This week’s Villager article entitled “Academy Contract Talks on Hold” features a number of quotes from members of our board of education that continue to show that this board is not interested in being productive in executing the business of educating our children, not to mention the total disregard of the interests of the taxpayers. Reading and watching all of this is much like watching a parent deal with a child’s temper tantrum after being caught with their hand in the cookie jar- I didn’t do it!...this is not fair to me!...I’ll be good if you (fill in the blank)…I’ll hold my breath and stomp my feet until you give in!... 
 
From the Villager article-

“According to Lindsay Paul, chair of the Board of Education, they have been trying to reopen contract negotiations with Woodstock Academy since it expired in 2004 and was determined by the board not to renew it. “We don’t see any interest in banging our heads against the wall again,” she said.

‘The board has not been in a contract with the Academy since then because it feels the Academy has not adequately addressed concern for the Woodstock Public Schools’ best interests and only dealt with the Academy’s best interests.’

This is trying to “reopen contract negotiations”? It gets even better-

The board has had three arching goals that it would like to have in written terms in a contract with the Academy. It stipulates the need to have greater alignment with eighth graders continuing to high school from the Woodstock Public Schools. The board also wants to have greater accountability between the two educational bodies, as well as a greater equity of resources between the two bodies. “We don’t get a lot of support around those goals,” said Paul. “There is value in testifying to [the] inequity about this.”

Value to whom exactly? It is my understanding that all of the other sending towns have been diligently working with the Academy on curriculum alignment for a year or more, yet Woodstock has not attempted to do so other than the Superintendent butting heads with Mr. Foye. Curriculum alignment for the children shouldn’t be used as a bargaining chip and should be handled by the educators, without ulterior motives as part of the game plan.

More interesting is why Mrs. Paul after four years of spin and crusades (attempts to overturn 46, Breen Proposal, 9th Grade Proposal, egregious budget manipulations, etc.) on the taxpayer’s dime, and the board’s inability and/or refusal to answer questions would she expect support? Has she forgotten the 9th grade public forum?

Time to call in the muscle-

At the Board of Education meeting last Thursday, Sept. 25, members determined to set a date for a forum to discuss local political candidates’ opinions on education. Paul said this would involve inviting area state representatives and congressmen to the board’s forum.

This is interesting. Perhaps Sherri Vogt who was a major operative in the Breen Proposal (See some of the documents -HERE-) will jump back into this game…not a chance if she has any delusion of actually winning.  Mike is smart enough to continue to keep his head down on this one.

Tony Gugliemo will probably show up to protect his interests as the board’s insurance broker because he likes those commission checks while being manipulated by the Superintendent into getting Woodstock a waiver for approximately $10,000 in bus safety equipment mandated by the state, due to “lack of funds” during the aforementioned egregious budget manipulations. (See the documents -HERE-). I guess the kid’s safety is a lower priority than the hundreds of thousands spent on stuff in the spree at the end of the budget year.

I’ll bet that this will probably be a very quiet meeting and as well attended as regular board meetings with the normal attendance of 2, if it happens at all.

The Superintendent has more great ideas as well-

‘He said it might be good to wait a year until a new headmaster is chosen at the Academy, as current Headmaster Richard Foye is retiring at the end of the school year. He also said the state’s commissioner of education has been tasked to present the state Board of Education with a new education package at a meeting in November.’

Now that’s taking a stand for the kids. Perhaps the new Headmaster that is chosen for the Academy will lay down in the face of the board’s tantrums or, akin to his statements about the failing SPED department, and I’ll paraphrase, “at some point the State will step in and force the corrections”.  Why should he care? He’s just riding out his recent contract extension and is probably giddy at the prospect of Mr. Foye’s retirement.

And finally, from someone who should hold his breath but just can’t help himself; Mr. Loftus-

“Why haven’t they approached us?” asked William Loftus, vice chairman of the board. “It’s not accidental. It’s deliberate. We’re considered the problem child.”

‘Loftus said talks should not be reopened with the Academy unless all of the board’s proposed goals are met. He said the public doesn’t know that the Academy is obligated to take on Woodstock’s eighth graders under a bond agreement. “We shouldn’t align ourselves and open ourselves up for failure and manipulation,” he said.’

Yes Bill, we the public know that the Academy is obligated to take all of our students under the bond agreement. Does this give you the right to throw every sleazy maneuver at them and the citizenry that you have throughout the crusades? And you wonder why you are considered the “problem child”. As for the failure, you’re already there and further manipulation of the facts won’t get you out of this mess, nor will continuing to stomp your feet until you get your way.