School Board Wants To Trash The First Amendment
The Oley School Board is considering a policy change regarding public participation at board meetings.
The revision is crafted to screen speakers and topics, limit their presentations, limit topics, and add costs to any citizens wanting to address the board.
This new policy is not designed to increase public participation, but intended to do just the opposite.
Prior to any meeting, the board wants a resident to fill out a card in detail along with the issue the person wants to discuss. The individual will have only three minutes to talk and ask questions. The board will allow only a total of ten minutes per topic. The presenter will have the added expense to supply copies for the nine board members, solicitor, superintendent, and the board secretary.
If a citizen violates any of these rules, he or she will not be allowed to speak or will be cut off during their presentation.
The board is angered by the presence of people asking questions about the 2006 budget and about the new synthetic track.
They have tried to stonewall questions since March regarding these topics.
They are now concocting a policy that will intimidate, prevent, and prohibit citizens from asking any sensitive questions at a public meeting.
This is a clear assault on our First Amendment rights.
The First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The Oley School Board intends to trash the First Amendment with their public participation policy and replace it with tyranny and oppression.
The revision is crafted to screen speakers and topics, limit their presentations, limit topics, and add costs to any citizens wanting to address the board.
This new policy is not designed to increase public participation, but intended to do just the opposite.
Prior to any meeting, the board wants a resident to fill out a card in detail along with the issue the person wants to discuss. The individual will have only three minutes to talk and ask questions. The board will allow only a total of ten minutes per topic. The presenter will have the added expense to supply copies for the nine board members, solicitor, superintendent, and the board secretary.
If a citizen violates any of these rules, he or she will not be allowed to speak or will be cut off during their presentation.
The board is angered by the presence of people asking questions about the 2006 budget and about the new synthetic track.
They have tried to stonewall questions since March regarding these topics.
They are now concocting a policy that will intimidate, prevent, and prohibit citizens from asking any sensitive questions at a public meeting.
This is a clear assault on our First Amendment rights.
The First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The Oley School Board intends to trash the First Amendment with their public participation policy and replace it with tyranny and oppression.
30 Comments:
Another slap in the face to the people in this district that pays the bills and the salaries of these people that want to silence us. Shame on them. This will not be allowed.
What do we live in China or the Soviet Union? Cut us a break. You are not going to be allowed to stop people from asking questions. This is America!! If you do not like us talking then get off the board. We are asking questions and making comments that the public and yourself need to know. Maybe we can teach you a thing or two. Nothing we say is a secret. Nothing we say is made up. We have the facts!!!
Are there ANY Democrats on the board, or were they all buried out in a field somewhere? Are there any Independants? Any fool can see what a mess Bush has gotten us into, and they are like pathetic little shadows. They are Oley's version of the 31% approval rating. You know what that means? 69% know and hate that we are on a sinking ship.
The Board members behind this "silence of the lambs...." must have a lot to hide, if they fear public comments and are incapable of a decent rebuttle.
Gosh! Are we picking on the Republicans, again? Give them time! Even though they've mess up the entire country, that does not mean things won't be OKAY, does it?
Oley does have a two party system, and as long as you tell them everything they want to hear, and you do as you're told, where's the problem?
CAPPA, WE HAVE SAID YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS, NOW YOU HAVE TAKEN UP A NEW JOB, HOW TO SILENCE THE PUBLIC THAT PAY YOUR HEALTH BENEFITS AND YOUR WIFES SALARY. GO WORK FOR TOYOTA AND LEAVE THE PUBLIC ALONE, YOU ARE A NASTY MAN AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BOARD AND SHOULD NOT BE IN CHARGE OF ANY COMMITTEE. THE LOCAL BOARDS HAVE MESSED THE SYSTEM UP NOT ONLY WASHINGTON D.C. AND HARRISBURG. YOU ALL ARE WORTHLESS!!
oley is run by these parties...
Republicans
and
Non-Democrats
The Oley school board is considering "charging" the taxpayers at the meetings...for asking questions? What next, teachers wearing arm bands? Students marching the goose step? Maybe they could get a big roll of duct tape and control the voices that way. Duct tape sells for under $10 for the largest roll. They could pass that expense along to the taxpayers, which would, after administrative costs, come to around $20 per family, IF they apply it themselves and ONLY use OLey School Board Issue of said "tax complaint muffler." To save on precious fuel, the taxpayers could be chained together and marched to these meetings. Perhaps the board member with the most medical experience could secure an extra wage/benefit for tape application and possible removal.
Nikita Heckman?
Vladimir Cappazinsky the uni-taxer?
The Oley School Board members are so delusional they actually believe their policies can supercede the Constitution of the United States of America. What hubris. This will not stand!
The democrat Doctor on this board is ruining this district, shut up he says. He does not want to hear any imput from the public, so I have a suggestion to the good old Doc: Get off the board!!! Put ear plugs in your ears. The board has more democrats then republicians, but it does not matter they all are acting like they are in some foreign country. Listen up we live in the USA and we can speak!!!
Say what you will about Cappa and any others you just plain can't stand the sight or sound of. It means nothing. The bottom line is the person that is in charge of that board. Anything that does not meet with Heckman's approval, should not float. Heckman is the root of ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. Save your time and energy fussing with the underdogs on that board, it's the PRESIDENT OF HOW MANY DARNED YEARS?...Point the finger in his direction.
Can you imagine the feeling of glee and excitement that came over the board members, when it was announced on WEEU, to a gigantic listining audience, that Oley School Board wants to hear NOTHING from it's taxpayers? They must want more time to read, "How to win friends and influence People."
You are right, Heckman is the leader of the pack, but Cappa is the one trying to change this policy of letting the taxpayers talk at the board meetings, and he has the rest of them standing right behind him. Heckman is in deep trouble if he thinks he and the rest of them can stop us from talking. He is already 17 and some years too long on this board. Let us hope he will not try to re-run again next May 07. God willing some good caring people in this district will take over and get this district running the way it should be.
Can they legally do this? And how would they enforce it? Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
They sound more and more just like those idiots down in DC.
What's next, Halliburton getting the contract for the new track? And whatever happened to cinder tracks anyway?
When did the Oley school board start worrying about acting in a legal manner? As for a lawsuit? They'd find a way to make the taxpayers pay for all of it. Like any Oley business, their lawyers get them out of ALMOST any jam. For the good Christians some of them claim to be, they missed the chapters in the Bible which mention a judgement day. And, they will have to come clean. They may bluff the GENERAL public, but their bluffing won't hold water with that big GENERAL in the sky.
IT WOULD BE JUST LIKE OUR BOARD TO TRY TO SILENCE SOMEONE THAT DOES MORE WORK FOR OUR FELLOW TAXPAYING CITIZENS THAN THE BOARD EVER THOUGHT ABOUT DOING.
RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD, AL, WE NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER!
After reading a sprinkling of the comments on this blog, I feel sorry for our students. The board sets a terrible example for them to follow. It appears that the staff is not much better. In the name of a big paycheck and benefits package, the teachers keep quiet about what any educated person would see as "wrong." A five year old knows it's wrong to put Nanny and Poppy out of their house. Yet, an educated teacher turns a blind eye? While we attended Oley School, we were taught the Golden Rule. Looks like they did not remember to keep that in the curriculum. Now, it's .."Do unto others, then strike if you don't get what you want. Just the thing to teach our children. Don't forget, folks, these children you're teaching will eventually be caring for YOU.
What is next - CONCENTRATION CAMPS!
I'd like to see the entire school board and staff be as diciplined as the taxpayers are supposed to be.
Well, that will never happen. They follow the policy of:
Do as I say, not as I do.
Too bad the above comment is the truth. This school board needs a major change. Anyone interested in the future of the children and the citizens of this district can run for school board next May 07, there will be 5 openings.
If a school board is allowed to steal our free speech, will they use eminent domain to seize our homes?
Freedoms require protection and vigilance.
A school board who decides tyranny and oppression is their policy for the community must be confronted and rejected.
..."I did not vote for Cappa......he told teachers that live in this district to vote for him and he would help them at conctract time.....?"
Does he think he's on the level of "The Sopranos, now?" The teachers don't need his help, they are brazen enough on their own.
Face it, the man is a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
Like another blogger stated...just look at the Toyota signs, that says it all.
The older, well established residents of this valley can, will, and do make clear statements as to disturbing turns of events related to his medical practice. Most state that he started out okay, but took a wrong turn along the way. Nobody is going to continue to support a doctor with a bad attitude, either.
V O T E...
T O D A Y...
Well you all lost your best friend in our district for help on the Commonwealth Caucus Property Tax Elimination plan. Dennis Leh was a fine state representative.
The key word there is:
"WAS"
If you have some spare time, compile a list of his actual accomplishments over the past decades.
Take your time.....
We need change in the local level as well as the state level. May 07 cannot come fast enough!!!
It is a shame that Representative Leh has fallen. Now we have to hope that his replacement is a believer in the caucus plan, and hope and pray that O'Pake is the next to stumble or voluntarily step down when his next opportunity rolls around.
Hope to see vigorous representation this evening (5/17) by the public at the board meeting.
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