Dear BOE Member,
You, the one sitting there quietly wondering. You know who you are. You think to yourself, "Wow 24-26 kids per class and if enrollment increases, even more kids per class, that sounds wrong." You wonder what would happen to special education services, maybe even calculate the cost a single law suit would be if a parent felt that her special need child was not served. You look at the cost savings analysis and think, "Well, how do we know we would fire a library aid or food service assistant if we consolidate? Maybe we would need them in a larger school. We don't seem to really know how much we would save by closing a school." You hear Rosario tell you that an empty building will not rent or sell and think, "That's bad. We can't have a building just sit and rot." You also hear Rosario say that BOCES would only be willing to rent space in a school with kids and wonder, "Why not ask them to rent the extra space in each of our three schools?" You see the principle, teachers, parents, community members all truly distraught at what could be the greatest mistake ever made in our district, and you think, "Can I live with that?"
Go with these thoughts BOE member. Know that we the public will applaud you if you have the courage to stand up to those who see a dollar amount, believe it and ignore the real impact on our district. We need you, BOE member, who knows in your heart that this feels wrong. We need you to speak for us. And when you do, you will be able to be proud of the role you played as our hero.
I look forward to shaking your hand.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tonight at the BOE
Tonight Breanna will present the BOE the "report" of the advisory committee. Breanna only gave it to the advisory committee to review today after 2:00 and it does not represent all of their views. She promised to give them time to review it and make comments but then failed to do this.
Was all of this hard work of the committee a farce? This is highly disconcerting. Please come tonight to the HS gym if you can and let them know this is WRONG WRONG WRONG.
Was all of this hard work of the committee a farce? This is highly disconcerting. Please come tonight to the HS gym if you can and let them know this is WRONG WRONG WRONG.
The History of the Rise in Administration
Below is the history of the rise in administration.
Three significant questions arise:
1. Do we need administrator at high salaries to replace the job of area/department Chairs? (This is what happened in 2002-2003.)
2. What is the explanation for those position that were once Coordinator or Director positions that got converted to administrative leading allowing nearly 2x the salary for the same job? (This is what happened to the MST Standard Chair from 2000-2003 and the Technology position in the past few years)
3. Why are some Director positions administrative and others not? (Director of Transportation is non-administrative @ just over 70k while the Athletics Director is administrative @ over 106k and the Technology Director is administrative @ over 131k).
Three significant questions arise:
1. Do we need administrator at high salaries to replace the job of area/department Chairs? (This is what happened in 2002-2003.)
2. What is the explanation for those position that were once Coordinator or Director positions that got converted to administrative leading allowing nearly 2x the salary for the same job? (This is what happened to the MST Standard Chair from 2000-2003 and the Technology position in the past few years)
3. Why are some Director positions administrative and others not? (Director of Transportation is non-administrative @ just over 70k while the Athletics Director is administrative @ over 106k and the Technology Director is administrative @ over 131k).
Prior to 2002 | 2002-2003 | 2010-2011 |
Superintendent of Schools | Superintendent of Schools | Superintendent of Schools |
Business Administrator | Assistant Superintendent Business | Business Administrator |
Assistant Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction | Assistant Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction | Assistant Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction |
Director of PPS | Director of PPS | Deputy Superintendent for PPS and Personnel |
Nurse Practitioner | Nurse Practitioner | Nurse Practitioner |
MST Standards Area Chair (non-administrative) | MST Standards Area Chair | Standards Area Chair Grades 5-12 |
Area chairs were all teachers not being paid as administrators. | Arts Standards Area Chair | Standards Area Chair for Health, PE, Home & Careers, Athletic Director |
English Language Arts/Social Studies Standards Area Chair | ||
CSE Chair/Case Manager 7-12 | CSE Chairperson Grades 7-12 | |
CSE Chair Special Education | CPSE/CSE Chairperson Grades K-6 | |
Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds | Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds | Director of Facilities and Operations |
Director of Technology – non admin civil service | Director of Technology | |
Admin positions: 6 Note: after 2000 our district starts declining in size. | It was felt for higher accountability an administrator should be hired instead. Pretty quickly the art and English administrator position were ended because of backlash that these were not needed Admin positions: 11 (then 2 shut down – 9 remained) | 2 were added – Athletic Director and Technology converted to an admin salary (nearly double) Admin positions: 11 |
Please Sign and Forward
If we want the BOE to insist that the District Administration to explore consolidation within the district we need to be loud and clear. Please take a moment now to sign and forward to ten people you know in the district.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/rvs_district_audit/
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/rvs_district_audit/
Monday, March 14, 2011
Energy Audit Could Save Millions?
Why hasn't our district had this FREE audit done?
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FRAMINGHAM, MA–– Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced that it has entered into an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with the New Paltz Central School District. Ameresco will provide energy efficiency upgrades to four New Paltz schools: New Paltz High School, New Paltz Middle School, Lenape Elementary School and Duzine Elementary School. The project is expected to save the district $258,461 annually, according to Ameresco.
“Environmental stewardship has always been top of mind in New Paltz so we are thrilled to bring these energy efficiency upgrades to the schools in our district,” said Maria C. Rice, superintendent of New Paltz Central School District. “This long-term partnership will save our district a tremendous amount of money that can be applied to other important items, such as school activities. Additionally, this work will serve as a valuable teaching tool to show our students, parents and staff about the importance of energy efficiency.”
Once approved by the New York State Education Department (SED), the $4 million project will provide energy efficiency upgrades to the four New Paltz schools and will require no upfront capital investment from the school district or taxpayers. Funded in part by the SED, New Paltz is also expected to save $6 million over the course of the 18-year project which will pay for the improvements.
Ameresco completed a thorough energy performance audit for energy consumption in order to better understand the facilities’ baseline energy and other utility consumption. Ameresco will design and install the upgrades, which include:
Lighting System Improvements
Lighting Controls
Building Management System
Premium Efficiency Motors
Computer Load Management
Infiltration Reduction
Boiler Re-piping, Boiler Controls
De-Stratification Fans
High Efficiency Transformers
Solar Hot Water Heater
Exterior Lighting
Classroom Unit Ventilators
Kitchen Upgrades including a new Walk-in Freezer
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the New Paltz Central School District, working with them to make these critical energy efficiency improvements that will help reduce energy use, lower their utility
expenditures and reduce their carbon footprint,” said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President, Ameresco. “An ESPC, such as this one, is a budget-neutral way to reduce energy use and associated costs while significantly upgrading facility infrastructure. We applaud New Paltz for being a leader in sustainability, and serving as a model for other school districts throughout New York State and the region.”
An ESPC is a budget-neutral way to reduce energy use and associated costs, and renew facilities and building systems without burdening shrinking capital budgets. Under this ESPC, Ameresco will pay all costs involved in identifying and installing the upgraded energy-efficiency equipment. The resulting cost savings will offset the costs of these improvements over 18 years. Ameresco will also provide savings verification.
About New Paltz
New Paltz is located 80 miles north of New York City on the western shore of the Hudson River, bordered to the west by the Catskill Mountains. New Paltz was originally settled in 1678 by a small but brave group of French-speaking Huguenot refugees from what is today southern Belgium and northern France.
About Ameresco, Inc.
Ameresco, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in April 2000 and is a leading independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America. Ameresco’s solutions include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure, and the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy plants. With corporate headquarters located in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has 55 offices in 29 states and four Canadian provinces. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.
Read more: New York House - Ameresco Contracts with New Paltz School District to Make Improvements Expected to Yield 250K in Annual Energy Savings
******************************************************************
Ameresco Contracts with New Paltz School District to Make Improvements Expected to Yield $250K in Annual Energy Savings
“Environmental stewardship has always been top of mind in New Paltz so we are thrilled to bring these energy efficiency upgrades to the schools in our district,” said Maria C. Rice, superintendent of New Paltz Central School District. “This long-term partnership will save our district a tremendous amount of money that can be applied to other important items, such as school activities. Additionally, this work will serve as a valuable teaching tool to show our students, parents and staff about the importance of energy efficiency.”
Once approved by the New York State Education Department (SED), the $4 million project will provide energy efficiency upgrades to the four New Paltz schools and will require no upfront capital investment from the school district or taxpayers. Funded in part by the SED, New Paltz is also expected to save $6 million over the course of the 18-year project which will pay for the improvements.
Ameresco completed a thorough energy performance audit for energy consumption in order to better understand the facilities’ baseline energy and other utility consumption. Ameresco will design and install the upgrades, which include:
Lighting System Improvements
Lighting Controls
Building Management System
Premium Efficiency Motors
Computer Load Management
Infiltration Reduction
Boiler Re-piping, Boiler Controls
De-Stratification Fans
High Efficiency Transformers
Solar Hot Water Heater
Exterior Lighting
Classroom Unit Ventilators
Kitchen Upgrades including a new Walk-in Freezer
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the New Paltz Central School District, working with them to make these critical energy efficiency improvements that will help reduce energy use, lower their utility
expenditures and reduce their carbon footprint,” said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President, Ameresco. “An ESPC, such as this one, is a budget-neutral way to reduce energy use and associated costs while significantly upgrading facility infrastructure. We applaud New Paltz for being a leader in sustainability, and serving as a model for other school districts throughout New York State and the region.”
An ESPC is a budget-neutral way to reduce energy use and associated costs, and renew facilities and building systems without burdening shrinking capital budgets. Under this ESPC, Ameresco will pay all costs involved in identifying and installing the upgraded energy-efficiency equipment. The resulting cost savings will offset the costs of these improvements over 18 years. Ameresco will also provide savings verification.
About New Paltz
New Paltz is located 80 miles north of New York City on the western shore of the Hudson River, bordered to the west by the Catskill Mountains. New Paltz was originally settled in 1678 by a small but brave group of French-speaking Huguenot refugees from what is today southern Belgium and northern France.
About Ameresco, Inc.
Ameresco, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in April 2000 and is a leading independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America. Ameresco’s solutions include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure, and the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy plants. With corporate headquarters located in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has 55 offices in 29 states and four Canadian provinces. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.
Read more: New York House - Ameresco Contracts with New Paltz School District to Make Improvements Expected to Yield 250K in Annual Energy Savings
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Time is Running Out!
If you pay taxes in Rondout then please help us push the Board of Education to insist that the district's administration office figure out how it can make cuts to reduce our budget (which it currently refuses to do). More detail is provided in the link below.
We are quickly running out of time so please do not put this off.
Please sign this petition and forward it to EVERYONE you know in the Rondout community. If you are a teacher or administrator of the school district and are concerned that signing this can put you at jeopardy please still forward this to those you know who can sign it. If I sent this to you and you are not in Rondout, give me a hand and forward it to you Rondout friends and family.
Thanks. Eve
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/rvs_district_audit/
We are quickly running out of time so please do not put this off.
Please sign this petition and forward it to EVERYONE you know in the Rondout community. If you are a teacher or administrator of the school district and are concerned that signing this can put you at jeopardy please still forward this to those you know who can sign it. If I sent this to you and you are not in Rondout, give me a hand and forward it to you Rondout friends and family.
Thanks. Eve
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/rvs_district_audit/
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Do We REALLY Need ALL of these Administrators?
We asked Rosario on numerous occasions about consolidation in the district office but we were ignored. We asked him for a personnel audit but he said, "To do that would be admitting that cuts can be made" (paraphrased). He said all of our administrators were needed because of the 150 un-funded mandates. So I did the audit myself. I did not focus on the funding just on which jobs needed someone in the administrative office and how much time they would need to give it. Is this completely accurate? I don't know, I am only making educated guesses. I figure if Rosario sees a problem with this he will give me a revision. Otherwise I can only assume he agrees (trust me, he reads or has someone reading this blog).
Here is my summary of how many mandates fall under specific administrators and how much time is needed:
Pupil Services (PPS): 21 mandates: all requiring minimal time, 5 are plans that must be written once and are done.
Business: 12 mandates: 11 requiring minimal time, 1 requiring moderate time, 1 is a one time plan
Curriculum: 13 mandates: all requiring minimal time
Superintendent: 1: requiring minimal time
Facilities: 15 mandate: 9 requiring minimal time, 6 are one time or every 3-5 years
Special Ed: 17 mandates: 4 requiring one time
Technology: 3 mandates: all requiring minimal time, 1 requiring one time plan
Note: transportation is not an administrative position
Given the mandates above and other admin tasks it seems we need:
1. Superintendent (although I am not sure we do need this position at least based on mandates)
2. Deputy Superintendent - who oversees PPS, Curriculum & technology
3. Business Director
4. Special Ed k-6
5. Special Ed 7-12
6. Facilities
Hey, isn't this essentially what we HAD in 2000 before Eileen Camasso with the BOE's permission decided to massively expand the district's administration in her only 4 years as Superintendent?
Rosario, PLEASE correct me where I am wrong. I look forward to knowing the truth.
Here is my summary of how many mandates fall under specific administrators and how much time is needed:
Pupil Services (PPS): 21 mandates: all requiring minimal time, 5 are plans that must be written once and are done.
Business: 12 mandates: 11 requiring minimal time, 1 requiring moderate time, 1 is a one time plan
Curriculum: 13 mandates: all requiring minimal time
Superintendent: 1: requiring minimal time
Facilities: 15 mandate: 9 requiring minimal time, 6 are one time or every 3-5 years
Special Ed: 17 mandates: 4 requiring one time
Technology: 3 mandates: all requiring minimal time, 1 requiring one time plan
Note: transportation is not an administrative position
Given the mandates above and other admin tasks it seems we need:
1. Superintendent (although I am not sure we do need this position at least based on mandates)
2. Deputy Superintendent - who oversees PPS, Curriculum & technology
3. Business Director
4. Special Ed k-6
5. Special Ed 7-12
6. Facilities
Hey, isn't this essentially what we HAD in 2000 before Eileen Camasso with the BOE's permission decided to massively expand the district's administration in her only 4 years as Superintendent?
Rosario, PLEASE correct me where I am wrong. I look forward to knowing the truth.
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