger disappointment than Obama. NAACP is maybe even more to blame than Conway for the failure of the "elected school board" to become a reality. They felt that an elected school board might be "less diverse". Now I see another article in Daily Times crying about the "BMS" delays. Too many good ol boys around Wicomico. They can't get decent superintendents around here with a four year contract for 165,000 (though that seems a lot comparatively it isn't) so we get former music teachers who move here to be "closer to family". We need local men and women in our positions of power. People who have a stake in our local communities. They should take Fredericksen's desk and the desks of any other educrats and move them over to schools like Wi Middle and similarly low performing schools. Let them get a taste of what failure looks like. Let them get a taste of what is at stake. Before they head south to Florida.
ReplyDeleteThe Wicomico County charter allows for the council to request any records of anyone they fund. Mrs Wright's statement about not being a dept. just shows the arrogance of some of the members of the BOE.
ReplyDelete12:21 AM that is so well stated I cannot add a thing, thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteHere is one of the problem's with the board,they have never had anyone tell them no and they just can't accept the the fact that now Wicomico County has elected a council that does not bend over for them. I am proud to see Gail,Joe ,Stevie, and Bob Culver stand up to them and I only hope Matt and Mr Caldwell will get onboard also.
ReplyDeleteHow do you furlough a teacher? Who teaches your child? If you force a teacher to take a day without pay, you still need to pay a substitute to stand in for them.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that members of the board could be furloughed - but not classroom teachers.
I am a teacher - certainly not a "Greedy teacher". Please don't lump us all into one category because of your negative experience with one or two of us. I am not greedy at all. I am appreciative that I have a job and a salary to help support my family. We haven't received steps in almost 3 years. No, that is not a pay cut but it still hurts when you expect you will be making more money and you don't. The same situation as everyone out there.
Please don't act like we are sitting here on some high horses with our large paychecks laughing at the rest of you. That is not the case - at least for me it isn't. I hate that we all get grouped together and we all are stereotyped. It isn't fair.
With the attitude displayed one need not wonder why school officials are so poorly thought of; they do a poor job of educating, spend taxpayer money like it was coming from a never ending supply, and cop an attitude when held accountable. It is truly ashame they feel no guilt or disgrace.
ReplyDeleteCould not agree more with 12:21 am. This reminds me of a recent experience at Beaver Run Elem. You can't imagine the pathetic state that school is in...And I don't just mean the signs posted in every bathroom warning not to use the contaminated water. I since have heard many speak in "hushed tones" about the administration and staff there but no one tries to make it better. The heaviness of lack of professionalism falls to the bottom and 5 year olds are left to face the consequences, alone. To many of these children, a good school experience would make all the difference in the world towards their future.
ReplyDeleteMake copies of every little receipt they want and then send the Council the bill. You all complain about money being wasted, how about the time it would take for someone to dig up all the information the Council wants? Then you'll complain that they aren't focused on educating the kids. The Feds wants programs run and administered in a way that requires positions to be created, then the state does the same, and now the County Council wants their two cents. Too many politicians who think they know how to teach and run schools. I can't imagine an area of MD that is more hostile to education.
ReplyDeleteTeachers should just work their required hours at school and not do anything extra. Imagine a classroom with 35 to 40 kids in a classroom and the teacher who only works the minimum required? That is where this county is heading. I know teachers who spend 3 to 4 hours each night and at least one day of their weekend doing work for school and the kids. They spend tons of their own money and come early in August to start getting their rooms ready for the school year.
ReplyDeleteThe greedy teachers???? Wish we had as much power as you think teachers have.... the reason why no furloughs....the kids.... if you furlough the teachers...who are going to teach the children?? They would have stay home for the day... then that would tick people off. As far as the BOE, yes, maybe they can be without effecting the students.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHow do you furlough a teacher? Who teaches your child? If you force a teacher to take a day without pay, you still need to pay a substitute to stand in for them.
I absolutely agree that members of the board could be furloughed - but not classroom teachers.
I am a teacher - certainly not a "Greedy teacher". Please don't lump us all into one category because of your negative experience with one or two of us. I am not greedy at all. I am appreciative that I have a job and a salary to help support my family. We haven't received steps in almost 3 years. No, that is not a pay cut but it still hurts when you expect you will be making more money and you don't. The same situation as everyone out there.
Please don't act like we are sitting here on some high horses with our large paychecks laughing at the rest of you. That is not the case - at least for me it isn't. I hate that we all get grouped together and we all are stereotyped. It isn't fair.
May 18, 2011 6:32 AM
It's a day with you pay you idiot. Not all "paid" days are in the class room. Lay off the dummy pills dude!!
Ahhhhhh...6:49 am....Yes, make copies of "every little receipt". This is the definition of a little word we like to call ACCOUNTABILITY. And those "little" receipts when put together turn out to be very "big".
ReplyDeleteGood job County Council!
ReplyDeletePeople don't have a problem spending other peoples money !
ReplyDeleteI would prefer to spend your money, please send it to anonymous, lol.
649..Other counties are in the same situation regarding their BOE's. Parents, taxpayers, and council members are tired of hearing about the waste and they are starting to be pro-active.
ReplyDeleteMr Willey...yes, they (we, taxpayers) are looking for ways to cut money from the budget. Do you not understand this? Does the phrase "do more with less" not apply to you and the heads of the BOE? If you expect my child to do more with less, than you can bet your sweet behind that this rule applies to you and the others too!
What a shame that the BOE does not respect where their funding comes from! It is from us the taxpayers and we elect the council. Would those on the BOE win the election if we had a elected school board. I doubt it with their attitudes.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that no one has suggested cutting the athletic programs. After all, we send our children to to school to learn right? Why tie up money for programs that have no educational value? If they want to play, make 'em pay.
ReplyDeleteJust my little two cents here---this is not about the teachers so please try and not attack them It's about the administration and the "appointed BOE." Most of them don't even support the teachers in the class rooms--and no, I'm not a teacher so don't even go there.
ReplyDeleteIt's the attitude at the top.I've heard comments regarding this from current council members, past council members and even the county exec.
I hate to say this , but I will.
ReplyDeleteIn a couple of years an education won't mean a thing. Why get an education when you can't get a job , even with a degree? Thanks to the present obama administration , can't blame it on Bush anymore.
Actually, teachers should be held accountable. Did you know that there are specialist teachers whose only job is to help other teachers and their students pass the mandated tests? Fire the specialists and make the classroom teachers accountable for their students education. They like to cry the blues but they have it pretty easy compared to the real world.
ReplyDeleteWilley is a double dipper! He retired, now he sucks money as a board member and he gets a secret paycheck to his wife who is a special advisor to the school system! Norm Conways wife too! They are thick as thiefs! INVESTIGATE THIS JOE!
ReplyDeleteYou will see over a million dollars going out the window to wives of people in the influence!
The question was asked how do you furlough a teacher? The answer is the same way you furlough a Garbage man, Police officer, dump employee, firefighter and so on. All of these people do important jobs so what makes a teacher so important over the rest of these folks that we cannot furlough them? Teachers have been placed on list at the top of the food chain and seem to have forgotten that the very people who help pay them are the ones being furloughed. So I ask again why not furlough them too? The B.O.E. seems to think they are more important than any other agency in this county when in fact they need to have a taste of what all the other agency's or department's are having to deal with and make do with it for a change!This council has finally done what the taxpayer's wanted and should be commended for standing up to The B.O.E.. Deeper cuts are coming, they have to.In order to get a hold on a failing business you have to make cuts although the cuts are hard to make you have to make them. The county is a business like it or not cuts are going to have to be made!
ReplyDeleteBoth 809 and 819 are right. I see this everyday. Our schools have special positions that are over a million dollars of wasted money. These people retire and then come back while collecting retirement and get paid more than they did as teachers and administrators.
ReplyDeleteIf 8:19 is true Willey should resign today. No wonder he lives in a million dollar home!
ReplyDeleteELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, NOW!
ReplyDeleteHow many trips have Frederickson and Wright taken? Where have they gone? What was the cost? I think this is exactly where the council is going. This should be public and should not be repeated. Way to go council. Cut the waste!
ReplyDelete809-
ReplyDeleteAs long as you continue to integrate special needs children, delayed readers, etc into the classrooms the need for specialists will always be there. One cannot expect one treacher to handle it all alone. This its not about the teachers this time, it is about the board of education admins feeling they are above policy and rules.
Ummm... not a County Department? Fait Enough. Change frome Wicomico Board of Ed, and Wicomico School systems, and defund them completely?
ReplyDelete