Board of Education meetings

[momma3]

Hello all, I have never attended a Board of Education meeting and would like to start. I see there will be a meeting on 8/31 at 8:15. Can someone please help us new comers and explain what the public works sessions are and the other types of meetings the Board holds. Which sessions can we ask questions and which are the most informative. At numereous PTA meetings last year we are told to attend the meetings but honestly, all parents of younger children need to be advised what the meetings are about and what will happen there. Thanks for answering my questions. This site is great so we have a place to go ask our questions!!!

[Go Plainedge!]

Momma:

Hope you had a great summer.

Let me offer my opinions and experiences from attending these meetings. Some other may have opposing opinions.

The BOE meeting are very good to attend. Good in the sense that you get to learn all of the details of what will happen within our district. You see the process of how issues get proposed, voted on and approved. You will also be able get first hand knowledge of what is going on in this district. This way you can pass on the information to others in the community...especially posting it here ;D

The bad part of attending the meetings is that it can be long and arduous at times. Monotonous at times and quite frankly boring! You will also lean (after attending several meetings) who really controls the district, the controversy, the contradictions and the lack of accurate and complete information made available to the community.

You shouldn't only attend one meeting to get the true experience. You have to attend several.... even if it's once a month during the school year.

As far as which session is the session to ask questions, typically the Thursday meeting allows for questions ONLY ON THE AGENDA to be asked. However, I'm hoping now that we have a new president, that format will be changed.

[concerned]

What was the special meeting I saw listed on the posting at school - special session on Sept. 5?

concerned

[justfacts]

concerned

The meeting was between the Plainedge Public Library Board and the School Board. It was hosted by the Library and information as to its being held was posted there, as was an Agenda.

The purpose of the meeting stated in the approved Agenda was to discuss a letter written by the BOE to the Library Trustees following Dr Richman's mis-statements about meeting with the Library Board (he did not) and the Library Board going back on an agreement (which they never made).

Additionally, part two of the Agenda provided for a discussion of both Boards moving forward in a more cooperative manner.

The BOE set the initial tone of the meeting by refusing to discuss the letter and stated their idea of moving forward was that the first half-year Library funding for 2007/8 would only be forthcoming from the BOE if the Library signed an agreement to pay an undisclosed amount of interest on what the BOE determined to be the Library's share of a TAN.

This demand is counter to the BOE's statutory responsibility under both Education and State laws, and contrary to the State Comptroller's formal Opinions on the topic.

The meeting adjoined without any discussion of the "moving forward" portion of the agenda by the BOE, just the funding dictum was laid down.

The BOE President was the only Board member in attendance that spoke. All Library Board members participated in the discussions, showing how that same funding procedure had not worked last year and that the Library funds had not been completely paid to the Library by the BOE for last year.

Additionally, even for this year, the BOE has not yet been able to state the amount of interest money they believe would be the "Library's share", three months after their initial demand upon the Library and five months after the Public approved the Library Budget.

Felice Cantatore was there. You might like to get him to present his review of the proceedings.

My review would be too filled with facts about; doubling dipping into the publics' pockets, fiscal competency and lack of knowledge about responsibilities and statutory obligations to make "moving forward" in the future an easy task.

Ed.

[Go Plainedge!]

My sources tell me that Pat Zinke and Richman walked into the meeting with quite a large chip on their sholders.

Ed, is this true?

[justfacts]

Go Plainedge!

I don't know about the large chip on their shoulders - but I do know the following;

Dr Richman, with shirt askew at his stressed belt-line, initially began to sit at the Board table that had nameplate markers - and then showed distress when told he had a seat in the audience next to the Library Director. A walk from the room followed, and a return to an audience seat, several seats distant from the Library Director took place.

During the Meeting, the BOE President often looked more directly at Dr. Richman than at the persons she was speaking to. She was also very adamant about not talking on any but the one topic. This, despite a rather friendly telephone conversation prior to the Tuesday meeting with the Library Board President in which (it is said) she was agreeable to the whole scope of the agenda - an agreement which changed late on Tuesday . . .

One can suppose that when Dr. Richman finally saw the agenda on Monday or Tuesday (which called for a discussion of a derogatory letter sent to the Library Board by the BOE following two total mis-statements of truth by Dr. Richman to his Board) he became very insistent with the BOE President that the letter not be publicly discussed. Mrs. Zinke was a willing and very active participant and supporter of that view. The rest of the BOE in attendance said nothing.

An interesting side-fact. Late in the meeting, after several details and exchanges between Library Board members and the financial staff from the school took place, establishing that required segregation of Library accounts from School accounts has not been practiced by the District (something required by law) Dr. Richman attempted to speak from his audience seat.

His remark was "Let me say something about these ridiculous comments" He was immediately told "NO!" by the Library Board President who was hosting the meeting. Dr. Richman left the meeting shortly thereafter, long before several BOE members left.

Again, in a meeting intended to promote better relations between the BOE and the Library Board, he showed a prejudicial bias toward any "ridiculous comments" that are not consistent with his views - even if his views are major stretches beyond the limits of his knowledge and self applied authority.

Needless to say, the aims of the meeting, outlined in the previously approved Agenda, were not met. They were not adhered to by the BOE President. Instead, another funding dictate for next year was laid before the Library Board by the BOE.

According to law and many a decision by the Comptroller, there is no authority for the BOE to do so. Let them change the law if they don't like it - let them not play God Almighty with the law and the publics' decisions about Library funding.

And let there be no double-dipping into the publics' pockets to pay the same TAN interest money once again - like the BOE is attempting to do for 2005/6!

Ed. (Speaking only on behalf of myself - the Library Board will speak separately from me - when the time comes)