Quoted Text

    A look at the schools added to the needs improvement list in 2011-12. Schools are added to the list if they do not report progress in the percentage of students in grades 3-8 passing standardized tests in English and math:


    ALBANY COUNTY ALBANY: Albany School of Humanities; Delaware Community School; P. J. Schuyler Achievement Academy; Thomas S. O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology — all English; Myers Middle School — English and math
GUILDERLAND: Lynwood Elementary School — English
NORTH COLONIE: Shaker Junior High School — English
SOUTH COLONIE: Colonie Central School — English and math; Sand Creek Middle School — English only
FULTON COUNTY BROADALBIN-PERTH: Broadalbin-Perth Middle School — English
GLOVERSVILLE: Boulevard School — English; Gloversville Middle School — English and math
MONTGOMERY COUNTY AMSTERDAM: Marie Curie Institute of Engineering and Communications, Wilbur H. Lynch Literacy Academy — English
CANAJOHARIE: Canajoharie Middle School — English
FONDA-FULTONVILLE: Fonda-Fultonville Middle School — English
FORT PLAIN: Harry Hoag Elementary School — English
SARATOGA COUNTY BALLSTON SPA: Ballston Spa Middle School — English
CORINTH: Corinth Middle School — English and math
SHENENDEHOWA: Arongen Elementary School — English
SOUTH GLENS FALLS: Oliver W. Winch Middle School — English
    
SCHENECTADY COUNTY DUANESBURG: Duanesburg Middle School — English
NISKAYUNA: Iroquois Middle School — English
SCHENECTADY: Franklin D. Roosevelt Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, Pleasant Valley School, Woodlawn School — all English; Lincoln School — English and math
SCOTIA-GLENVILLE: Scotia-Glenville Middle School — English
    
SCHOHARIE COUNTY COBLESKILL-RICHMONDVILLE: William Golding Middle School — English
MIDDLEBURGH: Middleburgh Middle School — English

STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00102&AppName=1

Another black eye for the City School system.

Five elementary schools which cannot teach english and one (Lincoln) which cannot teach english or math. I'd like to point out that Woodlawn (in a very good neighborhood of the City) is on this list. This isn't a socio-economic problem, this is an internal problem in the schools literacy program.

The conclusion here is that the teachers and the program in place for the elementary schools is not working and the cop out used over and over again that it's the disruptive/poor/hard to teach kids is total crap.

For a budget of over $150+ million dollars every year, this is completely unacceptable.  

Quoted from rachel72

The conclusion here is that the teachers and the program in place for the elementary schools is not working and the cop out used over and over again that it's the disruptive/poor/hard to teach kids is total crap. For a budget of over $150+ million dollars every year, this is completely unacceptable.  

The City schools {second worst in the area} replaced the Raucci DEMS with the SCORE DEMS. Then they wonder why nothing improved. Millions were wasted on astroturf, roofing and physical plant. Instead of reading or science, green initiatives and political correctness are the main concerns.

The poor academic stats for the schenectady school system is two fold.

First....ya got a school system that is not and was not prepared to deal with the influx of either non-american-speaking residents, to the kids who's parents are lovin' their crack, to the street gangs that plague the city, to the residents who buy their groceries and pay their rent with taxpayer's money.

Second............like the cops....the city government has cut the schools off at their knees. And now use the cops and the schools as political pawns. (remember raucci?)

Until they lower the welfare benefits, and have a strong tough DA and Judge............throwing money at these problems will be like throwing sh!t at a brick wall.

Quoted from bumblethru

Until they lower the welfare benefits, and have a strong tough DA and Judge............throwing money at these problems will be like throwing sh!t at a brick wall.

Throwing s*** at a brick wall explains Metrograft and working together as well. Keeping voting DEM so the morons can hire more losers like Lumpy K.

of course we have damage control put out there by the local news channels of 'teacher of the week'.......

Taking a look at the list of area schools on the "needs improvement list" --- it appears that this is NOT just a "Schenectady problem" or "an inner city problem" ...it is a problem that hits urban, suburban, rural, affluent and impoverished areas -- Democratic and Republican areas ......  the time has come for the Tea-partiers/NNTP/Republicans to STOP POLITICIZING ISSUES ... and actually roll up there sleeves and work with Democrats and others TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Taking a look at the list of area schools on the "needs improvement list" --- it appears that this is NOT just a "Schenectady problem" or "an inner city problem" ...it is a problem that hits urban, suburban, rural, affluent and impoverished areas -- Democratic and Republican areas ......  the time has come for the Tea-partiers/NNTP/Republicans to STOP POLITICIZING ISSUES ... and actually roll up there sleeves and work with Democrats and others TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

yeah....well, they ain't touching the unions......and the populace is so dumbed down that they dont know what's ailing them anymore.....it's insidious like cancer.....

I think the solution to the problem begins at home ---- parents need to work with their children BEFORE they go to school by reading to them and providing them with toys and play activities that help develop skills.   Parents need to be engaged and involved in their childrens' education once they start school  and right up through graduation.    And - because I am a bit old school - parents need to learn how to turn off the tvs, cell phones, gadgets and computers  ... and get their children to actually do their homework and, also, to read books on their own.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I think the solution to the problem begins at home ---- parents need to work with their children BEFORE they go to school by reading to them and providing them with toys and play activities that help develop skills.   Parents need to be engaged and involved in their childrens' education once they start school  and right up through graduation.    And - because I am a bit old school - parents need to learn how to turn off the tvs, cell phones, gadgets and computers  ... and get their children to actually do their homework and, also, to read books on their own.

I was waiting for the standardized cop out answer. It's the poor, it's the parents fault, etc...etc..

You believe that Woodlawn parents aren't involved? That's the most middle-of-the-middle class with some of the most active PTA parents, they ARE involved with their childrens education.

You're COMPLETELY off base here, there is something wrong with the teachers and the english program. Schenectady was the ONLY district with 5 elementary schools on this list and that's very disturbing because, at a very young age, these kids are behind the 8 ball.

My suggestion: make Schenectady a Union-free District. Go by each teachers performance in order to give healthcare, benefits, retirement, etc. It will weed out the leaches sticking around getting a paycheck and sending their kids to other, better districts.

Schenectady is paying the most for the worst results. While working people are having their homes foreclosed by the City, useless administrators are pulling down record salaries. DVR makes some valid point but then loses it when he says only DEMS are working for solutions. DEMS like Linda Bellick and Raucci were the problem. Clearing them out started a solution. The great interim Superintendent is retiring and more need to be involved to insure a individual from outside the District, with business expertise is appointed.

Due to the union contracts and the teachers tenure it's next to impossible to fire a teacher so what incentive is there to do a good job when you make the same money for doing a bad job. Yes parents must stay involved by encouraging their kids and helping them when needed. This problem won't be solved by throwing more money at it.

again this is like the medical profession.....the parents get it upside the head because they are not 'professionals' and the system is set up to 'do it for you'....well eventually that desire to do better by your kids is usurped by the rhetoric
used by the leaders

we're going to have head start
we're going to have school breakfast/lunch
we're going to have buses
we're going to have blah blah blah

all of these 'we're going to have...' means higher taxes and both parents to work (or single parent in ALOT OF cases) to work double to have what they tell us we should have.....the machine isn't always right

it's like daycare....family of 2 has 2 kids under school age....cost of daycare WEEKLY (without government assist) $250 or more....not to mention the food packed, time to get kids ready, gas to drive there etc.....might as well stay home...

I'm not saying daycare should be cheap or free...but what fabulous machine we have created....it's an F'EN catch 22......

the parent's job/salary/retirement isn't guaranteed....and certainly when one has kids and has to take care of them when sick/misbehave etc and misses work there's alot that goes pass them that they miss,,,,ie: promotions, raises
increase into retirement account etc.......

so let's level it out....KILL THE PUBLIC UNIONS....more money at the system DOES NOT EQUATE TO BETTER EDUCATION,,,,they even 'eat their own' through tenure,,,,it's a JOKE......

EXAMPLE: no foreign language teacher because budget doesn't allow,,,,but...they split up the english class into 2 separate classes because those teachers are tenured....JOKE.....they 'ate' the foreign language teacher....interesting...I mean
I really dont care but dont come crying to me....

full day kindergarten for what? to use as a 'daycare'........to REPLACE headstart???? NOPE....to use as daycare and usurp that which is the parental right/responsibility of time spent with their own child....full day K COSTS MORE $$$....which
means higher taxes, work more to pay for it etc etc etc.......WHAT A JOKE.....

Quoted from bumblethru

The poor academic stats for the schenectady school system is two fold.

First....ya got a school system that is not and was not prepared to deal with the influx of either non-american-speaking residents, to the kids who's parents are lovin' their crack, to the street gangs that plague the city, to the residents who buy their groceries and pay their rent with taxpayer's money.

Second............like the cops....the city government has cut the schools off at their knees. And now use the cops and the schools as political pawns. (remember raucci?)

Until they lower the welfare benefits, and have a strong tough DA and Judge............throwing money at these problems will be like throwing sh!t at a brick wall.

And, I hate to say it, how about removing children from homes of parents that are neglectful?   Parent won't show up for open house, parent won't show up for a parent-teacher conference?   Charge the parent with neglect.   Each and every parent can request time off from work ahead of time.  School calendars are published ahead of time, parents get them, parents can go to employer in August and say, "I need the evening of October X off for school open house."   For P-T conference, come on, you're going to tell me that parents in low paying jobs work 16 hours a day, seven days a week?   Teachers also can make themselves available convenient for the parent.   But when the parents don't attend, then charge them with neglect.   Kid doesn't have homework done?  The parents need to be involved and make sure the homework is done.   We don't need to discuss whether the answers are correct, but if the teacher sends a note home that says "math book, pages 120 to 122, history book questions on page 38, etc"   The parent can at least look at those page numbers to see if the work is done, I mean, really, is it that hard to take 30 seconds to look?  

Quoted from mikechristine1

And, I hate to say it, how about removing children from homes of parents that are neglectful?   Parent won't show up for open house, parent won't show up for a parent-teacher conference?   Charge the parent with neglect.   Each and every parent can request time off from work ahead of time.  School calendars are published ahead of time, parents get them, parents can go to employer in August and say, "I need the evening of October X off for school open house."   For P-T conference, come on, you're going to tell me that parents in low paying jobs work 16 hours a day, seven days a week?   Teachers also can make themselves available convenient for the parent.   But when the parents don't attend, then charge them with neglect.   Kid doesn't have homework done?  The parents need to be involved and make sure the homework is done.   We don't need to discuss whether the answers are correct, but if the teacher sends a note home that says "math book, pages 120 to 122, history book questions on page 38, etc"   The parent can at least look at those page numbers to see if the work is done, I mean, really, is it that hard to take 30 seconds to look?  

this is the million dollar answer to....just because someone is capable of procreating doesn't mean they should....kids aren't hobbies/toys/lovers/punching bags etc....I just went to shoprite in Nisky
and thought Jerry Springer was going to show up in the dairy isle......parent to child conversation......really....