Teacher Cell Phone Use Unacceptable.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "CSE Meetings With Texting?":

If you ever witness cellphone usage (texting, talking on or even accidenal ringing of), speak up right away. Indicate that such behavior is unacceptable and unprofessional. Let the superintendent know that such a thing is going on. Although I cannot say it has ever happened to me, this is clearly inappropriate.

The problem is that not enough people report such things. When it's one parent filing a complaint, it's usually ignored. When the problem is brought to their attention multiple times, something may get done.

If Mr. Rosenfeld is reading this, please advise you staff that cellphone usage during parent meetings is inconsistent with proper educational practice.

How could anyone find this acceptable?

Ed's note: Indeed, when asked, my child responded, " My teacher checks text messages everyday and about once a week makes a phone call."

The Teachers are There,-Where is Parental Concern?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Where's the Education?":

I am a teacher who both lives and teaches in Plainview. I just wanted to make one point about what I see in this blog and what I have personally observed. The overall tenor of this blog is that teachers don't care or are too self absorbed to care. From what I see observing both the teachers that I work with, and the teachers that teach my children, this is not true. I teach in one of our middle schools, it is the policy of my team to make contact with parents when their children's average is below a 75, this marking period we attempted to make contact with the families of 29 students who fell below that mark. (Most of them were not failing) so far we have received 2 replies. To me this shows a lack of concern by parents and it makes me question their commitment to their children’s education. I can’t for the life of me understand why all 29 would not make an attempt to contact us?

Board of Ed- PCT Puppets

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Mr. Rosenfeld, Do Not Insult Us":

when will the community open their eyes?
The Board of ed is made up of PCT puppets. The board has been giving raises for years and have gotten nothing in return. When teachers in attendance at board meetings boldly state that they know which board members they have to get rid of it's ridiculous. There are 3 seats up for election 2 of those seats are occupied by people who disregarded their constituents and voted for the raise. It's time to tell Mrs. Weinstein and Mr. Bettan you had your chance now it's time to leave.

Mr. Rosenfeld, Do Not Insult Us

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Stop Bashing and Work With Us":

You should be ashamed of yourself. How do you sleep at night? all you want is $$$$$$. That is your main concern. All the unemployment, hardships, foreclosures, ridiculous tax bills etc and you have the nerve to demand raises when a lot of other school district unions are working with the schools. You are an embarrassment to labor unions. Do not insult us with your false sense of actually pretending to care.You disregard the fact that the state pension plan to which your members are being enriched with is sinking the state finances. Do you care ? not at all . as long as your union keeps rolling in the dough. don't be surprised if the budget gets voted down. It will be your fault.

CSE Meetings With Texting?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Teacher Cell Phone Usage?":

Anybody else besides me experience cell phone interruptions and watch texts being "discreetly" read or sent during CSE meetings?

When My Child Gets The Education H/She is Entitled to..

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Stop Bashing and Work With Us":

Mr. Rosenfeld,

First of all, kudos to you for taking the time to read this blog. It shows your effort to try and understand community sentiment. Even if you disagree, you're listening, not so the case with most administrators here.

I have personally spent most of this year getting a runaround from the administration, all the way up the ladder, on an issue with my child's education. He/she is not being challenged, has been cast aside with the attitude that because he/she meets or exceeds the standard, he/she is not entitled to instruction comparable to all other children. The misinformation and downright dishonesty of some administrators in this district is almost unbelievable.

Although I've been offered legal advice that the situation (well documented) is actually reportable, I've been trying to avoid such a fate as in this particular case, the weak link is more with the administration than it is with the teacher, although she/he is not totally blameless.

At some point, the district is going to have to realize that parents have a right to advocate for their children and pushing parents off and not taking them seriously is counterproductive.

When I feel my child is receiving the education he/she is entitled to,then and only then will I vote for the budget and support the teachers union.

Incidentally, this posting is anonymous as my child's teacher was actually baiting him/her for information on whether or not I have hired a lawyer to the point he/she became physically sick. If my name were posted here, I actually fear for my child's well-being.

Teacher Cell Phone Usage?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Where's the Education?":

Parents should ask their children how many times if any do they see their teachers using their cell phones talking or texting during class time. From what I understand , this is a common practice in the elementary and middle schools . If the children can not use the phones(which I agree with) then the teachers should be barred from using them as well except for emergencies of course. How many parents have come across this?

Stop Bashing and Work With Us

Morton Rosenfeld has left a new comment on your post "Where's the Education?":

The only place in Plainview to find serious talk about education is at the PCT website at pobct.org. We were talking about the low level of the state assessments when Diane Ravitch was still singing their praises. We said that the state tests held the danger to dumb things in Plainview down, and that's exactly what has happened. If some of the people on this blog would stop bashing us and start working with us, we could improve this district significantly. The way things are going,we are in danger of becoming a test prep district.

Morton Rosenfeld, President
PCT

Outside Professional Help?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Again... Time to Speak Out":

I think it is about time that the BOE hire an outside professional to renegotiate the contract since the last negotiation was not a contract that was in the best interest of the residents and children of Plainview.Who ever was responsible for the last negotiation apparently lacked the ability to go up against the PCT.

Ed's note: Perhaps an outside pro would be good for the Principal's contract for which negotiations are probably going on about now; behind executive meeting doors.
Alas, I assume that because the BOE caved to the teachers, this negotiation will follow suit.

Where's the Education?

Stefanie Nelkens has left a new comment on your post "It's the Economy Stupid":

Dempsey's latest message to the community on the school district website is about the importance of filling out the census. Another March 2010 message asks the community to write to our local legislators asking for educational funding.

While both are important topics for sure, personally I'm more concerned with more educational-type issues such as my child's ability to read, write and do math. I find it disappointing that the administration and BOE do not focus more of their discussions on the sorely needed improvement of these and other scholastic areas.

There are articles in national newspapers almost on a daily basis about concern of the state of education in America which support my concerns.

In a March 31, 2010 Daily News opinion piece, entitled “NY is lying to their schoolkids” Diane Ravitch, a educational expert and once strong supporter of state assessments, talks about how the standard of NYS state tests are so low that the public is regularly misinformed about student progress. 3s and 4s that children score on elementary state assessments are indicators of something but not necessarily the mastery and proficiency our kids needs for later success. She says “Now is the time for honesty, integrity and transparency.”

I agree and I’d like to see the same for our school district. But for this to happen, the conversation and focus needs to shift to math, ELA, science and social studies, and away from the census, Albany and the swine flu.

Tax Increase, For What?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Outlook is Bleak":

I'm still voting against the budget. My children's experience in the Plainview schools is mediocre at best. They don't benefit from anything the district has to offer. Why should I vote for a tax increase to continue an already substandard education?

Something Is Missing

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "It's the Economy Stupid":

He may focused on fiscal issue, the question remains, is he focused on fiscal responsibility?
that seems to be missing throughout the Administration as well as the BOE

Demand Fiscal Responsibility

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Ignore the Excuse":

New York: The state of our education?

Are New York's schools 65 percent better than the na tional average? Are our hospitals 73 percent better or our prisons 63 percent better? For that matter, is our Legislature 161 percent better than the average state's?

These question arise because we spend that much more than the US average in these areas:

* $15,987 per pupil on K-12 education, more than any other state.

* $7,927 per Medicaid enrollee, second highest in the nation, 73 percent above the national average.

* $36,835 per prison inmate, fifth among the states.

* And $989,892 per member of the Legislature on the budgets for the state Assembly and Senate.


New York faces a $9 billion budget deficit in the coming fiscal year, and local governments also face large shortfalls. Yet countless analysts and politicians, including Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch, suggest that it is impossible to close these budget gaps without raising taxes and incurring debt.

In fact, "impossible" may be how they see the politics of cutting spending -- but it certainly doesn't apply to the math of trimming the budget.

Census numbers (for 2007, the most recent complete data set) reveal that New York spends far more per capita on state and local government ($12,920) than any other state but two. And those exceptions are Alaska and Wyoming -- two atypical states with low populations and vast energy industry-derived revenues.

Indeed, if the Empire State simply cut its per-capita spending to the level of the next highest state, California (No. 4 on the list at $10,940 per capita), we'd save some $38 billion a year. A cut in federal matching funds would partly offset the savings, but the remainder would be more than enough to close this year's budget gap and slash our leaden tax burden.

OK, New York has slightly higher percentages of poor and elderly than California. But can anyone seriously believe that New York is so different from California that our state and local governments need to spend $38 billion more on a per-capita basis to provide the needed services?

Contrary to the conventional wisdom in Albany, New York's state and local governments can cut their spending without drastically impairing the level of services they provide. It won't be easy, but it is possible.

Manhattan Institute senior fellows E.J. McMahon and Josh Barro laid out a comprehensive plan for reducing state spending in their recent "Blueprint for a Better Budget." The study includes suggestions for much-needed structural budgetary reforms to help every level of government save money as well as a 30-point plan that could pare $30 billion from the state budget over the next three years.

. Reducing and capping school aid could save another $1.6 billion. And freezing wages for state employees and requiring them to contribute more to their health-care plans could save another $670 million.

The savings in the report would accrue to some $14 billion a year by 2012-13.

Over time, reform of public pensions would save billions more. New York's public-pension costs, like those in other states, are skyrocketing. To prevent the long-term burden from growing even heavier, it's essential to shift the government workforce to a defined-contribution system, based on the kind of 401(k) plans that now predominate in the private sector and in public-university systems.


The startling truth is that New York could still spend more per capita than any state (Alaska and Wyoming excepted) while cutting spending by billions. Unfortunately, our economic future is being held hostage by a public sector that's allergic to fiscal responsibility.

It's time for New York taxpayers to demand that their elected officials get serious about cutting spending.

Again... Time to Speak Out

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Just like In Plainview":

The teacher's 2 year contract will be renegotiated soon. It is important to put pressure on the BOE to follow suit with other school districts and impose a pay freeze in the next contract. The budget was adopted last night. It will increase nearly 3% with a large portion of that coming from the increase in teacher's salaries. How much more can this district take. People need to speak out and tell the BOE what is said in this blog.

Loss of State Aid

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Just Doesn't Make Sense":

Dear editor
I hope you will put this under its own topic. Thanks
"State legislature bows to pressure from the state teachers union and Lose chance to get 700million dollars in school aid"

Gov. David Paterson said Monday he wasn't surprised that New York missed out on up to $700 million in federal education grants, but he believes the Legislature can act to give the state a strong entry for the next round of funding.


New York State ended up at the bottom of the list for Race to the Top funds -- the federal program the dolls out money for "compelling and comprehensive education reform."

The Obama administration Monday awarded $600 million dollars to Tennessee and Delaware, based on education reform efforts undertaken in those states. But New York ranked 15th on the list of 16 finalists, winning none of the coveted education dollars in Round 1 of the program.

"Nobody should be surprised," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg , who had led the battle for reforms in New York State's education system. The Obama administration made it clear there were certain prerequisites to win Race to the Top funding, including lifting the cap on charter schools. The State Legislature, however, failed to eliminate the cap.

New York's failure to garner up to 700 million dollars during Round 1 of the grants will make it that much harder to balance this year's State Budget, which clearly will not be passed on time. The deadline is April 1st, but the Legislature left Albany on Friday with no plan to return until after the Passover and Easter holidays.

Critics speculated that the Legislature had bowed to pressure from the powerful United Federation of Teachers. President Michael Mulgrew argued against lifting the cap, insisting that New York could still qualify for Race to the Top without lifting the cap.

It's the Economy Stupid

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Where is the BOE on This?":

According to a google search I just ran, Mr. Dempsey is contracted in Plainview thru the 2011/12 school year. That's two more years. He's probably focused on fiscal issues given the lousy economy. It's doubtful that he'll put much effort into changing the academic status quo right now.

The Outlook is Bleak

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "There's an Arrogance here....":

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100405/NEWS01/4050319/1003/news01/Schools-brace-for-layoffs

ALBANY — Larger class sizes, fewer extracurricular activities and electives — such as music, art and Advanced Placement courses — not as many field trips, and less academic help for needy students.has proposed. The average reduction for a school district would be 6.7 percent.

Lawmakers and the governor failed to agree on a budget before Thursday's start of the fiscal year.

So as school districts craft budgets for the coming year, they don't have all the details they need about state aid. The outlook is bleak. The troubled economy that has led to a $9.2 billion state budget deficit has also made property taxpayers increasingly intolerant of tax increases. Superintendents and boards of education will focus on what comprises more than 70 percent of their budgets — salaries and benefits. - read more at link......