Littlestown School Discussions

“As of today there are 2 seats in Ward 1 that are open and without candidates on the ballot. Sadly this leads to the conclusion that the citizens are content with the way things are handled here”

In regards to this, I have one thing to say – baloney. I don’t see that it leads to this conclusion at all. All one has to do is listen to the voices in the community and they will realize this is not the case. That IS their job, isn’t it? Listening to all concerns?

The only people who come to this conclusion are those sitting on the council or board. Do they discount the complaints of others just because those others don’t step up to take their place?! If they do, then they aren’t doing the job they were elected to do. Just because the seat isn’t being challenged doesn’t mean there is no challenge to the person currently sitting there. That is a major point that needs to be recognized in this discussion.

This “conclusion” is nothing more than a cop-out. Those who sit on the borough council and the school board need to realize that there are people who have a desire to run and there are those who have no desire to run. Just because one doesn’t want to occupy a seat on the council or board does not mean that one doesn’t have certain expectations of those who do. No one stepping up to take over the job doesn’t give the council or board carte-blanche to do whatever THEY want to do. It certainly does not mean that taxpayers don’t have a voice or opinion on how things are run. It’s called democracy for a reason.

When someone runs for council or school board, they are to serve at the pleasure of the taxpayers, period. They shouldn’t go in with their own personal agenda (although I know some do have a hidden agenda) – they should work to see that things are done correctly, and in the best interest of the community they serve. When there are complaints, members shouldn’t say, “if you don’t like what I am doing, then run for a seat yourself”; they should work to see if there is a solution to the problem. That is the job they signed up for, and if that is not the reason they ran in the first place, then they should step down. Status quo doesn’t cut it when bad decisions are being made.

When taxpayers and community members complain, that is a clear sign that the council or board needs to look more closely at the issue in question and move toward a positive resolution. It is not the time to say, “you elected me, so I’m doing it MY way”. And one who sits in that position should always remember that the taxpayers have the right to complain without feeling the need to step up and do it themselves. That person was elected by the community to do what is best because that person SAID they would do so, and when the community speaks there is no room for personal choice on the part of the person who holds the seat. That person is there because we put that person there – he or she needs to do the job, as expected.

Bottom line – don’t assume anything.

David - I do recall seeing that post and I applaud you for alerting any interested parties to the deadline dates.

I just wish the school district would have provided space on their site for the same information so that taxpayers could see what - and how many - seats were up for re-election. Of course, seeing as how the 4 seats available are currently occupied by members who want to retain those seats, and whose names now appear on the ballot unopposed, it was inevitable that they would not have announced them coming open. What better way to win an election than to assure you are the only one running?

And before anyone says anything about those who may be interested needing to do their research on exactly how to run, it is a known fact that many of the board seats that have been up for re-election in the past are, or have been, filled with people who got a personal phone call or email from someone already on the board (or soon leaving) alerting them to the open seat and instructing them how to get their name on the ballot. If they can do that for one, they can do that for the whole community.

What's best for the district? Advertise those positions and let the best man or woman win.

Major Mom - thank you .... this has been my feeling for a long time. Glad we share an opinion on this!

Bolt Mom - Well said!

 bolt-mom, if you check Talk of L-town posts #'s 8585 on 2/10/09 & 8735 on 3/5/09 you will find that the filing dates along with information about the nominating petitions being available at the Borough office. While I did not actually mention School Board seats, all procedures for elected positions are the same.
  FYI- I gave out 10 nominating packages to individuals who expressed a desire to run for office. Of those only 3 filed by the deadline and 1 called and said they missed the filing date and were going to run a write-in effort.As of today there are 2 seats in Ward 1 that are open and without candidates on the ballot. Sadly this leads to the conclusion that the citizes are content with the way things are handeled here, including the ever increasing taxes, which show no signs of stabelizing regardless of the economy. With the new assessments fast becoming a reality,and our elected officals refusing to approach different avenues of revenue, or any cost reductions,look out,the next few years are going to be real tough. The increases that are going to be needed to cover the unfunded pension and benifit packages our representitives have saddled us with plus the lost income within the poorly preforming and managed funds are coming due.The easy way out is simply raise more money through higher taxes and add-on fees. Past actions clearly indicate the way the current officials approach issues. Clearly there is a need for new thinking towards the management of all levels of government.

mar - it got by me because I'm not running and have no interest in doing so. Didn't think about dates and so forth because they don't apply to me. I'm just voting, so the only date that applies to me personally is election day in May.

There are always complaints in a school district - for one reason or another. And people have the right to complain whether they decide to step up to take a seat on the board or not. It always bothers me when I hear members of the school board or town council say, "If you don't like the way things are run, then run for a position yourself." It's like people don't have a right to complain if they don't take on one of these roles. Hogwash. We ALL can't be members!

I guess there weren't any complaints.

I can't believe you let this get by you.

To anyone considering running for an open seat on the school board, forget it. I spoke to my friend Dan yesterday at church. Seems he missed a deadline or something (just this week!) for filing his intent. He was told the 4 open seats are not being challenged at all - the 4 currently on the board who are up for reelection are running unopposed. Write-in anyone?

Seems school board members are always the ones to tell others to step up and run if they have complaints. For the average person in the district, with no inside knowledge of how or when to get a name on the ballot for these positions, or even if any positions are up for election, that is not possible. I can't believe the board would not post this info on the district website. But then again, they might be challenged if they did so. We wouldn't want that, now would we?

Wow - not on the district website? I would think that would be something they would put on there. Especially with 4 seats open. It would be the best place to advertise the open postions. I haven't heard a thing about it and I know someone from my church was interested in perhaps running if a seat came open this election. I will have to tell him tomorrow to be sure to investigate. Thank you for the information.

i believe 4 spots will be up this year. Election office would have the info. you are looking for.

boltpride, I do have a question that you could answer. Elections are coming up in May ... are there any board seats coming open?

Bail out heck he's giving to places not needed. I say education should receive more. I was always taught, teach a child to fish and he will never go hungry.

Haven't seen much in the way of new postings about our schools, guess the buzz has died down. With the current economic situation I thought I might see something about the upcoming budget. Things are going to be tight and I think we are still waiting for our Obama bailout.

Don't you think it would be nice to have a pic of our school instead of the super? It was ok when he first came, but lets change it up a little bit now.