June 19, 2009

Back in the saddle...

Sorry for the lack of posts. I was under the weather -- I think we were all in danger of becoming toadstools -- but am doing a bit better today.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

glad to hear your feeling better Steve

Anonymous said...

Please give some attention to the BOE's ridiculous decision to let Malavenda double dip.

Odin said...

"Double-dip"? First off, "double-dip" is to get paid twice FOR THE SAME JOB. A pension for the past 20 years of work, and a salary for next year's work, is not "double-dipping".

Now, think it through logically, not emotionally. Malavenda will draw his pension regardless of whether the BOE hires him or someone else. According to the story, the BOE can only pay him 45% of what they would have to pay someone else. If the going salary of an elementary school principal is in the ballpark of $100,000 this is a savings to the city of $55,000. Why are you upset about this?

Anonymous said...

With the clows that are in charge in this town, I feel under the weather 24/7. Don't forget your vitamin C Steve...it helps.

Anonymous said...

I kinda agree with Odin,because it does save us a little money and save fromhaving to pay benefits for an additional employee. Although I also see it as creating a situation where ethics comes into question by the public, which bristol really needs to start working on because this sort of stuff happens way to often. Even the appearance of a possible conflict of interest and related situations should be avoided if our leaders want to have our confidence and support.

Anonymous said...

Malavenda will be earning his full pension (about $100,000/year) and will receive full pay as principal (about $130,000), even though he never has been one before. How is that a good educational move? Why do we have Assistant Principals if they are not going to be promoted? This is an example the waste, abuse, and cronyism that plagues this city (and other cities too). The BOE pulled the same crap with Dennis Siegman, who retired as BC principal and then became principal at Northeast Middle School. For most people, retiring means retiring. I know qualified people who would jump at the chance to have this job, the Superintendent Striefer is full of crap about how hard it is to find a new principal.

Anonymous said...

Odin,

Your understanding of "double dipping" is inaccurate. Double dipping is receiving a salary from the same organization you are receiving a pention from post retirement.

cure your ills said...

6:28 - maybe you need to use a rectal thermometer to get a correct reading.

Anonymous said...

Hopefully we will be getting stories about Bristol again.

We need MORE reporting on BRISTOL activity.

Anonymous said...

Steve hope your feeling better. Steve can you find out why valley bank is falling apart. the new president is racing to destroy the home town bank feeling. Is this bank leaving bristol soon its not the same.

Anonymous said...

Steve its been said the school board is running the city i can beleive it with the latest move and the politians sit on there hands.But they willbe out campaning soon telling how much they did can you beleive it .

Anonymous said...

CLOWNS IS THE WORD FOR OUR POLITIANS. THIS IS THE DO NOTHING GROUP AND IF SOMETHING GETS DONE ITS ONLY FOR HEADLINES.

Anonymous said...

Odin or Steve-
Wouldn't it be correct to assume that the BOE is saving on his benefits as well? I assume he draws his benefits off of the pension thus that expense is not attached to the principal job.

Anonymous said...

The article about Mr. Malavenda has some misinformation. According to the Teacher's Retirement Website (pages 2-3 of "Post Retirement Employment) the 45% rule applies in non-shortage areas. Since principals are considered a shortage area, Mr. Malavenda will collect his full pension as well as a full salary. A reasonable estimate for his 12 month income starting on 7/1/09 would be somewhere around $207,000... and let's not forget about his insurance benefits. The state was recently going after people that were doing the same sort of thing, and it was called "double-dipping" by the governor and the media. Anyway you look at it, a large chunk of that money will be coming from the taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

Hey, 7:23 AM: if you're a product of the Bristol school system, then perhaps the city needs to spend MORE money on educating its kids, not less. You can't spell, punctuate, or put a coherent sentence together. Yeah, I know, you probably don't think any of that stuff is important either. It must be true then that ignorance is bliss.

Anonymous said...

"CLOWNS IS THE WORD FOR OUR POLITIANS."

...need I say more? What a dufus!

Anonymous said...

Hey 1:17 get a life we dont need teachers on here the person was making a point. You must have gotten it.

Anonymous said...

Just saw a article on here about Valley Bank happen to be in line today and what a wait never like that before. They must getting like the rest of bristol. Going down quick.

Anonymous said...

Board of ed is making fools of our politians.

Anonymous said...

Bristol needs a real leader from either party not what we have.

Anonymous said...

Double dip this is bristol.

same-oooooo said...

steve, sometimes it might pay to take a couple of days off - it proves that the ignorance of these posters does not go away.

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...

One shouldn't blame Malavenda for taking all he can get. But if there's anyone who doesn't acknowledge (at least to themselves) that this is a racket has a warped view of reality (at least in my humble opinion).

Anonymous said...

Steve, now that you are back, hopefully we will see more items on Bristol, here and in the paper.

Thanks