2012-2013 school budget and candidates

[getalife123]

We are about to vote on the School Budget for 2012-2013 school year. With just 10 days until the vote we are being asked to vote on a budget without seeing the details. We have no idea as to the actual content of the budget. The Board only has presented us with highlights which outlines the budget. It has been my experience that when a budget is released late the people responsible for preparing the budget are hiding something. I have some questions regarding the content of the outline but could not question the details since the Board has not made that available yet. They have also stated that they have no contingency budget. Are they that sure that their budget will pass? A competed budget is exactly what the current Board was elected to do. As it stands right now a NO VOTE is our only option.

We know the priorities of the current Board members. Their primary objective is to hire family and friends. Their secondary objective is to get re-elected. Somewhere down the line comes our children and taxpayers but only if it doesn’t interfere with their primary objective. MAKEYENKO is running for re-election. He has been on the School Board for about 16 years. Re-electing him again would be ridiculous. He has done nothing to improve the potential of our children and a vote for him is saying failure is okay. Let make a change now. We have two new candidates SIEREIKA and KOWALSKI. The election results are that the top 3 candidates with the highest number of votes wins. Under no circumstance should you vote for MAKEYENKO. If he gets into the top three he will be re-elected. With him there again nothing changes.

[lackawanna #1]

We are about to vote on the School Budget for 2012-2013 school year. With just 10 days until the vote we are being asked to vote on a budget without seeing the details. We have no idea as to the actual content of the budget. The Board only has presented us with highlights which outlines the budget. It has been my experience that when a budget is released late the people responsible for preparing the budget are hiding something. I have some questions regarding the content of the outline but could not question the details since the Board has not made that available yet. They have also stated that they have no contingency budget. Are they that sure that their budget will pass? A competed budget is exactly what the current Board was elected to do. As it stands right now a NO VOTE is our only option.

We know the priorities of the current Board members. Their primary objective is to hire family and friends. Their secondary objective is to get re-elected. Somewhere down the line comes our children and taxpayers but only if it doesn’t interfere with their primary objective. MAKEYENKO is running for re-election. He has been on the School Board for about 16 years. Re-electing him again would be ridiculous. He has done nothing to improve the potential of our children and a vote for him is saying failure is okay. Let make a change now. We have two new candidates SIEREIKA and KOWALSKI. The election results are that the top 3 candidates with the highest number of votes wins. Under no circumstance should you vote for MAKEYENKO. If he gets into the top three he will be re-elected. With him there again nothing changes.

Obviously you have not done your homework again, Your personal agenda with John has made you look like a fool once again, for One ,John has never hired a family member as long as hes been on the board of ed, NEVER! The budget call for a very small increase less than if you vote it down and go to contingency. Siereika, are you kidding me, do your homework, you must know nothing about him if you are asking people to vote for him. A no vote for you is your only option because it serves you well not the kids.

[getalife123]

Obviously you have not done your homework again, Your personal agenda with John has made you look like a fool once again, for One ,John has never hired a family member as long as hes been on the board of ed, NEVER! The budget call for a very small increase less than if you vote it down and go to contingency. Siereika, are you kidding me, do your homework, you must know nothing about him if you are asking people to vote for him. A no vote for you is your only option because it serves you well not the kids.

Dear product of the Lackawanna School System I NEVER said that JM hired a family member. He has hired friends WINK WINK and protected them. I am saying that Siereika is a change and an option. As for the NO vote on the budget, I am saying that this guy has never ever had the child as a priority. With a 50% drop out rate and ranking near the bottom in WNY schools is more than enough to vote him out. Let John run on his record. Not very good. Nothing personal just business.

[andreahaxton]

Dear product of the Lackawanna School System I NEVER said that JM hired a family member. He has hired friends WINK WINK and protected them. I am saying that Siereika is a change and an option. As for the NO vote on the budget, I am saying that this guy has never ever had the child as a priority. With a 50% drop out rate and ranking near the bottom in WNY schools is more than enough to vote him out. Let John run on his record. Not very good. Nothing personal just business.

Ditto!
Nothing personal.

[jenrose66]

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.

[lackawanna #1]

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.

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!

[getalife123]

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 what ever 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!

There is no vendetta. I'm not a politician so there is no gain. I am just a retiree that has had enough. I will not apologize nor change anything I have posted. The largest expenditures in the district are salaries and bennies what is left may go to the students. Taxes rise, home values go down and people move here because the homes values are cheap, The don't move here because of our failing school district with a 50% graduation rate or because it has pre-k or full day kindergarten and a few advanced programs at the HS level. The threat of eliminating programs that the School Board uses year after year causes fear in the younger families. That fear gets them to make poor voting decisions.

Look at the record of the Board Members. Ask yourself are you getting value for your tax dollars. More importantly ask yourself are things going to change for the better if you keep voting the same people back. Ask yourself in the 16 years that Makeyenko has been on the board have the schools improved the education levels of the students. Mayeyenko in his 16 years has gotten his people elected to the Board and they all have had a personal stake in get jobs for "family and friends". Change in leadership is needed and needed now. A VOTE NO is reality. By all means this is not petty politics it is the bottom line.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[andreahaxton]

Obviously you have not done your homework again, Your personal agenda with John has made you look like a fool once again, for One ,John has never hired a family member as long as hes been on the board of ed, NEVER! The budget call for a very small increase less than if you vote it down and go to contingency. Siereika, are you kidding me, do your homework, you must know nothing about him if you are asking people to vote for him. A no vote for you is your only option because it serves you well not the kids.

Which one of the lack1 are you now?
Probably one of the women who think they are protecting their man. HaHa. You writing styles are like day and night! Ridiculous!

BTW: lack1 and company......again too scared to show up at NOCO to back up your allegations about me on here? Want me to meet you at Woody's so you feel more comfortable? I will.

Why did a certain BOE member have to come by my house yesterday to warn me about what I say about her on here....? Jitters?

[lackawanna #1]

Which one of the lack1 are you now?
Probably one of the women who think they are protecting their man. HaHa. You writing styles are like day and night! Ridiculous!

BTW: lack1 and company......again too scared to show up at NOCO to back up your allegations about me on here? Want me to meet you at Woody's so you feel more comfortable? I will.

Why did a certain BOE member have to come by my house yesterday to warn me about what I say about her on here....? Jitters?

Woodys doesnt take food stamps for beer unlike some store owners used to! What were allegations, and what were the truth?
She didnt come to your house!

[andreahaxton]

Woodys doesnt take food stamps for beer unlike some store owners used to! What were allegations, and what were the truth?
She didnt come to your house!

If what you say is true....then why didn't the authorities take action like they did to WOODY'S last month?
Let one person come forward and say that " I " ever did not do things by the book at my corner store. I was in business from March 1998 - October 2007.....long enough to get me wasn't it?! I don't know who is feeding you but I can imagine.

Oh, pulling up directly in front of my driveway when I was getting something out of my van to talk to me doesn't mean " she didn't come to your house ".......PLEASE stop, I can't laugh anymore, lack1 and company I am amazed at your continuous baloney.
BTW:
" yet she says she collects welfare "..........Please enlighten us, where did I ever say that?

You continually attack me as a person....trying to accomplish what?
This topic is about "THE SCHOOL BUDGET and CANDIDATES"------NOT Andrea Haxtons' life! It is obvious you trolls are running scared, because YOUR opposition is STRONG!

[FMD]

As property owners with shrinking income we all must make sacrifies. I find it appalling that the govt keeps demanding more. They dont ask, they DEMAND you pay more for less. Therefore any vote to increase any govt budget should be voted NO!!!

After all it has become the number one job siught after due to gaurenteed raises, and benefits, get a govt job!

Til this changes our nation will never prosper. So vote NO on any budget increase, even if its just a penny. Cause remember your govt, teachers, schools, no one cares about 'the children'. Its all about 'me'. Screw the 'children'. Thats reality.... And thats the mind set of every politician, and govt related education program. But they are not afraid to use the 'for the children' card to steal more money from you

[lackawanna #1]

If what you say is true....then why didn't the authorities take action like they did to WOODY'S last month?
Let one person come forward and say that " I " ever did not do things by the book at my corner store. I was in business from March 1998 - October 2007.....long enough to get me wasn't it?! I don't know who is feeding you but I can imagine.

Oh, pulling up directly in front of my driveway when I was getting something out of my van to talk to me doesn't mean " she didn't come to your house ".......PLEASE stop, I can't laugh anymore, lack1 and company I am amazed at your continuous baloney.
BTW:
" yet she says she collects welfare "..........Please enlighten us, where did I ever say that?

You continually attack me as a person....trying to accomplish what?
This topic is about "THE SCHOOL BUDGET and CANDIDATES"------NOT Andrea Haxtons' life! It is obvious you trolls are running scared, because YOUR opposition is STRONG!

He Who Laughs Last.........Lasts!








Originally Posted by lackawanna #1

With all those qualifications ,why is it you have no job, do you want one? I dont think so. What is the number one cost in this state to the tax payer. WELFARE! lets start a forum on how to get people off of it. I nominate you start it. Lets start keeping it real with saving money bull**** too,If you dont pay your taxes ,how can you say your paying too much or not getting your monies worth? Are you collecting welfare , yes or no. Are your all of your taxes payed up to date?
1. (y) (N)
2. (Y) (N)
Please just answer the questions with a simple y for yes or n for no, anything other than that wwill be considered a wrong answer.Lets see how you follow directions. With all the education you have you should easily be able to answer. Extra 10 points for being truthful. Please no lengthy explanations and noone else answering for you or you get a zero!

" What is the number one cost in this state to the taxpayer. WELFARE! "

Really?
OK.
Then EDUCATION is number 2 or close to it!
May 1, Buffalo News:
" Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, each closely allied with the Senate's Republican majority, had no immediate comment# The $10 million bullet aid would be a fraction of the state's more than $20 billion in annual school aid."

I ask you again to keep things in perspective. YOU are off the TOPIC but not the title of this thread......." Shenanigans ".
BTW:
Is it really any of your business about my personal life? But if YOU must know meet me face to face tomorrow morning at NOCO Turnpike's Tim Horton's...say 8:30ish. I look forward to discussing my life with you in person to satisfy your fixation/infactuation of me and my financial situation.

1. (y)
2. (n)

" Extra 10 points for being truthful. " If one of your cronies answers for you .....YOU are a ZERO!

BTW: I have nothing to hide and I know you are using your "connections" to dig-dig-dig on me. Just like the School Board President once told me that he researched me all the way back to my first boyfriend when I was 16. If you spent more time brainstorming on how to get OUR kids graduated than harassing me we might have something good going on........why you would think I was running for School Board!
Manana'!


You answered the questions didnt you?