After School Activities Middle School

[Al_Miller]

If anyone gets a chance watch the last BOE Meeting (8/25) towards the end of the meeting BOE Member Tim O’Brien made a motion to direct Administration to put back the Sports & Co-Curricular Activities in the Budget Preparation for the 2011 – 2012 School Year. He stated he understood at Budget time if it had to be taken back out if it was impossible for the BOE to fund this especially now with the 2% cap. He wanted it at least to be looked at and not overlooked. As we all know with past programs once they are gone they are gone for good with no chance of getting them back. He just wanted the chance to restore it if they could. Sadly Administration didn’t think this was a good idea and tried a few times to suggest they do not pass this motion and even once Dr. Golden tried to kill the formal motion and change the motion from a formal motion into just direction from the Board. Mr. Tim O’Brien said he wanted it as a formal motion instead of just direction. Happily the motion passed and they will at least try to consider restoring the funding for these programs next year if they are able to. However for this year the contracts were awarded to Howell PAL to run at a slightly reduced cost from what the District would have charged. 

[Phil_Sanfilippo]

Al,
   If PAL is successful and can run it at a reduced cost than perhaps this is the way it should always be. The interesting thing is to see just how many parents are willing to participate. This whole idea my have been a complete waste of time. Times are tough and I bet they don't get the numbers they are looking for. PAL could ultimately be in a situation where they lose money. the whole thing should of been tabled until next year. Lately in the State of NJ the left hand don't know what the right hand is doing regarding public education and taxes. Public education is in a downward spiral and going fast. We just lost one of the most progressive minds in Education in Bret Schundler. Let alone a missed opportunity for over four hundred million. A constitutional convention needs to take place to revamp public education in New Jersey by way consolidation of school districts, revamping school funding through property taxes and reducing administration.
                                       my opinion

[Peter McCarron]

Al,
What's more interesting is the final public comment by Bill O'Brien (president of the HTEA) where he advised the BOE that he would be checking with his legal counsel to see if there is a possible lawsuit by the HTEA against the BOE for outsourcing after school activities to PAL.

Apparently the HTEA is upset that if any of their teachers participate in this program they will be paid at a lower stipend than their contract allows.

I guess the 11.25% raise (over 3 years) they are getting with their current contract isn't enough, they also want their full stipend if they "volunteer/apply" for these programs.

So much for "its all for the kids"......when it comes to the HTEA....its all about the money.

I hope the BOE has a good memory when the next contract is negotiated.

[Gene_Tanala]

FYI:

Mr. O'Brien's motion was voted on and approved unanamously by the BOE 8-0.

Gene Tanala

[Rob_Nicastro]

It’s nice to see lately that the members of the BOE pull together on this issue. As Al mentioned, If you see the whole story, the Superintendent advised the board to not go that route. Regardless of her poor advise (IMHO), it was encouraging to see the board pull together dealing with this issue.

Al, you hit it right on the nail, The threats from the HTEA leadership of a potential lawsuit bring new meaning to the idioms “it’s all about the children.” “It’s all about the $$$.”

[Jackie Everitt]

How is it about the children if there is an organization that can provide these activities at a reasonable costs - but the Board is looking at a lawsuit if they provide access to activities that families can afford.  Won't money be taken away from the children for legal fees?   I'm so sick of this nonsense - I really wish I could leave the state - and the scarry part is Howell is not 1/2 as bad as most towns.

[Gene_Tanala]

It was nice to see the entire board be on the same page, not just for this item, but others as well............Hopefully this will continue............we need unity.

Gene Tanala

[James_Obrien]

It's disappointing to see the Board has taken this route for all sports and club. These were Co-curricular clubs that are now going to be just another sports club in town. The connection between the students and teachers that coached and advised for these clubs will be lost and the connection to the school will soon follow. The Board started this endeavor with good intentions of saving co-curricular activities and lost sight of their goal when they pursued the possibility of offering all sports and clubs. They have become so focused on offering all activities that they have given control of these activities to an outside organization.

When the Board took this route with the 5th grade basketball it became clear that this was no long a school activity, from the lack of input from the school as well as the district administration. The Administration stated that this would not be the case with this new “pay to play” option. However before the meeting was even over a member of the Administration made it clear that nursing was not a requirement for this new program because it was not a school activity?
This a slippery slope the Board is going down and I believe they will not recover from it. I have a feeling we will pay for this endeavor in legal fees as opposed to coaching fees.

[James_Obrien]

Mr. Tanala,

Are the fees quoted in the Howell Time accuate?

[Gene_Tanala]

Jamie:

Gene is fine!!!

I have not seen the Howell Times, but if you like, I can send you a copy of the RFP with the savings attached to it.  call me or e-mail me with your address.

Gene

[Phil_Sanfilippo]

Jamie,
       I have to agree with you. In a previous post i indicated that who ever would do a good job. My comment did not infer I was in for or against the proposal. When this was presented to the Ad Hoc service committee without time to review it I did not like what was going on one bit and refused to offer my comments , recommendations or opinions. The only opinion I had was to send it to the full board for review because it was to important of an issue for me to perform a haphazard review. I was involved in contracting of contracts for the better part of my career and did not like how this process was unfolding. That was my reason for requesting more time to review the RFP. These function have always been the responsibility of the school system and how this has come to be is beyond me. I fully support the cost reductions that may occur however I do not favor diminishing the the program at any cost. I hope this not get bogged down in litigation and cost the taxpayer any money due to rush to get this through.
                                                                     my opinion
                                                                     phil

[Al_Miller]

Jamie:

Gene is fine!!!

I have not seen the Howell Times, but if you like, I can send you a copy of the RFP with the savings attached to it.  call me or e-mail me with your address.

Gene

Jamie

The fees in the Howell Times were not right as per the RFP. It should have said something alongs the ways of a savings of of $45 - $170 (numbers directly taken from RFP). For instance Basketball the District was going to charge $620 for 12 students. PAL is going to charge $450 for 15 students. Baseball went from $495 to $450 with PAL running it. Hope this helps.

[Laura_Kurtz]

If those numbers that Al quoted are right, this is one parent of a child, starting middle school in 4 days, that will not be able to afford any afterschool activity, even at the "reduced" rate.  Very sad and very disappointing for my child.   

[Peter McCarron]

Laura....you will not be alone. I'm afraid a lot of parents will not be able to support these "reduced" rates. The following was taken from another bulletin board which posted the RFP from PAL.


SPORTS ENROLLMENT PER MIDDLE SCHOOL
 PAL RFP   Min. # of Students   Cost Per Student
Fall:
Soccer - Boys   20   $275
Soccer - Girls   20   $275
Field Hockey   25   $245
Cross Country   40   $190
 

Winter:
Basketball - Boys   15   $450
Basketball - Girls   15   $450
Cheerleading   25   $190
Wrestling                   40   $255
 

Spring:
Baseball                       16   $450
Softball                       16   $450
Track and Field       60   $200

CO-CURRICULAR ENROLLMENT PER MIDDLE SCHOOL
    Min. # of Students   Cost Per Student
Musical/Drama     50   $100
Student Council *     20   $100
International Club     20   $100
Computer Club     20   $100
Literary Art Journal * 20   $200
Art Club                     20   $100
Yearbook *     20   $140
Chorus                     20   $140
Peer Tutoring  *     50   $100
Science                     20   $100
TSA                     20   $100
*PAL is currently working on funding so that this program
Will have no charge.

[James_Obrien]

Jamie:

Gene is fine!!!

I have not seen the Howell Times, but if you like, I can send you a copy of the RFP with the savings attached to it.  call me or e-mail me with your address.

Gene

Al,

Thank you . Your numbers also match what is in the artical on APP web site. Perhapse Dr. Jones was on the right path with offering a linited schedule this year and designing a full schedule for next year that people can afford.

As it stands now this is just wrong.


Jamie

The fees in the Howell Times were not right as per the RFP. It should have said something alongs the ways of a savings of of $45 - $170 (numbers directly taken from RFP). For instance Basketball the District was going to charge $620 for 12 students. PAL is going to charge $450 for 15 students. Baseball went from $495 to $450 with PAL running it. Hope this helps.