Comments for Phoenicia, NY http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com a great little town Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:50:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Jamie http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-680 Jamie Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:50:50 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-680 My grandfather was principal of Woodstock Elementary school when the decision was made to build Onteora. He was dead against it and thought it made no sense to build a large highschool and compress little, rural schools into one white elephant in the 'sticks'. I, personally agree with his foresight. Why has the administration not considered closing Onteora and re-opening West Hurley School to have two high schools at Bennett and West Hurley? We're paying to keep West Hurley school, so why not off the energy inefficient, painfully-ungreen Onteora building and split the district? Everyone will be closer to their respective Elementary or high school. The West Hurley community would, I'm sure, be thrilled at the prospect of their school re-opening. Does anyone have a vested interest inked ping Onteora alive? Think about the savings in gas and transportation alone! My grandfather was principal of Woodstock Elementary school when the decision was made to build Onteora. He was dead against it and thought it made no sense to build a large highschool and compress little, rural schools into one white elephant in the ‘sticks’. I, personally agree with his foresight. Why has the administration not considered closing Onteora and re-opening West Hurley School to have two high schools at Bennett and West Hurley? We’re paying to keep West Hurley school, so why not off the energy inefficient, painfully-ungreen Onteora building and split the district? Everyone will be closer to their respective Elementary or high school. The West Hurley community would, I’m sure, be thrilled at the prospect of their school re-opening. Does anyone have a vested interest inked ping Onteora alive? Think about the savings in gas and transportation alone!

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Bill Davidson http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-673 Bill Davidson Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:49:08 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-673 PS.. The pole is totally inaccurate..anyone with computer savvy knows that you can go to different servers and vote more than once. A petition is real time signatures. PS.. The pole is totally inaccurate..anyone with computer savvy knows that you can go to different servers and vote more than once. A petition is real time signatures.

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Bill Davidson http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-672 Bill Davidson Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:45:00 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-672 Amen Mary!! I just love the double standards here. The petition that the Bennett PTA was sending around was well written and not biased towards Bennett or any other school. What was said in it was that we need to think about the whole district and not just one school. The BOE is supposed to be there for all the kids in the district. They have definately lost sight of this and are thinking with their hearts and not their brains. Lets get real..the district enrollment is declining, Partially empty buildings equal more fuel costs. I definately forsee there being a central campus like there was when I was in school. Is the BOE looking at what other districts are doing? Have they seen whats happening across the river? Whole schools are being closed and districts are being realigned. Its sad but its a fact of life right now. Let's get back to really caring about ALL of the students in this district, not just one school. Programs are started in this district,used for a year then squashed even if they are working. Too much inconsistancy!! The district is talking about laying off more people in the special education area and yet there are more and more kids with needs. It just doesn't add up. Amen Mary!! I just love the double standards here. The petition that the Bennett PTA was sending around was well written and not biased towards Bennett or any other school. What was said in it was that we need to think about the whole district and not just one school. The BOE is supposed to be there for all the kids in the district. They have definately lost sight of this and are thinking with their hearts and not their brains. Lets get real..the district enrollment is declining, Partially empty buildings equal more fuel costs. I definately forsee there being a central campus like there was when I was in school. Is the BOE looking at what other districts are doing? Have they seen whats happening across the river? Whole schools are being closed and districts are being realigned. Its sad but its a fact of life right now. Let’s get back to really caring about ALL of the students in this district, not just one school. Programs are started in this district,used for a year then squashed even if they are working. Too much inconsistancy!! The district is talking about laying off more people in the special education area and yet there are more and more kids with needs. It just doesn’t add up.

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Mary http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-668 Mary Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:42:50 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-668 Let me get this straight. It's NOT ok for the parents at Bennett to express their opinions with a petition (with addresses able to be validated and real names) but it IS ok for Phoencia to have an online poll?? Really?? The plan of having K-3 in both Phoenicia and Woodstock is a temporary plan, enrollment is declining and we cannot support half full schools. OCS closed West Hurley quickly and for fewer reasons. Here's hoping the BOE and the Superintendent see facts and numbers before emotions. By the way, has anyone asked why the superintendent feels the bookends are the best plan? What educational studies has she shown you? Have you asked her why band and orchestra and rosetta stone are being moved to after school? Why isn't the plan to incorporate more foreign language in the younger grades when kids have so much ability to learn? What about science? Is there plan to have lab like bennett has now? More science activities? a place for hands on work and experimentation? Have you asked her about what programs she will add to the curriculum (not to the afterschool offerings)? Lets see some research and some factual proof that these 'early literacy centers' are efficient and effective. While you're at it... investigate the 'wonderful' teacher's college reading and writing program. They may say it's wonderful, but are basic skills being taught? C'mon Dr McGill and the BOE, show us some serious fact based analyis. Let me get this straight. It’s NOT ok for the parents at Bennett to express their opinions with a petition (with addresses able to be validated and real names) but it IS ok for Phoencia to have an online poll?? Really??

The plan of having K-3 in both Phoenicia and Woodstock is a temporary plan, enrollment is declining and we cannot support half full schools. OCS closed West Hurley quickly and for fewer reasons. Here’s hoping the BOE and the Superintendent see facts and numbers before emotions.

By the way, has anyone asked why the superintendent feels the bookends are the best plan? What educational studies has she shown you? Have you asked her why band and orchestra and rosetta stone are being moved to after school? Why isn’t the plan to incorporate more foreign language in the younger grades when kids have so much ability to learn? What about science? Is there plan to have lab like bennett has now? More science activities? a place for hands on work and experimentation? Have you asked her about what programs she will add to the curriculum (not to the afterschool offerings)? Lets see some research and some factual proof that these ‘early literacy centers’ are efficient and effective. While you’re at it… investigate the ‘wonderful’ teacher’s college reading and writing program. They may say it’s wonderful, but are basic skills being taught? C’mon Dr McGill and the BOE, show us some serious fact based analyis.

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Harold http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-658 Harold Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:36:21 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-658 I have been to a few meetings now. The board and staff put a lot the research in to the various scenarios for our schools. If people want to arm chair rhapsodize about what should happen. Or the ever popular "when I went to school.. etc etc." People, things are very different in this past few years. There are less people here, IBM left. Fed County state budgets are slashed So read up first and attend a few meetings. But please read the material on the school website, Buried under the BOE menus… its a pdf download, but its very well presented and easy to comprehend. And yes their are projected Bus Times on there for every area. The board seem very thorough however I understand they were voted in on a wave of saving the Phonicia school from a few years ago. So their directive can be seen as such. The new Supervisor was hired by the Phonecia leaning board on a $160k a year salary for 3.5 years [the contract is on the BOE website] The supervisor is very clear about her preference for bookends...i.e. keeping Phonecia open [even half empty] I don't mean to be contentious by mentioning this. Just to get us all clear. Having said that, In the last Jan 10th revised plan on the website: The 2 K-6 plan is the only plan that, in its summary [pg 19] says: "Saves money, But does not contribute to enhancing the educational program" However we are informed that 2 K-3s "Bookend princeton" plan "enhances education" Well for one Its Only 187 children in each facility that holds almost twice as many!…[non school using taxpayers are you following this] No one loses a school, and the existing 2 K-3 schools would be seemingly empty, [but fully heated of course.] However the Princton/Bookend plan gets rid of MORE teachers [7] than 2 K-6 schools [4].. That will enhance education? The K to 6 grade sizes of either plan [2 K-3s ,or, 2 K-6s] would be the same, its in the document Now hears the bonus: Bennet 4-6 would again be very full. almost as full as a dual K-6 plan. Im sorry but I dont see how keeping a Building open at almost half capacity is a very good plan. On any chart. Our 4-6 grades won't see much benefit space-wise for the bookend thing The test scores are not great at Onterora Trying to save a building wont change that. We have 3 staffed elementary schools and have not seen great scores. Looking at the scores of the district, I dont see this plan as making the children any closer to educational goals. Less teachers? and paying for a full staffed building for no educational benefits. We talk about the district as a whole and that were all united,… but when it comes to hard decisions its all about one Building Phoenicia school needs substantial repair,..250,000$ worth.new boiler, I heard. This is not brought up in the plan. Speaking of which: I also did some homework on the Hurley school integration of a few years ago, combining Woodstock and Hurley. Moving, and splitting up the children across the 2, then finding Hurley needed health safety related repairs. squeezing everyone to one of the 2 Hurley buildings…dumping money into it then… [wait for it] closing it. Am I missing something, do we see a pattern. What did we learn from this Hurlely debacle? Ive talked to parents and it wasn't good. Did Bennet or Phonicia have to reshuffle to accommodate this Hurley Woodstock combining…I heard not. correct me if I'm wrong West Hurley is not still hurting and the town is not a distaster. Again it was putting a physical building before facts, and common sense. Hard decisions are just that, no more no less. I'm from generations of teachers. I believe that you can educate with a will and a blackboard. This saving a building idea will not improve our education. and only sink Onteora the district further away from real issues that are here, now. I have been to a few meetings now. The board and staff put a lot the research in to the various scenarios for our schools.
If people want to arm chair rhapsodize about what should happen. Or the ever popular “when I went to school.. etc etc.”
People, things are very different in this past few years. There are less people here, IBM left. Fed County state budgets are slashed

So read up first and attend a few meetings.
But please read the material on the school website, Buried under the BOE menus… its a pdf download, but its very well presented and easy to comprehend.
And yes their are projected Bus Times on there for every area.

The board seem very thorough however I understand they were voted in on a wave of saving the Phonicia school from a few years ago. So their directive can be seen as such.
The new Supervisor was hired by the Phonecia leaning board on a $160k a year salary for 3.5 years [the contract is on the BOE website]
The supervisor is very clear about her preference for bookends…i.e. keeping Phonecia open [even half empty]
I don’t mean to be contentious by mentioning this. Just to get us all clear.

Having said that, In the last Jan 10th revised plan on the website:

The 2 K-6 plan is the only plan that, in its summary [pg 19] says:
“Saves money, But does not contribute to enhancing the educational program”

However we are informed that 2 K-3s “Bookend princeton” plan “enhances education”

Well for one Its Only 187 children in each facility that holds almost twice as many!…[non school using taxpayers are you following this]

No one loses a school, and the existing 2 K-3 schools would be seemingly empty, [but fully heated of course.]

However the Princton/Bookend plan gets rid of MORE teachers [7] than 2 K-6 schools [4]..
That will enhance education?

The K to 6 grade sizes of either plan [2 K-3s ,or, 2 K-6s] would be the same, its in the document
Now hears the bonus:
Bennet 4-6 would again be very full. almost as full as a dual K-6 plan.

Im sorry but I dont see how keeping a Building open at almost half capacity is a very good plan. On any chart.
Our 4-6 grades won’t see much benefit space-wise for the bookend thing

The test scores are not great at Onterora
Trying to save a building wont change that.
We have 3 staffed elementary schools and have not seen great scores.
Looking at the scores of the district, I dont see this plan as making the children any closer to educational goals.
Less teachers? and paying for a full staffed building for no educational benefits.

We talk about the district as a whole and that were all united,… but when it comes to hard decisions its all about one Building

Phoenicia school needs substantial repair,..250,000$ worth.new boiler, I heard. This is not brought up in the plan.
Speaking of which:
I also did some homework on the Hurley school integration of a few years ago, combining Woodstock and Hurley.
Moving, and splitting up the children across the 2, then finding Hurley needed health safety related repairs. squeezing everyone to one of the 2 Hurley buildings…dumping money into it then… [wait for it] closing it.

Am I missing something, do we see a pattern.
What did we learn from this Hurlely debacle? Ive talked to parents and it wasn’t good.
Did Bennet or Phonicia have to reshuffle to accommodate this Hurley Woodstock combining…I heard not.
correct me if I’m wrong

West Hurley is not still hurting and the town is not a distaster.
Again it was putting a physical building before facts, and common sense.
Hard decisions are just that, no more no less.

I’m from generations of teachers. I believe that you can educate with a will and a blackboard.
This saving a building idea will not improve our education. and only sink Onteora the district further away from real issues that are here, now.

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Brad http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-655 Brad Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:54:01 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-655 There is no plan to put monitors on the buses -- only "as needed" because of the high cost. This would mean that in either grade clustering plan, 4th graders will ride with 18-year-olds basically unsupervised every day. It's not just children's physical safety that concerns me, but also the loss of innocence -- unfortunately, many high schoolers talk like truckers and often discuss adult topics that are completely inappropriate for the young ones. This is the deal-breaker for me with the Princeton plans -- unacceptable. There is no plan to put monitors on the buses — only “as needed” because of the high cost. This would mean that in either grade clustering plan, 4th graders will ride with 18-year-olds basically unsupervised every day. It’s not just children’s physical safety that concerns me, but also the loss of innocence — unfortunately, many high schoolers talk like truckers and often discuss adult topics that are completely inappropriate for the young ones. This is the deal-breaker for me with the Princeton plans — unacceptable.

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Melissa http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-653 Melissa Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:27:40 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-653 Cool I was thinking after I re-posted that may have happened. I went on Onteora's site to get some more facts to back my opinion and noticed Phonecia costs a whole lot to run per year for a very small amount of classroom space and student capacity. Then take the cost of Bus moniters and look at the cost of the school to run per year. Also with the book end plan we're laying off a whole lot of teachers. I value teachers and would take them and slightly larger class sizes over a building ( and I really don't have an allegiance to any side of Onteora- we are zoned woodstock- varianced to bennett and we're prob not staying here another year. It REALLY looks like- if you look at the financial numbers the greatest gain financially with the least amount of stress on students will come from the 2 K-6 plan. here is a link to the exact page with the numbers: http://www.onteora.k12.ny.us/4370101216141227800/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=54141 also here is from the link - take a close look at the cost of bus monitors then the oporational cost of the schools...why is this bussing thing even being considered. 2 k-6 schools could keep the seperate bus run and not give us this added expence! : Facilities and Staffing What are the staffing, operations, maintenance of each building? Approximately: Bennett Phoenicia West Hurley Woodstock Operations Total $191,266 $136,727 $56,418 $171,102 Maintenance Total $86,723 $85,655 $10,707 $85,655 Salary Totals $235,283 $200,835 $232,646 Top What is the current cost of running each building? Bennett Phoenicia West Hurley Woodstock $513,272 $423,217 $67,125 $489,403 How many students would be in each building? Two K – 6 Buildings (approx 352 per bldg) Two K – 3 Buildings (approx 195 per bldg) One 4 – 6 Building (approx 316) One K – 3 Building (approx 390) One 4 – 6 Building (approx 316) What is the physical capacity of each building? Bennett Woodstock Phoenicia West Hurley Ryan Levins Square Footage 47,439 43,800 29,900 11,300 32,260 Number of Classrooms 23 19 17* 6 13 Specials /Offices 11 6 4 * With 2 Modular Classrooms that need roof improvements (-1,600 sq. feet) How many positions (which ones) are being eliminated? MODEL #1 (Two K-6) MODEL #2 (One K-2, One 4-6) MODEL #3 (Two K-3, One 4-6) Title # of Positions Title # of Positions Title # of Positions Elementary Teachers 4 Elementary Teachers 7 Elementary Teachers 7 Music Teacher 1 Music Teachers 2.5 Music Teachers 1.5 Librarian 1 Librarians 2 Librarians 2 Reading Teacher 2 Reading Teacher 1 Reading Teacher 1 Typists 2 Typists 2 Typists 2 Custodian 1.0 Custodian 1.0 Special Ed. Teachers 3 Custodial Workers 1.5 Custodial Workers 1.5 Social Worker/ Psychologist 1 Administrator 1 Administrator 1 Speech Therapist 1 Nurse 1 Nurse 1 Teaching Asst. 9 School Lunch Staff TBD School Lunch Staff TBD COTA 1 Special Ed. Teachers 3 Special Ed. Teachers 3 Elementary Teachers 7 Social Worker/ Psychologist 1 Social Worker/ Psychologist 1 Speech Therapist 1 Speech Therapist 1 Teaching Asst. 10 Teaching Asst. 10 Top #Fin Financial How much money will this plan save? Model 1 (Two K-6): $2,077,319 Model 2(One K-2, One 4-6): $2,444,769 Model 3 (Two K-3, One 4-6): $1,988,290 What other cuts are being made or considered?Their savings? Program Secretary 1 $85,088 Account Clerk/Typist 1 $25,000Transportation Position 1 $58,148 Total: $168,236 Top #Tra Transportation How many students currently live within each elementary boundary - without variances/MAPS? (their 'home' school) Phoenicia 182 Bennett 230 Woodstock 291 How would new boundaries be determined? (for elementary) By where they live Hard cost of one district run Hard Bus Run per year = $31,000: 34 Elementary bus runs 27 HS/MS bus runs Are you thinking about monitors on the bus and will that add to transportation costs? Monitors on all the buses will cost $400,000 - $500,000 How would transportation be decided – length of stay on the bus? In the preliminary bus runs – no run is more than 47 minutes. This is subject to change once a plan is chosen. Bus route - what is the savings? No savings, no additional cost Cool I was thinking after I re-posted that may have happened. I went on Onteora’s site to get some more facts to back my opinion and noticed Phonecia costs a whole lot to run per year for a very small amount of classroom space and student capacity. Then take the cost of Bus moniters and look at the cost of the school to run per year. Also with the book end plan we’re laying off a whole lot of teachers. I value teachers and would take them and slightly larger class sizes over a building ( and I really don’t have an allegiance to any side of Onteora- we are zoned woodstock- varianced to bennett and we’re prob not staying here another year.

It REALLY looks like- if you look at the financial numbers the greatest gain financially with the least amount of stress on students will come from the 2 K-6 plan. here is a link to the exact page with the numbers:

http://www.onteora.k12.ny.us/4370101216141227800/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=54141

also here is from the link – take a close look at the cost of bus monitors then the oporational cost of the schools…why is this bussing thing even being considered. 2 k-6 schools could keep the seperate bus run and not give us this added expence! :

Facilities and Staffing

What are the staffing, operations, maintenance of each building?
Approximately:

Bennett
Phoenicia West Hurley
Woodstock
Operations Total
$191,266
$136,727
$56,418
$171,102

Maintenance Total
$86,723
$85,655
$10,707
$85,655

Salary Totals
$235,283
$200,835

$232,646

Top

What is the current cost of running each building?

Bennett
Phoenicia
West Hurley
Woodstock

$513,272
$423,217
$67,125
$489,403

How many students would be in each building?
Two K – 6 Buildings (approx 352 per bldg)
Two K – 3 Buildings (approx 195 per bldg) One 4 – 6 Building (approx 316)
One K – 3 Building (approx 390) One 4 – 6 Building (approx 316)

What is the physical capacity of each building?

Bennett
Woodstock
Phoenicia
West Hurley

Ryan
Levins

Square Footage
47,439
43,800
29,900
11,300
32,260

Number of Classrooms
23
19
17*
6
13

Specials /Offices
11
6
4

* With 2 Modular Classrooms that need roof improvements (-1,600 sq. feet)

How many positions (which ones) are being eliminated?

MODEL #1 (Two K-6)
MODEL #2 (One K-2, One 4-6)
MODEL #3 (Two K-3, One 4-6)

Title
# of Positions

Title
# of Positions

Title
# of Positions

Elementary Teachers
4

Elementary Teachers
7

Elementary Teachers
7

Music Teacher
1

Music Teachers
2.5

Music Teachers
1.5

Librarian
1

Librarians
2

Librarians
2

Reading Teacher
2

Reading Teacher
1

Reading Teacher
1

Typists
2

Typists
2

Typists
2

Custodian
1.0

Custodian
1.0

Special Ed. Teachers
3

Custodial Workers
1.5

Custodial Workers
1.5

Social Worker/

Psychologist
1

Administrator
1

Administrator
1

Speech Therapist
1

Nurse
1

Nurse
1

Teaching Asst.
9

School Lunch Staff
TBD

School Lunch Staff
TBD

COTA
1

Special Ed. Teachers
3

Special Ed. Teachers
3

Elementary Teachers
7

Social Worker/

Psychologist
1

Social Worker/

Psychologist
1

Speech Therapist
1

Speech Therapist
1

Teaching Asst.
10

Teaching Asst.
10

Top
#Fin

Financial

How much money will this plan save?
Model 1 (Two K-6): $2,077,319
Model 2(One K-2, One 4-6): $2,444,769
Model 3 (Two K-3, One 4-6): $1,988,290
What other cuts are being made or considered?Their savings?

Program Secretary 1 $85,088
Account Clerk/Typist 1 $25,000Transportation Position 1 $58,148
Total: $168,236

Top

#Tra

Transportation

How many students currently live within each elementary boundary – without variances/MAPS? (their ‘home’ school)
Phoenicia 182
Bennett 230
Woodstock 291
How would new boundaries be determined? (for elementary)
By where they live

Hard cost of one district run
Hard Bus Run per year = $31,000: 34 Elementary bus runs 27 HS/MS bus runs

Are you thinking about monitors on the bus and will that add to transportation costs?
Monitors on all the buses will cost $400,000 – $500,000

How would transportation be decided – length of stay on the bus?
In the preliminary bus runs – no run is more than 47 minutes. This is subject to change once a plan is chosen.

Bus route – what is the savings?
No savings, no additional cost

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Brad http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-652 Brad Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:17:12 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-652 Melissa-- seems to have been a mix-up. Our posts were put up around the same time, so I was not responding to yours, but the original post and the first response. I never saw yours before posting mine. Sorry for the mix-up...I actually agree with you and think 2 K-6 is the way to go. I just want to clear up misinformation whenever I see it, since there is a LOT of it out there. Melissa– seems to have been a mix-up. Our posts were put up around the same time, so I was not responding to yours, but the original post and the first response. I never saw yours before posting mine. Sorry for the mix-up…I actually agree with you and think 2 K-6 is the way to go. I just want to clear up misinformation whenever I see it, since there is a LOT of it out there.

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Melissa http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-651 Melissa Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:59:22 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-651 Sorry I was rushing and have not been been to the meeting. I ahve read all Minuets and everything sent out Via e-mail. I was saying I would take class sizes of 30 kids- not that there would be class sizes that large. I am not trying to scare anyone - don't make me sound villinouse- I'm just a mom sharring my opiniong. I didn't claim to know the details of the bus routes either- I was stating what I have experienced and where I'm coming from. It sounds like your on the attack- not me. I didn't say a darn thing that was intended to scare anybody. =/ Sorry I was rushing and have not been been to the meeting. I ahve read all Minuets and everything sent out Via e-mail. I was saying I would take class sizes of 30 kids- not that there would be class sizes that large. I am not trying to scare anyone – don’t make me sound villinouse- I’m just a mom sharring my opiniong. I didn’t claim to know the details of the bus routes either- I was stating what I have experienced and where I’m coming from. It sounds like your on the attack- not me. I didn’t say a darn thing that was intended to scare anybody. =/

]]> Comment on The Future Of Phoenicia School by Brad Kelly http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/the-future-of-phoenicia-school/#comment-650 Brad Kelly Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:38:18 +0000 http://www.phoenicia-catskills.com/?p=712#comment-650 There is misinformation contained in the above post: class sizes in any of the three options being considered would be nearly identical at around 22 max. (according to the most recent board meeting on January 10). Also, sending a 5-year-old from Highmount to Bennett would be equivalent to sending one from Samsonville to Phoenicia or Woodstock, as would be necessary if Phoenicia school is kept open. The transportation department worked out the routes -- maximum bus times for any child in ANY of the three options would be about 47 minutes. I know this is a very hard decision, but It's not appropriate to scare parents or others into voting a certain way by spreading unsubstantiated rumors. There is misinformation contained in the above post: class sizes in any of the three options being considered would be nearly identical at around 22 max. (according to the most recent board meeting on January 10). Also, sending a 5-year-old from Highmount to Bennett would be equivalent to sending one from Samsonville to Phoenicia or Woodstock, as would be necessary if Phoenicia school is kept open. The transportation department worked out the routes — maximum bus times for any child in ANY of the three options would be about 47 minutes. I know this is a very hard decision, but It’s not appropriate to scare parents or others into voting a certain way by spreading unsubstantiated rumors.

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