Tonight's BOE Meeting

There is a BOE meeting tonight at the district office at 7:00.

Last week the reconfiguration group voted to remove the district office and the high school from consideration of potential buildings to close.

There are three significant concerns with this rapid approach that potentially can be presented at the meeting tonight if you are so moved:

1. Until we have a full assessment of the number of students, the number of teaching classrooms and the maximum size for each class that we find acceptable, we have no way of knowing whether we can close an entire building. 


WHY THIS IS A CONCERN: This is a backwards approach that is forcing us into a corner. It is unclear why the true number of classrooms needed is not the first item for consideration.

2. The decision to exclude the district office was based on a cost/savings comparison where we were told that the cost would be too high and the savings too low.

WHY THIS IS A CONCERN: a) As with last year the specifics about these costs and savings were neither provided to the public or necessarily verified. Are they accurate? b) This cost/savings was done in a vacuum - in other words this comparison was not placed against the real cost/savings of every other building to determine that it a least reasonable option. c) While we can't know who might buy or rent a building shouldn't potential saleability/potential rentablity be included as a consideration?

3. The decision to exclude the high school was based on a qualitative understanding that given the extensive and expensive renovations recently done and the individuality of many classroom, it would simply be unacceptable and unfeasible to close this building.

WHY THIS IS A CONCERN: Personally, I think applying this consideration that is less based on a specific cost/savings analysis but more based on the broader impact and the uniqueness of the building is important. However, this same criteria should be applied for every other building as well and if a cost/saving is applied to other buildings it should be applied to the high school.

In other words there needs to be a consistent standardized way to look at each building. It appears that the committee is selecting data to support predetermined decisions rather than using data to guide decisions.

This is not o.k. and you should feel free to let them know.

Next Reconfiguration Meeting

The BOE voted in favor of reducing the capacity utilized by our district from six building to five. The next decision being made QUICKLY is which building should be eliminated.

The BOE will make this decision primarily on fit and costs.

Your job is to reinforce that this decision is about more than fit.


What are the implications if:

1. A neighborhood school closed? How does this impact the neighborhood, the kids, the teachers?
2. The kindergartens were moved out of each building?
3. The 5th graders moved to the elementary buildings?
4. The 8th graders moved to the High School?

We need to hear your wisdom on this now as these decisions will be made with or without you.

Next budget meeting is Tuesday 10/18 at 4:00
Next reconfiguration meeting is Tuesday 10/18 at 5:30

Both back to back in the district office.

Its That Time Again - Consolidation Talks 2011

A new consolidation sub-committee has been formed. I am only aware of two members - Brianna Costello and David O'Halloran. This seems to be a BOE subcommittee which suggests that perhaps only BOE members will serve. It may or may not have public comment.

BUT PEOPLE SHOULD STILL ATTEND!!

Being there shows that we care and are watching.
If no public comment is possible, we can bring the comments to the full BOE

The FIRST meeting is coming up and is especially important to attend.

Meeting will be on opposite on the Tuesdays opposite BOE meetings. I forgot what time they said but one parent informed me that she understood it would be from 5:30-7:00. If this is different I will post ASAP. It is also planned for now at the District Office. I hope enough people come that they realize they need to move it to a bigger venue.

FIRST MEETING: Oct. 4
Tentative next meetings: 10/18, 11/1, 11/15, 11/29

Do not worry about speaking. Being there shows you care. If they decide this in an empty room, they will assume we do not care.

Help Protect Next Years Budget Now

Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders are preparing to pass the most devastating tax cap in the nation, one that would permanently harm schools, SUNY community colleges and public services in New York State. It would let a minority of voters — just one vote over 40 percent — reject school budgets in a breath-taking subversion of democracy.   The bill, A- 7916 Silver, would starve our schools and community colleges, cause massive program closures and layoffs, widen the achievement gap and deprive students of a sound basic education as required under our state constitution. If you thought budget cuts were bad, this bill would cause far more permanent devastation, without doing a thing to provide tax relief to those most in need.

The very future of public education is at stake. Please call the AFL-CIO hotline at 1-877-255-9417 to speak with your Senator, Assembly member and Governor Cuomo's office. Tell them we will hold all officeholders accountable should this measure become law.  For our statement on the tax cap bill:

http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/mediareleases_16629.htm

Budget Passed!

BUDGET PASSES

Yes Votes – 1425
No  Votes – 1058

James Ayers – 1286
Kent Anderson – 1290
Peri Rainbow – 828
James Blair – 1255
Pamela Longley - 1108

Please VOTE Yes Today

And vote for Ayers, Anderson & Rainbow

We are coming down to the line

Please, please, please, do anything you can to get informed and get others informed and ready to vote on May 17th at the district office (located behind the high school).


Last year 2753 people voted. There were 1246 "Yes" votes and 1507 "No" - NOT GOOD.

Rondout school district has over 2000 kids meaning 2000-4000 potential parents, guardians, grandparents, babysitters. In other words we should have no problem passing this budget if people come out and vote.

Please call your friends and tell them to vote YES to the budget and to NOT vote for Blair. Do it today, tomorrow, Monday & Tuesday.

If you have ANY questions about any of this PLEASE email me at walterme@newpaltz.edu and I will do my best to answer as soon as possible.