Public Comments and Response Notes:
The following are the public comment notes taken from the 1/25/16 BOE Meeting. We are trying a new format that is setup to show the speaker's comments, the responses from Superintendent or Board if given, and the video clip of the speaker's comments to the board so that you can hear it in it's entirety.
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-58:06 Speaker 1: Graduate of Beacon High School. Speaks highly of her coach and mother-figure, Ms. Pilla. Now working for ESPN she speaks on conducting herself by the cardinal rules of sports journalism. She expresses disappointment in the Poughkeepsie Journal reporting regarding the petition that was filed.
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no comment
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-1:02:25 Speaker 2: Beacon resident and parent finds current situation regarding supposed inappropriate behavior and favors between Superintendent and former BTA president ludicrous and appalling. He personally doesn't believe emails are supported by FOIL and sites Hillary Clinton Benghazi emails as example. He would like to see the original FOIL requests. Waste of time and taxpayer dollars and tells Ms. Pilla to "man your guns, stay the course, right will out"
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-1:04:40 Speaker 3: Beacon resident and parent concerned with the legal representation that the board is getting. He cites an example email in the petition filed with the State Education Department where communication between the school attorney and the former BTA President went against the school attorney's duty to be easily accessible to the Superintendent. (Full example in video). Also speaks on the answer given by the school's attorney regarding the petition. In which he never takes up the allegation that more than 20 teachers were transferred not because it was good for district but because it was the will of the former BTA President. Rather the school attorney's answer personally attacks the parent who was the petitioner and is hung up on how emails were obtained. Which is completely irrelevant to the task at hand.
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-1:08:32 Speaker Four: Speaks on the letter (read here) that was released by the BOE. The letter states that Dr. Walkley's ability to serve was compromised by allegations brought by a "handful" of community members which the Board believes are without merit. Speaker believes we can not move forward and heal if our elected representatives fail to acknowledge that there is a problem to heal from. She would like each Board Member to give their feelings on that letter and to current issues. Speaker states that the Board needs to learn from it's mistakes with a proper superintendent search with stakeholder input. Speaker would like to know, after the cancelled Board meeting, and two subsequent Executive Session meetings, why important items on the original agenda were never taken care of?
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1:11:23 Speaker Five: Speaks on community member Mr. Bugg who used to come to meetings to bring up diversity issues among staffing. The diversity stats on website were subsequently taken down. The Board, especially the President, gave a reckless disregard for Mr. Bugg's requests.
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1:13:09 Speaker Six: Addresses the Board regarding the petition and the "handful of community members" mentioned in the letter from the Board. Notes that at the January 11th cancelled meeting 400 concerned parents, teachers, retired teachers, administrators, retired administrators, taxpayers, city council members, county legislators, the mayor came here not just because of the petition but likely because of their own experiences of being dismissed as stakeholders in this district. Small percentage of population of Beacon but it has got to be a record for attendance at a school board meeting here and it's close to half the number that voted in the last school board election. How has Ms. Thompson come to the conclusion that the allegations in the petition are without merit? Did the school attorney, who is also implicated give her that impression? The petition reveals an attitude of contempt for long-time employees, the intention to ignore issues of diversity and race, the Superintendent inappropriately mentored by the former BTA President. Why wasn't this petition given as much attention as the recent Title VII complaint filed against the district?
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1:16:46 Speaker Seven: President of the BTA, Association VP, and Treasurer: Expresses frustration with Board response to the Superintendent's inability to work with the BTA. In December they passed a vote of "no confidence" in the Superintendent. They were never able to present that resolution to the Board due to lack of public BOE meetings. Teachers continue to go about their business. BOE denial has fractured district and the Board itself. Questions remain, what are the Board members' levels of complicity in all of this? BTA is ready to move forward. Met with BEAA. They will do whatever it takes. Teachers want to teach but ask for a seat at the table when decisions are being made that affect the kids.
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1:19:01 Speaker Eight: Running for the Board on three platforms 1) Transparency 2) Governing and oversight 3) Fiscal responsibility. Tonight speaker is addressing transparency. Approved addendum agreement should not have been discussed and approved in executive session. It also was not discussed in open forum. Public should be aware of what addendum was and the terms of it. BOE president is quoted in the paper "I think she made a request upon resignation" and "between our attorney and she they were able to working something out". Who is in charge? The BOE or the school attorney? $63,000 of our tax money with no discussion in public forum? This will not happen with a new board. He also calls for a root cause evaluation on why Beacon has had so many Superintendents. Without fully understanding the root cause, how will we determine the right person? We need a panel, not contracted to come up with the root cause.
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-1:21:40 Speaker Nine: Dr. Walkley was supposed to give 90 days notice but did not. Has the contract been amended and if so has it been released to public? When did the Board authorize the amendment? Shouldn't this have been transparent since effecting public funds? Did BOE vote to give attorney authority? What was the procedure? Why would you all the school attorney to single-handedly negotiate this buy-out?
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1:24:36 Speaker 10: Why aren't there more after-school programs? Glenham offers a wonderful program but there is no busing offered to it, why? also concerned about the common core and data collection. Believes it is wrong and we should be protecting children's' privacy.
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1:26:44 Mrs. Quartironi: She will contact speaker via email but her overall comment is that the district offers bus to and from school and daycare. There is no busing offered for after school programs district wide. Speaker 10: How can households with only one car get there? Mrs Quartironi: she understands and will get back to her.
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1:27:58 Speaker 11: Concerned parent and taxpayer. What she is hearing about the scandal is disturbing. Concerned about children talking. Shouldn't teach them to turn on people because of race, color, and sexual preference. Get away from mudslinging and Facebook posts. focus on living in a better world. God says we should do things in decency and order. She sees Beacon divided. If you lived here for 20-25 years you built this town. We have to lead by example. When children are concerned about a teacher being terminated they feel is doing a good job it needs to be addressed.
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1:31:20 Speaker 12: Speaks on the process of contacting Board members. Emails are sent to the clerk and from there the are sent to the Superintendent who then decides who they should be sent to. Speaker wants clarification on our process. Requesting a way for community to directly communicate with Board Members without Superintendent filter. The policy should also be found on website.
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1:33:40 Speaker 13: Brian Archer, Principal @ Sargent and President of Beacon Education Administrators Association (BEAA). First public statement the admin union have made in this format in a long time. Board and public need to know where we stand as a unit. We as admin group have not only endured but have continually strived to collaborate with all the stakeholders despite of all the barriers that have been placed in their path. It is time to put students at the center of all decisions made in Beacon. BEAA is committed to continuing partnerships with stakeholders and will continue to work hard and support interim Superintendent during these challenging times. Asks the Board to govern district with transparency. Let's work toward one Beacon, one goal, work together as one for our kids.
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-1:35:47 Speaker 14: Received letter regarding possible cancer cluster at Sargent Elementary. Would like more information than what came home in the letter. Needs transparency and more details. The letter was not sufficient.
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1:37:50 Mrs. Quartironi: She received a request from the teacher's union regarding staff members at Sargent having cancer. We are starting to investigate. The letter was vague but not meant to be they are just starting the process. We've contacted BOCES and suggested we go to DOH. there will be more information and I will keep staff and parents up to date. She doesn't have more to share. She doesn't have list of tests. Waiting for more guidance.
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-1:40:10 Speaker 15: Board me tonight without informing the public prior to the executive session. An executive session is planned tonight to discuss employment history, and a second session is scheduled for later. Reads educational law. At the August 10th meeting the rationale for not engaging with the public regarding the 27 teacher transfers was that the transfers were personnel matters and not decisions of the Board. So can the Board discuss personnel matters or not? Reads further laws that suggest the Board can discuss personnel matters. Which is it? Regarding the technology grant, 3 representatives were to be chosen to represent each building level on the technology committee and at the recent high school pto meeting no one had been advised of committee yet. The workshop is Feb. 8th. Can you please let us know when you will engage us?
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1:43:28 Speaker 16: Speaker was surprised to see executive session as he walked in building this evening. The board was meeting with several building principals. When and where was notice given for that executive session? What is the justification for the meeting?
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1:44:49 Speaker 17: Big picture of what he sees as new member of community is that of unprofessionalism and mismanagement. Regardless of personal issues he sees lack of transparency from School Board and that is worrisome. He doesn't know many of the board, what they think about education. He doesn't know their vision for the district. I know the Advocates for Beacon Schools' vision. I see it. They have given sheets that lay out a clear plan and he likes what he sees. But really wants everyone to start talking to each other and listening. What's your vision. Have town hall meetings outside of BOE meetings.
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1:48:30 Speaker 18: Four years ago she came to BOE meeting when she had heard music and art programs were being cut. Prior to meeting she contacted teachers to see if students could come and present so the Board could see and know the importance. Teachers were told they can not perform or make presentations. She came instead and fought for music and the Board told her that it was not true. She felt like the teachers may get in trouble for even talking to her. The Board still begins the meeting asking for student presentations. It would be a great learning experience for them. She would like to see more presentations. Issues have nothing to do with race but because the Superintendent was inadequate. Addressing Kenya: What have you done in the past few years to increase the graduation rates and make this a dual language school?
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1:52:34 Speaker 19: Who is the chair of the audit committee? Speaker is troubled by things she has seen in agenda management letter for fiscal year that has ended and financial statements. did the audit committee review them? Is it standard for people on audit committee to have relationship to the treasurer?
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1:53:55 Mrs. Quartironi: Audit committee does meet with the external auditor. Happened in December and he did presentation at BOE. This is more procedure that the board must adopt (financial statements, management letter) There are responses by district in a document she'd be happy to share. Email her with specific questions. There is no chair for the audit committee.
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1:55:25 Speaker 20: She thinks much of this is personal. About children, home, how our tax dollars are spent, public trust. Humans are flawed and make mistakes what prevents mess is oversight, professionalism, people doing their best to be visible and open about where they stand, where they disagree, willing to have discourse and achieve consensus. Consensus can not happen behind closed doors it should be acheived in front of people to keep public trust. She signed petition because at some point she felt like nothing was being done in the open. There were too many open secrets and many people who felt like they weren't being represented, heard, or supported professionally. Break things wide open clear them out repair what's there. Doesn't doubt that anyone involved in this has done a good job, touched lives, and shaped futures and hopes they can get back to that. First there is a step of accountability, transparency, recognizing we have a problem, and coming up with a very clear plan of how to fix it and fix it together.
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