Public Comment and Response Highlights:
| -33:49 Speaker 1 reads her letter to the Board regarding the petition she has begun in support of the BTA President Mr. Burn's letter at the previous board meeting. (link to petition and letter can be found here ) | 1:13:52 Dr. Walkley I did address some of the things that Mr. Burns said. |
| -37:58 Speaker 2 supports the previous letter. Whatever the intention of teacher transfers was there is a real problem with teacher morale. This was evident by the letter by Mr. Burns at last meeting. The way the transfers were handled has had a negative impact. Failed opportunity for leadership. Top down management style. What is the plan to heal the district? What concrete steps is the administration going to take to improve morale, listen to, and better support our teachers moving forward? Time to reassess how our district functions. | 1:14:18 Dr. Walkley within a day or two of teachers being transferred she met with members of BTA and came up with an MOU to change the process. The process has been changed it is documented in a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) 1:31:16 Dr. Walkley Someone asked about how teachers are feeling. I take that very seriously and am meeting with union leadership. We have had a couple of meetings. There's a meeting coming up and my intent is to work well with them and I believe that we are working well. Beyond that, it is not my nature to disrespect people nor is it my nature to want people to feel badly and in terms of teacher transfers. Teacher transfers are something that happen in every district that doesn't make it right and it doesn't mean that was the right process but it is something that does happen. Our special Ed. teachers are familiar with transfers because they are transferred where the students are. And so every yr. we do often see special education being transferred. The transfers I have done are not disciplinary. I heard that being said and last time we met a letter was read that suggested that the teachers were not up to par. That's nothing that I have ever said or ever treated anybody in that way. I have talked about a strength based model and I have talked about the need to place teachers where they could expand upon the service they give to the district. When you sign up as a teacher in a district you sign up to serve students and sometimes people need to serve students in different places. Yes it is sad for students but there are other students that need assistance or connections as well and we've been talking about teacher transfers and the most truthful thing that was said is that they can't be reversed right now. There is a MOU that the process will not be the same in the future and there's nothing preventing teachers for transfers in the future if they so desire and if there are openings. Has met with some teachers and invited teachers to meet with her and her door is still open. My door is always open both to parents and teachers and actually any employee. So I am open to meeting with people and further discussing their feelings and I will continue to meet with BTA. |
| -40:46 Speaker 3 states that there is disfunction and a lack of vision. Concerned about teacher's working environment. Would like to see transparency. What is the district's plan going forward? | 1:14:52 Dr. Walkley is there any plan? Yes, there are plans, some specifically for the schools, and there is a district plan as well. She will talk about how plans are changing in her report. |
| -44:15 Speaker 4 is proud of Board Members for speaking on the disrespect being felt at meetings. Speaker is supportive of the Board and the Superintendent | 1:15:27 Dr. Walkley thanks Speaker |
| -46:06 Speaker 5 states that the Middle School is looking for costumes for their "Hairspray" musical. Asks for saddle shoes, poodle skirts, etc. | 1:15:35 Dr. Walkley acknowledges comment |
| -47:03 Speaker 6 speaks on the demands of the state and their adverse effects on public education. this district's position on APPR, opt-outs, consultants with no staff buy-in, teacher transfers, textbooks missing with the ball being dropped at admin. level. Asks Board of Ed. to take stand with us | 1:15:52 Dr. Walkley She has not seen that teachers don't care for consultants she did not see teachers disengaged. Ms. Kellogg also speaks on the consultants. Ms. Quartironi speaks on textbooks and that they have been ordered. |
| -51:31 Speaker 7 is the co-chair of the BTA public relations committee. Thank you to Board on Board Appreciation night and handed out gift | 1:20:18 Dr. Walkley acknowledges gifts that were brought for the board |
| -52:34 Speaker 8 asks why the former president of the BTA was able to have an internship at the district office. Where was the Board oversight. Questions these arrangements and the transfers. Why is the Board not addressing these situations. | 1:20:25 Ms. Thompson Board is not aware of internships throughout district. She agrees that she wishes it was different but internships are not approved or notified to Board. Will it be done differently the next time "who's to say" but not part of operations of Board |
| -56:42 Speaker 9 would like the BOE to look objectively at the Superintendent. Why are there classrooms that do not have what they need? Why are there children whose IEP's aren't being met? Why is grant money going unaccounted for? Why are teachers feeling disrespected. Why can't we look to Highland Falls? | 1:22:00 Dr. Walkley invites Speaker 9 for a meeting |
| -1:00:44 Speaker 10 questions the proposed comment policy. The President and Superintendent can reply during public comment. Does this count toward the total 60 minutes allotted? | 1:23:00 Ms. Thompson she understands that there might be frustration hearing that answers will count toward the hour of comments, but using tonight as an example they would be on track to do it tonight. It sounded short but we can anticipate doing it going forward. Everyone will be heard. |
| -1:01:52 Speaker 11 We need to respect our teachers. Why do they not have their textbooks on day 1? When will they be delivered? Who is responsible? Questions the board's last superintendent search. | 1:23:13 Dr. Walkley textbooks are ordered and on their way but she will ask if there are other textbooks missing |
| -1:05:30 Speaker 12 at forum she spoke about 3yr. plan as part of the learning community. She has asked specific questions about our current plan that she has not received adequate responses on. Can we have a student Board Member? What is the status on this. Why is it taking so long to get this on the agenda? | 1:24:44 Dr, Walkley Beacon is participating by State invitation to Professional Learning Community. Purpose is bringing together 22 school districts who are focus or priority and allowing us to work together create not a 1yr. plan but a 3yr. plan in relationship to the school plan. Last week Dr. Sieverding, Myself, Ms. Kellogg, and a teacher went to Albany for 2 days. 2 days at state drafting a 1, 2, and 3 yr. plan. Does it link into current plan. It does. We have not been to state yet but it does link into current plan and does extend out three yrs. What she suggested was that it may go a little more than 3 yrs. because our time together with the state goes into the beginning of next yr. so that plan even though designed to be 3 yr. may be extended out by the time we finish the plan. The way it is working is we spend time in Albany as a group and each time different educators are going depending on the topics they will be discussing and we begin to draft something that will come back. Dr. Sieverding, myself, and Ms. Kellogg talked today that there will be a committee being put together that will flesh out some of the big ideas that's coming out of that planning. Right now we are working on just yr. one and the State has assigned 3 specific areas that we are to develop for yr. one. So, Dr. Sieverding will be reaching out both to educators and to parent reps. and they will begin the process of fleshing that out. Our homework assignment from the state was to finish that work locally and email it to them and they will review and give us feedback. Next time in Albany is Dec. 2nd and 3rd so that work must be completed and given to state prior to that time so they can give us feedback. Ms. Thompson Student Board Member needs to be voted on in May will be discussed with PR committee |
| -1:08:32 Speaker 13 Part of the group Beacon Speaks Out values the topic of transparency. She'd like to offer transparency with the School Board's involvement with Beacon Speaks Out. She appreciates board member Ms. Galbo attending weekly meetings building strong relationships between the community and the police force. Assures that the police presence on the school grounds is part of the greater sectorial project the chief is implementing throughout the city. She urges people that may have issues to contact her. | 1:29:47 Dr. Walkley acknowledges comment |
| 1:11:08 Speaker 14 We have been requesting data from the Board about teacher transfers. Is the information releasable? Will you be able to release information on who was transferred involuntarily or because of disciplinary action? Why was there a sub hired at $65. Why are subs being hired at lower rates? | 1:30:00 Dr. Walkley I think that sometimes questions are being asked that the people themselves may not want shared and one of the things that has been talked about is that teachers feel disrespected and one way to disrespect people is to share information about them that they feel that they would like to have private. So as you said maybe it could be shared but maybe there is something more here about sharing information about people and protecting their feelings and their wishes and their desires. 1:34:53 BW we have a scale that we like to hire subs who are fully certified. If fully certified they get $72 a day. That particular person is not yet certified. They will soon be certified but because they are not there is a lower rate of pay. |
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