WEEKLY REPORT #11
Whom does the RTMSD School Board represent?
The current Board does not represent you – they have passed 100% of the proposals the District administration put before them.
Examine the archived minutes of the RTMSD School Board's Legislative Meetings to study their voting record.
Examine the archived minutes of the Board's Work Session meetings to read documentation of its consideration of new proposals.
The Board has approved raising property taxes every year, even when surpluses were realized which could PAY for the next year’s spending increases.
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Note: While tax revenues skyrocket, academic proficiency has declined.
The Board approved balance transfers of the surplus revenue from its Unassigned reserve fund.
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Why does this matter? It allows the District to raise property taxes.
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The money which is left in its "Unassigned reserve fund" is used by Pennsylvania's Department of Education (PDE) to calculate how much money it has, and whether it should be allowed to raise property taxes.
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When a school district moves money out of this particular fund, to any other purpose, it appears to the PDE to be needy and it is approved to raise taxes.
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According to the PA Auditor General, moving surplus money to another internal fund is a tax loophole in PA law. It is legal, but unethical.
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These balance transfers over 11 years created $56 million in surpluses and a huge reserve fund balance, which can be used for anything it wants.
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Note: RTMSD is among the wealthiest school districts in the state, spends more per student than almost every district in Delaware County, and holds over $40,000,000 in various of its reserve funds. It does not need to raise taxes and would not be permitted to raise them, if the tax loophole were fixed.
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There are no discussions over questionable issues.
For example
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In August 2022, this Board approved a $5,000,000 purchase of 16 acres of land for which it has defined no purpose -- "it is prudent to consider purchase of land when it becomes available..."
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Note: Consider RTMSD's 2022 Audit Report (numbered 37-38) statement on permissible Investments includes investing in real estate for some possible future use.
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In March 2023, it approved a new Superintendent with a troubling history
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Neither of these critical actions were on any Board meeting agenda prior to the purchase/hiring being put to a vote.
The Board acquiesced to District recommendations to
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Not lengthen the school year or days to mitigate the COVID learning loss (pg. 66-68)
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Use ESSER funds for teacher in-service programs (rather than for direct student assistance, such as tutoring) slide 34
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Remove itself from setting Curriculum standards for our kids
The Board has not forced the District to mitigate declining Academic Proficiencies
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Math proficiency declines are clearly evident in PSSA test scores for grades 3 through 8 -- ex., 52% of 8th graders are NOT Proficient in Math!
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The extent of the declines for grade 11’s Keystone Exams is lost by not administering the assessment to all students.
The Board has done nothing to address the serious, widespread issues which are reported in the results of the Youth Truth surveys given the past two years, to students, staff, and parents of elementary, middle, and high schools.
Opinion
The impression given by the incumbent Board is that they consider a School Board's responsibilities should be ceremonial, non-controversial, and passive -- similar to British monarchy. They autograph legislation and actions which are prepared by Parliament and make appearances to congratulate achievements by individuals.
In a representative republic, we have no need for an aristocracy.
We establish boards and executives to apply their judgement and experience, to make decisions and propose initiatives, and to represent the needs and wishes of those who elected them and those who need their care. We observe this in action at the Federal, state, and county levels. It applies to all levels of government.
Government needs a debate of differing perspectives, to challenge others' assertions and refine their proposals to accommodate overlooked issues and interests. This is how governance must work to consistently arrive at good decisions.
The impression given by the incumbent Board's acquiescence to the District's proposals is that they have no right to challenge the "experts" perspective on educational policy and actions. A School Board exists to bring the public's perspective into contention with the school administration's perspectives, and to overrule the administration., when its proposals do not serve the community well.
If this were not its purpose, the Board has no purpose.
In America, there is no need for a regent at any level of government to bless, and never challenge, the proposals of an unelected bureaucracy.
We need to elect School Directors who believe they are elected to represent and fight for the needs of their constituency.