The Shab Show, technology & Union pay freeze on Pittston Politics

Linskey & Shab

   The Tax Boycott Express pulled up to the Pittston Area School Board Meeting Tuesday night. And, our very own Frank Shab was the driver.
   Over the past few months we’ve been speculating (and now reporting) that the school board would raise taxes in their new budget. This did not sit well with Mr. Shab, so he has been attempting to stage a tax boycott. During public input, he questioned teacher salaries, vacation days, health care and pensions. But as expected, it fell on deaf ears.
   Bob Linskey took exception to an item under new business, when the board suggested that they eliminate the technology coordinator position and send him to teach a math class in the Middle School. Linskey said that the new technology is deteriorating in the buildings, and there will be problems in the future if the position is eliminated. The elimination was also never approved by the union. Technology at Pittston Area has truly come very far in the past few years, and I was surprised that President Guariglia voted for this change, as he was a major player with the new technology in the district.
   The board also announced that the school district’s support staff agreed to a pay freeze, which would help with the budget. Unfortunately, the teachers’ union must not have seen the severity of Pittston Area’s debt problem, because no such deal was reached.
   There will be a special meeting on Tuesday, June26th at 6:00pm to approve the new budget.

Member Opinions:

By: Eye-in-the-sky on 6/23/12
I was told by a union member who is in the know that the union did offer a contract extension that included savings of approximately $500,000. I don't know the details but I'm chaning my position on all union contracts being negotiated behnd closed doors. Aparently we the taxpayers dont get the full story and we continue donw the path of blaming teachers for ot being reasonable. I sure would like to know the true story about what the teachers offered.

By: iganog8 on 6/24/12
I was asked to make the DVD for the talent show to benefit Senior Palooza day. I taped the show and told my daughter(Who was a senior) that if she wanted she could edit it at PA and produce the DVD's. She replied that they don't have a computer that can edit video or burn DVDs!!!! When I visited the computer lab, I was shocked how behind the times PA was!!!! I was a Technology Director at two catholic schools and I can tell everyone that PA has a serious tech problem. I even offered to help them upgrade their technology over the summer but my offer fell on deaf ears!!! Anthony Guariglia you know who I am and I know a few people and students that can help PA with their Tech issues. Get in touch with me

By: avocaart on 6/24/12
@iganoq8- Same with me. Offered to a sitting director to bring in a team of 3, all PA district residents, to go over everything to see where it stood and offer recommendations on bring things up to snuff, at no cost to the taxpayers. Never heard back. Guess you can't get any favors out of a free service......

By: slinky5130 on 6/24/12
A 2.3% tax increase amounts to about $32 a year. I think my cable went up that musch in a month. A boycott express seems silly for that amount. Eliminating the music teacher from the elementary school, I think is a step backwards. Why is it always the arts that have to be cut, why not the sports budget. I believe that the board said that there is a technology staff and it was only one position being eliminated. What does a coordinator do? The superintendent must feel that the rest of the staff can handle the load. Is the coordinator responsible for keeping the computer system up and running or does the staff do that?

By: Nanteen on 6/24/12
Im sure they would say that the district would have some kind of liability if people came in and offered free help.

Of Course I personally believe they would rather bid it out to a place that would then sell them the tech and give a nice kick back to someone.

By: Robert007 on 6/24/12
Avocaart and Iganoq8, it is time to start nameing names. Avoca you write that you spoke to a current board member. WHO? Lets not be afraid to name them. I belive this move is more that what it looks like. I heard that a person is going to be hired to fill in this open position. It is all a game. Wait up you hear who the new superindendent is. This one is going to make you grow hair.

Bob Lampman
Pittston Twp

By: iganog8 on 6/25/12
I agree with you @Nanteen. I don't really know if my offer was forwarded to anyone that can make decisions so I made that public post. The liability issues can easily be resolved. There are plenty of talented students in this district that can actually help PA with their computer systems. They need a technology club that actually works on technology issues!!!

By: JKELLY on 6/25/12
I would love to know who the board member is also who made the statements!

By: JValenti on 6/25/12
Joe K - me too.

By: JKELLY on 6/25/12
jakcfei@verizon.net

By: John on 6/27/12
Just like Frank Shab won't name the so called "PA Royalty", these people will never name the board members that said these things. I'm not holding my breath.

John Lombardo
Jenkins Twp

By: avocaart on 6/27/12
You need a plan to make improvements- Not just to buy smart boards or new PCs. A lot of these "gadgets" are expensive and trendy, not giving you a bang for your buck where less-than-cutting-edge technology works just fine in an educational setting. Not saying you shouldn't have some of the newer stuff for advanced classes. That's where assessments come in. PA would do well to ask for volunteers to work with school staffers and form a technology council to baseline where things are now, formulate a plan where you want to go, then break it up into phases that are easy to implement & cost effective. joe K- I may be in touch. Bob Lampman- Please e-mail me- avocaart@gmail.com. Joe V- We crossed paths years ago when our kids went to the same school, and you worked for that W-B ISP....

By: JKELLY on 6/27/12
I am just asking because like I said do not want to be painted with that brush, and also I will answer questions or concerns through my e-mail.

By: WAwatcher on 6/27/12
where is Ken Scaz, the fiber-optics guy when you need him?

By: judge on 6/27/12
I applaud the school board for saving the district $420,000 by the Maintenance departments pay and hiring freeze. It is about time someone is thinking.

By: avocaart on 6/28/12
No Joe K, it didn't happen during your watch- Scarentino(sp) was still super when this happened.

By: judge on 6/28/12
As I was sitting at the meeting the other night, I realized the Superintendent George Cosgrove Administration has been the most effective administration in 20 years.