Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Your Voice is What's Missing...":
Sadly another year on the forgotten side of town has begun. My child started her first year in the middle school with what she called, "a disaster that was unorganized."
A melding of two schools where many did not know each other. Was there any team building games or activities where they could get to know each other? She was invited to a BBQ, what happened with that? Additionally, Plainview is an amazingly diverse town, Muslims, Orthodox Jews, Hindus, what were they supposed to eat? Somehow meat and cheese in a sandwich doesn't serve all.
Sign Up was total chaos. My daughter told me it took her 20 minutes to find her group and then she got to hear the same speech and see the same video that the principal presented last year at her elementary school. For this we came home early from vacation? And what about knowing who my child's teacher is so that she could meet others in her class? Finally, what about school supplies? My elementary school son got his in July when everything was 25cents, or a dollar. I leisurely shopped the drug stores and Wallmart looking for bargains in this tough economy. Nope, we now sit ten days before school, 3 days before a major three day weekend, and seven days before a major religious weekend, so that I can rush my car around and fight through Staples and the like to pay top dollar and hope that the supplies she needs are still on the shelves.
If this is an indication of how the administration runs POB Middle School, everyone on the neglected side of town, entering this new school in hopes of finally getting the great education we are paying for, is in for yet another 4 years of school devoid of planning, thinking and expertise.
I wonder if the do nothing Board will address this?
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We all know this district and several schools on our side of town need MAJOR changes. At least the new principal is trying something and he means well. Let's be optimistic.
ReplyDeleteMy kid was a bit disappointed that the t-shirt they gave out is too small to wear.
ReplyDeleteThere was a mix up with the mail getting out on time and that's why the packets with teacher and school supply information haven't been received yet.
ReplyDeleteYou can call the school to find out your child's 5th grade teachers - 349-4750.
The office staff at POB is very helpful.
Remember - it's not their fault that the mail didn't go out.
A mix up in the mail!
ReplyDeleteWho is responsible for a "mail mix up"?
The post office or the school district?
Instead of complaining, why don't you be proactive and offer YOUR experetise in helping to make this a successful new school year.
ReplyDeleteOffer expertise? What about the "expertise" we're paying for to run this school district?
ReplyDeleteIt was a school district mix up. Once the packets got to the post office, they were delivered.
If I were paid over 100 grand a year like our school employees then maybe I would offer my expertise . the school should be operated more proffessionally for tghe amount of money that the teachers and administrators are over paid
ReplyDeleteIs anyone managing anything here?
ReplyDeleteA "mix up with the mail getting out on time?" This should not have happened. It is not an issue with the post office. It was a mistake on either the part of the school or the district's mail office.
ReplyDeleteEven in the best of organizations, errors sometimes happen. While this is certainly not great for public relations with an already angry parent body, I would encourage parents to not let this one mistake cloud your entire view of POBMS. While it is possible that you'll be disappointed with the school, give it a little more of a chance before writing it off totally.
This error poses an annoyance for parents at an already busy time in the year. No question on that. My personal concern is on my children's education and well-being, something this really doesn't pose so much of a threat to.
The teachers and administrators make large salaries. The secretaries whose responsibility it is to pack these envelopes do not.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the administrators could do a better job of overseeing this project. The teachers really have nothing to do with it.
The public schools in Plainview are not all that much different from the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. Think about it. An institution run on public money that pays its employees well but doesn't provide them with the training necessary to appropriately and professionally serve its community. The only difference is that driving is not compulsory and children are not able to advocate for themselves.
ReplyDelete"forgotten side of town" Please there's been a disparity between POBMS and Mattlin for years. POB has that zero period where the children can participate in clubs and other afterschool activities where the children at Mattlin do not have that option. Also on the favored side as you put it, didn't get their children's report cards last June; after numerous calls we finally got them to send it out.
ReplyDeleteThat is part of the problem with this town, we too often compare each side of town as seperate entities and not as equals.
You can not compare the dmv to our teachers. The DMV has improved so much over the years and they are not too bad to deal with. The POB school district employs Primadonnas . Do the employees at DMV have tenure? NO. When ever I have been at the DMV they have always acted professional as far as I could see. Contrary to the POB school district in which I have seen unproffessional conduct . Did You ever see one of the people behind the desk at DMV texting or talking on the cell phone? I have never. Ask your children if they have ever seen their teacher texting or talking on the cell phone during class. I am sure the answer would be YES.
ReplyDeleteI don't expect any part of my childrens' education other than paying school taxes to be an annoyance.
ReplyDeleteThat report cards were not distributed timely is just another example of the problem with communication here. If there was some problem getting those report cards out, parents should have been notified upfront and kept informed as to when they would get them.
Did they think no one would notice? Did they think the parents couldn't care? Parents should not have to be calling up to get report cards sent out.
The situation sounds like it wasn't under control, similar to POB saying that packets got sent out and the mail must be the problem when the packets were never sent out. Again, would no one notice? Would no one care?
With all the missteps here you would think the district would have a Damage Control policy beyond making excuses and hoping not that many parents notice.
Some might say it's nit-picking to complain about late report cards since after all report cards can wait and be sent home at a later time and it doesn't harm the kids.
It's a disgrace. The BOE, central administration, building administrations should be embarrassed by what goes on here. Instead of patting themselves on the back, talking about how great things are, they should be looking at themselves critically asking where can we improve. Instead things are backsliding and parents who speak up about this are told they are nit-picking if they complain about unprofessionalism.
And please let's not blame office employees whose only crime is getting stuck stuffing the envelopes. Do not let them be scapegoats for management who don't have it together.
It's time for the superintendent, the building principals and the BOE to take responsibility for errors, apologize, make amends and regain the trust and confidence of the parent community. We are entitled to high expectations - our taxes are high and the story we hear when we are asked to vote for the school budget is how great everything is here. It's time for this district to live up to the propoganda.
Why should the admin change any behaviors? The board has generously given everyone a raise for their exemplary stewardship of this district. Hats off to the board for burying us alive.
ReplyDeleteThe superintendent is a retiree returnee. It's doubtful that he cares all that much. The district level and building level administrators are a mixed bag. Personally, I think we'll start to see change when we hire a new leader at the top.
ReplyDeleteIt's deflation - they should all give money back.
ReplyDelete