School Board Candidates speak out ?????????????????????????

[4248]

With all the recent budget talks - Capitol Improvement talks - Red Skins debate/embarrassment

-

Unless we missed something - School Board Candidates have not joined in any discussions here on Speakwny.

No one I talked to has received mailers or read any main stream media stories on candidates platforms or stands on the issues.

Not much time left before the budget vote or Board Member Elections.

We hear some posters here that seem to speak for candidates or certain groups who support certain candidates - yet no incumbent has spoke up for them selves - WHY ?

Are they hiding out - waiting for the usual mail box blitz one week before the election ? Will they just be standing outside the polling place on voteing day - is that all we get ?

You know - those flyers and glossy mailers that tell us all the ways they support better education - sports and recreation - they love our teachers and are so proud of our young people !

Same old noncommittal - "Look at what we do for the kids" -

This is all I have seen for this candidate - posted by Lanmom for Wendy Della Neve,

"Wendy Della Neve. She is for students, education reform, transparency, is a student advocate, supports teachers in a very hard time in Albany thanks for Governor Cuomo and is not running on any mascot platform but one of being an ear, eye and access of truth to the community. One for responsible budgets, treating the public and taxpayers with the respect"

I then asked/posted:

Could you elaborate on just how "she's for the students"?

What would she "Reform" in our educational system ?

What would she make "Transparent" ?

Past examples of her "advocating" for students ?

How does she "support" teachers - does she help them - believe in common core or teacher ratings - should they get better pay and benefits ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's the kind of info that would help the undecided voters - this is open to all candidates !

[skoorbekim]

4248,

Does it even matter?
With the Common Core testing finished, there has been a precipitous drop-off in schoolwork assignments...
My oldest son had to sit through a global warming documentary today.
(Skin cancer is a recent phenomena don't ya know...)

The state controls the public schools,
not the BOE...

PS,
It's Redskins,
not red skins

[gorja]

Page 9 and page 10

http://www.lancasterschools.org/cms/...0for%20web.pdf

[4248]

That's a nice news letter from the school board - I was asking what each "Candidate" has to say !

I guess if we just read the news letter - one could say that's what the incumbents have done - so lets just keep them if you agree with just those items!

Maybe no one cares how the new candidates feel about these issues or how they plan to improve the school system !

Maybe what your saying is: If you want new people just to be contrary to those in place - or if your voting to merely make a blanket protest against taxes - then what else do you need to know ?

If you agree with the budget - Red Skins name change - Capital Improvement Plan - just vote to retain the incumbent board members.

We don't need to know or discuss why new people want to be elected ! They don't seem to be participating so I guess they feel its not necessary to post their views/ideas/agenda !

We can just assume they are anti Superintendent, Pro Red Skin name retention, anti Capital Improvement and they also disapprove of the budget - probably they also believe teachers are over paid and so on - just anti status quo !

[abc123]

What is typical in terms of participation in this or other forums prior to the "Meet the candidates" session?

[Lee Chowaniec]

Page 9 and page 10

http://www.lancasterschools.org/cms/...0for%20web.pdf

Those are “fluff” and innocuous declarations to catch the public eye.

4248 asked why no BOE incumbents have spoken out. This coming Monday evening is Meet the Candidates Night at the High School. All candidates will be fair game for questions and scrutiny.

The incumbents have their record to run on – improved academic achievement significantly while being the most cost efficient out of 97 districts in Western New York. LCSD’S graduate rate has steadily improved to the point where near 99% of the students are receiving Regent diplomas.

But the administration and BOE dared to remove the Redskin name and mascot from their athletic program, and for that they have been disrespected and threatened by an activist group resistant to the name change and where there is now two candidates running for BOE positions with an agenda to bring the name and mascot back.

Mrs. Christopher and Mrs. Depcynski and their supporters are of the mind that as long as the Redskin name was never meant to be offensive it is not today and okay to keep a tradition alive; a tradition that profits no individual in the real world. The following article appeared in the NY Daily News today and features California's process to eliminate the Redskin name from all its public schools.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hi...icle-1.2210726

An article appeared in today’s Washington Post featuring a report by the Organization of American Historians the origin of the Redskin name and why it should have always been considered offensive and especially so in today’s world.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...nge-name-logo/

The Lancaster administration and BOE should be commended for their action on removing the name. Only two other New York school districts maintain the name while tens of others have changed the Redskin name. Instead these people are admonished, publically disrespected and then personally threatened along with their family members.

While the ‘newbies’ BOE challengers spout they want to bring transparency to the BOE, they hide their real agendas – bringing the Redskin name back, getting rid of common core standardized testing, encouraging other parents and students to opt out of the testing despite it having no impact on grades, and eliminating teacher evaluations.

They want to bring respect back to the BOE. Respect gained is respect given. A few of the challenging candidates have spoken condescendingly to board members when the board would follow state required guidelines regarding common core and not follow their subversive requests.

The Lancaster Teachers Association (LTA) has endorsed Wendy Della Neve. Wendy, unlike Christopher and Depcynski, is not a pro Redskin name activist, but is known for her opposition to common core and teacher evaluations.

If residents really want to know what the real agendas of the candidates are and their opinions on BOE management, Monday is the night to ask the candidates.

I would only hope questions like the following are asked of the candidates Monday evening:

• Do you find the Redskin name offensive and/or racist?

• Do you favor keeping the Redskin name?

• If elected, will you act to reinstate the Redskin name?

• If elected, will you serve in such manner to follow state guidelines on common core, teacher evaluations, etc?

• Do you support budget approval? If not, why not when there is no tax increase?

• Do you support the Capital Project proposition? If not why not when there is no tax increase impact?

• Did you petition the teachers union for their endorsement? Did you receive it? If not why do you believe it was denied you?

• 85% of the budget is mandated. In the last two years 90% of the budget spending increase came from staff wage and benefit increases. How do you think you can influence reducing this spending?

• In the past several years, the district has closed a school, cut staff, cut materials to the bone, and spent down the reserves by $30 million over the last three budgets to balance the budget –all while being shortchanged in state aid (GEA) by $23 million in the last five years. As last year, this is a no tax impact budget because the district well met the tax cap limit. This budget provides that there will be no cuts to staff or programs. Do you have a plan in place on how the district could become even more fiscally responsible?

[skoorbekim]

But the administration and BOE dared to remove the Redskin name and mascot from their athletic program... an agenda to bring the name and mascot back.

... their supporters are of the mind that as long as the Redskin name was never meant to be offensive it is not today and okay to keep a tradition alive; a tradition that profits no individual in the real world. The following article appeared in the NY Daily News today and features California's process to eliminate the Redskin name from all its public schools.

An article appeared in today’s Washington Post featuring a report by the Organization of American Historians the origin of the Redskin name and why it should have always been considered offensive and especially so in today’s world.

The Lancaster administration and BOE should be commended for their action on removing the name. Only two other New York school districts maintain the name while tens of others have changed the Redskin name.

...they hide their real agendas – bringing the Redskin name back...

The Lancaster Teachers Association (LTA) has endorsed Wendy Della Neve... is not a pro Redskin name activist...

• Do you find the Redskin name offensive and/or racist?

• Do you favor keeping the Redskin name?

• If elected, will you act to reinstate the Redskin name?

Wow Lee...
Move on, Right?

If the WaPo editorial board, UB, and the California assembly is against it, we should be too.
(Maybe we should ban plastic bags also...)

[abc123]

yes, lee. those are the right questions. the redskins candidates are saying publicly that they support the students and that their campaign isn't about the name change any longer, but then they are going back to their fb group saying otherwise....all the while trying to campaign on a platform of transparency.

[4248]

Also - unlike some - I view the ability to spend $30MILLION from the "Reserves" a testimate to over blown budgets and over taxation ! How else does the school system amass such funds(taxation) -

You can say the State has short changed us $23MILLION - some see it as the State realized Lancaster had such a great "Reserve"(surplus) that with or without the aid the budgets would be funded. Proof being - they were funded by us(tax payers)

Maybe its time to stop inflating budget needs in order to back handily stuff the reserve fund !

Maybe its time to be more honest instead of using the same threats every budget year - teacher cuts - recreation cuts - sports cuts !

Schools that were closed - positions cut were mostly done under the guise of "Reorganization due to enrollment declines" - now some are trying to blame that on "Reduced Aid" - quit lying and spinning the reality.

Every move that's made - every plan submitted - ends with some over blown excuse for more spending - that always ends with , "Its for the kids - shame on you for not wanting our kids to have the best - we deserve more"

But the supporters say - its all free - cut out a few trips to Tim Hortons -

Then they cry - Government should do more for us - Government should tax us less

The mandates are the problem - did the mandates say we need bigger gyms - did the mandates say we need ski trips -

In many ways it seems the only things that relate to equal education is the mandates.


"spent down the reserves by $30 million over the last three budgets to balance the budget –all while being shortchanged in state aid (GEA) by $23 million in the last five years"

[gorja]

Lee, those are GREAT questions to ask the candidates.
From you link, http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hi...icle-1.2210726 , we can see that California gets it. Why can't Lancaster?

[Lancastermom]

With all the recent budget talks - Capitol Improvement talks - Red Skins debate/embarrassment

-

Unless we missed something - School Board Candidates have not joined in any discussions here on Speakwny.

No one I talked to has received mailers or read any main stream media stories on candidates platforms or stands on the issues.

Not much time left before the budget vote or Board Member Elections.

We hear some posters here that seem to speak for candidates or certain groups who support certain candidates - yet no incumbent has spoke up for them selves - WHY ?

Are they hiding out - waiting for the usual mail box blitz one week before the election ? Will they just be standing outside the polling place on voteing day - is that all we get ?

You know - those flyers and glossy mailers that tell us all the ways they support better education - sports and recreation - they love our teachers and are so proud of our young people !

Same old noncommittal - "Look at what we do for the kids" -

This is all I have seen for this candidate - posted by Lanmom for Wendy Della Neve,

"Wendy Della Neve. She is for students, education reform, transparency, is a student advocate, supports teachers in a very hard time in Albany thanks for Governor Cuomo and is not running on any mascot platform but one of being an ear, eye and access of truth to the community. One for responsible budgets, treating the public and taxpayers with the respect"

I then asked/posted:

Could you elaborate on just how "she's for the students"?

What would she "Reform" in our educational system ?

What would she make "Transparent" ?

Past examples of her "advocating" for students ?

How does she "support" teachers - does she help them - believe in common core or teacher ratings - should they get better pay and benefits ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's the kind of info that would help the undecided voters - this is open to all candidates !

Wendy Della Neve's record speaks for itself. If anyone has paid attention in the past the Depew Bee comes out with a full bio as does the Buffalo news. I do not know the release dates. That's what meet the candidates night is for, May 11th, 6pm Lancaster High School Aud. If you did some homework you'd know she isn't bringing the community down or dividing it, stating one thing on channel four but still running a pro mascot facebook page, is contributing $50.00 to a redskins gofundme account. Had planned this all along with others from the start to get a large group of followers to garner votes. She personally told me when she left her seat she hated being on the board, her opinion didn't mater. So explain to me if the pro mascot group is okay with the name change and I have the direct quote from her interview with channel four how someone who sends her one kid to Nardin and will be sending the other there next year, is fixated on her high school mascot, has caused havoc, organized a walk, etc should be back on the board. Said her opinion didn't matter. So now, the pro mascot page's plan is to replant two members from their group every year to get the name back but wait...they're okay with the change because it's in the students hands. Don't fall for this bull.

[Lancastermom]

yes, lee. those are the right questions. the redskins candidates are saying publicly that they support the students and that their campaign isn't about the name change any longer, but then they are going back to their fb group saying otherwise....all the while trying to campaign on a platform of transparency.

You are absolutely right abc123!!! I have gotten screenshots from friends on that page and the one candidate who used to be on the board is giving $50.00 to a gofundme redksins account. Hard questions will be asked the night of meet the candidates. Both women are set on getting this name back or they wouldn't organize rallies and wear and support shirts that say change it back or tell people when they're going to be outside each building selling koozies, shirts etc like the one running who wasn't on the board before and we never heard of until now. She's the one the police escorted off the high school property after yelling at one of the native americans. Escorted off by police. Yes that's exactly who we need on our school board. NOT. New blood yes. The lady listed in the number one spot on the ballot

[Lancastermom]

Those are “fluff” and innocuous declarations to catch the public eye.

4248 asked why no BOE incumbents have spoken out. This coming Monday evening is Meet the Candidates Night at the High School. All candidates will be fair game for questions and scrutiny.

The incumbents have their record to run on – improved academic achievement significantly while being the most cost efficient out of 97 districts in Western New York. LCSD’S graduate rate has steadily improved to the point where near 99% of the students are receiving Regent diplomas.

But the administration and BOE dared to remove the Redskin name and mascot from their athletic program, and for that they have been disrespected and threatened by an activist group resistant to the name change and where there is now two candidates running for BOE positions with an agenda to bring the name and mascot back.

Mrs. Christopher and Mrs. Depcynski and their supporters are of the mind that as long as the Redskin name was never meant to be offensive it is not today and okay to keep a tradition alive; a tradition that profits no individual in the real world. The following article appeared in the NY Daily News today and features California's process to eliminate the Redskin name from all its public schools.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hi...icle-1.2210726

An article appeared in today’s Washington Post featuring a report by the Organization of American Historians the origin of the Redskin name and why it should have always been considered offensive and especially so in today’s world.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...nge-name-logo/

The Lancaster administration and BOE should be commended for their action on removing the name. Only two other New York school districts maintain the name while tens of others have changed the Redskin name. Instead these people are admonished, publically disrespected and then personally threatened along with their family members.

While the ‘newbies’ BOE challengers spout they want to bring transparency to the BOE, they hide their real agendas – bringing the Redskin name back, getting rid of common core standardized testing, encouraging other parents and students to opt out of the testing despite it having no impact on grades, and eliminating teacher evaluations.

They want to bring respect back to the BOE. Respect gained is respect given. A few of the challenging candidates have spoken condescendingly to board members when the board would follow state required guidelines regarding common core and not follow their subversive requests.

The Lancaster Teachers Association (LTA) has endorsed Wendy Della Neve. Wendy, unlike Christopher and Depcynski, is not a pro Redskin name activist, but is known for her opposition to common core and teacher evaluations.

If residents really want to know what the real agendas of the candidates are and their opinions on BOE management, Monday is the night to ask the candidates.

I would only hope questions like the following are asked of the candidates Monday evening:

• Do you find the Redskin name offensive and/or racist?

• Do you favor keeping the Redskin name?

• If elected, will you act to reinstate the Redskin name?

• If elected, will you serve in such manner to follow state guidelines on common core, teacher evaluations, etc?

• Do you support budget approval? If not, why not when there is no tax increase?

• Do you support the Capital Project proposition? If not why not when there is no tax increase impact?

• Did you petition the teachers union for their endorsement? Did you receive it? If not why do you believe it was denied you?

• 85% of the budget is mandated. In the last two years 90% of the budget spending increase came from staff wage and benefit increases. How do you think you can influence reducing this spending?

• In the past several years, the district has closed a school, cut staff, cut materials to the bone, and spent down the reserves by $30 million over the last three budgets to balance the budget –all while being shortchanged in state aid (GEA) by $23 million in the last five years. As last year, this is a no tax impact budget because the district well met the tax cap limit. This budget provides that there will be no cuts to staff or programs. Do you have a plan in place on how the district could become even more fiscally responsible?

All excellent questions Lee. Each board member is bound to follow state guidelines. Mrs. Della Neve, no matter what her feelings are cannot act on her own as you and I both know from attending countless meetings. She can voice her feelings but the state as you and I both know are the ones to make those changes and that's an uphill battle. I am pro budget as are you as long as it is responsible and again this one is. We are not noted and recognized as the most cost efficient spending per pupil school for nothing. However, I am for Mrs. Della Neve, we need new blood and not the two with agendas. Mrs. Della Neve has no hidden agenda and would be happy to talk on Monday night.

[Lancastermom]

With all the recent budget talks - Capitol Improvement talks - Red Skins debate/embarrassment

-

Unless we missed something - School Board Candidates have not joined in any discussions here on Speakwny.

No one I talked to has received mailers or read any main stream media stories on candidates platforms or stands on the issues.

Not much time left before the budget vote or Board Member Elections.

We hear some posters here that seem to speak for candidates or certain groups who support certain candidates - yet no incumbent has spoke up for them selves - WHY ?

Are they hiding out - waiting for the usual mail box blitz one week before the election ? Will they just be standing outside the polling place on voteing day - is that all we get ?

You know - those flyers and glossy mailers that tell us all the ways they support better education - sports and recreation - they love our teachers and are so proud of our young people !

Same old noncommittal - "Look at what we do for the kids" -

This is all I have seen for this candidate - posted by Lanmom for Wendy Della Neve,

"Wendy Della Neve. She is for students, education reform, transparency, is a student advocate, supports teachers in a very hard time in Albany thanks for Governor Cuomo and is not running on any mascot platform but one of being an ear, eye and access of truth to the community. One for responsible budgets, treating the public and taxpayers with the respect"

I then asked/posted:

Could you elaborate on just how "she's for the students"?

What would she "Reform" in our educational system ?

What would she make "Transparent" ?

Past examples of her "advocating" for students ?

How does she "support" teachers - does she help them - believe in common core or teacher ratings - should they get better pay and benefits ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's the kind of info that would help the undecided voters - this is open to all candidates !

and can I ask where did you see me post that please?