Tolland has had many budget battles themselves over the past few years. The Town needs to increase…Read More spending to pay for services as the population increases, putting demand on the schools. The irony of course, is that while your daughter is probably voting YES, her mom consistently votes NO.

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Malvi Lennon May 26, 2013 at 03:20 pm

The biggest challenge for our town is the school system. Couples with young children and/or planning…Read More to have children evaluate the schools before making the decision to buy a house. My daughter and son in law would have loved to live in Windsor. We are centrally located, convenient to shopping, halfway point between both of their jobs, commuter access, close by us, all pluses. On the other hand they bought a house in Tolland because their schools are so much better. It is not only a matter of taxes it is an issue of quality. People are willing to pay more if they believe they are getting more. On the other hand when we see second-rate performance, a drop in enrollment, with CONSISTENTLY higher spending eventually residents eventually put their foot down.

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Dave Mourad May 26, 2013 at 10:38 am

Mary Ann, The current view is that a town program that picks up leaves curbside is outdated as…Read More leaves provide quintessential nutrients for yards and gardens. They should be retained on property whenever possible to use as compost. On the other hand you haven't noted the improvement in collection services since your golden era in that we now have single stream recycling freely performed for each household. Such services indeed are a vast improvement over the past and are better suited for our community of today. Thanks... -Dave Mourad

1 Recommend

Two Windsor Residents among 11 Students Inducted Into the…

West Hartford – Windsor residents Amaia Fernandez ’15 and Cameron Young ’15 were among the 11…

Tri-M inductees Amaia Fernandez and Cameron Young

Around Town May 26, 2013 at 05:16 am

0 Recommend Kimberly Sanders

BOE Budget cut meeting scheduled for Friday, May 31

I saw this yesterday at L.P.Wilson outside the School District offices (the meeting will be at…

Speak Out! May 25, 2013 at 09:58 pm

3 Recommend George Slate

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james walsh May 26, 2013 at 01:03 pm

Only the new Independent party seems to get it. Tax payers are tired of increases that don’t…Read More yield positive results in the school district. Shouldn't management in a poorly rated school system have a written published goal of what the school systems rating will improve to if you’re getting a salary of ~$200k and asking tax payers to further fund a massive increase of spending per student that hasn’t yielded any improvement over the last 10 years? This is the problem town council and BoE. The BoE shouldn’t spend any time arguing about how to adjust for the $500k. Tax payers are going to send the message again NO increase to the budget for the BoE. Also in this message the council should do its job by reducing increases in other departments looking for more tax payer’s money. With another NO vote on June 4TH perhaps the elected members of our town will actually get it this time.

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Leonard Lockhart May 25, 2013 at 10:53 pm

I hope to see a full house with standing room only at the meeting.

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George Slate May 25, 2013 at 10:03 pm

My guess is that there will be plenty of comments here in Patch land next weekend as a result of…Read More this meeting. At least we will know how the BOE allocates the $600,000 in cuts before the June 4 referendum.

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Save the Date for Concert with Chris Cagle&Motorcycle Ride…

The REACH Foundation and Country 92-5 Benefit Motorcycle Ride and Concert will feature country…

Speak Out! May 24, 2013 at 02:34 pm

0 Recommend Kim Simone

Can we stay focused on the budget?

Can we focus? Each year, this one is no different, the scare tactics come out to push for…

Speak Out! May 24, 2013 at 09:39 am

5 3 Recommend CatherineDennis

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Michele Vannelli May 25, 2013 at 10:28 pm

My understanding is that towns can have a referendum vote with little or no input by their BoE as to…Read More where cuts to the school budget will be made. While that may be true, I wonder how many towns, who keep their voters in the dark, have had such circumstances as unique as ours. I believe the Dr. James contract needs to be eliminated. First off, hardly anyone understands it and the manner in which it was passed is questionable. A study (understandable or not) is just that - A STUDY. It's NOT a magic pill which will fix our school system. The magic pill has to come from the voter. It can be in the form of voting "no" so that money isn't available to be thrown away on an unwanted study. It can be in the form of implementing responsibility, first and foremost at home between parents and their kids. Then, at school with administration willing to back their teachers. Teachers need to know their administration will back them up. Teaching is much more difficult than when most of us were in school. Lastly, we need to demand our town officials use whatever tax money we give them wisely. If you're not satisfied, then come November, don't reelect them. BE THINKING RESPONSIBILITY & RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BETTER WINSOR!

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lhhs May 25, 2013 at 04:20 pm

Mr. Williams, you are absolutely correct, although it is not the entire BOE that's an embarrassment.…Read More I am an Independent voter, but have always voted Republican when it comes to electing our BOE. All the Democrats seem to do year after year, is continue to add money to a school system that needs a complete overhaul! You are so right about the teachers not being able to teach. The administrators continue to disbelieve the teachers and are constantly taking the child's side. Giving rewards to children who are unruly, while the majority of students who do the right thing day after day get nothing, but wonder why if they are doing what they are supposed to do, they get nothing. When a child asks you if they start behaving poorly, can they receive rewards during the day instead of working, there is a problem with the system and when students are moved into a different classroom because a teacher is too strict or the child's parent isn't happy with them being disciplined, there is a major problem. It's about time the administrators start having a backbone and standing up to these students and their parents. We are doing these students such a disservice and giving them the worst lesson they could receive. Students need to be held accountable for their actions and learn to take responsibility. I dare any administrator to take the place of a teacher for one day and see the difficulty they endure day after day! This town is so top heavy with administrators that aren't doing their job. The amount of money spent for administrators that don't deserve a job is unbelievable, but the town doesn't have the backbone to terminate them but instead creates another position for them. Scores are never going to improve unless we start respecting teachers and holding our students responsible as well as their parents. I also do not believe that the budget will pass until Dr. James' contract is terminated. Residents are not happy that we, as taxpayers, were never given the opportunity to voice our opinion and have a vote on whether we wanted to put our taxpayer money toward such a study that has already been done and didn't work the first time!

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John Williams May 25, 2013 at 10:02 am

This BOE along with the school system is a complete disaster. Having given them the majority of…Read More all tax increase dollars over the past ten years, it’s sad that we have continually seen the quality of education, along with State of CT standings in academics, fall lower and lower. I'm still trying to figure out how our technically new superintendent of schools was given a raise , fairly substantial, without showing to have overseen any improvement in our entire school system, while in fact, the State academic scores went down. I'm not sure how it works here in Windsor, however, in my multi-national employer, you are given merit increases based on performance...not what other employees are making around you. It is just an example of inappropriate spending. The BOE needs to figure out that taking teachers away, not that it really matters, isn't going fix anything, howerer, removing positions in house, ie: admin positions within the system, positions that were created in fat and robust times, need to be eliminated. It's really not that difficult. By the way, if anyone thinks money will fix our school systems...they are sadly mistaken. School begins in the home, teachers need to actually want to teach and not feel beaten down by kids whom do and say whatever they want w/o consequence, and lastly, our administration needs to stop looking the other way when it is time to discipline these disruptive kids who are creating a hostile learning environment. The no kid left behind thing wasn't meant to protect trash, it was meant to ensure everyone whom needed and wants an education gets one. The BOE is an embarrassment.

3 Recommend

Youth Month Enjoyed by Credit Union Members

The Tobacco Valley Teachers Federal Credit Union (TVTFCU), located at 182 South Road in…

Around Town May 23, 2013 at 01:16 pm

0 Recommend Tobacco Valley Teachers Federal Credit Union

Juried Student Art Show

The Windsor High School Annual Juried Senior Art Show and Art Exhibit will open Wednesday, May…

Around Town May 23, 2013 at 09:34 am

0 Recommend Marjorie Renno

Congratulations, Sage Park!

The Windsor Education Foundation (WEF) Board of Directors would like to congratulate Windsor…

Around Town May 22, 2013 at 03:38 pm

1 2 Recommend Paula Pierce

George Slate May 22, 2013 at 06:45 pm

Yes, success has many parents. I truly do not want to taint your story, but my question is: Does…Read More WEF have enough money to fund an EER by a legitimate researcher (or are you willing to start up a collection?)? If you do, maybe in five years you can do a similar story about our High School.

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Holy Temple Annual Family Health & Wellness Day

Saturday, June 1, 2013, 10:00 AM Add to calendar Holy Temple Church - 691 Windsor Avenue,…

Around Town May 22, 2013 at 02:47 pm

0 Recommend Angela Berry

Mark and Lisa Arnold to open TCBY store in Bloomfield

BLOOMFIELD – The frozen yogurt franchise TCBY is coming to town in time for the Memorial Day…

Mark and Lisa Arnold of Simsbury, pictured with daughters Zoe and Rori in their Simsbury store, are opening another store in Bloomfield.

Business Updates May 21, 2013 at 11:11 am

0 Recommend Barbara Thomas

Clothing dropoff

Check out the new cloths collection shed in St Gabriel Church's parking lot on Broad street.…

Around Town May 21, 2013 at 08:35 am

0 Recommend Walter Szepanski

Oklahoma

God bless the people in Oklahoma tonight. Preliminary numbers 51 dead, at least 20 are…

Speak Out! May 20, 2013 at 10:34 pm

0 Recommend CatherineDennis

Windsor’s Sage Park Middle School named CAS Middle School of…

The Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) is proud to announce that Sage Park Middle School…

Speak Out! May 20, 2013 at 08:19 pm

17 1 Recommend Laura Soll

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lhhs May 25, 2013 at 04:31 pm

I am just curious, and I'm not trying to take anything away from Sage Park, but how many middle…Read More schools actually applied for this honor. I know it says they were chosen from a possible 150 eligible schools, but how many took the time to apply? Does anyone have the answer to this question? It would be an interesting fact to know.

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George Slate May 25, 2013 at 01:55 pm

Tim - It is good to see you commenting here again. Your comments are always calm, well reasoned,…Read More and insightful, and add to a good discussion. I am told that the Windsor Public Schools (WPS) have longitudinal data so the best course of action, instead of creating that data (in summarized form), is to do a FOI request. I will wait on that until the budget passes. What you write I have heard consistently for 23 years. The problem is, if I am not mistaken, is that the State of CT does not care if the student has been in your system for a short time, or a long time. Also, the data that you mention can only be obtained by WPS staff since it would require information about specific students. I want the data out in a public domain so we can all look at relevant information.

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Tim Curtis May 24, 2013 at 03:31 pm

George, Bill Generous has a good point, and that fact has a significant impact on test scores. i…Read More know that one year the BOE did a study of standardized test scores at the HS, separating the scores of those who started in our system vs. those who came in later. The differences were tangible. I taught at East Granby High School. I don't know the exact number, but a very significant number of my students had been together since third or fourth grade. So they were exposed to the same vertical curriculum all the way through. Definitely not the case in Windsor where mobility is pretty high. Students come and go in Windsor. And sometimes they come back, making it very difficult to get the new students up to speed. I also point out that a number of my students started out in Windsor.

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First Niagara Names Jeanneen Griffin to Lead Regional…

First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FNFG) named Jeanneen V. Griffin to serve as First…

Jeanneen Griffin, First Vice President and Team Leader, Commercial Real Estate Lending for First Niagara's New England and Tri-State Regions

Around Town May 20, 2013 at 02:27 pm

0 Recommend David Seifel

Albert Williams May 20, 2013 at 03:40 pm

Just curious...any relation to Griffin Land, Imperial Nursuries, River Bend Associates?

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Summer Dance Class and Camps!

Around Town May 20, 2013 at 12:47 pm

0 Recommend Barbara Stambo

GFWC Windsor Woman's Club - Officers Installation

Installation of GFWC Windsor Woman’s Club officers for the 2013-2014 club year took place…

Photo caption: left to right – Mary Vaca; Lisa Miller (President); Carol Gregor (Secretary) and Beverly Callan (Vice President).

Around Town May 20, 2013 at 06:30 am

0 Recommend Christina Wilson

Tag Sale 5/25/13, 9-3

45 Bradford Drive, Windsor. Lots of stuff: an IKEA bed, a cello, bistro table, clothing,…

Buy | Sell | Trade May 19, 2013 at 05:41 pm

1 Recommend Hilary Carpenter

Hilary Carpenter May 24, 2013 at 08:02 am

POSTPONED until June 8th!

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No raise in Bd of Ed Budget

Any one considering a yes vote on the budget, specifically regarding the Bd of Ed should read…

Speak Out! May 18, 2013 at 11:05 pm

0 1 Recommend CatherineDennis

Solinsky EyeCare's Spring Eyewear Trunk Show, Monday, May…

You are invited to our Semi-Annual Eyeglasses and Sunglasses Fashion Event! We will be…

Business Updates May 18, 2013 at 10:43 pm

0 Recommend Solinsky EyeCare

Expensive Equity Study Indeed

Are you aware that this study will be conducted by college students of Dr James -college…

Speak Out! May 18, 2013 at 10:36 am

5 Recommend CatherineDennis

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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

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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.

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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.

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Very Important Info Shared

Everyone should read the blog posted by Concerned mothers and fathers on the budget and WHS…

Speak Out! May 18, 2013 at 10:23 am

1 Recommend CatherineDennis

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

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