COURT UPDATE...
OJR MOTION TO DISMISS IN MYRA G. FORREST v. OJRSD
This motion was filed with the court on 11/9/09 by Lamb McErlane (OJR Special Council hired to defend this lawsuit), but we just got a copy of it. The OJR School District and School Board of Directors are named in this suit. Five School Board Directors are also named individually: Ed Kerner, John Dutton, Gene Endress, Karen Zelley, and Debbie Bissland. The newly seated School Board of Directors needs to take a very close look at this as we, the taxpayers, should NOT be footing the bill for individual defendants in a federal lawsuit.
The events from here down chronicle the actions & events of a runaway lame duck school board from June 22nd to December 7th, 2009. More specifically, the actions of five individuals on this board that deliberately chose not to represent the will of the overwhelming majority of OJR residents. Four of the five school board directors responsible for wreaking such havoc were soundly defeated for re-election in November 2009. Let us hope we have learned from our own complacency and never ever let something like this happen again.
If this is your first time here, it is suggested that you scroll down to the very bottom of this page and read the 6-month long train wreck chronologically. Update 12-5-09
Pictured right: Outgoing Acting Super Ray Feick, woefully underpaid at $600 a day plus an $8,000 bonus for 3 months of "work" supposedly running a search for OJR's new Superintendent.
A Letter to the OJR Community Letter from School Director Barbara McMeekin published
in the Pottstown Mercury on 11-17-09 Webmaster's note: This disturbing revelation along with the release of too much information about a ninth grade student arrested on November 13, 2009, Acting Superintendent Ray Feick is bad news for our district and should be fired immediately.
OJR May Be Turning Corner Toward Unity in School Community Opinion Article in the Pottstown Mercury on 11-8-09 Webmaster's note: Don't miscontrue the hiring a new Superintendent as "unity" since the entire search & interview process was a complete sham.
New OJR School Board Directors to be seated 12/7/09
2 year term: John Stone, Doug Hughes
4 year term: Debbie Eddinger, Kristina Barcus, William Kleinfelter, James Frees View All 11/3/09 Election Results
At the School Board Meeting of the Owen J. Roberts School District on September 28 2009, a motion was made to accept procedures for the Search for Superintendent of Schools. This document is now available for public review. READ THE PROCEDURES...
Webmaster's note: Lots of vague references to what the School Board "should" or "might" do. Nice work, lawyers. Way to cover it.
This request was emailed on September 21, 2009 to the Owen J Roberts Business Manager, Jackie Krumrine.
Background: The "OJR Taxpayer's Alliance", of which Board Member Gene Endress is President, has evidently not paid a room usage fee for approximately nine meetings a year at the High School over the past two years. This is clearly against School Board policy. Mr. Endress' group is not a registered non-profit and has not provided a certificate of insurance to the district, also clear violations of School Board policy.
We look forward to Ms. Krumrine's response. Check back for a status soon.
Read the email...
Update 9-9-09
So much for community involvement! So think about this... neighboring Phoenixville School District just suspended an “exhaustive” search for a Superintendent that began this past January, while another nearby district (Great Valley) took almost two months just to gather input from the community... but somehow WE are going to locate, screen, interview, and hire the best person for OJR’s most important position IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS?!?
An Example of School District Transparency in Great Valley Webmaster's note: This represents an example of how a professionally run School Board should conduct its business. Incredibly, they actually asked for community input on their search for a new Superintendent and made the search firm and search criteria publicly available information!
Open Letter Asks Asks Flicker to Think Before He Accepts Position
Article from Pottstown Mercury on 7-31-09 Webmaster's note: This letter has been removed since a publicly available document that was provided by the state under a Right to Know request contained personal information that was not redacted and inappropriate to post online. The main point of the letter and questions raised are reflected in the Mercury article from the link above.
Third Party Could Run in OJR Race
Article from Pottstown Mercury on 7-31-09
Update 7-29-09 The Owen J. Roberts Taxpayers' Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday 7/30/09 in the Owen J. Roberts High School LGI room. Potential candidates to run in November as independents for positions on the school board will be among the things up for discussion at the meeting, according to Gene Endress, president of the taxpayers' alliance.
Update 7-16-09 Legal challenge update: Schaeffer v. Board of Directors et al filed in Chester County Court of Common Pleas.
Legal challenge update: Myra G. Forrest v Owen J Roberts School District, Board of Directors of Owen J Roberts School District, and individually Debbie Bissland, Karen Zelley, John Dutton, Edward Kerner, Eugene Endress, and John Doe filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Read the Complaint
Court Lifts Injunction Against OJR Board Article from Pottstown Mercury on 7-14-09 Webmaster's note: This decision will send a very bad message, at least for now, that school boards in Pennsylvania can act as this one has and largely get away with it. OJR Board Members Clash Over June Email Article from Pottstown Mercury on 7-14-09
Pictured here from left to right: OJR Board Members John Dutton, Eugene Endress, Karen Zelley, Debbie Bissland, Solicitor John Dooley, and Board President Ed Kerner.
This website went live only 2 weeks ago today in response to the unprecedented actions of a rogue Owen J Roberts School Board. One of the common talking points from individuals that support the actions of five School Board members refer to the public outcry as representing a "minority" of the OJR community. We thought it would be helpful to post the FACTS and let YOU decide.
In just 2 weeks this website has seen...
Over 30,000 visits to this website from over 17,000 unique visitors.
Over 70,000 website hits (searches from Google, Yahoo, etc).
Over 700 citizens voluntarily subscribed to receive email updates.
Over $5,000 voluntarily donated to date to fund action through the court.
We apologize once again if the FACTS get in the way of personal agendas.
Update 7-6-09
TEMPORARY INJUNCTION GRANTED BY CHESTER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Full hearing is scheduled for Monday July 13, 2009 at 9:30am in Courtroom 11 at the Chester County Courthouse in West Chester.
There is a significant amount of misinformation out there that the termination of Dr. Forrest's contract "will save taxpayer dollars." We decided to post the FACTS to let people decide for themselves. HERE ARE THE FACTS. The numbers are irrefutable. We do apologize in advance if the FACTS get in the way of some individual's personal agendas, which now know clearly includes the majority of the current OJR School Board specifically: Edward Kerner, Debbie Bissland, Eugene Endress, Karen Zelley, and John Dutton. If proof to the contrary is available, please email it to us.
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Quoted from an opinion posted on The Pottstown Mercury's website on 6/30/09:
"The five have sealed the fate of the Owen J. Roberts Taxpayer's Alliance and any similar groups for the foreseeable future. The five may feel personally vindicated in their move, but they have ensured that it will be many years, if ever, before the Owen J. Roberts Taxpayer's Alliance has any endorsed candidate elected to any position. They have very effectively buried the organization that has supported them.
The damage will extend to any groups with which they are associated such as the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations. Any candidate supported by any group associated directly or indirectly with the Owen J. Roberts Taxpayer's Alliance will be subject to association with the actions of these five, effectively sealing their fate in any future election.
The Owen J. Roberts Taxpayer's Alliance may attempt to hide behind a name change, but changing their name won't help as it might have before the actions of the five over the last few days. They are under far too much scrutiny. The action of the five will live in infamy and have a negative impact on their supporters for decades."
We could not agree more.
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6ABC Action News clip from 11pm newscast on 6/29/09
Motion for termination from OJR School Board meeting on 6/22/09 (Audio quality is not that great, you will need to turn the volume up)
(Webmaster's note: The gentleman in the middle making the motion is Board President Edward Kerner. The two Board members to the right challenging the motion are Bill LaCoff and Barbara McMeekin. The Mr. Dooley is addressed in this clip is the Owen J Roberts General Solicitor of the Lansdale-based firm Dischell, Bartle, Yanoff, & Dooley. This issue/motion was NOT on the agenda, was brought up at the very end of the meeting, was read from a pre-prepared statement, and was unknown to four of nine Board Members as well as Myra Forrest. Not to worry, Mr. Kerner and Mr. Dooley, the TRUTH will eventually come out.)
All concerned residents of the OJR School District are asked to please contact the PA Department of Auditor General as soon as possible. Please carefully read and understand the background information below before emailing or calling. This is an action that YOU can take right now as an OJR resident.
Background
The Owen J Robert's School District's past experience with the Auditor General may or may not be relevant in this case. In short, the past buyout of former Business Manager Denny Bolton drew significant attention from the PA Auditor General. If you recall, several years ago the district bought out then Business Manager Denny Bolton's contract for well in excess of $400,000. At the time, the School Board and two highly qualified attorneys thought that we acted properly, but the Auditor General did not. In layman's terms, the Board was required to promise not to do this again. This situationwith Myra Forrest is different in one important aspect: the Bolton case revolved around sabbatical leave. However, we think the Auditor General would not look kindly on this district basically doing another $200,000+ buyout so soon after settling the Bolton case. The Myra Forrest issue may be different but the outcome is the same: the taxpayers will be on the hook for what amounts to a significant waste of taxpayer money.
This letter was emailed to the Owen J Roberts School Board at 10am on 6/26/09.
An Open Letter to Owen J Roberts Board President Edward Kerner:
In your 6/24/09 news release, you stated that Dr. Myra Forrest's contract with the Owen J Roberts School District was terminated "without cause." Further, you stated that her termination "will result in a savings to taxpayers." As a taxpayer, resident, and concerned parent of three children in the Owen J Roberts School District, I respectfully request that you address the following four questions at your earliest convenience:
Specifically, what savings to taxpayers will Dr. Forrest's termination result in?
Section 11.4 of Dr. Forrest's contract with the Owen J Roberts School District regarding "termination without cause", there is an obligation for written notice. Was written notice provided to Dr. Forrest prior to your motion for termination on 6/22/09? If so, kindly provide that documentation.
Since this issue was not on the 6/22/09 meeting agenda, not reflected on any Board or Executive Committee meeting minutes prior to 6/22/09, and was clearly unknown by at least four of the nine Owen J Roberts board members prior to the 6/22/09 board meeting, it appears that there were discussions "outside of the sunshine" prior to your motion to terminate Dr. Forrest. Please provide the meeting minutes where these discussions took place.
In your 6/24/09 news release you stated "For some time, the majority of the board and the superintendent have differed as to administrative staffing, salaries, and expenses." Since ONLY the Owen J Roberts School Board has the authority to approve funds for staffing, salaries, and expenses, this statement is very inconsistent with your other statement that Dr. Forrest's termination "will result in a savings to taxpayers." Please explain this inconsistency.
A response to these questions is respectfully requested by 12 noon Monday 6/29/09, prior to the Special Board Meeting scheduled for 7:30pm that evening. As a courtesy to the other taxpaying residents, parents, and concerned citizens of the Owen J Roberts School District, your answers will also be posted on this website. Your responses can be emailed to webmaster@thefactsaboutojrsd.com. Kindly reply email your responses with return receipt requested to ensure deliverability. I would also be happy to pick up your reply in person from the Owen J Roberts Administration Building at any time. I look forward to hearing from you.
If there is not an opportunity to respond to these questions prior to the Special Board Meeting on 6/29/09, I look forward to addressing them to you in person at the meeting.
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Dr. Myra Forrest's employment contract with OJRSD
Webmaster's note: We are unsure if this is the actual contract that was signed by all parties. "Termination without cause" is detailed on page 8 section 11.4.
Update 6-25-09
Monday's Special School Board Meeting has been moved to the HS Auditorium.
Extra-Curricular Committee Meeting Cancelled
At this time, the Special School Board Meeting scheduled on 6/29 @ 7:30pm is still on, but there are conflicting reports about the possiblity of this meeting potentially being cancelled. Check this website prior to the meeting, we will have an update.
Update 6-24-09
Rob Johnson has agreed to step up and lead this effort to start. Rob can be reached by email at rob@TheFactsAboutOJRSD.com. Anyone interested in taking a lead role is welcome, email Rob or please come to the meeting on Sunday to volunteer.
Diane Butler has started a petition to be filed with the county. Unfortunately time is short and the petition needs to be collected with signatures by Thursday 6/25/09.
MORE DETAILS...
Website created 6-23-09
This website was created in response to the sudden termination "without cause" of Superintendent Myra Forrest on June 22, 2009. READ MORE ON PHILLY.COM...
This is not an effort for or against Dr. Forrest. The purpose of this website is simply to keep all interested parties that are affected by the School Board's decisions aware of the FACTS. It is also an effort to hold this School Board ACCOUNTABLE for their decisions.
Regardless of Dr. Forrest's performance, it is questionable if this School Board's actions are in the best interests of the OJR community.
Here are the current members of your OJR School Board:
Edward L. Kerner, President
Debbie L. Bissland, Vice-President
Rosemary Bilinski
John M. Dutton
Eugene P. Endress
William S. LaCoff
Barbara L. McMeekin
Eric C. Scheib
Karen L. Zelley
Voting in favor of terminating Dr. Forrest: Kerner, Bissland, Dutton, Endress, & Zelley.
Are YOU affected by the OJR School Board's decisions?
If you are a taxpayer or property owner in the Owen J Roberts School District, you most certainly are -- regardless of whether or not you have children currently enrolled. Situations just like this can affect property values (they go down), taxes (they go up), quality of education (good teachers go elsewhere), and more.
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