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Noelle Dunlop May 10, 2013 at 02:56 am
To answer Thomas Lynch's questions I would like to state that yes, I am fiscally conservative and my…Read More major budget related goal will be to reduce non-instructional overhead costs so more money can be allocated to the programs that directly benefit our students. I have asked the current board for a complete list of cuts to courses, field trips and extracurriculars in previous budget cycles and I hope to work with my fellow board members next year to use savings from other areas of the budget to bring back the programs that give us the most bang for our buck and help our graduating students be competitive in the college and job market. We need to carve a bigger piece of the budgetary pie for the kids.
ARCH STANTON April 24, 2013 at 05:54 pm
TOM, ACCORDING TO YESTERDAY'S NEWSDAY ROCKY PONT WAS LISTED AMONG THE DISTRICTS THAT HAD PURCHASED…Read More THE BOLD SYSTEMS SOFTWARE LAST YEAR. AS OF TODAY, SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS ARE IN DAMAGE CONTROL MODE, STATING THAT THE SOFTWARE WAS PURCHASED, "AS AN UPGRADE TO MODERNIZE THE VOTING PROCESS AND NOT TO GET MORE "YES" VOTES ON SCHOOL BUDGETS." WHY THE SUDDEN NEED TO DEFEND THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE NOW? ISN'T IT BAD ENOUGH THAT THE DISTRICTS ARE WASTING OUR MONEY, WITHOUT HAVING THE ADDED INSULT OF HAVING OUR PRIVACY INVADED BY WATCHING HOW AND WHEN WE VOTE.
Tom April 24, 2013 at 02:00 pm
Mary - I certainly agree with you that public servants need to respond to questions and concerns…Read More from the community and if they can't or won't follow their own procedures, then they're not doing their jobs. ARCH -- My point about leaving Long Island if you don't like the high tax level was only meant to reflect the reality that taxes EVERYWHERE on Long Island are high. When I tell friends in other parts of the country; even other parts of the Northeast, what the tax burden on my Smithtown house was, they are incredulous. So, my point was that you aren't going to simply escape high taxes. Residents of Long Island have let tax rates get out of hand for decades, and of course, part of it is the sheer cost of living on an island. I don't know enough about how Bold Systems software was actually used, if it was, in Rocky Point, to comment on that. But frankly, Arch, you should be more concerned about the fact that classroom size is getting larger, special ed resources are constrained to the bursting point, with mainstreaming totally out of hand in some classrooms, and with the fact that some of these kids are getting phys ed credit for doing calisthenics standing at their desksides. You might also be concerned with the fact that all the new standards and testing programs have virtually eliminated any time for actual teaching or learning. And remember, it doesn't matter what our teachers manage to get through to these kids between 8 and 3 if it isn't reinforced at home between 3 and 8 the next morning. Kids today are arriving at OUR schools unwashed, unfed and uncared for. That doesn't say much about the community's expectations or concerns about the education and welfare of our kids.
ARCH STANTON April 24, 2013 at 01:35 pm
HEY TOM, MY POINT IS THAT PEOPLE WHO GREW UP ON LONG ISLAND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE OF…Read More EXORBITANT SCHOOL TAX RATE INCREASES. AN EXAMPLE OF WASTED FUNDS IS THE PRESENT CONTROVERSY CONCERNING BOLD SYSTMES SOFTWARE, CAPABLE OF TRACKING VOTERS, ALLOWING DISTRICTS TO INFLUENCE SPECIFIC VOTING BLOC'S, AT A COST OF $6,300. THE LEGALITY OF THIS SOFTWARE IS NOW IN QUESTION, ALTHOUGH DISTRICTS ARE NOW DENYING THAT THEY USED IT INAPPROPRIATELY DURING THE BUDGET VOTING PROCESS. IT WAS CLEARLY PURCHASED FOR VOTER TRACKING.
Captain Howard Hawrey April 20, 2013 at 12:36 pm
John Doh: Though your points are well taken and we don't disagree about much our district did do…Read More well in the survey. We are in the top 5 of Suffolk County (if I looked at it correctly). I'm just as angry as you regarding the overall situation of our school district. This ranking is very specific in nature. We should however give credit where credit is due.
Captain Howard Hawrey April 19, 2013 at 04:29 pm
Take a look at the numbers from the #1 school in NY State:…Read More http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2013/list/new-york-schools/city-honors-buffalo-ny/ WOW!
ARCH STANTON April 24, 2013 at 07:32 pm
I SEE THAT MT. SINAI ALSO WASTED $6,300.00 OF TAXPAYERS MONEY ON THE BOLD SYSTEMS SOFTWARE, TO…Read More TARGET SPECIFIC CATEGORIES OF VOTERS AND ENCOURAGE A 'YES' VOTE ON SCHOOL BUDGETS, ACCORDING TO NEWSDAY YESTERDAY.
Angela April 18, 2013 at 07:35 am
I wouldn't have a problem voting 'yes', if MP would get rid of a couple of Superintendents!! Have…Read More you seen their SALARIES and BENEFIT PACKAGE COSTS?? WOW! Why do we need 3 for only 4 schools, 3 of which are on the SAME property??? and then they take programs away from our kids because 'they' can't afford them?? wth?? I just don't get it.
pam April 12, 2013 at 03:13 pm
Actually it's worse than that. This is about corporate reform of public education - that involves…Read More making money. It's also about Race to the Top $ that won't even be distributed to many of our local school districts due to the distribution rules. My district has confirmed that we will get NO RTTT money or a few thousand dollars. Yet, the costs to comply are in the Hundreds of Thousands of dollars! How is that not waste of public tax money? There isn't one credible, universally accepted study showing that the test results show our kids are learning or that teachers are teaching. These tests are being used to collect data to be sold to other companies. At this time, corporations already contract with the state DOE and are collecting our children's PRIVATE information. There is a bill in the Assembly 06059 and Senate 04284 to curb the practice but there are no guarantees to protect our kids' information.
As far as i am concerned opting-out is not wimping out. It is a necessary option to protect our kids from continuing to be used in a this despicable plan to "reform" education. The Commissioner of our Education Department should be removed from office and the Governnor needs to seriously change direction before further damage is done to us financially and to our kids educationally.
Brian April 12, 2013 at 05:00 am
@Tracey, there is a lot more going on than I think you are aware of. A lot. I mean that with all due…Read More respect and state that because yes, your child can opt-out of the ACT or SAT. In fact, over 800 colleges have recently stated they will no longer be using the tests for admission. The example we are setting my "refusing" these state mandated tests is that we care about the education our children are receiving. We care so much, that we know that not only is Common Core flawed, but the testing developed around it is flawed, as is APPR. Among other things. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/28/sat-act-not-required-colleges_n_2206391.html
Marianne Carrano Deszcz April 11, 2013 at 10:17 pm
Unlike the SAT's etc, these tests are not written to demonstrate what the children have been…Read More learning. They are, as evidenced by the sample tests sent home to parents all over Suffolk County, poorly written, vague and inappropriate in the view of developmental and cognitive child psychologists. The test this year for 3rd graders was written at a 6th grade level. "Failing" is anywhere from an 80 to 87. And for what? It certainly isn't a measure of how good a teacher is and it in no way illustrates what students have learned. Sooooo what's the point?
John Doh April 12, 2013 at 01:34 pm
How about SCPD go undercover & bust all the kids dealing various illegal & prescription…Read More drugs ? It's infiltrated NCRS as well as the miller place high school
Drugs are so prevalent it's insane . A speech is nice but how about some actual law enforcement & the random occasional drug sniffing dog which would probably scare over half of the jr. thugs dealing & using this stuff as well as their derelict parents
Janene Gentile April 11, 2013 at 07:43 pm
Thank you Miller Place so much for having this much needed presentation for our Miller Place…Read More Community youth. Please ,do come on April 22 at 11 am to our North Shore Community Forum at our sight at NSYC. the Suffolk County Task Force will
be available to answer questions concerning substance abuse along with local parents speaking about the signs of abuse . Please spread the work
NSYC.com 744-0207
MP Majority April 8, 2013 at 02:57 pm
Agreed, John Doh. To make matters worse, some of the posters above (and you know who you are) don't…Read More even reside in Miller Place any more.....talk about the ultimate hypocrisy. There are many factors as to why people move, but the single biggest reason is typically that taxes are way too high.
John Doh April 8, 2013 at 02:27 pm
Agree 100% the constant droning about revealing names is tiresome & you wonder if there is some…Read More other hidden agenda at play here. For instance I'll play the bad guy against the budget & see if I can expose the negative posters. Keep fighting the good fight MP M.
John Doh April 8, 2013 at 02:17 pm
Who ever wants to post with their names you're entitled but to dismiss anonymous posts as somehow…Read More less valid is ignorant. Besides the aforementioned potential retaliation towards students there are also professional , personal & social reasons to remain anonymous. IMHO the TOTAL TRUTH comes out when you can post with no fear of reprisals . Keep in mind all you need is some off kilter demented , laid off , terminated school employee to wig out & cyber stalk or worse. Quite frankly I could care less who uses their names , the posts are either worthy or garbage & there is very little chance I'd be breaking bread with some stranger because they prefaces a post with his or her ID. If anything I prefer not to know. Less pompous that way. There you have it , the other side of the coin.
RPmom1995 April 4, 2013 at 10:41 am
Sports are what schools use as leverage. If a schools team is really good they get recognition.…Read More Tke ports out and focus on EDUCATION (gasp)!!!! That's what we are paying for. I want me children educated! I pay to have them play sports out of the district. Stop being bullied people. There is only a small number of children playing sports. Teachers get bonuses to coach! Many coaches ont have training in coaching or the sport they are coaching. They treat the kids badly, forcing them to do RIDICULOUS try outs ( borderline inhumane) just to see if they are committed. Sports are for recreation! If you NEED a scholarship based on sports, then maybe you need to value the education you are paying for. Sports won't get most people through life
ARCH STANTON April 3, 2013 at 10:01 pm
I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU. WHEN MY SON PLAYED BASEBALL IN JR. HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL FOR MT. SINAI,…Read More THEY WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR COACHES. SINCE I HAD MANAGED TEAMS FOR TERRYVILLE AND NORTH SHORE LITTLE LEAGUES OVER THE YEARS, I VOLUNTEERED MY SERVICES FOR FREE, SINCE I WAS SEMI-RETIRED. I WAS TURNED DOWN AND THE COACHING POSITIONS WERE GIVEN TO TEACHERS THAT HAD NO BASEBALL EXPERIENCE. THEY RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $7,000.00 FOR COACHING.
Tom April 3, 2013 at 11:58 am
I agree with Justin. It's about time we stood up to these clowns. Enough is Enough. Sports programs…Read More should be pay as you go by the parents if they want their kids to play sports that they will never play when school is over. Why should the rest of us pay for it? I would like to see teachers and other personnel take REAL cuts and pay some of the medical we supply them just like the rest of us working slobs.(as you all call us).
Justin Time March 29, 2013 at 12:20 pm
I think funds are based on the actual turnout of quality students. Must be alot of students that…Read More are failing, but pushed to the next grade anyway.
terri kneitel March 28, 2013 at 08:05 pm
Why is state aid to SWR only about half of what the other local school districts receive?
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