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PHIL LOSSIFER
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Chip Rosenthal's coverage of school board meetin' interestin'. There's several points this ol' goat would like t' bring up.
Board stated budget meetins' were publicized in papers. Where? In Trader, Finger Lakes Times or Rochester D&C? Larnt over years school board meetins' ain't publicized very well, more secretive than hidin' a royal flush hand in a poker game. Topics are rarely publicized within a community. Why?! Voter's apathy or ignorance of meetin', granted, may interfere with beer can openin's after supper, or card game at Legion. Frankly, if school board can publicize budget votes, why can't they do equal for ordinary meetin'. Prime fact is school boards, administrators an' teachers feel less public knows, the better. Harsh, yes, reality, y'bet. This ain't local thing, in m' travels never seen listin' fer school board meetin' in events sections. Why!!!? Most school boards are rubber stamps fer school administration policies. Budget monies are fixed expenses, doesn't leave much fer hagglin' over.
Dumbest program t' cut is music. This observation noted in turn of the century art text stated music was a method for teachin' math! Imagine that! Art is another dumb one. Why? Has your school district ever had students art displays, no! Some students' talents boggle the mind. Since mechanical drawin' is an art form it's logical the board should cut out that subject. The most emotional one is SPORTS!! Cut interscholastic sports causes re-votes until restored, or kids go house t' house sellin' candy bars t' raise funds. How many kids play sports in mega schools? Increasin' school size shuts potential athletes. Many schools have cut gym classes, or recess since it requires supervisory personal. Don't tell me money cain't be found fer art an' music courses. There's fat somewhere! If it's wanted bad enough, money'll be found! (Like sports programs)
Will Chip be barred because he had the nerve t' report goin's on? Where's Red Jacket school board meetin' minutes? Leastways Supv. Eddinger publishes Town minutes. Where's Phelps Town or other governmental meetin's? Isn't this people's democratic right? T' know what's goin' on? Chip's article had a lotta meat packed in a short space for those knowin' how school boards operate. They have a tough job, granted, but their attitudes an' demeanor at meetin's leaves voters cold. Been there, seen it, been victimized by it.
On a separate note, but not really is job loss in upstate New York. Most notable increase was downstate, while upstate lost over fifty one thousand jobs since '01. What effect does that have on school budgets? Sen. Clinton's taken care of downstate areas since that's where votes lie. Albany area, also, democratic stronghold, pols keep addin' staff. Not much done where it counts in rural areas as welfare rolls rise. Lots of credit mouthin' off, county pols brag when she comes t' town. Not nuff sed, but vote when the time comes.
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