Spring-Ford, Trust and Gordon Gekko

The Spring-Ford School Board approved Superintendent Dr. David Goodin to go to Ireland from March 31 to April 7 at the February 27 school board meeting. Kathleen Bryant, Upper Providence Township, questioned the motion under Programming and Curriculum regarding the trip…

The Board approved securing travel arrangements for Dr. David Goodin, Superintendent of Schools, to travel to Shannon, Ireland from Saturday, March 31, 2012 through Saturday, April 7, 2012. Dr. Goodin will be accompanying Spring-Ford High School students on their visit to Coláiste Chiaráin High School as part of the Limerick to Limerick Student Exchange Program. The total cost to the district will be $769.20 for airfare plus lodging and meals.

Ms. Bryant questioned why there was not “a not to exceed amount” in the motion. Most items on the agenda have “a not to exceed amount” plus a funding source from the current budget. Ms. Bryant asked if there was any idea on what this would cost overall and Mr. DiBello replied he would suspect that the average hotel accommodations would be around $150 a night and meals about $100 per day. Ms. Bryant indicated that she wanted to see how this compared to prior history so she looked at the October 22, 2007 minutes regarding how the initial trip was funded. Ms. Bryant read page 26 from those minutes and stated that no limit is listed on this expenditure that you are planning to make; you are currently charging all district families a participation fee for families that have children in sports, athletics, band, etc., and also the district has laid off 70 or more individuals so how can you justify having an uncapped amount when in 2007 when the economy was still bright all of this was funded privately?

Ms. Bryant asked if there was any response. Mr DiBello gave her a “Gordon Gekko” response: “Trust.”

During all this discussion Dr. Goodin never entered in the discussion. He remained completely silent. As the Chief Executive Officer of the school district he should have said something. He could have told us what is the educational purpose of the superintendent going on this trip. He could have stopped all the controversy by saying he would pay for the trip out of his own pocket.

I have another question: Was this trip included in the 2011-2012 school district budget which was passed by the board in June, 2011?