the board finally backed down and agreed to move the pre-k program elsewhere. im so stoked that we stood our ground and kept the pod how it needs to be for the kids. lets just keep an eye on things to make sure they stick to this new plan.
August 29, 2016
Final supporters
The Guilderland Board of Education has recently signed a contract with Victory Child Care - Day Care to place pre-k classes in Pine Bush and Altamont Elementary schools, as well as Farnsworth Middle School. Unfortunately, the board has done this with no transparency, and has refused to consider the concerns of the teachers, students and parents who are affected by the changes to come. The Board's decisions have taken place largely behind closed doors, and with disregard and disrespect for anyone expressing concerns about their plans.
The Board decided to place the two Pine Bush pre-k classrooms in the middle of the "blue pod", directly between two kindergarten classes. Additionally, a chain-link fence playground is being installed outside of these kindergarten rooms. If our student population grows at all, an extra class will be necessary in order to comply with acceptable class sizes. Should this occur, some of our teachers will be required to move their classes to the red pod, thus breaking up the continuum of learning structure that has long been part of the Pine Bush experience.
Pine Bush teachers and parents have gone before the Board and requested that they reconsider these decisions. We are concerned about the distraction that these pre-school children will pose to our youngest learners, as well as the disruption caused to our educational community. We have also reminded the Board that for years a pre-k program (ECEC) operated successfully in the red pod. We have requested that any necessary modifications to the red pod be made, and that pre-school classes be housed there instead. This will allow Victory to have the space they need, without interrupting the learning of our Pine Bush students, and without disrupting the educational progression of our community.
Unfortunately, the Board has refused to even consider our request. They reviewed and signed a contract without any voter input. Then they scheduled a vote (on an already accepted contract) for April 12, but quietly held a their vote at a "special meeting" on April 7 instead, without any public notification. Those who attempt to comment to the board have been cut off before finishing, and members of the board have engaged in verbal attacks on those who dare to speak on this issue.
Clearly members of the Guilderland Board of Education have decided that their priorities, and those of Victory Day Care, supersede the wishes and needs of the Pine Bush community.
We ask you to show your support, sign this petition, and tell the board to respect the wishes and needs of BOTH the Pine Bush community AND Victory Daycare, by making the necessary changes and moving the pre-k program into the red pod.
Please share this with as many people as possible.
Thank you for your support.
UPDATE: We would like to thank Dr. Wiles and Mr. Sanders for their willingness to hear concerns at the June 21 meeting.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
June 18, 2016
29 Comments
Our children's safety, learning environment and general well-being are the most important things to be considered. Making so many changes and adjustments that are only in the interest of the Victory Daycare, and not in the interest of our own schools, is not in keeping with consideration for our children and students first. Displacing long-standing teachers and classes for the sake of an outside entity that has no real interest or stake in our school district or community ought to be out of the question.
All three of my children went to pre-k at ECEC housed in the red pod. It was great and did not interfere with the other students. It makes more sense for the pre-k to go there.
I'm a Pine Bush parent of a 1st and K student and this is a HUGE concern. Is this the thanks we get for supporting our schools and raising taxes on ourselves??? There was no shortage of information, articles, etc. leading up to those tax votes. At a minimum, the Board needs to respond directly to affected parents and explain their actions.
The playground fence may also be in the area of the sandbox that was built in memory of a Pine Bush student that passed away. Are specific plans in place to allow all young members of the community access to that sandbox and were her parents notified directly of the change?
I am angry that I am just hearing about this now. the school is not for rent. This should have been open up to the community to have discussion and then if continued decided where the best place should be. Not in the middle of the blue pod. If the last preschool was in the red pod then that is where this preschool should be housed.
no daycare in pine bush elementary school!!!
NYSSBA; state "that school board members are the educational leaders in their communities and determine the policies that govern the operation of their local public school systems." These "public officials" should determine policies effecting the safety and learning environment of our children in a fully transparent and accountable manner that include specific and written plans to address safety and learning environment dynamics of a new policy before that policy is approved and/or implemented. From all available written board meeting information this does not appear the case with these new policies. It is the parents and community responsibility to hold our policy makers transparent and accountable. I believe the school board owes parents and teachers a written security plan (and an original date when plan was decided upon) a reconsideration of the decision due to the tremendous disruption of the students and teachers and exactly how much money (if there is any being made) on this decision.
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the board finally backed down and agreed to move the pre-k program elsewhere. im so stoked that we stood our ground and kept the pod how it needs to be for the kids. lets just keep an eye on things to make sure they stick to this new plan.
August 29, 2016
Final supporters
The Guilderland Board of Education has recently signed a contract with Victory Child Care - Day Care to place pre-k classes in Pine Bush and Altamont Elementary schools, as well as Farnsworth Middle School. Unfortunately, the board has done this with no transparency, and has refused to consider the concerns of the teachers, students and parents who are affected by the changes to come. The Board's decisions have taken place largely behind closed doors, and with disregard and disrespect for anyone expressing concerns about their plans.
The Board decided to place the two Pine Bush pre-k classrooms in the middle of the "blue pod", directly between two kindergarten classes. Additionally, a chain-link fence playground is being installed outside of these kindergarten rooms. If our student population grows at all, an extra class will be necessary in order to comply with acceptable class sizes. Should this occur, some of our teachers will be required to move their classes to the red pod, thus breaking up the continuum of learning structure that has long been part of the Pine Bush experience.
Pine Bush teachers and parents have gone before the Board and requested that they reconsider these decisions. We are concerned about the distraction that these pre-school children will pose to our youngest learners, as well as the disruption caused to our educational community. We have also reminded the Board that for years a pre-k program (ECEC) operated successfully in the red pod. We have requested that any necessary modifications to the red pod be made, and that pre-school classes be housed there instead. This will allow Victory to have the space they need, without interrupting the learning of our Pine Bush students, and without disrupting the educational progression of our community.
Unfortunately, the Board has refused to even consider our request. They reviewed and signed a contract without any voter input. Then they scheduled a vote (on an already accepted contract) for April 12, but quietly held a their vote at a "special meeting" on April 7 instead, without any public notification. Those who attempt to comment to the board have been cut off before finishing, and members of the board have engaged in verbal attacks on those who dare to speak on this issue.
Clearly members of the Guilderland Board of Education have decided that their priorities, and those of Victory Day Care, supersede the wishes and needs of the Pine Bush community.
We ask you to show your support, sign this petition, and tell the board to respect the wishes and needs of BOTH the Pine Bush community AND Victory Daycare, by making the necessary changes and moving the pre-k program into the red pod.
Please share this with as many people as possible.
Thank you for your support.
UPDATE: We would like to thank Dr. Wiles and Mr. Sanders for their willingness to hear concerns at the June 21 meeting.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
June 18, 2016
29 Comments
It's time that parent input is considered and the board understands that they serve the community and not the other way around. If money is the issue there are better ways than the current approach to rent space to a unrelated institution.
Our children's safety, learning environment and general well-being are the most important things to be considered. Making so many changes and adjustments that are only in the interest of the Victory Daycare, and not in the interest of our own schools, is not in keeping with consideration for our children and students first. Displacing long-standing teachers and classes for the sake of an outside entity that has no real interest or stake in our school district or community ought to be out of the question.
All three of my children went to pre-k at ECEC housed in the red pod. It was great and did not interfere with the other students. It makes more sense for the pre-k to go there.
I'm a Pine Bush parent of a 1st and K student and this is a HUGE concern. Is this the thanks we get for supporting our schools and raising taxes on ourselves??? There was no shortage of information, articles, etc. leading up to those tax votes. At a minimum, the Board needs to respond directly to affected parents and explain their actions.
The playground fence may also be in the area of the sandbox that was built in memory of a Pine Bush student that passed away. Are specific plans in place to allow all young members of the community access to that sandbox and were her parents notified directly of the change?
I am angry that I am just hearing about this now. the school is not for rent. This should have been open up to the community to have discussion and then if continued decided where the best place should be. Not in the middle of the blue pod. If the last preschool was in the red pod then that is where this preschool should be housed.
no daycare in pine bush elementary school!!!
NYSSBA; state "that school board members are the educational leaders in their communities and determine the policies that govern the operation of their local public school systems." These "public officials" should determine policies effecting the safety and learning environment of our children in a fully transparent and accountable manner that include specific and written plans to address safety and learning environment dynamics of a new policy before that policy is approved and/or implemented. From all available written board meeting information this does not appear the case with these new policies. It is the parents and community responsibility to hold our policy makers transparent and accountable. I believe the school board owes parents and teachers a written security plan (and an original date when plan was decided upon) a reconsideration of the decision due to the tremendous disruption of the students and teachers and exactly how much money (if there is any being made) on this decision.
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It's time that parent input is considered and the board understands that they serve the community and not the other way around. If money is the issue there are better ways than the current approach to rent space to a unrelated institution.