Daily Gazette article
Monday, June 11, 2012
http://www.dailygazette.com/ By Michael Goot

Schenectady's graduation rate dips, Amsterdam's improves

"SCHENECTADY — The Schenectady City School District’s graduation rate dropped slightly to about 58 percent in statistics released today by the New York State Education Department.

Nearly 58 percent of students who entered the high school in the fall of 2007 had earned their high school diploma by August 2011. This is down from 60 percent of the students who entered high school in fall 2006 graduating by August 2010.

Many other Capital Region districts stayed the same or increased slightly.

The Greater Amsterdam School District’s graduation rate went from 61 percent to 63 percent. Superintendent Thomas Perillo attributed the increase to various initiatives including after-school tutoring and programs that allow students to make up work online. Also, the district is participating in the Early College High School program, where students can take classes at Fulton-Montgomery Community College and has grouped its ninth graders in its own academy with a core group of teachers."

Running for the Board of Education:

Bernice E. Rivera
of 810 Hampton Ave. is seeking her first term on the Board of Education.

I have had the honor of working as a social studies teacher for Schenectady City School District for over 10 years. My journey as a parent, educator, community member and activist in Schenectady has inspired me to be a catalyst for change. My current position at the New York State United Teachers has broadened my horizons to the strengths & challenges schools face across the state.  Joining the School Board will afford me the privilege to give back to a community and district that has been integral in my personal and professional growth.

Thomas Hodgkins
of 15 N. Ferry St. is seeking his first term on the Board of Education.

I Will Prioritize Early Education

It has been proven that for every $1 invested in early education, society saves $11 in the future, because of the large and lasting gains made by students. If we are serious about creating outstanding schools and a prosperous city, our children must have a solid foundation. Early education is my first priority.

Thomas Hodgkins: 37, BA History, MA Teaching @ Union College, MA Economics. Taught at Schenectady High School, the South Bronx, China, and at U Albany.

Father of 3 kids soon entering city schools, home owner, loves Schenectady.

Let’s Create Outstanding Schools !


Catherine A. Lewis current School Board President
of 1164 Van Curler Ave. is seeking her second term on the Board of Education.

I believe in and am so proud of the students of the school district, and I hope to help them achieve their dreams.  Utilizing my education, my financial background, and my community experience, I believe I can help the district achieve its goals of equity, excellence, engagement and efficiency. To do this, we must try to determine the best use of dwindling resources and balance the concerns of taxpayers and the needs of students.  I hope to maintain transparency and to foster collaboration throughout the community and the school district. I want all children to learn and succeed!

Ann M. Reilly current School Board VP
of 4 Morris Avenue is seeking her second term on the Board of Education.

Ann and her husband of 22 years, Donald Liebers, are life-long Schenectady residents and graduates of Schenectady schools.  An active community and school district volunteer, Ann is the current Vice President of the Board of Education and Co-Chair of the Policy Committee. Ann has contributed to major policy changes including a new ethics policy. If re-elected, Ann will work to maintain the breadth of program offerings for students while addressing student achievement and equity concerns.  Ann will continue working with Superintendent Spring and fellow BoE members to keep tax increases to a minimum while seeking increased NYS aid.

Ed Kosiur
of 9 Nassau Ave. is seeking his first term on the Board of Education.

Ed and his wife Barbara have been residents of the City of Schenectady since 1989. Their three daughters all have attended Schenectady public schools.  His experience in the district as a parent (over 20 years in SCSD), PTO president, chair of the PTO council,  past employment at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady and currently with Schenectady County (as Assistant to the Commissioner of Social Services for Youth Development) gives him a good perspective to be a member of the Board of Education. Ed will continue the fight for “Our Fair Share” of NYS Aid for SCSD.



Is it just me or does anyone find it odd that no one other than Tom Hodgkins included their educational background???? Please say someone else has a degree...from somewhere...

Before re-electing the current pres and VP, please note that under their watch, the graducation rate has gotten worse.  

It's hard, because I've been fooled by school board candidates before, also there aren't enough people running to replace unsatisfactory members. I willdefinitely not be voting for someone who works at NYSUT. IMO she should not be allowed to run. I also have a problem with someone running as a "kind" of person, we don't need any more of that nonsense in the schools.

Mr. Hodgkins, I am interested in finding out more about him, he currently doesn't have his kids in the schools because he is unhappy with the choices the district has made as to the kindergarten. I would like to see the schools be more responsive to the parents' concerns. We keep losing people who ownhomes here and actually give a damn about their kids' educations. It's not that I think there aren't renters who care, I know there are. It's that there are too many people, including the superintendent, who somehow believe they are standing up for the perceived needs of the children whose parents couldn't care less. Many times the parents they think they are supporting are very temporary residents, so to ignore the desires of the parents who are here, really here, is very foolish. Besides, the kids from the backgrounds that put them at a disadvantage just need some extra time and attention paid to them, not gimmicks with moving them around into different configurations of grade levels.

Mr. Kosiur wants to make kids stay in school. When someone reaches physical maturity and does not want to be somewhere any longer, there isn't too much point in trying to force him or her to show up.

I've gotten too long-winded. This is a topic that gets me going. When someone states that she cares about all the children, that is a tipoff that we are looking at a social engineer. They waste a lot of money trying to make things 'equal' and 'fair'. Somehow they look at parents who look after theirown children well as being the cause of the other kids' problems.

Agreed Madam.

But I believe this school board election needs to set the tone for some MUCH needed change all over the City and County. Why would anyone re-elect Lewis or Riley the pres and vp if graduation numbers went down and taxes have gone up??? That's just insane.

Ed 'Lumpy' Kosier is a DEM plaything. He's running because it looks as if the current Council and County Leg members may need jobs once they are voted out of office. Morris doesnt have any more openings and Kosier could slide in the friends and family into the district.

Lumpy Kosiur for what? I knew that SCORE could not find any candidates but this is ridiculous. Ask Lumpy Kosiur his plans for ending the bullying in our schools- ROTFLMAO. Sidewalk Bob for City Council and Sidewalk Lumpy Kosiur for School Board?
     Only in Schenectady. We need a Charter School in the City NOW!
    

In other districts, school board candidates highlight their educational, professional and career info first and foremost. What the heck happened in the City???? All Lewis and Riley include are puff pieces?

Love Ann Riley's quote "Ann will continue working with Superintendent Spring and fellow BoE members to keep tax increases to a minimum while seeking increased NYS aid."

Um...how about no tax increases and you stop seeking aid...make some cuts???

There aren't enough people running to avoid voting for some unacceptable candidates. I don't want to vote for incumbents, but I don't want to vote for a hack trying to get a finger in the pie or a NYSUT employee running as a block vote candidate.

I would be the last person to support charter schools, normally, but it has just gotten so dire. I really think the Stockade needs a school to bring that neighborhood back. Old Mr. Bozzi voted against closing Riverside School, but he'd only been working hard and living here for more years than any of the "reformers" had been alive, what did he know?

Actually, the old Y downtown could make a good high school. Oneida would be a middle school. Run by the parents and citizens, not by some hopey-changey named corporation.

No tax increases and stop seeking aid? Then they might have to give up busing, and fire all the connected people in non-teaching positions.

They would have more credibility that they are spending our money wisely if we didn't know that there was an insane terrorist janitor sitting in a prison cell who receives $6,000 per month that is based on overtime he awarded to himself for doing things like going back to work to flip off light switches. He didn't rise to power by himself.