Tuesday, March 2, 2010

MSD Decatur School Administration Breaking Yet Another Law

Every year, every governmental unit in Indiana must submit the list of employees, their positions, and the salary received in the month of January. This is required by state law. State law dictates that these salary reports be submitted to the State Board of Accounts by the end of January.

Well the MSD Decatur Township is now over one month late with filing this state mandated report. This is the report I used to post the salaries of school personnel in 2009 (see "Top Decatur School District Salaries for 2008-2009 School Year". I have been trying to get the report for 2010 to no avail.

Unlike the numerous laws broken by the Administration and the School Board which I have previously reported, this one caries a penalty. State law says:
IC 5-11-13 Chapter 13. Executive Officers' Annual Report to State Board of Accounts
IC 5-11-13-1 Personnel report
Sec. 1. Every state, county, city, town, township, or school official, elective or appointive, who is the head of or in charge of any office, department, board, or commission of the state or of any county, city, town, or township, and every state, county, city, town, or township employee or agent who is the head of, or in charge of, or the executive officer of any department, bureau, board, or commission of the state, county, city, town, or township, and every executive officer by whatever title designated, who is in charge of any state educational institution or of any other state, county, or city institution, shall during the month of January of each year prepare,make, and sign a written or printed certified report, correctly and completely showing the names and business addresses of each and all officers, employees, and agents in their respective offices, departments, boards, commissions, and institutions, and the respective duties and compensation of each, and shall forthwith file said report in the office of the state examiner of the state board of accounts. However, no more than one (1) report covering the same officers, employees, and agents need be made from the state or any county, city, town, township, or school unit in any one year.

IC 5-11-13-3 Violations; offense; penalty
Sec. 3. A person who violates section 1 of this chapter commits a Class C infraction. If violated by an elected state officer, the officer is liable to impeachment, and if violated by any other person, the person is subject to removal for neglect of duty under the procedures described in IC 34-17.

Maybe our lawyer friends can interpret the exact penalty and who would be required to file the legal action. Also, if they could interpret who is to be held responsible - the elected School Board, the Superintendent, or the two Assistant Superintendents for Business.

But, the issue for our community is the ongoing and never ending arrogance displayed by all of these people.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent work. I am not an attorney but would guess that the Board must appoint a treasurer each year and Jeff Baer was so appointed so perhaps he is responsible - certainly would not be his first neglect of duty. Punishment????

As many have said the Superintendent who hired him also needs to go.

The teachers need to be very insistent about their contractual rights. They need to speak openly, directly, and forcefully with Terry Troxell (ISTA). Really, few in the powers that be sincerely care about others.

Anonymous said...

The guy at the top is always the one that must take the fall....I really hope that means Stinson will not be allowed to have his retirement package.

Anonymous said...

Who would file charges.... The State Attorney General?

Anonymous said...

I have heard that Stinson does get a bonus or bonuses (based on what, I don't know. But I've also been told he doesn't. I'd like to know - if he gets a bonus Feb through Dec, then it wouldn't show up in his January salary, right? In fact, only a Dec check stub for an employee would tell the true story. Seems like a law needs changed.

Anonymous said...

I see those salaries and find them ridiculous in every way. All those salaries above 100k need cut by 20% at least. Enough is enough, keep the teachers and slash their pay to reasonable amounts. The taxpayers of this district can't afford the wages the public servants are wanting. Cutting teachers is a diservice to education by increasing classes to a ridiculious size. Cutting all salaries and keeping teachers is the way to go. Their are other school districts out there if the lower wage is unacceptable. The school boards responsiblities to the employees of the district is the least of priorities. Taxpayers, students then employees in that order are the school board's concern. Of course your not getting the current wages..why would anyone want to release them? Honestly, does Stinson want them out there? How about the the D.E.A.? Let's keeping finding out that the school corporations that, are supported by people that are making <$40,000 are supporting 100's of people making $80,000+ all the while taking summers off. I'll save that rant for another time.

Anonymous said...

What about all of the kickbacks school administrators recieve from vendors? Susan Adams and other administrators have recieved trips.Can this be legal? They are not quite as dumb as Dr. White,I.P.S. super. who admitted to getting a free trip from a vendor on tv last week

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:03 said "Let's keeping finding out that the school corporations that, are supported by people that are making <$40,000 are supporting 100's of people making $80,000+ all the while taking summers off"

Yeah, let's give everyone in the community the same wages and benefits. Oh - nevermind...that's socialism.

Had Enough Indy? said...

anon 9:00 - you are correct, there are flaws in this system. But, until that is fixed, we at least have the right to have this information available.

anon 10:03 - the kickbacks increase the cost of goods sold PLUS in introduces the public perception that the freebie may have been the reason that the product was chosen. That is why any substantial purchases should be put out for bidding. Of course we know that this administration and school board has not bothered following those laws all that much. The appearance of a conflict of interest includes not just elected Board members, but also those who work for the district who may take personal gain in exchange for the district's business.

anon 3:38 - I seriously doubt the point being made was about socialism. I think it was a fair point. The School Board approves or disapproves salaries. They know that these exceedingly high salaries cut back the number of classroom teachers you can have - leading directly to increased class sizes. They have a responsibility to the community to represent our interests. Instead they have chosen to represent the interests of the Superintendent.

Anonymous said...

Well it looks like Susan Adams has already started her thing, a couple of bus drivers were given letters of intent to charge them (drivers) for any damage that the students riding those buses cause on the seats. So it looks like if a sutdent cuts a seat cover that driver has to pay to have the seat cover replaced out of their pocket, its not the students fault its the drivers. It is kind of hard to watch the road and traffic plus watch all the riders out of the back of your head at the same time. Hold on people its getting HOT AROUND HERE

Anonymous said...

Would it be possible to get a copy of the letters given to bus drivers regarding seat damage and give the copy to Pat for posting on the website?? Would someone please ask a bus driver for a copy of their job description that was given to them when they were hired and ask Pat to put that on the website.

This administration does not like it when people ask for information. In fact, the administration has said they don't like it. Things are different now than they were a few years ago so I guess they need to get used to people asking questions and insisting upon factual information. The students will benefit in the long run.

Anonymous said...

If Decatur had contracted services, the outside company would most likely hire and pay the bus drivers. Yes, Susan Adams would not be needed and maybe some other supervisors but the district might save money and the bus drivers would have jobs. They are really protecting Susan Adams job. They are not hiring any new employees so whey do they need to pay Lisa Cook $90,000 and Susan Adams more than $100,000????

Had Enough Indy? said...

anon 8:48 and anon 9:43 - if I could get a copy, I would indeed post it here - with private information redacted, of course. If someone has a copy they are willing to 'donate to the cause', then email me at hadenoughindy@gmail.com and we can make arrangements.

Anonymous said...

several issues to address....
I know teachers would gladly take a cut in pay if the administration had been honest and forthright,but the adminis has only shuffled the dollars around.

The admin wants to keep susan adams because when she was president of DEA she was hell on wheels....she is respon for the good current salaries....admin does not want her to return to certfied status
teachers are VERY afraid to speak out, look at the retirements and the one who quit at semester at Lynwood and Jeff Harvey....speak up and you ar OUT
this has been asked before; what was Stinson's percent of increase when he signed the 2009 contract?
Bus drivers being responsible for cut seats is like the new Mitch daniels plan....teachers will have 51% of their evaluation based on test scores. Teachers cannot MAKE kids learn, do homework, listen to instruction, care about their future...but teacher pay and whether or not they get to keep their job will be dependent on student test performance.
what is this world coming to. Seems everyone who should be responsible is NOT. Parents are not responsible for their kids, school boards and supers are not responsible for poor fiscal performance and teachers are not given the credit they are due.
Susan Adams is a very serious threat to the people she CONTROLS. Maybe she should be the superintendent....at least we would know what we are up against....my,my,my