Vince Altieri.
(Editor’s note: the following is a submission from former North Penn School Board candidate Vince Altieri. The submission appears as written. The views expressed within are his own.)
I have often referred to the North Penn School District Board of Directors as a Political Monopoly because their reckless decisions are unchecked. Case in point, 6 years of absolute control has manifested into 4 dissenting votes. On January 16th this Monopoly will continue to play "DC Style Politics” by providing the community with what they refer to as OPTION 1, or OPTION 2. Ask yourself this question, how can elected officials claim to provide its community members OPTIONS when they have consistently provided the tax payer with their OPINION on how the taxpayer should vote?
This unchecked Political Monopoly, who has lost my TRUST due to their own actions, is now responsible for a sorely needed "Once in a lifetime High School renovation” that will impact our community and its most precious resource - our children, for decades.
Here are some examples … and some conflicts of interests that are UNDENIABLE:
The NPSD BODs has accepted THOUSANDS of dollars of political donations from the same architect – The Schrader Group, which provided the ONLY bid for what is soon to be a High School renovation project that regardless of OPTION will cost the community a minimum of HUNDREADS of millions, of your dollars.
The NPSD BODs hired D’Huy Engineering to act as the construction manager for the High School renovation project. In turn, the BODs then hired a "referendum consultant / specialist” that is employed by the same D’Huy engineering. Ask yourself this question … why not hire a consultant that has no vested interest in providing a recommendation? My answer is simple, hiring anyone outside of their "circle of trust” is NOT how Monopolies remain intact.
Now allow me to get to the real point as to why Political Monopolies are so ineffective and dangerous:
The NPSD BODs has lobbied meeting after board meeting that High School renovations are needed only to spend MILLIONS of dollars on Crawford Stadium and a Health Care Clinic BEFORE addressing this "Once in a lifetime project”. This Political Monopoly then sells this concept to the community by showing pictures of deteriorating electrical units (keep in mind that they allowed this to happen), cramped spaces, testimonials from students that want a brand new school while also providing its OPINION why the 9thgraders must be moved to the High School. And then using the 1 architectural bid provided, "sells” the community that an "Open Air design” is necessary to foster BETTER ACADEMICS – are they serious? Just a few months ago taxpayers were told by a BOD that the undeniable decline in academics at North Penn were due to "algorithms with the data”! In my opinion, the root cause of the undeniable decline in academics is due to failed policies and the simple fact that educators need more people to support them, as opposed to more politically driven administrators, which report on them.
But truth be told … the BODs never needed to convince the community that renovations were needed. In fact, while I share the same OPINION that the 9th graders should be included in the high school … the community should be outraged that this ignominious BODs has put the interests of our students, athletes and educators out to vote on January 16thbecause THEY want "OPEN SPACES”. And while this BODs, its Superintendent, and its CFO have repeatedly stated that "You (the taxpayer) have the choice” in voting Option 1 or Option 2, and that they want the community to be "involved” – it is my opinion that the manner in which this BODs took to get to this "Once in a lifetime” renovation is filled with either unethical motives or terrible leadership.
Candidly, it doesn’t matter how I vote on January 16thbecause OPTION 1 will pass for the same reason why I was defeated on November 7thwhen I attempted to break up this monopoly … The NPSD Political Monopoly is funded by its own contractors and the mighty teachers union that endorses candidates regardless of what results, or decisions they make for our students and the community at large.
Lastly, it is also my opinion that not only is this "Special Election” a waste of taxpayer money … if you follow the money, you will eventually get to the truth.
Signed,
Vince Altieri – a very concerned community member, that believes right is RIGHT and wrong is WRONG.
