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Eileen Scott Holst June 17, 2013 at 08:52 pm
Congratulations and wishes for a wonderful life.
God Bless, Eileen Scott Holst
valerie gaeta June 18, 2013 at 10:10 am
Congratulations Nicole...I always knew you were destined for success but more than that, the world…Read More is a better place with you in it.
Tom Terrific June 4, 2013 at 08:31 am
I didn't expect the end result to change; the added 'no' vote does, however, put an exclamation mark…Read More on the community's desire to rein in school costs. The more interesting (and instructive) result is the voting breakdown (not including the additional 'no' vote):
***Finley Middle School – Yes: 375; No: 400***
***Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club – Yes: 126; No: 90***
***Landing School – Yes: 163; No: 134***
***Connolly School – Yes: 135; No: 155***
Finley and Connolly residences (and businesses) account for *at least* two-thirds of the entire property tax base in Glen Cove. And these two areas clearly voted this budget down.
Tom Terrific May 24, 2013 at 06:12 pm
As Gene said above, the numbers do tell a lot. One important thing to note is that, as a percentage…Read More of the total tax base in the City of Glen Cove, the majority clearly voted down this budget. I don't have the exact figure, but if you combine those residences that lie within the Middle and Connolly voting zones, you've got at least two-thirds of the entire tax base right there. So, as I previously said in another post, I strongly advise the school board AND the incoming administration to heed these tentative results and not go on a spending spree. In fact, you might want to strongly reconsider some of the spending items you've already got in *this* budget.
Catuzza June 10, 2013 at 03:47 pm
Mostly, who rents single family houses illegally to multiple unrelated families should be stopped!…Read More
But then, again, this obvious connection between illegal housing and school taxes will always be overlooked: too many historical GC families are interested in maintaining the status quo... nevertheless many hope their children will get into college excelling in sports, not academics, except only 12 did it that way this year. Academics is the way, not sports, and that needs the resources we are instead allocating to solve the problems of the children of all the underprivileged packed in illegal houses.
Angelina June 14, 2013 at 03:12 pm
Glen Cove residents, ask your board to make Mr. Zocchia your new superintendent, he is truly for…Read More all the children. Miss Rianna will put on a good act about "all the students are her kids" but it is all an act. Miss Rianna is only in it for $ herself $. I'm sorry you are going to have to experience this and I could only hope she has changed but at her age it's unlikely.
JL May 22, 2013 at 01:40 pm
JohnP, I'd like to know what freebies the Glen Cove School District provides above what is state…Read More mandated that are any different than the provisions from any other school district in NYS. Do you think this district offers services out of the goodness of their hearts? I'd check first on the ignored illegal housing issues which put the district on the hook for publicly educating those kids.
Maureen Pappachristou May 22, 2013 at 01:57 pm
No offense to you Maureen but I had people approaching me thinking it was me. Only wrote that to…Read More clarify, it's not about my ego, and didn't mean to offend you if I did. Sorry you took it the wrong way.
Tom Terrific May 20, 2013 at 07:53 pm
It's not an easy thing, at least for me, to just say that I'm going to support the budget every…Read More year. Once approved, these things lock in ... and then compound year after year. Even relatively small increases have that effect. It's all built upon everything that has gone before. There are times that truly call for a zero percent tax increase. That means when a person opens his tax bill in August, it's *exactly* the same as the previous year. Property owners now have the power to see that this happens. All it takes is a majority 'no' vote in two voting sessions: May 21, and the date of the scheduled revote (TBD).
There are certainly good arguments on both sides of this issue. We frequently hear the 'pro' arguments; oftentimes couched in a lot of emotional language regarding the kids' after-school programs and other extracurricular activities. Less often, and frequently with a lot less attention, we hear the 'no' arguments; equally sincere and valid. Gloria Mathey's excellent post (above) is a very good example.
I'm not going to say how I'll vote in tomorrow's election, but I will say this much: At some point in time, the brakes are going to have to be applied to the spending increases that take place in Long Island's public school system. And that, unfortunately, includes Glen Cove.
The Shadow May 21, 2013 at 07:58 am
There is no reason for a tax increase this year. There is nearly $3 million in a reserve fund which…Read More should be used for the $400,000 Landing school boiler. No need to hire all the new people budgeted for either. No need to spend $100,000 on altering the wood shop for orchestra practice etc. etc. etc. A NO vote gives us a 0% tax increase for the first time ever this year!
cc May 21, 2013 at 01:16 pm
To Fellow Glen Cove Residents:
It is your responsibility to vote today to fill 2 open seats on the…Read More School Board and to vote on the 2013-2014 School Budget. Polls open at 7am and close at 9pm.
Consider the following before casting your vote for the new budget.
If you've been attending the Board meetings you know by now that this budget is top heavy with teachers' salaries and pensions. Yet the Board voted to hire a second Assistant Principal in a school that already has one, with a salary budgeted at $180,000 when no such position was filled or needed for years. Does this sound like belt-tightening to you?
At a recent Board meeting, the President of the Board, disclosed that a new room costing approximately $100-150,000 was needed for the middle school orchestra. That is until a parent asked why we needed to construct a new room when an orchestra room in the high school was already available. Good question. More belt-tightening?
The boiler at one of our schools is in need of replacement. The Board has included the $400,000 cost of a new boiler in next year's budget, despite the fact that a "reserve" fund of about $3,000,000 sits waiting to be used for just such a capital improvement. This means that the $400,000 cost of the new boiler will be shouldered entirely by the taxpayer.
The message we send to this Board will depend on your vote. Your vote counts...use it.
cc May 21, 2013 at 12:28 pm
To Fellow Glen Cove Residents:
It is your responsibility to vote today to fill 2 open seats on the…Read More School Board and to vote on the 2013-2014 School Budget. Polls open at 7am and close at 9pm.
Consider the following before casting your vote for the new budget.
If you've been attending the Board meetings you know by now that this budget is top heavy with teachers' salaries and pensions. Yet the Board voted to hire a second Assistant Principal in a school that already has one, with a salary budgeted at $180,000 when no such position was filled or needed for years. Does this sound like belt-tightening to you?
At a recent Board meeting, the President of the Board, disclosed that a new room costing approximately $100-150,000 was needed for the middle school orchestra. That is until a parent asked why we needed to construct a new room when an orchestra room in the high school was already available. Good question. More belt-tightening?
The boiler at one of our schools is in need of replacement. The Board has included the $400,000 cost of a new boiler in next year's budget, despite the fact that a "reserve" fund of about $3,000,000 sits waiting to be used for just such a capital improvement. This means that the $400,000 cost of the new boiler will be shouldered entirely by the taxpayer.
The message we send to this Board will depend on your vote. Your vote counts...use it.
PAtRINA GRELLA May 20, 2013 at 10:23 am
The Board and Dr. Laria are the ones that owe Dr. Hinton an apology not I or Eddie J. Not once did I…Read More ever hear any words of confidence or encouragement from Dr. Laria on his administration! The Community of Glen Cove has more respect & confidence in there teachers & Dr. Hinton than Dr. Laria ever did! Here is the full text of Dr. Laria's statement:
"It is with great disappointment that the Glen Cove City School District must report allegations of testing administration irregularities. These allegations, if true, represent a grave disservice to the children, families and community of Glen Cove. Really Disappointment is that all you can say about your staff!! Do you hear any words of confidence in his teachers because I sure don't!! When I saw this statement on the news my jaw dropped another blow to our district. Do you hear any words saying I have confidence in my administraters that this is not true beacuse I sure don't!! Sounds to me he pretty much had his mind made up about his administration before the investigation even started! I'm a bit confused as a superindentent wouldn't you know if test scores were changed or that coaching was taking place?? Has he been asleep at his desk these past few years that you have no idea this is going on in your own school district!! Obviously you don't know your staff very well! I have 2 children in the high school & one child in middle school so you see Mr. Howard I am very invested in the Glen Cove Schools! I have been in the school system for the past 12 years & I have the right to know what is going on especially when it directly effects my children! Every teacher my children have had over the past 12 years have been nothing but supportive, amazing & wonderful. I have more faith in them than the board, Dr. Laria & the state put together! All this talk about test coaching is bull and that the superintendent didn't stand behind them is really sad and an embarressment to our community. The poor handling from the board on the elementary teachers & Dr. Hinton could have all been avoided if they only told us the truth from the beginning. I too Mr. Howard have friends in the school district. That is I found out about Dr. Hinton taking a leave because he was being investigated. So do not address me in a blog again and state that I need to make a public apology to Dr. Hinton. It is the Board, Dr. Laria and the State that need to make a public apology, not only to Dr. Hinton but to all the teachers & staff members that were wrongly accused. I have the right to speak my mind and unlike you I have the right not only as a tax payer but as a parent of children who attend Glen Cove Schools to know the truth! All of this nonsense could have been avoided if the truth was told from DAY ONE!
PAtRINA GRELLA May 20, 2013 at 11:12 am
And so we are clear Mr. Howard Dr. Hinton's current health issues was never in question!! What was…Read More in question was the truth on how and why the Board is not being truthful on why Hinton left. But yet the whole community is very aware of what is really going on.....did we all make this up???
cc May 9, 2013 at 06:47 pm
This is the worst run school district on the north shore. It is a disgrace for the amount of school…Read More tax that we pay and then if we want out children to get a good education we have to opt for private schools.The Sunshine board should be held accountable for the mess.
Glenn Howard May 12, 2013 at 02:49 pm
Eddie J. You owe Dr. Hinton a full public apology regardless of his return to health or not (an…Read More issue he has been fighting for over a year) at some point. be prepared to put in it the newspaper and not in a moronic blog.
Tom Terrific May 10, 2013 at 08:27 am
Mr. Bailey, I think it's safe to assume that you're computer literate and that you're aware of the…Read More existence of Glen Cove Patch. After all, they just did a profile on you, right? Okay, I asked a question - a serious question (above) - that I really expect to be answered before I can consider voting for you in the upcoming school election. And, you know, with an overall voter turnout hovering around 8% or so, every vote counts that much more. So, although I would like you to address the question here, it would also be acceptable if you were to acknowledge it, and respond at any venue that's convenient for you. Just to reiterate, I will not vote for *any* candidate that doesn't answer the question.
Eric Bailey May 11, 2013 at 08:24 pm
I appreciate the well wishes and opportunity to get better acquainted with everyone. Tom, my…Read More apologies for the delay, but I was tied up with a family medical issue. Your question certainly deserves an answer. In this economy, taxpayers are hurting just as much as our schools (financially at least). That is the reason the tax cap was established in the first place. I feel that the school district must look into other sources for meeting it's budgetary needs. I have long been an advocate of grant applications and am aware of at least a dozen potential sources that the district could and should look into as just one way to ease the burden on taxpayers. I hope this answers your question.
Tom Terrific May 13, 2013 at 08:01 pm
To Mr. Bailey: I want to thank you very much for your response, and it does answer my question.…Read More Hope everything is okay, and I wish you all the best in the upcoming election.
Kristina S. Heuser April 29, 2013 at 03:18 pm
On the contrary, I am expressing my support for the public and their right to have their grievances…Read More heard and addressed.
Samantha Caps May 16, 2013 at 01:17 am
Not renew under personnel issues is what sticks out to me most when reading. Working in Human…Read More Resources myself over the years ....this usually eludes to some internal strife or abuse of power over other employees.
From what i can ferret out sounds like this might have been the case & if that is the problem then no wonder why the district has been thru 4 spuperintendant in 9 yrs. .. the fish stinks from the head & if you chop of the head and it still stinks -- keep chopping ... I applaud them cleaning house!
The Shadow April 26, 2013 at 02:17 pm
Regarding transparency: As I said at the last School Board meeting, translucency would be a better…Read More choice of word, and even that would be an improvement. The decision by six of the seven Board members to fire Kevin Wurtz, who I think was the best administrator we have ever had, with 10 years of experience, is the worst decision that they have ever made. Donna Brady's praise of Keven, just before she voted to fire him was the epitome of hypocrisy. The community is very unhappy and will continue to show it.
Pazzo April 28, 2013 at 08:42 am
The school budget vote is coming up. Does any of the school budget go to legal fees?
GM April 28, 2013 at 08:55 am
Glenn why can't information be given to actions while leaving the persons accused of such actions…Read More anonymous until a determination is made? That gives the taxpayers and community answers while not causing irreversible damage to a
Anyone's reputation until facts are established.
cc April 16, 2013 at 01:13 am
Sad what has happened to the city! Not only the schools corrupt but what about city hall? It is all…Read More about the money and power. Follow the money and you find the answers to all the city's problems. Did you ever see a politician leave office with less then he came in with.
Glenn Howard April 25, 2013 at 08:04 pm
In all of the comments posted by cc (who hides behind a pseudonym) on Patch there have been none…Read More that offered one iota of proactive information or commentary on Glen Cove or the region. All have been negative and accusatory with some bordering on libel with no basis in any factual information. This commentor seems to have no real postive interest in or respect for the Glen Cove community. Sad. However freedom of speech gives persons who do this the right to present this self image and gives the rest of us a good base line comparator for a destructive versus a constructive approach.
Daniel April 16, 2013 at 01:43 pm
in our system a person is not found innocent.. they are found not guilty...Huge difference. the…Read More children are also protected due to there age.. Time will tell.. but in a case like this everyone looses .. even if true.. I'm not gonna play judge or jury from an article
tj April 16, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Any real detective could grill these kids into the truth, the more who claim this the easier it…Read More should be to find holes....But like some said, innocent or guilty just by seeing his picture, the worlds fondling, young boys...I hate him....Damn media and your mind controlling ways...
The Shadow April 19, 2013 at 09:08 am
There is another very disturbing issue going on at the moment which has been overshadowed by the…Read More testing scandal. Very quietly, the School Board, at the recommendation of the Superintendent, Dr. Joseph Laria, has not renewed the contract of the most important employee of the School District - the Assistant Superintendent and Business manager, Kevin Wurtz. He has been doing a superlative job for us for 10 years - far longer than anyone in the administration presently or even in recent memory. What is going on? Why will the School Board or Dr. Laria not address this issue?
LT May 10, 2013 at 12:40 pm
CC maybe we should look at the fact that Suozzi and council members are products of the GC…Read More educational system. Found out that the gal who did my Brazilian the other day not only went to GC but her father is on the city council. Quite a testament to the high level education one gets here.
Debi Santiago April 9, 2013 at 05:39 pm
Whats going on right now with the GCSD reminds me a lot of the Salem Witch Trials :-(
Tom Terrific April 9, 2013 at 10:43 pm
This is ridiculous. It's like an article in the New Yorker: A lot of verbiage that takes forever…Read More to get to a point. Why can't counsel just say that a certain allegation has been made about .... whatever ..... and that it is being investigated thoroughly. Counsel can then remind the audience that, at this point, it is only an allegation and, therefore, specific details cannot, in all fairness, be disclosed. I think reasonable people would accept that. But to not even discuss what has been alleged? That is, quite frankly, insulting to the people who pay the bills in this district -- the taxpaying community.
The Shadow April 12, 2013 at 01:03 pm
Obfuscation, not transparency, is now, and has been the policy of this and many other School…Read More Districts. Why has it taken since November to announce this investigation? Why are teachers, whose job performance and rewards, both monetary and otherwise, be permitted to proctor exams? This is a problem all over this country, most recently involving Atlanta, Georgia. The education departments of the Federal and State governments are responsible for these stupid policies. And testing in all types of non educational jobs is just as suspect. I wouldn't be so anxious to blame some teachers who might feel that their students need a little extra help in looking a little better on the rapidly increasing proliferation of standardized tests. The real culprit is the government and it's policies.
Glen Cove's Valedictorian 'Symbolizes Hard Work And Effort'
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