You know, the Board passed this contract way back in July and it took 3 months to get a response to an OPRA Request to see the contract and the related costs that they've committed us to for the next 3-years.
Once you read them and look at the costs and see what the costs were and where they went, it's Not hard to see why they've been trying to keep what they did to the Residents & Taxpayers of Edison on the down-low.
While you struggle to put food on the table and keep a roof over your head during this Pandemic, many without an income stream now and the foreseeable future - this bunch of taxpayer unfriend-lies were busy coming up with their own 'Pandemic Relief Package' - but it wasn't for you.
Now you can see what happens to YOU when there isn't anyone on the School Board who looks out for the Residents & Taxpayers.
Giving away such an outrageous amount of money at this worst possible time clearly demonstrates this Board's Distain, Disrespect and Lack of Empathy for the only stakeholder they don't care about
YOU, the TAXPAYER!
This 3-year ETEA contract runs from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023.
For both Certified & Non-Certified combined, they've given away an Outrageous $12.8 million or 10.1% over the 3-Years.
The Certified comes with increases over the 3-Years of $11.3m or 9.8% - and by Year, $3.9m or 3.4% for Year-1, $3.7m or 3.1% for Year-2 and $3.7m or 3% for Year-3.
The Non-Certified comes with increases of $1.5m over the 3-Years or 13.2% - and by Year, $.6m or 4.7% for Year-1, $.4m or 3.7% for Year-2 and $.5m or 4.3% for Year-3.
Increases in Year-1 range from 1.5% to 9.0%, from 1.2% to 5.7% in Year-2 and from 1.0% to 6.7% in Year-3.
Here's the Certified Agreement:
Here's the Non-Certified Agreement:
Anyhoo, you really need to Wake-up and Recognize that you can't have a School Board that treats the Stakeholder that pays all the bills like Crapola - and doesn't care.
Well, just received the response to my OPRA Request for the School District's Current Salary file by employee, by location, department and title.
This data file has a listing of 2,099 employees for a total of $153,907,482.
Here's summary of this data file by Salary Range:
I summarized this data file using tables in Excel so you can sort the data anyway you want to see it (by title, department, location etc.).
Here's a table sort listing of the Top 25 Salaries in the School District (looks like Super Dr. Bernie 'Fiscal Malfeasance Recipient' Bragen already got his first 'max' annual 2% raise with only 10 months on the job):
Here's a pivot table of the same data file:
Anyhoo, this blog format doesn't accommodate the upload of Excel tables so anyone who lives in town and wants this Excel file can just ask for it by hitting the 'Email Me' button (below the Header of this blog) and you're welcome to it. Please make sure you identify yourself and provide a contact number in your email so I can confirm the request.
Well, let's pretend you don't know where Mythomania Lane is over there at the junction of Dysfunction and Ridiculous Streets, and...
-that Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferen-DUMB-er' Bragen didn't endorse that idiotic, ill-conceived, opaque, piecemeal and overpriced $189.5m Money Grab, aka School Bond referendum - that according to their own numbers would of tripled what your school tax increase was for the next 30 years - before he was even hired.
-that Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferen-DUMB-er' Bragen didn't become the face of the 2nd Bite of the Poison Apple above, aka School Bond Referendum - because he was trying to force on you something his buddy Jerry Shi couldn't sell.
-that Super Dr. Bernie 'Bloated 20-21 School Budget' Bragen didn't put together a Fiscal Year School Budget that produced a School tax increase that was 4.5 times higher than the previous Fiscal Year - during a Pandemic when many in town were without an income stream.
-that Super Dr. Bernie '@edisonsupt Twitter Blocker' Bragen didn't block opposing or dissenting views on his Twitter comments about the School District.
-that Super Dr. 'EBoE's 2020 Fiscal Malfeasance Recipient' didn't look to feather his own nest during a Pandemic that has left many in town without an increase stream now and for the foreseeable future. Granted a 1-year extension by a School Board that was more interested in fighting their internal political battles than worrying about committing the Residents and Taxpayers to another $250k or so - for something that was totally unjustified and unnecessary now for someone who's only been on the job for 10 months of a 3 1/2 year contract.
So, Congratulation to Super Dr. Bernie 'Fiscal Malfeasance Recipient' Bragen on your forward thinking for first doing something to protect and benefit yourself.
And a Big Congratulations to the Edison Board of Mythomania demonstrating they're willing to commit away your tax money for no logical or rational reason at all just to protect someone who hasn't been around long enough to even be subject to a fair and proper performance review.
Anyhoo, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that we hired a New Super who decided not to honor his 3-1/2 year contract he signed less than a year ago.
Well, looks like the Super Bragen's 5-year contract the Board of Mythomania had County Super approval for last night failed.
The 2-year extension he sought failed by a 4 to 4 vote.
Errico, Moroney, Bodofsky and Prasad-Madukar were in favor and Shi, Chen, Peng and Patel were opposed. Conway had to abstain but annoyingly, couldn't respect the rules enough to control herself.
But, like anything else with this Politically dysfunctional Board, they made an amended proposal to split the baby and give Mr. Glutton a 1-year extension. That vote was an 8-0-1 victory for Fiscal Malfeasance. Geez, really - he deserves another year because of Covid-19? Does that mean that all other Supers in the State deserve another year too? With all due respect, Mr. Glutton didn't care to honor his 3 1/2 year contract during this Pandemic when People of Edison are struggling to put food on the table and pay the rent.
Whether you like Mr. Glutton or not should of had no bearing on giving him an extension now. It's not a popularity contest. So, while I can respect everyone's opinion about his popularity - it's simply too early in his tenure to make such a decision and that should of been unanimously seen if there was a responsible Board over there on Mythomania Lane, but there isn't one.
Sorry, but Mr. Glutton was all about himself with this request and anybody who voted to give him any extension at this time with only 10 months on the job doesn't respect the taxpayers at all.
His job protection shouldn't come before the students, parents, staff and those who have to pay for this idiotic decision, the residents and taxpayers of Edison. Mr. Glutton has now joined the ranks of playing politics to reap benefits he hasn't as yet earned and doesn't deserve so early in his tenure.
But, in all fairness to Mr. Glutton, he only asked for it - it's the Board that went along with it, unjustifiably so.
Be that as it may, there were some interesting things about last night's meeting that deserve special notice.
Board Member Moroney - always passionate in her beliefs but clearly an angry person in her one-sided monologues. She always was a Monday Morning Board Member who always went along with everything Jerry Shi wanted and did during his Leadership and then would complain about it after the fact - when it was too late. She did say though that she was always for the students and staff. No doubt that she was but never a friend of the taxpayers. She's not seeking reelection, so I say, good-bye, good-riddance.
Board President Errico - proud to say my friend. We sometimes agree and sometimes disagree but no matter what, we're still friends. However, his handling of this contract was less than I would of expected from him. Further, of all the Board Members, as Board President, he should of stated his opinion before the vote. Silence is accepting the unacceptable and giving Mr. Glutton any extension at this time is unacceptable. As Board President, he should of stood up and taken a stand - one way or the other. You can't be a fence sitter and a Leader at the same time.
Board Member Shi - what can you say about this guy? His inept Leadership has wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars, wasted 2 years and failed to properly address and fix the Overcrowding. He only succeeded in failing to effectively communicate with the Public and other Board Members. He's seeking reelection and anything he has to say has to be looked at with that in mind. Not for nothing, but the only Vote 4 Jerry Shi should be For Forced Retirement.
Board Member Conway - don't know what her major malfunction is but if the rules say you can't participate in a vote, then you should honor the rules. Her opposition to the rules and speaking up anyway shows she's not capable of being on the Board and ended up showing her position anyway. That's not being an opinionated and outspoken Board Member, that's being a child who wants her way. Board President Errico should of shut her down but he didn't.
Here's the meeting - watch it and see how they just attacked your pocketbook during this Pandemic:
Anyhoo, the Board of Mythomania made a major mistake last night, unnecessarily at your expense, and you should remember that the next time any of them come up for reelection. As for Mr. Glutton, cry me a river - you got something you should of never asked for and you didn't deserve and that says more about you than your being Home Grown.
Well, if the Edison Board of Mythomania votes to extend Super Dr. Bernie '@edisonsupt Twitter Blocker' Bragen's 3 1/2 year contract to 5 years after only 10 months on the job, then you should consider it nothing short of Fiscal Malfeasance.
Committing the People of Edison to another $370k or so now (on his $245k salary) after only 10 months on the job is ridiculous - when there is no need to.
There's absolutely no requirement to do so, and no logical reason to do so now especially in the middle of a Pandemic, when everyone is struggling without an income stream.
He agreed to a 3 1/2 year contract when he signed on and he should honor it. He hasn't even had his first annual review yet.
If he wants a 5 year contract, then he should build a proven record of performance and in the last year of his current contract, he can negotiate for a 5 year renewal. I would have no problem supporting it under those circumstances.
Any action by the Board to approve this contract extension would be purely political and not in the best interests of the Residents and Taxpayers of Edison.
I expressed my objection to this contract extension to the Board and also requested Dr. Bragen to withdraw his request for an extension, which he declined.
Here's all the communications with the Board and Dr. Bragen:
Anyhoo, never thought it was our responsibility to use our tax dollars to protect a Super from the Big Bad politics here in 'Downtown' Edison.
Well, the Edison 2020 Final/2021 Preliminary Property Tax Bills are out. The total property tax rate is $5.849 (Per 100), which is up 22.1-cents or 3.93% over last years $5.628.
County taxes are $1.032 (per 100), which is up 9.2-cents or 9.79% over last years $.940.
School tax is $3.166 (Per 100), which is up 5.8-cents or 1.87% over last years $3.108.
Muni taxes are $1.431 (Per 100) including the Library tax, which is up 7.1-cents or 5.22% over last years $1.360.
Just so you are aware, the 3rd Qtr estimate they put out had a rate of $5.847. Lankey's Introduced Budget came with a rate of $5.876 or an increase over the 3rd Qtr estimate of 2.9-cents. However, the Council's Amended Budget came with a rate of $5.849 which reduced the 2.9-cents by 2.7-cents so the increase over the 3rd Qtr is only .002.
So, if you live in that imaginary home assessed at $180,400, then you 2020 Property tax increase is $398.68 and your 2020 Property taxes are $10,551.60.
If you don't live in that imaginary home, then take your home's assessed value divided by 100 and multiply that number by .221 and you'll get your 2020 Property tax increase.
Similarly, take your home's assessed value divided by 100 and multiply it by $5.849 and that will give you your 2020 Property taxes.
Anyhoo, welcome to the 2020 Pandemic tax increases here in 'Downtown' Edison.
As implausible as it may be for the Edison Board of Mythomania to consider extending Super Dr. Bernie 'ShiReferenDUMB-er' Bragen's contract to 5 years after only 10 months into a 3 1/2 year contract tonight, there's something even more disconcerting going on over there on Mythomania Lane.
Seems they're turning a blind eye to the open and free exchange of ideas when this Super chooses to comment on the school district with his @edisonsupt Twitter account but blocks differing or opposing views.
I know because he blocked me:
Now, whether he thinks he can do this or not, what does it say about a School Board that allows him to use his Super title, make comments about the school district and then prevents the public from offering a differing or opposing opinion or now even seeing what he's saying about the school district?
I'll tell you - it says their claim of School Board transparency with this Super is a myth.
Regardless of what they do with Bragen's contract tonight, you should be more concerned with what they're doing to You and Your Right to have a say in the functioning of the Edison School District.
Anyhoo, what do I know? I still can't figure out how free speech became so anti-democratic over there on Mythomania Lane.
Well, guess who is up fo re-election for the 'gazillionth' time - Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro, who never met a tax increase he didn't like or let get in the way of his political baggage.
The guy who enjoys continued political existence due to the Dem-Party Goupies blindly voting the Dem-party line. If anyone ever looked at his record, he'd be long gone and rightly so.
Be that as it may, you remember where he comes from - the Original Poster-child for Everything that's wrong with the EDO.
Before you go and vote for Charlie again during this Pandemic, remember what he did to you this year with a 9.69% County tax increase and a 9.59% tax increase for the County Open space tax for a total County tax increase of 9.7%
Anyhoo, keep doing what you doing to yourself with Charlie and continue to make this guys day.
10. Because you like Rewarding someone making $245k with only 10 months on the job and hasn't even had an annual performance review yet.
9. Because you like 5 year contracts and the history of the Board of Ed's, arguably, misguided handling of Super Contracts - as evidenced by the previous Boards' handling of the Toth and O'Malley contracts.
8. Because you like Bragen's endorsement of that idiotic $189.5 million School Bond Referendum that would of tripled your current year's school tax increase for the next 30 years - before he was hired.
7. Because you like his transparency with his use of his @edisonsupt Twitter account where he can comment on the school district but blocks any opposing or differing views.
6. Because you like rushing this through before an election in less than a month where there will be at least 2 new Board Members and possibly 3.
5. Because you like rewarding employees before enough time has elapsed to be fairly assessed by the Board and it's Stakeholders.
4. Because you like how local politics has no impact on raising something up to importance which should be of little importance at this time.
3. Because you like there's no logical or persuasive argument the Board can make for taking such an action so early into a 3 1/2 contract.
2. Because you like how appreciative he is to get an opportunity of a lifetime but still wants more, or what, he's gonna leave.
1. Because you're not offended at all for the Board to suggest throwing another $370k or so the Super's way now when the Residents are suffering with this horrible Pandemic - many without any income stream now and for the foreseeable future.
Well, the ETEA is sponsoring their annual Candidates' Night at 6:00PM tonight. This year it's virtual via Zoom.
As I understand the format for tonight's meeting:
There will be 10 of the 12 candidates participating.
Each candidate will be invited into the zoom meeting at their scheduled time.
They will give opening statements and then will answer questions from the 3 moderators. They will be given an opportunity for concluding statements before leaving the meeting.
It's expected to last about 2 hours.
No questions will be taken from the audience during the event.
This event is hosted by Jeff Bowden and the Moderators are Jerry Campione, Bill Donner and Dawn Penny.
Here's the bios submitted by the 10 candidates participating in tonight's meeting:
Anyhoo, Kudos to the ETEA for making this annual event happen in spite of these difficult times.
I sometimes post or comment on local politics on 3 of the Edison Social Networking FaceBook pages; Edison Citizens, 08817-The South End.. and the Edison Republicans.
Since I'm somewhat of a fan of free speech and the open and free exchange of ideas, as you can see from the Super Bragen posts below, I have withdrawn from the Edison Citizens a while ago and recently 08817-The South End.. pages and will no longer make anymore posts or comments on those pages.
It seems either the administrators or the posters on those pages have deleted some of my comments, which is their prerogative - but it's just not a forum that I will participate in any longer.
Of more importance, whichever way you decide to Vote in the November 3rd election, just make sure You Vote.
Elections always have consequences. Not Voting Silences Your Voice, it's Your Money they're Spending and, most of all, it's an Imperative for Change if You Don't Like What's Going On.
As Ralph Nader said 'Turn into politics or politics will Turn on You.'
Anyhoo, remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, they're just not entitled to tell you what yours must be.
Yeah, you really want to give this guy a 3rd Bite of the $189.5 million Poison Apple - a plan so bad that it was twice rejected by the People of Edison.
An idiotic plan that would of tripled your Current Year's School tax increase for the next 30 years.
Too Much of a Financial Burden for Too Little a Solution.
Just makes dealing with this Pandemic all the Worse, doesn't it?
Anyhoo, Remember to Vote 4 Jerry Shi for Forced Retirement on November 3rd.
