Woodstock CT Café

The dialogue between Mr. Breen, Reality Check, Kevin Ford, and others about the statutes, public acts, etc. is what has helped me to form my thoughts most recently.

It just seems to me that we are all actually unhappy with the the current system in it’s one major area of shortcoming: lack of public accountability. But based on the voting majority, the preference is to keep our current system in place and unchanged. So, the voting majority in our town has decided that we wish to keep WA semi-private/semi-public, keep the 9th grade at WA, keep WA’s BOT as it is, keep Prop 46 in place and unchanged. And there’s not much that can be done about the BOE either because that’s also a State/legislative entity.

So this means that there are a couple of schools of thought in play here. The first feels that there is absolutely no problem with the way things currently are and people who think that K-8 is underfunded or even on the verge of becoming underfunded in the near future are simply off their rockers. The second thinks that K-8 is underfunded or about to become so and we have WA’s structure, prop 46, and the BOF to thank for that.

I think I’m a bit in the middle of all of this. I’m not one for finger-pointing. I’m interested in finding out who’s fault it is (if anyone’s) only for the purpose of fixing it. Read the rest of this entry »

See Kevin Ford’s new article on the reversal of brain drain and our need to educate to compete.

United Natural Foods in Dayville goes solar. See the Norwich Bull article.

1. Special Statute - The Academy has a special statute for the state bond financing it accepted that provides for insignificant representation of its sending town boards of education relative to the general statutory requirement for financing for independent schools. The purpose of this general requirment is to ensure sending town needs are taken into account in the school’s overall program – especially its budget. Suggestions that this statute does not exist (WoodChuck) or was repealed (Reality Check) are untrue. The timing of passage, the adjectives used to describe it, and the level of historic public debate about the Academy’s preferential treatment do not diminish the basic point that they have special statutory treatment that provides for little meaningful sending town representation. While this protects the Academy’s independence, it creates a competition for – rather than a coordination of – resources with the K-8 system.

2. Public Funding - The Academy’s subsistence on public funds is critical or we wouldn’t be talking about it – its the main point of the exercise. If the Academy were a private school such as Pomfret Prep or Marionapolis, they would not qualify for any public funds in the form of tuition or construction money. Along with the public money comes public oversight and accountability and guidelines for the provision of its services. The Academy’s near-exclusive reliance on public funds isn’t “irrelevant” because RC or Taxpayer have judged the school “efficient”.

3. Funding Status - The Prop 46 expenditure cap is deflationary, and the Academy’s funding status is superior to all other town spending, by their own interpretation. This does create a budget squeeze on the K-8 system, and does lead to a misallocation of educational resources, a well known economic concept, with the result of lesser overall educational performance. Read the rest of this entry »

Note to Commentors: The Cafe gets about 8-10 spam for every comment that is submitted to the Cafe. If there are mixtures of spam and comments, we post comments first and then delete the spam in bulk. I someone happens to post a comment over the 10 or so seconds that it takes to delete the spam, the comment may be deleted along with the spam. This is a rare occurence but it happens occassionally. Admin

Eastern Connecticut State University (Eastern) and Norwich Free Academy have started a new partnership to help students earn college credit while taking courses at NFA. In this college program students can take anatomy and physiology, astronomy, speech, economics, psychology and computer science at the college level. In taking these courses while in high school students will earn college credit from Eastern. Last summer students could choose from six online courses, including general ecology, environmental issues, sustainable energy and the environment and archaeological field school.

Another program that NFA offers is the University of Connecticut Early College Experience. There are about 200 registrations at NFA for this program, with some students registered for multiple courses. Students take classes, such as advanced drawing, English literature, child growth and development, European history, calculus, computer science, biology and physics.

Also Three Rivers Community College and NFA have partnered in the Career Pathways program, through which NFA juniors and seniors can take up to 12 credits of Three Rivers classes for free at NFA. Between 50 and 60 students participate every year.

More than 48 percent of NFA students take courses for college credit at the school. Besides advancing education of NFA’s students, two of the advantages of taking college level courses while in high school are that students can graduate one to two semesters early saving in costs of going to Eastern from $8,300 to $16,600, respectively, and more for other more expensive colleges. Read the rest of this entry »

By whatever means, whenever it occurred, and whether it was under the cover of darkness or under a spotlight, when the legislation became effective, why would Woodstock Academy, of the only three privately endowed academies in Conn., be allowed the “exception” to have less representation of its sending towns on its Board of Trustees than the other two academies? There is no rational justification for that preference and that is the reason that the Education Committee did draft a corrective statute (why don’t you FOI that document if you don’t believe it was created?), which because of the work of a seasoned lobbyist, well known in the Statehouse and paid by the Academy (with whose funds?), never saw the light of day.

It seems that the main thrust of Breen’s proposal was to address that inequity of sending town representation. In addition, he brought the legislature’s attention to the inequity of the “funding priority of Woodstock Academy, which is exempt from the fiscal constraint” (i.e. Prop 46) about the only point that you failed to take issue with and that’s because, rather than rhetoric or propaganda, it is in fact reality here in Woodstock.

Your statement that WBOE has failed to come to ANY TERMS in its contract negotiations with WABOT shows how you continue to commit the same sins of which you complain … LYING! You have the most selective reading of the public record of any poster here at the Cafe, which probably explains why the Coalition website, which is clearly the product of your delusional ideas, also misrepresents fact and wallows in conspiratorial fiction. Read the rest of this entry »

Just following, the purpose of 10-285b(d)2 is to insure that if an independent high school accepted state/public money for major construction projects, their governing boards would have equivalent private and public representation with public reps appointed by the sending town boards of education. The special exception for Woodstock waters that representation down to a meaningless level.

I think this is the source of the “disconnect” in the funding priorities between the two schools, and I believe this disconnect undermines the overall K-12 system through what an economist would describe as a “mis-allocation of resources”. In one excellent example, the Academy, which has the funds, is hiring a reading intervention specialist, even though this position would be much more effective in earlier grades, where the K-8 system does not have the funds for the position. There are other examples with music, language, math, etc. This process has been ongoing for many years and represents a reduction in the overall quality of what is, in fact, the town’s public education system. Read the rest of this entry »

The article below was published a year ago. This last week it was reported that Mr. Shultz’ most recent FOI complaint was withdrawn. The Cafe has no verification of this as fact, but the article on Shultz’ FOI complaint was canceled by the Villager, reportedly because Mr. Shultz withdrew his complaint. It would be interesting to learn why his most recent complaint was withdrawn, if indeed this is true.

On a related subject, Mr. Shultz’ co-founder (along with Mr. Rosendahl) of the anti-BOE Coalition website, Mr. Craig R. Powers, has been dealing with a lawsuit from the Rectory School. It was Mr. Powers who sued the BOE last year. Mr. Powers wanted the Woodstock taxpayers to pay for his son’s education at the Rectory School, a case that Powers lost. This current Rectory lawsuit is listed as a “Contract – Collections” case at the CT State Judiciary Website. On November 1, 2007, the Plaintive (The Rectory School) pleaded a “REQ TO DIS DEFENSE” and on November 29th there was a motion on behalf of the plaintive “MOT DFLT-FLR TO DISC DEF” which may mean ‘Motion for default – failure to disclose defense’.

Is there anyone who understands this lingo that can explain this to the Cafe?

From a year ago: “Fascism Rears Its Ugly Head Again”

See Meghan’s opinion of Shultz’ FOI practices in the Comments. She states “The CPS/ Shultzie gang are pretty well-known at the FOI office in Hartford and are establishing a case of harassment and willful disregard for the purpose and intent of the FOI Act. They are setting up a case for the town, should the town choose to pursue it.”

Preston Shultz delivered a written statement of demands to School officials last week. These demands were read to the Woodstock Board of Education at their meeting Thursday night, December 14th. A copy of Shultz’s demands was handed to Admin so we decided to share these demands with the rest of the Town by posting this to the Cafe. Read the rest of this entry »

Released by the Board of Education December 7th, 2007

THANK YOU to the Woodstock community for the thoughtful responses received to date under our “Ask the WBOE� initiative (asktheboard@woodstockschools.net). Comments and questions are reviewed and appreciated by all Woodstock Board of Education members. We intend to respond to one- to- two questions monthly in this forum, which is also posted on the WPS website (www.woodstockschools.net). We will not publish the names of those submitting questions but please be aware that your submissions are a part of the public record, and thus anonymity cannot be assured. We ask that you not use this venue to comment on individual teachers. Please keep your correspondence coming!

Question to the WBOE: My child already has an English and a Math teacher. Why do the Woodstock Public Schools also fund Math and Language Arts Coordinators?

Answer: The math and language arts coordinators, Mr. Casey and Ms. Ekholm, are critical resources to achieving the efficient and successful education of our students. They are responsible for the consistent, integrated delivery of State- required standards of learning in each grade level, subject, and classroom. They provide valuable support to both teachers and students. They help assure that all of our students are learning the content and skills required to achieve in the 21st century.

The coordinators help to develop curricula for all class levels, and assist teachers in implementing these curricula effectively. They ensure alignment of our curricular content across grades and subject matter, as well as within the classroom. This enables teachers to develop individual lesson plans and creative teaching approaches while ensuring consistency in student learning objectives. “Curriculum alignmentâ€? has become more critical and complex due to the greater cross-disciplinary content required by State frameworks and by today’s standards of achievement. The coordinators also evaluate textbooks and other instructional materials and address any gaps between these materials and required standards. They bring current research in their field to the teaching faculty. Read the rest of this entry »

Point #1

In my case it was a VERY QUICK decision so please spare us the BS (regarding Admin placing him in the Wackity Rant section). You know there was no good reason at all to put my most two recent post there other than the fact that you’re being infantile.

Same with Reality Check. Reality check’s post didn’t cross any line or break any rules at all yet you see fit to censor it. Come to think of it, just about all of the thoughts expressed in your deleted section are valid and well thought out yet the redundant and off topic comments from those who share your views are not deleted. It’s as clear as day that you single out specific individuals to screw with and it only makes you look biased, unfair and childish but don’t let me stop you. Your continued actions only serve to support your critic’s arguments that you really don’t have any intention of making your little blog fair, you only use it to further your personal political agendas which last time I checked, ain’t going so well (see the 2007 election results!). Read the rest of this entry »

See Dustin Raccioppi’s article on Animal Control in Woodstock in the Norwich Bull.

BRAVO for John Day’s statement in the Letter to the Editor section (page 10) in tomorrow’s Villager that can be read on line today!Also, we are glad to see that there’s a new Marge on the front page of the Villager this week. Admin

A source at the Villager has indicated that Schultz has dropped his FOI complaint against the Board Of Education. It would be interesting to learn why. Subsequently the Villager has cancelled its article on the FOI complaint and Joe Breen’s interview. So you will only see Joe’s complete interview below. Also see comments under “The Shultz FOI Complaint.” Admin

One Fish: ‘The BOE has continued to spend education dollars to find a way to circumvent Prop 46 as well as find ways to have more control of WA.’

Two Fish: BOE has continued to spend dollars to investigate whether Prop 46 is being properly interpreted and is striving to secure a contract with the Academy that is fair to both parties.

Red Fish: ‘This continued use of significant education dollars for legal fees should be utilized for our schools, for our students.’

Blue Fish: The cost of legal fees is being utilized for our schools and our students. The district cannot control legal suits filed against it and is required to defend itself. Further, the district needs to understand whether its positions are legally defendable.

Black Fish: ‘It makes no sense to me that they would spend this money on anything other than the needs of our students.’
Blue Fish: Legal costs contribute to the Board of Education fulfilling its obligations to provide a fair and equitable education for all of its students.

Old Fish: ‘… money spent on legal fees to attempt to circumvent Prop 46 is nothing more than gambling… no need for further expenditures on legal fees regarding that issue.’

New Fish: The law is dynamic and ever evolving (i.e. civil rights, title 9). It is not unreasonable to periodically assess the legal parameters facing the Board.

Rich Fish: ‘The Academy is giving a good bang for the buck. This is the reason that citizens do not support the attacks on WA.’

Poor Fish: The K-8 system is giving an even better bang for the buck than the Academy, less per pupil investment with better than average test scores. Read the rest of this entry »

Subject: Comment on Preston Shultz’s Freedom of Information Request

See “The Shultz FOI Complaint” below and comment by ‘Economist’ describing a previous FOI complaint.

Dear Mr. Breen,

I have been looking into Preston Shultz’s request for the Freedom of Information Commission to investigate his claims against the Woodstock Board of Education. I would like to know your opinion on the request, considering Mr. Shultz states that he has evidence that the Board of Education and yourself, as the chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, are working together with the Board of Education’s law firm to find ways to overturn or alter Proposition 46 using taxpayer dollars. I would appreciate your comment to include in an article or if you wish not to comment, you may state so.

Sincerely, Brad Tilles
Villager Staff Writer

Breen Response: In regard to the pending litigation, Breen stated the following as a response: “The allegations made by Preston Shultz in his FOI request are false,” Breen said. “The Woodstock Board of Education did not solicit legal research on my behalf. My “research” consisted of simply looking up the State of Connecticut education statutes on my home computer and reading the handful related to Woodstock Academy. This is public information available to all.”

In addition, Breen cited Connecticut General Statute CGS 285B(d)(2) [CGS Sec. 10-285b] that requires as a condition of their state bonding that independent high schools such as Woodstock Academy have 50 percent of their overall governing boards appointed as representatives by their sending towns. Read the rest of this entry »

When I first discovered this blog, I did rely on it pretty heavily. So, if you were under the impression that this has been my only source, based on my early postings, then that was true. However, lately, I have started to attend some meetings. And I have been reading the links that you and others have provided. I have found the links helpful. I was trying to make a joke about them being as exciting as an insurance policy. Even if they aren’t my favorite subject matter to read, the info in several of these links IS important and I have been chipping away at it.

As I say in here frequently, I’m still open to learning more. But for now, I think that both K-8 and WA are a good bang for the buck. I do not think of the children at WA (my next door neighbor being one of them and he’s a great kid who helps us/his neighbors quite a bit) as being in any enemy camp. I would hope that when people talk about K-8 and WA in the “usâ€? vs. “themâ€? sense that it would only be in terms of spending/budgetary discussions and not in terms of the children themselves. I think that you and I would probably agree that it’s a shame to have an “usâ€? vs. “themâ€? mentality whatsoever. Unfortunately, from what I gather, this attitude persists because the structure of each school system is different. One being entirely public and one being semi-private. I’m not sure that would even be an issue if Prop. 46 did not exist. Now, please don’t mistake me here because I am not advocating amending nor repealing Prop 46 as a solution. I understand very well that the majority of taxpayers have stated that they do not want Prop 46 changed in any way and I accept that as something that will not change any time in the near future, if at all and it really doesn’t matter if I like that fact or not. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday, Monday 12/3, the Cafe had 333 visits and 1060 page turns.

See Kevin Ford’s commentary on his first official Board of Education meeting.

The following is a comment submitted by someone who would like to eliminate the Board of Education. What da ya think? Admin

The only person that should be advocating for your child is you! To shift that responsiblity to a board is irresponsible. Light your candle, burn some incence, and take a nice deep cleansing breath as you consider this thought (Dr. Phil/Newcomer might want to join in on this too) : The Board of Education no longer exist. I know, I know, this is not easy. Inhale deeply (and not from the pipe) and ask yourself this question: If the BOE did not exist, what would happen to my child? Now, ponder on this question grasshopper. Ponder deeply, deeply, deeply…..what do you see ….maybe you see that parents, teachers, and a supportive superintendent will take care of business. They are, after all, the most productive members of this endeavor we call education, aren’t they. The BOE will not be missed because they were always overrated and never accomplished much in the first place. Yes. Believe it or not, parents and teachers would see to it that the children would get educated. There would be courtesy, transparency, and productive discourse. The superintendent would continue developing the budget and would be responsible for arbitrating with the BOF and Academy. Things would be much simpler and a whole lot less “wordy” . Now exhale and relax. See…you worked yourself up for no good reason. Now go in peace child and remember, although this lesson is speculative, it brings a certain degree of perspective doesn’t it? The BOE is not all that important as they like to think.

Long time Woodstock inhabitant Rip Van Laskey woke up shortly after the election and noted that Woodstock hadn’t changed too much in 46 years. He spoke about this in a Letter to the Editor of the Woodstock Villager yesterday at the top left of page 11. His dear female friend immediately introduced him to the home computer and showed him where to find out what’s going on in Woodstock, the Woodstock Café of course.

First I am happy to hear that he has female companionship after all of those years, and we are always greatful for the free advertising.

Rip’s first impression was that the naming of the Café suggested that it could be “a place where our citizens could get together to chat and probably be enlightened by other opinions.” His perception was correct but as he started to wake up and smell the coffee, he noticed that many Café “voices were mean and shrill.” He must have been reading some of Wetzel’s comments. I can only conclude that he has not had a chance to read “Pet of the Week” or “Giant Fart Pervades Woodstock” or “Woodstock Should Go Nuclear” or any of Newcomers’ articles… and of course one of my favorites “Friday Night Lights.” Mean and shrill?… not always.

It’s true that the Café has yet to receive a Pewlitzer Prize like the Villager, Read the rest of this entry »