| Author | Message | ||
     kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 772 Registered: 5-2001 |
I had never heard of Mr. Gifford until I went to an event last Friday (50 community members plus 50 or so students talking about CHS issues) and someone mentioned that Mr. Gifford had been doing research on the question of leveling. By the way, I found it interesting that a number of the students there (mostly upper-level students, mostly upperclassmen) suggested different ways of doing more mixing of academic levels. They seemed to think that they were not getting the full advantage of CHS's diversity when the academic levels were so stratified. | ||
| nan Citizen Username: Nan Post Number: 1185 Registered: 2-2001 |
John Davenport Citizen Username: Jjd Post Number: 96 Registered: 2-2003 Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 2:51 am: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . . .I will reiterate my conviction that Steve Latz (a) knows more about this district, the workings of its administration and its budget, than anyone could hope to learn in a lifetime, and thus brings invaluable expertise to the Board; and (b) was entirely correct and deserves support for getting us those 11th hour separate proposals last year. I will continue to support Steve, David F. and anyone else who sees that deep cuts in our programs right now would be disastrous, and ultimately end up hurting our home values too. However, I will support targetted cuts in supervisory staff, and Steve may disagree with this. Finally, I still think the present Board has worked hard for our district, and recognize that sincere people can have honest disagreements. Above excerpted from long post found here: http://www.southorangevillage.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=3130&post=163283#POST1632 83 | ||
| lumpynose Citizen Username: Lumpyhead Post Number: 744 Registered: 3-2002  |
Amazing how information and education can change someone's mind. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 448 Registered: 9-2003  |
I second Tom's question: How does one learn of these candidates' platforms and points of view? Do they get published in News-Record, or what? Both my husband and I do intend to vote, but we sure could use to know what these folks stand for/represent. | ||
| jfburch Citizen Username: Jfburch Post Number: 1320 Registered: 6-2001 |
Tom, if there is an organized MOL candidates forum, I will participate. There will also be a series of debates and various other forums (coffees, News- Record Candidates' Corner essays, etc.) for folks to meet and get to know the candidates. I daresay that's the best way to find out what each of us is truly about and get an accurate representation of our views. | ||
| John Davenport Citizen Username: Jjd Post Number: 134 Registered: 2-2003 |
That's right Nan; I do not retract any of this. Because Steve and I disagree on the language arts issue, levelling, and the need for greater Board supervision of the administration, I will not support his candidates this time. However, no one would deny that he is very knowledgeable about the district, and works hard. We are all indebted to him for the presentations on the budget. Moreover, none of the candidates I'm supporting are calling for any major program cuts, and I don't know if they would support my personal belief that we can find some judicious cuts in the central administration -- though I'm sure Steve will disagree with that. A lot of this election is going to turn on our need for a new language arts curriculum, more demanding academic standards for all, better discipline and improvements in the high school curriculum, and so on. Good people can disagree about these things, while agreeing on other things! Good luck to all. | ||
| Dave Citizen Username: Dave Post Number: 6495 Registered: 4-1998  |
There will be a SO/MOL forum for the candidates. I'm open to ideas about how to organize it. | ||
| nan Citizen Username: Nan Post Number: 1186 Registered: 2-2001 |
Can we do it as we have in the past where we get to list questions for each candidate to answer? | ||
| Dave Citizen Username: Dave Post Number: 6496 Registered: 4-1998 |
I think that's a good way to do it. We'd need to come up with how many questions we want to Then we should probably give them time to answer. A week or so. Then I should post all responses at the same time. Then I suppose I could open up a restricted area of MOL for the candidates to, if they wish, continue the conversation however they like. | ||
| John Davenport Citizen Username: Jjd Post Number: 135 Registered: 2-2003 |
Both the Hilton Neighborhood group and the Women's Club will sponsor debates, and perhaps one will be televised from the high school station? | ||
| John Davenport Citizen Username: Jjd Post Number: 136 Registered: 2-2003 |
Both the Hilton Neighborhood group and the Women's Club will sponsor debates, and perhaps one will be televised from the high school station? | ||
| birdbrain Citizen Username: Birdbrain Post Number: 24 Registered: 2-2003 |
For what it's worth, I can vouch for Bob Little. I've known him since he's moved to Maplewood, and he's smart, organized, community focused and involved. He is an appeals lawyer, so won't be intimidated by the level of detail inherent in navigating a school system through the mire of laws regulating it. I think all the candidates only became "official" recently with the approval of their petitions. I know Bob has a website he's working on, and will be handing out brochures at the train station, appearing at the debates, and having people host coffees. I'll be hosting one, so if you want to meet him and don't know of one near you, drop me a line BC and I'll get you set up. --- David Wren-Hardin amygdala17@yahoo.com Thousands of years ago the Egyptians worshipped cats as gods. Cats have never forgotten this. | ||
| kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 773 Registered: 5-2001 |
John Davenport, Re your remarks about Mr. Gifford: "A dilemma for Gifford: "1) Either he is going to college, in which case he either (a) will not be anywhere near here during the next term, or (b) will be rather too busy to serve, or "(2) He is not going to college, in which case, why would we want to elect him? " I think, to be honest, that at least a batchelor's degree should be a requirement to serve on our school board." It is entirely possible that Mr. Gifford plans to attend school somewhere nearby (Seton Hall, Rutgers, Montclair State, Kean, ECC, Drew, Fairleigh Dickinson,....) Is he likely to have less time to devote to the BOE than an adult with a full-time profession? And would you also disqualify adults without college degrees? | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 2021 Registered: 5-2001  |
Not that he can't run, but as a voter, I would disqualify anyone without a college degree. Get some experience, man! | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2299 Registered: 1-2003  |
There are lots of smart, wise, accomplished, experienced people without degrees, ffof. I think age is a better factor for qualification than degrees. But I think 18 is old enough to run. It's probably not enough to win. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 2022 Registered: 5-2001 |
Sure are right there, TRtpp, I guess my issue is more about his age plus lack of college...but even substitutes in the schools need some college experience (I forget the exact number of credits)or they can't be hired. | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2301 Registered: 1-2003 |
I don't think you should have to qualify to be a substitute teacher to qualify to be on the BOE. A 22-year old fresh out of college is only four years older than an 18-year old fresh out of high school. And most of his learning is from books, not so-called real life. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 2023 Registered: 5-2001 |
Okay, WHATEVER, Mr. Picayune! I know, why don't we argue whether or not a 22 year old has any "real-life" experience worthy of running for office. I say, some, you say a little less than some, kathy says more than some, DiversityMan says none, mem says some if he's a wine drinker... Kudos to the kid for running, but my point is that I (that's me) am not voting for any youngster with no college experience! | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2302 Registered: 1-2003 |
Neither am I. Sorry for splitting hairs. I tend to do that. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| viva Citizen Username: Viva Post Number: 375 Registered: 5-2001 |
abraham lincoln didn't go to college. |
