MARKILINSKI: Track Records

Has anyone been watching what has been going on in Greece?

Has anyone drawn any conclusions in that Greece is not very different from our own country, its direction, and are we making the same mistakes that they have?

Greece’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio is 125 percent. Italy’s is 115 percent. And the United States now exceeds 80 percent of our GDP.

So, you ask, what does GDP have do with the price of bread in Armstrong County?

For one, the experts (those with track records) have been predicting that inflation is just around the corner.

But here in Armstrong County we have a different kind of expert.

We have those who say that the Armstrong School Board majority is micro-managing the administration of the ASD. Those experts have been led around by the nose by an administration that has been quite adept at hiding funds.

The “new” Board is an obvious change that you can believe in.

June 30th will tell the tale when a final budget is adopted.

We also have those who hurl insults and spew derogatory comments and they hide behind a screen name. There are quite a few of you. They flex their beer muscles in anonymity. They may even live in their parent’s basement.

How I try to make sense of this all is that I ask just a few questions: Could they be an employee of the ASD? Could they be related to an employee of the ASD? Are they one of the few that have filed suit against the ASD?

Do they have a track record? Or do they just want to stir the pot and post a video on You Tube?

What about you, Mr. Mike Fichthorn, what’s your track record?

Now “that” just may be something to think about.

OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND REFLECT PAID SPONSORSHIP.

Print

MARKILINSKI: A Tale in Two Cities

Just recently two career politicians have made statements to the press concerning issues facing our community, one in Kittanning and one in Ford City. Both have been involved in politics for quite some time.

The gentleman from Kittanning, who has made his career in Education, thinks the loss of Dr. William Kerr as Superintendent in the Armstrong School District is a travesty.

If anyone would do some research, especially someone involved in the educational process, on the ASD State standardized test scores, you will find that our scores are below what the State considers average. Kittanning Junior High has been on the State warning list for the past two years. Ford City High School has dropped from 38th to 81st in southwestern PA. All the information is not good. All has happened on the current Superintendent’s watch.

Accountability and politicians are polar opposites, especially when political friends are joined at the cranium. Who in K-Town would vote for Gerald Shuster if they knew he supported a centrally located consolidated high school? Check the date, March 5th, 2007, part of the Kittanning Borough Council minutes. Same old plan, same old politics. Do I hear the Corbin/Hanner Bands’ “Dinosaur” playing somewhere?

Whether people want to believe or not, this change at the top is a great educational opportunity. Perhaps a new Superintendent that has a proven track record in education (and not politics) is what is sorely needed, along with responsible journalism. Lance?

As for Homer Pendleton questioning a proposed development in Ford City, employment in an industrial setting is very hard to come by. Homer should take the slow boat to China to see where Eljer toilets are now made. Mr. Pendleton was in a position to do something positive for the area for many years, had millions in grants, and now has nothing to show. Same old plan, same old politics. Smack Down?

It is time to think outside the box. Maybe bring some new ideas to the table that deal with Service, Tourism, and even Agriculture that can be job creators and business developers. What about servicing an aging population? These are industries too and they can’t be outsourced to Mexico or China.

And most importantly, you do not need to have alphabet soup behind your name to understand what accountability is.

Just think about it.

OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND REFLECT PAID SPONSORSHIP.

Print