From Steven Rosendahl...
Thanks to all for the supporting emails not only from fellow RTC members, but DTC members, CPSer’s, and education professionals both past and present. I find it sad that when I asked if I could quote their emails and names most were uncomfortable, especially the current education professionals.
I did not intend my email to be a public document- it was a cry of frustration to my RTC board that we as Board members are responsible for how the townspeople perceive our actions or non-actions. I thought the townspeople were going to punish the boards and vote NO.
I was not advocating for the taxpayers, I was advocating for reason. I was advocating for making decisions based on hard data and facts, not personal feelings.
The BOE’s focus has been on pointing the blame on outside forces, Prop 46, BOF, Academy, townspeople, and the flavor of the month (currently me). We need to take responsible for our problems and address them straight on.
Does the BOE not realize that cutting sports costs us votes and did not add to our support?
My rant was triggered by my calling townspeople who came out in mass to stop the BOE holding back the 9th grade. This was a group I thought I could get to vote “Yes” on the budget. I was wrong to have thought I could make a difference. I made phone calls. My first call, the response was - “You are just another stooge for the BOE”, I will write you a check for a $100.00 but I will not vote YES”, “F—- Off”. On others I did get a few folks who promised to go down to vote yes, “but only for the kids”.
The voters of Woodstock voted for me to stand up for them – give them a voice on the BOE. These calls made me feel that I have failed them. I have not forgotten that the voters of Woodstock elected me by more than 600 votes over the nearest Breen Party candidate. It was pointed out to me in an email from a RTC member that no other member of the sitting BOE, except Brian Musumeci, my RTC running mate won their seat with as high a margin. They wanted a voice and change, to date I have not lived up to their expectations.
I am asking all of you who emailed me and everyone else to come together and make the Woodstock School System the best in CT. Studies do not show spending improves standardized test scores. What has improved scores is community involvement, the vision of the BOE, and the quality of the administration. The BOE attends CABE workshops and conventions which over and over stress parent and citizen involvement as being the most important element in a school district. Why does it have to be us against them, why thank only “Yes” voters, I voted YES but I thank all voters who showed up even the ones who yelled at me on the phone.
On the Academy: I am openly a supporter of the Academy; it’s a good school my kids did great. I do not think a BOE could run an under 500 student high school with all the offerings WA does at near the price. So I think it is cost justified. Is it perfect? NO. How do we make it better? Embrace it, respect it, and work with it.
On the lower school: My kids did great in the lower school. As the administrations at both schools know, there are few families in Woodstock who put the time and support into both lower schools. Are the lower schools perfect? NO. How do we make it better? Embrace the town, respect the town, and work together.
Blogs: I hope this is the only blog post I ever make.
I want everything to do with government and education to be open that is no secret.
Mr. Powers please do not get into the trap of being negative calling by Mr. Corden a liar, it is not positive or productive in any way. I do read your blog because you have presented facts as you see them and provide backup. I also find FOI information you receive that is not shared with me even though I am a sitting BOE member.
I love technology but see blog misuse as the number one problem on the internet that’s not illegal. I also have problems with a BOE and elected officials who use and endorse a blog that posts the cruelest things I have ever seen on the Internet. Posted on Father’s Day- “You are failed parents, all you have to do is look around your houses to see.” calling out the two fathers by name. Both families have special needs children. Schools have bullying policies to deal with student abuse. My daughter tells me the Academy has an internet bullying policy also. But my BOE has no problem supporting bullying blog posts like the above. There is also an issue with the BOE endorsed blog which is operated by a BOE employee. As pointed out in the CABE newsletter this is a huge liability issue.
About Me: Why am I so frustrated? Why is education so important to me? I am actually Dyslexic, I did not read until I was in 4th grade and then only because two teachers, on their own, helped me after school. There were no special needs classes in Florida at the time. These teachers did not receive any additional compensation for helping me. I sight read (cannot sound out words, I see words as symbols for meanings) so my writing skills are very poor. Does that make me stupid? We will see what the hate blog says, want to place a bet?
One of my fellow BOE members says Woodstock is not one entity. The town has not trusted boards in 20 years. My answer? Work to make Woodstock one great town, is that bad? Boards have not been trusted in 20 years let’s work together to earn their trust.
I am always embarrassed by my writing skills please forgive me, but please help reunite Woodstock and win back our townspeople’s trust. We can have the best schools in CT while being fiscally responsible.
Thanks for all the great Ideas on what to do next. My favorite so far is to raise the $9,000.00 for sports so parents and the booster club will not have to.
Please keep your ideas coming.
Best regards,
Steven Rosendahl
Editor's note: As much as Steve might be upset about the Father's Day comments, I am far more appalled by the anti-semitic tone of the current vitriol currently being spewed at him.
With one daughter on the Dean's list at Emerson, the other with an almost full scholarship to Arcadia University in the fall and Alex doing well with alternative education, I have no worries about my household. I guess it's just the best some people can come up with. Consider the source.
For the PhD crowd at the Aljazeera Café, while 'Rosenthal' might be a jewish name, 'Rosendahl' is actually Danish.
I find Steve's letter to be genuine and from the heart, which is the way I know him and I am proud to call him a friend.
For the record, I did not call Mr. Corden a liar- I simply thanked him for pointing out the obvious.
Steve has touched on another important point that has been mentioned before. For town officials to continue to post on a hateful blog is inexcusable. The BOE saw fit to thank 'their' voters very near the aformentioned anti-semitic comments about Mr. Rosendahl. One has to wonder about the judgement of people such as this who have charge of creating policy for our children. In my opinion, you as citizens should question this behavior.
I did not intend my email to be a public document- it was a cry of frustration to my RTC board that we as Board members are responsible for how the townspeople perceive our actions or non-actions. I thought the townspeople were going to punish the boards and vote NO.
I was not advocating for the taxpayers, I was advocating for reason. I was advocating for making decisions based on hard data and facts, not personal feelings.
The BOE’s focus has been on pointing the blame on outside forces, Prop 46, BOF, Academy, townspeople, and the flavor of the month (currently me). We need to take responsible for our problems and address them straight on.
Does the BOE not realize that cutting sports costs us votes and did not add to our support?
My rant was triggered by my calling townspeople who came out in mass to stop the BOE holding back the 9th grade. This was a group I thought I could get to vote “Yes” on the budget. I was wrong to have thought I could make a difference. I made phone calls. My first call, the response was - “You are just another stooge for the BOE”, I will write you a check for a $100.00 but I will not vote YES”, “F—- Off”. On others I did get a few folks who promised to go down to vote yes, “but only for the kids”.
The voters of Woodstock voted for me to stand up for them – give them a voice on the BOE. These calls made me feel that I have failed them. I have not forgotten that the voters of Woodstock elected me by more than 600 votes over the nearest Breen Party candidate. It was pointed out to me in an email from a RTC member that no other member of the sitting BOE, except Brian Musumeci, my RTC running mate won their seat with as high a margin. They wanted a voice and change, to date I have not lived up to their expectations.
I am asking all of you who emailed me and everyone else to come together and make the Woodstock School System the best in CT. Studies do not show spending improves standardized test scores. What has improved scores is community involvement, the vision of the BOE, and the quality of the administration. The BOE attends CABE workshops and conventions which over and over stress parent and citizen involvement as being the most important element in a school district. Why does it have to be us against them, why thank only “Yes” voters, I voted YES but I thank all voters who showed up even the ones who yelled at me on the phone.
On the Academy: I am openly a supporter of the Academy; it’s a good school my kids did great. I do not think a BOE could run an under 500 student high school with all the offerings WA does at near the price. So I think it is cost justified. Is it perfect? NO. How do we make it better? Embrace it, respect it, and work with it.
On the lower school: My kids did great in the lower school. As the administrations at both schools know, there are few families in Woodstock who put the time and support into both lower schools. Are the lower schools perfect? NO. How do we make it better? Embrace the town, respect the town, and work together.
Blogs: I hope this is the only blog post I ever make.
I want everything to do with government and education to be open that is no secret.
Mr. Powers please do not get into the trap of being negative calling by Mr. Corden a liar, it is not positive or productive in any way. I do read your blog because you have presented facts as you see them and provide backup. I also find FOI information you receive that is not shared with me even though I am a sitting BOE member.
I love technology but see blog misuse as the number one problem on the internet that’s not illegal. I also have problems with a BOE and elected officials who use and endorse a blog that posts the cruelest things I have ever seen on the Internet. Posted on Father’s Day- “You are failed parents, all you have to do is look around your houses to see.” calling out the two fathers by name. Both families have special needs children. Schools have bullying policies to deal with student abuse. My daughter tells me the Academy has an internet bullying policy also. But my BOE has no problem supporting bullying blog posts like the above. There is also an issue with the BOE endorsed blog which is operated by a BOE employee. As pointed out in the CABE newsletter this is a huge liability issue.
About Me: Why am I so frustrated? Why is education so important to me? I am actually Dyslexic, I did not read until I was in 4th grade and then only because two teachers, on their own, helped me after school. There were no special needs classes in Florida at the time. These teachers did not receive any additional compensation for helping me. I sight read (cannot sound out words, I see words as symbols for meanings) so my writing skills are very poor. Does that make me stupid? We will see what the hate blog says, want to place a bet?
One of my fellow BOE members says Woodstock is not one entity. The town has not trusted boards in 20 years. My answer? Work to make Woodstock one great town, is that bad? Boards have not been trusted in 20 years let’s work together to earn their trust.
I am always embarrassed by my writing skills please forgive me, but please help reunite Woodstock and win back our townspeople’s trust. We can have the best schools in CT while being fiscally responsible.
Thanks for all the great Ideas on what to do next. My favorite so far is to raise the $9,000.00 for sports so parents and the booster club will not have to.
Please keep your ideas coming.
Best regards,
Steven Rosendahl
Editor's note: As much as Steve might be upset about the Father's Day comments, I am far more appalled by the anti-semitic tone of the current vitriol currently being spewed at him.
With one daughter on the Dean's list at Emerson, the other with an almost full scholarship to Arcadia University in the fall and Alex doing well with alternative education, I have no worries about my household. I guess it's just the best some people can come up with. Consider the source.
For the PhD crowd at the Aljazeera Café, while 'Rosenthal' might be a jewish name, 'Rosendahl' is actually Danish.
I find Steve's letter to be genuine and from the heart, which is the way I know him and I am proud to call him a friend.
For the record, I did not call Mr. Corden a liar- I simply thanked him for pointing out the obvious.
Steve has touched on another important point that has been mentioned before. For town officials to continue to post on a hateful blog is inexcusable. The BOE saw fit to thank 'their' voters very near the aformentioned anti-semitic comments about Mr. Rosendahl. One has to wonder about the judgement of people such as this who have charge of creating policy for our children. In my opinion, you as citizens should question this behavior.
Mr. Rosendahl,
THANK YOU!
Your comments are gratifying to me (I voted for you) and I happily support your efforts.
Honesty and integrity (not personal agendas) are a rarity on our town boards. Until YOU.
Please keep trying!