[AsburyPark] Re: Last night's BOE meeting
--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, asburycheech [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: and the Little League are in for another ride on the bureaucratic merry-go-round, a ride that never ends. Frank D'Alessandro what a crock of shit. IS there room on bradley park to set up a temp field? How about the 3rd ave and Ocean Ave Gravel pit. Let MM turn htat into a temp little league field until the rocket scientists figure it out. It's level, got parking, jsut need some lime, sod, and clay. Even jsut leaving it level is better then what they have now. You could even put it on cookman there are at least 3 lots to choose from Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE meeting
Dear Frank, As only you could, you gave a complete, historical background on the status of the stadium, the ball fields, etc. The monitor, who didn't take the time to read or delve into the history, not only of this board, bur previous boards, before this one, who did NOT make the situation, that the current board is trying to wade through, but that the people of Asbury Park spoke, at the last election, hoping upon hope, that this board, would finally straighten out the muck, it unwittingly stepped into! Let me first send you and the board kudos, bravo, atta boy/girl, or whatever one does, when you can't see me, standing and cheering! For 4 long hours, for which none of you are paid, blood pressures soaring, hearts palpatating, with no CPR administered and for being able to walk out in one piece, my devotional prayers, were answered. It sounds as though our citizens and the current board, are on the same page, for once and for that, all of you should be commended. Talk about dotting your I's and crossing your T's, my next question is, how long does the contract on those lawyers, last? I can only think of the line, from the song, School Days; taught to the tune of a hickory stick! I would like to see the lawyers dance, to THAT! I will continue to don my Asbury Blue and Black cheering suit, for this Bishop's Team! Hoping you all have a Blessed Christmas Holiday! --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, asburycheech [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Group Members: This is a relatively short report on last night's BOE meeting from a Board member who does not speak for the Board. The four and a half hour meeting began with a public hearing on the re-financing (legal term refunding) of all of the outstanding bonds we have been paying for. That includes the 1997 $2,000,000. bond issue and the year 2000 $1.3 million dollar bond issues as well as outstanding bonds from 1989 and 1994 (which involved the construction of the Bradley School). The current rate is 5.6% and the new rate will be between 3.5 and 4 %. Refinancing a total of $8.5 million in bonds at the new rate saves approximately $60,000. per year for ten years. Barbara Lesinski and I spoke of the commitment made to the people of Asbury Park when the 1997 and 2000 bonds promised not only a refurbished stadium but three separate ball fields (including a separate Little League field). Savings from the re-fi should first go to complete the promises made a decade ago. That was also the message from the members of the public who spoke at the hearing, including Danny McKee, the President of the Little League. The state monitor was even chastised by my neighbor and longtime teacher, Esther Kelso, who said Stop harassing the Little League! The monitor took that opportunity to say that he had been misunderstood, and that he never said the Little League could not remain at its present location. (Two words come to mind: Bull-ony). After the public hearing, the BOE unanimously voted to re-finance the bonds. The High School principal, Mr. Tyler Blackmore, then gave us an exciting presentation his plans to re-organize the high school and its faculty and student body into three separate academies for the 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. The first will be the Entrepreneurship, Business, and Technology Academy, the second Humanities and Fine Arts , and the third Medical, Science, and Engineering. Instead of traditional departments, there will be cross-curriculum teams of teachers for these themed academies. A closed session was held so that the BOE could discuss the status of talks with the Little League being represented by attorney Tom DeSeno, with whom a one-hour conference call was held earlier in the day. Without breaching the confidence of the closed session, it is safe to say that the controversy is now moving in the right direction. The BOE meeting resumed with a public comment session on agenda items. The first order of business after that was to appoint a new interim School Business Administrator/Board Secretary. Mr. James Cummings was appointed to that position at $600 per day. The vote was 8-1. He will not be required to attend BOE meetings, hence the reason for my no vote. Another vote of note was the vote to inform the suspended Superintendent, Dr. Lewis, that the BOE did not intend to renew his contract. Under the law, a superintendent must be told in the penultimate year of his contract (in this case the 3rd year of a 4 year contract) that the Board does not intend to renew, or else the contract is automatically renewed for the same perios of time (!) The vote to inform Dr. Lewis that this Board did not intend to renew his contract was 7 yes, one abstention (Mrs. Sanders) and one no (Garrett Giberson). We also voted to acknowledge the results of a state investigation into
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE meeting
--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, asburycheech [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The Board then went into closed session for about an hour to discuss the Little League situation. (I recused myselfelevated blood pressure made it not possible.) Are you talking about an actual medical condition here, or do you mean you were just too upset to participate? I don't mean to pry, be critical, etc., but this really jumped out at me. Why did you not participate in this very important BOE matter? Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE meeting
Here it goes and it's not meant to offend anyone's hard work. It should also make Tommy happy. 1. CLOSE THE SCHOOLS (at least high school). SAVE frank the agony. Save the parents the agony. Save tons of tax $. - bus the kids to either private schools or other public schools OF THEIR CHOICE. TOugh shit for Ocean, Howell etc etc. Even give thos districts TWICE the amount it costs to educate their own kids, still cheaper. 2. Little LEague. Curious. Are any neighbors complaining about the propsoed lights and people that might come to the games? 3. Call Ocean Twp Little LEague. See if they will consider sharing their fields (all THREE, parking etc) with AP at least for next season or simply accept AP kids as part of their own LL district. I'm sure they can squeeze in a few extra teams or let AP LL play its games there. THey should. There was and still is the best person to run the OT Little League and that is Bill Poznak, engineer, coach etc etc. Liked and not liked. Mention baseball and little league to him. IT would be neat to use BRADLEY PARK for some days games this year. Interesting about Colt Field - it was deeded to the Ocan Twp Little League for use as little league baseball fields. That's it. Anyother use, it goes back to the estate of James Colt. PS,when Danny first posted his request I called Little League baseball and a few other places unsure if he had done so looking for money. He had already done it. There has to be a home in this lawyer run city. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE meeting
What a circus! No wonder the schools are so disfunctional. Doesn't anyone care about the kids and whether they get a quality education??? It seems these meetings are all about everyone's egos and BS rather than delivering a quality education and doing right by the kids. Thanks Frank for posting these following the meetings. --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, asburycheech [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Group Members, Last night the Board of Education held a marathon meeting starting at 6:30 PM and ending past midnight. My report on this long meeting reflects only my opinion. I do not speak for the Board. The meeting was a veritable mélange of all things Asbury, and it was a packed house again at the Bradley Elem. School. Several parents and members of the Ministerial Alliance of Asbury Park and Neptune led by the Rev. Bradley of Neptune had signs calling for investigations of the BOE, and that the BOE's agenda was hurting the children. After a half hour presentation by reps from the New Jersey School Boards Association on helping the APBOE correct deficiencies (perceived or actual) in the latest state monitoring scorecard, the Board president opened up the meeting to public comment on agenda items. The Rev. Bradley of Neptune used the opportunity to repeat his off-stated remarks urging the state to investigate the Board of Ed and its finances. A.P. Education Association Vice-president Peter Vetrano pointed out an error in the agenda concerning extra-curricular salaries for coaches. The Board then went into closed session for about an hour to discuss the Little League situation. (I recused myselfelevated blood pressure made it not possible.) The rest of the Board, the Administration, and a very upset Danny McKee (who was asked to come into the session) all know full well my views supporting Danny and his plans. While we waited for the Commissioner of Education, Lucille Davy, to appear, a member of the BOE in Neptune, Jason Jones, congratulated the Blue Bishops of their recent and future victories. The Commissioner appeared and spoke for about 20 minutes. She was there to introduce the state monitor, Mr. Mark Cowell, whom she is imposing upon the district. She explained the legal basis for the appointment and that he is to be paid $600. plus expenses per day out of district funds. He will be here for the next two and a half years. Mrs. Davy recited the litany of sins, financial and otherwise, committed by the board and the district over several years, including the time the state intervention team was supposedly assisting the district. (My take on the intervention team: They came; they saw; they had lunch.) The question I asked her concerned the veto power Mr. Cowell will have over all of the decisions made by the administration and the BOE. Our business administrator, Mr. Mahmoud, has resigned to take a similar position in a district where the grass is greener. Since Mr. Cowell would be reviewing each and every decision of any new business administrator, why not cut out the middle man and have the state monitor assume the position of Acting Business Administrator? The state will get what it wants, and we won't have to pay two bureaucrats to do one job. I did not understand her four minute answer. Mrs. Davy took questions from the public. The Rev. Bradley of Neptune, who supports the return of Dr. Lewis, the suspended Superintendent, tried to bring up that personnel matter. Other members of the public decried the state of affairs in the district. At 9:30 Mrs. Davy left, and because members of the public complained about the length of the board meeting (little did they know that it would continue for another two and a half hours), the Board president moved up the second public comment session. Among the speakers were Deputy Mayor (and former BOE president) Jim Bruno and former BOE member John Moor. Both of them were there to express their strong support for Danny McKee and the Little League. They both gave some historical background on the Little League and its place at the High School field. Danny himself spoke and expressed his feeling of betrayal. He revealed that in the closed session the new state monitor' made it clear that the Little League field would be moved to the Intermediate School. After all of the years of raising hundreds of thousands in funds from dozens of contributors, the hard physical work, the $50,000 personal loan he has taken out to make sure the project was begun, the $1,800 in personal funds he lost that very day because the state monitor and the lawyers said he could not have access to the field to do the soil test that they had insisted upon, he was devastated. Over four hours after the meeting had
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE Meeting
All I can say is, if it weren't for your information, I wouldn't know a thing about where the board stands. As usual, I don't speak for everyone, just myself! It seems as though you have bent over backwards, to keep us/me, informed. I thank you for any bit of real information I can get! Why hasn't the City paid the Board for the Recreational programs, now in place? I hate to ask, but there seems to be a feud or misunderstanding about the property on Memorial Drive; what the Board plans to use it for, as opposed to the City, making demands on property, IT has no jurisdiction over, or does it? Feel free to email me privately. I certainly appreciate all you've done, to keep this group and me, informed. I certainly appreciate it! Again, thanks! May I call you Jobe? You certainly have his patience! --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, asburycheech [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Group Members: First, I want to offer the requisite disclaimer that I do not speak for the Board of Ed. That said, last night's meeting was unusual in that it was short (by recent standards), lasting about two and a half hours, and the public, which numbered about 80, offered requests and even kudos but none of the brickbats that have characterized other meetings. The civilized tone almost extended to the Board members themselves, but a few verbal swipes could be detected occasionally. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE Meeting
well then maybe the new appointee may be able to help, not hinder the process. MAYBE they'llb e able to find out why the city doesn't pay it's bills on time or collect the proper amount of school taxes. Sure you think the sate was a years late and dollars short or MAYBE they just want a better accounting of $100 million x 10 years plus. There are waht appears to be some accounting problems in the past, no? Good to see you feel it's moving int he right direction, despite the differing opinions. Facts and Fiction. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE Meeting
My eyes thank you for the easy to read paragraphs. Can you give the Group a more thourough report on the following, including some details of what events you speak of, and how much (approx) $ is in issue? Thanks. Besides the usual items on the Business Office agenda, like paying our bills, I reported what we have learned at the Finance Committee meeting held earlier that evening that the City of Asbury Park has not paid one cent of the money they owe the Board of Ed for all of the programs instituted by James Famularo, the Assistant City Manager. There have been dozens of requests for the use of facilities by the City, and we have never turned them down to the best of my knowledge. But there is a hefty pricetag that cannot be sustained by the BOE budget alone, and in all of our resolutions, that cost is spelled out, and the Board has voted accordingly. Only last night did we find out that the city expects to pay nothing because they have paid nothing for the past decade. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE Meeting
--- I find it truly amazing how the city and city schools just don't work together. What TD should ask is, how much in attorney fees will the school spend and how much in attorney fees wuill the city spend arguing with each other. BOTH fees, if you look at the big picture of funding, is paid by the state. There was something o Yahoo news about a chimp in australia that some group wants to be declared a person. I think the chimp should be imported here and declared a person. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070927/ap_on_fe_st/chimp_challenge I can think of a few jobs for him. I would of taken that parrot that died a few weeks ago as well that could reason. http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=64878 That would the beginning of my ticket for the next election. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE Meeting
Frank, as always, thanks for responding so thoughtfully. Those extras why I call it the billion dollar district. Keep up the good work. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE Meeting
Also last night the Board passed a corrective action plan to correct irregular business procedures that have needed correcting for a very long time. Like what? Any idea how much additional funding (above abbott) is being provided to AP for these programs - grants, state time etc? Congrats to all the success - keep it going - while spending less. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE Meeting
A round of Applause, to you, for knocking yourself out, as usual! Bravo and smooches! Now get yourself a hot tea and your slippers! You deserve a break, for a thankless job! S --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, asburycheech [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At last night's BOE meeting, the state intervention team gave a 90 minute update on all aspects of their assistance to the school district from Early Childhood through High School. Of all 600 school districts in New Jersey, they are spending the most time and resources here due to the often dysfunctional, but fixable in their view, nature of our school system. Early Childhood and Elementary are the brightest spots here, and there are plans to ameliorate and remediate the secondary level with initiatives from our own Board of Ed, a Middle School Initiative and Grant from UMDNJ, the NJEA, and assistance provided by the State. There will be more transitional Summer school programs than ever before to keep the progress moving ahead. The Intervention Team, headed by Assistant State Commissioner of Ed Dr. Penelope Lattimer, as well as the Board expressed their admiration for the work being accomplished by the Acting Superintendent, James Parham. The three students who won the district-wide spelling bee, the Teachers of the Year, the Students who have been named to the Governor's School and the Monmouth County Student of the Month (a phenomenal young lady from our high schoolthere's a story about Carlita in today's Press) were all honored. Also last night the Board passed a corrective action plan to correct irregular business procedures that have needed correcting for a very long time. The present law firm was also re-appointed for another year with one abstention and one no vote. Due to a very long agenda and unusually long closed session, the meeting ended well past 11 PM. As usual, I must state that I do not speak for the Board. Frank D'Alessandro, BOE member Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[AsburyPark] Re: Last Night's BOE Meeting
Nice work, Frank - and to the rest of your colleagues on the Board! It really sounds like there's light at the end of the tunnel - and not an on-coming train, either! I did read about Carlita and your appropo quotes about her. It's amazing how these roses bloom out of the fog of dysfunction. I'm glad the Press is playing up these reports higher in the paper. These kids deserve even more accolades than their peers from high functioning districts. Sharon is right on, as always, you deserve a break kid!! Maureen --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, asburycheech [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At last night's BOE meeting, the state intervention team gave a 90 minute update on all aspects of their assistance to the school district from Early Childhood through High School. Of all 600 school districts in New Jersey, they are spending the most time and resources here due to the often dysfunctional, but fixable in their view, nature of our school system. Early Childhood and Elementary are the brightest spots here, and there are plans to ameliorate and remediate the secondary level with initiatives from our own Board of Ed, a Middle School Initiative and Grant from UMDNJ, the NJEA, and assistance provided by the State. There will be more transitional Summer school programs than ever before to keep the progress moving ahead. The Intervention Team, headed by Assistant State Commissioner of Ed Dr. Penelope Lattimer, as well as the Board expressed their admiration for the work being accomplished by the Acting Superintendent, James Parham. The three students who won the district-wide spelling bee, the Teachers of the Year, the Students who have been named to the Governor's School and the Monmouth County Student of the Month (a phenomenal young lady from our high schoolthere's a story about Carlita in today's Press) were all honored. Also last night the Board passed a corrective action plan to correct irregular business procedures that have needed correcting for a very long time. The present law firm was also re-appointed for another year with one abstention and one no vote. Due to a very long agenda and unusually long closed session, the meeting ended well past 11 PM. As usual, I must state that I do not speak for the Board. Frank D'Alessandro, BOE member Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
