Today's Poll: Cuomo says school districts and municipalities should merge, do you agree?

Ted...people are pissed at Cuomo for the safe act as well as the three men in a room style budget negotiations that are going on. So thats why they are negative. Merging makes sense to me too.

Honestly how many people do it all the time within families when things get tight. I know of 4 families across the state where the member with the biggest household and bills began altering the house so that it houses 3 other familes be they daughters, sons, parents, grandparents etc.

Its more economical and unlike tenants they are family and can help in other ways that become fiscally sensible. Merging is happening in the home so why cant towns and districts consider it.

Ted, it is the countless mandates (Most Unfunded) that drive up the cost to school districts, even in the article that Howard cited for this poll, the opposition to Cuomo on this the stated reason.

The problem with consolidating districts is that you are creating an even larger government entity, without relief from the mandates any savings are only temporary, so you in effect create a bigger monster.

That is the same problem with city/town consolidations etc, initially you save, until the next wave of mandate from above, and then you have to start again.

Government and government services that are more local could be much more attentive to the needs of the people if, and only if, they were free from the onslaught of mandates from higher levels of government.

Without that, consolidations of services are merely a band aid.

Another chicken shi% votedown without a comment.
Don't take my word for it, ask the Batavia City School District why NYSED is at the middle school .

Ted I have to agree with what you said, it is stupid, its the same kind of stupidity you see all over the place and is why we are where we are as a country. I dont think the population has ever been as unsettled as it is now since the civil war or revolutionary war. But you can see it not only hasn't opened the eyes of those who govern us but it has made them play even more games with us and our lives. Time will tell where this is gonna take us but we are the ones that are suffering and waiting for change while we watch people complain about things until November then they vote their party lines and swallow the kool aid and wonder why things dont change.

Frank, you don't believe that good parenting is the key to child's success in school and in every other facet of life?

When parents let TV raise the kids because they are "too busy" doing whatever, that kid's chance of success is greatly diminished.

Being involved in homework, holding the child accountable for his or her actions, positive reinforcement are crucial to a kid's success in school.

What better form of teaching is there?

Mark,
Before you go running off at the mouth, when did I say anything about the role of parents, I'm talking about trained professionals who get compensated quite well to do their jobs. I'm talking about academics Mark, not charactor building. Like I said, ask the City School District
why the New York State Education Dept. is at the Middle School.
Beleive me, its not because of parenting.

As long as people like Mark make excuses for those who don't perform, they never will.
I never studied outside of school, and I was a straight A student, I had better things to do, like chores and deliver newspapers.
Mark, you act like your're smart enough, so why don't you find out for
yourself why NYSED is at the Middle School.
And you can bet your ass, if I could do it over, I would have home schooled.
If all the teachers are so damn good, why is NYSED there? They're not in Oakfield, they're not in Elba????

Frank,

My Daughter will Graduate from college this summer, The teachers at Batavia High School and the Former St Mary's did a fine job, And the hours that my wife and I spent helping her with homework and teaching her that study and homework were every bit as important paid off.

My eldest son carries a triple major as a junior at SUNY Fredonia and is semester after semester on the dean's List, His work ethic is way beyond a young man of his years and the teachers from Batavia High School, Batavia Middle School and the Former Saint Mary's School again gave him an exceptional base to build on.

My youngest son is currently attending Batavia Middle School, when my wife and I review his homework, I am totally impressed by the amount of material his teachers cover and their willingness to take the time to help him succeed like his older brother and sister.

I have yet to meet a teacher in Batavia that I would consider a bad teacher, in fact most of them I have found to be outstanding, and I do communicate with my children's teachers through out the year sometimes with email sometimes in person but they always have been there to help me mold my children into the best that they can be. And frankly, (Pardon the pun) are not only receptive to that communication but relish it.

'People like me' I don't make excuses for anyone, I have found a lot to like in the Batavia School District.

BTW, My Children did and my youngest does chores, two of my children have had paper routes (On of them two paper routes at the same time) and always found and still find time to study.

Your assertion that teachers here are not doing their job is simply put as "Absolute Bullshit!!

You have not given 1, not one fact that would indicate anything that would convince me otherwise.

Mark,
Unfortunately, I disagree with you, and you haven't shown me any facts that would change that.I'm glad your
children did well in the City School District, does that make them the mother of all school districts, I don't
think so, and I can prove beyond the shadow of doubt, not all children get a FAPE in the city school district.
If it is your perogitive to dispute that, knock your self out.I know better.
I'm talking about Batavia, not the inner city of Rochester where drugs alcohol and crime dominate daily life. Again, why is NYSED at The
Batavia Middle School if everything is as you say?
And you have no clue how they pick and chose, and stereotype.
And guess what Mark, when they fail, they in turn blame the parents. So save all of your bs for someone who is uninformed.

Jack
Did the thought that just maybe both parents have to be at work at 7 am ever occur to you. Maybe you need to check out why NYSED is at the middle school as well. I'm sure they're not there to tell them how great they are.

"And guess what Mark, when they fail, they in turn blame the parents. So save all of your bs for someone who is uninformed."

And that statement Frank, you have absolutely no friggin idea how far off base on that one you are in regard to this issue''

You KNOW that there is a problem with FAPE in Batavia Middle School

Then either lay out a fact or crawl back where ever others that use false accusations hide.

I happen to know that Howard discourages unsubstantiated accusations Frank. nice duck.

NO ONE called you a liar at anytime, simply asked you to back up your claim, if you can't then please spare us the accusation.

If you can not provide what you called proof, then simply do not make the claim.. So if you have proof, then go for it, if you don't then all you are doing is gossip.

And none of it would be cured by merging with another district, which is what this thread is about.

Pretty much the way I see it Howard, very well said

Mark, Your simply not that important to me to prove anything to, so just keep living in your little fantasy world where all is good.
Now if you want to make a wager on whether or not I can back up what I said, lets go.
Sorry Howard, didn't mean to go off, but this issue does get my emotions worked up a bit.
Mark, you brought up mandates, not me.

Frank, I am aware of why the NYSED is at the middle school. For you to place blame directly on the district and teachers is simply misguided.

Frank, I am suggesting that the issue that is driving you right now should be kept private. It is not related to Cuomo's merger statement and it is not the place to debate it.

I hope whatever the outcome of your situation, that you can live with the result.

May I respectively suggest that you let it rest completely before it becomes way too personal for you.

May God grant you peace of mind no matter what the outcome

Mark- you got it wrong. It is the high salaries, high benefits with almost no copay, the excessive number of administrators that drive up education costs. Why do you have a separate superintendent for Elba and Oakfield/Alabama. I believe you could get away with one to cover both districts.

Mark, Yes I believe we will realize savings and your data is very enlightening. It shows the biggest problem is "Instructional Expense as a percent of Adjusted Total Expense". What company/organization could survive when those percentages make up more than 3/4 of expenses. If these were companies in private industry, heads would roll, salaries for professional (exempt) employees would be frozen, layoffs would occur, the company would file bankruptcy or go out of business. Of course education is a protected business. They do not follow normal business practices. All they have to do is reach further into the taxpayers pockets.

Frank after all your blathering and name calling, can you remind me from which school you are a graduate? I'll certainly encourage my kids to not allow their kids to attend there. You may have "gotten straight A's" but certainly learned nothing about debating issues or even more importantly objective and cognitive thinking.

Do you even have enough on the ball to be embarrassed by your own nonsense?

Mark, why waste time with this guy?

Percent Employee Benefits 16.37, which by the way is right in line with other industries

Instructional Expense as a percent of Adjusted Total Expense: 85.21

Adjusted means Teacher salaries, the portion of the 16.37% benefits which go to teacher salaries, the upkeep of classrooms themselves, the cost of books, audio visual equipment, mandated programs, sports, music, art theatre, non student funded field trips, special Ed programs, teacher supplies etc.

Central Administration: 861,245
Board of Education: 74,105
Teacher Salaries: 13,551,503

#Note The data is from Before the closure of Robert Morris and the sale of the old Admin building

When Everyone starts seeing all these imaginary savings, ponder this:

Unreserved Fund Balance: 1,224,034
State AID Revenue: 15,310,898
Star Revenue: 3,710,300
Total State Revenue (State Aid + Star): 19,021,198
Local Revenue: 19,225,422
Federal Revenue: 2,126,048
Total Revenue (state + local + federal revenues): 40,372,668
Central Administration: 861,245
Board of Education: 74,105
Teacher Salaries: 13,551,503
Pupil Personnel Services Instructional Salaries: 926,309
Curriculum Development and Support Instructional Salaries: 826,147
Boces Instructional Expenditures: 3,500,570
Tuition Paid to other districts (excluding special act districts): 22,022
Tuition Not Included in Tuition Above: 341,566
Other Instructional Salaries: 2,956,205
Other Instructional Expenses: 1,755,231
Community Service: 0
Operations and Maintenance: 3,042,547
Teacher Retirement: 1,171,463
Health: 4,182,766
Other Employee Benefits: 1,950,955
Other Undistributed: 532,151
Other: 14,994
SubTotal (total exp minus debt service expenditures (principal & interest) and transportation):
Transportation: 875,493
Debt Service-Principle: 2,320,000
Debt Service-Interest: 1,120,625
Total Expenditure: 40,025,897
Duplicated Combined Adjusted Average Daily Membership: 2,574
Revenue Per Pupil: 15,685
Expenditure Per Pupil: 15,550
Actual Value Per Total Wealth Unit (Property Wealth Per Pupil): 192,977
Income Per Total Wealth Pupil Unit: 81,802
Combined Wealth Ratio: 0.623
IE 1 (Instructional Expenditures Excluding Fringe Benefits) as Percent of Total Expenditures: 59.66%
Percent that fringe (employee) benefits for the instructional program are of total expenditures: 16.37%
Instructional Expenditures (Including Fringe Benefits) as a percent of total expenditures: 76.03%
Instructional Expense as a percent of Adjusted Total Expense: 85.21%
Local Revenue Effort Rate (Local Revenues Divided by Property Value): 29.2

Again prior to the closure of Robert Morris and the sale of the old Admin building

My opinion on the subject, and what bothers me most, is the fact all these small towns, and small districts would lose their own identity.Cuomo's suggestion shows his true incompetence, as well as an attempt to pass the buck