Two of the most recent events to be in the public eye for SWCS are the upcoming contract negotiations and the state auditors report. The auditors report is very transparent for citizens to see whether or not the district heeds its recommendations to save money. I will be watching to see if the district addresses the excessive maintenance staffing and bus routes. Bill Wise is already starting to cry about the report that was so heavily touted before it came out. How will Bill Wise get the focus of the auditors report that he has no intention of implementing out of the public spotlight? He will focus on contract negotiations and only contract negotiations. The contract negotiations have no transparency at all to the tax paying public. Whatever is negotiated will be called a hard nose victory for the district with the so-called Community Advisory Groups stamp of approval.
The Community Advisory Group meets twice a month yet posts no minutes that I am aware of (anyone have those available). They are a non elected clown group set up to try and give SWCS the appearance of credibility with the community. The chairman of this Community Advisory Group is a community organizer that has ties to the "National Council of La Raza" and ACORN. I feel good knowing he has input and the districts ear. He has been doing business on the West side of Columbus since 1993 making a decent living off tax payer money under the Community Re-investment Act. You would think with all the years of service to the community the West side would be a show place. I challenge the Community Advisory Group to see that the state auditors recommendations are implemented and leave the so called contract negotiations to the elected representatives of the district. Check out Evan Brooks in the ThisWeek
http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/grovecity/stories/2010/02/10/0211grswcs-unions_ln.html?sid=104
"Negotiations with unions cited as best way to save money". The Community Advisory Group makes no mention of the state auditors findings and only wants to focus on contract negotiations that are not transparent to the tax payers anyway. The Community Advisory Group makes no mention of implementing the auditors findings to save the district money. Residents of SWCS need to stay focused on implementing the state auditors report and not focus only on the contract negotiations. Bill Wise and the Community Advisory Group want you to forget.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
State auditors findings
Here is an article with some of the state auditors findings. I posted a few highlights.
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/02/10/copy/southwestern_performance_aud.ART_ART_02-10-10_B1_K2GI3ML.html?sid=101
"But some of the suggestions would require bargaining with the district's certified and classified unions, including:
• Mandatory direct deposit for all employees.
• Modifying step increases or limiting future wages for classified employees, so that compensation is in line with that at similar local districts.
• Removing provisions in the employees' contracts that hinder administrators' ability to manage, such as requirements on class size, school-day schedules and kindergarten aides.
• Bringing monthly health-care premiums in line with State Employment Relations Board averages for the Columbus area, enrolling more employees in lower-cost health-insurance plans and increasing employee contributions for dental and vision insurance.
• Evaluating incentives that encourage employees to retire."
"A recommendation to create an internal auditor position to review the district's operations would increase expenses, Superintendent Bill Wise said.
And eliminating nine buses from the district's fleet, as suggested, would mean longer ride times for students. Slashing 15 positions in maintenance and operations would meet industry standards, but it wouldn't take into account the district's community needs, Wise said.
For example, the district covers custodial costs when community groups such as parks and recreation departments use the buildings, he said.
Auditors lauded the district's operations in eight areas, including how officials manage workers' compensation costs and provide instruction to specialized students such as gifted and special-needs children.
District officials will compose a response plan to the findings, including whether they will go forward with any of the recommendations."
Here Bill Wise tries to rationalize 15 positions in maintenance that are above industry standards. That is not 2 or 3 but 15. I could allow for 2 or 3 positions within industry standards but 15 is an obvious waste and over staffed. "Eliminating 9 buses" tells me that our buses are not being utilized efficiently. A few more minutes ride time for students would save 9 driver positions and maintenance and fuel on those 9 buses. These buses could be sold. It is time for the progressives running SWCS to learn a little about business and start running the district like a business. The best way for the district to receive the support of the taxpayers is to protect its pocket not coddle its bloated employees. Implementing the states recommendations would be a start. We the people are watching.
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/02/10/copy/southwestern_performance_aud.ART_ART_02-10-10_B1_K2GI3ML.html?sid=101
"But some of the suggestions would require bargaining with the district's certified and classified unions, including:
• Mandatory direct deposit for all employees.
• Modifying step increases or limiting future wages for classified employees, so that compensation is in line with that at similar local districts.
• Removing provisions in the employees' contracts that hinder administrators' ability to manage, such as requirements on class size, school-day schedules and kindergarten aides.
• Bringing monthly health-care premiums in line with State Employment Relations Board averages for the Columbus area, enrolling more employees in lower-cost health-insurance plans and increasing employee contributions for dental and vision insurance.
• Evaluating incentives that encourage employees to retire."
"A recommendation to create an internal auditor position to review the district's operations would increase expenses, Superintendent Bill Wise said.
And eliminating nine buses from the district's fleet, as suggested, would mean longer ride times for students. Slashing 15 positions in maintenance and operations would meet industry standards, but it wouldn't take into account the district's community needs, Wise said.
For example, the district covers custodial costs when community groups such as parks and recreation departments use the buildings, he said.
Auditors lauded the district's operations in eight areas, including how officials manage workers' compensation costs and provide instruction to specialized students such as gifted and special-needs children.
District officials will compose a response plan to the findings, including whether they will go forward with any of the recommendations."
Here Bill Wise tries to rationalize 15 positions in maintenance that are above industry standards. That is not 2 or 3 but 15. I could allow for 2 or 3 positions within industry standards but 15 is an obvious waste and over staffed. "Eliminating 9 buses" tells me that our buses are not being utilized efficiently. A few more minutes ride time for students would save 9 driver positions and maintenance and fuel on those 9 buses. These buses could be sold. It is time for the progressives running SWCS to learn a little about business and start running the district like a business. The best way for the district to receive the support of the taxpayers is to protect its pocket not coddle its bloated employees. Implementing the states recommendations would be a start. We the people are watching.
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