First, I would like to thank all of the community members, teachers and staff who have been so engaged in this budget process this year. While the proposed budget may not be exactly what I would have done, I think the board did a commendable job.
I will vote in favor and will share why as we get closer.
Fell free to let me know your thought and questions.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Areas for reduction
I wrote this to the BOE and Rosario based on last night's meeting. I will share it here.
Some areas that seems to be prime for reduction based on my conversations with teachers, administrators, residents and my own perspective:
1. Summer School - A H.S. teacher wrote to me: "I see no need for night school at the high school. This is a big expense ($75,000) that serves very few students. Summer school only costs $35,000, but I believe this could be cut, too. Besides, those students in need of summer school are allowed to take summer school classes in other districts."
2. Technology - There are a few items on the technology budget that those who viewed it from the audience questioned such as a conference increase of over 7,500. Overall, when there are cuts everywhere, the technology budget is about 140k higher for next year than it was and less than half of this is due to salary increases.
3. Home-teaching/ Out of School Suspension: This OSS costs our district about 75k. There is a great deal of research showing that OSS does not deter future problems and can exacerbate them by creating a greater detachment from the school environment. In-school suspension provides an alternative but there are other methods found to be more effective. There are also alternatives to suspensions that are considered far more helpful to the child and the school.
4. Substitutes: Last there was talk last night of substitutes. While the need for substitutes for instructional staff was addressed, the point of whether non-instructional staff substitutes might not be able to be reduced seemed to be missing.
5. Assistant Principal: It was suggested a number of time that the enrollment bubble will be floating away with the graduation of this year's seniors. Even with the current enrollment in the HS it has been questioned by many why 3 administrators are needed when no other district in the county operates this way. If n fact the HS enrollment will be even smaller next year, it seems even more relevant to consider whether the HS needs 2 Assistant Principals.
All together the items above, even if some were reduced rather than fully cut could provide close to 400k in savings which far surpasses the 220k needed to add the TA and AIS Math positions.
Some areas that seems to be prime for reduction based on my conversations with teachers, administrators, residents and my own perspective:
1. Summer School - A H.S. teacher wrote to me: "I see no need for night school at the high school. This is a big expense ($75,000) that serves very few students. Summer school only costs $35,000, but I believe this could be cut, too. Besides, those students in need of summer school are allowed to take summer school classes in other districts."
2. Technology - There are a few items on the technology budget that those who viewed it from the audience questioned such as a conference increase of over 7,500. Overall, when there are cuts everywhere, the technology budget is about 140k higher for next year than it was and less than half of this is due to salary increases.
3. Home-teaching/ Out of School Suspension: This OSS costs our district about 75k. There is a great deal of research showing that OSS does not deter future problems and can exacerbate them by creating a greater detachment from the school environment. In-school suspension provides an alternative but there are other methods found to be more effective. There are also alternatives to suspensions that are considered far more helpful to the child and the school.
4. Substitutes: Last there was talk last night of substitutes. While the need for substitutes for instructional staff was addressed, the point of whether non-instructional staff substitutes might not be able to be reduced seemed to be missing.
5. Assistant Principal: It was suggested a number of time that the enrollment bubble will be floating away with the graduation of this year's seniors. Even with the current enrollment in the HS it has been questioned by many why 3 administrators are needed when no other district in the county operates this way. If n fact the HS enrollment will be even smaller next year, it seems even more relevant to consider whether the HS needs 2 Assistant Principals.
All together the items above, even if some were reduced rather than fully cut could provide close to 400k in savings which far surpasses the 220k needed to add the TA and AIS Math positions.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Last Night's Meeting
Key items discussed:
1. Class sizes needed to stay low (under 24)
2. Language needs to stay in elementary schools.
3. French should be taught by French teachers.
4. Technology needs to make more cuts
Not discussed:
1. Concessions in the administration
1. Class sizes needed to stay low (under 24)
2. Language needs to stay in elementary schools.
3. French should be taught by French teachers.
4. Technology needs to make more cuts
Not discussed:
1. Concessions in the administration
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Foreign Language - from Diana Zuckerman
Dear Concerned Parents and Community Members,
I am writing to request that you contact the Rondout Valley Board of Education Members concerning the proposals to reduce and possibly eliminate the *K-4 Elementary Foreign Language Program* which reaches
approximately 800 students and to also reduce the *Middle School French Program*, which could as a result phase out the High School French Program in the future. Please urge the Board (BOE) to continue to support these critical programs for Rondout’s students. Beginning language in 6th grade will be too late for many of our students and not having a language choice is also detrimental. The BOE has been very supportive in the past and community input has made a difference. Go to www.rondout.k12.ny.us and click on Board of Ed and then “Send a comment to the Board.” Even if you have written in the past, please write again. There is also a BOE Budget meeting on *Tuesday, April 5th at 7:00pm* at Marbletown Elementary School in the gym where you can come and make a public comment at the beginning of the meeting.
Please see the attachment and click on the links below for information on the benefits of foreign language learning, which include cognitive and academic benefits, social and communicative benefits, as well as cultural
and global competency necessary in the 21st century.
Fairfax Flags – Virginia Parents Website for Foreign Language Advocacy for Grade Schools (Foreign Language Benefits):
http://www.fairfaxflags.org/2009/11/benefits-of-early-foreign-language_09.html
Asia Society & Speaking in Tongues: Brain Research:
http://asiasociety.org/education-learning/world-languages/-american-schools/your-brain-languages
Asia Society article on language learning:
http://asiasociety.org/education-learning/world-languages/-american-schools/national-imperative-language-learning
University of Oregon *Changing Brains* video on language & second language
learning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMOHtSkSPfA&feature=player_embedded
Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) Board of Trustees Position Statement on Foreign Language Learning:
http://www.cal.org/about/foreign-language-survey.html They state, “Our nation’s capacity to maintain national security, promote international cooperation, compete effectively in a global economy, and enhance our domestic well-being depends on our ability to communicate in other languages and across cultures. It is time to heed the calls for action by countless organizations, business leaders, government agencies, and individuals to acknowledge the well-documented individual and societal benefits of foreign language learning and to incorporate foreign languages into the core curriculum at every level of education and in every community across the nation.”
Please let me know if you would like any additional information or if you have any comments or questions. Please encourage other supportive community members to send comments to the BOE as well. Thank you for your vocal support.
Best wishes,
Diana
Diana Zuckerman
dianazuck@yahoo.com
Spanish FLEX K-4 & 9, Rondout Valley CSD, Accord NY NYS Representative, National Network for Early Language Learning www.nnell.org
Board of Directors, NYS Association of Foreign Language Teachers www.nysaflt.org
President, Association of Language Teachers of Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Surrounding Counties (ALOUD)
I am writing to request that you contact the Rondout Valley Board of Education Members concerning the proposals to reduce and possibly eliminate the *K-4 Elementary Foreign Language Program* which reaches
approximately 800 students and to also reduce the *Middle School French Program*, which could as a result phase out the High School French Program in the future. Please urge the Board (BOE) to continue to support these critical programs for Rondout’s students. Beginning language in 6th grade will be too late for many of our students and not having a language choice is also detrimental. The BOE has been very supportive in the past and community input has made a difference. Go to www.rondout.k12.ny.us and click on Board of Ed and then “Send a comment to the Board.” Even if you have written in the past, please write again. There is also a BOE Budget meeting on *Tuesday, April 5th at 7:00pm* at Marbletown Elementary School in the gym where you can come and make a public comment at the beginning of the meeting.
Please see the attachment and click on the links below for information on the benefits of foreign language learning, which include cognitive and academic benefits, social and communicative benefits, as well as cultural
and global competency necessary in the 21st century.
Fairfax Flags – Virginia Parents Website for Foreign Language Advocacy for Grade Schools (Foreign Language Benefits):
http://www.fairfaxflags.org/2009/11/benefits-of-early-foreign-language_09.html
Asia Society & Speaking in Tongues: Brain Research:
http://asiasociety.org/education-learning/world-languages/-american-schools/your-brain-languages
Asia Society article on language learning:
http://asiasociety.org/education-learning/world-languages/-american-schools/national-imperative-language-learning
University of Oregon *Changing Brains* video on language & second language
learning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMOHtSkSPfA&feature=player_embedded
Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) Board of Trustees Position Statement on Foreign Language Learning:
http://www.cal.org/about/foreign-language-survey.html They state, “Our nation’s capacity to maintain national security, promote international cooperation, compete effectively in a global economy, and enhance our domestic well-being depends on our ability to communicate in other languages and across cultures. It is time to heed the calls for action by countless organizations, business leaders, government agencies, and individuals to acknowledge the well-documented individual and societal benefits of foreign language learning and to incorporate foreign languages into the core curriculum at every level of education and in every community across the nation.”
Please let me know if you would like any additional information or if you have any comments or questions. Please encourage other supportive community members to send comments to the BOE as well. Thank you for your vocal support.
Best wishes,
Diana
Diana Zuckerman
dianazuck@yahoo.com
Spanish FLEX K-4 & 9, Rondout Valley CSD, Accord NY NYS Representative, National Network for Early Language Learning www.nnell.org
Board of Directors, NYS Association of Foreign Language Teachers www.nysaflt.org
President, Association of Language Teachers of Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Surrounding Counties (ALOUD)
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