Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Vote Yes, But Change the Faces on the BOE":
My vote against the budget has nothing to do with the teachers' contract. It would be a rarity for Plainview's budget not to pass. I'm just not happy with the school system. The education my children receive is simply not good. My taxes do not need to increase so they can continue what's already below mediocrity.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
A vote against the budget may be good because I understand that this summer they will be starting negotiations for the next teachers contract. If we pass the budget and our taxes go up again that just tells the BOE that the last teachers contract was ok and we can give the teachers another raise . When is it enough? Paople can not afford to live here anymore due to the taxes. The reality our children will not be able to afford to live here now, What would they have to put down 50%-%60? Voting for this budget will hurt our children just as much as voting against the budget. That is the reality.
ReplyDeleteThe school system needs to be fixed and the Board members need to be voted out. except for Angel who voted against the teachers contract.The proposition up for vote to create a fund for capital improvements needs to be voted down as well. How can you trust them ? Maybe to money will be used for some bonuses for the teachers.
ReplyDeleteHow is it that the POB middle school has hired a retired POB teacher to work again as a full time teacher? the teacher is already receiving an enormous state pension.If the retired teacher worked for 36 years in the school district and was probably making 100k when she retired. That would mean that she would probably be earning 70k retired that is also free of NY state taxes that makes the 70K worth even more. I think she works in the 7th or 8th grade. Is this legal? I thought the state banned this practice . They are probably paying her the same high salary as when she left. Another high salary to pay for
ReplyDeleteDo you people have any clue about the educational system, ret. system or do you just speak without knowing ANYTHING.
ReplyDeleteOnce a teacher retires they can still work and make $30,000 at the most. That's it unless its off the books. Please get all your info correct before sharing your ignorance.
Aren't retired teachers hired back as subs?
ReplyDeletea b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand this policy applies within NYS in a state position (public school, civil service, etc). Am I correct on this?
ReplyDeleteHow does this apply to our superintendent who is also a returnee from retirement?
By the way, I grew up in this town. Who is this retired teacher at POB Middle School?
NYS law prevents people collecting NYS pensions from earning over a certain amount of money per year from public sector job. HOWEVER, there are 2 notable exceptions. 1. District can apply for a waiver and employee can get their pension and a salary. 2) After an employee reaches a certain age this no longer applies. Therefore after certain age public employee (such as POB SUPT) can collect full NYS PENSION and a full Public Employee Salary (POB SUPT). Hope this makes it clear.
ReplyDeleteLoophole!!! The supt is old enough that he can be retired and go back to work for full pay and not be accused of double-dipping like Brooks. He was hired here as an interim and that time was supposed to be used to find someone who would be a supt but it wasn't and he was hired as a permanent supt. He has not achieved much of anything except to make excuses for what's wrong and be secretive and not communicate to the community. He will be remembered for making unpopular changes like redoing XR and twist what's said around like saying one thing about collaborative class sizes and then something else. Nothing real has happened here since he's been around except for him getting paid far too much money for a job that should have been given to someone who really wants to make things better not line their pockets for their retirement!!!!!
ReplyDeleteE. J. McMahon, director of the Empire Center, said the latest school budget data highlighted the need for New York State to enact a cap on school property taxes, freeze pay for teachers and other public-sector workers, and reform the Taylor Law. “While next year’s proposed spending increases are below the norm, they aren’t low enough,” McMahon said. “Tax increases of any size in the current economic climate are simply intolerable. A tax cap combined with a wage freeze would ameliorate the impact of state aid cuts and protect homeowners.”
ReplyDeleteThe formula in Governor Paterson’s original 2008 property tax cap would have allowed no school property tax increases in 2010-11, McMahon said.
It's not clear what the superintendent's motives are. In my personal opinion, this district could be so much more than it is. He may not be the right match for us but his contract only goes another two years (I think).
ReplyDeletequestionable administrative staff, lack of accountability,bad labor contracts, rediculous salaries,ignoring the best interest of the children and the community and out of control school taxes. Did I miss something? It all comes down to the same thing . The BOE must be replaced ,even if we get rid of 2 or 3 of them at a time when each election comes around.Tenure must be eliminated. THE BUCK STOPS AT THE BOE who must be replaced.
ReplyDeleteFor what the supt is getting paid we really can't afford 2 more years of someone who's not the "right match." Every year things can be made better here!!!! Every year counts!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBefore we can get rid of the Superintendent we have to get rid of Rubber Stamp Bettan.
ReplyDeleteHow can we get rid of Jill Gerasch? Since she came on board our academic programs have deteriorated. She hires consultants for everything which wastes our money. She came from a bad school district and offers our district nothing in the way of innovative or effective educational programs. It is also painful to hear her speak at BOE meetings. She rambles on and on. She doesn't know how to get to the point because I don't think she has one.
ReplyDeleteThere have been complaints about Jill Gerasch on this blog before. You say, "she rambles on and on." Try interrupting her. She'll respond with a very arrogant, "Let me finsh." Also, if she'll let you make one complete sentence without interrupting so she can ramble more, consider yourself privileged. Her mannerism with parents is horribly inconsistent with the community of Plainview. It's unimaginable that she'll be here for very long.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone in the upper level administration here should be let go, it's her, not Mr. Dempsey.
When she first came here, I was open to the fact that she might be good for us. I now feel that based on hearing her at Board Meetings and seeing her actions, she doesn't know what she is doing. Who hired her and how did she pass an interview here?
ReplyDeleteGierasch and Dempsey BOTH need to go. Their combined arrogance and willingness to ignore obvious shortfalls is dangerous for all kids and our home values.
ReplyDeleteIts time to stop the revolving door at central administration, get rid of has beens and wanna bees, and hire some good administrators who have a plan and will stay long enough to see it through. We pay enough and we should be able to attract some talent. Mediocrity is not my standard and I'm sick of excuses.
ReplyDeleteOk,many of us are clearly in agreement on these administrators. Posting on this blog is a good way to air our concerns, support each other and raise awareness but that's all. With this done, now what do we do to accomplish the goal of putting more effective individuals into the appropriate positions? The superintendent has a contract that will end. Does the same apply to the associate superintendent? This is only her first year. There must be something that can be done. What??????
ReplyDeleteI had formerly indicated on this blog as to what I thought were the deficiencies with Jill Gerash’s resume. Poor education (Salisbury State , Dowling), cliché catch-phrases (“proven track records of success”), and an unimpressive career history. In turn, I received responses stating that you don’t need an Ivy education to be effective (although I never said Ivy league was necessary – just a decent education from a good school).
ReplyDeleteSo here we are, one year later and many are already expressing their unhappiness. They’ve stated that she doesn’t listen, can't communicate effectively and hasn’t done her job. And again, how did she get the job? Did she have any prior connection with Plainview?
To all of those in Plainview Old-Bethpage who read my post and could have done something about it (hiring committee) I say this to you. Shame on you for buying into it. I believe that you were as unqualified to make the decision as she was to hold the position itself.
And to the individual who criticized my posting, I hold no grudge. I wish the best for you and your family. May your children be blessed enough to attend such fine 3rd rate institutions as she has. And when they graduate, as they say on TV, “they get to keep the tools”.
Is it possible to start a petition or some kind of protest to encourage replacement of these administrators? How do we as parents force this issue? Do we have any rights here? Do our children have the right to have highly qualified people, not just mediocore they have a heart beat people, making decisions about the very expenive education they receive?
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, the schools Ms. Gierasch attended were never a source of concern. The "proven track record" was always questionable. I tried to be optimistic to give her a chance. I incorrectly assumed whoever hired her had really looked into her suitability for this school district.
ReplyDeleteWhere do we go from here? Who's willing to stand up and petition the board?
Let the board know you're unhappy with what's going on but its doubtful that they will get rid of any adminsitrator who has a contract protecting their employment. We are probably stuck with them unless they choose to leave on their own.
ReplyDeleteVote on May 18 and elect people to the school board who will ask administrators like Gerasch and Dempsey the right questions and demand solutions. Stephanie Nelkens has been doing this for years. She brings up the same things over and over and doesn't give up. She's gotten some good changes over the years. We need change here and she's got my vote.
Stephanie Nelkens wants to micro manage the district especially the teachers.
ReplyDeleteStefanie Nelkens wants equity for all students. We need Stefanie and ALL of our board members to ask: who is observing what goes on in each school, in each class? How come one class uses a text but another one doesn't even get the book? If you think Stefanie is micro managing, great, because NO ONE ELSE is looking at what is going on in too many of our classrooms. If you work for NYC, and many of us do, you ALWAYS have someone observing your class and collecting weekly, detailed lesson plans. (Who checks and monitors lesson plans in Plainview? Is anyone here even QUalified? How about having some of our veteran teachers who actually KNOW how to teach and write lesson share their approaches and guide others who even though they may have tenure, are still inexperienced.) We have NO ONE monitoring the daily grind. Just go on "Ratemyteacher.com" and read for yourself which teachers kids rate as unorganized and ineffective and which ones are awesome. It is right there in black and white. Let's help these teachers who have lost their passion for teaching; help those who are still young in their careers and need some intervention; address teacher concerns; don't ignore them. All of our board members should have the courage Stefanie has for asking questions and addressing concerns that MANY of us have but are afraid to ask, lest we jeopardize our child's welfare in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Stefanie Nelkens and others who saved us from Investigations math, our children don't draw circles to find the value of 12 x 12. Let's vote for change. Vote Stefanie!
ReplyDeleteThe teachers need to be micro-managed and no one has the balls to do it - especially Dempsey.
ReplyDeleteWe do not need our BOE members observing, they need to be replaced.
ReplyDeleteHow does this school district become the hiring dumping ground for idiots?
ReplyDelete