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Post by Go Plainedge! on Feb 18, 2007 13:43:08 GMT -5
Does anyone know who's term is up this year?
I believe one of them is Douglas Pascarella. Who is the other person?
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Post by thewildrover on Feb 18, 2007 16:20:00 GMT -5
2 spots open, Giardina and the Dougie the Kid.
The grape vine has Loretta not running again and the Kid as throwing his hat in the ring for another set.
He obviously does not subscribe to the same set of (accurate) advisor's as she.
At this time of genesis for Plainedge, a person(s) of conviction is what is called for.
No bobble heads.
No weak personalities.
There were 2 (so far) positive additions last year (really 3 with Frank).
One must admit, it is a world away from previous BOE's.
These guys actually listen, and do so without smirking and side comments.
I believe they were "additions" and we have seen, and will continue to see good things from this board and the new administration.
The sooner they are released from the grasp of the evil sith lord, the better.
Again, obviously.
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Post by Go Plainedge! on Feb 18, 2007 20:56:20 GMT -5
Well, with a new superintendent and two new BOE trustees, one can only hope that a Renaissance will take place in Plainedge for 2007/2008.
Again, we need people that have strong business, legal or accounting backgrounds along with creative thinking to sit on this board....not to mention spare time to devote to this role.
I hope that two people with these types of backgrounds and experience step forward. We need true leaders, not puppets.
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Post by pedgeneeds on Feb 18, 2007 21:19:29 GMT -5
thewildrover, you wrote "There were 2 (so far) positive additions last year (really 3 with Frank). One must admit, it is a world away from previous BOE's. These guys actually listen, and do so without smirking and side comments. I believe they were "additions" and we have seen, and will continue to see good things from this board and the new administration" I totally disagree! This is a lame duck superintendent and the board still is not challenging the administration enough. Again, the BOE does not seem to have all the information it needs to make decisions and I do not see any of them demanding it. As for the president, is she HIS PR PERSON ?? I am not impressed with the new board... I think we may have even taken a step back. We cannot wait until next year, we have issues this year!
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Post by thewildrover on Feb 19, 2007 11:11:19 GMT -5
Hey needs,
Welcome aboard.
We'll agree to disagree with regards to "taking a step backwards".
I do agree with you about the BOE not challenging the evil sith lord as much as is necessary.
And you are right on with your statement that there are important issues to be dealt with this year.
There is room for improvment and enhancement in every facet of the BOE's responsibilities.
But, I'll say it again, at least this group actually appear to listen to the communities input, and do so without smirking and side comments.
That is a worlds difference from the past BOE's behavior.
It is partly the reason for my optimism for a brighter future for OUR children.
I refuse to allow myself to think that this community (the BOE included) will ever again fail OUR children and thereby cause OUR kids to suffer once again through a year on austerity.
As for my humble outlook, I'll choose to be optimistic, because the alternative is a lost school district, a lost community and lost children.
Austerity ?? For my kid??? For yours???
Another 2005 for OUR kids???...
It's just not a option.
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Post by pedgeneeds on Feb 19, 2007 11:52:54 GMT -5
Mr. Wild,
I know you and have head you speak at meetings. I understand your hope of optimism. I to, as a graduate of Plainedge what to see the district succeed. I want all the children to have everything possible. To do that there must be sacrifices across the board. To accomplish that the BOE must listen to the community and push the administration. That is their duty, that is why we put them there.
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Post by Go Plainedge! on Feb 19, 2007 12:48:39 GMT -5
I refuse to allow myself to think that this community (the BOE included) will ever again fail OUR children and thereby cause OUR kids to suffer once again through a year on austerity. IMO....The community didn't fail the students. The administration and BOE failed the students by not revising a failed 1st attempt budget and cutting programs. However, that's old news. I agree with PE Needs in that there needs to be sacrifice across the board. Can ALL programs be restored at this point in time? No. Can the administration cut some operating costs? Yes. Should the BOE DEMAND realistic budgetary cuts and additions for both programs and operations YES! Again...who runs this district the Board or Dr. Spin?
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Post by thewildrover on Feb 19, 2007 13:56:14 GMT -5
Go,
I guess what I was trying to communicate was that approx. 1700 additional voters came out to vote yes the first time out, the very next year after austerity.
A record number of affirmative votes as well as a record number of total voters, I do not believe it was a record number of negative votes though.
I believe that number stayed just about what it has always been.
3700 strong saying no to austerity.
I will agree whole-heartedly with you that a majority of the blame lays at the feet of that years BOE and the administration, exactly for the reasons you stated.
I will follow with a nice, loud, “Amen” with regards to the rest of your post.
PNeeds,
It nice that one of us knows who the other is, I look forward to you introducing (or re-introducing, as it may be) yourself at the next meeting.
Another “Amen” shouted, as if from the mountaintops, with regards to your last posting.
We know the BOE reads this board.
Working together, getting our thoughts and concerns clearly and concisely conveyed to the BOE through this medium, will surely help effect the positive outcome we all want for OUR town and OUR children.
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Post by plainedgeammo on Feb 19, 2007 14:02:38 GMT -5
Rover,
As always your right on point. I am also happy to see that the BOE is open to hearing the concerns of the community and I am hoping that they respond to those concerns. The BOE should be holding this Administration accountable for providing a a budget which incorporates the long range goals of this community. Not mandates from Dr. Evil.
Regarding Mr. Labelle, I am hoping that he is acting upon the mandates handed down by Dr Evil. I would be curious to see how he performs his job once Dr Evil has retired. He just might surprise everyone.
I would suggest that the BOE not give him his tenure and wait another year to evaluate his progress.
Hopefully, we will have two candidates appear in the next couple weeks for the BOE who have been fighting the fight. I hope that when those Champions appear the whole community will unite. ;D....
I disagree with Go....in regards to we need to cut programs for our children. We still have not established all the services we previously had before Austerity for our children. In certain areas of our district, regarding the services offered our children, we are the economic equivalent of Roosevelt..... Having the lowest spend per pupil is NOT necessarily something to be PROUD of....
We need cuts from the existing Administrative side of the budget since Dr. Evil has admitted it is already too high. We also need to spend some of those savings on re-establishing programs for our children.
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Post by Go Plainedge! on Feb 19, 2007 14:27:27 GMT -5
P-Ammo:
Do you know something we don't ;D
I didn't say we should cut from the students. I said I don't think we can restore all that was lost from 2005/06. I don't believe this district can afford a 100% restoration at this point in time. Certainly, I wouldn't cut from the kids...they have had enough cut from them. I'm suggesting that some more programs are restored (not all) AND operation costs are cut.
It's the BOE's job and duty to this community to make sure that the STUDENT interests are kept in mind, not the administrations interests.
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Post by patriot2415 on Feb 19, 2007 16:24:33 GMT -5
AMMO, I think you hit the nail on the head:
"Regarding Mr. Labelle, I am hoping that he is acting upon the mandates handed down by Dr Evil. I would be curious to see how he performs his job once Dr Evil has retired. He just might surprise everyone".
Its a terrible situation when you cannot make decisions because you fear for your job!
This topic is the very reason I was pressing for BOE/Community meetings. The community who foots the bill should have a voice in the tenure process and other decisions. But we have been shutdown by the superintendents requiring the wording in their contracts that prohibits these types of meetings with the BOE without the administration present and the BOE approving that wording.
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Post by thewildrover on Feb 20, 2007 8:53:04 GMT -5
Again, we need people that have strong business, legal or accounting backgrounds along with creative thinking to sit on this board....not to mention spare time to devote to this role. GoGo, Those attributes you desire in a BOE member are valuable for sure. However, only if that person uses they’re expertise and doesn’t quash it due to the bullying, intimidation and scare tactics of an evil sith lord. At this time, I‘d be pleased to see candidates that have the courage of their convictions, strength of character to carry out those convictions, and the ability to communicate fearlessly with the community that placed them in that position.
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Post by Go Plainedge! on Feb 20, 2007 9:45:10 GMT -5
True....but remember, the Dark Lord of the Sith will be relinquishing his powers in July.
I think all the people in this community have great hopes that the Hussein way of running (or should I say ruining) a school district will be over.
Yes, we will still need candidates that have the abilities to stand by their convictions and most importantly communicate OPENLY and regularly with the community. Now sprinkle in a CPA or legal background and we'll be well on our way to a building a great empire. ;D
You're only as good as the people you surround yourself with.
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Post by plaintalker on Feb 20, 2007 12:45:21 GMT -5
I agree with many things that are being said on this board. I just wanted to make a coment on the last post. I agree that it is important to have many different talents on the board. I seem to remember a few years ago we had a very capable board member that was an attorney and had prior board experience with a special ed board which I felt brought a lot of knowledge and experience to the table. Then this community voted him out by a substantial margin and voted in an 18 year old student with no real world experience. I m not saying anything negative about this board memeber in any way, just the fac that we voted out an attorney and I can never really understand why? I thought I had figured out what this community realy wanted and then something like that occurred and I left scratching my head. I do have to say that in all of the board meetings I have been to this young board member has not been afraid to open his mouth and express his opinion which is a good thing and we need more of by our board members. I guess he does also bring a younger point of view as to what our students feel so that is also a positive. I have watched over the last 10 years many board members come and go and how much of their personal lives they sacrifice to do what they do. On top of this they also have to catch an ear full every time another group disagrees with their opinion and I don't know if I could personally deal with that myself on an every day basis, so I give a lot of credit to anyone that gives up their time to serve this community with nothing to gain from it except maybe a status symbol. I am looking forward to the climant changing even more as the new administartion gets their feet wet and hope that the open dilogue continues to get better. I still see many people afraid to express their opinion at a board meeting and question the administration in fear of being embarresed in public. I understand why a lot of people take this type of forum to express their opinion and act nonymous because they are afraid of their child being affected by retaliation for their opinion, I don't mean physical retaliation but I do mean talking and the behind the back comments that are made. We have to learn as a community to agree to disagree on topics but still treat each other with respect for that opinion even though it might not be the same as yours. We need an administartion, board, and community to look at everything with an open mind and not rubber stamp it because it has always been that way or because the administration has said that is the way it is spposed to be. As many of you have been here for a long time can agree with, there have been many things we were told in the past that has not happened and as time goes by the story changes as to what we were originally told. I'm hoping that as a community we can all come to the able and discuss openly every issue that our people want addressed and come to an agreement at the end what is best for the community as a whole, even though it might not be the way you feel but is the way the majority feels. Thanks
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Post by thewildrover on Feb 20, 2007 13:33:43 GMT -5
True....but remember, the Dark Lord of the Sith will be relinquishing his powers in July. And we, the rebellious Jedi, will once again rule the republic. The End. That’s a very happy ending. As an addendum to my posted thoughts with regards to the best characteristics of a BOE candidate, and as to the behaviors and non actions of previous BOE’s as well, I would be renege in fairness if I did not point out that there were, in fact most recently, a past BOE member that in my opinion did fight the good fight and swam upstream against the current. Unfortunately he got caught up in the anti-incumbent tide. Ralph was not one of the eye-rollers, smirkers or snide commenter’s that I was alluding to and he was not afraid of asking the “irritating” question. It is my opinion that he was an asset to the BOE while he served. It is also my opinion that his qualities would once again well serve this district and community if he so chooses to become a candidate. That being said; Add “asking of the irritating question” to the list of mandated qualities of any prospective BOE candidate right along with the ability to stand by their convictions and communicate openly and regularly with the community.
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