Does the end justify the means?

Recently the BOE heard from Sharron Lawrence with respect to how AP ranks against the rest of the Capital District in a number of different areas. This information has been compiled and summarized by the Capital District Business Review.

Let me assure you, it was all good news for the district and its residents. The years covered were 07-08, 08-09, and 09-10. We can only look back at the results, there is a one year lag in the information available.

The best news was that our academic ranking had increased over the three years. All rankings are based on 100 or so other districts around the region. The academic rankings were as follows. 30th in 07-08, 21st in 08-09 and 13th in 09-10. This shows that the teachers have continued to excel and in turn have continued to educate our kids in spite of the turmoil around them. These are good people simply doing a good job.

Another bright spot was that the average cost to educate per student, during those same three years, decreased. The ranking for our cost to educate vs the rest of the area had fallen. Our rankings were 42nd the first year, 60th the second and 68th in 09-10. Enough external pressure was being placed on the Administration during those years that they responded, and in turn, succeeded. A better education for less was being delivered. (In spite of a certain someone and her cronies who were constantly defending the administration and allowing teachers to be laid off)

The third item that really go my attention was that during this time the ranking for Median teacher salary had increased. We were 54th the first year, 34th the 2nd and 25th in 09-10. There could be a number of reasons for this. We could be seeing this because we have laid off teachers during this time. The rule "last in first out" gets rid of the lowest paid, pushing the median salary higher via seniority union rules. The other option is that other districts have been hiring new teachers during this period and dragging the median at their district lower with lower salaries. Either way, we are doing more with less and our teachers are the key.

That was confirmed during the last BOE "get together" with the Administrators group. They basically told us that they were working.  A lot. Most of their time was spent managing. Personally, managing is what I always thought they were supposed to be doing. Teachers teach and Administrators, well they administer. They have confirmed that they are in deed earning their pay.

It appeared to me that the group was telling the BOE that the 11-12 contingency budget adopted, sucked. This was the budget put forth by both the former Superintendent and former BOE President. The Superintendent had no idea she would be leaving at the time and may have had to live with this budget, and its consequences. Yet, they pressed on.

Where were the Administrators then? Even though I had put forth alternatives (over $500,000) that didn't impact kids, no Administrator came to me to sound a warning. It seems no one wanted to say anything, they just sat on their hands. Why worry? They had the no lay off clause. Let the teachers get the ax.

The Administrators cited the "reduction of student engagement" as a problem brought on by the loss of 1 business, 2.0 FACS, .6 Social studies electives and .4 Art. Then they reported that our late arrivals and early dismissals are both up. Why? We don't have any teachers to teach the electives to fill the school day. Could the cause be that the teachers got the ax? I would say so.

We were told that if any further cuts are made at Algonquin, the education supplied may drop below NYS mandate. Teachers are now at "the maximum contact time allowed by contract" and "have been relieved of supervisory duties". They are just teaching.

So with the bad news delivered by the Administrators this early in the year, I have to ask: Where were you guys last spring? You had a "no lay off" clause protecting you and you didn't speak up to try to change the BOE direction. Now you say you are working hard, all day. Welcome to the world that the rest of us have experienced for years. It's called reality.

Oh, and another thing. The next time you see the misguided majority of the BOE getting ready to adopt a travesty, speak up!

I guess I can talk about these now.

The following are two E-mails sent out by Chris Foster, our BOE President. One is before the bus vote, the other after its failure.


It is very interesting how people act when in power, on this AP BOE . Take for example, Ms. Lofredo. She was in a position of power during her day and was heard to tell the public "Keep in mind, we don't have to let you speak. We just do it as a courtesy." It seems that the power went to her head. She is not on the BOE any more.


Then we have Mr. Shaw. Became President and was going to put the district in a better place. Then he helped fire Jenny, and shut down the public comment at BOE meetings. He even went to the trouble to obtain a gavel to quiet the audience. Like those before him, he is out of power. 


Now we have Mr. Foster. Following the same path and he has a gavel. He says in one E-mail, " It is imperative to me that we reclaim our district during these crazy times". Really? The bus prop. failed 480 no to 288 yes. The majority of those who care, came to vote. The majority voted NO. Perhaps the "reclaim" has been done and the BOE is out of step with the community "in these crazy times".


The BOE thought this was the thing to do even though we have a 100% inspection passage rate.They also thought a 4.8% levy increase, going to contingency and laying off teachers were the right things to do. How in touch with the community is that?


I now hear that we have 12 or so buses sitting as spares on any given day. The ones approving and paying the bills, the community, voted NO to this added spending. A resounding defeat for more non education spending. This of course goes hand in hand with the budget defeat. 


Don't be fooled. This is not a safety issue, the buses are inspected. This is simply an image issue. When there are buses in need of replacement and the economy improves, the district will be able to purchase buses. 


I can't put my finger on what has caused the three people mentioned above to be so out of step. I do find it interesting that they all reside on the same cul-de-sac. Three BOE members, all risen to power, all from the same street with seven or so homes. There must be something they all have in common but what could it be? What are the odds? Anyway.


Here are the emails.

       One more thing: Chris writes," The board of education is putting together a communication plan to assist with this upcoming budget season and receiving candid feedback will assist us as we move forward. 

          Really? You received candid feedback from the 600 people who attended the first meeting after the pink slip rain storm this spring. You also have been getting very candid feedback for a couple of years from two blogs that have been allowing people to give the BOE candid feedback, sometimes very, very candid.

Anonymous continues to speak candidly and vote. No gavel works on the internet.

It seems the BOE is listening to the "Misfit Minority" who has provided self serving and out of step advice. 

Does anyone out there have any "candid feedback" they would like to deliver to the BOE?  

You have probably heard by now......

School Bus Proposition Fails


Averill Park residents went to the polls on Wednesday, October 12, to vote on a school bus proposition to continue the district’s bus replacement plan. The proposition was defeated by a vote of 480 to 288.

I love this picture from Unmoderated. They do some great work.


                                                          
                                                             Can they hear you now?
                                                            Do you think they are listening?


I wonder if they will ever listen to the majority of the community.
The budget went down and they did their own thing by going to contingency.
Now this proposal has gone down.
I have been told that nothing will pass until the BOE gets it together. I believe you.

This is a clear sign that the majority of the BOE needs to listen to a different part of the community. They are obviously being led astray. We as a board need to demonstrate that we do understand that the budget for next year is going to be bad. Every dime spent now is a dime we don't have to educate kids in the future. That is our charge. Maybe this vote will be the catalyst for change.

The community sees the budget woes coming. Those that came to vote, no matter which way, cared enough to vote. We have many disenfranchised voters. Those that say "Who Cares?"

Can you blame them? Rember the pink slip rain storm this spring? The one dreamed up by the former Superintendent and approved by the BOE leadership? That got people out to the BOE meetings didn't it.

I would think that the public pressure would keep the BOE on the straight and narrow. Only time and the election next year will tell. If yesterday is a preview, some people need to worry.

Bus vote coming Wed Oct 12th

The question most asked recently is, "How are you voting?"

First I will tell you why.

I was disappointed when the BOE voted to put up the last budget. I voted no.
The same occurred when they voted to go straight to contingency.  I voted no.
Then they voted to set the tax rate at 4.6% and I had been trying to get them to cut that down.
That vote was the day of the earthquake. I was stuck in Queens. I would have voted no.
The BOE seems to just keep spending.
I also disagree with the mix of buses. We rerouted the district to put more kids on buses and get efficient.
That being said, why buy mostly small buses? Five small and 2 large? Don't forget the Cadillac of buses
the "under belly" tour bus at just $124,400.

I would have considered a yes vote if the BOE had made room for the increse in taxes from the bus purchase by reducing the tax levy by an equal amount. That discussion was early in August. No one on the BOE listens.

Maybe if the purchase of buses fails they will start to listen. Maybe......

Again, I will be voting, NO.