2012-2013 school budget and candidates

[LAsurvivor]

No one said drastically, and LSD requires a total paradigm shift that will take time. But why wait, our children's' graduation rates/scores speak for them-self. The incumbents have had 16 yrs at the bat! Time for some new batters! You may not know a lot of the players in their club.....when they need a warm body they seek a paid up member and rotate them in. And the real political bosses are behind the scenes telling the crony out in front who to hire and who to fire etc. They are very good at their bullying and poli-tricks and they do not care how many good people they hurt along the way.

BTW: Who do you think Murphy-Gambino is?.....Yep, the "CURRENT and PAST" Mayors' Secretary/Fire-Chief Secretary/Minority Specialist/Affirmative Action person/ and whatever other committee they have her on. Previously she was the Council Secretary (2000-2004), and her husband is Chief Custodian of City Hall for the past appr. 12 1/2 years. Lots and lots of connections all over the place!

There is a BIG-BIG choice on Tuesday, keep the same family and friends or have hope in the new younger guys with one at least having children in OUR schools!
The current BOE-Pres. did not even put his kids in LSD, they went elsewhere. WHY?

Exchanging one clique' for another? ........they had nothing to do with our outrageous budget and school ratings! They ARE our only choice if we want to help stop the current BOE's out of control nepotism and crony patronage!

Remember when Nick Korach was supposed to be the savior of the district? Everyone couldn't wait until he became the superintendent to finally run the district the right way. I think it's funny that he has become the biggest disappointment in the history of the district!! He waited until he was ready to retire, supposedly so he could do the right thing for the district without worrying about what the board would/could do to him. Now he is just another shill for the board president, the almighty JM.

Funny, you would think someone of this guy's supposed caliber would stand up to a hoodlum. But alas, he can't and the taxpayers and kids suffer. Thanks, Nick. Thanks for being such a failure at a time when the district needed you most. It's a shame that you let a few pieces of silver take over your once sterling reputation, not to mention your family's reputation, as educators. What a shame!

[Diane Kozak]

We can all agree that Elementary Education in Lackawanna is going well. We should also remember that Lackawanna is not required to provide Pre-K and it is not required to provide full day kindergarten. These programs are VERY important to start children out on the right path to learning. If the school budget does not pass and these programs are eliminated that is a criminal injustice to children in this district.

Lackawanna is finally offering honors, AP and college level courses (these courses did not exist when I went 12 years ago and how I wish they did). Some of the new courses being offered are AP World History, AP US History, and an Honors Global class. These classes are allowing students to get a taste of rigorous academics and that is something this district sorely needs. If the budget fails these classes could be cut.

Finally, we are not known for our stellar academics (yet, but those advanced courses are a move in the right direction), however, Lackawanna did post some of the biggest gains in Erie County on the Regents ELA exam as well as the Regents Algebra Exam.

I'm not saying the district doesn't need work, but it's not all bad. Voting no to the school budget because you don't like the school board is petty politics and it hurts no one but the kids.

Under a contingency budget, NYS law says No new jobs can be created. So, the contingency increase of $496, 992 can be to cover & maintain what is there for educational content.

We have a District with not one, not two, but three (3) schools in need of improvement under NYS standards. That means if the District Does not get their act together, the State will come and make sure they do. They can even stop state aid, if they don't see an improvement plan in the works. The high school, the middle school and now Martin Rd elementary are in trouble. Yes, the scores went up, but not enough.

AP course were in existence when I was there, Our business dept. got NYS honors & accolades. Look at 97-2000 and things started to turn around. Your football championship team members are on the Council & running for school board. Ask them what they see lacking. They will tell you there is no pride in the schools anymore. They want to bring that feeling back to the kids that are there now. If you have a Board that does Not DEMAND excellence, you won't get it from the students.

Makeyenko hasn't been on the board for 16 consecutive years. He's been on and off and served a total of 16 years. The Commissioner once informed him that if he continued certain behavior, the Commissioner would get him out. He straightened up his act somewhat after that. Did he go to college? How much formal education does he really have? How do you think the teachers feel? They have student loans up the ying yang and have to get a Masters & pass a certification exam before they can realy be teachers in NYS. They are led by a Boardmember with far less education than they have.

So, think, really think before you vote in the school election. Do our children really come first with you? Can you vote down a budget as a sign you demand the Board think out of the box & work with what you give them. No new job creations, just work on the problems within the educational aspect of the school. In this City it's really hard to get that commitment to education.

[andreahaxton]

Jenn, There is no talking with these people , they have personal vendettas with it seems every elected official, its because they keep running and keep loosing elections, they post what they think ,not what is really happening. Am I happy with the way our schools are performing , No. But some are actually doing really well. room for improvement,certainly. They base thier whole argument on business first, which is what it says all about businesses and money, they wont even tell you what factors into thier rankings. Go look back at these peoples posts, they have been after everyone and anyone who disagrees with thier conspiracy theories. No matter who is in office or what office they hold if it was not thier hand picked candidate when they won all they do is bash them. Especially Andrea,she doesnt pay her taxes but yells that she is paying too much. yet she says she collects welfare,well that comes from taxes as well, so it seems shes in a win,win situation to me. Dont get me wrong some people need assistance, but if you are an abled body person,with all kinds of time on your hands to be a so called community activist, then go get a job and pull your fair share. Then you can yell about whatever you want! A no vote does nothing but hurt the kids, but they would rather satisfy thier own political agendas, they can care lesss about the kids!

Cont.
disagree with the above poster who tries to make this personal instead of keeping with the facts only. BTW: Remember I told you it is their defense mechanism because they can not dispute the black and white facts of their actions, so they come after me to divert the subject matter........I will gladly tell you the truth about me, I have nothing to hide. I speak out for the general " welfare " of all, I have no personal vendettas or agendas......I do this because I know that, what is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong. Lots of people just chalk it up to politics......I take it to heart for what it is, greed and irresponsible actions of their fiduciary duties. In other words they are the ones with the "hidden agendas" and it is what it is!

jenrose, You have a copy of the 2012/13' Budget.........
Go to:
pg. 21
Program for Students with Disabilities
Equipment
-200
-10 Handicapped - 0 -
-20 Com.-Spec. Ed. - 0 -

pg.28
TEACHING--REGULAR SCHOOL
-480-55 DISTRICT WIDE TEXTBOOKS-Aid-able
current budget --- new budget
$ 130,000 --- $105,656

pg. 34
-480 LIBRARY BOOKS
current budget --- new budget
$ 16,000 --- $12,000

pg. 36,
" PUPIL SERVICES "
Interscholastic Athletics:
-200 Equipment - 0 - A BIG ZERO, AGAIN NOTHING " for the kids "!

There are lots of zeros and items lumped together that we are given no clue about what they are. Try to READ the BUDGET, the FACTUAL low-low-low amounts, you will see in it, "for the for the kids ", and you will see our point. A 96 ranking out of 97 schools ? NOT good enough!

They are telling you it is " forrrrr the kidssss " when the above speaks for itself.
Priorities lie with the family and friends club and it has been going on far too long at the expense of " the kids ".......OUR kids, NOT theirs! It is their employment agency for their club members and then they just sit back and are reactive NOT proactive when it comes to the rest of school board/administrative business.

If they dare to cut Pre-K and Kindergarten, they are just cutting off their own nepotism/patronage gravy train which just puff out their chests bigger!

Families have alternatives, and can put their children in HEADSTART on Ridge Road or the Charter SCHOOL will grow again......the children and parents will NOT be left without an educational route for their babes. Please, who are they kidding?!? Headstart also has ALL DAY programs.........so they can stop pleading this scam! Who are they snow-balling? Themselves and sadly young Moms like you. They have more than enough cash to educate OUR kids, we are asking them to be more prudent with the spending of it. They have NOT listened in 16 years...don't you think it is time for "the buck to stop here"?!?

BTW:.........has anyone in the schools applied for the NYS funding available for the Pre-K, etc. programs?

[getalife123]

What this BOE has done is almost criminal. They are punishing the children, hurting the taxpayer and crippling the businesses. Why has this Board decided that we need to make cuts to any programs or materials when the budget has a million dollar surplus built into it? Using the budgetary gimmicks to build the budget the BOE has assured itself that the money will be there.

They are taxing the people that are struggling to make ends meet. From the young families to the elderly that are fixed incomes. They are putting an unnecessary burden on the businesses in Lackawanna to support their mindless political games, These guys will not be happy until the remaining businesses leave. Been there, done that. Ask the former Bethelhem employees.

The bottomline is what are you getting for your tax dollars? A school system that has failed to educate the children. In the 21st century education is the most important asset that a person possesses. We as a school district are failing to live up to our end of the bargain. We have allowed the BOE to use our children as hostage so that they can play their political games. This has to end. They need to understand that we are not going to let that happen anymore. Their job is to hire the most qualified teachers and aides to help our children learn. NO more excuses. Get the job done or get out.

The seniors on fixed incomes should not have to choose between food or medicine to pay their taxes. The young families should not have to overpay on their taxes when they need their incomes for their families needs. Many parents in this area have chosen to send their children to other schools to get an education eventhough the money they spend creates an economic burden on their families. Over taxing is just as big a problem as not getting enough tax revenue. But overtaxing and pretending that they don't have the resources to properly educate our children is just plain criminal. We tax the most money per child in the area. Unfortuately not all the dollars we collect are made available for our childrens benefit. Why? We need them to utilize our tax dollars wisely.

Tell the BOE to stop using our children as pawns in their political game. In the real world our children have to compete against children from other districts for jobs. Don't let a future employer discount our childrens education because they came from the Lackawanna School District. Think twice if you don't think it is already happening. Is condemning your child to poverty the they way you want your children to remember you by. It is one step at a time. Children want to learn. They respond to learning and will excel when given the opportuntity. We just need to get rid of the roadblocks that are preventing the learning experience.

[jenrose66]

Under a contingency budget, NYS law says No new jobs can be created. So, the contingency increase of $496, 992 can be to cover & maintain what is there for educational content.

We have a District with not one, not two, but three (3) schools in need of improvement under NYS standards. That means if the District Does not get their act together, the State will come and make sure they do. They can even stop state aid, if they don't see an improvement plan in the works. The high school, the middle school and now Martin Rd elementary are in trouble. Yes, the scores went up, but not enough.

AP course were in existence when I was there, Our business dept. got NYS honors & accolades. Look at 97-2000 and things started to turn around. Your football championship team members are on the Council & running for school board. Ask them what they see lacking. They will tell you there is no pride in the schools anymore. They want to bring that feeling back to the kids that are there now. If you have a Board that does Not DEMAND excellence, you won't get it from the students.

Makeyenko hasn't been on the board for 16 consecutive years. He's been on and off and served a total of 16 years. The Commissioner once informed him that if he continued certain behavior, the Commissioner would get him out. He straightened up his act somewhat after that. Did he go to college? How much formal education does he really have? How do you think the teachers feel? They have student loans up the ying yang and have to get a Masters & pass a certification exam before they can realy be teachers in NYS. They are led by a Boardmember with far less education than they have.

So, think, really think before you vote in the school election. Do our children really come first with you? Can you vote down a budget as a sign you demand the Board think out of the box & work with what you give them. No new job creations, just work on the problems within the educational aspect of the school. In this City it's really hard to get that commitment to education.

I graduated with our council president in 2000. Maybe him and I had different school experiences but there was NO school pride and academics were not prized...I had the "pleasure" of having Betty Hunt for my guidance counselor. I asked her to write me a recommendation for NYU as was required for the application and she told me "your mom can't afford that school" She then proceeded to write a paltry paragraph about a bunch of crap...so even the people there that were supposed to care about us couldn't correctly do their jobs. I never forgot that. I am very conflicted about having my children in the Lackawanna School system because my experiences (besides music) were horrid. Yet I am so happy with my son's experience right now at the elementary level.

[Diane Kozak]

I graduated with our council president in 2000. Maybe him and I had different school experiences but there was NO school pride and academics were not prized...I had the "pleasure" of having Betty Hunt for my guidance counselor. I asked her to write me a recommendation for NYU as was required for the application and she told me "your mom can't afford that school" She then proceeded to write a paltry paragraph about a bunch of crap...so even the people there that were supposed to care about us couldn't correctly do their jobs. I never forgot that. I am very conflicted about having my children in the Lackawanna School system because my experiences (besides music) were horrid. Yet I am so happy with my son's experience right now at the elementary level.

I am so sorry you had that bad experience. One of my son's had her for guidance also. I cannot share with you the particulars of all the attempts made to correct her views, but there were more than a few. Once a teacher is tenured, it takes a 3020a to remove them. That costs a school district mega bucks. So, it's important who is hired & that a board know how to review a presonnel file prior to granting tenure. Maybe the pride the guys experienced was totally around their football accomplishments and how most of the City rallied around them. What always bohtered me, and still does. with any educational system in Lackawanna is that there are programs for special needs children and programs for those who excel, but the normal run of the mill kid who might need a little help with one subject & do ok with the rest, has a hard time finding that help from teaching staff. When one of my boys was @ Franklin and Mrs. Malcos stayed after school on her own time to help him with long division, the then Pres of the teachers union went up one side of her & down the other. She very calmly told her something to the effect that she was a Teacher & for years knew what that meant to her & her students and maybe she should ponder that definition herself.

When my husband went to LHS he had Mr. Cosgrove for guidance. Since my husband was of Polish decent, he was told he would land up working in the plant, so why bother with any college planning or even exploring that possibility. Hubby was not alone in getting that "advice". times have changed, but not enough. We all have to work for that so our future (the children) will be prepared to handle and contribute to this world we live in; one little city at a time. You sound like a good mom, keep it up. Have a Happy Mother's Day and now you make sure no teacher or guidance teacher ever tells him he can't. You tell em, yes he can & you're going to help him make it there along with me" Remember, they work for you and as a stakeholder, you can Demand nothing more than excellence from that teacher when it comes to your son. Start keeping a journal in case you run into problems with any teacher as your son progresses in the school system. It might prove invaluable someday. Been there, done that & it worked.

[jenrose66]

According to Buffalo News Lackawanna passed 1256 to 1101.

[literal]

LACKAWANNA

Candidates (Elect 3): Leonard F. Kowalski, 1,682; Mark E. Kowalski, 1,549; Robert C. Sireika, 1,479; Maureen Murphy Gambino (i), 1,143; John W. Makeyenko (i), 965.

Budget: Yes, 1,256; No, 1,101.

[getalife123]

LACKAWANNA

Candidates (Elect 3): Leonard F. Kowalski, 1,682; Mark E. Kowalski, 1,549; Robert C. Sireika, 1,479; Maureen Murphy Gambino (i), 1,143; John W. Makeyenko (i), 965.

Budget: Yes, 1,256; No, 1,101.

Having 3 new people on the board is worth the passing of the budget. Congratulations, the ball is in your park now. Do it for the students.

[literal]

Let's hope they clean house and retire Sam Masry, Annette Iafallo and all those who sold their souls to the OLD WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.

Next year keep putting new faces in open seats.....there will be HOPE! Let's see if the other board memebers get the picture and see the handwriting on the wall. It would be good if those board members spare themselves the humiliation of the "NO" vote from power from the people and not bother to run.....

Big nite for the little guy... the VOTER!

[getalife123]

My exact thoughts and you beat me to the punch. Just one step at a time.

[ChangeNeededNow]

Where is Lackawanna #1 now????? Crying with John John and Gambino HAHAHAHAHHA BYE BYE JOHN you LOST in EVERY WARD!!! Even Trying to shift it to one polling place in every ward, YOU LOST!!!!!! WHAT A WIN FOR THE CHILDREN!!!!!!! Don't Let the door hit you where the good lord split ya Johnny boy!!!!!

[youcangohome]

Let's hope they clean house and retire Sam Masry, Annette Iafallo and all those who sold their souls to the OLD WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.

Next year keep putting new faces in open seats.....there will be HOPE! Let's see if the other board memebers get the picture and see the handwriting on the wall. It would be good if those board members spare themselves the humiliation of the "NO" vote from power from the people and not bother to run.....

Big nite for the little guy... the VOTER!

Since you brought up humiliation. Who resigned and moved to Florida?

[cath829]

Don't think humiliation brought her to Florida - common sense did! IF she was so humiliated - she would have left Lackawanna years ago. Literal can hold her head high - can YOU??

[literal]

YOU need to learn a lot about respect Iafallo!

Resigned...stayed in Buffalo for six years AFTER Lackawanna job as a Principal. Retired from schools and went to work for two years for a non profit organization.

Left Buffalo two years ago and 12 years after working at Lackawanna. REALLY? What I did was prideful NOT shameful. YOU are a pathetic soul just like....but thanks for the laugh. This thread is about the BOE. Get over your nonsense!

Now work on cleaning up your mouth! Put your efforts to making Lackawanna a better place.