To the Editor:
While I applaud Frank Alvarez for reaching out to other administrators for ideas, his latest, which he got from his good friend Steven Garcia at Pelham (see below), Osborn Principal Angela Garcia’s husband, further demonstrates how absolutely tone deaf he is to our community.
His email saying he is generously providing families with a way to spend “meaningful and rewarding” time together is out of touch with what actually happens in Rye.
School sanctioned family time is an insult to all the parents who make sure the table is cleared, the TV is off, the games are put away and the homework is done for dinner time.
School sanctioned family time is an insult to those parents who work an 80 hour week in Manhattan but are on the sidelines each weekend, cheering and coaching on their children.
Frank Alvarez has done nothing but destroy this community from the inside. He’s silenced the heart of our schools – our teachers – into fear. He’s worked the budget into a shortfall and stripped us of needed programs and services that Rye has always counted on.
Jason L. Mehler
Rye, New York
Below is the text from the Frank Alvarez email:
May 1, 2014
Dear Parents:
It is with great enthusiasm that I announce what I hope will become a new tradition for the Rye City School District. On Tuesday, May 13th, our school community will celebrate the first Rye Family Night. The idea is to take a night off from our busy schedules and spend time with our families.
I have been working with the principals, the athletic director and the heads of our PTOs to organize a night off from homework, sports and other activities wherever it is possible. We have also reached out to many community organizations and we are hopeful that they will support our efforts as well.
The idea of Rye Family Night is to spend time as a family eating dinner, playing games, watching a movie, having a conversation and spending time together in any way you find meaningful and rewarding. Our hope is that this will be a wonderful evening and that we can make this an annual tradition.
We encourage you to slow down, relax and spend time with your family on May 13.
Sincerely,
Frank Alvarez
Superintendent of Schools
Link to the Pelham family time program:
http://www.pelhampact.org/family-time
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