Discussion on $18 million renovation.

NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH BUILDING PROJECT

EXPECT YEARLY TAX INCREASES FOREVER

There was a special meeting of the Northwestern Lehigh Board on April 26.  the discussion focused on the proposed renovations at the high school. It is separated into 3 parts.

1. New addition, approximately 3500 sq. feet, requires demolishing front of building, moving front wall forward 6 feet by the length of the building.  This would provide Secure entry, Administration Suites, Nurse's Suite, Concession Stand, Ticket booth, Public Accessible toilets, Lobby, one classroom, Large group instruction room.

2. Heavy renovations: Locker rooms, Toilet rooms, Trainer area, Music room, Referee Room, 4 classrooms. Heavy renovations are defined as relocation of walls or structures. Nearly all finishes, equipment and systems replaced, ADD accessibility, gender neutral changing and bathroom facilities.

3. Medium renovations, Gymnasium, Auxiliary Gym, Auditorium, main corridor. Gym: new wood flooring, painting walls, new doors and gym equipment.  Aux Gym: new doors, paint, new lighting, new wall finishes.   Auditorium: new carpet, new fixed seating, new stage floor, new wall finishes. Main Corridor, new floors, ceilings, doors, lockers, painting walls.

Board member Phil Toll suggested an alternative plan that would eliminate the new 3500 sq. ft. addition.  He acknowledged that repair and renovation was needed, but questioned the need to expand building. He outlined some options that would provide the needed changes without changing the foundation, brick walls, and roof of building.  It was agreed to have a meeting with the architect to explore those options..

There was a discussion of whether this project needed to comply with Act 34 to inform and gather input by the community. The Superintendent and Board President declared that there was no need to inform the public.

That was the basic discussion of this meeting.

It would be a good idea to have this project prices in 3 parts, the cost of this new addition should be priced as to the cost. This addition most likely is a substantial part of this project. The other 2 phases could also be so priced.

 I did not see the floors in the Gymnasiums, but this is hardwood flooring that has proved the test of time, this is a minimum of 3/4" flooring, resurfacing and refinishing would most likely be as good or possibly better than a new unproven wood.

A large group instruction room is probably unnecessary, as there is a auditorium and other large spaces available for such gatherings.

The philosophy of the Administration and the new board seems to be spend whatever amount is necessary to provide all that they would like to have, without taking into account the finances of the taxpayers. It definitely appears they will revert back to raising taxes every year far into the future.

The only real solution is to do away with school boards managing the finances of schools, give them control of all other options and let the state fund the schools by spreading out the funding over the whole public not just property owners. This has already happened in some states, and that option has been proposed in Pennsylvania by Act 76.





  

Primarys almost over

TRUMP AND CLINTON OVERWHELM OPPONENTS

TRUMP ABOUT TO OPEN FLOODGATE OF VICTORIES

The April 26  super primary is now over. Hillary Clinton did as expected, maybe even better than expected, to get very close to wrapping up the Democratic Presidential Nomination. Bernie Sanders will stay in to the end, as he should, due to Hillary's legal problems and he hopes to have influence on the platform at the convention.

Donald Trump definitely outperformed every expectation, by winning every county in all 5 states. His margins ranged from 54% in Maryland to 67% in Rhode Island. Ted Cruz was only able to manage a second place in Pennsylvania. This most likely will bring about an obvious conclusion to the primary. John Kasich is out of money, he is spending most of his time in dinners and restaurants and having a great time traveling around the country, but there is no path for him except to be a vice-presidential candidate from the important state of Ohio. He may soon have an awakening and realize he really does like Donald Trump after all.   

Ted Cruz seems oblivious to the situation and still believes he can win at the convention. His financing will now come to an end, if politically astute, he should start considering his best option to exit with grace and dignity. He fought a good campaign but could not prevail. I believe rank and file republicans have come to the conclusion this primary must be ended quickly, and I expect that Trump may just start winning every state that's left, not because they love Donald Trump, but they want to preserve their chances in November. I think many voters were turned off by innovative strategies rather than winning votes.

I foresee that Trump will collect the 1237 delegates before the convention. This is the best situation for the party to be successful in November. While Hillary is a poor candidate with lots of negatives, it is always a close race. It will take a unified and enthusiastic party to win in November.

Primary election Tueday April 26.

BIG TURNOUT EXPECTED IN PENNSYLVANIA

PRESIDENTIAL RACES USUALLY DECIDED BY NOW

Pennsylvania residents finally get to voice their opinion on Tuesday. While the Presidential race takes center stage, the delegates to the convention also may be important this year. Usually delegates are an honorary position to take part in the convention, but with the threat of an undecided presidential nomination they may become very important. On the republican side there is no indication on the ballot as to who these delegates are  supporting. I have identified some and will place them at the bottom of this article. The ballot questions are to retire judges at 70 and to do away with the Philadelphia traffic court, it seems there has been questions of corruption at this court. Our local representative Gary Day is running unopposed.

As for the Democratic Presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders is still running, he is trailing Hillary Clinton by several hundred committed delegates. He probably cannot defeat Clinton at the ballot box, but will stay in case Hillary is indicted by the courts. If he is still in the race when and if she should have legal problems he will be in the strongest position for the nomination. I am sure he would be challenged by someone but it would be a disaster for the democrats.

The Republicans still have 3 people running, John Kasich has won 1 state and has not had a real path to the nomination for months. He will most likely not have any relevance at the convention because Trump and Cruz delegates will set the rules.  Ted Cruz is now close to 300 delegates behind Trump, he has been mathematically eliminated from reaching the 1237 delegates to win the nomination. He is staying in hoping to win in a contested convention. It is very possible that the Cruz campaign will lose momentum, he accepted weak endorsements by establishment republicans who as much as stated they were not for Cruz but against Trump. He should have publicly only accepted positive endorsements for him. I think most voters want to vote for someone rather against someone to end in a chaotic situation in Cleveland. While he has bragged that he is outsmarting Trump in delegate collection backstage, this also may not be a positive to many voters. Much of his delegate wins in states without primaries have been assisted by party establishments, not for Cruz, but against Trump. Donald Trump has led in the polls since early in the race. He has won 22 states, double his next opponent. he is 300 delegates ahead of Cruz and after Tuesday may be 400 ahead.  If he would have a bad day on Tuesday it would definitely put a bump in his momentum. Trump has high negatives in the polls, but still looks more electable in a national contest than Cruz. If the Republicans have any hope of defeating Clinton in November, they would do well to get this over with and move to heal and unify their party. If they continue to fight to a contested convention they probably will need to start looking to 2020.

THE DELEGATES FOR TRUMP IN THE 15TH CONG DISTRICT:  UEHLINGER,,,, KERWIN,,,, REBER

THE DELEGATES FOR TRUMP IN THE 17TH CONG DISTRICT:   GLORIA LEE SNOVER,,,,LYNETTE VILLANO,,,,,CAROLYN BONKOSKI BALLOT

Hillary and liability lawyers

CLINTON PLAN WOULD DEVISTATE ALL BUSINESS

PLANS TO HOLD BUSINESS AND RETAILERS LIABLE

Hillary Clinton has been running on the proposition that business and retailers should be able to be sued for damages if they sold products used in illegal activity. Her main focus is pillaring Bernie Sanders for not supporting lawsuits of manufacturers and retailers by victims of shootings. While this may have emotional appeal to anti second amendment constituents it would create an impossible situation for most business in the country. It is not possible to single out one type of business without those standards applying to other business. The firearms business is the most regulated business in the country. All manufacturers and dealers have the assistance of the government in approving who is allowed to purchase weapons. Is the government going to allow lawsuits of itself if it fails to inform dealers through the background check of ineligible buyers?

FBI statistics reports that hammers and baseball bats are used at a very high rate in murders and assaults. Are sporting goods stores and hardware stores also going to be liable? Are Car manufacturers and dealers going to be liable for selling cars to customers who drive drunk and injure other people?  It is not a secret that Hillary Clinton  has been supported by liability lawyers for decades.  Whether this is a payoff to her supporters or just a cynical attempt to diminish Bernie Sanders it is not in the best interest of the country.

All manufactures are liable for defective products that produce injury, retailers may be liable for illegal transactions. This issue was voted on by the congress when it became clear that it was being used by activists to bankrupt Firearms manufacturers and dealers by tying them up in court for  years.  While Bernie Sanders is way out on many issues, he is right on this issue.

EDUCATION OF HEROIN DANGERS SHOULD BE PRIORITY

DON'T START IS THE ANSWER, NOT REHAB

TIME TO PUT MAXIMUM EFFORT INTO DRUG EDUCATION

 

 

 

 

 We are all aware now of the increased use of heroin by young people in the Lehigh Valley as well as all across the nation. I see lots of talk about new rehab efforts and strategies. These efforts at rehab are not the answer. While there are some successes, the results are poor by anyone's standards. An independent survey from Australia by Darke, Ross, Mills, Williamson, Havard and Teesson found that after 36 months. 15% success rate for inpatient therapy, 10% for drug therapy, and 0% for no treatment. It seems that Drug Rehab centers are sprouting like daffodils in spring, and this is all well and good. I am not trying to disparage their possible help to some people. It is very difficult to get solid proven long term success rates from anyone. The answer is to not take opiate drugs from the beginning. I can see that we are creating a whole new industry with the Opiate rehabilitation business. If people are addicted it is most likely too late.

Most of the users of Heroin start with prescription pain killers and move on to Heroin later.  The Heroin of late is high quality and very dangerous. More than 3000 deaths in Pennsylvania in the last 5 years alone. Many of these deaths are young teenage kids. While the deaths are tragic the ruined lives and stress addiction places on families is just as tragic.

There needs to be an increased awareness starting in middle school, this needs to be a harsh, factual, and frightening all out effort to inform these kids about the dangers of Opiate use.  If we need to show videos and pictures of young people who have succumbed to this problem we should do it, shock will not hurt them, but opiate addiction will. 

Sanders and Trump candidacies have exposed corrupt system

LONG TIME POLITICIANS AND MEDIA SMOKED OUT

WIN OR LOSE CANDIDATES HAVE PROVIDED SERVICE TO COUNTRY 

 

We have remarked earlier about the rigged system in the Democratic primary system. The Democrats have 712 super delegates who account for 30% of the 2382 needed to reach a majority of delegates. These delegates are not accountable to the voters in any way.  They are mostly donors and party elites whose purpose is more to protecting the ruling class than in reflecting the will of the voters.  Bernie Sanders has won 8 out of the 9 latest primaries and has not decreased Hillary Clintons lead. In the last primary he won by double digits and received less delegates. Clinton now leads Sanders by 216 bound delegates, 1310 to 1094, but adding super delegates Clinton's 477 to Sander's 38. the totals are 1787 to 1132.  With a system like this only the well connected have any hope of winning the nomination. Sanders has endured this system without any noticeable complaint, believing that if his bound delegate numbers improve the super delegates will switch to him. Barring an indictment of Clinton, it would be interesting to see if that is really true. Democrats are continually harping about voter suppression, their primary system is a very good reason why many people have refused to come out and vote.

On the Republican side the corruption is much more subtle, while there are about 150 unbound delegates, the bound delegates it seems can be persuaded to go with the candidate who can best persuade them to support them. They have openly debated about how delegates are enticed by golf club memberships, hunting or fishing trips and box seats for sporting events, but were quick to declare that cash gifts would be inappropriate.  They defend vague and intricate rules as all should know the rules and rules are the same for everyone. While corrupt rules may be known, they are still corrupt rules that serve to insure that the present ruling class continue in power. I have been voting for over 40 years and this has been the most eye opening election I have ever seen. When those in power fear that there is a chance they will lose that power we have been allowed to see how far they will go. I suspect they are willing to go much farther than most people want to admit. While they have not as yet piled on Bernie Sanders, I can see that they would if he ever became a real threat. The other side have outdone themselves with their opposition to Donald Trump. Trump has given them ammunition by talking to everyone and answering every question asked, even if unsure of the answer.  But this deluge started as soon as he went to top of the polls and has continued till today. Big republicans have exposed themselves by making statements like Lindsey Graham, that states that it is "better to lose, than win with Trump", or others who have stated they will most likely vote for Clinton. This exposes what has always been suspected, that there is really only one party, the ruling party, with the same foreign policy, the same trade policy, the same political hacks on both sides that  are much more interested in protecting the insiders and  their donors than the American people. They keep the volunteers and hopeful content with issues like abortion, gay marriage and gun control, but never address the changes needed to improve the well being of the country. This is why the country has continued to decline no matter which party is in power. This ruling class is supported and protected by the media which considers itself part of the new aristocracy and it is evident when most members of the media go back and forth between the media and positions in government. The media has also been exposed for their bias, not necessarily to any candidate, but to protecting the party establishments.

When this is all over, no matter the outcome, both Sanders and Trump are owed a big thank you from the American people for exposing the corruption of the political system. 

 

BOTH SIDES AGREE TO FACT-FINDING RECOMMENDATIONS

NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH BOARD AGREES TO CONTRACT

 

 

The Northwestern Lehigh school directors voted 9-0 to approve the recommendations of the fact -finding report of the Pennsylvania labor relations board. The contract is for 4 years and will be in effect until June 30, 2019. The union voted to approve the recommendations on April 4, 2016.
     

The PPO A health plan option will be eliminated at the end of this school year.

The PPO B health care option will be eliminated at the end of the 2016-2017 school year.

The PPO C and D plans will remain with contributions raised by 3% in the final year of contract.

 

There will be savings of approximately 140,000 to the district over 4 years.

 

Salaries  will increase 3.75% year 1, 3.8% year 2, 3.8% year 3, 3.9% year 4, this will be a 23% increase for the 4 years. This will cost $3.5 million more over the 4 years.

 

Starting salaries will be $46,879 after 3 years, and top will be $83,142.

 

Teachers received a higher increase than most school districts in area. The changes in the health insurance plans are a step in the right direction.  It seems both the union and the board are relieved that the negotiations are over and they can all move on. 

 

NW Lehigh renovations to result in higher taxes

SCHOOL BOARD EXPLORES FUNDING OPTIONS

SOME BOARD MEMBERS QUESTION PLAN

 

 

 

The Northwestern Lehigh school board met last night to explore possible options to fund proposed renovations to the school. The estimated cost of the renovations is $17,841,810. One possibility is to use $8,645,501 from the fund balances and borrow $9,196,309. The financial brokers explained that by borrowing $8,000,000, the district would incur costs of $680,000 in debt service per year for 15 years, or $560,000 for 20 years. If it would borrow $18,000,000 it would have debt service of $1,180,000 per year. Estimated rates are 3.25% on a 15-year bond, and 3.8 % on a 20-year bond. The school district also has $46,000,000 in previous construction debt. The bond brokers also stated that the school's credit rating has increased in the last 4 years, two positions to AA rating. There are only 53 school districts in PA with that high a rating. Spending too much of the fund balance, and I would assume too much borrowing, might lower the rate resulting in higher interest costs in the future. It was discussed that all of those options would result in significant tax increases in future years.

In the discussion period, board member Phil Toll questioned the need for the scope of the renovations, explaining that while some renovations are needed, much of the renovation is bigger and better office space for the administration and conference rooms, etc. While these additions would be nice, he questioned whether they were really needed and noted their cost contributed to a substantial part of the overall cost of the project. He also emphasized that state budget problems and other uncertainties may make such a large expenditure risky.

Board member Charlene Rauscher stated that such a large expenditure would certainly require hefty tax increases. She was answered by board member Willard Dellicker that tax increases are inevitable. Mary Ann Wright also stated that the school district did not raise taxes for 5 years and tax increases are necessary. Mrs. Rauscher thought that taxes were not inevitable if spending restraint was implemented.

Board member Todd Hernandez questioned if the school district can really afford such a large expenditure.

Board member Daryl Schafer stated that he was not part of the initial plan, but thought it needed review by the board.

Board member Joseph Fatzinger thought that a review should be done by a committee of board members as they were having problems getting all the board members together at once.

It was also revealed by Mrs. Wright that they were still looking to consider renovations at the athletic field, including artificial surface. This was separate from the above plan and would be a separate borrowing plan.

While no votes were taken, they expected to decide on a review of the priorities of the plan at the next meeting.

This is a general report of this meeting.

As a taxpayer in this district I question why this plan was sent to the architect without getting the approval of the board in a formal way for the priorities of the plan. It appears to an outside observer that this was a plan by the administration to decide what should be done without formal input by the board members. The priorities should have been voted on before a plan was drawn up. There has not been advertising of this project to the citizens. Are they planning on pushing this through without any input from the community? Everyone realizes that maintenance and repairs are always needed, just as the heating system was replaced in the last few years. There is no reason for not taking the same approach of doing needed updates as they are needed and that can often be paid for from current receipts. It seems that bigger and cushier offices and conference rooms are a luxury more than a necessity. While taxes are irrelevant to those board members and future public retirees with 6-digit public pensions, tax raises are relevant to the citizens of the district who will bear the cost.

While the administration has done a good job of cooperating with the previous board in controlling spending, it appears they now feel they are unleashed to spend as much as possible while they can.