Woodstock CT Café

Not from the BOE Meeting: The new voting machines we will be getting aren’t going to cost us anything – per se. The state will be getting the machines to us soon – some time in the late spring, if I remember correctly. The ‘interesting’ thing about these new machines (after a lot of whoopla about how much money they will save us) is that they use special paper forms that are only available from one vendor. Also, for every election we have to order special software (my non-techinical term) for the selections. The software for simple yes/no election questions like referenda will run about $400 (and we’ll be able to use the same software for all yes/no elections) but all the other elections will need special software which will be an added expense. Apparently, the paper forms run in the neighborhood of $.30 ea., with complicated ballots needing two, sometimes, three forms (or upwards of $.90 each voter). At this point in time, we are only required to use the new voting machines on the federal elections (the next in November 2008), but I have full faith in our legislators determining the we should use them in every election.

So, I’m hoping to get more information about the cost involved before the Town Meeting scheduled for the 20th. I know that some feel the meetings are somewhat antiquated, but I don’t. I’ve voted by machine on every election since I turned eighteen until we moved here in 1996. I’ve never felt more “included� in the process than I have at Town Meeting. Even if I didn’t speak or ask questions, it is simply the only real and tangible democratic experience of any substance I have had. It is much too easy to pull a lever, any lever. It requires no investment of time or curiosity, not to mention, no information other than the date the election is held. It requires one to use only their personal perspective and suppositions to judge the matters. In Town Meeting, the matter can be weighed, considered and completely exposed. You won’t find that in a voting booth. Because none of us can be an expert in all areas, Town Meeting affords us the opportunity to hear from those who by nature or experience have a clearer understanding of the matter before the assembly. I am a firm believer of requiring a sensible explanation from experts and find that, in asking questions, I can usually determine who is pulling their weight and who is pulling my leg. This is especially important, in my view, in a town that is going through the growing pains Woodstock is. If we are to find any common ground we have to understand each other’s issues and experiences. You won’t find that in a voting booth. Becki Leavitt

From the February 8, 2007 Regular Board of Education Meeting

• A first glance at the Governor’s newly released budget – the state will increase the ECS (Educational Cost Sharing) grant funding to the towns with an increase of 18% or $1.6 billion or at least 3% increase to each town. Should the budget be approved without rearrangement, we could expect an increase of perhaps, $140,000(my calculation based on the educational Block Grant cited in the 06/07 budget). Of course, this is still all speculation. I suppose the upshot is that there is at least the glimmer of hope that revenues will increase. However, keep in mind, the Board of Finance sets the allocations of the budget. The ECS grant revenues may increase, but the BOF is not required to allocate that increase specifically to the education budget. Read the rest of this entry »

I am disappointed with Woodstock as a whole. I understand everyone’s concern as to the extracurricular activities of the administration of the Academy, as a parent I would be very concerned as well. But I think that the situation is being blown out of proportion or being taken out of context, I haven’t decided which yet. I honestly think that too many of Woodstock’s citizens are using this information as another way to blame the Academy for the town’s economic problems.

Warren and Taylor did have an affair. And rumors burned through the school like wild fire since Taylor began working there. But as parents you should understand that this is one of many rumors. The students didn’t know if it was true or false until you did, and it sure didn’t impact their day-to-day lives. Every day at that school these kids are whispering back and forth as to which teacher is banging whom, and which student is doing some not so beneficial extracurricular activities with teachers, and which freshman is pregnant. And in a community as small as ours there aren’t many secrets. It’s a game, and it doesn’t change the education that the students are getting. And honestly the extracurricular activities of our WPS teachers are more disturbing to your kids than those of the Academy faculty. Read the rest of this entry »

Please note that the Academy is dealing with a personnel issue in this instance. It would be unethical for them to comment on any particulars as was pointed out by Headmaster Foye on WINY this morning. (2.7) ~ Admin Troix

From the Norwich Bull on the Taylor-Warren issue

Two days ago 2/6/07 the Cafe had 233 unique visitors and 728 page turns. On 2/7/07, the Cafe had 382 unique visitors and 1411 page turns. Yesterday 2/8/07, the Cafe had 279 unique visitors and 930 page turns. The sunami is subsiding Admin

My Academy high schooler brought home a memo from Richard Foye, Headmaster, informing parents and guardians that Mr. Robert Warren, Assistant Headmaster (essentially the Principal), and Dr. Carol Taylor, Dean of Studies, are “on administrative leave without prejudice.” The rest of the memo explained how the administrative roles of these two leaders would be handled by other staff members in their absence.

I asked my daughter why these people had been put on leave and quickly learned that they were having an extramarital affair. Apparently, many Academy students were aware of this ongoing affair. I checked this with two other students and found that, indeed, it was well known that Warren and Taylor were ‘doing it’. I thought for a moment, somewhat perplexed by the issue, because extramarital affairs are commonplace in our society. I did not want to pre-judge the circumstances without knowing the details. Then I thought more about the specter of these two key people at the Academy openly conducting their affair in front of the Academy student body. It seems to me that the last message that an educational institution of impressionable high schoolers like the Academy would want to send to the students was that illicit affairs are okay – indeed these key role models were demonstrating an illicit affair to the students and the students were likely to ask the question “Are they married?” Read the rest of this entry »

In some aspects, the ongoing struggle between the Academy and the K-8 School System is perplexing. Why isn’t there a conversation about ‘how’ to change this situation? It is unproductive to harp about the perceived unfairness of the arrangement between the two scholastic entities and then fail to change this arrangement. Over the last two decades the leadership of these entities have changed but this drama is forever reoccurring like Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day (deja vu all over again). Is the Town afflicted by the inheritance of ineptitude?

I ‘feel’ badly for the K-8 public school system in this situation. But, the Academy is doing exactly what it should be doing – what every business does – protect and grow. Can anyone be surprised that they are going down the road of charging as much as the market will bear? Let’s not be idiots! And, what’s the big deal that they provide a ‘so so’ level of education? Would their behavior be any more acceptable if they were consistently providing rocket scientists? So, is our grievance about their behavior as an institution or the quality of the education they produce? If it is about their behavior as an institution, then let’s address that. If it is about the quality of the education they provide, then let’s talk about that. But, for god’s sake, let’s start DOING something. Read the rest of this entry »

There were 251 unique visitors to the Cafe yesterday, 2/5/07. It would be great if we could hear from you about your interests and concerns. Admin

Once again, an Academy trustee has repeated false, malicious assertions against the superbly managed Woodstock Pubic Schools (see comment under Spoilin’s statement). Since he brought up the issue of financial management of the town’s educational system, lets take a look at the dealings of Woodstock Academy.

The Academy, after decades of financial mismanagement, was on the verge of closing its doors in 1990 when it came to the Town of Woodstock seeking a taxpayer bailout. Woodstock committed $14.5 million, at significant risk, to completely reconstruct the Academy campus, and made a long-term commitment to send students to this failed, bankrupt institution.

After taking Woodstock’s money, the Academy, in short order, took several additional steps to free themselves of any oversight by Woodstock’s taxpayers. First, the Academy expanded to include Brooklyn as a sending town, diluting Woodstock’s oversight from a majority to a plurality.

Second, the Academy took advantage of a 1996 state law which allowed the three privately chartered regional high schools (Woodstock, Norwich and Gilbert in Winsted) to set their own tuition levels. The law requires Norwich and Gilbert to have 50% representation by their sending towns, thus providing control of these schools’ expenditures by the taxpayers paying their bills. But Woodstock Academy got a special exception, requiring sending town representation of only 8 of 30 Board seats, so that there is no effective oversight by the taxpayers paying the Academy’s bills, a circumstance unique in Connecticut.

Congrats, ‘Shirer’! This is the 300th article posted at the Cafe. Your prize is in the mail. Admin

Read the rest of this entry »

There were 180 unique visitors yesterday 2/3/07. Admin

Ken placed this idea in a comment under “Spoilin’ for a Fight’s” statement. This idea hasn’t been expressed before at the Cafe so we thought it would be worthwhile for front-page debate. Admin

Boston’s “three competitive-admission exam schools, including the renowned Boston Latin School, all use a 7-12 sequence to offer a college preparatory curriculum for the city’s top-scoring students.” Boston Globe (1/28/2007). See link to article below.

“I normally stay out of the Woodstock Education discussion, but I recently read in the Wall Street Journal about the trend towards K-5 and 6-12 as a better break in education…which eliminates the middle school. Would Woodsock Academy ever consider taking over 6-8 responsibility for Woodstock? That way 5th grade could be incorporated into the elementary school, costs might be streamlined, and the bickering about budgets might cease because Woodstock Academy would simply set the $$…and no one could argue. It would definitely make for a simplier arrangement. Would Woodstock Academy manage downward? I will admit to not having any real understanding of all the potential legal issues.”

The article that Ken talks about was published in the Boston Globe on January 28th, 2007. Readthis article.

It is hard to know where to start when discussing Iraq. I’ll just hit a few points of interest to me.

Iraq and terrorism:
Before the war there were no credible links between the Iraqi government and Al Quaeda. Our main worry was that Iraq may have eventually given WMDs to them under the idea of the enemy of my enemy is my friend philosophy. Since the entire WMD claim was false and as it turns out never had good evidence for it, that whole line of argument falls through. Any continued claim of linking the reasons for the Iraq war to Al Quaeda are specious at best. Of course there are element of Al Quaeda in Iraq now fighting us but that is due to the situation that we caused.

Who are we fighting in Iraq?
Well, just about everyone. Sure there are some Al Quaeda elements, but we are also fighting indigenous Sunnis, Shias, foreign fighters working as proxies for Iran and Syria, etc. This isn’t just fighting the “war on terror”. They are just one hornet in this huge hornet’s nest that we now find ourselves in.

Iran’s Role
Certainly Iran is fighting by proxy in Iraq. For years Iraq has served as an offsetting/balancing force for Iran (and vice-versa). We have now removed that from play and Iran has no interest in seeing a strong independent Iraq emerging that will fill that role again. They could never be the regional power with Iraq but we have removed that obstacle for them.

Turkey’s Role
Turkey was never happy about the whole plan, worried about the possible emergence of an independent Kurd state. As Iraq becomes more and more of a fractured state the greater Turkey’s concern and need for action is going to become. Read the rest of this entry »