CatherineDennis May 21, 2013 at 08:45 pm
Congrats to all students, parents, teachers and administrators at Sage Park. It would seem that…Read More mission statements, transparency, parent involvement all equal excellence. How much would you charge to teach these basics to those that feel the need to hire college students from Chicago to review WHS-those very same people that congratulated you tonight?
The students achievements that were honored tonight were very impressive and you make us all proud. Keep up the great work at Sage Park.
George Slate May 21, 2013 at 05:07 pm
Thank you Al and Bill for the follow up comments. For both, as I understand it, the fancy words are,…Read More longitudinal studies. Take the same students, or group of students if the individual data is not available, and see how the test results go from third grade to high school. I've only done a quick scan of the test results for Windsor that R. Eleveld gave us a link to earlier. Along with understanding the Town's audited financial statements (which Bill might help me with), this longitudinal information is something that I hope to work through as time permits. As I write this, I should consider a FOI to see if it already exists. If it already exists, I'm surprised that all of us do not already have easy access to it. When I have the information gathered, I will share summaries here. And for the two of you, I will share the detailed spreadsheets. As I recall, even last night the conversation centered on the High School for turn around, and regardless of what we think of the person currently engaged for the EER, the EER is for the High School only.
Bill Generous May 21, 2013 at 04:46 pm
George, keep in mind that after middle school at Sage Park, some students go to other public or…Read More private high schools. Studies comparing the middle and high school should concentrate on students that have attended both.
WR May 21, 2013 at 12:02 pm
We know that Windsor schools have been dropping in the ranks of all CT schools. I am shocked for my…Read More party when I just heard Councilor Randy McKenney admits we are our own problem, saying at 1:37: "Our schools got to the point they are under Democrats over a long period of time...", check the tape. Wow he now understands why I am not voting for my party this year.
WR May 21, 2013 at 11:51 am
I am watching the video tape. Al said something that is true about the perception, a message and…Read More the vote.
Jody on the other hand said 'if we tell the students they have a great school and they are doing great, then the students will live up to that expectation.' So let's make sure we understand... the message is more important than the money. So she should be OK with a cut. Then again she might be confused in her messages. Confusing me.
CatherineDennis May 21, 2013 at 08:38 pm
A suggestion for both BoE and Town Council. Watch yourselves on meetings over the last year, year…Read More and a half. Watch the arrogance, insensitivity, rudeness to one another and to the public- then wonder what the children see. It is nothing less than shameful. Twisting words of opponents or their intentions, stating that those with opposing views are negative because they do not agree with 'you' that too is wrong. You want to be leaders then act like it!
George Slate May 21, 2013 at 02:42 pm
When I talked to CT Department of Education staff last week, they indicated that there is no…Read More matching grant/matching expenditures requirement for the Alliance Grant (AG). They, frankly, did not understand the question initially, because this requirement does not exist. The AG does look to the School District for initiatives other than those funded by the AG. But these District initiatives can be no cost or low cost initiatives. There is no matching requirement. Now we can move forward to other points to be debated.
common sense May 21, 2013 at 08:13 pm
oh Al Simon, you are a funny guy... maybe a little to much "drinking liberally"... and tea…Read More party types??? because we want to hold our elected officials responsible and accountable?? and "Doug Hardy", taxes are inevitable, like death, but at what point are we taxed enough, and isn't it our responsibility to ask questions, and hold our elected officials, like Al Simon, accountable for what they use our tax dollars for? or should we just continue to fork over our dollars and trust they'll do the right thing??
Michaela I. Fissel May 21, 2013 at 06:21 pm
I agree that taxes are inevitable, and I support a budget that demonstrates accountability. By that…Read More I look to the Results Based Accountability model adopted by the State Legislature. We need to see that our taxes are supporting programming that produces positive outcomes. Unfortunately, Mrs. Carpenter, politics are what guide our municipal government, including the board of education. So until there is accountability AND transparency in their practices I, personally, can not support the current budget. Based on the conduct and continuous breech in ethics by the BOE, proven through the investigative efforts of multiple constituents here on the patch, including my own research, I will hold the Town Council accountable for their support of a mismanaged Board of our municipality. A board that is in control of the majority of the budget. If I did not explain that in a way that makes sense, and/or if anyone on the patch would like to continue this discussion in an inperson setting, I would be happy to meet. michaela.fissel@gmail.com
Doug Hardy May 21, 2013 at 02:37 pm
I'm happy to pay taxes in Windsor. The town is far better operated and maintained than anyone like…Read More "common sense" would have you believe. It's a spectacular place to live and let's keep it that way.
What's disappointing to me is that there are a lot of elderly folks who remember a time period when they took pride in paying taxes to maintain a civil society. "Everybody's got to pay their taxes" was the mantra. Now it's all about this unfounded victim mentality. Very disappointing.
Boards
All Boards » CatherineDennis May 21, 2013 at 08:45 pm
Congrats to all students, parents, teachers and administrators at Sage Park. It would seem that…Read More mission statements, transparency, parent involvement all equal excellence. How much would you charge to teach these basics to those that feel the need to hire college students from Chicago to review WHS-those very same people that congratulated you tonight?
The students achievements that were honored tonight were very impressive and you make us all proud. Keep up the great work at Sage Park.
George Slate May 21, 2013 at 05:07 pm
Thank you Al and Bill for the follow up comments. For both, as I understand it, the fancy words are,…Read More longitudinal studies. Take the same students, or group of students if the individual data is not available, and see how the test results go from third grade to high school. I've only done a quick scan of the test results for Windsor that R. Eleveld gave us a link to earlier. Along with understanding the Town's audited financial statements (which Bill might help me with), this longitudinal information is something that I hope to work through as time permits. As I write this, I should consider a FOI to see if it already exists. If it already exists, I'm surprised that all of us do not already have easy access to it. When I have the information gathered, I will share summaries here. And for the two of you, I will share the detailed spreadsheets. As I recall, even last night the conversation centered on the High School for turn around, and regardless of what we think of the person currently engaged for the EER, the EER is for the High School only.
Bill Generous May 21, 2013 at 04:46 pm
George, keep in mind that after middle school at Sage Park, some students go to other public or…Read More private high schools. Studies comparing the middle and high school should concentrate on students that have attended both.
Albert Williams May 20, 2013 at 03:40 pm
Just curious...any relation to Griffin Land, Imperial Nursuries, River Bend Associates?
R Eleveld May 21, 2013 at 03:44 pm
@Slate The BoE originally said they did not believe the Town Ethics Commission had purview over the…Read More BoE. Yes in November the voters can choose to continue the behavior with the current party in the majority. See the comment of WR who says a Councilor accepted responsibility here: http://windsor.patch.com/groups/schools/p/council-approves-reduction-in-education-funding
George Slate May 20, 2013 at 02:27 pm
R Eleveld - Just to clarify, The Town Ethics Committee ruled (1) that the BOE is subject to the Town…Read More Ethics Code, but (2) they do not have jurisdiction over violations of BOE by laws violations. When someone is brought in front of an Ethics Committee, and comes out vindicated, one of two things happen. They are humbled, or emboldened. The BOE President, and the Superintendent of Schools are emboldened because virtually nothing stands in their way of two person absolute rule, until November 2013. The only obstacle is for one of the Democrat BOE members joining the other four BOE members to reign (the pun works all too well here) them in (this appears unlikely). What is the old saying, Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely? So we have to wait until November to try and fix this situation. In the meantime the voters in Windsor can keep voting NO on the referenda to send the message that we do not want dysfunctional BOE oversight. Or we could get back a functional BOE. Since September 12, 2012, this possibility grow less likely each day.
R Eleveld May 20, 2013 at 10:18 am
@Michele, you are correct. The TC can only provide the BoE an amount of money, it can not in anyway…Read More tell the BoE what to do with that money. It could make suggestions, however they carry the same weight as any citizen making any suggestion to the BoE. State law has created the BoE as an island unto itself. They do not even think they are subject to the Town Ethics Code. The voters do have the power to change what they do not like in November. The question is will they again repeat the prior behavior and vote in those that will not make change. Remember Einstein's definition of insanity. It applies here.
R Eleveld May 20, 2013 at 10:22 am
They did a good job of investigation along with Ms. Fissel. in the article: Some investigation…Read More yields more questions.
I ask some questions about the timing of this whole situation. It is now become an embarrassment to Windsor, Loyola, and Dr. James. The idea of this research/study is important, however this execution is fraught with problems and serious concerns.
http://windsor.patch.com/groups/r-elevelds-blog/p/some-investigation-yields-more-questions
AnneB May 15, 2013 at 09:19 am
What they don't get is that the Dollar Tree and Poquonock development are not isolated issues.…Read More They directly relate to the overall frustration of voters. Residents have repeatedly been told that development will produce "benefits" for them and the town and help keep taxes low. Meanwhile, those "benefits" always seem to go to an ever hungry, yet still failing, education beaurocracy while the center of town and other neighborhoods languish with no improvements and taxes still go up.
Malvi Lennon May 15, 2013 at 09:10 am
What Mayor Trinks and Minority Leader Jepson refuse to acknowledge is that people (ALL people) are…Read More tired. Most Windsor residents whether they are on the right or the left want cost effective responsible government. We want our elected officials to remember that they ARE accountable to the people. It is OUR money hence OUR priorities should set the agenda. No more horse trails or sidewalks to nowhere. This November let’s send a clear message to the Town Council – step aside boys a new team is taking over.
Dems Split Education Vote; Funding Cut OK'd
An unusual combination of votes were gathered Monday night to win approval of Republican Don Jepsen's suggested $500 thousand reduction in funding… requested by the board of education. While Republican council members voted together, two majorit
1 Comment Recommend Julian McKinley (Editor)