Academy Contract Negotiations?
Negotiation: mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement: the negotiation of a treaty.
-Source: Dictionary.com
Sometimes also referred to as “Good Faith Negotiations”- this is the part that seems to be lost on the other side of this debate.
While I certainly don’t agree on why we are where we are in reference to Mr. Ford’s characterization of the events or reasons surrounding the Academy contract, considering the history here, it is not hard to figure out why the Academy is reticent with regard to continuing contract negotiations.
After reviewing video of an actual negotiation session in which Patrice McCarthy of CABE mediated, it became abundantly clear that this was not about the reasons that Mr. Ford has listed in his recent article. What does become clear is that the BOE was/is demanding a much greater role in the administration of the Academy, which for many reasons would not be appropriate for a regional school that serves a number of other towns, no matter where the school is physically located. After a number of these sessions, Ms. McCarthy informed the parties by letter that she would not continue to waste her time in this endeavor.
Moreover, the other little details of the 9th Grade and BOE/Breen proposals have without a doubt poisoned the well, leaving the relationship between the BOE and the Academy toxic until some change is made- yet another reason to have a fresh start. It is apparent that we will remain mired in this until a change is made because that is the way the BOE wants it- this is strictly about money and control and not education. The BOE should be concentrating on managing what they have and spending wisely in favor of the students in a progressive manner, not funding silly crusades that serve no one.
Regarding curriculum coordination and the current lack thereof, my understanding is that again, the reasons for failure are not lack of good faith on the part of the Academy, but rather the attack mentality of the representatives of the BOE and their demands and dogmatic agenda which stems from the leadership of the BOE and is carried out by Frank Baran and his stable of full-time coordinators- apparently they don’t have interest in getting the job done for the students, but only to escalate the conflict. The other sending towns have had NO such problems in this regard and have embraced a cooperative agenda with the Academy for the benefit of the students. See relevant article: http://woodstocktruth.com/2008/10/04/woodstocks-problem-child.aspx
As shown on this site repeatedly, with facts, the myth of the Academy “draining funds” from the K-8 is preposterous, as is the argument that Proposition 46 is the problem.
See: http://woodstocktruth.com/2008/03/30/kevin-ford-and-the-boes-fuzzy-math-put-to-rest.aspx & http://woodstocktruth.com/2008/12/29/kevin-ford-opens-mouth-and-inserts-foot-once-again.aspx
Nothing stops the BOE from proposing well thought out programs for the benefit of our students for presentation to and approval by the Town; however, this has not happened in favor of continued covert operations and eye-poking of the Academy, citizens, and taxpayers.
In its most recent published ‘list of wants’ in order to have what they term a “good school”, with the exception of a World Language program and a few of the other mentioned ‘wants’, the BOE leads us to believe that we require more administration despite a multi-year trend of declining enrollment, and more ‘Stuff’- such as 52 Smart Boards. Considering that we have many teachers that have yet to master email due to lack of training, it would appear that the priorities might be a little out of whack to say the least. Some of the other items listed could easily be worked into the budget that every year is skewed and manipulated and then misrepresented to the citizens while hundreds of thousands of dollars are dumped in the last two months of the fiscal year, as well as spent on legal crusades rather than education. See-
http://woodstocktruth.com/2009/01/30/woodstock-academy-vs-woodstock-public-school-spending.aspx
http://woodstocktruth.com/2009/02/04/more-data-from-dave.aspx
http://woodstocktruth.com/2009/03/18/dave-on-the-wboe-faqs.aspx
http://woodstocktruth.com/2009/05/11/academics-and-athletics-or-attorneys.aspx
In closing, I would also like to respond to the constant chatter about our spending rank in the State, and this is very simple; hypothetically, let’s take all of our students at the Academy and send them to Putnam High which has a tuition rate of approximately $14,888, as opposed to the Academy at ~$11,000 and our rank will shoot up the list like rockets on the 4th of July- is this the answer, or perhaps Parish Hill or Gilbert at $15K+? Our Academy population continues to rise while our K-8 population declines; shouldn’t that indicate a realignment of priorities and needs?
And, by the way, the Academy has secured a ten year certification which negates another argument put forth by Mr. Ford.
The facts are within this site and backed with video and relevant documents. There are plenty of smart people in Woodstock- certainly smart enough to evaluate the issues for themselves and form their own opinions without succumbing to the dogma of those trying to cover their tracks.
I find it completely disingenuous of this Board to continue to spew the ridiculous rhetoric that they do, when it is apparent that the facts do not coincide with their arguments. The trust has been lost due to their shenanigans and it’s not coming back no matter how loudly they scream- and they shouldn’t wonder why.
-Source: Dictionary.com
Sometimes also referred to as “Good Faith Negotiations”- this is the part that seems to be lost on the other side of this debate.
While I certainly don’t agree on why we are where we are in reference to Mr. Ford’s characterization of the events or reasons surrounding the Academy contract, considering the history here, it is not hard to figure out why the Academy is reticent with regard to continuing contract negotiations.
After reviewing video of an actual negotiation session in which Patrice McCarthy of CABE mediated, it became abundantly clear that this was not about the reasons that Mr. Ford has listed in his recent article. What does become clear is that the BOE was/is demanding a much greater role in the administration of the Academy, which for many reasons would not be appropriate for a regional school that serves a number of other towns, no matter where the school is physically located. After a number of these sessions, Ms. McCarthy informed the parties by letter that she would not continue to waste her time in this endeavor.
Moreover, the other little details of the 9th Grade and BOE/Breen proposals have without a doubt poisoned the well, leaving the relationship between the BOE and the Academy toxic until some change is made- yet another reason to have a fresh start. It is apparent that we will remain mired in this until a change is made because that is the way the BOE wants it- this is strictly about money and control and not education. The BOE should be concentrating on managing what they have and spending wisely in favor of the students in a progressive manner, not funding silly crusades that serve no one.
Regarding curriculum coordination and the current lack thereof, my understanding is that again, the reasons for failure are not lack of good faith on the part of the Academy, but rather the attack mentality of the representatives of the BOE and their demands and dogmatic agenda which stems from the leadership of the BOE and is carried out by Frank Baran and his stable of full-time coordinators- apparently they don’t have interest in getting the job done for the students, but only to escalate the conflict. The other sending towns have had NO such problems in this regard and have embraced a cooperative agenda with the Academy for the benefit of the students. See relevant article: http://woodstocktruth.com/2008/10/04/woodstocks-problem-child.aspx
As shown on this site repeatedly, with facts, the myth of the Academy “draining funds” from the K-8 is preposterous, as is the argument that Proposition 46 is the problem.
See: http://woodstocktruth.com/2008/03/30/kevin-ford-and-the-boes-fuzzy-math-put-to-rest.aspx & http://woodstocktruth.com/2008/12/29/kevin-ford-opens-mouth-and-inserts-foot-once-again.aspx
Nothing stops the BOE from proposing well thought out programs for the benefit of our students for presentation to and approval by the Town; however, this has not happened in favor of continued covert operations and eye-poking of the Academy, citizens, and taxpayers.
In its most recent published ‘list of wants’ in order to have what they term a “good school”, with the exception of a World Language program and a few of the other mentioned ‘wants’, the BOE leads us to believe that we require more administration despite a multi-year trend of declining enrollment, and more ‘Stuff’- such as 52 Smart Boards. Considering that we have many teachers that have yet to master email due to lack of training, it would appear that the priorities might be a little out of whack to say the least. Some of the other items listed could easily be worked into the budget that every year is skewed and manipulated and then misrepresented to the citizens while hundreds of thousands of dollars are dumped in the last two months of the fiscal year, as well as spent on legal crusades rather than education. See-
http://woodstocktruth.com/2009/01/30/woodstock-academy-vs-woodstock-public-school-spending.aspx
http://woodstocktruth.com/2009/02/04/more-data-from-dave.aspx
http://woodstocktruth.com/2009/03/18/dave-on-the-wboe-faqs.aspx
http://woodstocktruth.com/2009/05/11/academics-and-athletics-or-attorneys.aspx
In closing, I would also like to respond to the constant chatter about our spending rank in the State, and this is very simple; hypothetically, let’s take all of our students at the Academy and send them to Putnam High which has a tuition rate of approximately $14,888, as opposed to the Academy at ~$11,000 and our rank will shoot up the list like rockets on the 4th of July- is this the answer, or perhaps Parish Hill or Gilbert at $15K+? Our Academy population continues to rise while our K-8 population declines; shouldn’t that indicate a realignment of priorities and needs?
And, by the way, the Academy has secured a ten year certification which negates another argument put forth by Mr. Ford.
The facts are within this site and backed with video and relevant documents. There are plenty of smart people in Woodstock- certainly smart enough to evaluate the issues for themselves and form their own opinions without succumbing to the dogma of those trying to cover their tracks.
I find it completely disingenuous of this Board to continue to spew the ridiculous rhetoric that they do, when it is apparent that the facts do not coincide with their arguments. The trust has been lost due to their shenanigans and it’s not coming back no matter how loudly they scream- and they shouldn’t wonder why.
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