Sorry I haven't posted for a few weeks. I am working on a full-sized book on the history of South Bethlehem. Not being a natural Type A personality (for better or worse), I find it hard to do two or more things at a time. Especially when, as experience teaches me, it is hard to establish the pattern of working on a book.
But here is where we are with the school situation, as I gather.
Superintendent Dr. Joseph Lewis and the board will not hear of putting out a request for proposal as a means of saving Broughal Middle School. Yet he and they seem to want to use something like a request for proposal as a means of selling the real estate that underlies the present Nitschmann Middle School.
Or perhaps the RFP really is not necessary. Perhaps it is already known who would wind up with the real estate in question. Who can tell?
Meanwhile, Bethlehem schools have not been performing up to the standards of the state, and of the No Child Left Behind Act. To me this is a piece of legislation designed to see to it that no child ever, EVER has any fun in school; but never matter. "The Feds" have ways of punishing states that are not up to snuff regarding schools. So Governor Ed Rendell is getting a little irritated with lagging districts, and hinting that if they do not get their acts together administrative heads might roll.
He isn't annoyed just with the Bethlehem Area School District, of course; but Bethlehem happens to be part of the group of districts that annoy him.
Then there is that group of citizens out there, organizing in the hopes of putting a new, more responsive majority on the school board.
Clearly, Dr. Lewis and the school district could use some good public relations. Seeing that, he has taken on a $78,000 public relations coordinator, justifying this expense by pointing out that the new employee has been his administrative coordinator, for the same salary, so it really isn't costing the district any more money.
Could he not foresee that this move would anger everyone? Both taxpayers who would argue that the position isn't really necessary, and that the money could be used to hire a couple of teachers (or just plain saved), and teachers and administrators who see themselves paid less than someone who is not a college graduate. Then, too, what half-competent administrator needs $78,000 of "administrative assistance"? The question inevitably DOES come to mind.
Poor Dr. Lewis. It is enough to make a man head for the Advil(R), or Tylenol (R), or whatever he takes for a headache.