Smarter CATS in the Greece Central School District (SCATS ©2006-2011)

Is New Greece Thunder Hockey Player Ineligible?

2012-02-16T08:24:00.001-05:00

Anonymous said...

Memo to Babs and Mr. Gianotti, do the right thing and shut this group down before the game. Webster has already been made aware that at least one of your players is ineligable, along with others that should be. Even if the thunder win they're going to have to forfiet. Mutiple members of the boe have knowledge about the situation with this newest Athena student. Time to be leaders.

2/16/2012 5:28 AM

SCATS ~~ After the disturbing behavior and expletive-laced verbiage spewed by teammates this week, who could believe they wouldn't try to cheat, too?

Greece Crime News You Might Have Missed

2012-02-16T08:13:00.002-05:00

Home Depot Employee Chases Thief, Gets Injured - Police say a suspect stole thermostats from the store and tried to get away. But an employee chased after the suspect who was attempting to leave the store and drive away.

Plow Company Takes Money & Disappears - "(He) came up and said do you know anybody from Northshore we're looking for them, I know they lived here and we signed a contract and I'm worried about the snow. I paid to have my driveway plowed and I don't know if they're coming or not," Newhouse said of that conversation. "I'd be looking for them too."

19 Yr. Old Chases Police Through Greece, Webster, City - Greece Police Sgt. Kevin Ewanow said, “A man in a red Corolla claimed he was being followed by numerous cars on 390. We made contact with him on the phone, tried to get him to meet with us, to stop and he appears to have some sort of mental issues, he felt that he was gonna be hurt.”

SCATS ~~ There's NO truth to the rumor that the 19 yr. old chase suspect thought Greece Thunder hockey players were after him following a practice ;)

'Nuff Said ...

2012-02-15T01:25:00.005-05:00

This "Game of Clue" Solution is ...

The Thunder Hockey Team Assault ~
GPD: In the Locker Room
Victim: Grimshaw did it
Teammates: With his fist

To those of you who are trying (but failing) to defend Grimshaw ~~ I just listened to a recording of the Kimberly & Beck show where a note was read from Captain Steve Chatterton of Greece Police who wrote that the INCIDENT HAPPENED IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

Given that aspect of the TRUTH coming out, you've been exposed for being complete cowards by letting a teammate bust this kid into the wall. SHAME ON YOU ALL!

PS ~~ I've lost ANY modicum of respect I ever had for Kimberly after listening to this recording.

"We can tell you that parents were quite hostile to us."

2012-02-14T22:13:00.002-05:00

Watch the video on this link about "this closed meeting" about the Greece Thunder hockey player's attack on a teammate.

Listen to Laurel Heiden's statement on how GCSD is handling this hockey mess by "providing support and guidance to the players, their families and the coaching staff."

SCATS ~~ WHERE THE HELL IS THE ADULT ACCOUNTABILITY?? WHERE WAS THE COACH?? There was not a single mention of this incident at tonight's BOE meeting. You failed us, Babs!!!

Thunder Parents Meeting Athena Principal Now

2012-02-14T17:27:00.003-05:00

"I'm in Greece where the principal of Greece Athena is mtg with "Greece Thunder" parents and players after a locker room fight last week." ~~ Lynette Adams, WHEC-TV (via Twitter)

UPDATE: It was reported that GCSD required that Thunder hockey players bring at least one parent & attend a closed door meeting today with administration, coaches, etc. at Lakeshore Hockey Rink. Following the 45 minute meeting, Lynette Adams reported those attending were hostile towards her as she attempted to cover the story outside the rink.
SCATS ~~ Same ole, same ole from this group! The BOE Exec. Session starts @5:30PM. Will the Greece Thunder hockey incident be discussed?

"Fighting" ... "Bullying" ... "Hazing"

2012-02-13T23:06:00.002-05:00

ALL of these "activities" break district policies.

WHERE were the PAID adult supervisors (coaches,
etc.) for the Greece Thunder hockey team when this crime occurred?

WHAT will be the punishment for their negligence?

WHEN will GCSD administration start meaning what they say about bullying by showing us it's NOT tolerated?

SCATS ~~ Babs, the spotlight is on you now! Any attempt to keep employee responsibility under wraps will come back to bite you (hard and in the behind) at a later time! Don't make that mistake. Show us you can do the right thing!

READ the previous thread and see how many of the team members think this incident is a joke.

LOOK at what was tolerated in the past, like shooting an airgun at an assistant coach!

GET these teams/coaches/parents under control before its too late!

GREECE HOCKEY PLAYER CHARGED!!!

2012-02-13T12:19:00.008-05:00

WARNING: COMMENT CONTENT IS VERY HARSH & CONTAINS EXPLETIVES

Tyler Grimshaw ~ Tweeted last night: "Only benefit of not being allowed at school #nohomework"

Retweeted by him on Feb. 5th: If it weren't for thunder hockey I woulda left Athena so long ago. Fxxx the school and kids there."

13WHAM News reports: "A 17-year-old high school hockey player is accused of assaulting another player.

Greece Police say Tyler Grimshaw is charged with assault.

He's accused of injuring a 14-year-old player during a Greece Thunder hockey practice last Monday.

The victim injured his head."

SCATS ~~ Correction please, Ch. 13: the victim did NOT injure his head!!! The attacker injured it for him!! My sources tell me the victim was subjected to ongoing bullying by team members which resulted in a concussion and hospital visit in this assault. Parents have hired an attorney and plan to pursue this matter fully.

WHAT WILL THE GREECE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DO TO DISCIPLINE THE TEAM, INDIVIDUALS AND COACH WEBB (a two time problem employee) IN LIGHT OF THE FACT WEBB SAYS HE HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR "FIGHTING"? This was clearly an incident that violates the anti-bullying policy of the district!!!

Yes, we know Coach Webb has no idea what GCSD rules, regs & policies say from his previous negligence on the job.

Dear Babs: You're About To Be Tested.

2012-02-13T00:13:00.004-05:00

It was just three years ago that your predecessor, Steve Achramovitch, faced what you are about to encounter - an outrageous incident involving Greece Thunder hockey coach Dan Webb. The former Supt. got Webb & his assistant coach to resign over the incident. That was the beginning of a storm that eventually helped end Steve's tenure in Greece. It was one of just two times that he did what was undeniably the "right thing", only to be made a fool by the Greece school board under Julia VanOrman's "leadership." They reversed both decisions, leaving him powerless. (The other time was when he attempted to eliminate kindergarten from West Ridge School's shrinking population in an effort to get the budget under control. The BOE reversed his decision that time, as well.)

This week, you will likely see the fury of the hockey parents should you try to "do the right thing." Nevermind that GCSD has a newly crafted anti-bullying policy with ink that's barely dry. These folks don't believe the rules apply to them. They think that having a winning team trumps everything else. With most of the same folks on the BOE now as were there three years ago, these bullies are likely to get the same mind-numbing support from the majority of the BOE. Heck, one of the newer BOE members was elected because of her close ties to the sports boosters of Greece, particularly the hockey group.

The point of this letter is to let you know that you MUST stay the course with these adult bullies, Babs. Do the right thing for the student who was victimized. Stand your ground, but be aware you MIGHT have to resign should the BOE decide to undo whatever you see as fitting for the situation. By all means, threaten to resign, but mean it. If you don't, you'll be seen by all as the same sort of powerless puppet of the BOE from that point forward, just like Steve Achramovitch was.

Good luck, you're really going to need it!

PS ~~ As for the students involved, they ought to be suspended from school and should FORFEIT any upcoming tournament games as their "discipline." Anything less sends the wrong message to both the students & their parents.

Greece BOE Meeting Tues @6:30PM

2012-02-12T17:22:00.002-05:00

"It is anticipated that the Board will go into an Exec. Session at 5:30PM to discuss collective bargaining, the employment history of particular person(s) and pending litigation." (I wonder if Coach Webb will be the subject once again, hmmm... shall we ask Julia??)

AGENDA ITEMS of NOTE

School Consolidation Presentation, Timeline (This link has detailed attendance zone maps for Pinebrook, West Ridge & Odyssey)
NY State/GCSD Budget Development Update (Looks like they're pondering using reserve funds & possibly asking voters to approve a larger levy than the tax cap allows.)

A Fascinating Read ...

2012-02-10T21:35:00.002-05:00

The Nick Joseph Parole Hearing Transcript

"You subsequently left the scene of the accident with the aid of another police officer, aparently lied to the Grand Jury and engaged in a coverup with other police, including the chief of police who was also imprisoned, is that an accurate description, sir?" ~~ Commissioner Ferguson

SCATS ~~ I wonder if Chief Todd knows who gave him the ride & if that cop is still working in GPD?

One Fire District Budget for 2012

2012-02-10T10:49:00.002-05:00

SCATS ~~ If you live in the "average" Greece home assessed at $120,000, you're paying approx. $540/year to have the Ridge Rd. Fire District protect your home. If anyone can provide budgets for any of the other three fire districts in Greece, I'll try to post them, too.

THANK YOU TO THE PERSON WHO EMAILED THIS TO MY FACEBOOK FRIEND!

Greece Planning Board Delays Bryant & Stratton OK Again

2012-02-10T10:12:00.000-05:00

The Greece Post reports: "A Stony Creek development proposal that would bring a 33,000-square-foot Bryant and Stratton campus to Greece was postponed by the planning board again Wednesday night.

The board cited traffic concerns along the development's Long Pond Road and English Road exits in its decision.

"The school will be very close to my house, so I am very concerned about my quality of life," said Deborah Janowicz, who lives on Brandon Circle. "I'm here to make sure the school fits into our neighborhood."

Janowicz said she was concerned about student noise and suggested a bus loop on the property to reduce traffic.

The board will take up the proposal again at its next meeting on Feb. 21."

SCATS ~~ I thought the court told the Town of Greece that traffic concerns weren't a valid reason for not approving this project since a big box store could be built at the site without needing ANY approvals ...? Ms. Janowicz's concerns for her personal quality of life are exactly what makes Greece such a "special" place to live in! Self-centered & proud! ;)

Be Careful When You Eat Out In Greece

2012-02-10T09:58:00.002-05:00

The Greece Post reports: "The Greece Police Department on Thursday charged Willis D. Clark of Tremont Street in Rochester with first-degree robbery, fourth-degree grand larceny and second-degree menacing.

Clark allegedly approached an employee in the parking lot behind “Taste of Japan” restaurant, located at 2960 Dewey Ave., at about 2 p.m. Thursday and pointed a handgun at him. Clark then stole property from the person, police said, and fled in a vehicle.

Police located Clark's vehicle at the intersection of Ridge Road West and Dewey Avenue and subsequently charged him.

Clark, who has a previous weapons possession conviction, is currently awaiting arraignment in Greece Town Court, police said. The investigation is continuing and additional charges may be pending, they said."

1 + 2 = TROUBLE?

2012-02-09T12:06:00.006-05:00

1 ~~ Today's news

2 ~~ Yesterday's "news" *

TROUBLE?

SCATS ~~ Draw your own conclusions.

*Some Things Just Don't Go Away ...

Click Image To View Larger

Chief Todd Wants New HQ For Greece Cops

2012-02-08T12:51:00.000-05:00

Will This Become Part Of Auberger's Legacy On Vince Toffany Blvd?

Chief Todd's First Two Years

2012-02-07T17:06:00.002-05:00

"I don't accept mediocrity."

Watch Video

SCATS ~~ Obviously, he wasn't referring to his employer ;)

Will BOE Be Rescued From Making Big Budget Cuts?

2012-02-06T10:36:00.002-05:00

Anonymous said...
Scats, according to reliable sources,the sale of Kirk Rd school is immenant Negotiations have been ongoing for some time now waiting for thr B OE to approve the closing of the school.Look for the announcement soon as the sale will impact the. Budget process 2/06/2012 10:29 AM

SCATS ~~ If this is true, then once again, the BOE might be rescued from having to make significant cuts that are long overdue! The only things more sacred than SOC's in Greece Central are sports & extracurriculars.

Learn About Greece Fire Districts

2012-02-05T17:50:00.000-05:00

Greece Fire District Overview

Organizational, Operational & Financial Structure

Why are there four districts?
How are they governed?
How do they calculate the tax levy?

Questions answered by a representative from the Barnard Fire District at the next meeting of the Dewey Corridor Neighbors

Wednesday, February 8, 7PM

Aldersgate United Methodist Church

4115 Dewey Avenue

Greece Gang Alive & Well

2012-02-04T12:05:00.000-05:00

Despite attempts last fall by Greece Police to break up local gang 'Swag Money', the D&C's Police Reports column shows they're still quite active in Greece. It appears they no longer confine themselves to the Dewey/Stone neighborhoods.

Someone spray-painted “Swag money” on a building on Ridgemont Drive on Jan. 22.

Craig Hill Elementary School, 320 W. Craig Hill Drive, was spray-painted with “Swagg money” on Jan. 20.

2 Fights, 4 Olympia Students Charged & Suspended

2012-02-03T18:03:00.000-05:00

YNNews: "Four Greece Olympia High School students were charged Friday following two separate fights.

Police in Greece say two of the students were charged with disorderly conduct.

Two other students were charged with disorderly conduct and harassment because a teacher was scratched.

Greece Central School District officials say the students have all been suspended.

SCATS ~~ Can't wait until 7th & 8th graders get to be part of this! Babs, could we oust the 20+% of Olympia students who aren't Greece residents, before it's too late??

Where Are The Maps?

2012-02-03T00:39:00.001-05:00

It's been brought to my attention that the maps showing the proposed attendance zones under the school consolidation plan have disappeared from the GCSD website.

WHY???

It's also been mentioned that many West Ridge parents are under the impression that their children will NOT be attending school with the kids from Affinity Lane.

Is Babs caving in?

Will Lawsuits Be Filed Over The Perks Of Choice?

2012-02-02T16:26:00.000-05:00

Several recent comments have brought up the disparities created under the new school consolidation plan.

For instance, if a child attends a school-of-choice his parents can move anywhere in Greece without changing schools. Transportation will still be provided. This is not true for the non-choice schools. If the parents move, their child will have to change schools. At the elementary level, there will be no other option, since school choice/signature schools have been eliminated. At the secondary level, there may not be room to remain in the preferred school.

Will this practice leave us open to lawsuits?

Ex-Greece Cop Denied Parole

2012-02-01T14:07:00.001-05:00

Nick Joseph's next opportunity for parole won't come until 2014.

Merritt Rahn's next parole hearing is in November of this year.

Gary Pignato's next hearing is in March of 2013.

Who Drove Me Home???

SCATS ~~ Who gets out first? Eenie, meenie, miney, moe ... which ex-cop will be let go?

Babs Gets A "Thumbs Up"

2012-01-30T19:05:00.001-05:00

Congratulations Are In Order

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, the Greece Central School Board of Education unanimously approved Superintendent Barbara Dean-Williams’ School Consolidation Plan. Let me say that again, “unanimously” approved the consolidation plan.

This is a landmark decision by the Greece School Board of Education. This is the first time in over a decade the Greece School Board of Education, has been able to put aside their political, petty, irritating and demeaning differences and come together for the good of the students, taxpayers and the Greece Community. This action finally shows a sense of maturity and professionalism on the part of the Greece Board of Education.

Superintendent, Barbara Dean-Williams, with her staff and community members, put together an outstanding school consolidation plan that reduces cost, improves education and attends to long over due needs of Greece Central School District. This conservative yet innovative plan was put together in a little more than six months after the arrival of Superintendent Barbara Dean-Williams. Her ability to think of instruction first, strategically plan, bring community members together and to be able to receive an unanimous vote from the Greece Board of Education, speaks to her outstanding educational characteristics as a school superintendent. In less than seven months, Superintendent Barbara Dean-Williams succeeded when, for over a decade, other school superintendents failed.

Much more work is needed to improve instruction, increase the effectiveness of the school district, raise standardize test scores, and graduation rates but for the first time in over a decade, I am confident that Greece Central School District is finally moving in a positive direction. Congratulations are truly in order for Superintendent Barbara Dean-Williams and the Greece Central School Board of Education.

Sincerely,
Douglas G. Skeet, Former Greece School Principal

SCATS ~~ PLEASE NOTE: Mr. Skeet knows that we're on opposite ends of the spectrum regarding his assessment.

Getting A Handle On Teacher Absenteeism

2012-01-30T01:11:00.001-05:00

Friends who work in the Rochester City School District tell me that this school year, teacher absences are much lower than in years gone by. One significant reason appears to be that under the leadership of Greece's own Bolgen Vargas, teachers MUST provide detailed lesson plans if they are going to be absent from work. Makes sense, right?

Many teachers are no longer calling in ill, since this requirement was reiterated along with a stern warning that complaints from substitute teachers about inadequate lesson plans would be followed up on. The subs are ecstatic to be able to do more than merely babysit!

Hey Babs, how about giving this a try in Greece? It might help us climb out of the basement on academic performance and it shouldn't require any sort of contractual negotiation, since a lesson plan is a basic "must have."

By jove, I think GCSD might have missed the boat in not hiring Dr. Vargas to be our supt!

Oh The Irony~

2012-01-29T15:31:00.000-05:00

How The Greece Teachers' Assn. Defines

"Professional Development"

Anonymous said...

On another note.........was eating lunch at the Mt Read Wegmans today and about 30 teachers from Olympia were there sitting eating lunch. How do I know they were from Olympia????? Well many of them had on the real "professional" black GTA Union tee shirts along with some Olympia pullover hoodies. Just gotta love the professionalism of our teaching staff.

I think it is time for the School Board to insist on a dress code policy for the entire district staff. I have never seen more inappropriate attire as I do when I see school employees. Especially teachers who want to be treated as professionals but dress as though they shopped at the Goodwill store! This has been going on for years. Time to put a stop to this. 1/27/2012 6:36 PM

SCATS ~~ So this is how they dress for & spend time on a "Professional Development Day?"

Over 400,000 Pageviews!!!

2012-01-27T00:04:00.000-05:00

THANK YOU READERS!!

Level 2 Sex Offender

2012-01-25T17:57:00.000-05:00

Relocates To Affinity Ln

Link to Info

Appropriate Changes Shouldn't Be This Hard ...

2012-01-25T00:18:00.000-05:00

"Change is scary!" ~~ Roger Boily, Greece BOE

"Change is difficult." ~~ Babs, Greece Supt.

"Change is hard." Julia VanOrman, Greece BOE Prez.

SCATS ~~ If our "leaders" were convinced that these were the RIGHT changes they're making, I'd expect to hear them saying something like: "Change is exciting ... Change promotes growth ... Change provides opportunity ... " Those messages were mostly lacking, so perhaps it's because these are the WRONG changes, made for the WRONG reasons ... ?

What We Know About Schools-of-Choice ...

2012-01-24T16:27:00.002-05:00

They CO$T us more, but ...
There is NO DATA to support their existence
There is NO stated purpose for having them*
They provide NO BENEFIT to the district

* Other than providing an escape mechanism for a selected few to avoid less desirable schools

SCATS ~~ So, by all means, let's make sure we keep them! (oozing sarcasm)

THE DEED IS DONE.

BOE passes school consolidation plan unanimously.

What Will The BOE Do To Make Ends Meet?

2012-01-22T12:19:00.001-05:00

School Consolidation Special Meeting

BOE Vote On The Plan

Tuesday @6:30PM

"We know what our financial picture looks like ... we can't bury our heads in the sand." ~~ Julia VanOrman, Greece BOE Prez.

Another Question For Babs ...

2012-01-21T00:43:00.000-05:00

Charlie Hubbard said...

I'm still waiting for an answer to my question from several weeks ago - what is the 'purpose' of schools of choice?

The 'purpose' when they were started are no longer. I have no choice but to assume it is all based on touchy/feely. I agree with 3:11 this lady is blowing a perfect opportunity to 'unite' this district and community and she is doing it to make a few self/centered people happy.

VERY disappointed to see the sibling rule and open enrollment continue.

Thanks to this 'half/baked' approch the true 'problem' will continue - yes we seem intent on kicking the can down the road by putting a different shade of lipstick on the pig. 1/20/2012 9:35 PM

SCATS ~~ I'm very curious to hear the answer to this question too ... and what benefit do they bring to the district?  More crickets chirping?

We're In The $$!!

2012-01-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

According to the Town of Greece, the money received from the settlement of the Kodak tax fraud case was distributed as follows:

$292,277.82 to the town of Greece general fund
$12,185.76 to the town of Greece lighting fund
$368,524.40 to Monroe County
$147,840.11 to the Ridge Road Fire District
$1,081,648.91 to the Greece Central School District

(Source)

SCATS ~~ Let's see ... $2.2million from closing schools + $1.1 million from this settlement = $3.3 million. Babs only need to find another $3.7 million to balance the 2012-13 GCSD budget!! Should be a piece of cake, right? ;)

The Greece Town Board On The B&S Case ...

2012-01-18T23:27:00.000-05:00

Auberger, DiRaddo & Tajkowski Talk ...

Neighbors' Reactions

Special PTSA Meeting on School Consolidation

2012-01-18T01:21:00.000-05:00

A special joint PTSA meeting has been called for Wednesday night, January 18, at 7:00 pm, in the Apollo Cafeteria. Interested families from Odyssey, Apollo, and Olympia are invited to attend. At that time principals and other staff will be on hand to answer as many questions as possible about the school consolidation proposals from the January 10, Board of Education meeting.

SCATS ~~ How interesting that I could only find this notice on the Odyssey PTSA website, and not that of the other schools ;)

Auberger Stifles Resident Input ... Again

2012-01-17T21:07:00.002-05:00

Several people sent notes to me about the goings on at tonight's Town Board meeting. It seems that a bunch of very angry residents who oppose the building of the Bryant & Stratton on Long Pond Rd. showed up, so the Town Board dealt with this before the regular meeting began. Auberger passed the buck to DiRaddo & Tajkowski to deal with. DiRaddo told them that an appeal would be futile, because the judge determined that the traffic for B&S would be no worse than traffic generated by other uses that wouldn't require a special permit. (So why did our Town Board ever vote against this project and waste our money on a court case in the first place?)

Once the B&S issue was settled, I'm told Auberger skipped right over the Resident's Forum portion of the meeting and went onto the other business of the board. At the end, and after everyone had left, he asked if anyone wanted to address the Town Board. He was described as wearing his "sh*t eating" grin.

Updates to be posted as I get more info ...

From The School Consolidation Forum ...

2012-01-17T20:03:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Greece School Board President Julia VanOrman for outdoing ALL of her previous performances in the area of exhibiting condescension towards community members at the start of this evening's meeting. Not everyone is as much of an idiot as you seem to think, Julia!

Here are many of the questions, concerns and topics brought forth by those who spoke at tonight's "Parent Input" session:

Several Koda-Vista neighbors expressed concern over changes to their neighborhood with the closing of Odyssey and want reassurance that the building will be kept up, etc.
One Koda-Vista neighbor told us that Roger Boily says, "Bryant & Stratton isn't interested in Odyssey." HOW COULD ROGER KNOW THAT???
One parent lamented that they hope that after the moving around of all these kids that the BOE & Supt. don't tell us a year later, "Oops! that didn't work!" in the same way that they told us that for three years running in attempting to improve academics at Apollo. She cautioned them that, "Your legacy will be that you undermined the top performing schools in the district."
A couple speakers talked about "rumors" that it might cost anywhere from $4-8 million to close Odyssey. No one said otherwise, not the Supt. and not the BOE.
One parent asked a very good question: "How will the BOE tell the public about what they plan to vote on next week?" before next week's board vote. I guess others are starting to catch onto the BOE's lack of public discussion ;)
Other questions included: "What happens to Odyssey staff?" "If Odyssey becomes larger, will they be able to offer more kinds of classes?" "What things that work will be extended from schools-of-choice to other schools across the district?"

A Simple Question Babs Hasn't Answered Yet ...

2012-01-17T12:34:00.002-05:00

Babs, I see you've posted more Q's & A's on the GCSD website. That's great. However, the BIG QUESTION that no one has responded to yet is this one:

According to the GCSD website, Odyssey's 2012-13 Grade 6 class at Apollo will be around 300 students comprised of siblings of current Odyssey students, all students who would have been formerly been assigned to Apollo, and an undetermined number of other students selected via lottery. WILL THESE STUDENTS BE COMPLETELY COMINGLED into several, similar heterogeneous groups (blended) as they attend Math, Science, Humanities & other classes in the new Odyssey @Apollo?

By the way Babs, the answer required is a SIMPLE YES OR NO. Thank you!

Days Of Empty Praise Over In Classrooms?

2012-01-16T12:37:00.006-05:00

Let's Hope So!!

"A growing body of research over three decades shows that easy, unearned praise does not help students but instead interferes with significant learning opportunities. "

“We’ve become so obsessed with making kids feel good about themselves that we’ve lost sight of building the skills they need to actually be good at things.” ~ ~ Michelle Rhee

(Wall St. Journal Article)

SCATS ~~ When teachers motivate students to aspire to do better, achievement gains will result. Giving out meaningless awards teaches entitlement & laziness, IMHO.

Mark Your Calendars ...

2012-01-14T23:57:00.002-05:00

MONDAY JANUARY 16th

Martin Luther King Holiday

TUESDAY JANUARY 17th

GCSD/BOE ~ Community Input Session on School Consolidation; 6:30PM in BOE meeting Room; Apollo 3rd floor (They must think few will attend!)
Town Board Meeting ~ 6PM @Greece Town Hall. ( Agenda does NOT show plans for Town to grant special use permit to Bryant & Stratton as per Gary Tajkowski's statement to the D&C Friday.)

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18th

Public Hearing for Dewey Avenue Mixed Use Zoning District ~ Greece Community & Senior Center Multipurpose Room, 3 Vince Tofany Blvd, 6PM
Greece Planning Board Meeting ~ Community Rooms @ Greece Town Hall; 7PM(Wilmorite expected to present a concept for redevelopment of Bonton's space at the Greece Ridge mall.)

FRIDAY JANUARY 20th

County Executive Maggie Brooks ~ the featured speaker at the meeting of the Northwest AARP Group; 1:30PM; Greece Town Hall

Bryant & Stratton: Coming Via Court Order

2012-01-14T01:51:00.000-05:00

A state Supreme Court Justice has ordered the Town of Greece to grant a special-use permit to Bryant & Stratton College for a new campus center near Long Pond and English roads.

Following outcry from neighbors of the Long Pond site about potential traffic increases, noises and general disruption to the area from a college campus, the Town Board voted unanimously in August to reject the Bryant & Stratton proposal. The college sued in September, seeking to have the decision annulled.

In a decision filed Thursday with the Monroe County Clerk, state Supreme Court Justice William P. Polito Jr. directed the town to issue the special-use permit.

Gary Tajkowski, Greece’s director of development services, said the town board will likely do so during its upcoming meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall, 1 Vince Tofany Blvd.

“The town board is disappointed by the judge’s decision, but they have to abide by a legally binding order,” he said.

The town notified residents living near the proposed campus of the judge’s order by mail sent on Thursday.

Bryant & Stratton’s current Greece campus is a 20,400-square-foot space in Canal Ponds Business Park near the border of Gates and Greece.

The college’s new 33,000-square-foot building is proposed for a site on land behind the existing CVS pharmacy, Rockcastle Florist and Northwest Savings Bank. The property has been zoned for commercial use since 2001, but town law requires a special-use permit for any institute of higher education. (SOURCE)

AGENDA for Greece Town Board Meeting, Tuesday, 6PM

SCATS ~~ Like the song goes, "you can't always get what you want ..." Looks like the neighbors will have to get used to seeing, hearing & smelling the students anyway.

Editorial "Misrepresents" Principal's Efforts

2012-01-13T00:51:00.002-05:00

(From Greece Post - 1/12/12;

Click image to enlarge)

SCATS ~~ Excuse me, Ms. Williams. Although your principal addressed the Greece school board on multiple occasions concerned about the future of her school, pressing them to make changes to the demographics of Odyssey Academy was never on her agenda!

Greece To Get $1.9 Million In Settlement

2012-01-12T23:25:00.001-05:00

Kodak to get $7.8 million, Constance Roeder to get $2 million & Town of Greece to get $1.9 million in settlement of funds seized from tax swindler John Nicolo. (STORY)

SCATS ~~ John Auberger, please use these funds to LOWER OUR TAXES!!

Babs' Extreme Greece School Makeover Plan

2012-01-10T21:55:00.006-05:00

CONSOLIDATE/CLOSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

• Move West Ridge School (K-5) to Parkland. Create an attendance zone around the relocated West Ridge School to include Affinity Orchard Place. Expand student enrollment.

• Create a K-5 school at Brookside to include Parkland students who are not in the new West Ridge attendance boundary. The new Parkland/Brookside School would have enough space to accommodate enrollment fluctuations in future years. “Grandfather” those students already in attendance.

• Move Kirk Road students (3-5) to Paddy Hill (K-2) to create a new Paddy Hill K-5 school. Current student enrollment would enable all current students to attend Paddy Hill. If grade level enrollment shifts occur, adjust boundary assignments.

• Create an attendance zone around Pine Brook. In addition, implement a weighted lottery model to continue to work on meeting the Board goal for demographic balance in Schools of Choice.

• Eliminate elementary signature schools and elementary open enrollment in September 2012 for new students. “Grandfather” those students already in attendance.

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION/CLOSINGS SECONDARY

Move Odyssey Academy 6-12 to Apollo. Create an attendance zone to include the former Apollo attendance zone primarily east of Mt. Read Boulevard and southwest of Stone Road. Implement a two-year transition plan to fully include all feeder pattern 6th graders until September 2014. Enrollment fluctuations, or a need to redistrict for achievement or space in the future, can be accomplished by assigning some students after grade 5 to Athena or Arcadia Middle Schools.

Allow students from Olympia, Arcadia, and Athena entering grade 11 to attend the IB program at Odyssey by application. It is more cost effective to transport students than replicate the program in other schools.

Implement a two-year transition plan at Olympia, creating a 6-12 school at Olympia (grades 7-12 in 2012-13, grades 7-12 in 2013-14, grades 6-12 in 2014-15). Olympia grade 7 and 8 will implement recommendations of New York State Education Department Joint Intervention Team expected March 2012.

REDUCE EXPENSES

Reduce busing from four runs to three runs by combining K-5 transportation and grouping bus runs by neighborhood.

Sell Barnard and Kirk Road. Lease West Ridge and/or use the facility for alternative purposes. West Ridge is connected to the Family Support Center leased until February 23, 2020. Follow the procedures advised by legal counsel regarding how to proceed with the Hoover Drive facility.

Support a process to study schedule options for all secondary schools for implementation in 2013-14. Specifically, study the advantages and disadvantages of current block schedules as related to both staff utilization, efficiency and achievement.

ENSURE SMOOTH TRANSITION PLAN & FOCUS ON IMPROVING ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH EXPANSION & REPLICATION OF EFFECTIVE PRACTICE

Simplify the school choice selection process. Eliminate the current time consuming and resource intensive lottery system. Beginning February 2012, new school choice applications in K and 6 will have waiting lists expire each year in June. Implement a tiered model that ensures student populations at Schools of Choice reflect district demographics and that the lottery is simplified for parents.

Continue to work toward ensuring that the student populations at Schools of Choice reflect district demographics as directed in 2011-12 Board goals and in accordance with December 2011 joint guidance document from the U.S. Department of Justice/Department of Education.

Focus instructional resources on expanding effective practices, implementing Joint Intervention Team recommendations, and implementing AVID program at Olympia to improve student and teaching performance and close achievement gaps.

Appoint a formal Transition Team to develop a detailed public timeline between February 1, 2012 and May 1, 2012 to communicate a smooth transition and opening for children, families and employees in September 2012.

TOTAL EXPECTED YEAR 1 SAVINGS = $2.2 million

(not including building sales)

Northgate Neighbors Meeting Wed. @7PM

2012-01-10T02:38:00.002-05:00

2012 Town/County Tax Bill EXPLAINED

(Line By Line)

Who ~~ Rick Pellegrino (Dir. of Finance) & Leo Carroll (Town Assessor) will explain & answer questions.

Where ~~ Aldersgate Methodist Church - 4115 Dewey Ave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOUND on CRAIGSLIST:

Are You Getting Screwed on Your Property Taxes?
(How to Find Out & How to Fix It!)
Author: Patricia Quintilian, Esq.

A great book on reducing property tax. You will be shocked and appalled at the level of corruption that has permeated a dysfunctional and complicated property tax system. Around $30. Apparently she assisted Golisano in his successful case against the Town of Mendon. I am using this guide to teach the Town of Clarendon, NY an expensive legal lesson.

Start bending over your town appraiser today for fun and refund!!!

See www.propertytaxrights.com for more info.

Odyssey Parent Behavior Questioned

2012-01-08T14:34:00.001-05:00

Anonymous said...

I'm going to wait to see what the supers recommendations are come Tuesday before I make a opinion. I heard some odyssey parents griping at wegmans today it sounded like they were told by their administration what the recommendations were most likely going to be. From their complaining i did not get the impression that it was going to be two different schools at all, they were complaining about how big the population was now going to be and how they needed to storm the board with survey comments and recruit people to come to the public meeting and demand that odyssey be unchanged, one of the woman pointed out that it had always worked in the past andvwith gayles support they were sure it would be put off for at least another year. I am sure they were pointing the finger at me as I walked past them in my Arcadia sports sweatshirt with my son. They probally were thinking there goes one of those undesirable kids we are trying to shelter our kids from cohabitating with now. I really hope others respond to the survey and show up and not only these kinds of parents that are going to put on a show for thevboard because their sort of bullying tactics have worked before, and in hope the board doesn't fall for it again. It is sad watching adults plan and ploy openly in public for others to see, I am pretty sure many of the kids working at wegmans are students of Greece and attend schools other than odyssey, imagine how they feel listening to this. They certainly were not role models, if that is how odyssey families behave I can positively say I am glad my kids didn't make the cut, I am happy they are attending their neighborhood schools, I now truly believe they will be better off in the future for it. They will not grow up believing they are a superior group, as it seems this is what their parents are teaching them by their behavior. I hope the kids do not get to see that you get what you want by acting this way, shame on the board if they let them.    1/07/2012 11:32 PM

Come Question Maggie

2012-01-07T09:36:00.003-05:00

(Image from YNN)

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks will address the Northwest AARP group as their guest speaker on Jan. 20th at 1:30PM in Greece Town Hall. Following her discussion of current issues, questions will be taken from the audience. This program is open to the public.

BOE Meeting Tuesday, 6:30PM

2012-01-06T13:27:00.001-05:00

It's anticipated that the BOE will go into an Exec. Session at 5:30PM to discuss collective bargaining, the employment history of particular person(s) & pending litigation.

AGENDA ITEMS of NOTE

Differentiate Accountability Quality Review Process/JIT Process Update
2012 - 2013 Budget Process Update
Supt's Recommendations to BOE - Consolidation of Schools
AGCEP Contract Approval

SCATS ~~ Will Babs admit that the "new Odyssey" will actually be the same old Odyssey group plus a separate school for the poor who will be kept separate during most classes? Mincing words about school schedules doesn't seem very honest.

Gov. Cuomo On Education

2012-01-05T02:05:00.001-05:00

"The future of our state depends on our public schools. A strong, effective school system is the hallmark of a healthy democracy. We must make our schools accountable for the results they achieve and the dollars they spend. I learned my most important lesson in my first year as Governor in the area of public education. I learned that everyone in public education has his or her own lobbyist. Superintendents have lobbyists. Principals have lobbyists. Teachers have lobbyists. School boards have lobbyists. Maintenance personnel have lobbyists. Bus drivers have lobbyists. The only group without a lobbyist? The students. Well, I learned my lesson. This year, I will take a second job -- consider me the lobbyist for the students. I will wage a campaign to put students first, and to remind us that the purpose of public education is to help children grow, not to grow the public education bureaucracy. Today, we are driven by the business of public education more than the achievement in public education. Maybe that's why we spend more money than any other state but are 38th in graduation rates. We have to change the paradigm. We need major reform in two areas: Teacher accountability and student achievement. We need a meaningful teacher evaluation system. The legislation enacted in 2010 to qualify for Race to the Top didn't work. Management efficiency. We must make our schools accountable for the results they achieve and the dollars they spend."

SPEECH TEXT

Kodak Prepares To File For Chapter 11

2012-01-04T14:44:00.001-05:00

STORY

Maggie, Please Pick John For Airport Director

2012-01-03T21:30:00.000-05:00

We Already Know What His Vices Are!

Cigars & Strip Clubs

Drinking While Driving (alleged)

Sex, Fibs & Memory Loss

How Much Did YOUR Tax Bill Go Up?

2012-01-03T17:44:00.006-05:00

Much ado was made by politicians last year (an election year) over keeping our property taxes flat. Both John & Maggie promised to hold the line. On top of that, a new 2% property tax cap has been put into place for NY State. Given these things ...

Why did my county/town tax bill rise yet again?
Why is it that all local fire districts didn't have to adhere to the 2% cap* when the town, county & school districts all did?

The person who wrote the comment below makes a good point even though it wasn't just the North Greece Fire District that sent that help to other areas.

Anonymous said...
I keep trying to forget, but I just got my County tax bill and read it.

The Union Firemen sure seem to be doing well. When will NGFD collect for all that OUT OF DISTRICT pumping they did?
1/03/2012 4:14 PM

* "Chapter 97 of the Laws of 2011 (Part A-Property Tax Cap) establishes a tax levy limit (hereafter referred to as the “property tax cap”) that affects all local governments, most school districts in New York State, except New York City, and a host of other independent taxing entities such as library, fire and water districts."

2011, Buh-Bye

2012-01-03T00:09:00.002-05:00

VanOrman Doesn't Understand Her Duties

2011-12-30T15:29:00.001-05:00

Regarding the upcoming potential changes to the structure of some Greece Central School District Schools, Greece school board President Julia VanOrman told the Greece Post: "We have to make sure we have their (the community's) support and engagement."

SCATS ~~ Getting support from & engaging the community is NOT your job! Your job is to ensure that ALL Greece Central students receive the best and most equitable education possible at a cost that's reasonable to the taxpayer's who must foot the bill.

True Transportation Cost To Retain SOC's Is Much Higher

2011-12-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

Charlie Hubbard said...

After reading some of the committee reports (worthless as they are) and attending Tuesday nights meeting it was obvious that the preservation of schools of choice is first and foremost on the minds of those in charge.

When I asked 'what is the purpose of schools of choice' it took a while but finaly got one answer which was 'to give parents a choice'.

Schools of choice come with a cost - a big cost - for because of schools of choice we also have 'open enrollment'.

Because of schools of choice we also have 'signature schools'.

Because of schools of choice we transport kids to a school or baby sitter that fits your needs.

The cost of transpotation to provide these services is enormous. The educational benefit (for all) I have never heard. When anyone offers a dollar figure for the transpotation costs associated with schools of choice make sure that figure includes all the extra costs of transportation for all the regular ed kids outside thier home school area.

Also don't let anyone try to make these figures 'look better' by including state aid for 2 reasons #1 there is no guarantee the state will always be reimbursing at the same rate especially after the state is made aware of the extra money we are spending for touchy/feely choice.

#2 the last I knew state aid was paid for by state residents. It is NOT free.

As I said Tuesday night the resident who spoke about having 4busses line up on his street every morning to take kids to 4 different high schools did not believe his tax dollars were being spent wisely. So far that taxpayer has been disrespected and ignored along with so many others.

chubbard005@rochester.rr.com 12/23/2011 12:40 PM

My Same Exact Sentiment ... For This Week!

2011-12-28T13:34:00.002-05:00

Man Shot 3 Times At Greece Hotel

2011-12-27T23:56:00.000-05:00

The D&C reports: A man was shot inside a Greece hotel tonight, police said.

According to Greece Police Capt. Steve Chatterton, the man was shot two or three times in the leg and lower extremities about 8 p.m. at the Extended Stay America hotel, 600 Center Place Road, off Buckman Road.

Chatterton said the man is from the Rochester area and was not a hotel guest. He did not identify the victim.

While police aren’t sure of the motive, they do believe the victim was targeted, he said.

A female companion was with the victim at the time of the shooting, Chatterton said, and she fled the scene. Greece police are asking this witness to come forward and help the investigation.

The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment; his medical condition was not immediately known.

No suspect has been taken into custody; police continue to investigate.

SCATS ~~ Do police tell us that the victim was "targeted" to try to give us a false sense of security about living in an increasingly crime-ridden town?

Breaking News ...

2011-12-24T16:12:00.002-05:00

Anonymous said...

BREAKING NEWS...But certainly not surprising. My sources in Geneva tell me that Carol Pallas did not get the Superintendent position. How come the "leaders" from the 8th largest district in NY can never get hired any other place?

Merry Christmas SCATS!!! 12/24/2011 4:10 PM

Imagine If Mary & Joseph Had Facebook

2011-12-24T01:26:00.001-05:00

VIDEO LINK

'Tis the Season ...

2011-12-23T16:21:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Babs!

2011-12-22T11:31:00.020-05:00

You've Topped Achramovitch At BS'ing Us!

Tuesday night's meeting was rife with examples!

Here's a few that stand out:

Example #1 ~ "The power of the "and" ..."

SCATS ~~ We already have all different kinds of school configurations ~ K-2/3-5, K-5, pre-k -2/3-5, 6-8/9-12, 6-12 ... WE NEED YOU TO CONSOLIDATE!

Example #2 ~~ Will the proposed Odyssey move to Apollo create a combined school or two different schools?
Odyssey will reflect district demographics in fall 2012. It will become one Odyssey 6-12 school. The Administrative Task Force (Secondary Sub Committee) studied two parallel “House” schedules to continue the small school schedule with a larger group of students. This would enable the smaller learning community model to continue. It is anticipated that all middle and high school schedules will be reviewed for the 2013-14 school year as the district prepares to implement Common Core Standards in a fiscally constrained environment. It is anticipated that the incoming 6th grade class at

SCATS ~~ This question begs for a simple answer, but your response attempts to say two different things at the same time! First you say "it will become one Odyssey 6-12 school." Then you say the plan "would enable the smaller learning community model to continue." This is simply NOT possible unless you intend to keep two separate (i.e. "parallel") schools running!

Example #3 ~~ If Odyssey were to move to Apollo, would current Odyssey students be separate from neighborhood students?

Concepts such as Schools within Schools, Smaller Learning Communities, middle school teams, and parallel schedules are all designed to assign students and teachers to groups so relationships can be built and high achievement can occur. There is a perception that Schools within Schools would have Odyssey students scheduled separately from neighborhood students. That is not the case.

SCATS ~~ This is a "yes" or "no" question, but again you've mired us down with rhetoric in an attempt to play to and appease everyone ... which just isn't possible. Worse yet, the parents are going to be REALLY, REALLY angry at you when they find out how badly you've duped them! The "truth" is that while the students might all have the "same schedule" they will NOT all have the same Odyssey experience that is up and running today ;)

Example #4 ~~ "What is the purpose of a school of choice?"
"One purpose is that they've been successful." ~~ Sue Meier

SCATS ~~ For someone with a doctorate degree, you seem to have a hard time understanding simple English. Their "success" is NOT a purpose. And Babs should have stepped up and given a direct response to the question. Everyone knows that schools-of-choice have outlived their intended purpose. Currently, their purpose is to provide an escape hatch for parents who don't want their kids rubbing elbows with the kids who attend Olympia HS and Apollo MS. Their "purpose" is to segregate!

Example #5 ~~ Will Pine Brook and West Ridge continue as Schools of Choice?
It is recommended at this time that Schools of Choice would continue and the selection process adjusted to ensure the schools represent socio-economic demographics to the extent possible. The current proposal is to adjust the lottery system, ensure assignment through attendance zones around schools of choice, and to ensure that incoming kindergarten classes and future classes reflect district demographics.

SCATS ~~ If you actually do all that this response implies, then our K-5 schools-of-choice as we currently know them, will be gone within a few years! You are just grand-fathering in the squeeky wheel people for thes hort term and they will have to hope their kids make it through before the folks at Longridge realize what's going on ;)

Example #6 ~~ "What will happen to open enrollment?"

SCATS ~~ There was no response to this that made any sense at all. Clearly, there is no plan to end it!

Miss Tuesday's School Consolidation Forum ?

2011-12-21T16:36:00.008-05:00

Fill Out This Questionaire

Email It To :

barbara.deane-williams@greece.k12.ny.us

(Click on image to enlarge)

SCATS ~~ I recommend answering Question 1 ~ Yes; Question 2 ~ No; Question 3 ~ Yes.

2 Greece Teachers Obtain National Certification

2011-12-21T04:30:00.002-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS

Nancy Kehoe

Delaina Grasso-Infantino

"A good teacher is the single most important ingredient in student success.” ~~NY Education Commissioner John King

Story

SCATS ~~ King is 100% correct. GCSD can stop blaming the parents, the kids and the free lunches now. It's frequently the poor teaching that pushed Greece's test scores down into the basement.

Despite Committees, Consultants & Studies ...

2011-12-19T00:18:00.005-05:00

It's been 21 years since the creation of schools-of-choice.

The original purpose for having them resolved itself when enrollment plummeted from about 15,000 students to a current figure that hovers around 12,000.

NOT ONE IOTA OF DATA EXISTS

TO SUPPORT RETAINING CHOICE IN GCSD

They fail to reflect district demographics
They cost more to operate
They have divided the community
They provide NO benefit to the Greece Central School District

Committee Reports On School Consolidation

2011-12-17T01:13:00.008-05:00

Administrative Task Force Report

School Attendance Advisory Committee II Report

Finance Committee Report: An Examination of School Closings

Transportation Route & Attendance Boundary Study

Cabinet Analysis

SCATS ~~ If anyone finds evidence within these reports to support retaining SOC's, please show us what report & page # provides the data showing that schools-of-choice are:

fiscally prudent and cost-effective;
beneficial to the district, not just to lottery winners;
demographically defensible;
an efficient use of space;
an efficient use of transportation & other services;
serving a defined need that exists today!

I'm betting that NO SUCH DATA EXISTS ;)

Schools-of-Choice: A "Given"

2011-12-17T00:35:00.002-05:00

SCATS,
Everybody please take a deep breath and let’s calm down and review what happened at Tuesday’s BOE meeting. I know ahead of time this is not going to be a popular posting but hopefully I can help to bring a little understanding to the current Greece Central’s School Consolidation Report.

I was at the meeting and listened to each of the five reports. I was happy in that there were school closings to more closely match building capacity to current student enrollment numbers. It was a mystery to me why I did not hear anything about SOC other than moving them to another location? Strange?

In talking with some individuals they said look at the BOE Goals for the 2011-2012 school year. So I did and then I read the Board Briefs on the District’s web site. Here is what I found:

Greece Board Goals for 2011-2012
1. Establish a strong governance team with the Superintendent, Cabinet, and District.

2. Take steps to understand the issues and options to:
-Streamlining school and transportation operations to reduce costs.
-Impact of closing a school building(s) by consolidating students/grade levels or programs.
-Study methods to align schools of choice with district demographics.

3. Initiate and support the development of a 5 year strategic plan to become high achieving and fiscally stable and cost effective.

4. Build effective and transparent communication strategies to establish common support for goals and strategic initiatives.

District Goal #3
3. Ensure economical and effective business and support operations with an emphasis on quality, service, and efficient use of limited resources.
-Evaluate efficiency of current transportation system/practice
-Evaluate use of district/school space and consolidate schools and buildings
-Implement long-range fiscal/facilities plan (Capital Project)
-Continue to evaluate programs using benchmarks for cost efficiency and quality performances.

I have been most critical of Greece Central for NOT having BOE Goals and District Goals. This year they have them! BOE Goal #2 and District Goal #3 is the charge to the school district’s superintendent. She is legally responsible to carry out and or implement the BOE Goals for the 2011-12 school year.

Supt. Barbara Deane-Williams was NEVER given a charge, by the Greece BOE, to evaluate/analyze open or close any SOC schools in Greece Central. She can not go off. on her own, and do what she wants to do. Goals, once approved by the BOE, become her charge and responsibility to do BOE Goal #2 and District Goal #3 as it is written.

I personally do not know where I stand on SOC schools. I tend to think they have out lived the original purpose. There has to be equal education and equal educational opportunities for all students enrolled in Greece Central. Currently this is not the situation in Greece.

My only point is that it is not the Superintendent’s fault for not evaluating the SOC schools. There was no direction or directive to her to evaluate them. This is just a fact not an opinion.

Sincerely,
Doug Skeet

SCATS ~~ Doug, thank you for refreshing my memory about the content of the goals! BOE Goal #2 makes retaining schools-of-choice a given from the gitgo. I can see your point about the charge to the Supt. However, District Goal #3 has not been tended to related to SOCs. I still want to see & hear about the DATA, the STUDY, the DISCUSSION by the BOE and whatever other "evidence" they used to decide that schools-of-choice are:

fiscally prudent and cost-effective;
beneficial to the district, not just to lottery winners;
demographically defensible;
an efficient use of space;
an efficient use of transportation & other services;
serving a defined need that exists today!

They've given us NO REASON TO RETAIN THEM! After all, our BOE is pleading poverty going into the budget season and everyone knows that SOCs cost more!

Whatever Happened To The "KISS" Principle*?

2011-12-15T01:00:00.008-05:00

School Consolidation/Options (Caution! Reading through this is likely to make your brain hurt, your eyes bulge & your blood pressure rise!)

School Consolidation FAQ's

Survey Seeking Your Input On The Plans

SCATS' Alternative

Close Odyssey & send them back to their home schools (most are from Apollo/Olympia) where space is already available to accommodate them. Let Odyssey's bldg. revert back to the folks who own the land.
Close West Ridge & send these kids to Brookside creating a K-5 school. Move Brookside kids to Parkland creating another K-5 school. This plan provides proximity to Affinity for PL/BS students to continue GCSD's ongoing efforts to engage those parents.
Close Paddy Hill & send these kids to Kirk Rd. creating another K-5 school.
Retain whichever building (Barnard, West Ridge, or Paddy Hill) is least costly to maintain for potential future needs. Sell the others. Sell the $100,000 piano in storage at A-PAC that no one is permitted to touch & use that temperature/humidity controlled space to house the records now stored at Barnard.
End signature schools, schools of choice and secondary options. Redraw boundaries as needed attempting to retain "traditional" boundary lines to the extent possible. Provide "walk zones" around each bldg. Reduce school staffing to align with need for fewer teachers, administrators, etc.
Oust the kids from GCSD who are non-residents!! According to Doug Skeet, this may be as much as 600 students!! We may even be able to close ANOTHER school (secondary) down the road by getting this outrage under control. We could use that space for an ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, in the future.
Redo transportation for babysitters to some model that makes sense, reduces costs & waste. Redo bus schedules so that K-5 students are bused together. Consolidate bus runs/school schedules where able.
This simple plan moves fewer kids, makes a good dent in moving back to a K-5 structure (PL, BS, KR & PB will all be K-5), reduces transportation costs, reduces administration/teaching & other staffing costs, ensures the trouble-makers who don't belong here aren't disrupting student learning for those that DO belong here and retains the secondary school model for all but those currently at Odyssey.
Make future adjustments as able to return more schools to a K-5 structure.
Look at the future possibility of creating an Alternative School for secondary students who need additional support, possibly using the elementary school we close, but retain in the near term.

* The KISS Principle ... Keep It Simple Stupid

"I Could've Wrapped Your Package"

2011-12-13T21:46:00.000-05:00

Julia VanOrman said to Joe Quirk ...

Quote of the Meeting ...

GCSD's 2012-13 Budget Starts With $7 Million Deficit

2011-12-13T10:58:00.001-05:00

Coupled with a 2% tax cap, a loss of federal aid & "flat" state aid, the time is NOW to DOWNSIZE the number of buildings, buses and employees to match enrollment levels.

Creating new schools within schools is NOT the answer!

Ousting non-residents is an absolute MUST!

BOE Meeting Tuesday @6:30PM

2011-12-11T16:21:00.002-05:00

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

The Administrative Advisory Task Force, Attendance Committee II, and Finance Committee will each present recommendations to the Greece Board of Education on December 13. The three groups have reviewed data related to school capacity, facility conditions, and enrollment trends. The Administrative Advisory Task Force also reviewed student achievement data, the direction of New York State’s Common Core Curriculum and Assessments and individual school schedules to ensure a focus on improved student achievement. Each group will make presentations to the Board on December 13.

Also on December 13, a Transportation Efficiency Analysis including projected savings will be presented. A financial and staffing analysis will round out the evening’s presentations.

Options Include ...

1 ~ Close Hoover Dr & move Odyssey to Apollo. Create another small 6-12 grade school on site and add a small middle school program to Olympia HS.

2 ~ Close West Ridge School and redistribute its students back to their home schools.

3 ~ Close West Ridge School and move it to Parkland. Relocate Parkland students to Brookside School, thereby creating another K-5 building.

4 ~ Close Kirk Rd. and move its students to Parkland. Relocate Parkland students to Brookside School, thereby creating another K-5 building.

SCATS ~~ Where is the "option" of eliminating schools-of-choice? Where is the "option" of eliminating open enrollment? Where is the "option" of holding the lotteries in an open meeting? It appears that GCSD has no intention of bringing relief to taxpayers by closing schools & eliminating redundant staffing in the form of building principals, vice principals, teaching staff, librarians, counselors & others. Instead, they plan to create MORE schools!

ONLY IN GREECE COULD CLOSING SCHOOLS RESULT IN RETENTION OF THE STATUS QUO!!

Dec. 13th: Vote Out the Incumbents Day

2011-12-10T15:37:00.003-05:00

FIRE DISTRICT ELECTIONS

Dec. 13th.

Don't forget to vote (You must be registered with the Monroe County Board of Elections)

Ridge Road Fire District @1299 Long Pond Rd from 6 to 9PM (Why such short hours??)

Lake Shore Fire District @1 Long Pond Rd from 2 to 9PM

North Greece Fire District @1766 Latta Rd from 2 to 9PM

Barnard Fire District @3084 Dewey Ave. from 2 to 9PM

CONTROL YOUR TAXES!!

GET SOME NEW BLOOD INTO THESE POSITIONS

Let's Call It What It Is ... It's A Gang

2011-12-09T15:45:00.002-05:00

Greece Post Headline of Note:

Greece Police Dept. Crack down on criminal activity (pg. 1)

The article describes how a recent GPD investigation led to the arrest of a group of mostly juveniles who committed a series of car larcenies & home break-ins in the Dewey/Stone area dating back to summertime.

Lt. Jason Helfer ~~ "The stuff that we attributed to them, we're not seeing any more. Calls for fights that involved this group of people to crimes that fit their MO has dropped off immensely ... the department took the criminal activity very seriously, and wanted to curb it as swiftly as possible, as the group was trying to establish a criminal enterprise."

SCATS ~~ I Say "Gang" ... Greece Police Say "A Criminal Enterprise"... Why are we sugar-coating this problem when the issue has already become an ongoing problem inside Greece's high schools?

Greece Soccer Coach Charged

2011-12-09T01:11:00.000-05:00

WHEC-TV reports: State Police have charged a Hilton man with larceny and scheme to defraud after they say he stole money from the parents of players on a travel soccer team he coached...

According to State Police, 46-year-old Dennis Schuler was the coach of a girls' travel soccer team based out of Greece from August 2010 until April 2011. Police say that during that time, Schuler collected over $3,000 from parents of the team members to pay for soccer-related activities and services under false pretenses.

Police say Schuler, who is a former employee of the Athletic Republic on Lyell Avenue, used that facility for team and individual training and did not reimburse the company for the time used.

Schuler is charged with grand larceny and scheme to defraud, both felonies, for the Greece incidents. He's charged with petit larceny and falsifying business records, a felony, in the City of Rochester.

Schuler will reappear in Greece Town Court on December 13th, and in City court on December 15th.

Car Larceny Suspects Caught In the Act

2011-12-07T15:47:00.002-05:00

WHEC-TV reports: Three Rochester men have been arrested for going through vehicles in the town of Greece.

Greece Police were called to the area of Stone Road and McCall Road around 10:22 p.m. on Sunday for three suspicious men possibly going through vehicles. Police arrested 25-year-old Bocar Seck and 17-year-old Mamadou Bah. Both are charged with criminal possession of stolen property. They were arraigned and are currently being held in the Monroe County Jail.

Police say the third suspect, 19-year-old Frederick Walker, was later arrested following a short chase. He's being charged with criminal possession of stolen property, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. Police say Walker was on parole for robbery until November 29, 2011. Walker was arraigned and is currently in the Monroe County Jail.

An investigation found that all of the suspects had entered numerous cars throughout the area and were in possession of several stolen GPS units that were taken from unlocked vehicles.

SCATS ~~ Thank you to the alert neighbors who cared enough to call 911! Good job to GPD, too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHEC-TV also reports: A 23-year-old Rochester man is under arrest after police say he stole Red Bull and soda from Wegmans and resisted arrest.

Greece Police have charged Adalberto Alers Jr. with petit larceny, resisting arrest and false impersonation.

Police say Alers tried to leave the Mt. Read Boulevard Wegmans on December 5 with more than $200 worth of Red Bull and soda. When he was stopped by store security with police present, officers say Alers resisted arrest and repeatedly tried to reach into his picket during the struggle. Police say they recovered a razor blade from Alders’ pocket.

Investigators say Alers gave them a false name and date of birth and his identity could not be confirmed initially. Police were eventually able to learn Alders’ identity and found out that Alders had five outstanding warrants from other police agencies.

Alers was remanded to the Monroe County Jail and is awaiting several court dates for the outstanding charges in numerous jurisdictions.

QUESTION: How is it that GPD took this thief into custody when he resisted arrest while he REPEATEDLY attempted to go for a razor blade in his pocket ... AND they did it without the use of pepper spray, a taser or gunfire? If he had been a dog, he'd be dead!

An Excellent Suggestion!!

2011-12-07T10:31:00.000-05:00

School boards approve most significant mandate

Once again, Jody Siegel of the Monroe County School Boards Association laments the lack of mandate relief from Albany (Nov. 27 essay).

Reminder: The most significant spending mandates school district residents support result from the employee contracts (wages and benefits), which are approved by school boards. Spending is the real issue; taxes are a result, not a cause.

I would like Siegel and her school boards to agree on and publish a list of the mandates they want the public to lobby to have eliminated. The key word is "eliminated." Mandates they want us to pay for with a different tax should not be on this list.

I look forward to real progress on mandate issues. I hope school boards will publicly recognize the cost of mandates they impose on taxpayers is as important as mandates imposed by Albany.

—TOM KACKMEISTER (Editorial)

Just In Time For Christmas ...

2011-12-07T01:28:00.000-05:00

For The Guy Who Already Has Everything?

Arthur Shawcross' Car For Sale

SCATS ~~ Can you say "creepy"?

Polls Reportedly "DEAD" Today

2011-12-06T20:01:00.004-05:00

How Low Will Turnout Go??

Under 3,000??

Polls are closed & the tally is: 1538 Yes

924 No

SCATS ~~ Under 2500 turned out to the polls! Apathy has reached a new low.

GCSD Loves To Punish "Complainers"

2011-12-06T13:15:00.003-05:00

Attention ALL Craig Hill Parents!!

From a parent ...

So yesterday I find out bus 734 from CH Elem. is forcing kids to sit with the opposite sex on the ride home. This is grades 3-5. All so the bus is quiet. Is this called for? I called the bus garage and was told they are doing this for the reason of keeping the bus quiet. Just wait until something happens on the bus when a 3rd grade girl is stuck in a seat with a 5th grade boy. And if you challenge it they stick your kid inthe front seat by themselves. Like they are in trouble..... REALLY??? Wish I had a school list for all the kids to let the parents all know about this!!!

SCATS ~~ Don't district employees realize this is a form of bullying also?

UPDATE 12/8/11 ~~ Situation resolved! Parent notified that driver & attendant have been reprimanded.

Round-Up the Voters, Get 'Em To The Polls ...

2011-12-05T23:19:00.001-05:00

VOTE TODAY ~~ 6AM - 9PM

@Elementary Schools

Remember This When You Vote Tuesday On GCSD's EXCEL II Bond

2011-12-02T20:22:00.001-05:00

TWO OUTHOUSES ... ONE PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS!

10 Reasons To Vote "NO" On EXCEL II

2011-12-01T20:05:00.001-05:00

Holding a second vote this year wastes money.
Waiting until December when seniors are away is a scam that reflects poorly on GCSD's motives for doing so.
They haven't figured out which schools to close yet!
They don't know exactly how they will use our money, because if they close a school, they'll reallocate its repair funds elsewhere without needing our approval.
Capital repairs should be part of the annual budget !
Financing door hardware & other small items over time makes no sense fiscally!!
Our BOE is not worthy of our trust, and has proved that once again.
GCSD's dishonesty over what this funds, since some sports related improvements are included.
It makes no sense to build new structures (like dugouts) when we haven't been financing repairs to existing structures!
Once they get our approval, they can spend it on anything they want ~ even turfed fields!

Dug Outs & Tennis Courts ~ Infrastructure Priorities?

2011-11-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

"As the infrastructure ages, there becomes a point where you can't fix things, you have to replace them ... Our goal is to provide safe, clean schools for the children to attend." ~~ Lou Bianchi, district architect & engineer.

"I ask the voters to carefully consider the needs of the district and the economics of this particular proposal." ~~ Scott Hoot, GCSD Superintendent of Finance.

SOURCE

SCATS ~~ It sounds like Don Nadolinski's replacement is Lou Bianchi. He's towing the same old district line of the past ...

Things We Can't Afford To Do ...

2011-11-28T17:27:00.001-05:00

From The EXCEL II Projects List:

Apollo MS

Add ventilation & cooling to library computer lab
Asbestos abatement (AGAIN!?)

Arcadia HS

Build dugout (We can't afford to maintain current structures, why build more?)
"Improve air quality in pool area"
"Install dust collection system in wood shop"
Reconfigure traffic pattern (While I agree it needs doing, it can wait.)

Arcadia MS

"Install dust collection system in wood shop" (Isn't this redundant?)
"Enhance exterior lighting"

Athena HS

Relocate/replace tennis courts (Another "want" vs. a need)
Upgrade seat lighting in auditorium
Install dust collection system in wood shops
Build dugout for softball

Athena MS

Install dust collection system in wood shop

Odyssey MS/HS *

Install fire-rated doors & hardware
Repair co-generation equipment
Add dehumidifier to gym area
Make main entrance handicap accessible
Reconfigure north exterior stairs for code compliance
Replace classroom/corridor walls for code compliance
Install water temperature controls

Olympia HS

Build a dugout for softball

West Ridge Elementary *

Replace pavement
Partial sidewalk replacement
Reconfigure sewer lines
Replace outdated air conditioning equipment
Install fire-rated doors & hardware
Upgrade classroom sink/cabinetry
Replace some ventilation & exhaust equipment
Provide covered walkway to exterior freezer
Replace kitchen ceiling for code compliance
Partial flooring replacement
Replace plumbing fixtures
Expand exit & emergency lighting
Install water temperature controls

* School Should Be CLOSED!!!

SCATS ~~ In these economic times, we should NOT be funding athletic facility construction or improvements when we can't fund routine building repairs!

GCSD Emulates Walmart ...

2011-11-26T14:29:00.003-05:00

... Watch For

"Falling" Prices

"Needed" Capital Projects Cost Timeline
(SOMETHING STINKS!!)

Jan. 25, 2011 ~~ Special Meeting: BOE ALL present; Supt. O'Rourke; Deputy Supt. Nadolinski; Asst. Supt. Alaimo ~~ Capital Project Planning; Need for Athletic Facilities Master Plan;

TOTAL Capital Project Pricetag with Athletic Upgrades: $169 million

Mar. 22, 2011 ~~ Special Meeting/Budget Hearing: BOE ALL present; Deputy Supt. Nadolinski; Asst. Supt. Lou Alaimo ~~ $170 million in capital improvements are needed

June 14, 2011 ~~ Regular Monthly Meeting: BOE ALL present; Supt. O'Rourke (his last meeting); Deputy Supt. Nadolinski; Asst. Supt. Alaimo ~~ $170 million in capital projects need to be done within next 10 years.

July 11, 2011 ~~ Reorganizational & Regular Monthly Meeting: BOE (Stenglein absent); Supt. Deane-Williams (her first meeting); Deputy Supt. Nadolinski; Asst. Supt. Alaimo ~~ GCSD has $156 million construction project list. (Alaimo's last regular meeting)

Aug. 9, 2011 ~~ Regular Monthly Meeting: BOE (Boily absent); Supt. Deane-Williams; Deputy Supt. Nadolinski ~~ We need to make $150+ million in repairs over the next 10 years. The district has "$120-130 million in infrastructure problems." BOE adopted Option 1 of 3 options presented for capital repair projects.

Sept. 13, 2011 ~~ Regular Monthly Meeting: BOE ALL present; Supt. Deane-Williams; Deputy Supt. Nadolinski ~~ Nadolinski's last meeting

Sept. 27, 2011 ~~ Special Meeting on EXCEL II: BOE (Stenglein absent; Supt. Deane-Williams; Bernie Donegan; Lou Bianchi ~~ $120 million in projects includes $20-25 million in athletic projects, upgrades to fields, artificial turf; lighted field; outdoor toilets.

SCATS ~~

How did we get from $170 million (including athletic upgrades) down to $120 million in needed repairs (still including ALL athletic upgrades), given that the $170 million was based upon a thorough walk through required by NYSED?
What were the other $50 million in repairs that got dropped from the original list?
Why were they dropped?
Why is the total $20-25 million in "needed" athletic projects included in the reduced $120 million option the BOE adopted?
Why are the sports projects being FULLY funded?
Did they decide which projects were to be dropped based upon which buildings would be closing?
How do they justify spending $20-25 million on "wants" like athletic facility upgrades at the same time that we've cut academic programs, classes, services for students?
Why did the figure suddenly drop from $170 million in the June meeting (never mentioned again!) to $156 million in the July meeting when Babs starts?
Does Babs realize what's happened?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2011-11-24T11:12:00.000-05:00

Learn about the History of Thanksgiving

Pallas Still Trying To Jump Ship

2011-11-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

Geneva School District names four finalists

in superintendent search

Carol Pallas, assistant superintendent for k-12 schools in the Greece district will be interviewed Nov. 1st. She is a former elementary school principal and holds a doctorate degree from the University of Rochester. (Source)

SCATS ~~ I wonder if Babs knows?

Remember, Holidays Are For Children

2011-11-22T19:38:00.003-05:00

Register Today For School District Vote

2011-11-22T10:27:00.002-05:00

Greece Central School District residents age 18 and older who aren't registered to vote with the Monroe County Board of Elections, but who want to vote on the upcoming $34.5 million EXCEL II capital project referendum Dec. 6, may register with the district today. Voter registration will be held from 9AM - 1PM at all elementary schools & from 4 - 8 p.m. at Apollo Middle School, 750 Maiden Lane. Photo identification is required.

Also, call Lynne Armstrong, the District Clerk at 585-966-2010 to request an absentee ballot today! No need to go out in the cold, wet December weather to vote "NO" when you can do it from home ;)

Dear Teacher ...

2011-11-21T10:14:00.000-05:00

Hand Gels Are NO Replacement For Hand Washing

Cold and flu season is upon us, and experts say keeping hands clean is the best defense in spreading germs.

So what works best, hand washing or sanitizing gels?

"Hand washing. Hand washing is better. Every study I see shows that it's preferred," says pediatrician Dr. Larry Scherzer.

Even the company that makes Purell says gels are not meant to replace hand washing.

Dr. Scherzer says if gel is all you have, make sure it's at least 60 percent alcohol and apply it liberally.

It should take a few seconds to dry on your hands.

Dr. Scherzer notes sanitizing gels it won't remove dirt on hands or under nails, which a thorough hand washing will do.

The Centers for Disease Control says hand hygiene is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection. (WHEC-TV)

SCATS ~~ So parents could save a bundle by not sending these to school and encouraging teachers to have children wash hands.

The Walts Legacy Lingers ... and Replicates

2011-11-20T16:45:00.003-05:00

Anonymous said...

First, I would like to thank you for your blog, what a great resource for your school district!

I am a PWC VA parent and a little late to the party in terms of researching Dr. Walts.

I am having other areas of concern within our district and have gone back to do my homework and start at the beginning.

I was wondering if anyone has figured out the total cost to GCSD of doing business with Dr. Walts et al? (after adding up the lifetime health insurance, costs of age discrimination suits, legal fees for forensic audits etc., travel expenses, cell phone bills, $25k vacation days, inflated CIP construction costs)?
Were they ever able to determine if Dr. Walts or any member of the administration personally profited from the CIP overages? (if you were charged $10,000 for a $150 water fountain - where did the extra $9850 go?)
Did Exxon Mobile bring Math Investigations to your district?
Do you know if anyone personally profited from the adoption of the Math Investigations program?

I appreciate any insight you are able to provide.   11/20/2011 3:01 PM

SCATS ~~ The total cost is likely known only by a few BOE members.

Greece Town Board Meets Tuesday, 6PM

2011-11-20T12:47:00.000-05:00

PRELIMINARY AGENDA

Come watch the closed, clubby & corrupt group

shut down the public while spending

YOUR TAX DOLLARS!

Get Your Absentee Ballots Now!

2011-11-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Our BOE insists on WA$TING OUR MONEY by holding a second vote* in their effort to get another EXCEL PROJECT approved while the senior citizens are away in Florida for the winter. Don't let them leave you go out in the cold!! Stay warm, stay home ~ wherever that is for winter.

VOTE by ABSENTEE BALLOT

and

BE HEARD!

Call Lynne Armstrong

Greece Central School District's

Board of Education Clerk

at 585-966-2010 today!

Ask her for your ABSENTEE BALLOT for the EXCEL II vote planned on December 6th.

SCATS ~~ Why is this project paying for MORE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT at Apollo MS? We paid for asbestos removal work when we acquired the building, again in the mid- 90's, again in the CIP project under Walts, and yet again under EXCEL I!

* NOTE ~~ Yet, they refuse to hold a second vote when the budget goes down!!

Rahn Apologizes To Parole Board

2011-11-18T10:58:00.000-05:00

Transcript of Parole Hearing Shows Rahn Is Taking Responsibility

Claims he wanted to "preserve integrity of the police department" from the embarrassment of the Nick Joseph accident.

Congress: Pizza Is A School Lunch Vegetable

2011-11-17T08:43:00.001-05:00

Congressional spending bill would:

Block the Agriculture Department from limiting starchy vegetables, including corn and peas, to two servings a week. The rule was intended to cut down on french fries, which many schools serve daily.
Allow USDA to count two tablespoons of tomato paste as a vegetable, as it does now. The department had attempted to require that only a half-cup of tomato paste could be considered a vegetable. Federally subsidized lunches must have a certain number of vegetables to be served.
Require further study on long-term sodium reduction requirements set forth by the USDA guidelines.
Require USDA to define "whole grains" before they regulate them. The USDA rules require schools to use more whole grains. Food companies who have fought the USDA standards say they were too strict and neglected the nutrients that potatoes, other starchy vegetables and tomato paste do offer.

"We are outraged that Congress is seriously considering language that would effectively categorize pizza as a vegetable in the school lunch program," Amy Dawson Taggart, the director of Mission: Readiness, said in a letter to lawmakers before the final bill was released. "It doesn't take an advanced degree in nutrition to call this a national disgrace."

Source: 13WHAM

SCATS ~~ Who elected these morons? A tomato is a fruit, not a veggie!

Reminder ...

2011-11-16T14:01:00.000-05:00

Today is the final day to pay to participate in Friday night's illegal Pizza/Bingo Night at Arcadia MS ;)

Closed, Clubby & Corrupt Reschedule

2011-11-14T15:09:00.000-05:00

The regular meeting of the Greece Town Board will be held November 22 at 6PM, instead of on November 15th. No agenda has been posted.

Did The ARMS PTSA Get Their Bingo License?

2011-11-13T11:44:00.002-05:00

SCATS ~~ It appears that this "Game Night" ( previously called "Pizza Bingo") is NOT a legal operation in the eyes of NY State's Racing & Wagering Board which oversees all games of chance.

NY's Rules for Free Bingo clearly states that: participants may NOT pay "anything of value for the opportunity to participate in a game of bingo" and that "the total value of all of the prizes awarded shall NOT exceed one hundred fifty dollars in ANY calendar day."

Since the ad clearly shows that prizes will exceed $600 in value, this can NOT be considered as an operation under the Free Bingo guidelines, therefore a license is required.

(Click image to enlarge)

The Trouble With Logic ...

2011-11-13T00:45:00.001-05:00

Two rednecks, Larry and Doug, are sitting at their favorite bar, drinking beer. Larry turns to Doug and says, "You know, I'm tired of going through life without an education. Tomorrow I think I'll go to the Community College and sign up for some classes." Doug thinks it's a good idea and the two leave.

The next day, Larry goes down to the college and meets with the Dean of Admissions, who signs him up for the four basic classes: math, English, history, and logic.

"Logic?" Larry says. "What's that?"

The dean says, "I'll give you an example. Do you own a weed eater?"

"Yeah."

"Then logically speaking, because you own a weed eater, I think that you would have a yard."

"That's true, I do have a yard."

"I'm not done," the dean says. "Because you have a yard, I think logically that you would have a house."

"Yes, I do have a house."

"And because you have a house, I think that you might logically have a family."

"Yes, I have a family."

"I'm not done yet. Because you have a family, then logically you must have a wife. And because you have a wife, then logic tells me you must be a heterosexual."

"I am a heterosexual. That's amazing, you were able to find out all of that because I have a weed eater."

Excited to take the class now, Larry shakes the Dean's hand and leaves to go meet Doug at the bar. He tells Doug about his classes, how he is signed up for math, English, history, and logic.

"Logic?" Doug says, "What's that?"

Larry says, "I'll give you an example. Do you have a weed eater?"

"No."

"Then you're gay."

More Schools In Need of Improvement

2011-11-10T23:15:00.001-05:00

NY State Education Dept's latest list includes:

Arcadia Middle School (Basic Elementary-Middle Level English Language Arts)
Athena High School (Basic Secondary-Level English Language Arts)
Olympia High School (Basic Secondary-Level English Language Arts)

No Terry, You Are NOT Alone ;)

2011-11-10T18:02:00.001-05:00

(Click item to Read)

From print edition Greece Post 11/10/11, pg.11A