Public Comments and Response Notes:
Below are notes taken from the Public Comment portion of the BOE meeting. They are not verbatim. The time of each comment is provided for further review.
-54:28 Speaker 1: BTA President speaks on going over the allotted three minute time limit at the last meeting and apologizes for doing so. He says that he speaks with passion and conviction about ongoing problems in the district. He states that they still do not have the Social Studies textbooks and the that the District has still not paid the psychologists for the services they have performed. Even though for a long previously he does not believe he was being disrespectful. He goes over the timing of his own speech and the several interruptions by the Board President, Ms. Thompson. He believes there were others that also went over the time limit and were not reprimanded the Board President. He gives examples. Speaks on Ms. Galbo's request to invite the BTA to meet with the Board as per the BTA's contract. Ms. Thompson denied this meeting stating that it was part of the BTA contract so the Board was not going to take their own action. He corrects Ms. Thompson's statement by stating that the contract says two people can call for a meeting, the Board President and the BTA President. This leads him to believe one of three things. 1) She doesn't know the contract that she has recently signed off on 2) She either doesn't know the severity of the problems in the district or she refuses to recognize them 3) or she refuses to be part of the solution. Despite this the BTA remains committed to opening the lines of communication between the Union, the Superintendent, and the Board of Education. As the BTA president he has requested a meeting between the BTA representative assembly and the BOE. It is their hope that this meeting will be the beginning of bringing about real transparency and reform within our district. The BTA hopes the Board members will look at the meeting as positive steps toward progress and getting back to the task at hand, educating our children. | -57:35 Dr. Walkley: Starts by responding on the school psychologists. They have a stipend of $1200 to support the work they do as CSE chairperson. The stipend was put in the contract and it is unusual for most districts because the CSE chairpersons are also psychologists and they don't receive extra monies for that position. HOwever, talking with the psychologists their time has been pulled in many different ways. They have been in the past called as the first to respond when there is a need to intervene with students. They are the people who are very talented who get used more and more for things that maybe aren't their expertise. And so they have felt form many years that the stipend was not high enough or that they should maybe somehow be compensated. So, we want to support them and we want them to do the job they were hired to do. In a salary structure such as the one that has been put together, there are steps and there are increases and its difficult to negotiate for just one group of people a raise or higher compensation. So, after listening to their concerns, and having them speak with an outside consultant, what we heard their real concern was, is how their time had been used. So, here are the things we put in place this year because we do not have a vehicle to pay them more money through salary or compensation. Now, last year there was a grant headed through BOCES and districts received a small pool of money for leadership and Dr. Walkley spoke with the psychologists at the beginning of the year about this money and said maybe we can use this money for leadership and running the CSE's. I said there were hoops to jump through and have to meet the requirements of the grant and when she submitted the ideas to the state they rejected that particular idea. They would not support that with that money. So, again we had no vehicle to pay. But here's what we've done this year. We have hired a different title of security officers at almost every building. They have specialized training, or they will be receiving specialized training, to be sort of a first responders in a student crisis. Later, psychologists can intervene with therapeutic methodologies. So security will prevent the multitude of interruptions psychologists have dealt with in the past. We have also hired a trained IST to provide some of the CSE chairing to help relieve the load. Also some assessments can be delivered in the classrooms and we have discovered that some assessments don't need to be administered as frequently. So, what have we done, because we don't have the vehicle to pay more money, is to change the way their time is being used and relieve their caseload that they have been feeling in the past. It takes some time to get systems up and running. I don't believe it's disrespectful in problem solving to help people to be able to do the work they need to do during the workday. I also want to talk about mentors. We have nine teachers and we have nine mentors. Four of those teachers are not recognized in the BTA contract. What that means is that they don't enjoy the rights of the contract. And even though we aren't required to have mentors for them, who receive a $3000 stipend, because we value the work that mentors do, we did decide to have mentors for them. There were also two mentors that were hired during the 30 day period. The rest of the mentors are teachers who came into the district with several years of experience ranging from about three years to 12 years. There's a contract and there's a law. The law requires a mentoring experience for a teacher in the first year that they are hired, as a first year teacher. Everyone of the rest of the mentees have already had a mentoring experience. They have already met the regulation. However, because we value the relationship that is developed through mentoring experience we decided to go ahead and hire mentors for those teachers as well. Mr. Burns says that is disrespectful. I think that it is respectful to provide those who have already met a requirement a mentoring experience in this district. So, I think that there was more to the story that has been mentioned. |
-1:06:04 Speaker Two: In April or May the annoucement marquee was acting up and now it's completely dead and has been dead for several months. Are there plans to resurrect the marquee? If so, when will it happen? | 1:06:39 Dr. Walkley states that they have looked into the cost of fixing the Marquee. And because it is an older model it is $20,000 to fix. So, we are looking at electronics and perhaps other ways to provide and maybe even looking at new board because it may be cheaper in the long run to buy a new board. So, we are looking into it and taking some steps but repairing it at this point doesn't seem like it's something we'll do. |
1:07:14 Speaker Three: wants to know if our district were attacked by a cyber attacker or hacked how is our information, the parents and the students information safe? How easy would it be for someone to hack our district? Also, the poughkeepsie journal has a recent article "common core is giving kids anxiety". What was Albany's first alert on that? What did Albany recognize that no one else did? Speaker also suggests that all of the JVF stars being saved up be given to the students who manage to not get shot by an active shooter. | No comment |
1:10:54 Speaker Four: I would like to follow up on the statement that I made at the last BOE meeting wherein I spoke about the inequalities among the four elementary schools. I am wondering what actions if any the district is making to ensure that all students receive the same education? How can a teacher who has a total of 600+ students and only spends 2.5 days at one school and 3.5 days at the other in a 6 day cycle possibly accomplish the same types of STEM programming that another teacher who only works at one school and has only 415 students can? Why is it that first graders at South Avenue supposedly have a media special when first graders at JVF do not? Why do more parents not question the differences amongst our 4 schools? When the students then enter middle school they are all put together and expected to have had similar experiences in elementary school. This does not appear to be the case currently. Tonight I am asking you Barbara Walkley and the the BOE to look into these discrepancies and to come up with a specific plan so that students are not punished based on which elementary school they go to. I ask you to please consider hiring enough art and library teachers so that schools are not forced to share. This sharing of teachers is taxing not only the teachers but affecting the quality of education that they can provide to our students. In closing, I want the other elementary school parents to know that I am going to continue fighting for equality for our students until the district makes appropriate changes. | No Comment |
1:13:22 Speaker Five: Reading about SMART School investment plan and she is very excited that we have been awarded $2.1 million. Two facts have stood out, the first is that we don not have to be in a rush to decide how to spend it. There is no deadline on when we can get these funds. This allows us to spend time figuring out what's really best for the district. The second fact is that the grant demands that the district include stakeholders in the planning process. That means that not only the administration with BOE agreement makes the decision but also the teachers, parents, and community members must be in on the planning. She also realizes the limitations on spending the money. The main emphasis was buying hardware. The money could be spent on computers, lots of them, maybe a mobile device for each student like they have in "rich" districts. The money could be used on expanding internet access. She thinks it's actually encouraged. We have a diverse student body and not all the kids have access to the internet, but they could. We could explore the possibility of installing a MESH network in Beacon which would avoid laying expensive cabling and would basically be free. It has drawbacks when it comes to security but we really want these kids to be looking up information and not doing their banking. Devices for all kids plus home internet access would level the playing field a lot for our kids. OUr students could learn to use technology and to solve problems easily and it would help individualize instruction for students who can not work in the one size fits all. These are first ideas at the next meeting she's like to talk about how grant could empower our teachers since they know the most about teaching our kids. She also needs to talk about the need for good leadership on this project. Meanwhile, she leaves them with some questions. 1) What are the plans to include all stakeholders in the process. How does a stakeholder let the administration know that we want to be apart of the process? 2) one requirement for getting the money is providing approved instruction technology plan survey and have we done that? | No Comment |
1:16:41 Speaker Six: Thanks the Board and JVF for their presentation and hard work. She has spent some time on the parent portal in the past few weeks and she thinks it is great to have all the information. Thanks the teachers and appreciates the transparency. At a previous BOE meeting Dr. Walkley discussed her plans for the district, stating that there were several plans. Speaker believes she was referencing a very specific five year plan laid out by Dr. Dorward. She would like to know what exactly is the plan, how do the transfers and the ISP's and the high-priced consultants play into the plan what were the specific results that you were hoping to achieve, when can we expect to see those results, and how will these results be documented? We've heard again about missing Social Studies text books that we've been talking about for months, but we have not heard a reason. We've heard again about professionals not being paid for their work, and she listened to the response but is still unclear on why they haven't been paid for the work that they already have done. She understands that moving forward things are changing but if they've done work in the past then she'd like clarification on what's happening with getting paid. She has heard a lot of talk on a silent majority that supports everything that the district is doing, and recognizes that Dr. Walkley is a very data driven person, so she would like to know if there is any data to back that up? A large number of people have thanked her for what she and others are trying to accomplish here. Many parents have expressed that they want to get involved but that they haven't because they fear repercussions to their children. Many staff members have told her that they are afraid to speak up because it may affect their jobs adversely. So, we know why people who agree with what we are saying are remaining silent, but wonders why people who don't have that fear are remaining silent? She believes that their is a climate of fear and disrespect in this district and that belief has been backed up again and again. So her question to Dr. Walkley and the School Board is what is being done about that? | No Comment |
1:19:31 Speaker Seven: Students who are affected by bullying might not necessarily speak out for a variety of reasons. Does the school accommodate for students who act out as a response to being a victim of bullying rather than revictimize them as a subject of disciplined action without a remedy to the problem? 2) Is there a disparity with regard to the severity of the punishment being given to the students. Typically called reverse discrimination not to treat children equally. For example, who gets in school suspension and who gets out of school suspension? 3)The mailer from last year's budget mentioned contingent budget, and examples of cuts which were cap class sizes at 35, eliminate non-core classes such as art, music and electives, cuts to athletic clubs and student activities at all levels, cut non-mandatory equipment purchases, charge full cost of facility usage to all non-school associations, and reduce school building use after-hours. How will the school budget process this time promote transparency and solicit public input so that arent any questions as to what would happen if it was passed and doesn't pass. 4) He has heard that the wrong additions of the textbooks were procured for one of the classes mentioned previously. Can you clarify who is responsible for having the right version of the textbooks so that half the class or part of the class don't have different versions? | 1:33:04 Dr. Walkley: We do have a code of conduct that does outline some of the consequences although the principals do in the different levels in the district have consequences for students about bullying. We are also launching the OLWEUS program which is a nationally accredited bullying program that helps students understand issues around bullying and about being upstanders to help stop bullying in the district. So you will be hearing more. It is not fully up and running yet but we expect to do that in the second semester. There are rules around a contingent budget. Ann Marie usually saves that for her budget presentation but when you go to a contingent budget there are things that the state requires to have happen and some of the things on the list that you read are required by the state. I don't expect Ann Marie to know them off the top of her head, but... Ms. Quartironi: a lot of the comments in the budget postcard and the budget process we talk about things that would have to be looked at if we had to go to contingency budget. Those are obviously not things that the district wants to do or the board wants us to do but those are things that have to be looked at if we had to make cuts to the budget. |
1:22:01 Speaker Eight: she has brought up concerns in the past about IEP's being out of compliance. She does not believe there is anyone specifically to blame for this, she believes it is a systemic issue that could possibly be the result of not enough staff in place due to low hourly wages, and a shortage of substitute teachers. She urges Dr. Walkley and the BOE to raise the wages of substitute teachers, teachers aides, and teaching assistants. In addition, she urges them to bring back the hours cut to aides so that they qualify for benefits under the affordable care act and to offer teaching assistants the same benefits as teachers so that they do not have to buy into benefit plans from the district at exorbitant costs. She is asking them to do this so that we have a staff in place to fulfill IEP requirements and so that we have a healthy functioning district at all levels so that our teachers and children can thrive and so that student achievement can reach it's full potential. So that when a child is missing a one-to-one aid due to illness a replacement aid is in place. So that when a special education teacher resigns a teacher with the appropriate certification replaces them in the interim until someone permanent can be hired. So that the number of students in an inclusion class never goes above the maximum allowed and so that the ratio of general versus special education students is always in compliance. So that when the special education teacher in an inclusion class is out due to illness a special education teacher replaces them in the interim. So that all adaptive phys. ed. requirements are met. So that all students with with IEP's can participate in the school to work program at the high school. So that a special education class never loses it's teaching assistant because they had to sub for another class due to a shortage of subs in the district. I urge you to raise the wages for subs not just to $82 a day but to a competitive rate ( she hears that other districts pay about $100). She is curious to know when the last time those wages were raised (for teaching aids and teaching assistants). Even if there is a general shortage in Dutchess County logic tells you that if there is a shortage people will be more motivated to go to a higher paying district than a lower paying one. In neighboring districts these positions are paid a significantly higher amount. Don't our teachers deserve the same? Don't our children deserve the same? If not I ask you to tell me why not? | -1:25:19 Dr. Walkley states that on the agenda tonight to raise the wages of substitutes. as you heard from the audit this evening a school district has a set budget so we have some reserves and we can reserve up to four percent and we do not have four percent in the budget right now. So when we want to raise wages and we want to make a difference that has to be planned in the budget process. We have figured the cost of raising the wage for the substitutes to $82 a day and that is a proposal that is on the agenda this evening. In addition she believes, in her opinion, an unintentional consequence from the APPR. Three or four years ago when the APPR became legislation it changed the number of people who were in education and the number of people who were going into education. The assessments that teachers now need to take to get their certification that are pretty challenging tests and they are quite expensive. Most people who take these tests do not pass them the first time around and you can take them again but they are quite costly and you have to keep paying for them until you pass. All of these things she believes has deterred people from going into education. And so not only are we experiencing a shortage of subs, and I do believe that our pay could be a contributing factor, but all of the districts in this region are as well as even in Westchester who even pay more than we do. So yes it could be a condition of pay but it is also a condition of shortage right now that all districts are experiencing with substitutes. In terms of IEP's being out of compliance if you have a concern and you have spoken to your principal then the next person to go to is the Director of Pupil Personnel who is sitting right here this evening. She would be happy to meet with you and listen to your concerns if you have addressed the building personnel. |
1:28:28 Speaker Nine: She thinks it's great when you answer questions when people speak she thinks it makes the meetings easier to understand and that is helpful. A couple of questions based on your questions, she didn't understand about the IST who is specially trained to do the position of the security monitor instead of the (Dr. Walkley states CSE chair)? Is that an additional IST that one of the existing four? (Dr. Walkley replies see right). There used to be policy meetings on various topics, education, budget, and there are a few more and they aren't happening anymore so are those conversations going to be part of workshops? Also, she was going over the policy book and it says that the budget process should be a year round process and it says that the process of budget planning and development should allow for community input and contain numerous opportunities for public information and feedback, when will that be built in? She has been coming to Board Meetings for awhile and she's thought about district, making our schools better, locally and public education on a larger scale. The more she looks into it the more she feels that it would be great if our district would make a statement about how we feel the testing is affecting our children and our teachers. (The high stakes testing and the teacher evaluations). New Paltz has recently put out something from their Board and one of their points the said was that state gross scores are economically bias in districts with 90% or more economically disadvantaged students. 19.1% of educators are rated on state gross scores as developing or ineffective this compared to 5% teachers in schools with less than 40% economic.. you get the idea. This is not against the law, and it's not advocating Opting Out it's just saying we're on the ground here and this is how we see it and so she thinks that would be great. | -1:28:18 Dr. Walkley: The IST for the CSE chair one of the four existing IST's. -1:31:41 Dr. Walkley: There is another policy meeting coming. They tried to spread them out further. It is coming on December 7th. The budget process is a year long process. Ann Marie and I have been discussing budgets and we will be bringing a budget calendar to the next meeting. And at each board meeting there will be a budget presentation. We divide up the budget and talk about different section of the budget at each board meeting. You might be pleased this evening to find that there may be a statement coming. (Mr. Zopf: a statement regarding the APPR). |
1:34:56 Speaker Ten: has a question regarding district emails for all board member and she's wondering what is happening with that and if there is any reason for holding it up, It seems to make a lot of sense that would be part of the public record then and she's wondering the status on board members receiving them. | 1:35:33 Mr. Zopf: that's something that's being looked at and being discussed. Dr. Walkley: the board has two evenings of a retreat with the school boards and that is one item that is being discussed. There are pluses and minuses for board members to have email and so there was a discussion started and it is not yet complete, There is another evening of a board retreat. |