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1/25/16 BOE Meeting

2/3/2016

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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. 
-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.
no comment
-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"
no comment
-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. 
no comment
-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?
no comment
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. 
no comment
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?
no comment
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. 
no comment
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.
no comment
-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?
no comment
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.
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.
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.  
no comment
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.
no comment
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. 
no comment
-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. 
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. 
-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? 
no comment
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?
no comment
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.
no comment
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?
no comment 
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?
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. 
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. 
no comment
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1/25/16 BOE Meeting: PTO Collaborative Statement

1/29/2016

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Below is the statement given by the Beacon PTO Collaborative at the 1/25/16 BOE Meeting: 
In light of recent events in the Beacon City School District, the PTO collaborative felt it necessary to make a statement on behalf of students, their families, and their community, and to reiterate our mission.  The overall purpose of a PTO or PTA is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

​We expect, going forward from this point, the Beacon City Board of Education and the administrative leaders of our district to, at all times, uphold the best interests of the children in the Beacon City School District; to make decisions that are impartial, ethical, and wise which allow all children in the district to achieve to their full potential.  We expect that our leaders will not allow their own personal interests or relationships to affect their decision making and, therefore, the well-being of the children they are elected or hired to serve.

We want to be part of shaping a district where transparency, accountability, open communication, parent and community partnerships, and stakeholder involvement will be the norm.  We want best practices to be the standard by which we measure actions and policies.  We are calling on the Board of Education and administration to be clear in how they intend to move forward; to be explicit in how they intend to repair trust that has been broken, and to listen to our input and work in partnership with us every step of the way to ensure the success of all children in the district.
​Declaración del Colectivo de Organizaciones de Padres y Docentes

A la luz de los recientes acontecimientos en el Distrito 
Escolar de Beacon, el Colectivo de Organizaciones de Padres 
y Docentes sintió la necesidad de realizar una declaración en 
nombre de los estudiantes, sus familias y su comunidad, y 
de reiterar su misión. El propósito general de una 
organización de padres y docentes es que todos los niños 
alcancen su potencial mediante el involucramiento y el 
empoderamiento de las familias y comunidades para abogar 
por todos los niños. De aquí en más, esperamos que la Junta 
Educativa de la Ciudad de Beacon y las autoridades de 
nuestro distrito defiendan siempre los intereses de los niños 
del distrito, y que tomen decisiones imparciales, éticas y 
sensatas que permitan que todos los niños desarrollen todo 
su potencial. Esperamos que nuestros líderes no permitan 
que sus intereses o relaciones personales afecten sus 
decisiones ni, a través de ellas, el bienestar de los niños 
bajo su cuidado.

Queremos participar en la conformación de un distrito en el 
cual la transparencia, la rendición de cuentas, la 
comunicación abierta, la colaboración con padres y 
miembros de la comunidad y la participación de todas las 
partes interesadas sean la norma. Queremos que las 
acciones y políticas se midan con el estándar de las mejores 
prácticas. Urgimos a la Junta Educativa y a la administración 
a manifestar claramente el camino que tomarán de aquí en 
adelante, que expliciten cómo piensan recuperar la confianza 
de la comunidad y que escuchen nuestras propuestas y 
trabajen en colaboración con nosotros a todo lo largo del 
camino para garantizar el éxito de todos los niños del 
distrito.
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1/25/16 BOE Meeting: ABS Statement

1/25/2016

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ABS Statement

Below is the statement given by the Advocates for Beacon Schools at the January 25th Board of Education Meeting.
Hello, my name is Lori Merhige and I am here today representing the Advocates for Beacon Schools - a group of parents, residents, and taxpayers - all stakeholders in the Beacon City School District.  I attempted to make this introduction at the cancelled January 11th board meeting, so for some of you this may be redundant.  I am here tonight to re-introduce ABS, especially in light of recent events.

ABS formed unofficially last August as a group of concerned community members who found common ground with each other after finding we all had some of the same questions and were getting the same lack of responses at these school board meetings. Community members were looking to get more involved in a hands-on way with improving our schools.  We supported and assisted each other to formulate the hard questions we felt needed to be asked of our District leadership, and worked together as a group to share information and create a plan for achieving positive change in our schools.

Here is some of the work that community volunteers have been doing: when we were not able to obtain clear answers to our questions from our Board and Superintendent, we did the research and found our own answers and did our own fact checking.  We have been reaching out to Beaconites of all walks of life to find out what their struggles with our schools have been, and where they would like to see change. We have reached out to other districts for examples of what DOES work in public education today, and have been inspired by what we have learned.  But the biggest thing we have done is to grow, and grow our numbers of engaged Beaconites. We believe that Beacon is an amazing and diverse community with unlimited potential.

Now, I want to stop here and say that, on a personal note, in all my years of volunteering and activism, I have never worked with such a dynamic, capable, smart, and motivated group of people as those I have met in Beacon. I have been both inspired and humbled to work alongside them and I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of them for their energy and dedication to our schools.  At this moment, stakeholders have united with teachers and administrators and we are ready to work with you on the Board of Education to create the school district we believe our kids and teachers deserve.

So, what we are asking now of you, our elected officials, is this: Let us in. Give us a seat at the table as we proceed together to heal, restructure and re-envision what Beacon’s schools can be.  The National School Boards Association states: "The most important responsibility of school boards is to work with their communities to improve student achievement in their local public schools."  We are now entering a search for a new Superintendent. Stakeholder involvement in this process, as well as the involvement of building administrators and teachers is what is needed.  This is what the community wants and this is what we are asking you today to adopt as a path forward. Do NOT rush this process. Serious consideration should be made to extend Ms. Quartironi’s tenure as interim superintendent.  We are calling for an end to the status quo and for the BOE to work with the community to formulate a new vision.  It is time for our school district to reach out and make the most of our human capital and local community resources, which have been neglected as potential partners for so long. Hundreds of parents and teachers believe it is not in the least bit unrealistic to say that Beacon could become a model district. All of the elements are right here - it is up to you to decide to recognize this, and embrace it.  And the citizens of Beacon are watching and participating in this movement for change.

And to the community: remember, your voice matters!  What would you like to see in the Beacon City School District?  How can you help make that happen?  We are developing a survey for the community to come together to craft a vision for our school district.  We will also be holding community events around our common concerns. So, please remain engaged with this process.  We get the school district we deserve.  Imagine what we can do together - stakeholders, teachers, administrators, and the Board of Education - imagine how amazing Beacon’s schools could look - if we join forces for change.  Our time is now, our potential is limitless, and we are ready to get to work.

Join the Advocates for Beacon Schools to aid us in achieving our mission: To mobilize and support community stakeholders to ensure that ALL students in the Beacon City School District are provided with an excellent public education.

​
​Hola, me llamo Lori Merhige y estoy aquí en representación de Advocates for Beacon Schools, un grupo de padres, vecinos y contribuyentes interesados en el presente y el futuro del Distrito Escolar de la Ciudad de Beacon. Traté de presentar al grupo en la reunión de la Junta Educativa del 11 de enero, que fue cancelada, por lo cual lo que diga será redundante para algunos de ustedes. Estoy aquí esta noche para volver a presentar a ABS, especialmente a la luz de los últimos acontecimientos.

ABS se creó informalmente en agosto del año pasado como un grupo de miembros de la 
comunidad preocupados por nuestras escuelas. Nos dimos cuenta de que compartíamos 
algunas de las mismas preguntas, y que ninguno estaba recibiendo respuestas en las reuniones de la Junta Educativa. Los miembros de la comunidad estaban buscando la manera de involucrarse más activamente para mejorar nuestras escuelas. Trabajamos entre todos para formular las preguntas difíciles que creíamos que había que hacerles a las autoridades de nuestro distrito, y empezamos a trabajar juntos para elaborar un plan para lograr cambios positivos.

Algunas de las tareas que emprendimos fueron las siguientes: cuando no podíamos obtener respuestas claras de la Junta y de la Superintendente, investigamos y respondimos nuestras preguntas por nuestra cuenta, y también verificamos la información recibida. Empezamos a conversar con vecinos de Beacon de todos los ámbitos para averiguar si habían tenido problemas con las escuelas y qué pensaban que tenía que cambiar. Nos comunicamos con otros distritos para obtener ejemplos de lo que SÍ funciona en la educación pública actual, y nos sentimos inspirados por lo que descubrimos. Pero nuestro logro principal ha sido crecer, y aumentar el número de vecinos de Beacon que participan activamente. Creemos que nuestra comunidad es fantástica y diversa, y que tiene infinitas posibilidades.

Quisiera detenerme aquí para decir que, en lo personal, en todos los años que llevo trabajando como voluntaria y como activista, nunca me encontré con un grupo de personas tan dinámicas, capaces, inteligentes y motivadas como las que conocí en Beacon, que me hicieron sentir inspirada y honrada. Quisiera agradecer a cada una de ellas por su energía y dedicación. En este momento, miembros de la comunidad, docentes y administradores nos hemos unido, y estamos dispuestos a trabajar con ustedes, los miembros de la Junta Educativa, para crear el distrito escolar que nuestros hijos y docentes se merecen. 

Entonces, lo que les pedimos a ustedes, nuestros funcionarios electos, es lo siguiente: déjennos entrar. Hágannos un lugar en la mesa para que, juntos, nos recuperemos y reestructuremos, y creemos una nueva visión para las escuelas de Beacon. La Asociación Nacional de Juntas Escolares afirma: "La responsabilidad principal de las juntas escolares es trabajar con sus comunidades para mejorar los logros de los estudiantes en sus escuelas públicas". Estamos iniciando la búsqueda de un o una nueva superintendente. Lo que hace falta para ello es la participación de todas las partes interesadas, incluyendo las autoridades de cada escuela y los docentes. Esto es lo que quiere la comunidad, y este es el camino que les pedimos que emprendan de aquí en más. NO apuren el proceso. Debería considerarse seriamente la posibilidad de extender el ejercicio de Ms. Quartironi como superintendente interina. 

Urgimos a abandonar el statu quo y a que la Junta trabaje con la comunidad para formular una nueva visión. Es hora de que nuestro distrito aproveche al máximo nuestro capital humano y los recursos comunitarios locales, que han sido ignorados como aliados posibles durante tanto tiempo. Cientos de padres y docentes creen que no es en absoluto falto de realismo decir que Beacon podría convertirse en un distrito modelo. Todos los elementos están aquí. Ustedes son lo que deben decidir si quieren reconocer esta realidad y aprovecharla. Y los ciudadanos de Beacon están observando y participando en este movimiento por el cambio.

Y a la comunidad le decimos: ¡Recuerden, sus voces cuentan! ¿Qué querrían que ocurriera en el Distrito Escolar de Beacon? ¿Cómo pueden ayudar a lograrlo? Estamos elaborando una encuesta para que la comunidad confluya en la creación de una visión para nuestro distrito escolar. También organizaremos eventos comunitarios vinculados con nuestras preocupaciones compartidas. Por eso les pedimos que sigan involucrados en este proceso. Nos corresponde el distrito que nos merecemos. Imaginen lo que podemos hacer juntos miembros de la comunidad, docentes, administradores y la Junta Educativa. Imaginen que increíbles podrían ser las escuelas de Beacon si uniéramos fuerzas para lograr cambios. Este es nuestro momento. Nuestro potencial es ilimitado, y estamos listos para trabajar.

Incorpórense a los Advocates for Beacon Schools para ayudarnos a lograr nuestra misión: 
movilizar y apoyar a las partes interesadas para garantizar que TODOS los estudiantes del 
Distrito Escolar de Beacon reciban una educación pública excelente.
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12/14/15 BOE Meeting

12/14/2015

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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 in the video. 
-57:59 Speaker 1: I am here tonight because I wanted to address something that Mr. Zopf said at the November 23rd board meeting regarding parent involvement in our school district.  You mentioned that these are business meetings for the district, and of course you are correct about that, but they are also meetings where we get to hear a lot about what’s happening in our schools like we’ve heard tonight and a lot more than that.  We review programs PTO reports etc.   I come to these meetings because I am interested in the business of the district. I want to see how my elected board members vote and how my money is being spent etc. Mr. Zopf (and you know not to single you out you seem like a nice guy) but at this meeting you suggested that parents should instead be attending the scheduled superintendent forums to discuss issues and ask more complicated questions that we might have about the district. You mentioned low attendance at the last two forums and you told parents that it doesn’t send a good message that people really are interested in finding out what is going on in the district.  Well, as you have noticed we have a broad number of parents at board meetings every two weeks.  I myself have talked to teachers, administrators, even former board members who have expressed that this is the most parent involvement they have ever seen in the district.  Someone even said that this is the most they’ve ever seen in their entire careers.  I personally often have to hire and pay a babysitter so that I can attend these meetings.  My husband works for a large corporation.  He’s never home for dinner most of his day is spent in meetings with upper management.  Most days he has to sit through several meetings and is forced to work overtime in order to get his work done.  My point here is that more meetings isn’t necessarily a real solution to the parental involvement in the district.  I’m here because I want to see you do your business I’m not able to watch the Board of Ed. Vote at a superintendent’s forum.  I’m not able to make a statement for the public record or have our leadership answer me on public record at a forum.  And I am not willing or able to pay another babysitter so I can attend another meeting.  You are all volunteers I appreciate that I know how that is.   I volunteer extensively in this community as well.  I’m on the board of the Weeplay Project, I’m active in the PTO at Sargent, I’m a mom, I’m an artist, most days I feel like I invented overworked and underpaid.  So I appreciate what you are doing here.  Much has been said from this board about wanting to have a culture of respect and I hear you.  The board wants to have a respectful relationship with the parents rather than an adversarial one and I agree with that.  But respect works both ways.  When you say it doesn’t send a good message that the parents are not attending these off the record forums who is this message being sent to?  I ask because every week after a board of ed meeting parents are watching our comments and statements and many of them reach out to me and say thank you for speaking out wondering how they can get more involved so I don’t’ think it’s the parents that are sending the bad message.  –Time is up-
-1:01:16 Mr. Zopf: I just want to say that you know I apologize if you misinterpreted my comments of if I said them incorrectly.  I wasn’t trying to discourage the people who are coming to this meeting what I was pointing out is that we have other forums which are better suited to asking questions that require long and complicated answers.  You know like I said this is a business meeting where we are trying to get through a whole thing and so I said I certainly don’t want to discourage people from coming here and watch us in operation, but there are certain questions that people ask that are complicated questions that are better suited for a forum where you just go back and forth and that is all I was trying to say.  
​-1:01:57 Speaker 2: I was also at the last policy meeting and one of the policies that was on the agenda but the board didn’t get to was the parent involvement policy and I have a couple of questions about how it’s written.  There are parts that are in italics and asks for examples about what our district is doing to fulfill the goals of the policy and I wondered if this was something that was going to be discussed in the policy and actually filled in for the policy when it gets reprinted.  I only recently discovered that parental involvement is actually required by the law especially in the case of title 1 districts and the policy states that parental involvement is “essential to student achievement and thus encourages such involvement in school educational planning and operations.”  I am wondering if this plan is included in the district improvement plan or if it’s a plan in it’s own right.  I’d love to hear Dr. Walkley and the Board Member’s thoughts on how this district is doing with drawing parents in to be more involved.  In fact the policy states that the board along with it’s superintendent and other appropriate staff will conduct with the involvement of parents an annual evaluation of content and effectiveness of this parental involvement policy and the improvement of academic quality of title 1 schools including the identification of barriers to greater participation by parents and activities under this policy and the revision of parent involvement policies necessary for more effective involvement to facilitate this review the district will conduct the following activities and there is a blank… And I’m just wondering if that is going to be written.  Seven years ago I was very involved with the former superintendent Dr. Aefsky's Parent University and that was actually fairly successful.  We had over I think 150 parents the first time we did it but it was a lot of work and you Mr. Zopf were in there also.  So I think that is kind of great but I think well if no one is coming to the forums maybe I think family fun nights are really well attended so maybe that’s a place to be where the parents are.  Sometimes parents are as you all know very busy and sometimes you have to come to the parents.  I also just wanted to mention a great book I’ve been reading called “Beyond the Bake sale” I actually picked it up because I thought it was about fundraising, which obviously I’m very excited about.  It’s really about parent involvement and how parent involvement is essential to a successful district and it actually made me think totally differently and the one thing it says is the first thing we have to think is that every single person thinks that they want the best for their children. We all need to think of that.
-1:05:01 Christine Galbo:  the speaker asked about the process for policy review so I wanted to comment on that piece.  Yes, the policy as you saw has the recommendations that come from NYSBA things that are in gray are notes for the board and things that are in italics or bold are sort of decisions that they suggest are made at the local level.  So the policy has been sent to us has a core and then pieces to discuss so certainly the section about the process for the annual evaluation and all those things that’s something that we want to go over but we did want to give a little more time.  We had a short amount of time left at that meeting as you know.  So we will be looking at that in February.  (Is this a brand new policy)  This is not a brand new policy.  There is a policy already.   

Dr. Walkley:  and parent involvement discussion is in the Title 1 Grant.  And there is a part of that grant where a plan must be inserted. 
 
Melissa Thompson:  Just to clarify, this is what was handed out on that night and our prior policy was policy was 3251 so this policy 1900 once it’s discussed at the policy committee and then brought back to the board will replace policy 3251.  
-1:06:51. Speaker 3:  I have three things and I will try to get it under the three minutes.  Dr. Walkley the APPR is and has been a hot topic since it’s inception.  The governor through legislation as we all know changed the way the APPR is to be done.  Would you be willing to give a workshop at an upcoming board meeting and explain the various components of it?  For example scores, SLO’s, lesson plans, archival material.  Also can you share what part of the APPR is negotiated between the district and the teachers association?  What are the differences between the APPRs for teachers and administrators and finally is there an evaluation in place for coaches, advisors and other appointments for extra pay or is that a case where if you’ve done it in the past or previously you continue to be appointed. Also, on tonight’s agenda under the employment for professional staff item D you have IRP review teachers at Beacon High School effective date January 4- January 25th 2016 and item E is for IRP January RCT prep effective January 4- January 25th 2016.  Do these programs run at the same time and if so how will those teachers whose names appear on both lists fulfill those obligations to both programs?  And finally, Meredith had brought up the point about parent involvement communication I guess sometime in the beginning of the year the board appointed a parent communicator for $1500 does that count toward the parent involvement in terms of parent communications.
-1:09:33 Dr. Walkley:  We just recently appointed our parent communicator I think it was at the last board meeting and she will be working with us to set up additional parent opportunities.  I’m glad you gave me a list of your APPR questions I didn’t get them all but I can certainly provide information on another day. 
(Inaudible, talking about workshop, she says she certainly can)
That’s a question I think we need to ask Dr. Sieverding he has recommended those people to provide that particular service and it is during the same time but it would most likely be different nights.  
-1:10:50 Speaker 4: I attended the High School Players Christmas Carol it was done very nice and it was quite a spectacle.  We had a little problem Friday night with the audio but the students were told if anything malfunctioned you keep going and they did so they did what they were to do.  I thought the Santa Claus was terrible.  For the simple fact that it’s first impression and I don’t think he even had the word first so you can do better next time with making a better Santa Claus or a different Santa Claus next year.  That’s not a joke just so you know folks.  Last time I was here we had a meeting a safety meeting.  It was myself, Dr. Walkley, Bill Zopf, Craig from the Poughkeepsie journal was here and the next day San Bernardino happened.  We all know what happened in San Bernardino right folks?  It’s the norm. It’s the norm now.  Know how to get out.  Know two ways of getting out.  Get out.  Now we teach our students ABC’s and 123’s and you need to start telling our students how to get out of the building fast.  My comments need no reply tonight.
no comment
-1:12:46 Speaker 5:  At a recent BOE meeting I’ve been asking about district procedure on test refusals.  I’ve been asking about this for a while you know it’s a topic I’m interested in and interested in hearing about.  I do feel that it’s very important for the district to include parent stakeholders in the decision making process for this.  I was encouraged at the last meeting and when the superintendent indicated that there would be a meeting coming that would be discussing this issue and so my two question are what was the result of this meeting and can you please report on the status of the Beacon City School District’s plan on how parent test refusals will be handled as the school year progresses and secondly how will this plan reflect the priorities of parent stakeholders.
-1:14:08 Dr. Walkley:  Actually there’s been two meetings of the group the group is made up of principals and each PTO was asked to send two representatives to this meeting or committee.  The result of the meeting ist that we are working on a letter that the PTO’s can share with the parents about opting out and talking about a process.  I’m hoping that you all have heard the news today, as we talked in that particular meeting things are changing at the state level and with the governor and please check and get online and see what’s happening.  There was a board of regents meeting today where they voted on a proposal that has been given to the governor about having a moratorium on how they use testing and how they use scores and I think many of you are concerned about how they use scores that are linked to students and scores that are linked to teachers and principals and the governor has had a advisory group in which the Commissioner Elia, is a member.  There is a lot online right now and we were just talking about it with the board members about where are we because the regents made a vote today and the governor has his committee so where is that so watch the news the next couple of days and see what is happening. So who knows what is going to happen with testing but this committee will go forward.  We decided to wait until January to meet again partly because of the time of the year, but also because the board of regents does have a scheduled meeting the 13th or 15th of January.  I’m hoping there will be more clarity about how the state is going to go forward at a time.

The PTO’s selection of members they are communicators for parents and I believe that they are sharing information in their PTO meetings.
-1:17:09 Speaker 6:  My questions tonight are for the members of the school board because my direct questions to the Superintendent whose hefty salary is paid for by our tax dollars have been completely ignored meeting after meeting.  So to this full board I do want to thank you all again for your service.  You generously volunteer your time for this district and I know that this year has been a particularly rough one.  That being said you were all elected by the people of this community to represent us and our children and I feel that many of you haven’t been doing that and I would like to know why.  When the superintendent was asked when the school year started without classrooms having the proper and necessary supplies and week after week fails to come up with an answer.  I would like to know why the board doesn’t call her out on it.  When the superintendent ignores questions from community members such as what is your plan for this district which she was asked at three board meetings in a row I would like to know why our elected representatives are letting her get away with it.  When the head of the Beacon Arts and Ed Foundation who does so much to help this district makes a request at a school board meeting for help with costumes for a school play and the superintendent responds by rolling her eyes in disgust which is clearly displayed on a video, how do you not react with outrage.  You continue to throw around the word respect and you seem to forget that respect needs to be earned.  It is not earned by blatantly ignoring parents who take the time out of their busy schedules to volunteer their time for this district as well to try and fix the mess that this district is in. It is not earned by transferring 27 teachers with no explanation and expecting the community to get over it and forget it happened. It is not earned by continuing to remind us that you don’t have to allow public comment at Board Meetings.  Two meetings ago the President of the Teachers Union got up and spoke about the fact that there are teachers who feel disrespected, a sentiment that many of them have shared with me personally.   And Melissa Thompson responded by admonishing the public for applauding this comment because he showed disrespect by going over his time.  At the last board meeting Bill Zopf also admonished parents for not attending the forums and therefore not really wanting to communicate well let’s face it we all know that the forums are just an attempt to move this conversation off of the public record and keep the superintendent’s disgusted eye rolling off of the videos.  Do you really think that turning the tables on the community that elected really is the best way to handle this situation?  As the superintendent is very fond of pointing out everyone makes mistakes.  When you hired her without interviewing anyone else I’m sure that you believed that she ws the best person for Beacon but that simply hasn’t been the case.  Since she first took over and cancelled the overnight Sharpe Reservation trip things have been going steadily downhill for students, staff, and the community as a whole.  So my final question to the school board is what are you going to do about it.  I don’t expect an answer now I’m used to being ignored here anyway.  But I do hope that you are discussing these very real issues in your executive sessions and that you come up with a solution.  Because ignoring or spinning it won’t work we will not be fooled, we will not be shamed, and we will not give up.  I sincerely hope that you all have a nice holiday with your families.
-1:20:17 Dr. Walkley: so I would like to correct some of the information that you’ve given this evening.  First off, the Sharpe Trip was never cancelled (audience: it wasn’t cancelled and then reinstated after parents) The Sharpe Trip was never cancelled the Sharpe Trip was always on we did have a time to discuss the overnight.  It was the issue of overnight but the Sharpe Trip itself was never cancelled.  IN addition to that, if I role my eyes then I apologize for that.  I don’t, I will take a look at the videotape.  I certainly don’t recall doing that.  It may be because when I was in high school I used to do all the costumes.  I may have put my eyes up (and you are shaking your head no) but I don’t believe that I rolled my eyes.  I will look at the tape.  I used to do all the costumes for the High School where I grew up and I used to sew and as a matter of fact I was remembering when Mrs. Heuer I was remembering in particular a play where my mother who was just a little bit of a hoarder with clothing actually turned out to work out very well because there was a play where we needed a suit and a suit that she wore in college was the suit that we were able to use in the play.  So, again I apologize but I think more I was remembering my own experience with costumes.

1:22:14 Melissa Thompson: I’m not sure how best to reply you made a number of statements you know many times the board may ask questions of the superintendent after hearing the concerns of the community in other venues.  You spoke about the schools not having supplies, well the superintendent certainly isn’t in each building each day with each teacher to ensure that each one has what they need, and school start everywhere with issues with supplies or the right books.  That’s not only here in Beacon, but to think that we as members of the Board of Education didn’t ask Anne Marie or Dr. Walkley to fill us in on when those books were ordered and when they were delivered and when the supplies were received of course we ask those questions.  Do we admonish anyone for not having what they needed on that day publicly, no.  That’s not my behavior or anyone on this board of education but to think we are not asking the tough questions is mistaken.  I’ll answer to the statement I made when Mr. Burns was at the podium.  I was frustrated certainly.  The Board of Education I’m sure many of the people in this room have been at the policy committee meetings where the board not just myself but the board is very interested in respect and very interested in holding speakers to three minutes.  Now we all know that I am not the great keeper to three minutes because I want people to finish their thought or I want people to get that last question out or whatever the case may be.  But I have taken flack from the public and flack from the board that we didn’t do that so we put steps in place.  Mr. White’s doing a great job keeping everybody at their three minutes and it’s not an issue.  That night I was certainly frustrated.  Every piece of what our policy which we had just covered every piece, we will not speak beyond three minutes, we will not make statements about people, we will not raise our voices.  All of those things were done in his time.  Did that frustrate me, certainly, if it offended anyone that I was frustrated, I apologize, but I would be frustrated if he did it again.  And I might say something quite similar.

1:25:02 Kenya Gadsden: We’re not supposed to right?  (No, but if you’d like to say something) I surely would.  So, I just feel compelled to say a few things.  I think there are things happening in this district that as it relates to books that were ordered there is a process.  I want to say that there is a lot of adjusting that has happened in our last three years.  One not being on the board and this last two being here.  And what I’ve found is that there is a process and I also hear the parents saying that they want the superintendent to stay and they want to work with her but week after week that we’re here I constantly hear negativity and we try combat the negativity and try to find responses to aid us in moving forward.  I find that some of us are stuck and because we don’t speak to some of the things that are stated here they leave here as the truth.  So, when we are presenting things there is a big stickler, if you are going to present to me, present the facts that are factual.  If you have an opinion or an assumption then state that because there is a lot of confusion that we all know about.  I shy away from responding to certain people because the negative environment continues to fester so we are a board of nine people that are vested in the growth and development of our children in this district.  We are vested in seeing the parents and teachers and the administration collaborate for the good of the students.  We will have some bumps in the road.  We will have that.  We will have some disagreements.  We will have that. However, I think to continually po9nder on the same issues and ask them in an environment where we continually say you might not get the best answer t0 your question here.  Ask it elsewhere.  Not to take it off of the spotlight but to give you what you are asking for.  And so I think that we need to consider that if you ask your questions that don’t require the back and forth or the clarification out of this forum and you don’t get your answer then I think that we have another issue to deal with.  But I’m very frustrated with that I feel we are progressing and then we are digressing.  And I don’t want to do that.  I think at the end of the day everyday that passes our children are being affected by this.  So can we please consider when people are speaking search your facts out first?  Make sure that what you are hearing is factual and not opinion and then we can move on that.
1:28:09 Speaker 7:  I’m back again to ask a question about the same topic.  I wondering the district’s specific plan is to ensure that all elementary students are receiving technology, media instruction in the six day cycle.  As we saw in the South Avenue report they do have Library/Media instruction.  They do not have that at Forrestal.  They do not have that at Sargent.  I believe they have something at Glenham.  What are you doing to ensure that all students are getting media?  My second question is to the director of technology.  He stated in his presentation that he has reached out to the PTSO’s of the different schools to include them in his technology committee as of now Forrestal for sure because I am an executive board member has not been reached out to.  So, I encourage him to reach out to Forrestal PTSO specifically and all of the other PTSO’s who have not been reached out to.
1:29:35 Dr. Walkley: I’m glad Mr. Burke is still here.  This past week he somewhat spearheaded the hour of code.  The hour of code was an international celebration of children doing coding in schools.  All of our schools participated in the hour of code.  Which was an hour lesson about coding computers.  When Mr. Burke approached me I asked the other schools if they were also going to participate in the hour of code and the answer I got was yes that they were all participating.  As I read about the hour of code and as I talked more with Aaron so many of the jobs in the future and he actually gave me a statistic but I don’t remember it.  So many of the jobs in the future will require students to use computers, technology and for some students to use coding or programming in the future.  The idea of teaching coding to students is not just that it’s about a future job maybe but it’s also about the thinking skill of figuring things out and making the computer do thing that you want it to do.  So this hour of coding event was a worldwide event where in schools a specific lesson, an hour lesson, about how to code a computer was given to students.  Our students in all of our schools, this was the week to participate.  On the website it said well if you can’t do last week then do this week, or do the week prior.  Fit it in your schedule because you are not going to learn coding but it’s fun and the kids enjoy it and it’s such a great thinking skill that it’s really developing our students as thinkers more so then developing our students as programmers.  So I thank Mr. Burke for bringing the hour of code to us.
 
1:31:51 Mr. Burke:  May I just add something to that.  I definitely wouldn’t say I spearheaded anything.  The other Library/Media folks in the other schools are just as excited as I am, but it is an issue that not everybody has the same amount of exposure to it.  A couple of schools have less opportunity so they’re not quite where I am or Laurie is necessarily so I do hope that it’s an issue that is looked at in the next budget or whatever the process has to be because I’d be happy to talk to anybody about what an exciting time it is and the coding and all that because I think it’s really important.  Not just to train an army of coders, but to train kids how to think like on their math test if you can find the bug in your problem and debug it it’s the same idea. So, I think it’s a really exciting time, but I definitely support and hope that the idea that there is not equity right now and that Renee has two schools to cover is a big issue, and I hope that it is looked at.
 
1:33:05 Melissa Thompson:  Mr. Burke I thank you for presenting it in just that way that is as we get in to budget season that certainly is something we need to look at and to ensure that it is equal among children.  But until we hit that budget season that isn’t something we can make corrections to. 
1:33:33 Speaker 8: The technology report that was given before.  I taught in the schools and my second career was in technology so I have a great love of it.  One of the things that I am really hoping is that part of, (there was no real explanation) is how this committee is [formed], who’s on it, or how we expand it.  I hope there is some allowance in it for all teachers to brainstorm on what technology might mean to what they do in their classrooms.  I take that from when I was teaching in an inner city school in Detroit and some teacher, before any of us had computers, but the were around, and she somehow got a computer and hooked up this project that she had read about where kids in different parts of the united states had to adopt a country and had to communicate via this amazing computer and talk to kids in other places.  I think if the teachers don’t get to sit around and brainstorm and think about what they want and this is a top down approach then you are going to miss maybe all kinds of super ideas that might come.  And it’s just a hope that everybody gets included.  Secondly, I’m hoping, that somebody will find the time to look more carefully at grants that may be out there.  It’s great that we got this one grant but I just realize when I started looking for example that Verizon had done some grants I think not in NYS but in other places where they gave whole districts mobile devices like iPads and not only that but also gave them cellular data so kids automatically were able to connect to the internet.  My guess is there’s more stuff out there and I’m hoping that we could be a little bit more aggressive and look for some of that.  Because we’re poor and we could probably get it.
no comment
1:35:47 Speaker 9: I’d like to briefly address Speaker 5 about the refusal committee that was formed.  I’m on that committee.  It is our attention that regardless of what the state hands down in January we’ll totally, and there are steps in the right direction, that there will still be a clear process for parents that choose to refuse the test. I would really like to thank the principals that have been working with us.  I feel like it’s been a team effort.  We have letters that we have formed and the elementary school has different needs than the middle school and the letter is tweaked for those two different demographics.  Parents will have access to those letters via the PTO I believe is what we decided.  It will be a letter that parents can do their own letters if they’d like, but this is a clear way for parents to send something in ahead of time stating what their intentions are.  I have been told that they will not then receive a letter saying you can’t do this your child has to do this it will be the parent’s decision.  The children will not have to speak for themselves on the day of the test. I am available for any questions as are other members of the committee.  I am also just noticing on tonight’s agenda, perhaps you will get to this further on, but in case you don’t, I am curious about the two approved consultants, Priscilla Kelly and Adriana Beckwith.  I’m hoping that is something that will be addressed.
1:37:45.2 Dr. Walkley:  The two consultants are actually for the New Covenent.  We received Title 1 monies from the state and now public schools, the state determines a small amount of money that they take from our allotment that is available if non-public schools choose to apply with us and use that money.  New Covenent is one of the schools that does apply for the money.  However, the rules of Title 1, I’m looking over at Anne Marie to help out here, I believe that first they have to choose consultants and activities that fit in under the title 1 guidelines and in addition to that that money, just like Tim was talking about earlier, we don’t have to write them a check, they run that money through us.  They earn that money through us and through the activities that they do.  So that is two consultants for their school.  They are going to be providing an after school reading program for their students. 
 
We talked about that we thought would be very helpful to parents was a presentation to find out more about testing.  Whether we like or don’t like the test we talked about having an opportunity for parents to come and learn more about the test. Learn more about the process etc.  That was something that was suggested.  It wasn’t set in stone but it may be something we’re talking more about. 
1:39:44 Speaker 10: I actually was very excited about the smart bond presentation and the idea of putting together a plan that would incorporate how the district would spend that money along with their existing budget in the best and most efficient way possible.  That is why the response about the disparity in resources available to different elementary schools struck me as a concern.  I want to hear that there is some plan in place to actually make it possible for the planning of how to spend that money, incorporating an assumption that the elementary schools are going to have resources similar to every other elementary school.  I don’t particularly want to have Forrestal be left behind because they don’t have resources in place that would actually make it possible for them to use that money as effectively as other elementary schools that do have a full time instructor or the level of units in that week that students can attend.  I’m hoping that there is something besides just a budget item but also some strategy that the district is putting together to actually try to bring up the resources to improve the capability of what’s already there, to deliver more to Forrestal schools and to be as involved as all the other schools in planning how to use the money that we’re going to see in the most effective way possible so that as an elementary school at Forrestal we can participate just as well as all the others.  I appreciate any information that you have about whether that’s in place.
1:41:59 Dr. Walkley: Last year when I started here you may know a budget is passed in April so a budget was in place when I began and at that time people started talking about the Music programs, the Art programs, and making sure that the resources are the same that can’t happen in one year. You are right it is a long term plan and with the tax cap and I know Anne Marie will be talking more about what’s happening with the tax cap this year as we get into the budget process that long range planning that you are talking about becomes more and more difficult but yes we do decide I mean that would be ideal that we had the same resources in every school and that is certainly something we want to work toward.  We become a little bit at the mercy of this tax cap and we will explain more about that.  If it wasn’t there it would be a much easier task to accomplish.  So it’s not that you are right on the money and that’s exactly what we’ve been talking about as a long-term plan to level out resources. 
1:43:28 Speaker 11: Thanks Ms. Conrad for presentation on South Ave.  You are looking for items in the budget that might offset that maybe not having the TOSA’s and having instructors would actually offset whatever the cost is to even out the disparities on the schools.  I don’t know I think this is a really important issue.  It is a perception of having one school having one advantage over the other doesn’t necessarily promote harmony within the district.  Looking at what’s in your budget now and trimming some of those things could possibly even it out.
-1:44:31 Dr. Walkley:  Thanks for bringing that up.  I don’t know if you’ve been here so if I am repeating myself to you I apologize.  The TOSA’s are budgeted through Title 1 monies, which are grant monies, and there are very specific guidelines about how grant monies can be used or cannot be used.  So even though we might want to have let’s say another music teacher in the grant money that is used to pay salaries for instructional support teachers we could not do that.  So that cost is not coming from the general fund but from Title 1 funds.  
1:45:16 Speaker 12: Just to follow up on what I’ve heard.  It’s my understanding that this district can make mid-year adjustments instead of choosing to punt for the next budget cycle you could make an adjustments that are within the restrictions just to put a buzz in your ear.  But that wasn’t what I came up here.  Just wanted to wish happy holidays to the board, the administration, the parents, students, and community.  I also wanted to come up and say that I come to these meetings and ask questions because this an official record and my right as well as it is consistent with transparency of governmental law.  I am not trying to get personal in this venue.  I mentioned at the last board meeting that unequal use of in school suspension versus out of school suspensions based on race rather then severity sounds like discrimination.  This past Friday I received a report of a child that was taken by her hair and slammed against the wall by two girls known for bullying.  In this case the parent wasn’t immediately called when the event happened and the parent had to live with the frustration over the weekend and wait till school was back in session to find out more information.  I don’t believe this problem is school specific.  It may vary from school to school.  I know this bullying policy, and it’s no surprise that it includes prevention; it also includes the requirement that the board will receive an annual vetted report as well as other state requirements relevant to bullying for each building and for the district as a whole.  Based on the review of the data the board may consider further action including but not limited to the modification of this policy and additional training. It is also my understanding that Ms. Baez has instructional exercises to help improve school climate.  I would like the school district to encourage her to start a mentoring the program where parent volunteers can also help.  My name is ___ I’m trained in conflict resolution through my time in AmeriCorps which I think could be helpful.  I’m already in the NY Teach system and I would like to volunteer for something like this.  I also would like to commend the South Avenue Student Council and the Principal that was a wonderful video and I would love to hear more duration of the same throughout the district.  My question is can we work on improving the school climate for the students.
1:48:07.0 Dr. Walkley: Thank you for mentioning the good training that Ms. Baez has.  She actually has started to training in the district with social and emotional and there was a section for some of our, I think all of our teacher aides, I believe assistants (don’t quote me on that), and she also did a section from our administrative team.  So she has started to do some training in the district and I agree that it’s very important training.   I would also remind parents that if there is a concern about bullying in the school.  That they need to contact first and foremost the school principal and talk with them about what is happening.  If they aren’t satisfied with that then there is a hierarchy of people that they can speak with.  So I encourage them to address their principal or administrator and then go from there.
-1:49:25 Speaker 13:  I wanted to make sure that the Board of Education was aware that the US Dept. of Education office of Civil Rights is actively investigating the violations of Title 9 that Dr. Walkley has allowed to occur in the school.  The lead investigator told me that they have requested and have received information about the investigation from the school.  So I want to make sure that you are aware that this investigation is going on because sometimes you may not know everything that’s going on.  As far as the facts, I did submit awhile back, a whole packet to everybody which has all the detailed facts about the investigation and about the case.  Second point I have is actually a question as Mr. Zopf has stated many of the questions that come up here can be complicated and maybe should be taken outside.  We have a lot of questions tonight some were answered in detail some were not.  Why isn’t there a log of the questions that people ask written down detail.  I know some are paraphrased the log of the questions so they can be answered either verbally or in writing so that we have a record and you can say hey, we already answered that question and here is our statement.  So why is that not done?  Next question is back during the time there was voting about the TOSA positions there was extensive talk about metrics.  A lot of metrics that were going to be had, developed to track performance and the impact the TOSA’s have.  So when will these metrics be published and when will they be provided to the public so that we can see the results?
-1:51:19 Dr. Walkley:  I just want to correct some information I don’t know who you’ve been talking with but the district has sent volumes of information and has spoken on the phone with several of our staff members.  I don’t know who you are speaking with but that information is incorrect.  (audience: what information?) The information that no information was sent from the district. 
 
Melissa Thompson: No I don’t think that was the statement that he made.  He wanted to be sure that the Board of Education was aware that the investigation was going on.  (audience inaudible)
 
Kenya Gadsden: No but I did hear him say that the lead investigator has not received and then he said something else but I don’t know what that was.  So something about the lead investigator not receiving something.  I don’t know what that was. 
 
Melissa Thompson: I didn’t hear that.  Could you clarify the statement regarding the lead investigator?

Speaker 13: I apologize if it was not clear.  So, when I talked to the lead investigator she said that the office of Civil Rights has requested information from the District and the District has responded.  So that there is an active exchange going on between the two so I wanted to make sure that it was important that it is an active and ongoing investigation. He wanted to make sure that you were all aware that that is in progress. 

-1:53:20 Dr. Walkley:  (TOSA’s) So we just had this conversation on the email so that’s very interesting that you must be thinking the same as at least one of our board members.  So, what we talked about is that there are a lot of new programs this year in the district and it might be in it would be helpful certainly to have metrics on all the new programs.  So, we will set up a schedule of presentations to share that information.
-1:54:02 Speaker 14: I have two questions, one, I really loved the film that the Student Council put together and I wanted to just mention this while it’s fresh in everybody’s mind that you got a really good look at our playground at South Avenue.  Playground with one piece of equipment provided by the district and one tiny piece of equipment that you may have seen flash by that was paid for by the PTA.  I have been at South Avenue for six years now and been a member of the PTA for six years and every year we devote most of the fundraising to trying to get something more for that playground.  If you are wondering, well we only saw a little corner of it, no you saw all of it.  That’s it.  There is a dusty field and two pieces of equipment.  So when you guys are reviewing the inequalities between all the different elementary schools I hope that gets discussed because South Avenue really gets the short end of the stick when it comes to outdoor play equipment.  The PTA this year is devoting I would say a huge amount if not all of it’s funding to try and get more playground equipment.  Which is awesome. I’m very supportive of that.  But I do think that the district needs to look at it and evaluate it a little bit more money in the budget toward something to make it equal with the other schools.  My second question, I hope I’m not to long, if you could explain how with the new Tech Bond it’s reimbursement bond, if you could just explain it to me so that I understand I a little bit better.  Let’s say we have a million dollars in the budget and we spend that much and we are reimbursed how does that free up the budget for the next year since there is money given back into that budget and not affect the tax cap.  How can we use that to our advantage? I am confused about that.  
-1:56:13 Anne Marie Quartironi: I don’t know all the particulars Mr. Facchin was pretty clear about it not being there, but as far as revenue is concerned revenue and expenditures are classified differently so the tax cap is based on expenditures.  So if we were to receive the reimbursement that would be included as revenue and wouldn’t help us with the tax cap.  That’s a general thing, I am hoping that’s not the case but that’s usually we can’t use it as a reduction as the expense we have to go forward and classify it as revenue and set the expenditures. That’s why we are not really sure how it’s going to go, and why Mr. Facchin was pretty clear about kind of moving forward.  We will benefit from getting the money but it’s just a matter of the calculations we’ll see moving forward.
-1:57:08 Speaker 15: Coordinator of the Lifted Program wanted to say a few words tonight.  She is very excited to share that we have had a beautiful jumpstart at South Avenue School, which is our first pilot program with the help of the Principal, and staff and our Lifted Team.  Our first seminar was navigating your way through South Avenue School. Our second one, which was just this past week, and it was reading readiness with our ELA teacher of South Avenue.  We are looking for parents to come out and learn from our new Parent Academy.  Our next workshops are concerning with health and Special Ed and CSE 101. And parenting tips for the new parents that are entering their new school district.  Also robocalls have been sent out and we have had very low parent engagement.  So we as the Lifted Team Program are here to help parents cope with their fears and their hopes so that their children will work better with each other and with us and the community at elementary level and also I’m very excited to be a part of the board helping you guys connecting the bridge with other parents and I hope to be seeing you for our next seminar in January. 
-1:59:06 Melissa Thompson: We thank you the Lifted Program for partnering at South Avenue School.  I read great things regarding your initial interactions.  Hopefully South Avenue is a great building and we have many great kids throughout our district and I think programs such as the Lifted Program can be beneficial to all of our kids and I look forward to the day when we can share it with everyone.  
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11/23/2015 BOE Meeting

11/25/2015

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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.
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11/09/2015 BOE Meeting

11/9/2015

0 Comments

 

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. 
-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. 
-1:32:18  Dr. Walkley: thanks speaker for her comments
-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. 
-1:32:24  Dr. Walkley: acknowledges comment
-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.
-1:32:33 Dr. Walkley: acknowledges comment
-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. 
-1:32:40 Dr. Walkley: acknowledges comment but doesn't see a question.

Ms. Gadsden: There was one.  How are you as the Beacon City School District going to address the obstacles preventing us from being a district that is not a focus district?

Dr. Walkley So what makes us a focus district. Some of that data and information has been shared and Mr. Soltish shared some information this evening about other information he had that makes us a focus district.  What makes us a focus district is that we either do not show enough adequate progress according to the state set by targets.  In the past if we don’t test 95% of our students and or a district does not meet graduation rates.  We also need to make improvements and not have a wide gap of achievement between different groups of students.  So when you don’t have some of those things, all of those things, one of those things working for you become a focus district.  It’s based on state formula whether we agree with it or not.   What are we doing to address it? You’ve heard LAP plans you’ve heard about the high school plan and that we are doing a three year plan working with the State right now and the DCIP plan is posted and reviewed by the State.   So those are things that we are doing and all of the programming that you’ve heard about those are things that we are doing to change our status from a focus district to a district in good standing. 
1:03:47 Speaker 5 reads comments from the petition
-1:35:15 Dr. Walkley acknowledges comment
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. 
-1:35:31 Dr. Walkley states that the speaker asked about the difference in curriculum between schools. That’s the goal of any district, to articulate your curriculum, align your curriculum across the district.  In this district that process has not taken place in the past. It has in some areas but not all areas.  So there are areas still that there is an articulation need and an alignment need for curriculum.
(audience calls out)
Ms. Thompson: her concern about the teachers sharing between Forrestal and Sargent.
Dr. Walkley: Somebody made the statement that at the elementary level there are shared teachers for several different subject matters.  The amount of time that a teacher spends in a building is based upon the number of classes that are in that building and I have spoken to the Principals of the shared buildings and in this district there is a long history of this music and art situation where in some schools there is more music and in other schools there is more art. What is the District's plan to take care of that?  In the past, for example for music, there has been one teacher that was dedicated to instruments at the elementary level and then another person that was dedicated to the choral part of music and that is the intent of the district to have a model like that. The other question is around art and making sure there is enough FTE enough art so  that each of the schools look the same.   

​What is the experience with bond elections.  She asks Ms. Quartironi who is not sure what that question meant.   Ms. Quartironi: Is that a capital project bond?  The capital projects that we have put through in the last 10 years have been successful so we are continuing and finalizing our last capital project and we are hoping to come forward in the near future with another proposal.
-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.
-1:12:27 Ms. Thompson: comments on respect while at the podium.  You pinpointed a person and we asked that that not happen any longer.  She does not believe grandstanding deserves applause.  She also wants the best teachers and again points out the lack of respect.  To applause that is poor taste.

-1:39:11 Dr. Walkley: she’s not going to get in a fighting match with Mr. Burns.   All of your information has a twist to it, and I have emails where I have given you information you and Ms. Keough, things that you’ve thought were helpful.  What I really said was let’s see if we have agenda items for twice a month or once a month.  There’s information that I have been waiting on from you for six weeks and I still don’t have it and I could also go on, but I don’t think that is productive. I think what’s productive is working collaboratively and I think that that’s what needs to happen and so I invite you and Ms. Keough to continue to work with me and Mrs. Kellogg and anyone else in a collaborative manner.  Certainly we can take a look at some of the things you brought up and take a look at the facts and information around those statements. 
-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
-1:41:11 Ms. Quartironi shares information on technology grant.  She has been told that there's no final information so a Board workshop wouldn't be useful because they don't have enough information on how to move forward.  The State is trying to complete the way we do the process.  We did have to complete a survey and submit it to the State which has been accepted for 1st Phase of project.  So the only way to continue is through committees to finalize technology plans and how we want to move forward.
Dr. Walkley: The other thing about the technology grant is how the state has given or not given information.  Can you say a little bit about that?
Ms. Quartironi: We have gotten very little information on how to spend the money.  I did mention last time that a lot of information that has come forward we have already in this district.  So a lot of it  has to do with the backend of the technology.  So we are waiting for more clarification on how we can move forward and how we can utilize the money that's allocated.  The two million allocated to Beacon is available and once we get the guidance part we will finalize it and bring it in front of Board.  
-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.
-1:43:39 Dr. Walkley acknowledges comments  but didn't see a question
(audience comments that there was one) Ms. Thompson is going to answer those questions.

-1:53:42  Ms. Thompson there have been policy meetings on public comment repeatedly and the #1 thought of the Board was respect.  It has been brought to her attention that she is not tough enough.  That she doesn't demand respect, that I let people speak to long, about to many topics and that I need to do a better job.  This is her attempt to meet the needs of the Board.  
Regarding Ms. Galbo's comment at the last meeting about the teacher's contract that they can meet once per year (Mr. White: per semester).  Twice per year.  They have the opportunity to request at anytime to meet with the board of education to discuss whatever needs they might have or concerns they wish to address.  The BOE has never denied a request.  The BOE is not planning to invite that type of a meeting because that is part of their contract and they are entitled to it.  AT this time the Board will not be taking an action on that point.  
Regarding the petition.  She echoes many of the comments and she speaks more on value of teachers.
She talks more on stopping the BTA president from continuing and agrees that we're all here for checks and balances.
​-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?
-1:43:59 Dr. Walkley: on ordering textbooks looks to Ms. Quartironi.
Ms. Quartironi: The AP books were ordered and tomorrow someone will check the status but they were ordered the day after the board meeting.  The Social Studies books at the Middleschool are in the process of trying to find the most recent edition.  The proposal was put togehter and brought forward at the end of last school year so it was a time between one budget year and another.  So, they are delayed a little bit but we are in the process of ordering those as well.  Those are the only ones that I am aware of that are outstanding.  
Ms. Thompson: I thought the statement was made that the books were delivered and signed for but they don't have them?
Ms. Quartironi: I don't know what that comment means.  I can look into it but if we sign off on books at Central we would deliver them.  I am not clear as to why that comment was made. 

Dr. Walkley regarding substitutes.  States that she has been in contact with other districts in Dutchess County.  In particular she talked to the one District that pays the most and they also have shortage of subs and teachers.  They are warehousing students in the auditorium for study halls.  After discussing a possible thought from the group is that four years ago the APPR came into play as well as tests that teachers need to take now to get a teacher liscense.  Those tests are particularly rigorous and they are difficult to pass.  Therefore for years ago, people who thought they were going into education did not continue.  The assesments are quite costly and people can not continue to retake the tests.  This may indicate why there is a shortage of substitutes and teachers in this area.  We are bringing a proposal to the Board to change the pay for substitutes but even the district that pays over $100 a day has a shortage and it's a big problem.  
Regarding question on grant monies.  Grant monies always have guidelines about what grant money can be spent for.  So for example if you wanted to have a behavior program with one of the grant monies the one prgram that the State supports is PBIS.  So there are guidelines about how that money can be spent the.  The money in the grants that we are using for professional development can not be spent for the Calico Ball, or certain teachers.  It must be used in certain ways.  There are certain guidelines and there are quite a few.
Regarding Race to the Top funds
Ms. Quartironi Does not have money in front of her but can bring to next meeting
Regarding Excel: being a high needs district we did receive Excel money several years ago and used it directly for capital projects.  We do have some money available to us that if we were to go out for another capital project we could use the rest of it but it's only a couple of 100 thousand dollars left.  We were able to utilize most to keep the tax levy less. 
-1:21:56 Speaker 11 former educator hearing the same things at meetings about teacher transfers, TOSAs, and a lack of respect shown to teachers he cannot in good conscious sit by without commenting.  We haven’t had the consistency to keep the district stable until now.  He has talked about the need for leadership and that a permanent superintendent was needed. Believes that Dr. Walkley is the one to bring it all together even with the kicking and screaming that is going on.  Most superintendents would not have even met with the teachers being moved. Principals should stand up and admit that they were involved with teacher transfers.   The special education teachers in this district have been moved on a yearly basis but there has been no outcry on this either.  TOSAs are also important to the continued professional development of teachers. To question the qualifications of one individual is horrendous.  A parent has asked ‘how can a PE teacher help an English teacher when it’s not their area?”  An experienced educator knows good teaching when it is taking place and there are administrators and teachers on this board, and they know I speak the truth. He continues by talking about respect. A parent was allowed to turn and talk to the audience where others were told that they could not do that.  The rule must apply to all equally.
-1:50:15 Dr Walkley acknowledges comment
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.  
-1:50:29 Dr. Walkley: question about DCIP and is it on the home page.  I believe it is.
(audience: asked if it was submitted to the state on July 31st and if accepted is it being implemented?)
Dr. Walkley: it was sumbitted to the state.  The state has given us some feedback on that particular DCIP that Ms. Kellogg is now taking a look at and that will be addressed.  (audience: and shared with public as well)  We don't have it in front of us today but we can certainly share information at another meeting.
Mrs. Kellogg:  I don't have that feedback in front of me.  It is something she'd like to share and bring back to a committee to look at it.  They just received the feedback.  These are living documents.  They have been shared with those implenting the plans and the schools and they will have opportunity for further feedback.  With regard to the high school SCEP plan we are participating in the DTSDE Diagnostic tool for school district effectiveness, PLC (Professional Learning Committee) at the state level and as part of that association develping 3yr. plan which makes more sense to them so that they can build on work they are already doing. More information will be shared with the community
,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. 
-1:53:26 Dr. Walkley acknowledges comment and that we can figure it out.
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10/26/15 Board Meeting

10/26/2015

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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.
Minutes from the meeting beyond public comment can be found here: 
Board of Ed. Minutes
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Appointment of BW as Superintendent

2/23/2015

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2/23/15 Board of Education meeting at which Barbara Walkley was appointed as the Superintendent.  
The following is the transcript of Board Member, Mr. White's comments regarding the appointment of Dr. Walkley to the position of Superintendent from her role as Interim Superintendent.

I am speaking to the proposal to appoint Dr. Walkley tonight to the Superintendent position without going through a process.  I understand what Bill [Zopf] is saying, but I personally feel the Board is acting irresponsibly to appoint a person to the Superintendent position without taking the proper steps.  I questioned the appointment to the interim position without going through a process to canvas.  I understood there was a “time crunch” and that the district would be without a person at that time so going against my better judgment I agreed; without seeing a resume or a recommendation from prior work experience.  I still have not seen these items.  We are not in the same position. 

I understand the superintendent search has not been the best experience for the district or veteran board members based on past results.  I ask that we evaluate these processes and adjust, not remove them completely. 

I ask what information we are using to make this recommendation?  We are making a recommendation based on our experiences as Board members, which is limited.  We represent the community.  The community has a voice!  Have we heard from the administrators, teachers, parents and/or students? How can we proceed without gathering all of this important information from community stakeholders?

The public did not know about the proposed recommendation until the agenda was posted on Friday night.  The school community found out a bit earlier through and email Friday afternoon.  Neither stakeholder community had time to express their feelings about the recommendation. 

I feel we are blindsiding the public and the school community.  How is a decision going to maintain the confidence of the community in the Board and the district when the district’s history with this position speaks for itself?

We are now appointing a person to this position without exhausting a process.  As a community member I have tried to understand every aspect of the school the school system and the way we came to this recommendation follows no systemic approach.   We did not ascertain the community’s opinions and desires with respect to this appointment. 

The second concern I have is the length of the contract.  The contract is for three years four months.  March 1, 2015 – June 30, 2018.  I know the last two superintendents had three year contracts and we needed to settle after a year of service, which created a financial burden for the district among other concerns.  Why not make it a one year four month contract, or a two year four month contract?  I am expressing my concerns at this time as I feel we are making a rash decision without having all of the important information.  What is the rush to appoint at this time?  We are not in the same position as we were at the beginning of the school year.  Why not gather all of the information before making this decision.  The interim contract is for a year, which ends at the end of July.  If  we started this process now we would have sufficient amount of time to go through the entire process.

I am asking the Board of Ed members to explain their point of view and to justify how they came to this decision so the community has a full and complete understanding of the decision being made.  Some might say the Board has done its due diligence by evaluating the “body of work” that has been done while in the interim position.  If this is the rationale I would ask my fellow board members what they are referring to with regard to the “body of work?”

Less than three seconds following this statement and with no response to Mr. White’s questions or concerns the Beacon Board of Ed. President called for a vote.  Mr. White was the only member to vote “no” on the immediate appointment.

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