Account of Last Nights Board Meeting

Involved Parent has left a new comment on your post "The Morning After - were you there?":

I attended the meeting last night, as well as the last meeting a few weeks ago. BOE room at Mattlin was full. I will only provide a report about the meeting and not provide my views.

Morty Rosenfeld (PCT president) and additional members of PCT were there, as were many PTA members. There were several other parents who do not fit into either category, several former BOE members were present.

The topic of the teachers contract, was not discussed all that long, only during public comment period. I think 4 parents got up to comment about this (all were very well spoken in my view): all felt that the teachers are acting inappropriately and that they are starting to "take it into the classroom, comments on all teachers wearing black, and teachers not permitting parents in the classroom, worries about college recommendations."

District counsel (Guercio) then made a speech (which he directed right at Mr. Rosenfeld) that the district will look into all allegations raised and take appropriate action. not sure what that action is however.

Over all a quiet meeting.
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My House has left a new comment on your post "Account of Last Nights Board Meeting":

Summary - Last night’s BOE meeting room was filled with concerned parents and the crowd overflowed into the atrium. Agenda items were discussed. Except for a few comments, public participation focused on parents’ concerns that the current teacher-BOE contract negotiations were ending up in the classroom. Actions like dressing in black and wearing buttons saying Contract Now were not disputed to be within the realm of American freedoms but the ethical question of is this the right thing to do in front of children was raised. Lack of parent participation in classroom activities, cancellation of holiday parties, loss of ability for parents to be allowed into school to take photos for yearbooks and lack of feeling welcome in school, teachers’ reluctance to write college recommendations and sealed college recommendations were brought up as concerns. Many statements were prefaced with compliments about the school district and teaching staff. Several parents told the BOE that although they brought up these concerns, they did not want their interest to be construed as putting pressure on the BOE to settle the contract.



In addition, some parents spoke of the Board of Ed goals for this year that were discussed at the meeting and asked for a schedule of when they might be achieved. The importance of school administration-to-parent communication was brought up several times. A parent showed samples of curriculum materials that were possibly illegal Xeroxes of copyrighted materials and questioned why Stratford Road students were not receiving workbooks for ELA test prep as students in the other district elementary schools are. The PTA Council President mentioned the PTA Council website as a resource for information about the school district. http://www.pobptacouncil.com/



At the conclusion of Public Participation, the school district’s attorney spoke to several concerns raised by parents. He explained that some school activities are necessary and therefore enforceable while others were not. Those that can be addressed will be looked into.



Comments and Thoughts – The meeting showed the community’s priority is the education of their children. Parents were well-spoken and courteous. BOE responded in kind although specifics were not always shared.



Details of the contract negotiations were brought up and Superintendent Mr. Dempsey told the audience that a presentation was made at the September 21 BOE meeting and was available by FOIL. PTA Council spoke publicly that that particular information is posted on their PTA Council website, and this direct link will get you there: http://www.pobptacouncil.com/Districtsalaryproposal2.pdf



In general and for future reference visit http://www.oms.nysed.gov/foil/ for an explanation of the Freedom of Information Law and a sample letter to use. The requests should be addressed to: Records Access Officer, Plainview Old-Bethpage Central School District, 106 Washington Avenue, Plainview, New York 11803 and you can drop them off in person with Harriet Fischer, District Clerk.