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Post by thewildrover on Apr 3, 2007 14:00:13 GMT -5
From this weeks Massapequas Post:
New enrichment program in P'edge set for okay by Kelly Walter
The Plainedge School Board is expected to approve a plan to accelerate its K-5 enrichment program following input from residents at its March 7th meeting who said the district was not doing enough to address the needs of its gifted and talented students. The discussion took place at a budget meeting and as the school board struggled to strike a balance between programs and costs for the coming school year.
The district originally proposed a five-year schoolwide enrichment program that would have afforded all students in the 5th grade the opportunity next year to complete advanced projects without identifying any gifted and talented students until the 2008- 09 school year. The new proposal would accelerate the program to provide a program for advanced students in the first year, with the addition of teachers certified to work with gifted and talented students. Each year, with board approval, the program can expand to other grade levels, providing even more students with these opportunities.
The enrichment program, unlike a traditional gifted and talented program, focuses on all students, not just those who have been identified as gifted and talented. Any student who displays an interest in a certain area gets the opportunity to do so with special projects and a curriculum designed to suit the needs of individual students.
"[The enrichment program] provides for all students in terms of enrichment," said Joan Ripley, assistant to the superintendent. Ripley added that the program would also help students with their social and emotional needs.
"The new proposal is a huge step in the right direction," said Donna Macpherson, a lifelong Plainedge resident who had expressed concerns about the initial program's design. "We understand the district can't implement an entire plan for K through 5 overnight," said Macpherson. She added, however, the population of gifted and talented children has been "grossly underserved." She said she believes that the compromise improves the education of this group of students and can be done in a fiscally responsible way.
Macpherson and others have been fighting for a comprehensive gifted and talented program in the district and she has researched the subject. She said that gifted and talented children have specific education needs like special education children but "on the other end of the spectrum."
"They exhibit different needs and abilities and require the extra attention and challenge that a gifted program provides," she said.
She explained that unless their needs are adequately addressed these students can become bored and may be incorrectly classified with problems such as ADD, or just simply disturb the class.
Nancy Giris, another resident agreed that the new proposal, if passed, would be an asset to both the students and the district.
"I would be thrilled to see this group become recognized again," said Giris.
The Enrichment Program proposed by the district is based on Joseph Renzulli's School Wide Enrichment Model. Renzulli is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut and director of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
Plainedge is currently trying to develop the curriculum, which by design and flexibility allows students at different levels of "giftedness" to participate and reach their personal potential. Students will complete projects that are of interest to them but that are not a part of the regular curriculum. In this way, students fulfill their emotional and social needs as well as their educational potential.
"They can really showcase their talents," said Ripley.
The next business meeting is April 17th. The regular school board meeting will be held April 19th, 8 p.m.
More programs for OUR Kids!!!! More $ from the State!!!
I'm starting to get that warm and fuzzy feeling....
Nah...
Not until this budget passes.....'cause if it doesnt....than all the work done so far will be for zip, nada, crapola.
The wheels are in motion....I hear that train a 'comin......
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Post by thewildrover on Apr 6, 2007 10:50:03 GMT -5
Prezz,
Welcome aboard.
Go P-Edge was right again in stating the post you referred to was from when OUR town was in a different state and was not close to being as galvanized and involved and focused as it is today.
Look forward to working with all on the VOTE YES campaign.
Awaiting the final state aid numbers to be provided and away we'll go.
It will soon be time for the sign fairies to make their appearance.
And a open community VOTE YES meeting is not too far off in the future.
The model is there from last year to follow.
It will take getting the YES vote out to the polls.
I believe that this community will understand that AUSTERITY IS NOT AN OPTION.
And that A NO VOTE JUST HURTS THE KIDS!!!!
We are getting so much more for OUR students in this budget.
It makes OUR children's school experience whole once more.
Come the morning of May 16th, OUR kids will have a scholastic experience ahead of them that is full, comprehensive and on par with the surrounding districts.
Oh what the heck, I'll start early:
Vote YES for OUR KIDS.
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Post by Go Plainedge! on May 3, 2007 9:08:57 GMT -5
For those interested. This is from the NYS website:
RESPONSIBILITY OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO PREPARE BUDGETS The laws of the State of New York are quite explicit as to where the responsibility of budget preparation and presentation lies. The responsibility resides with each Common, Union Free, Central and Small City School District board of education, as follows:
It shall be the duty of the board of education to present at the public hearing the proposed budget. The board of education must present its budget in three components: (1) a Program Component, (2) a Capital Component, and (3) an Administrative Component.
The budget must be written in plain language. Categories of revenues, expenditures and fund balance information, as well as comparison data from the prior year's budget must be set forth in such a manner as to best promote comprehension and readability.
Boards of education must attach to the proposed budget the salaries, benefits and any in-kind or other form of compensation of the superintendent, assistant or associate superintendent and any administrator who will earn over $97,000 in the upcoming year.
Boards of education must also append to the proposed budget an annual report card prepared by the NYS Education Department which measures the academic performance of the district on a school by school basis. The report card must compare academic performance to statewide averages for all schools of comparable wealth and need. (Education Law ยงยง1608, 1716 and 2601-a)
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Post by devilsrus on May 15, 2007 21:12:55 GMT -5
PLAINEDGE! PLAINEDGE! PLAINEDGE! CONGRATS TO DOUG AND NANCY! GREAT JOB BY JOE KARAM AND THE VOTE YES TEAM! LAST YEAR A NEW DAY DAWNED AND THIS YEAR THE SUN KEEPS SHINING! GREAT JOB BY THE COMMUNITY!
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Post by Go Plainedge! on May 15, 2007 21:27:35 GMT -5
School Budget Vote 2,518 yes 1,918 no
Board of Education 2,260 Giris 2,236 Pascarella 1,915 Gustafson
Library Budget Vote 2,662 yes 1,476 no
Library Trustees 1,645 Bruno 1,206 Lande
THANK YOU PLAINEDGE!!!!
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dborg
New Member
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Post by dborg on May 15, 2007 21:56:05 GMT -5
Lets all take a moment and celebrate!!!! Great News about the Budget!!! Now finally we can get some rest...at least for a little while..
THANK YOU PLAINEDGE
Donna Borgogelli
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Post by Go Plainedge! on May 15, 2007 22:07:55 GMT -5
I would have hoped to have seen a higher voter turn-out. Last year had considerably higher totals.
4436 - Total budget Votes for 2007 5385 - Total budget Votes for 2006
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Post by 78ptownpower on May 15, 2007 22:29:27 GMT -5
Kudos to all. I want to wish Nancy and Douglas well in their BOE endeavors. I don't want to be a fly in the ointment but I hope and pray that we will see better fiscal responsibilty from our new BOE and new super. This community will not forget that we as a whole have kicked in 20% in 2 years. Now it's time for others to kick in their share. I believe communication should begin with the unions regarding give backs. Let them show us that they care as much as we do because this boat may start to take on water and the last thing I want to see is us and the kids get sunk. Thank you Plainedge! Thank you to the vote yes group! Hey admin...can we get a Richman clock up? You know days, hours, minutes, seconds until he's officially outta here?
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Post by Admin on May 16, 2007 5:02:48 GMT -5
Ask and ye shall receive!
See top of page above thread topic
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Post by techie on May 16, 2007 5:03:15 GMT -5
Congratulations Nancy!
For everyone else, check the school's web site. An amazing thing has happened. After all the times we were told that it takes time and trouble to update the web page,...."Richman" updated the results at 2:00 am this morning!
Poor, Poor Roslyn,... and poorer Plainedge for continuing to pay him after he's gone.
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Post by patriot2415 on May 16, 2007 7:02:26 GMT -5
Congratulations to the Plainedge community for keeping the ship going in the right direction. The passing of this years budget was a bigger step then last year. We have brought our district back from austerity in 2 years and we should be proud for making such sacrifices.
Let's take a breather now, but the work starts again soon!
Congratulations to Nancy and Doug.
Congratulations to Dennis for stepping up.
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Post by formerworker on May 16, 2007 15:27:28 GMT -5
Excellent job done by the community. We did what we are supposed to do- support education for the children. But living here is Plainedge is becoming very difficult. Massive tax increases since I've moved here. Yes, the star rebate helps out but you still have to lay out the money each month. It also is something that could go away next year. Taxes will never go down. The contracts have years to go. If you think any group will reopen their contract - you live in a fantasy world. Some of you do not like the fact that i tend to challenge some of the group's motive for their actions. The actions have been wonderful - I just wonder sometimes if some, (a small some) do these things so that they can have their moment in the sun. Go to any little league field and you'll see what I mean. It should always be for the kids and not to satisfy someone's ego. I know when the money was raised 2 years ago, there was a feeling that some people were taking way too much credit and their were some in the background that felt despite the hard work, this small group got an ego boost being on tv and in the paper. Was the sign put up in the gym there for the kids or for some people's ego. Some give to charity anonomously and some need the publicity. I hope you all can understand this. I am on the same team- I just think some people need to calm down and not be so egocentric. If this offends you - then perhaps you feel that way because you see some of yourself. The budget is passed, Labelle is tenured, Richman will be gone - but we all have that huge tax bill to pay. But it's worth it because of our kids.
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Post by honebee on May 16, 2007 17:02:52 GMT -5
Every year the signs come out about passing the budget and the past two years we have passed whopping amounts. Problem is, we are stuck with a very hefty tax bill. Formerworker is right. It doesn't go away and every year it just goes up. It's really killing some of us that still live in the neighborhood. It would be really great if the people that put all their energy into passing the budget would start doing something about tax reforms, like perhaps working towards a shared income tax all over L.I. instead of the brunt of everything being on the property owners backs. We need an alternate way of taxation out here. Don't just come out once a year to get a budget passed. Work for the good of the whole community and everyone will be happy; the kids, the parents, and the seniors.
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mom23
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Post by mom23 on May 16, 2007 17:35:45 GMT -5
Honebee...
It would be really great if the people that put all their energy into criticizing others take the time to realize that the VERY SAME group of people who are trying to get the budget passed ARE IN FACT trying to get some tax reform by way of the PLAINEDGE TAX RELIEF ASSOCIATION and ARE IN FACT lobbying the State to make changes not only in our community but across Long Island. This group of people you refer to do not come out once a year to get the budget passed, they are an extremely loyal and dedicated group of PARENTS who IN FACT work all year long for the good of the whole community, whether it be by volunteering at our kids' schools, joining PTA, coaching youth sports leagues, organizing youth sports leagues, attending board meetings, budget meetings, writing letters to our Assemblymen and Senators, making our voices heard to the Administration, and I could go on and on. At any time PLEASE feel free to volunteer YOUR time for the GOOD OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY and make everyone happy. This is not an exclusive club, anyone can join and we would welcome the help.
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Post by patriot2415 on May 16, 2007 19:20:21 GMT -5
Dear Former and Honey,
A new dawn is approaching, we successfully came out of austerity, and I'm turning over a new leaf.
I Former, really don't understand your comments. It has never been just about sports, no one had their ego stroked being on TV, the banner was to REMIND everyone what can be done. In 2005 there was a small window presented to us by the administration to raise money for the reinstatement of VARSITY Sports ONLY. When we started we only thought we would be able to raise enough for that. However we had some community members step up with huge donations that rejuvenated us. One in particular was a MS parent... A middle school parent who all but knew we would not be able to bring MS sports back that year, but collected money for the older kids. Armed with this we went into a full court press... Internal meetings on Monday nights, community meetings on Tuesday nights, car wash on Wed nights, car wash on SAT and SUN, comedy clubs on Sat nights, raffles, 50/50... NOW we wanted Varsity AND JV back. We got them, out of shear determination, not because we had big egos. It killed us that we could not bring back MS sports, clubs, gifted programs, but we pledged to get them back this year.
For some reason the Superintendent of our schools told us, no more car washes on school grounds, no more fundraising... insurance issues!!!! So we went another route and we bonded with the other groups, we came together one BOE meeting and we all had each others back and demanded the programs be reinstated for ALL of our kids. We got them, again out of shear determination, not because we had egos.
If you still think after reading this that we had our own agenda, you really do not understand what we are about. If that is the case, I urge you, beg you, to meet with us, get to know us and you will see your idea of us is off base.
Honey as for your post, here is an email I sent out today to the group I worked with:
I have a saying I use when I coach. It not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog! a small group, with common goals = a TEAM ! That's what we were and that's what we need to stay. It was my pleasure working with those I have gone to battle with before and all the new recruits. Everyone played an important role in this triumph. But we cannot stop here. The real solution comes from changing the state aid formula on a permanent basis. This year in and year out stuff will not work soon. THIS SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE YES COMMITTEE NOW! One of the items that will help would be a consideration of school districts that do not have commercial property in their district. We need to band with the BOE, have them reach out to other districts like us and together pound the doors of Albany. We all agree we need tax relief, it won't come itself...we need to make ourselves heard!
I'm not quiting because the budget passed, just taking a little rest. BUT this cannot be accomplished by a few, we need EVERYONE in the districts help. Our commercial property is non-existent, our share of state aid not fair. We need to join others on LI and be heard in Albany. We need to start before the summer hits and then in early September. I know good people who know the system, who can help us get heard, but we need the community, we need the BOE, we need other districts to all join together.
I will be there, I HOPE you will also.
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