Bothell (WA) schools buy home electronics for administrators

NWCN.com ^ | April 2, 2008 | LINDA BRILL

[bamahead]

BOTHELL, Wash. - At a time when the school district for the Bothell-Woodinville area is talking about closing a school to save money, it's buying home electronics for the personal use of administrators.

The Northshore School District says buying TVs, digital cameras and iPods for administrators is part of their pay and helps make them familiar with technology.

All but 13 of 93 eligible administrators have taken advantage of the benefit, spending $119,000 under the current contract.

"Even an HDTV is used for work, because it's hooked up to a computer and used like a monitor," said Susan Stoltzfus, Northshore School District spokesperson.

"I don't understand how a digital picture frame is a work-related activity, nor a big screen TV, nor an iPod," said teacher's union president Tim Brittle.

It was a sore issue at a recent school board meeting when Brittle demanded that the practice stop.

"I wouldn't consider it a perk because it is considered part of your salary compensation, it's taxable," said Stoltzfus.

The benefit is given to administrators and approved by administrators, but isn't offered to teachers.

"These purchases do not directly go to helping children," said Brittle.

School Board President Cathy Swanson says the district needs to clarify the program to make sure the purchases are job related.

There are other school districts that offer similar perks for administrators, such as Bellevue, but they require the purchases be educational. The Northshore School District implemented that change on Wednesday.

[bamahead]

Unbelievable!

[bamahead]

ping

[TommyDale]

What a joke.

[goldstategop]

The children may not be able to go to school - but administrators will be fully equipped for work behind shuttered doors.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[neodad]

Read it too fast. Thought the headline said “Brothel schools”. I was looking for the “Naughty Teacher” pics.

[KarlInOhio]

The Northshore School District says buying TVs, digital cameras and iPods for administrators is part of their pay and helps make them familiar with technology.

Download the user manual, have them read it and then go to the nearest Best Buy or Circuit City and play with the equipment. There, you're familiar with it for free.

[Billthedrill]

I used to live there. Not surprising, really - the WEA is as corrupt as any third-world dictatorship. The Evergreen Freedom Foundation has been on them for years and keeps winning judgments and they just pay them and keep right on going.

Massage loungers. It's For The Children.

[TC Rider]

We might as well buy them booze and hookers.

It’s help them to understand chemical abuse and sex education.

[bamahead]

the WEA is as corrupt as any third-world dictatorship

Seriously. These bozos should be prosecuted for outright theft and abuse of the public trust.

The benefit is given to administrators and approved by administrators, but isn't offered to teachers

That's the kicker right there. While teachers are fairly underpaid, these clowns are probably making well over 6 figures and taking home taxpayer subsidized electronic toys. It's beyond reprehensible.

[DesertSapper]

Unbelievable!

Not to me. I think it's typical of the mindset of the elitist educrats.

Homeschool your children. Public schools are lost.

[Acrobat]

what's ironic is that not only is the district that allowed these perks 3 mil in the red, but they're closing a school and transferring hundreds of students into other schools (via buses).

And a bit of irony: the school they should close they can't because the property it's on is too close to a protected waterway and can't be sold. Two liberal institutions at war....

[CodeToad]

And some people wonder why so many of us are against public schools and their insane budgets.

[traviskicks]

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.

[wintertime]

ping

[Caramelgal]

The benefit is given to administrators and approved by administrators, but isn't offered to teachers.

Jane: “Hi Joe. Could you approve my requisition for an HDTV?”
Joe: ‘Sure Jane, as long as you approve my requisition for new I-Pod Nano and digital camera”.
Joe and Jane (winking at each other): “It’s for the children you know!”
Joe: “BTW Jane, did you hear that the new teacher Sally was at the Office Depot the other day buying pencils, crayons and other supplies for her classroom?
Jane: “Yea and she was buying them out of her own pocket. What a looser!”
Joe: “You said it Jane”. Looser!”
Jane: “And she’s such a looser that she actually had the nerve to ask me to order more math and science text books because there’s only one for every three kids?”
Joe (Snort): “What kind of school does she we’re running here”?
“If she asks again, tell her we have a whole warehouse of Heather Has Two Mommies – that’s sort of like math and we can get her all the copies of an Inconvenient Truth she wants – that’s science (sort of).
Jane: “Ha! That’s a good one”.
Joe: “BTW. Did you get that requisition I put in for my new Prius”? I mean I can’t teach children about…about…about…well it must have some education purpose”.
Jane: “No Joe. I haven’t seen it yet because I’ve been in Las Vegas for the last week gambling the school’s petty cash with my lesbian life partner; you know learning more about the acceptance of alternative life styles and economy – for educational purposes of course. You signed my requisition, don’t you remember?”
Joe: “No. Can’t say I do. I’ve been too stoned the last couple of weeks to remember much of anything since I’ve been working on that drug prevention program”.