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joshua tanner May 20, 2013 at 07:00 pm
I never heard so much baloney. Don't let them brainwash you kids. Solar and wind are frauds. A…Read More windmill just threw off a blade that weighs tons. They break all the time and wind energy is the most dangerous and not efficient. Oh and global weather patterns are natural and not man-made
"OCOTILLO WIND TURBINE THROWS OFF MULTI-TON BLADE, PROMPTING WORLD-WIDE SHUT DOWN OF SIMILAR TURBINES AMID GROWING SAFETY CONCERNS"
http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/13251
joshua tanner May 21, 2013 at 01:20 am
This is the only candidate that seems to have some substance. - which means he probably will do…Read More poorly in vote
sayitsnotsojack May 14, 2013 at 09:57 pm
Another spend and tax who only thinks that throwing huge amounts of money after bad is going to fix…Read More the problems.
Kirsten May 14, 2013 at 02:50 pm
You're welcome. It's vital for all to know, regardless of where one stands on the issue.
Dutch May 20, 2013 at 06:42 am
Have either one of you attended a board meeting? Although I do not agree with all the decisions Mr.…Read More Simpkins made as a board member I will support him this election. Out of the 6 running, Mr Simpkins is the only one that has experience and a good idea of what goes on in this district. When was the last time either one of you has been in our schools? Do you have any idea of what it takes to educate a child. First and foremost it takes having parents who support the child 100%.
joshua tanner May 16, 2013 at 09:53 am
"Students continue to increase scoring 65 and above on the English"
Lol this is like a…Read More hospital bragging their patients continue to show signs of breathing
Dutch May 16, 2013 at 05:47 pm
I still dont understand why her son is not graduating. Was he a student that was given false credit?…Read More I do agree that more programs need to be put into place for those students that fall in both the gifted and advanced areas. But it seems as if the needs of a few are placed to the wayside . This is a high need district that is full of ELL. They are being given top priority.
Kirsten May 16, 2013 at 10:19 am
Dutch, when gifted kids find that they are bored in school and the school does not push them to…Read More their fullest potential, they lose motivation to do the work. Thus, their grades and classwork do not reflect their true abilities. Being gifted is not the same as overachieving or being advanced. It's a common assumption people make. THere's a lot of literature, both online and printed about this. Kids for whom school is so easy in the early years get overlooked because it is assumed that because they perform at grade level, that they don't need help. In the upper grades, when things may actually get harder, they don't know what to do and the sudden challenge is very hard for them to deal with because they never learned to do challenging work before and their grades end up tanking. I think Jillian wants to change things for kids like this., so that no child is really left behind. I don't Stephanie's son's whole story but from what she has said, the boredom he experiences tends to be a motivation killer in general and if he's truly gifted, then even more so.
Shannon Casiano May 15, 2013 at 11:01 am
I thank you for your feedback. And yes you may be right of my not knowing exactly how all the school…Read More financing is obtained for I have no experience in this which I am pretty sure is the case for many. This is something I am trying to research and educate myself on. As far as the Mayor is concerned my issue is local communities have the ability to override the cap and I have made a call to the NY State Comptrollers office to find out more information on this. I feel this is one of the reasons the district should work on having a stronger relationship with organizations such as the council. And I did state the higher paying salary of admininistrators should be looked at as well as inquiring more on how the money is being spent. I appreciate your comments and feel this is very important to have these type of discussions.
sayitsnotsojack May 15, 2013 at 10:21 am
“I feel the mayor and council did a poor job. We are going to face a lot of hardship if…Read More something is not done”. What would you have them do? While the Mayor and council have not been the best at some things, blaming them for the Tax Cap is false. They are not the Governor and the state legislation. Do you want the Peekskill government to start giving the schools additional money by having the mayor and council institute some additional school tax? Making a statement like the one you have demonstrates your lack of understanding of how school financing is obtained. The real problem with the money is the unsustainable salary contracts and benefits that have and are given.
joshua tanner May 14, 2013 at 12:50 am
These shows have better things in them than the "artists" exhibitions in Peekskill
jo May 15, 2013 at 08:07 am
the super gets too much and we are top heavy with administrators.. I am voting NO...
Andrew Pinto May 12, 2013 at 02:14 am
How about getting rid of some of the top-heavy school administration. A very highly paid…Read More Superintendant with many assistants who are very well paid also. Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. Get back to basics and maybe we'll stand a chance otherwise more taxes and/or city bankruptcy. Just take a look at Washington, DC. and see where it's getting us. You can't spend more than you take in so how can our city do it?
Andrew Pinto May 12, 2013 at 02:01 am
Mr Tanner tells the truth. But it seems that no one wants that anymore, including our White House…Read More occupant. Political correctness be damned.
Stephanie May 12, 2013 at 11:18 pm
@ leesther brown, I cannot have an intelligent conversation with someone who tries to berate me for…Read More misspelling their name. Your obtuse comments and rants are meant to divide a community. Whether you are for or against the charter school, please keep your comments constructive.
You seem to be passionate about your beliefs. I respect your fervor. You do not need to degrade and put down my views in order to get your point across.
We are part of the same community. Inspire your community to come together to formulate a solution. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches.
Random May 12, 2013 at 08:10 pm
Instead of insulting our Current & former students, with extreme generalizations of their…Read More quality of education, lets work in the schools, the teachers, the classes & with the BOE to enhance our schools & create a better school district. Instead of people trying to open up a new school, why dont you try to help the schools that we currently have. The Board of education, the Teachers, the Administrators and the students CANNOT do everything on their own in a vaccum. The PCSD needs the help of the COMMUNITY AND PARENTS not another school in the name of "hope & change."
Random May 12, 2013 at 08:10 pm
@ Leesther & all others who continually put the PCSD down negatively....the comments made here,…Read More especially the "You must be a product of the PCSD" is highly insulting & has instantaneously, in one fell swoop degraded each and everyone of the current & former students, the teachers & al faculty, & every single parent who has worked hard & diligently to ensure that they receive the best education possible and graduate with a NYS Certified Regents Diploma. The PCSD has some of the most highly qualified teachers in the area and has some of the finest, hardworking and resilient students in New York State. Please stop insulting ALL of the students & former graduates with overarching accusations. I advise anyone who insults the PCSD to walk into any school building & into any classroom to witness the engaging lessons & education that our students are receiving. As a former graduate who has recieved a very well rounded education from PHS & the PCSD, I went on as many of my classmates did to, not only receive an undergraduate degree but a masters as well. Our District has had graduates accepted into some of the finest colleges and institutions in the United States such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Howard, West Point Military Academy, and the Culinary Institute of America as well as every SUNY & CUNY schools in the State & City.
Stephanie May 9, 2013 at 01:13 am
The application was not rejected. The organizers want you to think it was. Hmm, wonder why? Maybe so…Read More the public sits back and does nothing, while the charter school opens up under our noses.
The Peekskill Cortlandt Patch should check its facts. Call Albany. The application is still a "live" application.
Residents should be aware that several city employees have written letters supporting this charter school. The letters recommend that the charter school be opened. These letters are part of the charter schools application. The fact that city employees, whose salary is paid for by taxpayers, wrote letters in support of the charter school on official letterhead is disturbing. Writing a letter on official letterhead indicates that city residents are behind the charter school endeavor. This is not the case.
Valerie Swan, Executive Director of Peekskill Youth Bureau and Sibyl Canaan, Director of Field library wrote letters on official letterhead. Leo Dylewski, Peekskill police officer wrote a letter in support of the charter school.
Surprising enough John Testa wrote a letter of support on official county legislator letterhead. John Testa use to be a Peekskill City School technology teacher. How he could write a letter that directly hurts the students he once taught is disconcerting.
Michael Feder May 5, 2013 at 05:42 pm
Excuse me, Ms. Claire, but competition and accountability are not the same thing. The school I…Read More teach at is highly successful not because we have to compete with neighboring schools. Our school is successful due to a combination of highly competent and caring teachers and administrators, and parents who get involved to make their children's school better. No successful school has ever existed because of a "competitor". No teacher has ever been motivated by outperforming his/her colleagues in another school. These are children we're talking about. Reducing the job of an educator to the battle for market share between Coke and Pepsi I find incredibly offensive.
sayitsnotsojack May 5, 2013 at 04:50 pm
You are correct, if schools were operated on a sound business model there would be no unions to…Read More perpetuate the horrible performance of staff, and the education administrators who are certainly some of the most overpaid, performing people on the planet would all be gone. There would be consolations, there is no need for the hundreds of districts that exist now which would save millions of dollars in tax money and wasted spending on salaries and unsustainable benefits. There would be a produce or else atmosphere, one that encouraged and rewarded hard work and performance, which is not the way it is now. The first step in improving the systems is to eliminate all the self-serving unions.
Patrick D. May 4, 2013 at 04:49 am
You could take teachers from the best schools from all over the world and put them in that district.…Read More It takes more then just teachers. It takes support and discipline at home. Drive in the area of the high school at dismissal time and tell me that its the teachers fault. As far as the Spanish curriculum comments, foreign language is a graduation requirement. Kudos to those teachers for such success. English is one of the hardest languages to master and again, interacting with kids in Peekskill...they'd be better off speaking spanish then the non stop slang and jibberish they speak.
joshua tanner May 2, 2013 at 03:20 am
I wonder how many Rosetta Stone Spanish intruction kits could be bought for $550,000 dollars? Its…Read More incredible that a city with half its kids getting free/reduced lunch 5 jobs cost over a million bucks. The librarian I could live with but 4 teachers to teach Spanish in a Spanish city where kids are failing almost eveything else in droves is obscene. Kids could get the same Spanish lessons off YouTube for free.
Kirsten May 10, 2013 at 01:53 pm
Well said, Vicki, thank you. I too wonder why Mr. Hutchinson was placed in the post as principle…Read More after he was supposedly hired to be head of reading and gifted in the district. Last year, he actually helped us with our son and was supposedly trying to develop a curriculum for kids like him. Well, that went down the drain with his reassignment. Yes, we need more money for services, for ALL levels of learning. There are all kinds of kids getting left behind and to all parents out there with the same concerns, please consider getting involved with getting the administration to make this a great district for all. May seem idealistic, but it's worth a shot.
Judy Lohbauer May 9, 2013 at 02:55 am
I hope she sues them for defamation of character and gets millions! They only have what they…Read More themselves planted and used alison as a scapegoat. We should all b ashamed of our district..
joshua tanner May 6, 2013 at 04:34 am
Spanish ruled Ecuador for 300 years. Many were killed off by Spanish brutality - many more were…Read More killed off by Spanish brought disease. The Inca people and culture are long gone.
Teleman April 20, 2013 at 02:30 pm
I personally see this as a public sector issue- we have government officials that run for election…Read More sitting across from public sector unions negotiating their contracts. Its a total scam and we are reaping the results more so now that the economy Is in the condition it is in.
Wendy Kelly April 20, 2013 at 01:52 pm
Excuse me Emilia sorry it was late Friday and a tad tired. Absolutely not I enjoy what I have been…Read More doing for many years. I was just comparing Union Vs Public Sector and the difference. Why don't people just stink to the issue and stop with personal attacks!!
Collegenurse April 20, 2013 at 01:22 pm
Emilia i don't know what you are talking about? I have utmost respect for teachers my son is a PHD…Read More reading teacher.. I just don't believe all the fault is the parents some school districts just attract better teachers..in all professions there are good and bad.
My complaint was with the bus situations nothing else.
shakemdown April 18, 2013 at 07:27 pm
they also need to cut the asst. principal's asst. yes the asst. principal has a asst. now that is…Read More one cut that should of been made long time ago.
Silent Majority April 18, 2013 at 01:30 am
Teachers get cut, Administrators get raises.
"O'Connor Promoted To Peekskill Assistant…Read More Superintendent" http://peekskill.dailyvoice.com/schools/oconnor-promoted-peekskill-assistant-superintendent
peekskillman April 18, 2013 at 12:44 am
no mention of cutting sports, or other after school activities?? And why not? Or how about checking…Read More the status of all the students, such as confirming that they actually live in the district, not somewhere else. Or perhaps reducing the number of Asst Supts or Administrators. Over $6K just in school taxes alone is overbearing, how much more can we take. No wonder the for sale signs are starting to pop up like so many weeds in the lawn.
Teleman April 16, 2013 at 10:22 pm
And of course the budgets will pass- so many on the government cheese program! and not paying!
Teleman April 16, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Illegal criminal scourge will continue to stress the system and jack taxes up for those of us who…Read More support the debacle. That coupled with the ever increasing mandatory contributions to the state retirement system and school employee benefits tells me the end is near.
joshua tanner April 16, 2013 at 05:02 pm
Don't see taxes going down. 80 kids showed up out of the blue for start of school at Woodside last…Read More fall. They had to rig up 3 more kinder classes on the fly. Now you have Assumption closing and the kids are moving. Peekskill has to re-open Uriah Hill. Peeksill schools have been crushed under illegals (who weren't paying tuition at Assumption) and they just keeping multiplying while demanding services. With half the kids in Peekskill schools on free/reduced lunch the financial well isn't that deep so they will keep trying to squeeze money out like blood from a rock. No budget gets voted down in Peekskill because too many residents are in the wagon and not pulling it. A budget of a billion dollars would pass because "its for the children" (who are falling at astronomical rate in Peekskill - and its not because of the money)
joshua tanner April 5, 2013 at 11:50 pm
At the high school and the middle school you need security to protect people "from" the…Read More kids.
Dutch April 5, 2013 at 08:42 pm
Currently only the high school and middle school have door monitors. The high school has 5 full time…Read More and 3 part time security guards along with the door monitor. The middle school has 3 full time security guards along with the door monitor. The 3 elementary schools have no security and no door monitors. I don't understand the reasoning as to why a elementary school would not need a door monitor but during the afterschool program at Oakside a security guard was placed there. I am sure that the district can find a creative way to take the partt ime positions and maybe move one or two of the full time positions to cover all the schools.
Kirsten April 5, 2013 at 04:32 pm
We can't eliminate the grant writer. The grant writer will know where to apply to get us the funds…Read More we need for those security enhancements. The grant writer will also know of grants that will help fund all those unfunded mandates and fund academic enrichment programs that the district really needs and is aware that it needs. Spending $108,000 for someone who can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars is a net gain for the district.
Marie April 4, 2013 at 03:55 pm
We'll see how this shakes out. Those idiots at Mile Square took my 5 year old to the wrong stop on…Read More the first day of school and then had to bring him back to Woodside because my son wouldn't get off the bus. He knew that wasn't his stop. I picked him up from Woodside at 4:30 in tears. Needless to say there were a number of kids in the same boat sitting in the main office waiting for their parents.
Peekskill School Board Candidate: Adriana Ariza
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