I am writing to urge the community to vote “yes” on the Schenectady city school budget. Given the controversies surrounding our schools, I recognize that the community is disappointed, but the budget should not suffer as a result. We do not want to see any more teachers lose their jobs or good programs eliminated. Therefore I am asking the community to not let pessimism about the school district determine how to vote on the revised school budget. We must support our schools. This proposed budget is appropriate to meet the needs of the students. If the revised budget fails, there will be a “contingency” budget. While higher in actual dollars, a contingency budget would limit certain types of expenses. For example, there will be no new spending on student supplies. Community groups, which now make full use of our school buildings for meetings and events for free, would no longer be permitted the same access. These are just a few examples why a contingency budget would not be good for our students or our schools. If we go to a contingency budget, my concern is that the increased tax rate will severely impact senior citizens and other community members on fixed incomes. There are many incredible things happening in our schools. We have wonderful and dedicated educators, and truly outstanding students and families. But whether you agree with this view or not, a “no” vote is only going to result in the students having fewer resources.
MAXINE BRISPORT Schenectady The writer is a member of the school board.
Maxine Brisport should resign today. A complete sock puppet for Jeff Janszieski who only wants to keep his wife Kiffy employed. Both of you should resign in total disgrace. Worst School District in the State.
Figures Sal wants to shove this under the rug. The voters have had enough of his KRATS ruining the schools. These morons still want to close Howe School, increase busing and give raises to incompetents. Vote NO AGAIN-especially all my peeps in Upper Union St, Woodlawn, Mt Pleasant, and Bellevue. Rock the vote NEXT Tuesday. See y'all at NOON.
Fewer than two dozen people showed up for a public hearing on a school budget re-vote taking place next week.
Less than 24 people showed up for this meeting. And only 2 spoke! The residents get what they deserve. As you say Benny....where was the outrage???????
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The idiots on the School Bored said that they were not going to listen to anyone-so why should we show up? We were busy working to pay these absurd school taxes. They refuse to listen to anyone except Jeff Jansiewski. The results from the first vote were plain-CUT SPENDING-CUT BUSING-KEEP HOWE OPEN-GO TO 7-9th Grade Middle Schools-stop overcrowding the High School.
We will show up at the ballot box on next Tuesday at NOON to vote HELL NO! Mr Fitch has come up with a good idea-putting schooltaxes in an escrow account until this matter can be fully litigated. This whole thing is an opera boffo-a farce. Salami will bellick all of you who dare run for anything again.
Sorry...but they should have ALL shown up and called channel's 6,10 & 13 for media coverage! These people can NOT let up. Not for even ONE minute!! They should be picketing the school day and night. Become a royal thorn in the school's side! Come on people of schenectady....wake up! Here's your chance!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Editorial: Vote down Schenectady school budget Thursday, June 11, 2009
To express their outrage at the contemptuous way they are being treated, voters in Schenectady Tuesday should reject the proposed new school budget. The reason is that the scare contingency budget they are being threatened with as a substitute by Superintendent Eric Ely and the school board won’t necessarily be the one that is ultimately adopted. And it shouldn’t be. Here’s why. According to a state Education Department article explaining contingency budgets, “Districts should use cost-based approaches rather than formula-driven approaches to calculate an expense for enrollment growth. Just because a district projects a two percent growth in enrollment does not mean they will necessarily have a two percent increase in expenditures. Districts should examine and calculate specific costs associated with the projected enrollment increase, i.e. new teaching staff, textbooks, etc.” (http://emsc32.nysed.gov/mgtserv/budgeting/contingent-budget-article-2007). That passage makes it clear the contingency (or fall-back) budget that Superintendent Ely has concocted is bogus. Contrary to the Education Department directive, Ely is using a “formula” to come up with a contingency budget of $165.5 million, about $5 million more than the revised $160.6 million budget district residents will vote on Tuesday. Ely has admitted he doesn’t expect anywhere near the 471-student increase (from a consultant’s study) he has plugged into the formula, and says the 200 or so students he actually believes will show up in the fall can be absorbed without any major additional costs. And his original and revised budgets both reflect this; they don’t account for the extra students. So these aren’t good-faith numbers, and Ely isn’t acting in good faith. He is using a bloated contingency budget to bully voters into approving the revised budget — which only calls for a 5.8 percent tax increase, rather than a 15.8 percent increase! Even if what Ely and the board are doing isn’t illegal, it is wrong and politically stupid. The reason other districts don’t do it — even if they could get away with it, thanks to the laxity of the state Education Department — is they know it’s important to show a proper respect for the people of the district to maintain their confidence. But in Schenectady, after voters rejected the first budget, which carried a tax increase of 4.8 percent, Ely and the board came right back with a revised budget that is higher, not lower. And if you don’t like that one, folks, it’s the Doomsday Machine, the 15.8 percent contingency budget. That was their answer to being punished at the polls last month, when voters not only rejected the first budget but overwhelmingly defeated the only incumbent board member running for election. Punish us? We’ll punish you with these budgets...................>>>>.............>>>>..........http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/jun/11/0611_edit1/
Strock not the only critic frozen out by Sch’dy school district
When I read Carl Strock’s June 7 column [“Back-up budget: Take that, Sch’dy”] I realized finally why [school district spokeswoman] Karen Corona stopped answering my e-mails and taking my calls late last winter. It coincided with the timing of my questions. When I was a “positive” parent who supported the district administration 110 percent when I first moved into Schenectady, my e-mails were answered right away and I even had the chance to meet with Mr. [Superintendent Eric] Ely within a few weeks of the move. When I started asking questions, it was like hitting a brick wall and I could not get any answers from Ely or Corona. Mr. [Associate Superintendent Gary] Comley was always helpful. We have moved out of the district for my new job, but I still care and would encourage everyone — parents, teachers and other staff — to ask questions and never give up. Schenectady is a district with great teachers, caring staff and a lot of potential. Don’t let an upper-level administrator and couple of board members overshadow the hope for a better future.
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Maxine Brisport should resign today. A complete sock puppet for Jeff Janszieski who only wants to keep his wife Kiffy employed. Both of you should resign in total disgrace. Worst School District in the State.
