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Zahorchak's photo op/ press conference in front of the courthouse was amusing. Blaming the problems on a $14 mil. shortfall, real or imagined.

If it is now the public education system's responsibility to take the place of parents and raise their children (remember, it takes a Village), then Jerry Z is spot on. It appears that with 3 meals a day, late school hours, weekend meals, individual counseling , etc - that this is exactly what is occurring because of the refusal of society to hold baby mammas and roving baby daddys accountable and responsible for the support and care of their children. Someone's got to care and help. The kids didn't pick their parents.

It would be a lot easier and there would be a lot more money available if there were 4 public school districts in the area instead of 15. Johnstown is now the poorest city in Pennsylvania and the 4th poorest in America. Let's keep taxing the poorest population in PA to keep Ferndale open. Talk about a downward spiral of stupidity.

Let’s not blame all the other school district’s for Johnstown’s mishandling of government money. I bet if you looked into all the supplemental jobs for friends and family members of the school administrators you would probably reach several million dollars over several years. I bet if you look at the budget of the sports especially football compared to other programs you will see a lot of money being wasted or mis-handled. Johnstown coaches make more money than any other school it’s time to start being more financially responsible.

Waste and Mis-handling of government money 101:

Ferndale school district: interspersed among three other public school district, and with it's grade school located in Westmont, 300 yards from the Westmont middle school, the students of this poster child for consolidation wastes and mis-handles millions of taxpayer funds annually to maintain it's independent identity and long storied traditions while it eliminated AP classes and extracurricular activities for its students in order to protect union teacher jobs, fund a full array of administrators and maintain an extensive outdated and decaying physical plant. Graduating 60 students form a far flung area, pupils pass directly in front of JHS on their way to Ferndale every morning. Congratulations Ferndale - you will the 2015 National Public School Downward Spiral of Stupidity Award for going above and beyond in your actions to cut student curriculum, activities and limit student futures in the name of protecting you trophy case.

Windber School District: Declining in enrollment consistently the last 30 years this academic institution graduates 50 kids a year yet is planning to build, with other peoples money, a state of the art athletic complex. Kudos and a shout out to you for taking steps to waste taxpayer money in order to attempt to remain relevant (and be a survivor).

There is no future in maintaining a tribal mentality. But now that there is another democrap in the governors mansion the feeding of the monster will probably continue.

While I agree with your last statement about the "democrap in the Governor's mansion", I'm wondering.....In your ideal world, where Ferndale is absorbed by a neighboring district, what does that leave you to bi### about?

A $24 million renovation at Windber HS. The area is dying and population is dropping like a rock. Windber graduated 80 this year, projected to drop into the 60's in a few years. This is an irresponsible and blatant WASTE of public funds. But it's being done with other people's money so its OK.

The renovation of the Windber School District BENEFITS those in the Windber School District. The money comes from those in the Windber School District, whether it's money they have, or money they receive from loans (which must be paid back). Some may come from the state. Some may come from private sources. But where do you get the "other people's money"?

Some may come from the state implies other people's money

Yes it does. But sonof implied that it was a GREAT deal of other peoples money. And we all know that the state gives grants for ALL kinds of things, doesn't it. And of course, the project was done with the blessing of the district, or it would have been stopped, or at least protested. So somebody wanted it. The will of the people.

sonofpsycho wrote:Waste and Mis-handling of government money 101:

Ferndale school district: interspersed among three other public school district, and with it's grade school located in Westmont, 300 yards from the Westmont middle school, the students of this poster child for consolidation wastes and mis-handles millions of taxpayer funds annually to maintain it's independent identity and long storied traditions while it eliminated AP classes and extracurricular activities for its students in order to protect union teacher jobs, fund a full array of administrators and maintain an extensive outdated and decaying physical plant. Graduating 60 students form a far flung area, pupils pass directly in front of JHS on their way to Ferndale every morning. Congratulations Ferndale - you will the 2015 National Public School Downward Spiral of Stupidity Award for going above and beyond in your actions to cut student curriculum, activities and limit student futures in the name of protecting you trophy case.

Windber School District: Declining in enrollment consistently the last 30 years this academic institution graduates 50 kids a year yet is planning to build, with other peoples money, a state of the art athletic complex. Kudos and a shout out to you for taking steps to waste taxpayer money in order to attempt to remain relevant (and be a survivor).

There is no future in maintaining a tribal mentality. But now that there is another democrap in the governors mansion the feeding of the monster will probably continue.

I don’t know much about Ferndale academically but if I had to take a guess I bet it is better than Johnstown. 2nd What do you want to happen, every public school in the city of Johnstown dissolve into one school? Let me guess that one school would be Johnstown? If you want to start the flood of charter and private school enrollments in the city of Johnstown this is what you want to do. The last thing we need to do is have Greater Johnstown run or control the education in the city of Johnstown. I see what a bang up job they are doing now and I pass.