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Brendan Dresdan May 20, 2013 at 11:31 pm
I am definitely going to vote for Liz Barrett and Pam Deford. Over her first three years, Mrs.…Read More Barrett was the only board member that seemed to have an independent voice and protected the interests of the community. First, she voted against an extension for the superintendent 18 months before her contract was set to expire (seems like premature decision) because the Board had not done their annual evaluation. Mrs. Barrett also voted against a raise for the superintendent this summer because Dr. Agruso stated publicly at a budget workshop that she was not going to take a raise for the 2012-2013 school year. I still cannot understand how the rest of the board felt that was an acceptable action. Mrs. Deford seems genuinely concerned with the education our students are receiving. As an educator in Northport, she has firsthand knowledge of the impact of larger class size. Mrs. Deford mentioned a cap on class size as a something that would improve education in Kings Park. “Brian”, on a different article, posted that Commack has a class size cap of 29 students. That is far below some classes in Kings Park which can have 35 or more students in a class. It is time that some people stopped brushing important issues under the rug and realize that there are important problems in this school district that need to be solved. Vote Pam and Liz!!
Brian May 20, 2013 at 11:21 pm
I plan to vote for Pam and Liz. I believe having an educator on the Board that involves a school…Read More system is a positive. A bank wants people with financial experience on their board and a hospital wants medical professionals to serve on their board. I believe Kings Park would benefit from having an educator serve, especially when providing guidance to the administration on revising instructional methods.
I have a hard time supporting a candidate who would extend a Superintendent's contract far in advance before the job targets set in the last contract can be analyzed.
Marc Goldstein May 20, 2013 at 07:26 am
My cousin in Florida is married to a grand daughter of the Burr family and we were told of how the…Read More grandparents used to hobnob with the rich and famous like in The Great Gatsby. I don't know if it's the same side of the family however this same grand daughter had her grand father create Concentrated Orange Juice.
Charlie May 19, 2013 at 07:01 am
Dear Brendan (not your real name), I believe that you are correct that Liz did vote against the…Read More increase for the 13 or so employees, my mistake. You missed my point though. My point was that Tom Locascio gets our district money that no other board member gets, including me. Instead of being honest and happy for the community, you decide to try and make fun of the man (puppy dog), use the word "ironic" improperly, and hide behind a fake name. That makes me wonder about your integrity. If you want to say positive things about Liz Barrett and Pam DeFord, please do it. They are both good people and good candidates and there are many positive things to say about them. This election is very important and it should not be a popularity contest. The KPCSD does not have any extra money, we do not have enough commercial tax base and the burden of the budget falls on us, the community. TOM LOCASCIO brings in additional MONEY into the district, makes decisions that benefit the students and the community, and brings in additional MONEY (it is so important that I needed to say it twice!). If anyone has any questions about the budget, please feel free to email me. I do not think I am allowed to put my email address here, but it is on the Kings Park School website. Charles Leo
Brendan Dresdan May 18, 2013 at 02:09 pm
Actually Charlie, that is not correct. There was another time that the Board did not all vote the…Read More same way. Over the summer, the School Board voted 4-1 in favor of giving Dr. Agruso and Dr. Cartisano a raise. Liz Barrett was the lone dissenting vote. AS A TRUE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY, she voted against the raise because it had not been included in the budget for that year. In fact, Dr. Agruso stated publicly at a budget workshop that she was not going to take a raise that year because of the poor economy. The fact that Dr. Agruso would then put in for a raise only a few months later is one thing; but for the rest of the School Board to allow her to get away with it is even worse. Pam Deford has raised this issue multiple times throughout the year as an example where the School Board has not done the right thing. If the rest of the Board was truly looking out for the best interests of the community, as Liz was, this district would be in much better shape.
Charlie May 18, 2013 at 08:37 am
Dear Brendan (if that is your real name),
Tom Locascio is the reason "something good…Read More happens". He has the ability and relationship to help secure additional funding/grants. As a newly elected board member last year, I did not know Tom Locascio at all and was unsure of his intentions/positions. After a year of working with Tom, I can attest that he is a tremendous asset to the Kings Park students and community. Tom has secured more grant money than the rest of the board, me included, combined! Tom is smart, thinks things out, and makes decisions that benefit the community. As an example, the BOE has AGREED on every decesion this year 5-0, except for 1 time. The one time the board was split, Liz Barret, Diane Nally, and Tom Locascio were on the same side! Myself and Marie Goldstein voted for the Ombudsman position and the other 3 board members voted against it. I was not upset that Tom did not agree with me, he had his reasons and we moved on. Tom Locascio will always makes decisions that benefit the community and make sure that the school district is moving in the right direction when his two children (Mrs Locasio is pregnant!) start school. BRENDAN, do not wonder anymore who Dr Agruso would vote for, it would be for the best candidate and that is Tom Locascio. Charles Leo
Kings Park in the kNOw Update
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