" mdean, FINALLY.. something we can agree on!

How is it in the day and age of assemblies and programs on bullying and drug abuse, that it is SO out of control at Southern Cayuga?

Not only that.. but with an SRO present?

I can tell you, that SRO.. adinistrators, guidance counselor AND school nurse did NOTHING when my child was the victim of a bullying ATTACK 2 months ago by a group of kids WELL known as they had done it multiple times before. We the "victim's" parents, never even got a phone call.. despite the fact all the other parents were called. And there were NO punishments dealt out. I've also heard this same story from two other parents. Apparently, the MS nurse felt she was more an authority on my child's cuts and bruises than I was and that I didn't need to know.

However, THIS is why I will vote NO on this budget. When they make cuts that make SENSE (SRO, nurse, etc) THEN I don't mind the slight increase. But when you're making cuts that are senseless and harmful to the students education.. no. "

" John...great comments! "

" a.mom..point well taken. Sadly enough I have to slightly disagree. I don't hink you do realize the time I have spent behind the scenes looking for alternative approaches to situations. The difficult reality is that I am one person among seven. Unless you are seated in the seat, you can't possibly understand the task at hand. At times throughout my service I was extremely frustrated to think that I COULDN"T make a difference. As a Board member you are there to make policy...you are not able to make decisions based on your own thoughts and feelings. You are right about the charter status...that came out of a conversation, actually within the past two months..there again... it is my though...not an action plan. Also,cange takes time...that old saying "Rome wasn't built in a day". I can tell you that we were so bogged down with other issues when I came onto the Board...it left very little time for "out of the box" thinking. If you had attended the last several few meetings, before the budger hearings, you would have heard for yourself, some of the places wew were heading for the next fiscal year. Each of the things you mentioned, energy cost savings, contracting out issues, and building assessments. These are all items we had planned to set goals on for this year. As for our Superintendent she has been there paving the way for these changes. I'm not sure where the impression of her not beiong creative is coming from. No one is perfect, but it's a far cry from where we've been. Maybe a bit more Board support would allow her more time to devote to positive change.As for pulling my CHILD, there are many reasons, one reason that is at the forefront is the bullying and drug abuse that is currently rampant in out school buildings. (But we don't need and SRO!) My child has chosen to leave SCCS. I support her in her decision to do this. Education should be a positive experience...it seem that as we move forward this may not be where we are heading. "

" The old and worn "bait and switch" trick of using a school budgets as a means to grind an axe with Albany is once again being brought out for show.
The bait is that we will send a strong message to Albany and that, by voting no we are doing our civic duty.
The switch is that the school positions itself ever closer to being merged, which will of course make our taxes lower (or so says Albany)
The enrollment numbers at SCCS are not good, scary in fact. And unless we, as a community, do not do all the things necessary to build a great school, we will end up having to merge with other schools. And although that may lower taxes ( i doubt it would) I know it will lower your property value.
Remember as you consider voting on the SCCS budget this June 17th, that the single biggest factor in the value of your largest investment - your home and property - is the quality, distance, and reputation of the public school where you live. "

" You should hold the line. If the tax keeps increasing, more and more families will leave. "

" I'm sorry mdean, but you were on the BOE for three years and not a whole lot changed in that time. We're still having conversations about our children not getting a solid education and we're still talking about the families of bright students seeking alternatives to what SCCS has to offer. Now, you're pulling your children as well.

You said in another thread that you were all in favor of the district seeking application for charter status, yet that certainly didn't become a part of the discussion during your tenure. You were part of the BOE that hired a competent, but uncreative superintendent who has no clear vision for what the district can be outside of the box dictated by Albany.

I see where Joe is coming from here. This change didn't come about overnight. Enough people were disgruntled to go to the polls and vote you out and vote down the budget. This doesn't happen by accident. It could be part of a grassroots effort to shake things up and get people to think about alternatives rather than complaining all the time. I certainly hope so as the whinging is detrimental to the district and the moral of those who attend or send children there.

And brew1234, I'm not using gas the way I use to as a matter of fact. Most everyone I know have cut way back on driving. Biking on the local roads is a great pleasure these days with far less drivers - there is a noticeable difference. I don't consider the schools a scapegoat, I consider the schools offering an inferior product for a LOT of money and always requesting more without producing better results. A lousy business model. "

" Thanks, Brew...your point is well taken. Here's to the new SCCS board member. This is why I will happily pay tuition for private school on top of taxes...with this mentality on board, my children don't stand a chance at success. I make a prediction for next year's budget...cuts to SRO, school nurse, at least five faculty members, one of which will be Ag, a single bus run, and possible cuts to sports. Let's see how close I am. For the very reason I have advocated for our schools, I will find myself leaving the District behind in search of quality, without turmoil. When we take away the so-called "extras", what are we left with?? Certainly our numbers will decline when parents look elsewhere for these "extras" and find them. It's a competative world, that is the real truth. Personally my children can become more successful when they are situated in an environment that promotes high expectations, morals, positive charachter, safety and well-being and an over all well-rounded student. Will this be the goal of SCCS??? Maybe Joe knows. "

" There are 13 administrators in the NYC Catholic School system that take care of 3600 students.We have more than that in Auburn. The major problem is too many non-teaching positions are being paid for by us. The average pay for administrators in Auburn is $92,000 plus full benefits. When I went to school there was a Superintendent of schools 2 office people and a principal and vice principal for each school plus 2 office people for each school.
You now have the assistant to the assistant, dean of students, and a whole host of office staff.
These people alone cost over a million dollars plus benefits.
You have bus drivers that used to work part time to make a few extra bucks, getting full benefits and a good pay. you have bus monitors making around $11.00 per hour.
You have janitors that make $45,000+,getting full benefits.
If you subcontracted the janitorial you would save a fortune on benefits alone.
So lets get real when we talk about education.
Other countries that give the children half of what we give, out produce our students. Go to europe or the orient and see how they learn.
The kids learn in old schools with teachers that earn half as much as ours.
Travel around and open your eyes.
Education is a hugh self serving institution in this state and they don't care what the people that pay the bills say "

" You are still using gas at the same amount even though the price is crazy, but you want to cripple the schools because they have to raise taxes a much smaller amount. Maybe they need the increses because they are under the same pressures as us with rising energy prices, higher health care rates and general inflation. But the schools must be the scapegoats for the economic problems. Is this fair? "