I don't want the transportation of OUR children to and from school to be privatized -- privatization of public education has been a disaster ... just look at the what "privatization" did in the form of charter schools.   It is weakening America's education system.

Oh -- and if you need to see the reports and other proof to back up my comments -- read the articles, speeches and books of Diane Ravitch  -- an EXPERT in the field of Education who at the beginning was one of the leaders in the movement FOR charter schools .. but who has seen the bad results that they have produced and now opposes them.

The  simple solution to improving New York's public schools ----   it starts with overhauling how we EDUCATE the people who become teachers  ---------   second, we must CONSOLIDATE from over 700 public school districts to fewer than 100 to stop wasting money on district administrative overhead  --------   third, we need to stop teaching to tests and set realistic, attainable education standards/goals   --------- and END PROPERTY TAX AS THE PRIMARY MEANS FOR FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE  and REFORM THE STATE AID FORMULA so that every child (at the same grade level) - no matter where he/she lives in the state gets the SAME  $$$ per pupil for their education as every other child  (at the same grade level).

You can tell DV doesn't even live on this planet with ideas like these. Consolidate 700 districts into 100 districts that should work out real well. NYS has spent more money on improving education than most all other states and we have gotten negative results to show for it but the teachers, principals, and superintendents retire with a very nice pension with full benefits. The money isn't being spent where it needs to be spent.

Quoted from 483

Buses?  We never had buses.

Let the kids walk to school in groups, like we used to do.  My son walks with his friends today. They develop lifetime friendships, get exercise, learn about the weather and appreciate transportation when they get older.

I know, someone will blast me because 'it isn't as safe as it was yesterday'. BS, we became smarter because we had to.

No blast from me!! Wanna hear something even more bizzare? Kids get the bus across the street from their house..right? However, if it's a wee bit too cold, or raining or snowing, mom or dad or someone, will heat their car and drive the kids across the street where they wait in a warm car until their bus comes!!! ;

And they wonder why this society is on of entitlements!

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I don't want the transportation of OUR children to and from school to be privatized -- privatization of public education has been a disaster ... just look at the what "privatization" did in the form of charter schools.   It is weakening America's education system.

Oh -- and if you need to see the reports and other proof to back up my comments -- read the articles, speeches and books of Diane Ravitch  -- an EXPERT in the field of Education who at the beginning was one of the leaders in the movement FOR charter schools .. but who has seen the bad results that they have produced and now opposes them.

The  simple solution to improving New York's public schools ----   it starts with overhauling how we EDUCATE the people who become teachers  ---------   second, we must CONSOLIDATE from over 700 public school districts to fewer than 100 to stop wasting money on district administrative overhead  --------   third, we need to stop teaching to tests and set realistic, attainable education standards/goals   --------- and END PROPERTY TAX AS THE PRIMARY MEANS FOR FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE  and REFORM THE STATE AID FORMULA so that every child (at the same grade level) - no matter where he/she lives in the state gets the SAME  $$$ per pupil for their education as every other child  (at the same grade level).

the poor results of charter schools is that they have to be 'different' because their ability to promote themselves is stymied by the gangsta government unions and their ability to purchase large
quantities of resources at a lesser cost....WHICH IS NOT PASSED DOWN TO THE CONSUMER/TAXPAYER...why?........CONTRACTS/TENURE.......

CONSOLIDATION DOES NOT EQUATE TO SAVINGS........

The LIE being perpetuated by the teaparty/nntp types is that teachers unions are the cause of the problems in American schools --- that is simply UNSUPPORTED BY ANY FACTS.

HERE ARE THE FACTS:
The top state education systems in educational performance in America are Massachusetts and New Jersey -- both very strong union states.   The WORST state education systems are in southern and western states where teachers unions are almost non-existent.

The best national educational system in the world - based on educational performance - is in Finland where 100% of the teachers are unionized.

Based on these FACTS, we should have more unionized teachers and stronger teachers unions in EVERY state in the USA  .... not fewer and weaker.

New York - New York spent $17,173 per student for public education in 2007-08, more than any other state and 67 percent more than the U.S. average, according to Census Bureau statistics released Monday.

The $10,259 average nationally — $6,914 less than New York’s — was a 6 percent increase over 2006-07, the Census Bureau said. New York’s spending went up 7.4 percent over the period.

Jody Siegle, executive director of Monroe county School Boards Association, cautioned against reading too much into the statewide figure.

“The average spending in New York may not be as meaningful as it is in other states because there’s a tremendous range in what districts spend per pupil across the state,” she said. “Some small, rural districts with few resources spend alarmingly small amounts, while other communities, such as some on Long Island, spend shocking amounts per pupil.”                                                                                                                                        If NYS spends the most money per student for education and the students still lag far behind the rest of the world who isn't teaching the students: answer the teachers because they get paid whether they do a good job or not due to the unions and tenure. There is no incentive for the teachers to do a good job, just put their time in and retire.

Total dollars spent is NOT a good indicator of the quality of education received ---

read Diane Ravitch's work -----  

#1)   New York  (and the rest of America) needs to adopt MORE TRAINING and BETTER TRAINING for its teachers   --- Finland requires its teachers to take a  5 year program to prepare them to enter the classroom  ... they also follow up with more in-service/ongoing training and more of a "collaborative/group" model where more experienced teachers and administrators work with newer teachers

#2) New York (and the rest of America) needs to address the underlying problem of POVERTY and other sociological factors such as lack of good parental role models and lack of parental involvement.    The late Daniel Patrick Moynihan,when he worked for Dept. of HEW in the Johnson administration, wrote way back in the mid 1960's that the collapse of the family unit would have serious and detrimental effects on educational performance and a host of other social issues.   At the time, he was chastised by the "politically correct" on both the right and the left for his observations/predictions --- but he has been proven to be 1000% correct in his predictions.  

If we want to improve educational outcomes in our school children, we MUST  begin by BETTER EDUCATING our teachers and by doing something to reduce poverty (and the effects of poverty) and stabilize & strengthen our families as an institution.

Quoted from bumblethru

I agree! Talk about double dipping....where does mercoglin work? He's rotterdam's tax paid town justice AND works for schalmont!! And how many tax paid retirements/benefits will he get?

no kiddin... so this dude is a part time judge, interesting.
it is getting very hard to keep a strate face when standing before  " His Honour"

What does he do for  Schalmont
no, wait... let me rephrase the question.
What does Schalmont give him money for?

My daughter rides the bus and personally I think they need to get on the ball with safety.  The bus is never there when its supposed to be.  There are time she goes out 10 minutes early and the bus is 10 or more minutes late.  Or she goes out when its supposed to be there only to see it leave.  Ive also watched it skid past the stop.  

There have been times when she stays after and takes the late bus home.  The bus leaves the school at about 4:15 but she doesnt get home til about 5pm.  We dont live that far from the school.  And one time, it dropped the kids off at a different stop and she had to walk home from there.  I was furious.  At that time, its dark out and she comes strolling up all by herself and she was scared.  I was waiting for her at the stop.  From that point on, I now take her to school and I pick her up when she has to stay after.  

I cant imagine the screw ups that combining all three districts will cause.