| Author | Message | ||
     SOMaplewood Citizen Username: Somaplewood Post Number: 59 Registered: 4-2004 |
In the Wharfrat universe, wives always agree with husbands, husbands must reveal to the public conversations with wives, and Wharfrat gets to know who's running before the candidate even decides whether to pick up a packet. | ||
| Dad23 Citizen Username: Dad23 Post Number: 65 Registered: 8-2003 |
I hope somebody runs who isn't the incumbents. There is at least one incumb that has to go. | ||
| SOMaplewood Citizen Username: Somaplewood Post Number: 60 Registered: 4-2004 |
Mrs. Birdbrain's sentiments are likely considerably less controversial than those of the incumbents. Goodness, they couldn't be MORE controversial than the music policy foisted upon us by O'Leary and Jasey. | ||
| nan Citizen Username: Nan Post Number: 1824 Registered: 2-2001 |
SOMaplewood, Is this whole thread you started just a thin shill for a BOE candidate? That's what it is starting to look like. If so, let's just hope the candidate you favor has more ethics than those that support him/her. I also hope that whomever runs possesses deep knowledge about educational issues, and is extremely experienced handling budgets and can work hard and focused under extreme pressure. Those are the kind of incumbents we have running this year. Voting for someone who lacks those qualities simply because of the stand taken on music played at holiday concerts would be as dumb as it gets. And by the way, wherever you are getting your information about the Wharfrat household, it's wrong. | ||
| Gordon Agress Citizen Username: Odd Post Number: 70 Registered: 8-2004 |
“Voting for someone who lacks those qualities simply because of the stand taken on music played at holiday concerts would be as dumb as it gets.” Because nan’s view of the music issue and/or its importance is the only plausible view for informed people of good will. If free speech isn’t founded on a God-given right, then it’s founded on a kind of humble appreciation that, even when we are most certain of ourselves, there still exists some theoretical possibility that someone else might have something useful to say in opposition to us or our views. | ||
| Gordon Agress Citizen Username: Odd Post Number: 71 Registered: 8-2004 |
And: even if I agreed that the music policy was a good one, I would still regard its effect as largely symbolic, with little short-term improvement in the education received by the kids. Was it worth the agitation and the predictable risk of litigation? And if it was worth the trouble, could the board have done a better job of answering the community’s concerns, than its Chairman’s statement that “we’re supporting the policy because that’s what the policy is”? The handling of the music fiasco suggests a great deal about the judgment, priorities and responsiveness of the board members who will be addressing those questions of larger short-term importance. Finally, while other issues are more pressing, the music policy as implemented has damaged the schools’ freedom of curriculum and commitment to excellence, and that over the long term that damage will operate, in some fashion, large or small, to hurt the district’s ability to educate the children. Which is why I am dumb enough to imagine that yes, someone might think it more important than technical preparation. | ||
| happyman Citizen Username: Happyman Post Number: 247 Registered: 6-2001 |
Gordon- Excellent post. | ||
| andream Citizen Username: Andream Post Number: 66 Registered: 9-2002 |
Nan, And the BOE's accomplishments for the past year would be.....(other than causing international criticism of our schools and community)..... | ||
| wharfrat Citizen Username: Wharfrat Post Number: 1585 Registered: 6-2001 |
Andream- Since it's conventional wisdom among some MOLers that Wharfrat calls the shots in his kingdom, my wife ordered me to respond to you.  The following is a list of accomplishments you asked for: Strategic planning-something you participated in, albeit not for long. The ongoing LA program assessment- The district has been responsive to the community's and the staff's concerns. In fact, Jefferson is piloting the Fountas and Pinnell phonics program, something one of your favs, Lynne Crawford commended, at the 12/20 BOE meeting. At the same meeting, Marilyn Davenport announced the district was staff developing the DIBELS assessment model. Further development of the multiple measurement model. Settlement of ASCA contract- The contract has a benefits re-opener clause that kicks in should SOMEA start to contribute towards their benefits package. Some may see this as preparation for SOMEA negotiations. Also, it's worth noting that the district has managed to maintain competitive teacher salaries, while getting productivity increases. Budget- With the funding pie shrinking faster than the size of a Dannon yogurt, our district still manages to do a decent job delivering services. In spite of claims that our administrative staffing is bloated the district eliminated four administrative positions in a reorganization. Over a three year period administrative per pupil spending went up $5. It's worth noting that state’s administrative per pupil "threshold" for our part of the state for 05-06 is about $1600. Our district's administrative per pupil costs will be somewhere around $350 less. The next phase of capital plan is set to begin. With regards to complaints about the budgeting process, the district has done a decent job over a two year period of presenting school budget tutorials (Budget 101)-I don't know of any other school district in the state that has done something this in depth. | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 13198 Registered: 10-2001  |
And what have they done poorly? | ||
| nan Citizen Username: Nan Post Number: 1829 Registered: 2-2001 |
Well, going back to Andream's questioning of the accomplishments--I would list these as problem areas-- Strategic Planning There were some serious organizational issues that were only partially addressed by the leader of that effort. There was at least one serious ethical issues (supporters of a single interest group were allowed to have their own committee) that was completely ignored by the leader of that effort. Language Arts Review I thought the three new members elected last year tried to shamelessly hijack the work done by the well balanced LA review committee. In one case the BOE member had been on the review committee itself and had been overruled. But, these issues concern BOE members that Andream supported big time--and she was even the campaign manager for two of them. During the campagn they were presented as the saviors of our district and experts at budgetary matters. I'd like Andream to provide a list of their accomplishments so far. | ||
| nan Citizen Username: Nan Post Number: 1830 Registered: 2-2001 |
"Because nan’s view of the music issue and/or its importance is the only plausible view for informed people of good will." Gordon, I find it incredible that, on one hand, you claim that I am dictating that there is only one position on this issue and yet, on the other, you claim your right to be right about it. That's a nicely crafted piece of lawyerly rhetoric. The music issue is just something on which many of us disagree. You may think it damages the curriculum. I thought just the opposite: that the curriculum was damaged by the need to balance Christmas songs with music from whatever holidays occurred closest to December 25th, regardless of quality. We could go on forever with this debate. It's not as important as S1701 and any candidate that runs primarily on the music issue will be,IMHO, be a pretty pathetic choice. | ||
| Bobkat Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7635 Registered: 5-2001 |
Wharf, a few points and opinions: 1. As a veteran of maybe five strategic planning initiatives little ever comes out of them. For the most part strategic planning arises when management runs out of ideas. 2. The language arts assessment has been going on since the late 1990s. Meanwhile the achievement gap continues to widen. 3. The percentage of our tax dollars going to administration are still higher than average. Our admin costs haven't gone up as much as other districts because they were sky high to start with. Ours is one of the larger non-Abbott districts in this portion of the state. Even in the wacky world of school economics, where most real world rules don't apply, there still has to be some economy of scale. 3. Last year the Board and the Administration were prepared to offer a budget that would have resulted in a ten percent tax hike. Only the intervention of Mayor P and others kept that number to a more reasonable level. | ||
| fringe Citizen Username: Fringe Post Number: 788 Registered: 5-2001 |
Are the "accomplishments" set out above by the status quo defenders trial balloons? One wonders if any new candidate, other than the posters, would run on the strength of the issues cited. While I appreciate the views, I'm more interested in those of incumbent candidates O'Leary, Jasey and Miller. Or is this to be another BOE campaign waged by surrogates. | ||
| Gordon Agress Citizen Username: Odd Post Number: 72 Registered: 8-2004 |
"I find it incredible that, on one hand, you claim that I am dictating that there is only one position on this issue and yet, on the other, you claim your right to be right about it." I state my views, and I make a case for them. The reader is invited to agree or disagree with me on the basis of my arguments, and answer them if they like. I might even agree that their answer is better than mine. You called a particular view -- which, by the way, is not necessarily my own -- "dumb". Now how could that view be "dumb" if it were somehow possible for an intelligent person to hold it? And while I've offered an argument for ranking the issues differently than you would, you dismiss such alternate rankings as "pathetic"; without addressing the argument, or making one of your own. So how exactly would someone judge between us? So yes, I think there is a difference. | ||
| wharfrat Citizen Username: Wharfrat Post Number: 1592 Registered: 6-2001 |
Bobk- A number of responses- 1) With administrative costs at $1252 per student we are tied for 10th (out of 17) non-Abbott districts in Essex Cty. Once again our costs per student are $350 less per student than the maximum allowed for this region. We spend less on administrative costs per student than Livingston and Millburn. West Orange, which shares a number of characteristics with us also spends more than we do. 10 out of 17th puts us below average in administrative per pupil spending. What's your definition of higher than average for this region? 2) The administration never asked for a 10% tax increase. The BOSE asked the district to present different budget scenarios in order to initiate discussions. Also, during Budget 101 meetings the district presented different budget scenarions in order to illustrate how current revenue streams impact school funding and allocation. Also, remember, we don't have a broad commercial base, like Millburn/Short Hills or Livingston that offsets the % of residential taxes. Are you suggesting we spend less money on our schools? If so, where would you make cuts? 3) Strategic planning was the brainchild of one of the candidates you supported two years ago, Greg Betheil. This was part of his campaign platform. One embraced by you and many other members of the community, in and out of school. Are you in effect saying your candidate of choice brings nothing of value to his board position? 4) Finally, the district continues to grapple with the achievement gap. So does everyone else. This is a statement of fact, not an excuse. To address the achievement gap, solutions incorporating differentiated instruction, sensitivity training of staff and students, and parent education programs exist. They do cost big bucks. How much are you willing to pony-up? | ||
| wharfrat Citizen Username: Wharfrat Post Number: 1593 Registered: 6-2001 |
Tucker- Nobody who runs for any office does this to support the staus-quo. Your postulation is sheer nonsense. | ||
| Bobkat Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7653 Registered: 5-2001 |
Wharf, I don't remember being a particular supporter of Greg's during that BOE race, but I admit to being cynical, from experience, about strategic planning. Slice it anyway you want, but we still spend a higher percentage of each tax dollar on administration than most districts, especially those with 6,000 plus students. Livingston has a lot of commercial rateables. West Orange gets a lot more money from the state than we do. Because of public pressure there has been some improvement in this area, but it comes down to where should the dollars go, administration or into the classroom. Revisionist history is wonderful. My recollection is that the first budget presented last year by Doctor H would have resulted in a ten percent plus tax increase. If that was for negotiating purposes or not, it isn't my place to say. I don't think it costs a lot to try for outreach to the minority community in our schools to overcome a lot of cynicism and maybe even resentment. The little bruhah about the holidays and the effective termination of the MLK Chorus sure as heck didn't help on that score. | ||
| wharfrat Citizen Username: Wharfrat Post Number: 1594 Registered: 6-2001 |
Your recollection is wrong. The budget was presented for illustration purposes, in order to show the dollar amount the district would need in order to fund the district's need beyond stasis. | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 13203 Registered: 10-2001 |
Super H asked for an 8% tax increase for the schools component. |
