Honestly Averill Park

Where were you when you heard?

2009-03-26T06:46:00.001-04:00

Schuylerville Central School District names new superintendent

The Schuylerville Central School Board of Education has offered the position of superintendent of schools to Ryan Sherman, who is currently superintendent of the Argyle Central School District.
The Board will now enter into contract negotiations with Sherman and will announce the formal agreement within the next few weeks. Sherman has served as Argyle’s superintendent since 2004. Before taking that position, he was principal of Argyle Junior-Senior High School and a teacher and curriculum leader at the City School District of Albany.
He is currently enrolled in the doctoral study program at The Sage Colleges. Schuylerville’s Board of Education chose Sherman after a five-month search process conducted in conjunction with the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES.
Schuylerville staff, students and community members were involved in the process, serving on interview committees, attending open forums and submitting comments.
Sherman will replace Dr. Leon Reed, who has led Schuylerville Central School District for more than 17 years.

Tis the season for board member harassment

2009-02-27T08:29:00.002-05:00

The cowards are calling Child Protective Services again.

A favorite AP Board member was visited by CPS on Wednesday. The kids were pulled out of class and questioned. The house inspected.

It seems that the coward called in fake charges and got the investigation started. Two days later the investigation is closed and the call labeled a hoax. We, who know the member, are not surprised by the quick closure. It is funny that only the minority members receive this harassment. Don't you agree?

The department has found this complaint to be similar to those that have occurred to other BOE members over the past 3 years. Let's hope the coward is found and punished for all of the faked complaints. One charge on the previous calls will be criminal impersonation.

Maybe we can video the arrest and put it on U TUBE....

Budget committee confusion

2009-02-14T15:19:00.002-05:00

A few members of the budget committee seem to be dismayed. One actually mentioned "Mockery"
Tell us your stories, good or bad, we want to be balanced. It is OK to disagree, let's not be disagreeable.

The 09-10 budget is out

2009-02-14T15:13:00.002-05:00

The 09-10 budget is out and it carries a 7% tax increase. The Superintendent said she was after a zero percent increase. Any thoughts?

And, we're back

2008-09-23T18:09:00.002-04:00

Our super has set up a Q and A blog on the district web site. Word is that only the questions they would like to answer are posted. A number of local tax payers have asked difficult questions and they have yet to appear on the site.

You are required to provide your name and e-mail with your question. They have done that and yet gotten no response (other than confirmation of receipt) either direct or indirect. Communication is the purpose of the blog.

"To improve communication with your school district, we have created the “Answers” page."

If you can't get your questions answered on the AP District site, send them here. Our team of crack investigators will dig until the truth is found. Honest communication is our goal.

Anonymous is back again, with disturbing news.....

2008-06-05T21:07:00.005-04:00

Dear Communicus, A letter has been sent to many local businesses and residents asking for a boycott of the Sand Lake Advertiser and the businesses that advertise in it due to the criticism expressed by some of its contributors against the Averill Park School District Board and Administration.

This is a paper that for years has allowed the free exchange of ideas from all sides of an issue and is in my opinion one of the largest contributors to the School District by donation of page space and advertising that are truly enormous gifts of this local public entity.

For the writers of this letter; it was anonymous, no return address, and it was postmarked out of Albany; to try and shut down the very publication that sustains the programs that the rest of us are accused of not supporting can only be classified as insane at best.

I AM COPYING, VERBATIM, THE LETTER SO THAT YOUR READERS CAN SEE WHAT LENGTHS THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL GO TO TO TRY AND SHUT THE INFORMATION FLOW OFF!The letter reads as follows:

STOP THE WEEKLY NASTY GRAMS BOYCOTT THE ADVERTISER AND BOYCOTT ANY BUSINESSES THAT ADVERTISE IN IT

Our families have banded together to ask our friends and neighbors to boycott "The Advertiser". We believe that this publication is being used by people who are creating a negative and destructive atmosphere in our towns and dividing the school district. A great school district is being maligned publicly by the same few malcontents over and over again.

1. We believe that our school district has improved dramatically in the last three years.

2. We believe that our kids deserve this to continue.

3. We believe that much of the nastiness is due to personal agendas being played out in public.THE PEOPLE BEING HURT HERE ARE OUR KIDS, NO ONE ELSE.

1. We have great administrators and teachers.

2. We believe that if they leave APCSD we will be forced to accept people of lesser quality because not only are there very few qualified administrators out there, but who would want to work here and be treated this way?

3. We believe that if our current administrators leave we will have to pay much higher salaries to attract new ones.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO STOP. THE PEOPLE MALIGNING OUR DISTRICT ARE NOT THE ONES WHO SHARE OUR VALUES, THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WHO WORK WITH THE PTA, WHO ATTEND SPORTS EVENTS, WHO CONTRIBUTE IN ANY POSITIVE WAY TO THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS. OUR STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE!! DON'T LET THE NASTY GRAMS CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT. MOST OF WHAT IS SAID IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. NEVER HAS BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE. DON'T JUDGE OUR DISTRICT BY THE LIES OF MALCONTENT PEOPLE.BOYCOTT THE ADVERTISER AND THE BUSINESSES WHO ADVERTISE IN IT. TELL YOUR FRIENDS YOUR RELATIVES AND ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT KIDS.

The end

What happened to free speech and exchange of ideas? Last year we saw the BOE tell people they couldn't talk at the meetings. That didn't go very well. Now someone is trying to actually censor a local newspaper! Everyone is entitled to their opinion and this blog supports the free exchange of ideas.

We have a guest contributor....Anonymous........

2008-06-03T16:29:00.004-04:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Poestenkill Elementary running Averill Park CSD?": You people are the most despicable bunch of liars I have ever seen. You should all be ashamed of yourselves, but of course, people like you will never be ashamed, because you must have grown up thinking that lying, cheating, gossiping and manipulating were the way to go.This blog should be called DISHONESTLY AVERILL PARK.Maybe this will help explain your pathetic behavior.

Lie [lahy] a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive [Mirriam/Webster Dictionary].A pathological liar is defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their own way with little concern for the consequences. “Pathological lying is a coping mechanism that is developed in early childhood and is often associated with some other mental disorder”. A pathological liar is a focused, goal oriented liar. Pathological liars have little regard or respect for the rights or feelings of others. “A compulsive liar lies out of habit. Lying is their normal reflexive way of responding. Compulsive liars bend the truth about nearly everything, whether it is large or small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is uncomfortable.” Compulsive lying is “thought to be a trait developed in early childhood as a response to being placed in an environment where lying was necessary for survival or parental attention.” Lying is more than a bad habit. It is heartbreaking and cruel. Some people attend church, but still continue telling untruths about others, or spreading rumors born of false gossip. There’s an old saying, “sooner or later you have to pay the piper”, and we all get to find that out one way or the other.The Bible gives many instances where God speaks directly about the spiritual consequences of lying. Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."Prov 19:55 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape. Prov 19.9 9…[A]nd he who tells lies will perish..James 3:1414 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.Ex 23:11 "You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. “Let me in, I know you're inside, I can hear you breathing, You can not hide, Let me inI am not going away, I am the Piper, now PAY!” (Lavin, Music, May 1999)JUST REMEMBER, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND, AND YOUR TIME WILL COME.

What is with the 6th assignments?

2008-05-30T14:42:00.002-04:00

The news is that teachers schedules are out and many are recieving "6th" assignments and are expected to take them for no more money. Whoever is negotiating their contracts sure seems to NOT be looking out for the teachers! They work hard enough as it is and then to make them work for less.
It seems that the administration is imploding and taking the district down with it.

Another swing and a miss, too bad......

2008-05-29T10:26:00.002-04:00

http://www.wickedlocal.com/sandwich/news/x401620637/Superintendent-Candidate-Moccia-drops-out-of-race

http://capecodnow.net/artman/publish/sandwich/Public_Interviews_Of_Superintendent_Finalists_Start_Monday.shtml

http://www.wickedlocal.com/sandwich/archive/x1874997680/Meet-the-candidates

She says the superintendency has been “the most difficult role I’ve ever had” because she’s had to balance the community’s needs with the needs of the taxpayers and the students.

Show us the balance!

"They will get what they asked for" RC

2008-05-28T20:27:00.002-04:00

Not exactly Regina.

The BOE must think that the taxpayers love them because they are a lazy board. A bunch of medium intelligence, sort of workers. No one likes to have a governing body excel at their job. Mediocre is all the board can muster. Cut them some slack. "This is hard stuff, budgets and all..."

The board went to contingency last night on a 5-2 vote. Many people walked out in disgust.

I am speechless. Anyone have a comment?

Will it never end?

2008-05-28T20:09:00.002-04:00

The popular head mechanic was "re-assigned" today. His new job?
Just sit over there and be quiet!
No more wrenches for him, he is a computer geek now.
Some of the administration we have now did the same thing to a former HS Principal. She rotted in the basement while collecting her salary and read for a year. What will the mechanic do to while away his time?
Could this be the completion of a threat made 2 years ago? Seems that a "Reign of terror" comment got made and the superintendent wrote ( In print ) an e-mail to an administrator making the threat. Pretty dumb right? You can never control what, where or who gets things after they are in print.
Who would have thought that this E-mail could be surfacing now.
Stay tuned for more of "The AP administration eating itself alive".

TRANSPORTATION ALERT : Another one bites the dust!

2008-05-23T18:19:00.002-04:00

Another head of Transportation bites the dust. He left as of Friday but knew of his immenent departure on Thursday afternoon. Who could be the next victim? This is a position held by Jennie Glasser, the newest BOE member, for nearly three years. How is it that someone who has been fired for being "unqualified" cannot be replaced?
The most recent supervisor was hired by the administation and the BOE. This is just another example of the districts inability to make a good decision. Supposedly he was qualified. Let's wait and see how the district spins this one.

Budget and busses bite the dust

2008-05-21T19:53:00.003-04:00

The budget hit a wall and the bus prop also hit the dirt last nite. What will the board do? Resubmit? Will they cut the budget and should they cut the budget? Will Shaw and Cristo keep backing Moccia or jump ship out of embarrassment? People think they will bail. Will the only person with a clue be Tater? Will Bonesteel finally fall on the fence?

Glasser squeeks by, just 22 votes seperate two

2008-05-21T19:47:00.002-04:00

Tonight Jennie Glasser won the seat being vacated by Reinhardt. She edged the other candidate (Zweig) by just 22 votes. How will this change the board dynamics? Will the Superintendent really leave her $140,000 salary for the peaceful world of Cape Cod? How will the rest of the board react when Jennie walks in? What do you think about the whole state of affairs?

Poestenkill Elementary running Averill Park CSD?

2008-04-27T09:04:00.002-04:00

If you look at the profile of the BOE you see some interesting things.

One that stands out is the number of representatives from Poestenkill. Could this be just an accident or is there a pattern of organized support and voting that is an effort to take over the district by the Poestenkill voters?

We have 3 members on the Board from Poestenkill and now one more running. There is also the Assistant Superintendent promoted from Poestenkill Elementary. Makes you wonder if the rest of the district will be represented in the coming years.

Introducing our next guest contributor, Jennie Glasser

2008-04-19T16:41:00.002-04:00

It is with great pleasure that I announce my intention to run for the Averill Park School Board. I previously served the board as a member from July 2000 to February 2005 and served as President of the board during 2004 and 2005. Prior to that I served on the school district sponsored Communications Committee.

I will bring experience and commitment to do what is right for all district residents, students and staff with me on this journey. Serving the school district has been one of the greatest experiences of my public service career. Having served the Sand Lake Town Library Board, the Sand Lake Business Association, the Sand Lake Zoning Board of Appeals and the West Sand Lake Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary, the Averill Park School Board was by far the most challenging yet rewarding of all.My knowledge of board and district operations, including Public Meeting procedures will help ensure that our school district community will be treated in a fair, honest and open manner.

As a child of this district and community, with children currently in the district, I want to be in a position to guarantee the success of all children with all due respect given to the taxpayers that finance our operations.I look forward to serving the district and hope I can get your support in winning this election, so that I can once again play a part in the successful operation of our district. Having served this district through the “worst of times”, I realize that through difficult issues we sometimes get the best results. The job is not easy and I believe that I have the energy, character and commitment to be, once again, an integral member of this board.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Any feedback on what you may want or don’t want to see happen would be appreciated. You can reach me at 248-0669 cell or by e-mail at jennieglasser@hotmail.com.

Thanks to all those who have and who continue to believe in me, I hope to serve you all again.

Thank you again Communicus

Guest contributors welcome.

2008-04-19T09:09:00.001-04:00

Jennie Glasser asked to contribute her own post. Jenny, send it along and it will get added. jenny will be our second guest contributor.

2008-04-07T20:28:00.002-04:00

We have a guest contributor

NO AP SCHOOL TAX INCREASE

That got your attention right? It is possible this year. It was also possible last year.
On June 26th of 2007 I made a motion in open session to take 1 million of your over paid tax dollars, and reduce the tax levy increase to zero. Steve Valente joined me in supporting this, the others said no. The motion failed 5-2

Now, throughout the budget season, this administration has admitted that those accounts were in fact over funded and has wanted to use the money to increase spending. I have been strongly against this because it still does not bring any tax relief to you, the tax payer. Keep in mind, these funds are overpayments that you made in 05-06 and 06-07. Don’t you, the voter, deserve some consideration given the economic outlook and the reassessments?

It is time to say “GIVE IT BACK!!” It was taken from the taxpayers under false pretenses and the audits show the truth. This year, you should get something back. Do you remember when they said we couldn’t afford sports? Dori Haines and Erin Loffredo worked their butts off to fund raise and for what? We had surpluses in the budget.

Misrepresenting the financial state of the district to the voters should be a crime. Using the line “If the budget fails we have to cut programming” is unfair and inaccurate. On April 3rd, we received a list of non-mandated items. We could cut $500,000 from the budget by eliminating Asst. Principals, the Asst. Superintendent, conferences, graduate re-imbursement, and stipends. Student programming would still go on and the people that really do the work, the teacher, would not be touched.

How can a zero tax levy increase be done?
First, take the bus debt pay down (labeled Debt Service, buses) out of the capital debt reserve account instead of the “4 accounts” (where the $3.5 million got buried last year).
For even numbers, let’s pay down $750,000 in bus debt.
Second, increase the “Debt service transfers” by $750,000.
Third, decrease the line labeled “local school taxes” by $750,000.
Done! No increase in“Local School Taxes” this year. Simple right?

One problem, the BOE adopted the budget early, by a vote of 5-2 (You know who the 2 were). The vote was taken on April 3, 2008 during the bid award meeting. The vote wasn’t on the agenda and the only mention of budget was a discussion of options. The BOE had been saying right along that the adoption would be April 8th, 2008. So, unless they change their mind, the only way to do it now is fail the budget and tell the board to try again. Maybe then, they will listen.

Bill Reinhardt

Let's talk budget, ready, set, go!

2008-04-04T19:18:00.004-04:00

Here is an open forum for budget discussions. What do you think?
BTW, if you are a little paranoid, this is not a trap...... Promise!

AP does have great people!

2008-04-02T09:34:00.000-04:00

The majority of workers of Averill Park are a great group of people. That is why our kids get a great education. Teachers, drivers, cleaners, and the rest.
What about those at the top?
District leaders that ignore the warning signs.
Have you ever experienced intimidation from above?
Are you affraid of attending a school board meeting?
Do you approve of the sign in sheet?
Are you affraid of getting on the "list" for speaking out?

Transportation Department uproar

2008-04-01T07:14:00.000-04:00

The transportation Department has been in upheaval since last fall when the district fired Glasser. Where does the suit stand? How do the transportation rank and file feel after six months of changes. How is the new transportation contract?

New teacher contract

2008-04-01T07:12:00.000-04:00

I hear there is a little concern with regard to the new teacher contract. Teachers are up in arms. Can this be confirmed? What are the details?

Welcome

2008-03-31T19:40:00.000-04:00

It became apparent to me that the people of the AP School district might have something to say. This is your forum, contribute your thoughts and take away knowledge.

What are your concerns? Any thoughts about the quality of the education that your kids are getting?

This time of year is budget season, what do you think?