The public seating in the Newburgh Free Library auditorium was nearly full when the meeting started at 7:30pm. The meeting begain with acknowledgements of teacher Arthur Plichta who achieved National Board Certification, and of the Newburgh Free Academy boys basketball team, which won the division AA New York State championship.
The Board offereed "Heritage at Stewart Family Advocates" the stage. A dozen students greeted the Board with handshakes and educationalal materials. There were some technical difficulties with the media equipment so their presentation happened later in the meeting.
The Board voted on several items--there were no comments, discussion, or no votes.
Two students, part of the "Heritage at Stewart Family Advocates" gave a presentation, offering an alternative to closing Heritage at Stewart next year. The students spoke very well and argued with some creativity that it would be possible to keep Heritage at Stewart open and operating efficiently. Two parents spoke as well; their strongest point was that the District had actively recruited parents and students to enroll at Stewart and the District should follow through on its commitments.
The Superintendent told the group that the presentation was enjoyable, "we know that you care; and we care too", and their points would be taken into consideration.
On a separate topic, a teacher at the Washington Street Pre-K program spoke eloquently to the Board about the importance of Teaching Assistants and Teacher Aides. She emphasized that Assistants and Aides engage in instructional activities which directly assist students. She asked that any stimulus money be directed toward reducing staff cuts.
Toward the end of the meeting there was some back and forth between the Heritage advocates and the Board. A Heritage representative asked when there would be a public vote on the issue of Stewart at Heritage. The Board President replied that there would be a vote and it would be advertised. This is very confusing--there will be a public vote on the entire school district budget, and that vote will be advertised. There was a "saying of yes, no, or bubble" at the February 19, 2009 Special Meeting of the Board at which all Board members said "yes" to closing Stewart. Until the Board approves the budget of course, it is possible for budget related decisions to be changed. So far, the only major issue from the February 19 meeting that seems to have changed from being decided to being undecided is what happens with the Extended School Year program next year.
One of the five Assistant Superintendents clarified that Heritage at Stewart had been a topic at an earlier budget planning meeting and the consensus had been to eliminate it. A Heritage advocate expressed some disatisfaction at the Board's decision making process.
Corrections to these notes are welcome via email at newburghedinfo@gmail.com, or post a comment.
Taxpayers are Hurting
To the teacher who spoke "elouquently" about preserving TA jobs - Taxpayers need a break! Supoorting these jobs means taxpayers need to DIG DEEPER to pay rising school taxes. Many of these same taxpayers have been supporting the schools all these years, BUT they are now unemployed, under employed or have been going without any raise in salary for years. Newburgh taxpayers are in need of ATTENTION and ASSISTANCE with NO TAX INCREASES.
Over the past year taxpayers have been cutting back in all areas to keep from losing their homes and pay the bills, but - PROPERTY TAX bills can not be ignored, put off or negotiated to a lower amount. Homeowners MUST pay their property tax bill, otherwise risk LOSING their homes. It is the school board that has the power to keep tax bills to a ZERO INCREACE. After years of paying ever rising taxes it is time for the property tax payer to be heard and appreciated with no tax increase - otherwised we will VOTE NO in MAY!
The same needs to be said about the pleas to keep Heritage open. These parent need to realize that the about 70% of property tax payers have no children in the schools and thus pay the majority of school taxes. Many of these taxpayers are retired, living on fix incomes, that today are worth less then a year ago. Every penny counts when it comes to paying the medical, food and housing costs. The schools need to cut back as well, if property tax payers are to get any help in these difficult times.
I think it's a false equivalence that lay-offs mean
lower taxes. I think the funding Newburgh receives could have and should have averted the lay-offs without a tax increase.
Taxpayers are Hurting
Thanks for the comment.
Yours is a widely held view, which the Board of Education is being forced to address.
Does everyone realize that the Star rebates have been cut from the state budget? That is effectively a substantial tax increase for Newburgh School District property owners who earn less than 120k.