Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Posted by bella321

I'm sorry to say that for the first time, I will be voting down my school budget. I was very disappointed in how my district (West Islip) handled the pandemic and virtual education. I spoke with both my children's teachers and building principal with no real effort on their part to resolve the issue. The superintendent never returned my phone call

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

As soon as they closed school, my expectations for the remainder of the year went out the window because I knew from the get go that remote learning wouldn't compare to what my kids get in school.

That being said, I think my district responded well to the situation. The teachers are doing a decent job and I understand that trying to instruct kids while they are at home is tough, especially at the elementary level. This is temporary, most teachers are trying.

As for the budget, if you think that voting NO will be some payback at the teachers for doing a "crappy job" throughout this then you're kidding yourself and YOUR KIDS will be the ones that suffer. If you vote no then do us all a favor and don't voice your complaints here when your district cuts essential services, increases class sizes, cuts programs, etc etc etc. Remote learning will pass and school will get back to normal, are you really willing to give up on future services, programs and more because you're pi$$ed off over these last 3 months? Think bigger. Voting no is shooting yourself in the foot.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

I would never vote down the budget, however I think people are concerned for next year. There is a very real, very high possibility that school will be remote, in some form, come the fall. Districts that provided half ass effort to make this somewhat effective really need to step up their game. People are angry, and they have every right to be.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

If i vote no it has nothing do with punishing teachers its more to do with I dont think we need to have more money than what was spent last year because I have lost any faith that the district will use it to improve anything!

I also do personally feel some of these positions are not needed and are very high paying and if we need to make cuts it should be made there but I also know that wont happen.


I am now leaning more to not voting at all and see what happens.

yes i know by doing this I have no right to complain if it passes or if it doesn't pass!

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

I think if school is online in September there will be very different expectations for teachers. I know ours started off as we could only do review. It then switched to asynchronous learning. Within the last few weeks, we’ve added synchronous (non mandatory) learning.

My Kindergartner has two google meets a week and a weekly Flipgrid. He has math, writing, reading, science/social studies, and physical activity planned daily. I have to oversee it and then send certain things to the teacher (picture of writing sample, recording of reading on Raz Kids, etc. I’d personally like a daily google meet and that would be one thing I would request going forward.

There is currently a poll for the reimagine Education committee. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhSQil-93DEEFIgLptN12Hao8NVPeW4KfCLXuPU_4JVSQ61Q/viewform
Two of my former coworkers are on the committee. Both are moms who have taught HS and have elementary aged children.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Posted by bella321

I'm sorry to say that for the first time, I will be voting down my school budget. I was very disappointed in how my district (West Islip) handled the pandemic and virtual education. I spoke with both my children's teachers and building principal with no real effort on their part to resolve the issue. The superintendent never returned my phone call

Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

I am a teacher in NYC (but Catholic, not DOE). Has anyone actually heard anything concrete for Sept? Someone posted on a FB page I am part of that he is NYPD, and he has "inside info" that schools will not reopen in September, but will reopen after the Christmas break. I really want to know where everyone gets this inside info from. My principal knows nothing, she has her suspicions that schools will not resume on time, but that is her opinion. Nobody has told her anything.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

I'm voting yes. But completely agree that the disparity in virtual education between classes (teachers) in the same grade is appalling and better not be tolerated if this is what we continue to face in September. Luckily my son has an amazing and devoted teacher and thus far has received a fantastic virtual experience. Parents in other classes who basically got a packet sent home and a few YouTube video links (that's it) complained to the principal and PTA and wanted access to my child's class and live learning/recordings. There are bad apples in every profession. Pointing that out doesn't make you a teacher hater, it makes you an advocate for the children in your district. You can't appreciate it until your child ends up with a teacher who went into the profession because it's cool to have Summer's off.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

NYPD? Lol. They would know absolutely nothing.

Nobody knows anything yet. Our Superintendent is extremely transparent and has given us a heads up on all directives before they became “rule”. Even he has said that they don’t know anything for next year but have been asked to submit various plans for next year to be prepared for several scenarios. Based on the past 2 months and his info, I trust him very much.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by bella321

I'm sorry to say that for the first time, I will be voting down my school budget. I was very disappointed in how my district (West Islip) handled the pandemic and virtual education. I spoke with both my children's teachers and building principal with no real effort on their part to resolve the issue. The superintendent never returned my phone call

This just supports the theme of this post with the good and bad apples. I am also a WI resident but I have had a great experience. I had my gripes at the very beginning but once the teachers got their groove, they have been great. No complaints and believe me I love to complain. Even the specials teachers (minus one of them) have really tried to keep the kids engaged.

I am voting yes. It's for my kids. They will be the first to get hurt with budget cuts. Plus I think we are all fooling ourselves if we think voting NO will "send a message". They don't GAF. They just start slashing things that actually matter. It's not like they will get rid of one of their "necessary" admins.

In the last town we lived in, they had one superintendent and 6 assistant superintendents. One was entitled Asst. Superintendent of Grounds. So basically what that means is the dude in charge of ensuring the lawns get mowed and the lines get placed for games is making $250K +. Yeah, okay. I also got a letter from the superintendent with 4 blatant typos in it. I circled them in red and sent the letter back.

My cousin is a superintendent. He works his ass off and is stressed to the max. It is so political. I am pretty sure he regrets taking the position. I come from a family of teachers and they all told him to wait until later in his career to make the move and he didn't. While it is similar to a CEO, it is a publicly funded position and he has an obligation to the tax payers to ensure the school district performs well. My district definitely does not perform as well as it should. I don't know how the superintendents get ousted, if they even can be, but ours needs to go. As does our BOE. Do BOE members get paid?

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Looking at the proposed budge i don’t know what to do. The new budget already is proposing less money towards books, equipment, materials and supplies. The increase is in salaries and benefits. Many of us are sacrificing right now in all areas. I don’t see why there should be large increase in anyone’s salaries right now, even if that is procedure. The cost is paid for the community whom is struggling right now, many unemployed. I don’t think I can justify it this year. Next school year there will most likely be a component of distance learning and athletics schedules will be disrupted regardless of budget. I don’t think teachers should be furloughed or cut salary but I don’t think raises should be in the picture yet either.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Lots of administrators have super bloated salaries, and lots of teachers who spend their own money on items for the students and work hard for longer hours than do administrators are severely underpaid. Now would be a good time to ponder and act on that.

For those who can't imagine having an opinion that isn't 100% self serving and/or those predisposed to try to make ad hominem attacks against viewpoints by attacking somene personally or trying to dredge up personal info on them (savage--and goes on here a lot), I am not a teacher. Nor is my husband. We are paid very fairly for our work. I just have a brain and empathy. I adore my kids' teachers. I appreciate them now more than ever. But this isn't about me.

JMO.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by bella321

I'm sorry to say that for the first time, I will be voting down my school budget. I was very disappointed in how my district (West Islip) handled the pandemic and virtual education. I spoke with both my children's teachers and building principal with no real effort on their part to resolve the issue. The superintendent never returned my phone call

This just supports the theme of this post with the good and bad apples. I am also a WI resident but I have had a great experience. I had my gripes at the very beginning but once the teachers got their groove, they have been great. No complaints and believe me I love to complain. Even the specials teachers (minus one of them) have really tried to keep the kids engaged.

I am voting yes. It's for my kids. They will be the first to get hurt with budget cuts. Plus I think we are all fooling ourselves if we think voting NO will "send a message". They don't GAF. They just start slashing things that actually matter. It's not like they will get rid of one of their "necessary" admins.

In the last town we lived in, they had one superintendent and 6 assistant superintendents. One was entitled Asst. Superintendent of Grounds. So basically what that means is the dude in charge of ensuring the lawns get mowed and the lines get placed for games is making $250K +. Yeah, okay. I also got a letter from the superintendent with 4 blatant typos in it. I circled them in red and sent the letter back.

My cousin is a superintendent. He works his ass off and is stressed to the max. It is so political. I am pretty sure he regrets taking the position. I come from a family of teachers and they all told him to wait until later in his career to make the move and he didn't. While it is similar to a CEO, it is a publicly funded position and he has an obligation to the tax payers to ensure the school district performs well. My district definitely does not perform as well as it should. I don't know how the superintendents get ousted, if they even can be, but ours needs to go. As does our BOE. Do BOE members get paid?

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by bella321

I'm sorry to say that for the first time, I will be voting down my school budget. I was very disappointed in how my district (West Islip) handled the pandemic and virtual education. I spoke with both my children's teachers and building principal with no real effort on their part to resolve the issue. The superintendent never returned my phone call

This just supports the theme of this post with the good and bad apples. I am also a WI resident but I have had a great experience. I had my gripes at the very beginning but once the teachers got their groove, they have been great. No complaints and believe me I love to complain. Even the specials teachers (minus one of them) have really tried to keep the kids engaged.

I am voting yes. It's for my kids. They will be the first to get hurt with budget cuts. Plus I think we are all fooling ourselves if we think voting NO will "send a message". They don't GAF. They just start slashing things that actually matter. It's not like they will get rid of one of their "necessary" admins.

In the last town we lived in, they had one superintendent and 6 assistant superintendents. One was entitled Asst. Superintendent of Grounds. So basically what that means is the dude in charge of ensuring the lawns get mowed and the lines get placed for games is making $250K +. Yeah, okay. I also got a letter from the superintendent with 4 blatant typos in it. I circled them in red and sent the letter back.

My cousin is a superintendent. He works his ass off and is stressed to the max. It is so political. I am pretty sure he regrets taking the position. I come from a family of teachers and they all told him to wait until later in his career to make the move and he didn't. While it is similar to a CEO, it is a publicly funded position and he has an obligation to the tax payers to ensure the school district performs well. My district definitely does not perform as well as it should. I don't know how the superintendents get ousted, if they even can be, but ours needs to go. As does our BOE. Do BOE members get paid?

Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

BOE positions are not paid. They are suppose to be the voice of the community to make sure the school district is behaving responsible educationally and fiscally. If your BOE is not doing that, then it is time to vote in new members. Superintendents are appointed positions from the BOE. If there is a problem with the superintendent then people need to demand the BOE end their contract. The same goes for bogus positions like Superintendent of Grounds. The BOE approved that.

Teachers are under contract so unless the Union agrees, which is highly unlikely, they will not get a pay cut, nor will they receive any less if the budget fails. They will get their money and the money that needs to be found will come from our children's educational or extra curricular programs.

Voting no to your school budget will do nothing but hurt your own kids. The way to make changes is through the BOE.

No one knows what is happening with schools in September. if anyone says they know, they are lying. The Governor asked for plans from the School Districts to be due in July on how they plan to open schools with whatever parameters he put in place. No one will know anything until August. Some districts are forming committees to help with those plans because a good district should be coming up with multiple plans, fully in school, a hybrid and fully remote. Ask if your district is doing that and they should be having parent representation on that committee.

Re: Do you think school budgets will pass this year?

Posted by JandJ1224

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by bella321

I'm sorry to say that for the first time, I will be voting down my school budget. I was very disappointed in how my district (West Islip) handled the pandemic and virtual education. I spoke with both my children's teachers and building principal with no real effort on their part to resolve the issue. The superintendent never returned my phone call

This just supports the theme of this post with the good and bad apples. I am also a WI resident but I have had a great experience. I had my gripes at the very beginning but once the teachers got their groove, they have been great. No complaints and believe me I love to complain. Even the specials teachers (minus one of them) have really tried to keep the kids engaged.

I am voting yes. It's for my kids. They will be the first to get hurt with budget cuts. Plus I think we are all fooling ourselves if we think voting NO will "send a message". They don't GAF. They just start slashing things that actually matter. It's not like they will get rid of one of their "necessary" admins.

In the last town we lived in, they had one superintendent and 6 assistant superintendents. One was entitled Asst. Superintendent of Grounds. So basically what that means is the dude in charge of ensuring the lawns get mowed and the lines get placed for games is making $250K +. Yeah, okay. I also got a letter from the superintendent with 4 blatant typos in it. I circled them in red and sent the letter back.

My cousin is a superintendent. He works his ass off and is stressed to the max. It is so political. I am pretty sure he regrets taking the position. I come from a family of teachers and they all told him to wait until later in his career to make the move and he didn't. While it is similar to a CEO, it is a publicly funded position and he has an obligation to the tax payers to ensure the school district performs well. My district definitely does not perform as well as it should. I don't know how the superintendents get ousted, if they even can be, but ours needs to go. As does our BOE. Do BOE members get paid?

My good friend Anthony Tussie is running for BOE. I hope that you will consider him. God knows we need to shake things up with the current board.

I am also in West Islip and not happy with the state of online learning. I don't understand why my children are learning via Youtube and edpuzzles. I expect teachers to get online and teach material. We went into phase 3 which primarily consists of more google meets in which nothing is accomplished other than going over what assignments are and "checking in". Its a joke.