PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCAM: MORE MONEY FOR SINKING PERFORMANCE … plus … A SOLUTION
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015) — It’s Patriots Day, a day only the Commonwealth observes. It honors the World Champion New England Patriots. Viva Kraft, Belichick, and Brady. … and Butler. Today we have education on our mind.
Led by the Pittsfield School Committee, encouraged and lobbied for by the superintendent, egged on the by mayor and city council, the City of Pittsfield approved $4 million in salary hikes for school employees. The bill comes for taxpayers in the FY16 budget. Those “deliberations” will begin soon.
Lots of Irony for a Failing System
THE PLANET employes the word “deliberation” in an ironic sense, and hence the quotes. Typically, a budget deliberation involved an authentic negotiation engaged in by two sides, one of whom is the citizen. In Pittsfield, however, “representatives” have thoroughly removed citizens from the process. Thus, taxpayers go into yet another budget “battle” without anyone at the table to argue for them, to insist on cost-benefit analyses, to reign in the tendency for reckless spending.
What do the facts and figures show? Let’s start with salaries. From the most recent stats available from the state DOE website (2013), the average salary for a teacher in Pittsfield was $63,853. That doesn’t include the cost of the benefits package taxpayers provide, the centerpiece of which is a lucrative pension and 85% pickup of health insurance premiums. Add another $19,155 for the benefits. Thus, average salary plus benefits for a teacher in Pittsfield in 2013 totaled $83,008 a year. There are nearly 500 teachers in the system. Do the math.
If you add in the cost-of-living boosts and the $4 million pay hike, the average salary for this year is $69,201 with $20,765 for bennies. This adds up to a total average compensation for a teacher of $89,961.
It takes on a different feel, doesn’t it, when you point out that the “average” teacher receives almost $90,000 a year in compensation from taxpayers — for a school year of 183 days (vs. about 240 days for the rest of the industrialized world).
Confusing the Picture with Facts, Data, and Truth
To fully appreciate the preposterousness of this situation, one has to factor in the product. What is the “product” of the Pittsfield Public School system? It’s “The Children.” It’s all for The Children, as we all know. You can’t say no to The Children. If you do, you are “negative,” a “bad person.”
Are teachers overworked? State figures show a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ration, far lower than the state average. Average class size in Pittsfield is 15 students. As of 2014, the school department had a staff 903.5 (731 females, 182.5 males). This does not include administrative ranks. The numbers of students continues to drop. It is currently below 5,800. For comparison, the year THS was built, the system had about 12,000 students and half as many staff.
Taxpayers are being forced to throw more money into a financial sinkhole that has become “the schools.” The state data are depressing. Here are the student groups in the Pittsfield District for 2014 listed by the state on its assessment page.
- All students — “Did Not Meet Target”
- High need students — “Did Not Meet Target”
- Low income students — “Did Not Meet target”
- ELL and former ELL— “Did Not Meet target”
- Students w/disabilities — “Did Not Meet Target”
This depressingly monotonous litany of unacceptable performance continues for all student classifications, including Native American, Asian, Black, Latino, multiracial, and White. All “Did Not Meet Target.”
Both high schools, PHS and THS, are at a mediocre Level 3. For all grades, 40 percent of students fall into the “Needs Improvement, Warning, or Failing” achievement level. In science/tech, the number rises to 58%. In math, 49% are in these failing categories. This data spells “crisis” for the future of the city. Nonetheless, nothing substantive is being done by the city of the department, except to call for “more money more money more money.”
In Pittsfield, such appallingly poor performance warrants $4 million in raises for teachers, $200,000 a year in compensation for the superintendent, and a $120.8 million new school the city doesn’t need.
A Simple and Inexpensive Solution
Ladies and gentlemen, we have long since exhausted the fantasy that the answer to our ailing public schools is more money. In previous posts, THE PLANET has outlined a series of inexpensive reforms which, if taken, would change the discussion from finances to what is and isn’t happening in the classroom (school uniforms, stricter technology policy for example). Our reforms have been ignored, of course, and The Suits have continued to drive down performance and drive up the budget. The ensures the continuance of their fiefdoms and empires.
Perhaps the most needed and doable solution would be to run a slate of taxpayer-advocate candidates for the school board. Pittsfield needs at least four fiscal conservatives on the school board to begin the long process of ending the rape of education, all in the name of The Children.
Who is interested?
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“Little pink houses for you and me.” — John Mellencamp, (1982).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
But the new Taconic school is an economic engine.
The problem with the design however is that the fuel needed to power this engine is taxpayer money which would seem counter intuitive anywhere else but in Pittsfield.
It really is outrageous how much these teachers make. Pittsfield teachers are making almost as much as the mayor of this city!!!!
Break the teachers union!! This has to be done here in Pittsfield or there will never be any relief for taxpayers. Unions have had to be busted in other states because they were out of control. Once you talk to people who don’t live in Pittsfield you realize how much this school system behavior is off the charts. People from other areas think we are crazy to put up with this. What they don’t realize is that the schools are holding taxpayers hostage and ANYONE who challenges them will feel their hostility. Like a guard dog protecting their property, they know how lucky they have it and they will not let go of their power position without a big fight!!!. This city has created this monster and only we can destroy it.
Break the teacher’s union! Scott Walker did it in Wisc. and even though the teachers revolted and tried to impeach him, the taxpayers voted him back with flying colors. Now he is looking good at becoming a candidate for president.
All unions are out of control…..but teacher’s unions in particular are destroying this nation.
There was a time when unions were desperately needed, but like so many other things that start out good, they went overboard. To the point where many businesses went under because of their excessive demands.
So true. These greedy teachers are destroying this country and they think they can do it all in the name of “it’s for the children”, however, most people are now aware of the game they are playing.
Unfortunately it’s not just businesses that are going under, they are now taking down whole cities and towns with their unrelenting GREED.
You know what these school people would do. If their highly tuned financial radar suspects anyone is going after their money, they will do what they always do. You see how they packed the city council meeting on the vote for the new school which was an obvious intimidation tatic. Well, they will do the same at the voting booth. They will show up in forceful numbers to protect their cash. Dan, you are right, however, we need fiscally responsible people on that school committee and the taxpayers need to show up in force to support them. The problem is there are fewer and fewer taxpayers supporting this out of control school system so that could be a problem, but we must think positive!!
I still like my idea of breaking the teacher’s union also.
Did anyone read the editorial that was in the BB about 2 or 3 days before the vote for the new school? I think a lot of people missed it. It was a plea from the BB to the school administration asking that they put off giving their big raises at least to make a show to the taxpayers that they actually care about budgeting. The BB also went on to warn school officials that what happened in other states could happen here if the Pittsfield schools continue to demand more and more money? Yes, they even mentioned union busting that happened in other states. I think this was just theater on the part of the BB because as we all know they support the new school and have always been behind every decision of the schools asking for more money.
This proves how out of control this school system, as if we needed any more evidence, when even their major supporter and cheerleader, the BB, is telling them to tone down their money grabbing for the sake of appearances. God forbid the general public should see this school system as being more greedy than we already do.
Excellent post, Dan
School committee candidates need only 150 signatures. There has to be at least 6 candidates, who read The Planet, willing to take out papers. This would be an easy election. If the candidates use The Planet’s platform the election is theirs, along with a $4000 stipend.
As I mentioned earlier, I would run, but the time conflicts with my job.
I agree with this post and the comments so far. Voters need to concentrate on the solution outlined here. Form a slate of strong candidates to run for school committee. Win four seats there and you can control what happens.
People should be thinking seriously about SC race.
When does the school committee meet?
Meets usually in PHS library. The city doesn’t go out of its way to publicize but only does the legal minimum.
Day & time?
I believe it is the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm.
Barry
Pittsfield politics spends hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars every year. Pittsfield politics has hundreds of millions of dollars in debts. Pittsfield politics has unsustainable finances. Pittsfield politics is going to be financially insolvent in the near future. Pittsfield politics is going to go into state government receivership again. Once Pittsfield politics goes bankrupt, state government bureaucrats are going to run Pittsfield politics. Pittsfield politics will have no local control. Meanwhile, Pittsfield politics tax base is shrinking with thousands of locals on welfare (not pay local taxes). Pittsfield politics spends over $100 million per year on its public schools. Pittsfield politics submits to the school union lobbyists and spends millions of additional dollar each year on the public schools. Pittsfield politics is totally corrupt!
Excellent piece Dan !!
There is no such thing as a “mediocre Level 3.” Level 3 means that the school falls in the bottom 20% of performers for schools of the same grade span across the state. If you study school performance profiles on the DESE website (http://profiles.doe.mass.edu), open the “Accountability” tab for each of our schools and look at the performance percentile for each of them. The trend of that number for some of our schools is deplorable and indicative of severe systemic problems.
The conversation in our city surrounding education needs to be refocused on learning. Are our students learning? How do we know? How can we improve their learning?
Too much of the conversation and decision making in Pittsfield has been driven by adult needs, not student outcomes. As a result, students suffer and we mortgage their futures and ours for the sake of present political expediency.
I firmly believe that no one would mind paying for an educational system that gets results. No one wants to pay top dollar for excuses, however. Education is too often seen as a system of inputs and outputs rather than a problem-solving endeavor. The former view results in blame being placed on students, rather than educators taking responsibility for student learning. That should never happen, especially in urban education.
We need educators who are singularly focused on learning, and a school committee with the balls and know-how to demand it. If they really want to do something for the children, that should be it.
Taconic High School Machine Shop has a CNC Machine. The Students are not being trained on it because the Teacher does not know how to run it. A Student told this in a job interview to my husband. Students are shortchanged across the board in Pittsfield, Ma.
In response to spagirl I would beg to differ. I am one of the teachers of the Taconic Manufacturing program and both instructors are good at what we do. We have several CNC machines and can operate them all. If a student did not know how to run the machine it’s because they chose not to learn. Get your facts straight before you make accusations. If you need proof you know where to find us.
Probably time for a Charter School. The concept is learning and you do the work or your gone. Teachers teach and students work harder.
Education is compulsory, and a Free and Appropriate Education has been declared a basic right by the courts. There is no such thing as “you do the work or your gone” outside of charter schools. That’s why innovative approaches are necessary, especially in urban settings where middle class values and assumptions are not necessarily the norm.
Hey Bobby D., 2 really solid posts. You said what I was thinking. And for the record, for everyone here…you REIN in budgets. A king reigns, a rein is what one uses to pull in and control a horse, and metaphorically, a budget. Sorry, a pet peeve.
The first step is to reign in the budget. You do this by laying off or putting a hiring freeze in until the number of staff are justified by student enrollment. The city council needs to cut the school budget. The teacher to staff ratio could go to 20:1 and still not effect the output in class. I would also get rid of areas in the school that can be matched in the public sector already. With these simple steps the schools could pay for their own new buildings.
Pittsfield politicians laugh at Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski for paying thousands of dollars of their hard earned income for local taxes. After they are done mocking the little guy, they piss the money away on special interests projects. Ain’t life grand!
It’s raining taxpayer dollars at the P S C.
I predict that the SC will override the mayor’s budget allocation, led by Pam “$8 Million More” Farron and bring an increased budget to the City Council. Thanks to the Council approving this maneuver. Pittsfield is the only community in Massachusetts to adopt this measure. Only Councilors Morandi, Mazzeo, Tully and Amuso said no. Therefore, I predict the same votes for and against the increased school budget. There is no longer any authority to rein in the School Committee except the voters replacing them. How about all you seniors on fixed incomes… It’s time to come out of retirement and be active.
Why does the school committee have this much power? I never heard of any city or town that gives the school committee the authority to take votes from the people, demand money, etc. Why is this allowed?
I have a feeling that the people who voted no will change their minds again. Morandi’s kid doesn’t even go to school in pittsfield.
The whole council flip and flops so much!
Why doesn’t that surprise me. Morandi is gone.
I thought Kevin was one of us, guess not. if he goes out of town combined with him voting for the school and the bad roads in his ward should equal,l adios. Maybe he can hang out with Throp
We can only say that THE PLANET has invited Morandi twice to comment on the story that he promised seniors he would vote against the THS bonding while voting the opposite way when it came to the council floor. We asked on PV-TV and on this website. So far, he has chosen not to reply. Perhaps the story we tell at the end of THE PLANET for Tuesday 4/21 can shed some light on it. The story claims Morandi was muscled “Tony Soprano” style prior to the vote, that he better vote FOR bonding, “or else.” Of course, should Kevin wish to comment on this or anything else, THE PLANET shall be glad to provide him with a forum.
The Pittsfield schools are pitiful. The administration and the teachers are incompetent. With only 15 students in a class we should be turning out star pupils. The teachers don’t care about our children. The only thing they care about is lining their pockets. The administration is even worse. The only thing the whole bunch of them are really good at is wasting money.
Paul think your comments are painted with too wide of a brush. Like any big company you have great employees and others not so much. Both my kids graduated from Pittsfield public schools, and had very good experiences. Sure they had a few questionable teachers along the way, but for the most part the teachers were dedicated.
Interesting ( Kevin Morandi ) Michael J. Merriam come on down
When a state rep and a city councilor compared Springfield’s new vocational high school to Taconic, they failed to mention that the population in Springfield is more than 165,000 with a combined metro area of over 850,000. Comparing that to Pittsfield’s declining population of 44,000 and shrinking, I guess you could say that is a fair comparison. At least the state rep and the city councilor thought so.
When Pittsfield taxpayers are stuck with excessive tax increases to pay for the new school, the same Mass. State Schools Authority reimbursed Springfield for 90% of the total cost of their new school built in 2012, Just 3 years ago people. But Pittsfield with its huge population of 44,000 will be reimbursed for 65% of its school budget. Do the math folks. Pittsfield is being royally screwed and its complacent public is obviously in favor of the new school, that is, until they see the huge increase in their property taxes and then and only then will they take their heads out of the sand. COMPLACENCY breeds high taxes.
Joetaxpayer: seriously! Have you read the statistics of the schools you seem to be so proud of? Sorry but there classes are so small there is no reason for their pitiful performance. Before you get all uppity get the facts.