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Post by hightax on May 23, 2008 9:03:10 GMT -5
The Board of Education will never ask the Administration and Teacher Union for help. Many members of the BOE have a very friendly relationship with both. I would be like getting rid of of a friend that works for you.
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Post by makeitright on May 23, 2008 9:28:13 GMT -5
Maybe that's the problem -- too many friends.
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Post by lilly on May 23, 2008 9:48:37 GMT -5
Does anyone know if our politicians, like Denenberg and Fuschillo were invited to Tuesday's meetings? It would make sense since Wantagh was the only defeated budget in Nassau for them to see and understand firsthand the situation here.
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Post by ProudWP on May 28, 2008 12:35:37 GMT -5
(Sorry for duplication of this message to those who have already received it.)
Dear Concerned Wantagh Citizens,
For what it's worth... I read all 7 pages of posts on the Wantagh Schools Message Board following the budget vote, and this is the reason I think so many people opted -- yes, chose -- not to vote:
Because many of us -- particularly those of us who are struggling financially in these difficult economic times -- were given an impossible (Sophie's) choice, in which we were were forced to choose between:
OUR KIDS [vote "yes" because our children don't get a second chance to experience middle and high school]
AND
WHAT WE FEEL IS RIGHT [vote "no" because the Administration's plan 1) offers our children less, 2) asks us for more (can you get blood from a stone?), and 3) doesn't seem to include any belt-tightening on the part of teachers or administrators].
So, what did we do? We left it up to those who could make the choice -- those for whom the extra $250 is just a drop in the bucket (vote "yes" and buy another SUV) and those for whom the extra $250 means putting the thermostat down to 55 degrees next winter (vote "no" and hope the weather stays mild).
The question is, what will those who couldn't make the choice the first time around do on June 17th? I think they'll vote "YES" because, when "push comes to shove" -- which it apparently has -- the importance of their children's experience will trump (forgive the choice of words) the importance of the larger issue, which is to once-and-for-all put an end to this budget madness, and take steps to fix a system that is clearly neither just nor sustainable.
I make no plea to my fellow Wantagh citizens to vote in a particular way. What I will ask, however, is that the members of the BOE, the Administration, and the BAC work together to develop a budget process in which the needs of the children and the needs of the community at large are not mutually exclusive. Don't ask us to make another impossible choice, putting us between the proverbial "rock and a hard place" ...because we'll make it, but whatever our choice is, it won't bode well for our future or the future of our children in Wantagh.
Signed,
Sophie Proud (and Optimistic) Wantagh Parent
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Post by ProudWP on May 28, 2008 22:45:40 GMT -5
I just wanted to apologize for using "Sophie's Choice" as an analogy for the choice that had to be made when voting on the budget. It was completely inappropriate for me to compare the two -- as would be obvious to anyone who knows the story, the two types of choices have absolutely nothing in common, and I regret not having used better judgment.
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Post by lilly on May 29, 2008 10:35:44 GMT -5
ProudWP - great letter.
(The potentially politically incorrect reference to Sophie's Choice escaped me because I haven't seen it but I agree with your letter.)
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Post by lilly on Jun 19, 2008 8:39:14 GMT -5
Supposedly yesterday, there was a meeting of the kids in between finals at the high school to discuss the implications and fund raising for next year.
Does anyone know the outcome? Getting info. out of my own kids is like pulling teeth sometimes.
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Post by wantaghinmyheart on Jun 19, 2008 21:11:28 GMT -5
I am PROUD of our kids who meet yesturday and are on Facebook Brainstorming to see how they can HELP. We have some on going Fundraising Projects in this town through our 6-12 Assoc. and PTA'S. If everyone would participate just a LITTLE we could see so much SUCCESS. Each of our Schools are enrolled in the BOXTOPS 4 EDUCATION Program and each school could be eligable for up to $20.000.00 a year this is a great way for everyone to HELP AT NO COST TO YOU just log on to WWW.BOXTOPS4EDUCATION.com See how everyone of us has FREE MONEY in our closets that may help the cause.
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Post by wantaghmom1 on Jun 22, 2008 15:12:49 GMT -5
Has anyone contacted Plainedge to try and brainstorm with the parent/student groups and see how they planned and carried out their fundraising two years ago. As we know, they were very, very successful with their efforts. I am sure alot of tips and information can be gleaned from our "neighbors."
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Post by backintheday on Jun 22, 2008 23:03:53 GMT -5
We should not have to fund raise at all if our BOE makes the right choices. The cuts have to come from admin and staffing. I think it would be less painful to excise 10-15 staff than hurt 3700 plus kids. Pretty simple to me!! The vibes I am getting now is that the BOE would rather punish the community and hurt our kids. I hope I am wrong on this. Chairpeople by their contract can instruct from 1-4 periods per day as needed by the district, we need it!! Right now we have some chairpeople that don't instruct at all. This does not make any sense at all for two reasons.1) if they have earned the position as chair that would mean they are the best,so why take the best away from instructing our kids? 2) if they would instruct the 4 periods, which is allowed by contract we could reduce staff and save $$$ . This is only one area where we could cut cost and not hurt our kids. Lets see what our BOE comes up with. Lets hope and pray that they will finally start making the tough decisions and REALLY PUT THE KIDS FIRST!!!!
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Post by taxed2death on Jun 23, 2008 9:05:06 GMT -5
backintheday: I don't disagree with you that they should have made admin cuts and demonstrated that the kids really do come first. Unfortunately most of the cuts were announced at the PTA meeting (see earlier thread) and they ALL effect the kids, so rather than waiting for the official announcement on Thurs, fundraising quickly and agressively is the only way we will meet our Aug 1st deadline for fall sports. Still not sure of other deadlines to save other cuts.
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Post by backintheday on Jun 23, 2008 13:17:37 GMT -5
taxed2death--- The cuts annouced to the PTAs are they finalized or are they still up for discussion? Shouldn't there be some forum where the community could provide some input?This is the problem with our BOE,they don't listen to the community. I don't think the PTAs represent the entire community.there is plenty of people in this community with financial backgrounds that would love to share their knowledge. Maybe our BOE should tap some of our in-house resources. Thanks for update.
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Post by dotherightthing1 on Jun 23, 2008 13:52:31 GMT -5
backintheday, I agree, the admin. and BOE tend to talk to the PTA's , at the expense of the rest of Wantagh. Why do the PTA's know important info. ahead of everyone else? The BOE and admin feel that the PTA's vote for the budget, thus they feel no need to make their case to anyone else, especially those with business/finance knowledge. The cuts announced have not been finalized, let's hope the BOE looks to make cuts in administration.
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Post by taxed2death on Jun 23, 2008 14:08:52 GMT -5
I didn't get the sense that there had been any discussion with the PTA or any community members. The entire PTA and everyone at the meeting was clearly disheartened by these decisions and although some questions came up about other admin cuts instead, they only knew what they were told. My understnding is that the PTA was just notified of the status of the cuts to announce at the meeting, no weighing in.
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Post by dotherightthing1 on Jun 23, 2008 14:25:07 GMT -5
taxed2death, The point I was trying to make is that Dr. B gives info out to the PTA before it is even final- WHY? Why does the PTA get this info. first? Cuts are inevitable and people we know will be out of work. This happens every day in the business world, it stinks but we continue on and do not get disheartened. Those that survive are forced to take on additional responsibility with no compensation. The earlier post by backintheday is spot on, why don't we eliminate some teaching positions and fill them with dept. heads who rarely, if at all, teach classes. We need to get more bang for our dollar and not negatively affect our kids. I know it is not a popular viewpoint, but it is reality.
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