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Lisa Buchman (Editor) May 21, 2013 at 03:30 pm
I'm already weepy and my son is only 10! We too are keeping a childhood memory book. The…Read More "baby" book went 0-5 and is beautifully organized and finished. The childhood one is a box of things I hope to organize someday. Maybe when I'm standing at the edge of this abyss you're talking about! For now, I'll enjoy the memory-making.
smellypants May 10, 2013 at 02:12 pm
Personally, I'd like to know what school he went to and what big bank he worked for.
RyeDad May 10, 2013 at 01:28 pm
I really admire Bob's honesty and straightforwardness. He talks about the kids and how to improve…Read More their education as opposed to telling us what school he went to and what big bank he worked for.
Bob's agenda seems to be to help our children have a better and more enriching learning experience. It seems Bob wants to do this as efficiently as possible while maintaining respect for our valued teaching professionals.
My family and I are voting for Bob Zahm.
tedc May 10, 2013 at 12:47 am
Sometimes a resignation IS effective as it sends a message of no confidence. And it is especially…Read More effective if the individual has banked up personal credibility with the shareholders or in this case voters. I didn't follow the issues Bob resigned over last time but it did catch my attention and I thought it was an effective and principled signal.
Charmian Neary April 24, 2013 at 05:31 pm
To momofkids and Jeff L,
I share your concerns, both of which I addressed in a comment I posted…Read More on My Rye:
...I'm optimistic that the new superintendent, Dr. Frank Alvarez, will encourage our schools to foster an atmosphere of empathy, as bullying and, more important, shunning, remain a problem. In addition I'd like to see a broader definition of what makes a successful adult. The secret to a meaningful life can't be learned in an AP class...
Bob Zahm April 17, 2013 at 04:37 am
@NY Firefighter: The rumor you've repeated is false. Two new assistant principal positions - one at…Read More each of Midland and Osborn - are in the budget. One of the reasons for them is that these two schools have almost 200 kids more than Milton and a commenserately higher number of teachers who, with the, NYS-mandated evaluation system, must receive additional evaluations. There's also the small issue of managing a school with, in Osborn's case, 605 kids and Midland 556.
In terms of full and part time positions being eliminated, the equivalent of 27 full time positions are being eliminated - not an actual 27 jobs, but some combination of full jobs and parts of others. That IS significant change for the district. Being added are the 2 Assistant Principals and 3 ES security guards (thanks to the gun nuts).
NY Firefighter April 17, 2013 at 01:51 am
Fact or fiction?
the rumor....
The district will be laying off some lower level staff that work…Read More directly with our children but at the same time hiring an assistant superintendent for alverez and an assistant principal at osborn.
PS here's a suggestion, let upper management give up some salary to keep these vital, all be it, lower paid staff, with our kids. Prove that we have the best management staff with the best integrity, that put our kids first, before another tax increase or salary increase.
Bob Zahm April 16, 2013 at 08:13 pm
Come out to the Board of Ed meeting tonight to see what actually gets approved as the budget. The…Read More headline figures from the most recent public release of a budget proposal shows spending increasing by $3.2million (4.3%) over current year spending to a total of $76.8million. That works out to a bit more than $24,000 per student next year versus this year's $22,930 - an increase of $1,080 per student next year.
Liz Giegerich (Editor) April 15, 2013 at 02:10 am
People are allowed to comment on our articles, but we ask all users to abide the terms of service…Read More and reserve the right to remove any comment that violates the terms. Patch encourages conversation and opinions, but we do not approve of comments that would be considered defamatory, abusive, obscene, profane or offensive; or are threatening, harassing or promote racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual.
Susan April 12, 2013 at 05:10 am
Too little, too late and it probably won't make a difference in the way kids react to one another.
Bob Zahm March 26, 2013 at 06:40 pm
There have been on-going complaints about spending, but few have identified specific cuts. I…Read More remember complaints about too much testing (I think you made this point), but I don't remember complaints about too many teachers, unaligned MS/HS schedules, etc.
To materially reduce school spending the cost of staff must drop which – at almost 77% of spending – is the key driver. Staff can be cut, the amount they’re paid can be cut, or benefits (including state mandates) can be reduced. Each of these changes has implications – class size; staff quality / motivation, etc. But because I don’t see optional programs to cut, I would appreciate your explaining how “refocusing on educational principles” would reduce spending.
Your accusation that the Board has not learned anything over the past 5 years seems to me to be contradicted by the facts. First, this and prior Boards have commenced spending reductions – see previous changes to librarian, nursing, clerk staffing. Second, look at the last contract negotiations. While not pretty, they led to agreements that were much more sustainable than prior contracts. Third, the Board’s agonizing over the proposed cuts (some of which are questionable given their dependency on enrollment projections, assumptions about varsity athletes dropping PE, etc.) is reflective of their seeing the need for change and trying to find change that is both sustainable and effective.
Debbi Porterfield March 26, 2013 at 03:21 pm
Brook:
Instead of complaining and blaming others, why don't you step up and provide viable,…Read More detailed solutions to these problems in your public comments? As for the apology you demand, perhaps you should consider offering one as well. While you may not always agree with the decisions of the board, you should at least acknowledge and appreciate their willingness to volunteer their time.
Debbi Porterfield
Edison Students Enjoy Monthly Pasta Dinner
0 Recommend Liz Giegerich (Editor)