Although many of the posts on the TU blog simply regurgitate the "talking points" presented by the advocates of closing "AN" elementary school (read "Clarksville" since day 1) there is finally a breath of fresh air.
Finally, the presentation of actual "facts".
While it's unlikely that the mere presentation of actual "facts" will get in the way of the ideologues willingness to accept (and repeat) the "spin" offered without documentation, backup, or anything more than political expediency for justification, we can at least hope the BOA members have actually maintained the "open minds" they profess to.
Here's the link:
TU Blog re Clarksville Closing
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Letters to the Editor
A number of thinking, caring, dedicated "folks" have submitted letters to the Board of Education and/or various local publications in an attempt to get out the truth about the travesty currently being considered.
"THANK YOU" one and all and thank you as well for submitting them here for posting.
We invite any and all to follow in their footsteps.
Right click the links below to view the letter in a new tab or left click and then use your browsers "Back" button to return here.
Wukitsch/BOE Letter
Abbott/BOE Letter
Wilson/BOE Letter
Briscoe/BOE Letter
Cable BOE Letter
Cable Letter Editor
J Cable BOE Letter
BOE Letter Writing Group
Letter Altamont Ent
Letter Spotlight
"THANK YOU" one and all and thank you as well for submitting them here for posting.
We invite any and all to follow in their footsteps.
Right click the links below to view the letter in a new tab or left click and then use your browsers "Back" button to return here.
Wukitsch/BOE Letter
Abbott/BOE Letter
Wilson/BOE Letter
Briscoe/BOE Letter
Cable BOE Letter
Cable Letter Editor
J Cable BOE Letter
BOE Letter Writing Group
Letter Altamont Ent
Letter Spotlight
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Written Word
There have been many letters published in support of the Clarksville Elementary School over these last weeks. It was requested that to the extent possible these words be made available.
As I obtain permissions and get final copies of Letters to the Editor as well as letters that were sent directly to the Board of Education I will publish the links here for viewing. So check back as I hope new links will continue to be added for a while.
As I obtain permissions and get final copies of Letters to the Editor as well as letters that were sent directly to the Board of Education I will publish the links here for viewing. So check back as I hope new links will continue to be added for a while.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Documents
The following documents are available for viewing online and/or downloading.
Click the link to access the documents and use your "Back" button to return here.
Check back as we will add documents here to keep them in one place.
Dryden-Elementary-Configurations-Consideration-4-2010
School Size: Research Based Conclusions
The Hobbit Effect
Click the link to access the documents and use your "Back" button to return here.
Check back as we will add documents here to keep them in one place.
Dryden-Elementary-Configurations-Consideration-4-2010
School Size: Research Based Conclusions
The Hobbit Effect
District Facilities FAQ and Initial Response
The District published a FAQ entitled "The Decision Process" yesterday (3/14/11) on the website.
It is available there and here in PDF form.
Also available here in PDF form is Jim Cable's response.
Files can be viewed online or downloaded.
Right click the link and select "Open Link in New Tab" if supported by your browser, or
Use your "Back" button to return here.
District FAQ
J Cable Response
It is available there and here in PDF form.
Also available here in PDF form is Jim Cable's response.
Files can be viewed online or downloaded.
Right click the link and select "Open Link in New Tab" if supported by your browser, or
Use your "Back" button to return here.
District FAQ
J Cable Response
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
NYS Assessment Testing Results
The results of the 2009-2010 NYS Assessment Testing have been published online by greatschools.org
The following table represents a summation of the data available therein for each of the District Elementary Schools. In each case the highest percentage school in the district is highlighted in green and the lowest in yellow.
Interestingly, while most (but not all) meet or exceed the statewide average, only 2 of the 36 results meet the goal of 90% (see here for further information on NYS SED standards).
The following table represents a summation of the data available therein for each of the District Elementary Schools. In each case the highest percentage school in the district is highlighted in green and the lowest in yellow.
Interestingly, while most (but not all) meet or exceed the statewide average, only 2 of the 36 results meet the goal of 90% (see here for further information on NYS SED standards).
| 2009-2010 New York State Assessments | |||||||
| | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | | |||
| | ELA | Math | ELA | Math | ELA | Math | Ave |
| Clarksville | 69 | 73 | 69 | 78 | 87 | 84 | 76.67 |
| Eagle | 72 | 70 | 72 | 75 | 64 | 74 | 71.17 |
| Elsmere | 90 | 84 | 78 | 90 | 74 | 87 | 83.83 |
| Glenmont | 55 | 47 | 82 | 85 | 67 | 81 | 69.5 |
| Hamagrael | 80 | 80 | 85 | 87 | 78 | 83 | 82.17 |
| Slingerlands | 79 | 82 | 88 | 82 | 72 | 77 | 80.0 |
| NYS Avg | 55 | 59 | 57 | 78 | 53 | 65 | 61.17 |
Phone Survey Results
The results of the BCTA Clarksville Survey are now available and included herein:
The survey included 205 individuals (102 female, 103 male) and involved 5 zip code areas:
The first question read:
Closure of the Clarksville Elementary School in the Bethlehem Central School District has been proposed as one way to balance enrollment and financial issues in future years. Please indicate your likely level of support or opposition to this proposed closure. The scale will be very strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, very strongly oppose:
The next question read:
The closure of the Clarksville Elementary School and the resulting ramifications could be seen as a favorable outcome by some and an unfavorable outcome by others. In your estimation would you consider the closing of Clarksville Elementary, overall, to be a very favorable, somewhat favorable or not at all favorable outcome?
The results were then sorted by zip code areas and gender:
Question #1
Question #2
Finally, the results available to us as of this date include:
The survey included 205 individuals (102 female, 103 male) and involved 5 zip code areas:
| by Gender | | | |
| | Total | 205 | 100% |
| | F | 102 | 50% |
| | M | 103 | 50% |
| by Zip | | | |
| | Total | 205 | 100% |
| | 12041 | 36 | 18% |
| | 12054 | 55 | 27% |
| | 12067 | 25 | 12% |
| | 12159 | 78 | 38% |
| | 12186 | 11 | 5% |
The first question read:
Closure of the Clarksville Elementary School in the Bethlehem Central School District has been proposed as one way to balance enrollment and financial issues in future years. Please indicate your likely level of support or opposition to this proposed closure. The scale will be very strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, very strongly oppose:
| Total | 205 | 100% |
| Strongly support | 26 | 13% |
| Somewhat support | 23 | 11% |
| Somewhat oppose | 24 | 12% |
| Strongly oppose | 122 | 60% |
| [dnr] Unsure | 10 | 5% |
The next question read:
The closure of the Clarksville Elementary School and the resulting ramifications could be seen as a favorable outcome by some and an unfavorable outcome by others. In your estimation would you consider the closing of Clarksville Elementary, overall, to be a very favorable, somewhat favorable or not at all favorable outcome?
| Total | 205 | 100% |
| Very favorable | 15 | 7% |
| Somewhat favorable | 40 | 20% |
| Not at all favorable | 140 | 68% |
| [dnr] Unsure | 10 | 5% |
The results were then sorted by zip code areas and gender:
Question #1
| | 12041 | 12054 | 12067 | 12159 | 12186 | Total | | F | M |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | | 100% | 100% |
| Strongly support | 0% | 20% | 0% | 19% | 0% | 13% | | 15% | 11% |
| Somewhat support | 3% | 0% | 8% | 24% | 9% | 11% | | 12% | 11% |
| Somewhat oppose | 8% | 15% | 4% | 10% | 36% | 12% | | 11% | 13% |
| Strongly oppose | 89% | 58% | 84% | 40% | 55% | 60% | | 58% | 61% |
| [dnr] Unsure | 0% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 0% | 5% | | 5% | 5% |
Question #2
| | 12041 | 12054 | 12067 | 12159 | 12186 | Total | | F | M |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | | 100% | 100% |
| Very favorable | 0% | 11% | 0% | 12% | 0% | 7% | | 9% | 6% |
| Somewhat favorable | 0% | 15% | 20% | 31% | 27% | 20% | | 23% | 17% |
| Not at all favorable | 97% | 71% | 72% | 51% | 73% | 68% | | 65% | 72% |
| [dnr] Unsure | 3% | 4% | 8% | 6% | 0% | 5% | | 4% | 6% |
Finally, the results available to us as of this date include:
BCSD Poll for Bethlehem CTA - RE: 2.11, Canvassing on Proposed Closure of Clarksville Elementary, Among Selected District Parents
Analysis of Q4 - Is there any other alternative you might suggest before resorting to the closure of Clarksville Elementary?
1. Noteworthy that for the word ‘close’ and aliases, 27 of 36 responses dealt with an alternative school-related closure – e.g., Eagle, Elsmere and Hamagrael was also mentioned
2. Other responses related to closure of the administrative offices, older buildings, etc.
3. ‘Close’ and aliases account for the largest word frequency with those 36 occurrences
4. District, redistrict, redistricting – 34 times make this word and aliases the second largest word frequency count from the sample question
5. Of 34, 24 specifically dealt with redistricting or redistrict as alternative options to the closure of Clarksville Elementary
6. A verbatim list of the responses follows in an as is, as recorded state at the time of interviews, for your perusal and to possibly suggest further analysis:
Note: 99 is a uniform code for no actual or informative response given and those were removed (86) leaving us 121 verbatims with content:
| a lack of fore thought from admin and school board |
| admin to look at teachers salary , insurance and pension costs methods |
| administration is top heavy and redistrict it again |
| administrative cuts and closing admin offfices |
| analyze viability of the closeness of elementary schools redistricting |
| check to see viability of closing other elementary schools and rental of prop |
| clarkville will continue to grow with nanotech and we should use caution |
| close a different elementary closer to eagle |
| close and sell eagle school and redistribute students more pub awareness |
| close eagle |
| close elesmere or hamagrael |
| close elsemere and rent out to raise revenue |
| close elsemere building too old |
| close elsemere no land too many schools in town |
| close elsemere older school no room for expansion |
| close elsemere or glenmont and sell them worth more money |
| close elsmere due to its real estate value |
| close elsmere school |
| close glenmont and sell the property worth more |
| close hammergrill and sell for revenue |
| close of elsemere better control budget |
| close or do something different with elsemere look for other revenues |
| close the eagle elementary school make eagle a middle school |
| closing another school that they havent put 3 mil into recently |
| closing elsemere and move district offices there |
| closing elsemere and using it as district offices and lease out extra space |
| closing elsemere elementary |
| closing elsmere and renting to generate income |
| consolidate the central offices and contract out the busses instead of buying |
| could close elsmere and make that district offices and then sell building |
| cross the board cuts increase efficiency such as busing redistrict |
| cut back on technology and sports |
| cut higher paid adminisstrators |
| cut other services |
| cut spending |
| cut technology budget for middle and high school |
| cutting admin salaries |
| decrease superintendant salary |
| dont purchase laptops for jr hi |
| DONT PUT COMPUTERS INTO EACH KIDS HANDS |
| early retirement incentives |
| education before sports sports self funding a lot to be saved |
| elesmere is need of renovation worse shape than clarksville |
| eliminate waste small cuts to make school efficient |
| elsemere closure |
| feeze all salaries pension and benefits |
| freeze pay |
| get rid of the laptop idea |
| hire a better consulting firm next time they do a redistricting |
| if staff would go a year without a pay raise |
| lay off the big wigs who make all the money |
| look labor cntracts and modify them and the bussing sitatin clse adams pl |
| look at 8 mil for laptops. cut back on sports. clarksville is only one be expa |
| look at budgetary cuts such as lap tops to middleschol students |
| look at closing elsemere |
| look at closing elsemere |
| look at closing glenmont and leasing it out and make revenue |
| look at closure of elsmere and use it as commecial |
| look at extra curricular and sports and why eagle? fisher blvd development? |
| look at hamagrail school to close it is older and small use for offices |
| look at outsourcing of bussing or evaluationg if busses are needed |
| look at whole pic tighten the budget close older buildings redistrict |
| look closer at the budget to try to avoid this closure |
| look into conditions of elsemere elmentary |
| look into tighten their belt cut sports |
| looking into bus service outside of the district |
| make it a tech school or some other special school for gifted prgms |
| more funding option closing elsemere cut deeper into sports |
| move district office and sell that building |
| move out of adams and close elsmere admin & athletic exp share staff |
| moving district offices shut down 90 adams place |
| no |
| no |
| not doing 8 mil computer, cut extra curricular prgms fisher project |
| not look into new technology for rest of schools |
| par down administrators at all schools |
| pay cut for higher political powers |
| possibility of renegotiation of contract |
| privatize bus service |
| raise taxes rebalance classrooms by redistricting |
| readjust the district lines to even out school population |
| redistrict |
| redistrict |
| redistrict again |
| redistrict again |
| redistrict more evenly |
| redistrict the school district |
| redistrict to balance out school population |
| redistricting |
| redistricting |
| redistricting |
| redistricting |
| redistricting |
| redistricting |
| redistricting |
| redistricting |
| redistricting and closing 90 adams place(do) & relocating that at el school |
| redistricting bring more students to clarksville |
| redistricting whole district |
| reducing salaries of administration. |
| relocate district office in clarksville |
| renegotiatesalaries |
| reorganization of the school board and eagle el was not needed |
| salary freeze |
| salary heALTH CARE AND PENSIONS OF ADMIN TEACHERS SRP |
| slingerlands k-2 and clarksville 3-5 slingerlands is already setup for kinderg |
| splitting the classes |
| stop building and keep existing schools open |
| stop running nearly empty busses |
| stop spending money dont have |
| stop spending so much money on technology laptops |
| teachers not take a salary for a year and also superintendent. do like others |
| throw out the school board and come up with realistic workable options |
| tighten belts find savings elsewhere |
| turn into lab school make it a science and tech school |
| what about elsmere it needs lots of work |
| whatever you do do it quick to limit the impact on the children |
| why did they build eagle |
| why not look at elsmere school at the same time |
| you would rather see an elementary school close than split |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)