From January 2008 through August 2011, the FC administrators and board members have been reimbursed $155,563.33 for expenses and mileage.
$155,563.33
$3700 of taxpayers’ dollars per month
$44,400 of taxpayers’ dollars per year
Over 1 mill of tax money per year
This blog promised to show you more examples of the fiscally irresponsible expenses that this board approves; and by giving approval, encourages.
Here’s another example of that fiscal irresponsibility.
. . . . . .
Let’s take another look Dinnen’s mileage and expense reimbursement for July and August of 2011.
Keep in mind that these expenses were submitted immediately after the furlough of teachers and the elimination of programs for the students.
First, the cover sheet:
Note: The July 11th lunch with Larry Spahr, was discussed in the October 18th post about reapportionment.
. . . . . .
August 9, 2011: Army Advisory Luncheon, Jerome Bettis Grille
Cost to FC Taxpayers: $20.40 for mileage
Purpose: (taken from the invitation)
“On behalf of the U.S. Army, we would like to invite you to a lunch to learn more about the Army’s presence in the Pittsburgh area and how you may be able to support our efforts to connect with the community as part of the Advisory Board.”
Benefit to the Students and Staff: According to the U.S. Army Recruiting Office in Harrisburg, Fort Cherry is a poor market for the military. Dinnen did not provide a report to the Board about the Army Advisory Committee, nor did he publicly offer any plans to increase FC’s recruitment numbers.
Receipt Submitted for Reimbursement:
· Does an invitation provide proof of attendance?
· Would your boss accept it as proof?
. . . . . .
August 9, 2011: Administrative Workshop, Spoon
Cost to FC Taxpayers: $9.18 for mileage, $372.98 for dinner
Purpose: ?????
Benefit to the Students and Staff: No report was provided to the Board by Dinnen, or any of the others in attendance. Not a peep - nothing from Craig, Smith, Jacoby, or Frioni.
Receipt Submitted for Reimbursement:
Let’s break this receipt down:
· Appetizers: $ 76.00
· Salads: $ 44.00
· Entrees: $129.00
· Desserts: $ 31.00
· Tip: $ 60.00
The average meal, including tip, was $74.60.
Just weeks before this dinner, the District, under Dinnen and Sroka’s direction, furloughed teachers and cut programs.
· What happened to “watching every penny”? (See May 6th post, http://fortcherryinfo.blogspot.com/2011/05/fc-board-and-administrators-are.html)
· Why not hold the administrative workshop at Fort Cherry, with a meal provided by Chef Jeff (or no meal).
Why not stay put and save money?
. . . . . .
August 25, 2011: Meeting in Burgettstown – Vo-Tech Student Issue
Cost to FC Taxpayers: $8.16 for mileage, $34.55 for lunch
Purpose: Student Issue (confidential)
Benefit to the Students and Staff: Student Issue (confidential)
Receipt Submitted for Reimbursement:
· Was it necessary for three people to go to discuss the “student issue”?
· Why Dinnen, Sroka, and Craig? Why not one of the principals?
· Why did Sroka go? Sroka is the Business Manager; he should have nothing to do with “student issues”.
· Why lunch? Burgettstown is certainly close enough that lunch was unnecessary.
. . . . . .
Dinnen was reimbursed $579.61 for the months of July and August 2011.
That’s in addition to his $130,794 salary, $10,000 bonus for two PhDs, and who knows what else????
*(More about Dinnen’s compensation at the end of this post.)
2 months
$470.47 in meals
$109.14 in mileage
. . . . . .
Dinnen and these administrators have satisfied their appetites, over and over again - at taxpayers’ expense and with board approval.
Was anything of value brought to the District’s table in exchange for those full stomachs?
*The District will not release the W-2s, so the public has no way of knowing Dinnen’s true compensation. Although Dinnen is paid with public funds, the public is kept in the dark.
(See Oct. 15th post, http://fortcherryinfo.blogspot.com/2011/10/whats-up-with-w-2s.html)
The Fort Cherry Act 93 (administrative compensation) agreement entitles the administrators to an annual stipend of $5000 for each doctorate degree and five percent of any grants they obtain for the district. Entire agreement available at http://www.observer-reporter.com/www/PDF/ftcherryact93.pdf.
E. EDUCATIONAL COMPENSATION
Any administrator that earns a doctorate degree from an accredited university will receive an annual stipend of $5,000.
Q. MISCELLANEOUS
2. Administrators will be awarded five (5) percent of any grants they obtain for the district, with the maximum amount not to exceed $5,000, except for someone hired into the School district with the express purpose of grant solicitation.
