“We don’t foresee cutting any programs, furloughing any staff to the extent possible for this coming year.”
Statement made by Superintendent Robert W. Dinnen
Fort Cherry School Board meeting of March 28, 2011
Dinnen made a similar announcement to the staff of the elementary, and again to the staff of the high school, during the March 18th Act 80 teacher-in-service day.
Sroka confirmed this in a March 30th Observer-Reporter article.
==================================================
Meeting roundup
--------------------------------------------------
Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA)-March 30, 2011
Fort Cherry School Board
* Date: March 28
* Action: The board approved a technology agreement with Intermediate Unit 1. The agreement will allow the district to get software for free or reduced prices, increase the district’s bandwith and increase the district’s Internet strength to offer online programs faster.
* Discussion: Business manager Paul Sroka said the 2011-12 tentative budget has a 1 percent increase without furloughs, but revenues are down 6.5 percent because of a reduction in state funding. The board does not plan to raise property taxes in the coming year.
* Next meeting: 7:30 p.m. April 18 in the elementary center library
Three weeks later, at the April 18 board meeting, the District announced proposed furloughs and program cuts:
· Furlough of 12 ½ teachers
· Elimination of instrumental music, drivers education, reading recovery, media arts and other programs;
· Class size increases (a 28 student scenario being considered);
· Consolidation to one nurse and one librarian school-wide
· Property tax increase of 1.9 mils.
What changed from March 28 until April 18?
Dinnen was asked this question at the April 18th board meeting and questioned about the purpose of this employee satisfaction survey distributed to the staff of the school on March 22.
Dinnen was vague, but acknowledged that there was “something by the Post Gazette”.
From: Robert Dinnen <rdinnen@fortcherry.org>
To: (see list at the end of the post)
Cc: survey18@workplacedynamics.com
date : Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 1:36 PM
subject : Workplace Survey
Mar 22
Dear Fort Cherry Staff,
As you know, the downturn in the economy has made this a difficult time. However we feel it is critical to our future success that we find out how everyone feels about working here, and that we identify our strengths and weaknesses. We are therefore conducting an employee engagement survey to hear your views.
You will receive an email with a link to an online survey within the next week. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and provide us with your honest feedback.
The survey is being conducted by WorkplaceDynamics LLC, an independent research company. WorkplaceDynamics will keep your responses confidential, but please note that managers at Fort Cherry School District may see the optional written comments on the final page of the survey. If you wish to make a comment please do not write anything that will identify you as an individual.
Please note:
• If you accidentally delete the survey email, then you will receive a reminder email a few days later that will allow you to take the survey.
• Please do not forward the survey email to a colleague, as each email has a unique code to prevent multiple responses from a single person.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact WorkplaceDynamics directly at (800) 405-8381 or reply to your survey email.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.
Truly,
Bob Dinnen
Superintendent
According the Workplace Dynamics website, a survey provided by their firm to a staff the size of Fort Cherry’s would cost anywhere from $8450 - $9900.
As Dinnen did not acknowledge emailing the survey at the April 18 meeting, the board and the public have no idea of the purpose of the survey and, more than likely, will not be informed of the results.
Is the public footing the bill?
List of recipients of Dinnen’s March 22 email:
Amy Chittister <achittister@fortcherry.org>,
Ann Garry <agarry@fortcherry.org>,
Betsy Speakman <bspeakman@fortcherry.org>,
Bonnie Anthony <banthony@fortcherry.org>,
Brianne Eiler <bkelly@fortcherry.org>,
Carl Grinage <cgrinage@fortcherry.org>,
Chris Simpson <csimpson@fortcherry.org>,
Cindy Baker <cbaker@fortcherry.org>,
Claudia Diamond <cdiamond@fortcherry.org>,
David Narigon <dnarigon@fortcherry.org>,
Donna Mousourakis <dmousourakis@fortcherry.org>,
Fran Harrig <fharrig@fortcherry.org>,
Jackie Gasvoda <jgasvoda@fortcherry.org>,
Jim Brucker <jbrucker@fortcherry.org>,
Jodi Kirby <jkirby@fortcherry.org>,
Jodie Panizza <jpanizza@fortcherry.org>,
Keara Welsh <kwelsh@fortcherry.org>,
Kiley Zibert <kzibert@fortcherry.org>,
Kim Harvey <kharvey@fortcherry.org>,
Kim Hoffman <khoffman@fortcherry.org>,
Laurie Crawford <lcrawford@fortcherry.org>,
Linda Whalen <lwhalen@fortcherry.org>,
Lori Vance <lvance@fortcherry.org>,
Lynne Harkreader <lharkreader@fortcherry.org>,
Margaret Tarentino <mtarentino@fortcherry.org>,
Maureen Cortese <mcortese@fortcherry.org>,
Megan Ellis <mellis@fortcherry.org>,
Megan Spinneweber <mspinneweber@fortcherry.org>,
Molly O'Neill <moneill@fortcherry.org>,
Monica Rosenberger <mrosenberger@fortcherry.org>,
Nancy Lescovitz <nlescovitz@fortcherry.org>,
Nicole Herrmann <nirvine@fortcherry.org>,
Patti Jacobs <pjacobs@fortcherry.org>,
Paul Spinden <pspinden@fortcherry.org>,
Rachel Nelson <rnelson@fortcherry.org>,
Rayshelle Walker <rwalker@fortcherry.org>,
Renee Gardner <rgardner@fortcherry.org>,
Rich McVicker <rmcvicker@fortcherry.org>,
Rose Stempler <rstempler@fortcherry.org>,
Shannon Booth <sbooth@fortcherry.org>,
Suzanne Hendricks <shendricks@fortcherry.org>,
Suzanne Kelly <skelly@fortcherry.org>,
Tiffany Eakin <teakin@fortcherry.org>,
Tracey Kampian <tkampian@fortcherry.org>,
Vernie Dzura <vdzura@fortcherry.org>,
Vicki Durish <vdurish@fortcherry.org>,
Andrea Garry <angarry@fortcherry.org>,
Ben Maxin <bmaxin@fortcherry.org>,
Bethany Spencer <bspencer@fortcherry.org>,
Carl Zeno <czeno@fortcherry.org>,
Carol Knight <cknight@fortcherry.org>,
Chris Hallowich <challowich@fortcherry.org>,
Claire Ellis <cellis@fortcherry.org>,
Daniel Evan <devan@fortcherry.org>,
Deborah Cowden <dcowden@fortcherry.org>,
Denise Lander <dlander@fortcherry.org>,
Diana Jobes <djobes@fortcherry.org>,
Donna Horcick <dhorcick@fortcherry.org>,
Duane Day <dday@fortcherry.org>,
Ed Dully <edully@fortcherry.org>,
Elisa Ruckert <eruckert@fortcherry.org>,
Erin Brown <ebrown@fortcherry.org>,
Ford Shankle <whisperingpinesproductions@comcast.net>,
Jackie Newman <jnewman@fortcherry.org>,
Jacklyn Prepelka <jprepelka@fortcherry.org>,
Jacquelyn Lijewski <jlijewski@fortcherry.org>,
Jeffrey Delach <jdelach@fortcherry.org>,
Jennifer Johns <jjohns@fortcherry.org>,
Jeremy Dawson <jdawson@fortcherry.org>,
Jerilynn Hainaut <jhainaut@fortcherry.org>,
Jessie Currin <jcurrin@fortcherry.org>,
Jim Shiel <jshiel@fortcherry.org>,
Jim Watson <jwatson@fortcherry.org>,
Jodie Hoover <jhoover@fortcherry.org>,
Jodie Kioalicas <jkioalicas@fortcherry.org>,
Jordan Frederick <jfrederick@fortcherry.org>,
Jordon Burk <jburk@fortcherry.org>,
Karen Rush <krush@fortcherry.org>,
Kathy Underwood <kunderwood@fortcherry.org>,
Kevin Center <kcenter@fortcherry.org>,
Kris Krajci <kkrajci@fortcherry.org>,
Kristen Stimmell <kstimmell@fortcherry.org>,
Linda Perkins <lperkins@fortcherry.org>,
Lisa Marashian <lmarashian@fortcherry.org>,
Mandi Gordon <mgordon@fortcherry.org>,
Matt Nelson <mnelson@fortcherry.org>,
Matt Parson <mparson@fortcherry.org>,
Michelle Presutti <mpresutti@fortcherry.org>,
Mike Slates <mslates@fortcherry.org>,
Pam Amos <pamos@fortcherry.org>,
Patty Briggs <pbriggs@fortcherry.org>,
Richard Hursh <rhursh@fortcherry.org>,
Robert Breedlove <rbreedlove@fortcherry.org>,
Terri Eiler <tflaherty@fortcherry.org>,
Thomas Diamond <tdiamond@fortcherry.org>,
Tom Scarpone <tscarpone@fortcherry.org>,
Tracey Hess <thess@fortcherry.org>,
Robert Dinnen <rdinnen@fortcherry.org>,
Jill Jacoby <jjacoby@fortcherry.org>,
Robert Frioni <rfrioni@fortcherry.org>,
Robert Motte <rmotte@fortcherry.org>,
Dawn Smith <dsmith@fortcherry.org>,
Jeff Marquis <jmarquis@fortcherry.org>,
Jack Okorn <jokorn@fortcherry.org>,
Lori Cowden <lcowden@fortcherry.org>,
Andrea Putt <aputt@fortcherry.org>
