Never one to mince words, Allentown School Director Scott Armstrong was perturbed by a guest appearance from Allentown City Council President Julio Guridy. After all, Guridy has had so many good ideas in The Miracle That Is Allentown.
From ASD Director Scott Armstrong: Allentown city council president Julio Guridy chose the May 22nd Allentown School Board meeting to score political points by making the totally ridiculous pronouncement that the school district should find other remedies than staff reductions or tax increases to solve its current budget crisis. This, of course, drew applause from the assembled vested interests that filled the chamber. One might ask how cheap, insincere and self serving this act was. In truth, it was no less self serving than the intransigence of the teachers’ union to engage a process to find an equitable solution to the state’s public pension crisis. On this night Julio Guridy was the vulture circling the financially distressed district seeking profit for himself. So self serving, so Allentown. God help us.
25 comments:
What language does he really speak? Broken spanish with a hint of english?
School Districts are charged to give students, who want to learn, an excellent quality education that would be part of their info base as they proceed in life. Teachers are just one tool in this process. And it is important that the district employ as many teachers that are needed to facilitate the education process for children. Where does Guridy propose that the funds come from to keep staffing at status quo. As far as Charter schools are concerned there seems to be a slow process occurring which in the future will leave the public schools only with special education eligible students.
The next mayor of Allentown.
Julio Guridy has NOTHING to say at Allentown City Council and he is the President of City Council.
He states that he does not have to answer questions from the public.
As a vulture he seems to have no problem showing up at a meeting to throw his two-cents in.
If you asked him for DETAILS on a solution, I doubt he has any solution at all. Someone probably told him this is a good thing to say about "schools" when in public.
What a poser.
Rich,
I took a moment to speak to him after he made his comment. I told him the school district doesn't have a water works to sell. His answer; we didn't sell it we leased it. This is leadership in Allentown. sad.
Scott Armstrong
JULIO GUIRIDY HAS NO ANSWERS AS RICH FEGLEY MENTIONS WHEN QUESTIONED AT COUNCIL MEETINGS, IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS NOTHING. iF HE KNEW SOMETHING, WOULD NOT HAVE TO LEASE THE WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TO RAISE FUNDS, THAT WILL BE COSTLY TO ALLENTOWN, BEGINNING IN 2016.
I think Scott was actually being reserved and kind in associating jg to a vulture.
my view? the southern end of a north bound jackass
The ASD is so broke.. there is no fix. It is in the same class as Philly, Newark NJ, Detroit etc.. Until the suburban school kids are blended in, it will be more like a prison with prison yard social structure amongst its students as evidenced by the Zimmerman video. Not even worth dealing with until real change is involved. All ASD needs to do is look at the BASD model. It works!
Our country needs MORE Scott Armstrongs.
Obviously, I think he places too much emphasis on the pension situation, and has been too quick to eliminate teachers as opposed to reducing administrative, clerical, and others with non-teaching duties in greater numbers, BUT the man works hard at what he was elected to do, is not afraid to express himself, nor openly interact with citizens who might not agree with him.
Too many politicians at higher levels do all they can back in the shadows in effort to simply REMAIN IN OFFICE, fearful of making tough choices that might jeopardize the status quo.
Fred Windish
If Mr. Guridy wanted to demonstrate the leadership skills one might expect of the council president of PA's 3rd largest city, he would convene local state legislators and demand a state based solution to the unique funding problems for public education in Allentown. His political posturing at ASD is pathetic considering the ASD Board is raising taxes 6%!!! Allentown needs responsible decision makers, which seem to only sit at ASD these days.
10:01 - Great comment. Right on target.
I wonder how much has the Allentown Council raised taxes with Guirdy as Council Prez and how much have they raised taxes with Guirdy on Council?
He needs some light shined on his record rather than trying to muddy up the waters.
Whatever happened to working together with other boards. If Armstrong really was pissed, he should have ask Guirdy what his suggestions were. But I believe the best route should've been not to dignify his statements with a response. But Armstrong's remarks were just as good.
This man just like RePete is just yet another part of the soul sale sector of Allentowns politically connected?
As Bernie wrote in his ending prayers wil go unanswered in the hell that has become Allentown PA? The third world nation unto itself were crime of all sorts far outweighs anything simalar to what most know as Americana?
redd
patent pending
I spend about 4 thousand a year to send my child to a school out of the district. If that option ever becomes unavailable I would look into cyber schooling or a charter school.
I pity any child who must go to an ASD school. My choice was made the day the ASD's lawyer stated the school district has no responsibility for the safety of the children which are left in their care. This statement came as a response to criticism on the handling of unreported cases of molestation of 1st graders by a mentally handicapped 4th grader. After the teachers knew about the 1st incident they did not report it citing supervisors who advised them not to report the incidents for fear of spoiling the school's reputation.
This is besides the fear of having your child stabbed or shot or having your child bullied because he/she is a "pink".
As far as Guridy, he as been nothing but a self serving do- nothing since he came into office who relies on his ethnicity to get votes. I once saw a quote by him in the papers "I will take care of my people....and everyone else". Hopefully "his people" will wise up to the fact that the only one he takes care of is himself.
The pension issue is not of the teacher's doing. The teachers all across this state have been dutifully contributing to their pension, week in and week out.
Mr. Armstrong, why did your district and most others UNILATERALLY stop paying into the system 13 years ago? Did you not have the foresight to see the what would result? You should be ashamed of yourselves - local school boards and the state government caused this pension issue. Now fix it.
JULIO GUIRIDY HAS NO ANSWERS AS RICH FEGLEY MENTIONS WHEN QUESTIONED AT COUNCIL MEETINGS, IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS NOTHING. iF HE KNEW SOMETHING, WOULD NOT HAVE TO LEASE THE WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TO RAISE FUNDS, THAT WILL BE COSTLY TO ALLENTOWN, BEGINNING IN 2016.
I'm sure he knows where the CAPS lock key is unlike you, skip.
9:01 am,
The pension provided to public employees is far more generous than any pension available to the general public.They are beginning to understand they have been played for suckers by their elected officials and public sector unions. Get real!Smell the coffee! What ever adage works for you understand the gravy train is bleeding the taxpayers white and heading insolvency. By the way,don't use government screw ups to excuses what is un-excusable. That isn't going to wash with people who are wondering why those who work for the public are living much better than they.
Scott Armstrong
Mr. Armstrong - You didn't answer the question but this is typical. Why, as a school board member, did you allow the district to not pay into PSERS for over 10 years only to now cry poor when the bill is due? If you had paid all along, the pension would be a non issue. And no, you are incorrect. Many people in the private sector, myself included, get generous retirement plans from our employers with little to no out of pocket expenses. Your teachers dutifully pay into the system week in and week out. Why did the school board and administration decide to not meet YOUR obligations?
Scott can answer for himself, but he has not been on the board for ten years.
Apologies. But he is accountable for three years of neglecting to contribute to PSERS.
11:35,
Why weren't PSER's paid for several years? Because politicians were running the show. That is one of the many problems associated with government run defined payment pensions. For short term expediency they skipped payments. On the other hand, our elected officials would never blow off a scheduled defined contribution payment.Bank on that.
Scott Armstrong
come to think of it, politicians controlling defined payment pensions for state workers is the perfect storm.
Scott Armstrong
Why weren't PSER's paid for several years? Because politicians were running the show. That is one of the many problems associated with government run defined payment pensions. For short term expediency they skipped payments. On the other hand, our elected officials would never blow off a scheduled defined contribution payment.Bank on that.
I didn't ask why Harrisburg didn't contribute their part, I asked why ASD didn't contribute THEIR part while you were a director.
Don't act as if the pension is an issue without mentioning the issue was created by you and other politicians, not by the workers who signed on to an employment contract in good faith.
8:43,
It is always wise to have the facts before making public charges, alas when one post anonymously the burden of personal integrity is lifted.
The ASD has been making its PSER payments while I have been on the board. These annually increasing obligations are a major factor in tax increases and staff cuts.
Scott Armstrong
The "increasing obligations" are caused by districts and the state not contributing to the plan for over 10 years while all the employees contributed every paycheck over that period.
ASD did not make PSERS payments during this period either. This is caused by politicians like you and those in Harrisburg isolated from local issues.
idiot!
The ASD pays what the state directs us to pay on PSER's. If we paid our total obligation there there would be far fewer people working for the district. This should tell you something but your selfishness prevents you from seeing the obvious. The pension system is far too generous and unsustainable.
This selfishness is destroying public education and the lives of the young people unfortunate enough not to attend schools in wealthy districts.
Sleep on that!
Scott Armstrong
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