This came in as a contribution on the "Sun has risen". It speaks to many and reflects the feelings of many more. Someday, we will finish fixing the errors of our recently departed Superintendent. For now, it is a work in progress.
Over the last two years this community has faced an administration and Board of Education that has tried to divide us and even put friend against friend. We fought and beat the streets to get signatures trying to stop our beloved school from closing. We watched a Superintendent and BOE Candidates (Foster & Zweig) come to our school and tell us what a wonderful school we had. The three people are the same ones that put in place the closure. One of them is gone but we will never forget the destruction that she caused during her tenure as the school Superintendent. We then watched as Bill Reinheart came to this community and asked for our support. This community opened our hearts and embraced him with support and votes. We embraced his willingness to lead the fight for transparency of a School Board and Administration. His comments to re-open George Washington were like music to our ears. At the last BOE meeting he asked for a real accounting of what is saved by keeping George Washing closed as an elementary school. We may again be able to have an elementary school open again within our community. We also seen Dori Salisbury come and ask for our support. We again supported this person who brings the same message of Bill. As you have seen, Dori too has been elected to the Board. Jennie Glasser also asked for our support and we too supported her. Jennie was re-elected to the board. As you can see, one common denominator to Bill, Dori and Jennie is that this community gave each one our support. All we ask is that we are treated fairly and have the ability to help chart our course of what happens to our community school. As we continue on, we will continue to support the Board Members that treat us fair and gives us the same dignity that they ask of themselves. We will however try to remove the members that look out only for the schools that they live next two. As we have continually been told, BOE members need to look at the whole district. Just don’t forget that we are part of that district. We will watch how each board member votes and we will hold you accountable. Your services as a board member are appreciated, but always remember who voted you in.
In closing, As we embrace our new President Chris Foster, please remember the words he spoke at the end of the July 12th Board Meeting. And I quote "I am sure the Board Members will be a target at some time this year”. I would like to assure all members of this Board, that if this community is treated fairly, we in return will treat them fairly. I will also say on behalf of this community, if we are not, come May 2012 we will go shopping for two new Board Members.
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13 comments:
The past votes and decisions of the Board speak volumes to me. How did each BOE member vote on issues that were important to your family, the welfare of students, and the future of AP? Did they vote to close GWS? Childcare? The budget? Do they ask the tough questions or just rely solely on the data given to them? Were they willing to go through the budget line by line looking for savings that would not reduce programs to students?
Yes, I agree this is the start of another chapter in AP's history and we can all try to be positive, cooperative, and try to work together. However, the past will never be forgotten. I am ready to look for 2 new candidates for the BOE. Every town in the district needs representation. It is time for a new BOE member to represent the Brunswick taxpayers.
Bravo!!
I nominate Laura or Tony Abate to run for APCSD School BOE.
They both would do a super job on the BOE. Sharon Bemis is another great choice. Her focus would also be on education and what is best for our students.
Bill,
Today we received a PES mailing. The school day has been modified so that school now begins (2nd bell) at 9:25 and the day ends at 3:15. This results in a 25 minute shorter day, or 125 less school minutes per week. Have all district schools made such a change? Why was this done and did the BOE approve it?
Is health class a NY state requirement for elementary students? Is it cut for next year in all AP elementary schools?
according to the info i found on line Health is required
http://www.ocmboces.org/iss/mstsite/hc/HealthEdRegs_Jan09.pdf
Bill,
I too received the PES mailing yesterday.
How can the school hours be changed, even by 10 minutes, without any parent input? Has the school board approved this change? I seem to have missed the letter, that I supposedly received, several weeks ago, announcing new school hours? Did you see the letter, as BOE member?
Does the APCSD EVER consider the working hours of individuals, when making these changes? Let alone the educational "shorting" to our children?
Parent of the GWS community had to make changes last year, to our work schedules, to accomodate the building move! NOW, we are to further adjust our lives and potentially impact our employment, because APCSD, had an "idea"?????
At what point, will this District EVER consider PARENTS????!!!! Or, are we just the "idiots" who pay the school taxes (with the non-APCSD JOBS we try to keep, after juggling your ever ending "educational" changes)????? Is this our "payback" from the bus garage, when we voted NO to new busses? Screw the parents, change the bus runs? Is this the dictate here?
I would think that voting NO the budget would have a bigger impact than the vote NO to the new busses.
I believe that the parental/community input was the budget vote.
Our community said that cuts needed to be made, and many have been. Ask the freshman athletes, ask the music students, ask the teachers, ask the HS nurse, ask the librarians, ask your child how many kids are in his class in September, ask the kids who needed summer school to graduate on time, etc., etc., etc. One way or another, we pay for the things cut from the school... more childcare costs, more education supplementation at home, less scholarship money for our kids as they will begin falling behind the kids in other districts. All doom and gloom, no.... we will survive, just reality.
WHY are the elementary school hours being changed?
I do not believe parents views are only gathered in a budget vote - other districts send out parent surveys. Bill thought it was time for this - and the recent changing of elementary school hours, without parent input, is yet another example of the lack of thought that goes into anything in APCSD. I do not recall the budget vote specifics indicating a change in elementary school hours.
There are a bunch of very angry Jo-lovers that remain running things. There is no need to change school hours, unless it is to sway the upcoming bus proposal, in favor of the Admin.
Oh, no. I did not mean that the community was specifically asked about each cut that a failed budget could produce, like shortening a school day, which classes to cut, freshman study hall, etc.
I meant that with all the cuts, the kids do not need to be in school as long.... for example, cutting health, library, etc., will mean that each day will need less instruction time, which would call for a shorter day. The budget was cut, less money overall, send the kids home! Same idea behind the freshman all taking a forced study hall.... saves $$.
And to think that the state was looking into EXPANDING the school day and school year (some city schools already do so).... Out here we can barely afford to keep the kids in school for 6 hours x 180 days! Good news: Looks like long summer vacations are not in danger anytime soon in AP!
Hopefully parents (or sitters) will use the extra time with their kids wisely. Read, get outside and play, set up a science experiment, build something. We need to make up for what will be missing at school.
Bill,
I did not receive a letter from the district earlier this summer explaining that elementary school hours will change. I cannot find any notice of this on our elem school website or the district website.
I ask you to please comment-- Are all AP elem schools changing hours? In a time when many schools across the country are increasing the school day and school year, why did AP decide to shorten the school day? Was this discussed and voted on by the BOE?
Thanks
I haven't seen anything with regard to hours changing.
There has been one meeting since the new BOE took their seats. Just pitiful. BOE is totally shut down.
Next meeting is the 23rd. Haven't seen the agenda yet.
I really don't understand the 10 minute adjustment. We shall see.....
Bill,
Just a FYI, it's a 10 minute adjustment in the beginning of the day and 15 minute earlier dismissal at the end of the day. Students get 25 minute less instructional time a day, 125 minutes less per week. What would that be for the entire school year... Once again, I think that the process and lack of communication to parents was wrong. Is it legal to change the times of the school day without BOE approval?
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