Website Criticism

[Go Plainedge!]

Apparently, Dr. Richman doesn’t care for some of the community websites that discuss school issues. He claims that if people want stories, they should go to these websites. This is discussed on Felice's website.

However, the question then becomes, how are community member supposed to get complete and accurate information? The school district website (with all due respect to the students that maintain it) is lacking with any updated information. The BOE Meeting Minutes take a long time to be posted and are incomplete. When you ask questions at BOE meetings the answers are usually (in the past) both curt and (quite frankly) rude or answered with “I don’t know”.

Websites like this and Felice’s were created to help share the knowledge that the community has, disseminate information to the masses and help people of this community have a better understanding about the issues at hand. The information found here should not be used as “Gospel” but as a stepping stone to obtain, what you believe to be, the right answer. Questions asked here are usually answered by many that have the information. These people either dispel rumors or clarify misunderstandings. So, Dr. Richman, where are the stories? You will certainly not be known as the great communicator.

I’ve said this in the past; this website (I believe) was instrumental in helping the new budget pass. It offered information that was just as accurate as any other source. It provided a platform for people to discuss the candidates and budget issues. This, ultimately helped people make an educated vote. A vote that helped restore and propel this community to new heights.

Remember, those in glass houses should not throw stones.

[thewildrover]

Go,
Once again, very well thought out and reasoned statements.

Did I mention hard hitting and right to the point?

Kudos to you!!.

Those of us that have been involved, either recently or in the long term, know that Dr. Richman holds this community in contempt.

He has little or no respect for the driving forces in our town.

In my opinion, underneath all of his overwhelming arrogance, lies a scared little man.

One who is making up for a lifetime of perceived slights.

He'll show us, he will get back at all of us.

Now that we are at the dawn of a new age in P-Town, I fight the urge to view this mans actions light-heartedly.

Dismiss them with a smile and recognize them for what I believe them to be:

Revenge for all the wedgies he received in junior high.

Maybe, I think, we'd be better just laughing this guy off as a bad memory and good riddance.

But then, I remember the figure: $575,000.

I remember the duplicity.

I remember the tears in the childrens eyes.

I remember the outrage in the residents faces.

And I remember that Dr. John Richman so callously, so disconnected with "his" community, failed the children he was hired to serve.

Here's to a new age in Plainedge!

Here's a wish of much good luck and good will to the newly elected members of the BOE and the remaining BOE members.

Starting fresh, starting now. Do your best!!!!!

And here's to all the contributers to this sight and Plaintalkonline.com, whom the residents of this community owe a debt of gratitude, for all of the reasons that GoPlainedge stated so eloquently.

[concerned]

Go and Wildrover-I hadn't looked at the other site until recently. I thought it was amazing. It at least kept everyone informed on the meetings and what occurred. There was no spin. Felice and the people working on the site seemed to simply state what was going on. I was quite impressed. I noticed he even added a section called Superintendent's Corner where the admin. could respond if they chose to. Of course, even after being up for a week, it is still empty. That is the root of the problem. Dr. Richman is not responding to people's inquiries about things and when he does, it is not always responded to without letting emotion get the best of him. It has even happened at meetings where he is questioned by the Board members.

I have seen him interact with the kids and various events and he genuinely displays compassion to the kids and shows an interest in what they are saying or doing. I just would like to see him show the same level of interest in responding to e-mails, getting the school's web site up and in order, and in recognizing it is still the start of a new fiscal year where it doesn't have to be an us against them mentality.

Maybe it's just too late for anything to get better.

In either case, both this site and the other site are not bad. They have enlightened many people and they have definitely assisted in getting more people out to meetings.

Concerned

[justfacts]

Correct Facts

Both the Plainedgechat.com site and the Plaintalkonline.com Site are community sites that have come under criticism from the District Administration. Their stress is on the claim that factual information is given only at the District's Meetings and not on these sites.

Well folks, in many instances ~ Nothing could be further from the truth!

Take just the single case of what comes directly from the mouth of the former President of the Board and was reportedly repeated by Dr. Richman at the last Board meeting concerning Library TANS. For those that haven't seen the report it is repeated here:

1) Next on the agenda was a discussion involving the Library TANS. Dr. Richman explained that former President Richard Mallow and Vice President now Trustee Loretta Giardina recently met with the Library Board regarding the TAN (Tax Anticipation Notes).[/b]

True! There was a meeting!

Questionable! As of yet, there is no evidence of a "Library TAN" existing - or ever existing in the past forty years!"

False! The meeting was not with the Library Board, but with the Library Board President and Vice President - who stressed that any agreement would have to be presented to the Library Board for consideration.

2) He explained that they left the meeting in agreement regarding the payment of the TAN interest and they were expecting everything to be OK . . . ."

False! What "they expected" exists only in the mind of those quoted by Dr. Richman. No agreement was made!

Truth! The Library Board had previously sent to each BOE member a letter containing quotes from the Law and Comptroller decisions that the cost of funding Library operations during the time between when the Fiscal year begins (July 1) and the first receipt of Property Tax money (about November & December) is a Statutory obligation of the School Distinct that they must meet by the use of reserve funds, Tax Anticipation Notes (TANS) or other Funds. It is the sole responsibility of the School District to determine how that is to be done each year - and it is not an item under control of, or within the authority of the Library Board. Thus, the Library Board would not interfere with the District's determination of how that obligation was to be met! This information was repeated to the BOE members and Dr. Richman at the meeting.

3) . . . but now the Library Board refuses to pay any cost associated with the TAN interest.

False!

Truth! The amount of "TAN interest" has yet to be determined and quoted to the Library Board by the BOE! The request for the Library Board to include an unspecified amount of TAN interest in their budget for a portion of the yet undisclosed total TAN amounts necessary for School District operations - and an estimate for the portion of those funds that might cover Library operating costs was not provided by the BOE, or even mentioned, prior to the Library's Budget preparation and approval by the Voters.

Truth! The Library transferred this information to the BOE in a recent letter of response to Dr. Richman's request for the Library Board's intentions to request a "Library TAN". The statement provided by the Library included the fact that it is only the BOE which determines if and when a "Library TAN" is obtained - and such info or requests for the Library to share that listing of the taxpayer's cost for that on their Budget for this year by the BOE was not timely in that the Library budget was already released and approved by the voters in the community.[/i][/b]

FACT! TAN interest charges, whether for school operations or School plus Library operations, are paid only by the TAXPAYERS - not by the School or by the Library. These interest amounts and charges are determined only by the School District and the School Board is the one, and only one, that can lawfully LEVY the taxes the TOWN collects for these expenses. The District is authorized by law to include the cost of the TAN interest in the Taxes they Levy.

Fact! The Library Board plays no role in, nor has any legal authority with determining or collecting, the means and amounts of funding for operating costs during the July to December period.

Truth! The Library Board, at its discretion, may include in its Budget funds for listing TAN interest - but the money that becomes part of their budget must be directly transferred to the School District who pays the Brokers this interest that the BOE contracted for TANs. It is not spent for Library purposes.

4) The Superintendent asked the board what course of action they would like to take on this situation stating "the question is do you want to be stubborn and unfair or take the high road?"[/b]

Truth! The BOE has been stubborn and unfair - despite this self-serving quote from Richman that is backhanded attempt to paste this label on the Library. It is about time that Richman took the high road and followed the law and its rulings.

The demands made by him on the Library have been unfair - requesting this year that an unknown amount of funds be included in an already approved Budget - requesting last year that the Library pay interest charges on a non-existent Library TAN; first in the amount of $16,500 - then improperly withholding $27,000 for that amount and never providing proper accounting for the charges.

Additionally, last year the Library Board, at its discretion under the threat made by Richman that Library operating funds would not be paid until they were collected as taxes; approved the paying of interest charges - only to have the BOE fail to approve taking out such a TAN for the Library, and the District never having obtained such a TAN.

However, the School District did fund a series of TANs for $9.05 Million which cost about $221,000 in interest - and they have collected from the people a Property Tax of $283,700 to cover these costs. The excess money, about $62,700, sits in a General Fund along with the Library's $27,000 that was improperly held from its voter approved funding! If it is continued to be held - the effect is to charge the public twice for the same pre-paid TAN interest charges!!!

5) New BOE President Ms. Zinke again showed a great new Board attitude by stating that the situation with the Library needs to be a public discussion. New Trustee, Ms. Capone stated "Can we work together as two Boards for the Children?" She went mention that everything should be out in the open and that the community should be educated on the topic.

Truth! That is precisely the openness that the two Community Sites have been created for and the rules they continue to exist under! Unlike the BOE and Administration which decries other sources of information, the community sites have presented factual information as well as opinions of the Plainedge public at large. They have encouraged and fostered open dialogs subject to peer review and comment - unlike the often restricted, filtered, sanitized, censured and whitewashed information supplied by the School District.

Ed.

[Go Plainedge!]

thewildrover said:

Go,

Revenge for all the wedgies he received in junior high.

What an image that brings to mind! Thanks for the laugh ;D

I just realized who contributes information to this message board. Did he forget that past and present BOE members have posted here (which we are grateful for). Does that mean they are also accused of creating or contributing to the stories?

I wish more BOE members would post here and share their knowledge and insight. I don't understand why some feel the need to distance themselves from this site? Were they instructed to "stay away"?

Wouldn't it make sense for BOE members to share information here so that other readers could pass on that information to those that want to know more?

[Go Plainedge!]

Lately, I've been confused by the new website. Maybe I'm the only one. Maybe I'm too critical. Perhaps I'm impatient or not seeing the "big picture".

I thought the school website......

.....was going to bring out more pertinent information about the district.

.....was going to communicate more issues about our students.

.....was going to act as a link between the administration/BOE and the people of this community about community/district related topics.

Instead of getting more communication (as we asked for last May) about the latest district news and topics, we get topics such as "How to Avoid Scams", "Medical Civil Law Suits" and "Cyber Security Awareness Webcast".

While some of these topics are important in their own right, quite frankly, it's not what this community requested or needs to read about from a school website.....especially one that posts little information about the district to begin with.

If the school district wants to maintain a blog-like website....fine. Perhaps these "Off Topic" communications can be placed in a separate section of the site for people to click on if they choose to do so. My suggestion is to have a BOE section where our BOE President can post about certain topics and updates on a bi weekly or monthly basis. Would this be a step toward communicating with the community a little more?

[patriot2415]

First off, Just, good to see you back. Hope you are feeling better.

I also truly believe that both sites were critical for the fund raising which took place, the vote yes campaign, and the letter writing campaign for state aid. Do we sometimes get off track and post emotional responses ( I know I do!!), but it's all for the good of the community. Every person that reads the posts, every person that replies to a post or opens a new thread are providing an invaluable service to this community. Maybe those in charge fear the swelling of community involvement, fear they will need to answer for their actions, fear their power base eroding.

This community hungers for information, this community wants to be involved, this community wants Plainedge to become an outstanding district. Sometimes we get frustrated and stay away thinking we won't make a difference, but we can and we will!

I am so disappointed in the current BOE. During their campaigns they spoke about reaching out to the community, listening to us, taking our input into their decisions. But what do we get? Questions only on Agenda items on the Tuesday BOE meeting and on Thursday the run around when we can ask questions. We get conflicting responses when questions are asked, we receive a lot of "I'll check into that" when financial questions are asked. All this community wants is an honest and open dialog with the representatives we voted into office. I think that is one of their most important duties. It is November, and so far they have failed.

Be strong residents, do not give into frustration, do not become complacent.

They are OUR children, it's is OUR money, this is OUR district !!!

[Go Plainedge!]

patriot2415 said:

First off, Just, good to see you back. Hope you are feeling better.

I also truly believe that both sites were critical for the fund raising which took place, the vote yes campaign, and the letter writing campaign for state aid. Do we sometimes get off track and post emotional responses ( I know I do!!), but it's all for the good of the community. Every person that reads the posts, every person that replies to a post or opens a new thread are providing an invaluable service to this community. Maybe those in charge fear the swelling of community involvement, fear they will need to answer for their actions, fear their power base eroding.

This community hungers for information, this community wants to be involved, this community wants Plainedge to become an outstanding district. Sometimes we get frustrated and stay away thinking we won't make a difference, but we can and we will!

I am so disappointed in the current BOE. During their campaigns they spoke about reaching out to the community, listening to us, taking our input into their decisions. But what do we get? Questions only on Agenda items on the Tuesday BOE meeting and on Thursday the run around when we can ask questions. We get conflicting responses when questions are asked, we receive a lot of "I'll check into that" when financial questions are asked. All this community wants is an honest and open dialog with the representatives we voted into office. I think that is one of their most important duties. It is November, and so far they have failed.

Be strong residents, do not give into frustration, do not become complacent.

They are OUR children, it's is OUR money, this is OUR district !!!

Just Facts is still laid up. Hopefully he'll be back soon.

I agree with everything you said. You are right that this community is hungry for information. It's funny how the BOE and Administration will complain that no one attends the meetings. I wonder if they have ever thought of making them more "user friendly" so that more people would attend and get honest answers. Perhaps they can answer questions submitted through email, at the BOE meetings for all to hear. Webcasting or video taping the meetings to put on the website has been discussed here for over a year. There is another simple solution to offer more information to everyone.

As far as getting the right information, I think that comes from the top. I feel that everyone, under the dear doctor, is afraid to give an answer for fear of repercussions - including the BOE that he dictates to.

For a district that is so interested in progressing with the use of the latest technology, sadly, we are so far behind. So many suggestions have been made and they fall on deaf ears.

However, as you mention, it doesn't mean we pull back from our involvement.

Ultimately, I hope that come July, our new superintendent will lead us on this journey with a smother running ship.

[patriot2415]

Go thats good to hear. I thought Just was on tour now that he is

[glow=red,2,300]"Plainedge Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler" !!!![/glow]

We are on the same page. That is why I called for community /BOE meeting. The community could bring informal questions to the BOE, ask for information and have the BOE include these topics on the agenda.

I don't know what the answer is. I do know that the BOE members read these posts, they did all last year! However for some reason they have fallen silent. This is the reason why it is so important for people to attend the BOE meetings, right now with 10-15 people showing, they don't feel compelled to change their ways.

Any comments, any suggestions from the community is appreciated !!!!!

[Go Plainedge!]

I wanted to bring this back up again.

I know we're getting deep into the holiday season and time is a commodity these days. However, now is the time to really make a push on the BOE for the things that the community and children need most.

Any thoughts on how we can get things going?

[Say What Again]

Im curiouos.

Just what positions actually make up the board, that individual board members cannot answer questions when asked? why does it always seem to be a communal...

"hmm, we'll have to look into that" which roughly translates into the board better get together privately and figure out what an acceptible answer is, and possible additional answers to back this one up, and do it beforehand so as to not leave any of the other board members with egg on their face"

Yes we all know they are very busy, but it also seems like there is a lot of story-corroberation going on. They are teh BOE - they are there elected by the people to present the information that is requested of them, so wouldnt it stand to reason that they be preapred to answer those questions when asked rather than put them off till the next public meeting so they all have time to get their facts straight among themselves?

The same holds true for presented information from the various websites - or lack thereof - Im sure they are all individually thinking...

"hmm, I could answer this but then I am accountible for it and its not a meeting so I am outside the protection of the board and the meeting rules"

therefore, no infromation related. must wait till board meeting, meaning no pre-preparation with the other BOE members, meaning that answers will be held off till we can congregate and then answer at teh next meeting....Oh, wait, the person that asked this question isnt here at the new meeting? guess we dont have to answer it then.

I wonder what Thanksgiving Dinner would be like if the Turkeys had the capability of fighting us and winning when we force them to put their necks out...A lot of unsatisfying hamburger and vegetables is what I see come of that

[Go Plainedge!]

Say What:

This has been going on since the dark ages of the Mary Karageorges Board days. But a Renaissance (if you will) is taking place.

There is great hope and anticipation that come July, with TWO new BOE members plus a new Sup, that changes will come.

The old saying of "if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem" exists here and has existed for many years

Our lame duck superintendent was not a "people person". It was evident in his tone of voice and how he conducted himself with the community. Many believe that he is the reason why the BOE is afraid to make a move or say anything that may not be 100% correct. Many believe he lead the Board as opposed to the Board leading him.

Ultimately, we as a community are to blame. We voted followers as BOE members. We didn't vote in leaders. That is one of the changes that is taking place. Strong assertive volunteers are needed to lead this administration. The BOE position is not a way to increase your position on the social ladder in this community...as some have and still treat it.

I realize BOE members put in a lot of time for the benefit of this community. It is a job that doesn't only take place in the Board room. It takes place at schools, at the stores, at sports games, etc. Some are not prepared for all of the ancillary "red tape" that comes with a position like that. Others handle it quite well. The ones that handle it well are the ones that have nothing to hide and have confidence in their role as BOE Trustee.

So, do they have and have they had communal answers....YES. Do I think this will change soon...YES. If we, as a community, keep chipping away at what we want from them, small steps lead to big changes.

[Say What Again]

takebackmyschools said:

Many believe he lead the Board as opposed to the Board leading him.

I understand that it has been around for a long time - I was being cynical. However, if that is in fact was is going on, then that is both his fault for feeling he can get away with that, and the BOE's fault for allowing to do so.

I dont get it - Is there something that he is able to hold over their heads as a threat or something, or is he just steeamrolling them and they let it happen? There must be some reason why the BOE feels it is something that they can allow him to do, as opposed to giving him a good ol-fashioned Bronx Cheer, patting him on the head and ordering him to get back in his seat, keep quiet while the adults are speaking and to speak only when spoken to.

takebackmyschools said:

I realize BOE members put in a lot of time for the benefit of this community. It is a job that doesn't only take place in the Board room. It takes place at schools, at the stores, at sports games, etc. Some are not prepared for all of the ancillary "red tape" that comes with a position like that. Others handle it quite well. The ones that handle it well are the ones that have nothing to hide and have confidence in their role as BOE Trustee.

So, do they have and have they had communal answers....YES. Do I think this will change soon...YES. If we, as a community, keep chipping away at what we want from them, small steps lead to big changes.

Well, I dont know about them hanging out at the schools or at stores, and as for them being present at sports events goes, it must be only the ones THEIR kids are involved in.

Sure, I only go to events my child plays in, but at the same time, Im not a community public figure or leader either - they are. PGSA gets to play during some of the most pleasant outdoor weather time in the whole year...very conducive for getting one's self "out and about" so to speak.

Yet, my daughter plays in PGSA Girls softball and we're always there at just about every game for all the age groups cuz its fun and she enjoys being with her other friends there, cheering on the other games, and we know a lot of folks in the league, and the only one I ever really see at a few games, aside from various PTA members whose kids play, is Felice (that I know of)....and hes not even on the BOE, and better still, he doesnt even have a kid in the league - yet he shows his mug around every once in a while - even after he didnt make it.

Whats that supposed to tell me? How embarrassing for our other community leaders.

Of course it would also help if the "community-at-large" didnt generally treat GIRLS town softball as the local leper colony. Im being extreme of course, but thats the feeling we and many of the girls themselves get. PGSA has to fight for every inch of space and second of time they get, whereas other venues seem to coast through their operations with hardly a concern.

But I digress from "Website Criticism" maybe my above rants are a topic for another discussion.