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ChudleyQ May 22, 2013 at 09:08 am
I agree completely on the transparency of the budget process. I think this is a sad day for Kings…Read More Park, though. Reelection of the incumbents means more dysfunction, and more distractions. I'm embarrassed for Ms. Barrett for deciding to run again. I'm embarrassed for Kings Park for apparently electing her again. Was anyone else bothered by the presence of the School Board and the school administration in the voting room? Just seems to me that it shouldn't be. I was also bothered by the exit polling that was being done, while still inside the High School. So I called the Suffolk County Board of Elections, and was told that their rules don't apply to Board elections. Each town is free to do what they want. Just seems to me that those in power shouldn't be so close to the voting process. This was a very, very close election. It would be shame if interested parties got involved in ways they shouldn't have. I guess those in power make the rules. But they shouldn't be surprised when the polarization that we've had for months now continues, and maybe even gets worse. This wasn't exactly a mandate for the incumbents. We remain deeply divided. So new/old school board members.....how are you going to fix it?
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 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
sally pruslow May 23, 2013 at 10:55 am
Sally Pruslow
This is NOT A GRANT or other two either. They are funds that Senator Flanagan has…Read More available to DIRECT as he wishes to who ever for what ever. A grant is very detailed procedure. Lots of paper work and usually competitive. Not procured by an email or a phone call. I would really like to have it explained where the funds originate from? Don't get me wrong these items are nice. Two of the three funding however are luxury items. What about teachers losing jobs every year, class sizes going up and test scores going down? Can we have some funding for THAT!!!!!! On a closing note why does the superintendent keep getting a raise when she can't even settle the teachers contract that has been unsettled for almost THREE YEARS??? Don't we pay for leadership.......
Charlie May 8, 2013 at 01:31 pm
Very impressive. Congratulations to the administration, teachers, support staff, CSEA members, and…Read More of course the students. The school district defines the town and this helps all of us. Kings Park is a great place to live and a good school district increases the value of our homes. Please make sure to vote YES on May 21st for the budget.
Andrew McCarthy May 9, 2013 at 07:45 am
Kings Park Teachers, Staff and Students under the guidance of our Administration and Dr. Agruso…Read More should be very proud of this accomplishment. Congratulations to all, and may I just say that this is exactly the kind of evaluation of our superintendent that Mr. Locascio spoke of a candidates night. Dr. Agruso- this and all of the other achievements by our staff and students- is a reflection on you and I hope you are proud of our schools and community.
KP LIslander May 19, 2013 at 12:09 pm
And, on top of that, the parents wind up getting "blamed" for not being able to pay even…Read More more money for learning centers. How preposterous.
Some people just don't have the financial resources to be able to afford learning centers.
Expecting parents to do so is outright ridiculous.
And going into school earlier before school starts, and/or staying longer after school ends for extra help every day of the week to cover all subjects is not the solution either. The material taught in school should be taught thoroughly enough at the appropriate pace during school hours to allow for each student to be able to sufficiently understand and comprehend what is being taught.
How would having larger class sizes alleviate such legitimate concerns and issues mentioned above, and how would larger class sizes be beneficial to students?
I would certainly wish to hear clarification for how students would be able to get the assistance needed from teachers DURING class, when the sizes of the classes are increased, particularly when it is already difficult enough as it is? Larger class sizes is certainly not the answer, nor should it be wrongfully considered as an appropriate course of action.
The community want to programs. That's all well and good, and not to mean that these should be cut, but I would have thought that academics is THE most important aspect of schooling.
If they really were genuine about finding ways to reduce costs -
As everyone knows, the area(s) that MUST be addressed, rectified ADEQUATELY, and implemented ASAP (i.e. in the current ongoing contract negotiations) is that which has the largest cost factors in the budget - namely ALL employee contributions FOR ALL TIER LEVELS towards the ever increasing health care costs and retirement costs, inclusive of redoing any formulas as needed at state level regarding these areas, instead of always looking at every other way to cut back in areas that takes away from the children.
Brian May 20, 2013 at 12:01 am
Charlie - The cap in the Commack UFSD is 29 students for core subject areas. This has been a long…Read More standing policy and ensures funds are directed to the purpose of why we send our kids to school - to obtain a quality education. It is nice to read that KP is getting two new digital signs and a press box, but what matters to me is the quality of education. As a person who graduated from KP in the 1990s and felt fortunate to have a great education, I am concerned that we are stagnating.
Jennifer Sloat (Editor) May 23, 2013 at 04:57 pm
Comments have been deleted from this forum. Comments need to be respectful. Users will be suspended…Read More from the site if the conversation is offensive to other users.
Liberty April 22, 2013 at 06:35 pm
Good luck Tom but I hope that there was no plotting to bring out a former member to run. You know…Read More when people plot it usually backfires. You have my vote unless this conspiracy theory is true then I'm sorry I will not vote for you or the former member. We need young blood like you but not former members that caused our taxes go up in the past and now is going to be anti tax increase candidate.
Concerned mom May 14, 2013 at 08:47 am
Some many other teachers unions in other districts have agreed to concessions and pay freezes, why…Read More does our teachers union refuse to be reasonable? I have 2 daughters in elementary school and the class sizes are two big, younger teachers are being laid off because the older teachers refuse to help their own members, and now a teacher is running for the Board of Ed? The union must be very excited about the prospect of negotiating a new contract with one of their own! This is one of the worst ideas in recent local history. You cannot vote for a teacher to be on the BOE. Pam Deford is probably a good teacher and a nice person, but it will translate to much higher taxes and teacher salaries if we elect her to the Board of Ed.
Charlie May 19, 2013 at 06:38 am
Dear Kerry Smith,
The position that you are talking about is for an employee that has been with the…Read More district for over 30 years. It is a 12 month, full time position. When you are with a company for 30 years, you get raises over that time and your salary increases accordingly. When this person retires, I would imagine that the new person will be hired at a lower salary and then start to accure raises. All in all, our CSEA members do not consume a large part of the budget, they pay the most to their health insurance, and contribute mightly to the succes of our school district. Sorry it took me so long to respond, I must have missed the post. if you have any other questions, please feel free to email me. Charles Leo
Brenda Hetterich April 8, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Not nice Brian. A least I have class unlike you who can spread stuff on line and who doesnot even…Read More say a word at the board meeting . You are a Bullie and need to stop . I will and always stand up to bullies
An outside observer May 4, 2013 at 11:22 pm
Seriously the grammar and spelling in the above posts is atrocious. I seriously hope you are all bus…Read More drivers and not teachers etc. I blame the schools. Business w/ extra s, "bullie" really WTF?
Andrew McCarthy May 2, 2013 at 10:55 pm
What a crock tonight at the meet the candidates meeting. League of women's voters didn't ask the…Read More questions and since when is a candidate allowed to get away with saying that she "doesn't want to talk about it?"Who wrote Ms Barett's statement? not her words for sure. Now she's gonna learn to write grants? And maybe she can tell us what is the Taylor law- clearly she didn't know what it even is .....so sorry you had to answer first . Wasted night - If you even considered voting for her - forget it. She is a disgrace . I'm glad she learned a lot in her last three years- it is a school after all- she had a chance to talk to the public and she read some stupid prepared statement. This is why Deford loses my vote too.. Put it behind us? This was last month for God's sake. Fess up ladies and take your lumps like a grownup. Comment people. Please tell me i am not alone.
NonBeliever_Anymore May 2, 2013 at 11:19 pm
I'm with you Andrew. I wrote a question on a card and handed it in but they never read it. I heard…Read More the same thing from someone else. Seems like they were afraid to ask Mrs Barrett to answer the question. She knows nothing about anything - except to agree with the people who do know ( like she voted YES on every Agruso resolution- except for the one which extended her contract) LOVED what Tom said about every day being an evaluation- Liz is an idiot and Pam wasn't much better with her fundraiser for the betterment of our community. The community? I guess the Barret community bank account. And oh yeah- Liz didn't know ANYTHING about it - she just showed up- except that I saw the facebook post that she herself invited a district employee. Damn I thought I was impartial- but she made me so mad tonight> i expected a hard question or two and thought she would be stand up and answer them. Instead she doesn't want to talk about it.... I bet she doesn't. I think someone should post these flyers and emails in the Newsday. I think she should answer people like me who voted for her last time and think they got screwed. Screw me once shame on you- screw me twice shame on me. Not happening Lizzy- hit the road.
Christopher Dowling May 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm
Funny in a sad sort of way. My favorite question of the night- what mistakes you think the board…Read More made in the last 3 years. She says communication! Freakin communication is exactly her mistake- too much talking - divide the community- hire a lawyer instead of talking it out with the board- evading service- ATTENDING a fundraiser of which she knew NOTHING about, oh yeah and researching grant writing which is hard enough for intelligent people to do. I don't know how to get the word out to the other 5000 people who come out to vote. Any suggestions? People have to know that this chick is dangerous to us- Kings Park Community can NOT let this happen. Any ideas? I'm actually freaked out a little bit after tonight. And im not putting it behind me- Im putting it on the top of the heap- Im thinking Newsday. I don't need to put up signs- I would pay for a full page ad. Maybe page 3- hmmm pennysaver too- and the TImes Beacon or Smithtown news. Wonder if they have the real deal on this travesty. Shame on you girl, shame on you.
ChudleyQ May 3, 2013 at 10:53 am
I don't really like to pile on, but I thought Mrs. Barrett's performance last night was embarrassing…Read More for her and for the district. My favorite moment was when the moderator asked for clarity after Mrs. Barrett's prepared statement on the confidentiality issue. The moderator thought she was unwilling or unable to answer because of ongoing litigation, but Mrs. Barrett had to correct her, basically saying "I don't want to answer". The moderator clearly didn't want to ask the tough follow up questions, and seemed kind of uncomfortable. Too bad. I didn't understand Mr. Locascio's statement on the grant for the press box, and the exact amount and source of the funding. It still bothers me that we would use this money to put in a press box (whether the old one is condemned or not), when the money is better spent elsewhere. If Mr. Locascio could post a clarification here, that would be helpful.
ChudleyQ May 3, 2013 at 10:55 am
One more thing. I knew who to vote for when Mr. Gardner pointed out the built in increases in…Read More teacher salaries. I'm not convinced that he's got new ideas, but in Mr. Gardner we're getting a track record of integrity and honor, and a demonstration of how to conduct yourself with dignity. Sadly, this seems to be a lesson Mrs. Barrett has not yet learned.
Kings Park Graduation Guide: Congrats to the Class of 2013
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