-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.

-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?

1:07:14 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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

1:22:01 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.

1:34:56 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.

-49:34 Speaker 1 Physical Education Teacher at Sargent spoke of her experience in the past with the BTA and how she felt it improved under the leadership of Ms. Pilla.  As the changes with Common Core and during our constant turnover of superintendents Ms. Pilla was there collecting information and distributing among members.  She has not heard a public statement of gratitude to Ms. Pilla and she would like to thank Ms. Pilla for her service tonight. 

-53:22 Speaker 2 talks about the petition that asks the Board to look into why the teachers were dissatisfied.  The petition was made in response to the Union President's letter at the prior board meeting.  Some signatures include the Mayor and several City Council Members and many others.  She provides the Board of Education with the petition and urges them to look into the underlying cause for the current discontent.  There are ethical concerns and we look to the BOE to provide leadership in this area. 

-56:45 Speaker 3 reads comments from the petition and states that we need a culture shift and everyone is coming together to say that.  Until we find a positive relationship between the teachers and the admin we are never going to be able to excel as a district.

-58:08 Speaker 4 shares some observations she had at one of the first meetings she attended.  Dr. Walkley gave a sobering report on our high school and it's focus status and the areas where we need to show improvement.  She states that Dr. Walkley spoke extensively about Rigor (she later learned that there is an educational definition of Rigor) involves creative thinking, complex problem solving, etc.  At the same meeting she heard parents make comments of outrage involving teacher transfers asking for explanations.  In subsequent meetings she has developed concern for low APPR rates and how that seems to have been mishandled, dismay over programming for the arts especially in relation to BAEF, lost or underutilized BOCES contracts, money being misspent or not spent when it could be going to increasing these programs, missing or late book orders, approval of expensive consultants, disparates between the elementary schools in art and music staff.  Serious issues are being brought up at meetings sometimes they aren't even acknowledged in responses.  With own research she has learned about status with the state.  Learned about what other cities have done to get out of focus status.  New Paltz BOE rejecting criteria, Haldane has given detailed explanation on their TOSAs, examples on how healthy districts operate and integral to this is leadership with vision and culture of outreach.  Beacon has terrible reputation.  Known as "the little District that could and then didn't"  This is disheartening news.  How are you on the Beacon City School Board going to apply the necessary "Rigor" to once and for all address the inherent dysfunction and lack of vision in our administration that is clearly keeping us from living up to our full potential. 

1:03:47 Speaker 5 reads comments from the petition

1:05:55 Speaker 6 at last meeting we learned about Glenham's STEM program that their librarian is implementing.  While all is this is happening at Glenham, JVF and Sargent are sharing both a librarian and an art teacher.  How is this fair?  Why are Forrestal and Sargent (2nd largest elementary school) having to share teachers?  Why is the curriculum not the same throughout the entire district?  What is the district going to do to ensure that all elementary schools are afforded the same opportunities regardless of which school they go to?  Also, what has been your experience with Bond Elections and please describe your specific responsibilities and results. 

-1:07::37  Speaker 7 BTA President is tremendously humbled by the support shown by the parent's group and on behalf of all the teachers that work in Beacon he wants to say thank you.  He can no longer hear the Superintendent state how well she is working with the BTA when nothing can be further from the truth.  There are still textbooks that heaven't been provided,  The Superintendent has violated contract by not supplying mentors required by NY State in a timely fashion for our new teachers.  He believes that they were intentionally put on the back burner to cement the TOSA positions.  TOSAs are supposed to be voluntarily used by the teachers, but the Superintendent has threatened that if classrooms aren't opened to the TOSAs she will pull teachers from class for mandatory training.  At a cost of $500,000 a year, the Superintendent has oversubscribed the number of TOSAs.  Superintendent has failed to pay six school psychologists for 100's of hours of work they did last year on the committee for Special Ed.  Work the Superintendent agreed to pay for.  They school psychologists performed the work, submitted claims which were signed off by a supervisor, and they are not paid.  Central Admin. will not respond to emails.  Superintendent has failed to address critical shortage of substitutes.  Substitutes leave district to go to higher paying districts.  The Superintendent has said that the reason we don't have enough subs is because the teachers take too many sick days.  When I asked which teachers there was no answers.  Superintendent asked BTA to sign MOA to move a morning PE to the afternoon.  I said send it to me and I'll sign it.  For two weeks I sent emails and received the response we are waiting on the lawyers.  I received the MOA and the Superintendent expected me to sign and return it in one day.  This passive aggressive way of doing business is the same way she dealt with us on proposed APPR.  Does Superintendent not understand that the teachers want a well vetted APPR especially in light of fact that once again the government has put forth a document heavily weighted against teachers?  And is our hesitancy to sign proposed APPR a mystery to the Superintendent when it was she and the ex-BTA president that were the architects of the last APPR which resulted in approximately 70% of our teachers being rated ineffective?  The list of transgressions is an exhaustive list.  BTA is at a crucial junction in our relationship with the Superintendent.  The BTA leadership asked to meet twice a month to try and work collaboratively and to improve the district.  Superintendent said let's stay with once a month.  I offered my cell # and said call anytime, the Superintendent replied you have my office #.  We are at an impasse.  The District is not performing well according to NY State.  It will be a disaster for the district to go into receivership.  (Interruption) You need us Mrs. Thompson and we want to work together.

-1:13:52 Speaker 8 asks about Technology grant and the workshop that is supposed to happen.  Do you have a date for the workshop?  And with the approval for the waiver how does that change the APPR for this year and if that changes the role of the IST (Instsructional Support Teacher) in charge of educating on the 3012D

-1:14:46 Speaker 9  Observes the Board is unable to act and follow through on certain things that they'd like to accomplish.  Some of that is not understanding Robert's Rules of Order to move things forward in a meeting.  She would love to see a meet and greet.  It can happen in a 10 minute recess.  Someone on board could motion for this to happen.   Also, Ms. Galbo shared that she would like to reach out to teachers.  She read the BTA contract and found a contractual agreement and stated she would like to invite BTA to come and meet with the board. She sees it noted in the minutes and I would like to know If that has made it onto the agenda? According to Roberts Rules of Order the President has discretion when moderating a meeting.  Policy is put in place to provide for general framework, but the moderator may use discretion.  She finds it highly disturbing the president of the teachers union, who was voted in by teachers, is not afforded a few more moments to speak.

​-1:17:29 Speaker 10 at the last meeting you addressed the concerns she had about the consultants hired whether or not there was staff buy-in.  You redirected my comment to Ms Kellogg wh responded that she had received emails about how helpful one consultant, Steph Harvey had been.  Speaker did not mean to imply that consultants can not ever be helpful, but she is wondering if given some of the basic needs of the district, like textbooks that are missing ten weeks into the school year and the book orders have been placed, signed for and delivered to central office last school year.   IEP’s are still out of compliance. A big concern is that there aren't enough, if any, substitute teachers in the district because this district still does not pay a competitive rate. Teaching assistants are being pulled out of their classrooms to sub leaving their teachers alone.  Full-time teachers for art and library are not in place at all of the schools. Are these basic needs perhaps more deserving of the money spent on consultants than a few days of reading and writing workshops Which often pulled teachers out of the classroom and may not be very helpful teachers that have been teaching for years and already masters of their craft.  Steph Harvey consulting for 31 days of reading workshops totaling $660 an hr. for total of $123,000.  Doug Ricketts at $800 a day for 25 days is $20,000 and I understand that you are using grant money to pay for these consultants.  Can you please explain if this grant money must be specifically used for Professional development or if this almost $150,000 could be potentially be used to meet some of basic needs in this district that I just mentioned. And if the money must be used for staff development are there alternative means that are perhaps less costly?  Or alternative programs, like the calico ball for example, (it only cost of this district a measly $6000 in comparison). Who does the grant writing for the district? How much grant money has been received this year for specific programs like bullying prevention, and how has that money been spent? Do you know which bullying programs are in place at each of the schools?  How much did Beacon receive in Race to the Top Funds? We are classified as a high needs District therefore we received extra funds from the Excel program. How much did we receive last year, and how are the funds allocated? Ms. Thompson can you please define what you feel the role of the BTA president is, or what it should be, if it is not to provide checks and balances on the district administration?

1:26:22 Speaker 12 ​She asks Dr. Walkley about the DCIP (District Comprehensive Improvement Plan) which is featured on the homepage of the Beacon City School District website. That is the plan we are currently following. It was submitted to the state on July 31, 2015. She just wants to confirm that.   She has seen something on Facebook that there isn’t anyone to help the Seniors do the yearbook.  Can we get someone to do that? She has a question to the board members who are voting tonight about the various consultant agreements, Engineering by Design, Carlie’s Crusade.  She wants to make sure that everybody is reading those agreements and that everyone knows how much money is going to each one of those things before they sign them.  

,1:28:53 Speaker 13 feels that the idea of respect doesn’t always come forward in sort of a neat and tidy box when you are dealing with hard issues about which people are passionate. Her parents also taught her about respect but she was taught about engagement, expecting more, being pushed to reach your full potential, to talk about problems, care loudly at each other.   What the BTA president was bringing forward was valuable feedback maybe it didn’t sound the way we wanted it to sound or maybe it was a little louder and harsher but it’s still important and it’s still an extremely important part of our education community.  Whatever opinions you might have about the person the message is still there and you have to dispassionately absorb that.  There is an irregularity about the first speaker went on at length mentioning names and paid tribute, and that was ok, but in his bringing up a name that was considered inappropriate and I just want to say nobody runs for a leadership position because they are seeking anonymity.  You know your name is going to be put out there.  People like and dislike your decisions.  In the end we all want the same thing and we can’t keep discussing how we talk to each other anymore because it is exhausting.  We can figure it out and we should try.