Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The talk has been that they want to do it statewide -- that is pass legislation to reduce the number of school districts from over 600 to 1 per county -- as is done in many states.

I agree that it has been talked about 'in the past'..............charter schools is what obama and cuomo are pushing for now.

Quoted from bumblethru

I agree that it has been talked about 'in the past'..............charter schools is what obama and cuomo are pushing for now.

Actually, Governor Cuomo was talking about the need for consolidation of local government units in the recent weeks.  The issue is NOT in the past.    Believe me - when the property tax is passed ... local government or taxing units will be forced to consider consolidation -as a matter of practicality --  WHY ? because the cap is the rate of inflation  (about 1% last year) but no more than 2%.    Just to keep up with built in increases in wages and benefits local taxing units need to grow revenues by at least 3% a year.   Do the math - consolidation IS the only answer to shrink the size and cost of local government.

not to hard

just neg union contracts to the rate of inflation not a fixed percentage and make the retirement age the same as Social Security

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Actually, Governor Cuomo was talking about the need for consolidation of local government units in the recent weeks.  The issue is NOT in the past.    Believe me - when the property tax is passed ... local government or taxing units will be forced to consider consolidation -as a matter of practicality --  WHY ? because the cap is the rate of inflation  (about 1% last year) but no more than 2%.    Just to keep up with built in increases in wages and benefits local taxing units need to grow revenues by at least 3% a year.   Do the math - consolidation IS the only answer to shrink the size and cost of local government.

There wouldn't be much of a need for consolidation if your socialist mayor and the rest of the LOL leadership team would stop giving the tax dollars to the millionaires.  

See, the FACTS are that if they spent money on the neighborhoods, there would be less crime, less blight, safer streets, better vital services, and people might actually move into the city, good people who would live in the houses they would buy.  And then get the millionaires to pay their taxes, then the residents of the city would have lower tax bills and could actually purchase things from these businesses, and they could attend shows and such, and the whole city would be better, taxes lower and no one would be crying for consolidation.

Again, do you believe the taxpayers should be paying for kids to be bussed all over the county?

Ooh.    betcha someone is cheering for spending this "education" money.   Ooooh spend money on "the arts"    But deny poor parents the ability to choose where their children learn the necessities of reading, writing, and math.   Yep, the taxpayers are footing this bill

Let's just consolidate all public schools into one big school


Legally Incorporated Name of Recipient Organization:
Harlem School for the Arts
Project titleillescription:
Harlem School for .the Arts provides classes and training in the arts for children
and young adults in Harlem. Because tuition covers only 15% of per student
costs, the school relies on public and private sector grants and gifts. Funds will
be used to cover personnel expenses and cover the costs· of student performances
and exhibitions, both on and off-site;
Contact Information:
Name: John Corwin
Title: Interim Executive Director
Address: 645 st. Nicholas Ave., New York, NY 10030
Phone: 212-926-4100; jcorwin@harlemschoolofthearts.org
Fundmg Level: $250,000
Requested Agency to Administer Project: SED

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

My hope is that enough residents show up at the next Schalmont School Board meeting to voice their opposition to closing both schools.  

I understand that there are many people who are on each side of this issue.  I ask you before you decide to jump into this discussion the following questions:

A.  Are you a resident of the Schalmont School District?

B.  When is the last time you visited either or both of the schools that are designated to possibly be closed?

C.  What effect would the closure of either of these schools have on you and/or your family (either in tax savings or the way that children in your family would be taught)?

D.  What issues are there with the schools that would lead to either their closing or keeping them open?

(a) - yes
(b) - one school once or twice in 40 + years
(C) - tax savings for me
(d) - loss of student population causing loss of socialization skills for young children and high cost of operation based on a sq/ft basis

Quoted from Kevin March

I understand that there are many people who are on each side of this issue.  I ask you before you decide to jump into this discussion the following questions:

A.  Are you a resident of the Schalmont School District?

B.  When is the last time you visited either or both of the schools that are designated to possibly be closed?

C.  What effect would the closure of either of these schools have on you and/or your family (either in tax savings or the way that children in your family would be taught)?

D.  What issues are there with the schools that would lead to either their closing or keeping them open?

A) Yes
B) Mariaville - not in about 30 years and Woestina within the last 2 years.   Woestina is a very new building ..  not much more than 10-15 years old.
C) Obviously,  we are still paying on the bonds issued to build Woestina .. so closing it doesn't make any sense --- and I am not sure that our taxes will be any lower by closing one or both of the schools.
D) Again, Woestina is one of the newest school building in the county ... with Mohonasen and the City School District looking to build MORE classroom space ... why not use the class room space at Woestina?????   Why spend millions of dollars to build new classroom space when there will be classroom space sitting empty if Woestina is closed ??????????????
I have no idea what condition the Mariaville school building is in -- so I won't comment on that building.

Woestina - jack it put it on a barge and move it down stream

dont let schenectdy happen here

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The residents may not have a choice --- I keep telling you that the State can consolidate school districts without a vote of the residents.   School districts and municipalities -- all local government entities -- are created by the State Legislature and all it would take is one piece of legislation to wipe out the existing school districts and municipalities and replace it with a fewer number of consolidated entities.

Actually, under education law section 1504 (consolidation of school districts), it is very specific as to how and why a school district can be consolidated. Under Article 31 (1501- 1527) it specifically deals with teachers rights upon consolidation and also how the Commissioner of Education has the power to enlarge City school districts by incorporating surrounding towns (which would most likely happen in Schenectady).

If anyone ever wants to be re-elected on the NY Legislature, they would never put a nail in their coffin and ever agree to such consolidation. That's why it's never happened and most likely never will.

Quoted from rachel72

Actually, under education law section 1504 (consolidation of school districts), it is very specific as to how and why a school district can be consolidated. Under Article 31 (1501- 1527) it specifically deals with teachers rights upon consolidation and also how the Commissioner of Education has the power to enlarge City school districts by incorporating surrounding towns (which would most likely happen in Schenectady).

If anyone ever wants to be re-elected on the NY Legislature, they would never put a nail in their coffin and ever agree to such consolidation. That's why it's never happened and most likely never will.

And the state legislature can pass legislation creating and/or abolishing school districts, counties, villages and municipalities.

The fact that there will be a property tax caps, cuts in school and local government aid  and financial incentives for school districts and municipalities to consolidate  .. is the first step towards pushing for major consolidation which will slash the number of taxing districts in the state.

Great first move -- not fast enough --- but it is a start.

Now, we need the governor and legislature to craft and pass legislation that would create new forms of local governance and school governance ... and eliminate the 19th century  counties, towns, villages and cities.
Then we would be really improving things.

Quoted Text

Close 2 schools in Schalmont

    While this page argued strongly against the closing of Woestina Elementary School when it was proposed a decade ago, continuing enrollment declines in the Schalmont School District, forecasts for no improvement in the foreseeable future, and the district’s precarious fi nancial situation has changed our opinion.
    It’s not a question of whether the children of Rotterdam Junction would be better off with their neighborhood school — or Mariaville, which has also been slated for closing by Superintendent Valerie Kelsey, with theirs; rather, it’s a question of what taxpayers in the district can afford. ..............>>>>..................>>>>..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00902&AppName=1

Quoted Text

Schalmont turns its back on generations by closing schools

    I’d like to address the closing of Mariaville and Woestina Elementary Schools (Jan. 29 article, “Official: 2 schools should be closed).
    My husband and I just spent the past two years rebuilding my grandparents’ house. My grandfather, who went to Mariaville Elementary School, built the house alongside his father and brothers and uncles. He raised six children in this house, all of whom went to Mariaville Elementary. My father chose to raise my sister and me here, and my mother babysat most of the neighborhood. We all got on and off the bus at my house on our way back and forth to school.
    So many members of my generation have left; gone off to college; joined the military; just gotten out of here in general. Yet, I can’t believe how many of us have come back home. To raise our babies — and put them on the bus to Mariaville Elementary. As we and our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles and cousins did — our very fi rst, oldest and best friends went.
    I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to see the school rebuilt. It signifi ed the future of our community. It opened its doors to educate my nephew, now in fifth grade. I can’t imagine him and his friends being bused to the middle school this past year — they are allowed to be kids for a little while longer.
    What will I tell my son? He is supposed to start school in the fall. We are supposed to register in March. We did all of that last year, but decided he wasn’t ready. Because we lived in Rotterdam, we didn’t think he was ready to go to Jefferson [Elementary]. It was too big for a little guy like him. My husband and I were so happy to get our house done in time for him to attend Mariaville [Elementary]. My hometown. My school. Generations of my family history.
    So thanks, Schalmont. Thanks for taking the tax dollars of my grandparents and parents and now myself, my peers, my cousins, who have come home to raise the next generation. Just in time for you to ruin our little community. Thanks for making a 5-year-old boy have to be driven by the school his cousin went to, the school he so looked forward to attending, just like his great-grandfather — only to ride to Jefferson and be shoved into an overcrowded classroom full of similarly sad and confused small-town kids.
    Reluctantly, I’ll still have to pay my taxes. But I do not have to support Schalmont. There are several private options, and many of us are considering them. Because the schools are smaller and the community is closer. Because we want to give our kids what we had. But you’ve denied us that right. Good luck fi nding families to pay your taxes by buying homes here. Good luck sleeping at night, for that matter.
    I don’t even want to tell my son.

    CARRIE MONTHIE
    Pattersonville

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00902&AppName=1

fwiw...
My son attends Jefferson Elementary and I can tell you that he thrives there.  The principals and teachers (along with the other staff) are outstanding!  There is still much of the small town feel at the school and personal attention.  Compared to many communties in this area it is still a ‘small’ school system.  I have NEVER felt slighted or overwhelmed by the school, much to the contrary.  I understand how the author of this ‘article’ must feel, I really do sympathize.  But I hope that this makes them feel more comfortable and others like them to know just how outstanding Jefferson is, and they can still find compassion, caring, great education and individual attention at a school like Jefferson.  

I think that everyone can agree that there are parents out there who are involved and concerned about their children's education. And there are children out there that take their education seriously and give it 100%. For that we can agree!

However.....towns, cities and states are being negatively impacted on by trying to lower taxes by shrinking big government. Everyone is also in agreement that the government must stop spending. Couple that with the huge NYS deficit.

SOMETHING has got to give SOMEWHERE. And although I believe that cutting back on state aid for education should be looked at cautiously, I also believe that there are options at the school level that could and should be cut.