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Post by casey on Mar 10, 2010 19:41:24 GMT -6
Take a look at the March 8 board docs. Specifically look at 5. Consent Agenda and Superintendent Report G. Approval of Business and Financial Items Wow! There's a plethora of interesting information there. Here's a couple things that stuck out to me: Aurora Police - off duty - Waubonsie $6,890.32 (for what? I don't see it there for Neuqua?) DLR Group - Professional Services - Metea - $45,571.41 Remember this is the company that the little man from TG was selected to be a part of the Citizen's Advisory Council (he didn't even have school age kids at the time). $46,000 seems like a lot of professional services, eh? First Student - District transportation - $2,167,048.39 (bus costs only, not fuel. What period do you think this covers?) Group Alternatives - consulting services district - $7,000 (what kind of consultants are we paying for? Was this our top survey company used to tell the SD how much everyone loves them?) Harpsichord Clearing House - Music Metea - $9,900 (pretty sure we wouldn't have had this charge if we didn't build a 3rd HS) Joe Cotton Ford - professional services - $4,800 (is this the charge for KB's car? I really don't know but what kind of "professional services" do you get from an auto dealership  )
Tuition - March 10 - $36,835 (why are we paying for services BEFORE we use them? What kind of accounting principle is that?) Naper Settlement - personnel costs - $7,783.98 (this is the second time I've seen this charge. What in the world are we paying Naper Settlement "personnel costs" for? Is this an on-going cost?) North Central College - TAH workshop tuition - $5,794 (in today's world we're still holding workshops?) Pianoforte Chicago - supplies Metea - $27,300 (pretty sure we wouldn't have had this charge if we didn't build a 3rd HS) Roake & Associates - professional services Metea - $3,462 (what is this?) STR Partners - professional services Nancy Young - $3,315 and 339.07 (with all the administrators and experts in our district why do we pay outside professional services?) With the exception of transportation costs, none of these are huge dollar amounts but less face it, in today's economy we should be looking at every single line item. Some of these seem exorbitant in today's world. Believe me, there's plenty more that I didn't even list. Every time I see all the extra charges for Metea I want to cry. These are NOT charges we should be incurring. What would our financial picture be had we not been dumb enough to build the 3rd HS? Unfortunately we'll never know. We're screwed. |
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 10, 2010 20:25:36 GMT -6
Take a look at the March 8 board docs. Specifically look at 5. Consent Agenda and Superintendent Report G. Approval of Business and Financial Items Wow! There's a plethora of interesting information there. Here's a couple things that stuck out to me: Aurora Police - off duty - Waubonsie $6,890.32 (for what? I don't see it there for Neuqua?) DLR Group - Professional Services - Metea - $45,571.41 Remember this is the company that the little man from TG was selected to be a part of the Citizen's Advisory Council (he didn't even have school age kids at the time). $46,000 seems like a lot of professional services, eh? First Student - District transportation - $2,167,048.39 (bus costs only, not fuel. What period do you think this covers?) Group Alternatives - consulting services district - $7,000 (what kind of consultants are we paying for? Was this our top survey company used to tell the SD how much everyone loves them?) Harpsichord Clearing House - Music Metea - $9,900 (pretty sure we wouldn't have had this charge if we didn't build a 3rd HS) Joe Cotton Ford - professional services - $4,800 (is this the charge for KB's car? I really don't know but what kind of "professional services" do you get from an auto dealership )
Tuition - March 10 - $36,835 (why are we paying for services BEFORE we use them? What kind of accounting principle is that?) Naper Settlement - personnel costs - $7,783.98 (this is the second time I've seen this charge. What in the world are we paying Naper Settlement "personnel costs" for? Is this an on-going cost?) North Central College - TAH workshop tuition - $5,794 (in today's world we're still holding workshops?) Pianoforte Chicago - supplies Metea - $27,300 (pretty sure we wouldn't have had this charge if we didn't build a 3rd HS) Roake & Associates - professional services Metea - $3,462 (what is this?) STR Partners - professional services Nancy Young - $3,315 and 339.07 (with all the administrators and experts in our district why do we pay outside professional services?) With the exception of transportation costs, none of these are huge dollar amounts but less face it, in today's economy we should be looking at every single line item. Some of these seem exorbitant in today's world. Believe me, there's plenty more that I didn't even list. Every time I see all the extra charges for Metea I want to cry. These are NOT charges we should be incurring. What would our financial picture be had we not been dumb enough to build the 3rd HS? Unfortunately we'll never know. We're screwed. The affiliation to the DLR Group certailly is interesting isn't it ? and what exactly did we get for our $46K @ Metea? Other than another bill to add to the $25M or so even after being bamboozled, we DID NOT approve for the HS unfortunately we can't even get an accounting for the construction associated costs for Metea - we'll never know what some of these things are --- but again this is the result of a checkbook supplied by us, and no accountability back. also doing a little digging - hoping these is a comparable period of time for bus costs before MVHS- |
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Post by Arch on Mar 10, 2010 20:43:34 GMT -6
You can't and won't get an accounting for the construction costs because that auditorium that's supposedly completed is still under construction as of today and apparently through at least 1pm tomorrow as well...
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Post by casey on Mar 11, 2010 7:10:18 GMT -6
[ The affiliation to the DLR Group certailly is interesting isn't it ? and what exactly did we get for our $46K @ Metea? Other than another bill to add to the $25M or so even after being bamboozled, we DID NOT approve for the HS Every time I see DLR my skin boils because I think back to the handshake deal that must have taken place. Yeah, the "consultant" or whatever you call him sat on all those CAC meetings when the district pushed for the 3rd HS. I'm sure it was just coincidental. He was just an involved parent of an infant and toddler with plenty of time on his hands. He was very involved with all things SB related. Interestingly enough though I never saw him at anything after that little group - no SB meetings, no PTA meetings, no Fry stuff. Maybe he just got busy  . For the record, the "consultant" was at the KB meeting at Fry the other night. His kids have FINALLY hit school age. Yup, I'm sure living in Tall Grass his kids will go to Waubonsie, right? Oh, yeah. There won't be a Waubonsie. Hope the business deal then helped him personally. |
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Post by EagleDad on Mar 11, 2010 10:08:41 GMT -6
From the Illinois campaign contribution website: DLR Group 7290 W. 133rd. Street Overland, IL 66213 $250.00 2/20/2006 In-Kind Contribution 204 the Kids graphic design services Not a bad return on the $250 investment, $45,571.41 in services, if you ask me |
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Post by steckdad on Mar 11, 2010 10:14:59 GMT -6
You can't and won't get an accounting for the construction costs because that auditorium that's supposedly completed is still under construction as of today and apparently through at least 1pm tomorrow as well... They are installing a state of the art sound system or something like that right? and it's taking londer than they expected? |
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Post by Arch on Mar 11, 2010 10:56:37 GMT -6
You can't and won't get an accounting for the construction costs because that auditorium that's supposedly completed is still under construction as of today and apparently through at least 1pm tomorrow as well... They are installing a state of the art sound system or something like that right? and it's taking londer than they expected? State of the Art is a marketing term. The proof will be when you hear it. |
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Post by steckdad on Mar 11, 2010 13:51:37 GMT -6
They are installing a state of the art sound system or something like that right? and it's taking londer than they expected? State of the Art is a marketing term. The proof will be when you hear it. and no doubt it will be a waste of money in your eyes (ears) I can write the post now if you like.... |
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Post by Arch on Mar 11, 2010 13:59:45 GMT -6
State of the Art is a marketing term. The proof will be when you hear it. and no doubt it will be a waste of money in your eyes (ears) I can write the post now if you like.... Have you heard it yet? I'll be upset if it sounds like crap. If it sounds good, I'll certainly post that. I plan on sitting in various spots around the place to see what the acoustics are like because based on the paneling reflection config, different seats should sound differently. The thunder this morning was apparently quite amplified and echoing throughout the building... |
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Post by slp on Mar 11, 2010 17:42:03 GMT -6
[ The affiliation to the DLR Group certailly is interesting isn't it ? and what exactly did we get for our $46K @ Metea? Other than another bill to add to the $25M or so even after being bamboozled, we DID NOT approve for the HS Every time I see DLR my skin boils because I think back to the handshake deal that must have taken place. Yeah, the "consultant" or whatever you call him sat on all those CAC meetings when the district pushed for the 3rd HS. I'm sure it was just coincidental. He was just an involved parent of an infant and toddler with plenty of time on his hands. He was very involved with all things SB related. Interestingly enough though I never saw him at anything after that little group - no SB meetings, no PTA meetings, no Fry stuff. Maybe he just got busy . For the record, the "consultant" was at the KB meeting at Fry the other night. His kids have FINALLY hit school age. Yup, I'm sure living in Tall Grass his kids will go to Waubonsie, right? Oh, yeah. There won't be a Waubonsie. Hope the business deal then helped him personally. who is this guy? Send me PM if you prefer not to list |
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Post by Arch on Mar 11, 2010 21:26:06 GMT -6
SD,
The curtains got fixed today. Yay!
The new marley flooring has permanent scuffs, at least one hole and a tear in it from obvious mishandling. Drat.
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Post by Arch on Mar 12, 2010 20:37:13 GMT -6
 Nice to see the other half of the ceiling now paneled. Less than 2 weeks ago they had less than half up. Sound tonight has been center channel only for the first half of the show. Not sure if this is by design (IE: no "music" mode on the sound system) or if it's because the source material was not in stereo...or a result of sound board operator error. will post again after the show. |
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Post by Arch on Mar 12, 2010 22:37:04 GMT -6
center speaker only for act 2 as well. 0 stereo effect for the music routines. The girls put on a great show nonetheless.
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