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More Controversy In Newton, MA

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The City of Newton, MA is back at it again with more controversy. Recently the residents voted to raise their property taxes to pay for school improvements and town services. After the vote, the money has been flying out of the city treasury and into the pockets of the mayor and superintendent of schools.

The Mayor of Newton got an annual raise of $27,125!! His old salary of $97,876 is now $125,001. He was given a 28% raise. Did you or anyone you know get a 28% raise last year? Most are just lucky to keep their jobs. You’d be very lucky to earn a 5% raise. Now one could argue that the mayor is the most important City of Newton public servant and deserves to be highly paid. If this is true, how can one begin to explain what the superintendent of schools is pulling?

Come back tomorrow to find out where the taxpayer money for the public schools is really going.

The Great Seal of the United States of America – Part 2

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Go grab a $1 bill and check out the back right circle called The Great Seal. This American symbol has many little known secrets. In the beak, the eagle has a scroll with the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” which means “out of many, one.” Over its head is a field called a “glory” with 13 stars referring to the original 13 states. In front of the eagle is a shield with a shaded top called a “chief” and vertical stripes called “pales”. The stripes represent the states joined together, supporting a chief, which unites the whole and represents Congress.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

The Great Seal of the United States of America – Part 1

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Many students ask what is the meaning of The Great Seal of the United States of America. It is commonly found on US passports and other official documents. For those unfamiliar, check the back of the $1 bill in the right side circle. The Great Seal has a picture of a bald eagle with its wings outstretched, holding 13 arrows in one claw and an olive branch in the other. The arrows refer to the 13 original states and the olive branch symbolizes a desire for peace. The olive branch has 13 leaves and 13 olives also referring to the original states.

Take a break from your 4th of July celebrating tomorrow and check back here to learn more amazing secrets from the Great Seal of the United States of America.

America’s National Coat of Arms – Part 2

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Continuing to observe the left circle on the back of the $1 bill are more fascinating secrets. At the top of the pyramid is a triangle with an eye surrounded by the sun’s rays known as a sunburst. The eye symbolizes God leading our nation. The US Founding Fathers who created this design felt God had established a new order for the ages and that the Coat of Arms should reflect this characteristic of the nation.

The Latin above the pyramid ANNUIT COEPTIS means, “HE (GOD) HAS FAVORED OUR UNDERTAKINGS.” The Latin below the pyramid NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM means, “A NEW ORDER OF THE AGES.” In fact it was July 4, 1776 when a new order began based on the Declaration of Independence.

Do you wonder what the symbols in the right side circle of the $1 bill mean? Come back tomorrow for the surprising answers.

America’s National Coat of Arms – Part 1

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Leading up to our favorite holiday July 4th, we thought we would share some fascinating United States symbols you probably never noticed. Take a look on the back of a $1 bill and in the left circle you will see a picture of a pyramid. It was designed in 1782 and called America’s National Coat of Arms.

At its base are the Roman numerals MDCCLXXVI. They stand for 1776 the year America was founded. A pyramid is historically recognized as a symbol of strength and durability. This pyramid contains thirteen layers of stone referring to the original thirteen colonies.

Check back tomorrow for more American Coat of Arms dollar bill secrets.

What Children Want The Most From Parents

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Do you think you know what children want the most from their parents? Toys? Vacations? Money? Time together? Surveys show that children want for their parents to be less tired and stressed. This response beat out spending more time with their parents and wanting a bigger allowance. If you can reduce your stress and exhaustion, you may improve your relationship with your children.

School Systems Wasting Your Children’s Tax Money: In-House Consultants

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Another public relations consultant model that some school systems are using are similar to the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District method. As opposed to hiring an independent consultant at inflated hourly charges, they pay an in-house consultant an inflated yearly salary. This is instead of the time-honored tradition of the Superintendent of Schools telling the truth directly to parents. In Concord-Carlisle Regional School District’s case, they pay a PART-TIME communications manager $40,000 per year. Other local hires include Newton Public Schools that hire a Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator for $60,000, Marlborough Public Schools that employs a Communications Liaison for $65,000 and Brockton Public Schools with their Communications Officer making $70,000.

School Systems Wasting Your Children’s Tax Money: Independent Public Relations Consultants

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When a crisis flares up, many school districts turn to overpriced public relations consultants to spin the school system’s point of view to the public. Some school systems follow the Lexington Public Schools model by hiring an independent consultant that works for lots of different schools every time there is an embarrassing situation. In Lexington, they pay their public relations consultant an initial retainer charge of $5,000 for 20 hours of work. Then starting with the 21st hour of work, Lexington pays the consultant $300 per hour.

Lexington Public Schools in the past hired a public relations consultant at the above pay rate several years ago when some parents complained about the school system using and promoting a book on same sex families. Last fall she was hired to speak to the public about a calming time-out room that was written about in a newspaper. Now they are back at it again hiring the same consultant to defend the school system’s handling of a controversial athletic director who was placed on unpaid leave. Again the $177,000+ salaried Superintendent and the $150,000 Assistant Superintendents are “too busy” to include communicating with the public as a part of their job description. Tune in tomorrow for entirely different way these money-wasting public relations leeches are bleeding the school systems dry of your children’s tax dollars.

School Systems Wasting Your Children’s Tax Money: Public Relations Aides

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Many school systems are struggling to find money to fund its basic programs. In fact in Newton, MA they will be voting on a Proposition 2 ½ override for more funds while in Needham, MA they are looking at having to cut approximately 2% -3% from next year’s budget. At the same time however, school systems are wasting lots of money on “public relations aides” to speak to the media and parents on their behalf. The purpose of these public relations aides are to give a positive spin on whatever the school system wants you to believe and at taxpayer expense. Gone are the days of the $213,000+ salaried Superintendent defending the system’s position to parents and media. Apparently the Superintendent and all of the other $129,000+ Assistant Superintendents are “too busy” to speak effectively to the parents.

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