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Message |
    
fringe
Citizen
Username: Fringe
Post Number: 769
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 7:25 am: | 
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Toward's the end of next year the BOE will begin its search for a superintendent to replace Super H whose contract expires in about June 2007. One can easily argue that one of the most, if not the most, important consideration in selecting BOE members this April is their view on what a Super should be.
Messrs. O'Leary and Miller and Ms. Jasey, the incumbents up for reelection, have picked up the election packets. In evaluating their views one has not only their words, but their actions to review. Perhaps this will cause others to consider running for the board. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1188
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 9:57 pm: |
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How do we know that the BOE will not extend his contract again (please God no)? |
Concerned07040
Citizen
Username: Concerned07040
Post Number: 27
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 6:39 am: |
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This is a very importnat BOE election.
Other than the current members of the Board, have others picked up the packet?
Concerned07040 |
fringe
Citizen
Username: Fringe
Post Number: 770
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 7:14 am: |
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Not as of Friday. |
joeltfk
Citizen
Username: Joeltfk
Post Number: 104
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 4:49 pm: |
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As a busy parent, the only thing I know about Super H is that he supported the Xmas music ban. Apart from that, what else do people have against him? I'm looking to educate myself here and am curious if all the animosity revolves around that Xmas position. |
Southorangemom
Citizen
Username: Southorangemom
Post Number: 165
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 5:30 pm: |
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Joeltfk,
No, the Xmas music ban is not the only issue.
Dr. Horoschak takes a hard line position on many issues, and then declines to change his mind even when presented with additional information.
Despite what BOE annual goals state, communication with parents [and teachers] is not a priority. See the thread elsewhere on this Board on "Communication."
His record on selecting administrators for the district is not a very good one.
I have not seen the educational initiatives that used to be the forward-thinking mindset in this school district.
I believe he has outlasted his welcome, and is costing the district a huge amount of money, both due to his salary and benefits package [which includes hefty contributions to his pension because his job in New Mexico did not have a similar pension].
A superintendent has to make tough decisions, but the primary focus MUST be education of our children. Where is that emphasis in our communities?
SouthOrangeMom
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sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 1817
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 5:30 pm: |
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There was plenty of animosity prior to the music brouhaha. Check the archives in the Education section. |
jacman
Citizen
Username: Jacman
Post Number: 266
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 9:21 pm: |
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Joel, for starters, SOMEA's Rep Council passed a vote of no confidence in Dr. Horoschak's performance as the Board was considering renewing his contract. Despite this very strong condemnation, the Board of Education renewed his contract anyway.
Since that time, he has wreaked vengeance on teachers, which has eroded any glimmer of faith we might have had in his ability to lead this district fairly and intelligently. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1189
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 8:05 pm: |
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Super H has very poor leadership skills. He has alienated parents as well as teachers. His communication skills are completely lacking. He constantly manipulates the budget process and dangles emotional cutbacks in front of parents in order to get the funding he wants.
He refuses to take constructive criticism from parents and taxpayers.
Very simply, the man must go. He is not the right person to continue to lead our school district. His contract never should have been extended the last time. |
harpo
Citizen
Username: Harpo
Post Number: 2002
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 10:46 pm: |
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Concerned07040,
Every BOE election is an important election.
joeltfk,
I strongly urge you to look someplace other than MOL for information about the schools and the Administration. Many people in town are active in school issues and knowledgeable. You just have to ask your friends and neighbors and you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to talk the BOE members directly. All of them are listed in the phone book and are, in my experience, open to conversation.
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fringe
Citizen
Username: Fringe
Post Number: 773
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 7:10 am: |
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Perhaps one of those "knowledgeable" folks would favor us MOL readers with a list of the district's accomplishments under Super H. Do they agree with his explanation of district performance on NJ tests and SATs in yesterday's News-Record? If other measures are to be used, what are they, and how can they be independently verified?
Are Messrs. O'Leary & Miller and Ms. Jasey, the incumbent candidates in the April BOE election content to run on the Super H record? On what policies or programs did they differ with him?
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Southorangemom
Citizen
Username: Southorangemom
Post Number: 166
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 5:20 pm: |
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Fringe,
I was totally befuddled by Horoschak's comments in yesterday's "News Record." Sounded like some form of English that is understandable only to the speaker [a la George Bush???].
Maybe the BOE members can list the major accomplishments of Horoschak's regime.
SouthOrangeMom |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1649
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 5:30 pm: |
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I find it interesting that both the Teachers Union and those who are usually on the other side from the Union on education issues, that is, those who would generally be classified as "conservatives" don't like this guy. Who does? Is there anyone who supports him outside of a thin majority on the BOE? |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1192
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 7:24 pm: |
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No. |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 496
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:02 pm: |
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My experience with the district has been firsthand.
On Dr. Horoschak's watch, in the last four years:
- Industrial Arts have been gutted: a thriving, popular, practical program was thrown out, leaving only classes in computer-aided design
- Elementary school music programs have been under constant assault: for at least the last three years, elementary level music has been relegated to the special question. In the next two years, the middle schools will begin to feel the detrimental effect of this cut; in five years, musical arts at the high school will feel it. (Bonus question: when interest in CHS music decreases in five years, will that be the rationale for trimming that program?)
- Elective courses at CHS have been and are becoming much less accessible, due to a combination of decreasing availability and increasing demand: four years ago it was a simple matter to take more than one elective; now most students are forced to take study halls |
common sense
Citizen
Username: Common_sense
Post Number: 37
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 7:59 pm: |
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well done Albatross - you have spotted H's plan - cut the repetoire of the music dept first and people will lose interest and then cut the program.
I'd rather cut his bonus and pay rise to nil and keep the music.
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johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1196
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 10:15 pm: |
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Why don't we freeze all admin salaries for the next couple of years? |
cbbk
Citizen
Username: Cbbk
Post Number: 14
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 11:16 pm: |
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common sense, I'm with you...
cut his bonus and pay raise -- keep and reinstate the programs super H has cut.
He needs to go! |
happyman
Citizen
Username: Happyman
Post Number: 252
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 2:54 pm: |
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I think the question to the BOE members who are running for reelection this year is:
Why did you choose to give bonuses and raises to Administration, knowing that services that affect the students directly would likely be cut instead? (Examples over the last few years: 4th Grade instrumental, elementary-level TV studio, electives, French, what else am I forgetting?)
We need the hard questions asked to all BOE members and particularly to those who are asking us to reelect them for the next, very vital, years!
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5657
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 7:04 pm: |
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I can't speak for the BOE, but I worked at Lucent while it was a sinking ship. Bonuses were cut, budgets were cut, lots of people were cut out of the company, and raises were stopped. Except that the top execs got huge pay raises and stock options. One executive was given a "retention bonus" which was an incentive for him not to leave the company during a four month period. It was in the amount of $22 million.
The idea there is that if they didn't pay their execs that well, no one else would do the job so well.
I sense that this is the notion here. Do we dare call the BOE's bluff and risk that we can find administrators who can do a good job without such raises? Maybe if we call their bluff, some or all will stay. If we don't call their bluff, they get the raises. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 756
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 10:39 pm: |
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Why - just why - do we have to have some accomplished track record superstar who carries the big bucks salary, not to mention house, and, oh yes, who has done so well we have to make his retirement whole?
There are many deputy or assistant supers who are just as capable of solidly managing our school district and who are more in tune with local mores and expectations.
It seems that if you are an elected board member you feel that you will be a really respected official when you hire the most expensive fish in the sea.
Enough long paragraphs!
Two of the three board members running for re-election bear a heavy burden for enabling our super to create a consistent environment of divisiveness.
The third was appointed to maintain the status quo.
Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho,
All three must go! |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3368
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 9:42 am: |
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well, who's running? |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4676
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 10:40 am: |
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"accomplished track record superstar"?
Where is the track record? He was chased out of the Albuquerque school district (law suits were involved) and now he's ripping off this one as he downgrades it.
I say we replace deliberate incompetence with younger, smarter competence. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 761
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 9:55 pm: |
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mem:
I meant that description as sarcastic hyperbole directed to our superficial board of education(and specifically the three incumbents who are running).
Amen to your replacing incompetence with competance.
His real track record is as you described.
BTW, I can understand how he foiled the selection committee at that time (even though the Alberquerque School Board dissatisfaction was on the internet and easily available in the newspapers there).
What I can't understand is how our Board of Education since then, has overlooked and enabled the erosion of our school district.
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berry festival
Citizen
Username: Berry_festival
Post Number: 122
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 9:33 pm: |
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I understand there are 8 candidates for BOE. Is anyone able to list them? |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 609
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 10:38 pm: |
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Berry Festival, yes. Call me tomorrow or email me. I'm too tired to list them all tonight.
j |
berry festival
Citizen
Username: Berry_festival
Post Number: 123
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 7:45 am: |
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bookgal,
i would need a name, phone number or email address to do that.
Anyone else? |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 674
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 10:46 am: |
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berry, you can send an e-mail to bookgal if you click on the user name in dark red. You'll get a screen that lets you send a private message to a user. Sorry if you already know this, I wasn't sure from your post. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7770
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 10:54 am: |
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If anyone knows who is running it would be nice to post the names here. |
Nohero
Citizen
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 4375
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 10:57 am: |
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Yeah, don't tease Bobby the K.
He has an itchy typing finger, and wants to get started on an election ... |
Hank Zona
Citizen
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2072
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 11:12 am: |
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nah...he's figuring eight candidates means alot of free coffee.  |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7773
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 11:29 am: |
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LOL, but speaking of Ks did I ever tell you guys about the time I heard Murray the K say, "I really FXXked that up" on an open mike? |
Robert Little
Citizen
Username: Boblittle
Post Number: 135
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 11:42 am: |
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At yesterday's deadline, the following people had filed for the April 19 BOE election:
William R. Gifford III
Mila M. Jasey
Mark T. Miller
Brian F. O’Leary
Chigozie Onyema
Lawrence Petraccaro
Daniela Tumin
Robert Z. Welsh
Andrea Wren-Hardin |
wharfrat
Citizen
Username: Wharfrat
Post Number: 1614
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 12:27 pm: |
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So, who are you supporting, Mr. Little? |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3388
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 12:47 pm: |
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who's Latz supporting? |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 539
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 12:58 pm: |
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Chigozie Onyema! Unless his father has the same name, I believe that he is Columbia High School Class of '04.
I have no doubt that he would run on a platform for the students: it will be interesting to see what he has to say. |
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