Meet The Candidates

We have two "Meet the Candidates" events to announce.

Friday May 2: Woodstock Get Out The Vote hosts a "Meet the Candidates," "open mike" event at the Woodstock Community Center, Rock City Road. There's a kid-friendly period, from 5pm -7pm, with a clown on hand to entertain your little ones while you get to talk to the candidates, followed by an adults-only session, which will last until 9pm.

Monday May 5: The Onteora District PTA Council invites all parents, teachers and district voters to “Meet the Candidates” at 7pm in the Onteora Middle/High School Cafeteria, Route 28, Boiceville, NY. Refreshments will be served. We expect all eight candidates to be at this event.

These are ideal opportunities to get to know your various candidates, ask the necessary questions, listen to everyone's answers. We expect there to be other opportunities to Meet the Candidates before the election but hope that many of you will be able to attend one of these events in the meantime.

Mothers Day FUNdraiser

At the Bearsville Theater. Book your calendar. Bring your kids. Bring your mom. Bring everyone!

Herb Rosenfeld explains his resignation

Originally, there were meant to be just three Board positions up for election on May 20. Then, on April 4, Herb Rosenfeld, a Trustee who lived in Woodstock and was on his second term as a Trustee, abruptly resigned, creating a fourth vacancy. Rosenfeld explained his resignation in a phone interview with Lisa Childers that was published in the Woodstock Times, Phoenicia Times and Olive Press. We reprint it below; it's highly instructive and helps explain the problems we face with the current School Board - in particular the three incumbents whose re-election is being challenged by our slate of four candidates: Flayhan, Legnini, McGillicuddy, Osmond.

Herb Rosenfeld resigned from the Onteora’s school board on April 4 and in a recent phone conversation explained why he made his decision to step down after nearly five years of service.

“I felt like I didn’t fit into the way the board processed information and came to conclusions,” He said, noting that educational topics he presented were never addressed, he carried a lack of voting power and his opinion was often ignored.

Rosenfeld believes the school board’s proposed 5-8 middle school, that would necessitate the closing of another elementary school, lacks a major component - education for all. He emphasized the “all,” part. This is something Rosenfeld said is being largely ignored.

“We do fine with kids who wind up in fancy schools,” said Rosenfeld. “We need to develop a vision on what we want for all students.” He described the need for an education “blueprint,” a vision designed to engage all students and so far with the new reconfiguration he has not seen any benefits for kids.

Rosenfeld, a retired educator with 40+ years of experience, said investments should be made in more “pedagogy and curriculum.” Teachers need space to call their own, he explained but, “this $80 million project, it’s a Cadillac of jobs that we’re going for, instead of finding alternatives.” Rosenfeld wants the school board to put the breaks on the proposal.

Rosenfeld also does not understand why the current board placed a 15 minute limit during the “public be heard” section of the board agenda. He called the move “disrespectful” to the public. He said, “I sat for hours listening to the people when they closed West Hurley (elementary),” in 2003/2004. He noted the same procedure when Large Parcel was open to public discussion. Both had public input before any vote was taken. He does not blame the district leadership for what he believes is its mishap, but said things will change if the board were to change. Superintendent Leslie Ford is, “interested in doing her job-I don’t think that she is the issue.”

Rosenfeld called the current board, “politicized,” primarily because of the Large Parcel legislation where the town of Olive found candidates who, once elected to the school board, would vote against the bill. Five out of the current six school board members are from the town of Olive. He believes the board, “was elected to serve the Large Parcel issue and wound up with a fortress mentality that they stick to.”

Rosenfeld said there is nothing wrong with a 5-8 middle school model except that it does not fit in the Onteora district. In a narrow four to three vote that approved the middle school, he voted against it because it meant closing an elementary school. He also said there are equally positive studies for 6-8 middle school and Kindergarten- through-twelve configurations. He also warns against the proposed larger classroom size population of students that will happen if a school closes. He said studies do not support any positive outcome.

“If you close down another school you are going to shift 250 plus kids into two elementary schools,” he said. “The research as to what that would do is astounding.”
Rosenfeld explained that the board should start at the beginning with public meetings, town meetings and “utilize more than one architect” at competitive bids. “I mean you would do that when building a house.” He noted that really good changes are happening at the elementary schools, so what is the purpose of changing or closing a school when it works.

“They are on the cusp of being incredible,” he said, giving credit to good teaching, coupled with the new reading/writing program and community and parental involvement. He said Phoenicia has shown increased enrollment at the lower levels and he does not trust demographic reports when the reconfiguration plan will maximize space.

Rosenfeld reflected that he voted on very controversial issues such as the closing of West Hurley elementary school. Always, he worked with his fellow board members and enjoyed their company, even though he was vehemently against the majority’s vote.

His first couple of years on the board, he explained, were different.

“Then,” he said, “The lines weren’t drawn.”

But now continuing his term as a school board member he viewed as, “pointless.”

Phoenicia, Woodstock to close?

Last June’s Board vote to create a Grades 5-8 Middle School ensured the Board’s wish to close another elementary school in the District. We knew that. But, leading up to and following a presentation to the District by KSQ Architects in January, two options were put on the table:

1) to place the new Middle School in the current Middle School/High School building,
2) to place the new Middle School in the Bennett building.

Many of us were led to believe, directly and indirectly by Board members and senior Administration officials, that the Bennett option was being seriously considered. We were surprised, as this would mean the closure of Bennett, which is the local elementary school for the majority of current Board members and their voters; plus, Bennett has only recently been upgraded and refurbished. Still, some parents were prepared to entertain this idea – in part because it appeared that it would ensure the survival of the two outlying elementary schools.

Officially, the decision on where to place the Middle School is not being made until the May 6 board meeting. However, at recent board meetings, as the 2008-09 budget was hammered out, we saw signs that the Board had already made its mind up: $500,000 has been allocated for new plastic lockers in the MS/HS (about which we have several concerns, to be discussed another time), plus bathroom and floor renovations in the MS/HS; the roof is to be partially repaired. Why, we wondered, go through all this expenditure if the Middle School was to be torn down in three years, to be replaced by a new Middle School at Bennett?

The answer? It was never a serious plan to put the Middle School in Bennett.

Laurie Osmond picks up from here with her observations from attending the BOE meeting on April 23 and what it means for the District.

All the talk of debating/discussing whether the BOE will create a 5-8 Middle School from Bennett Elementary, or as part of the existing MS/HS is what has been suspected; a total sham.

1) KSQ Architects' presentation made it immediately clear that the construction/renovation project (that's the $70-86 Million Bond) will be eligible for more state aid if it is sited within the existing MS/HS building.
This is because it creates a higher population concentration in one building (read larger classes). For grades 7-12 the State uses 30 pupils per class in their formula, for grades K-6 they use 27 pupils per class in their formula. (Current district class size guidelines are 27 per class for the upper grades, though the Board can change its class size guidelines.)

Some Board members feigned surprise at this information, though at least one of them was present at a meeting with the State Education Department regarding this last month. One also has to wonder, how can a Board member serve for nearly three years, focusing on reconfiguring the district, and just only be aware of this state aid information now?

2) The schedule for moving forward that KSQ presented on Wednesday was based solely on the Middle School sited within the MS/HS, although the BOE has told the public they will not be "deciding" where to put the Middle School on May 6th. This "decision" appears to be a foregone conclusion. After all, was it ever likely the Olive-based incumbents would decide to close their own Elementary School weeks before the election? No.

3) Placing the 5-8 Middle School in the same building as the High School means that either Phoenicia or Woodstock Elementary will be scheduled for closure, in 2011. To hammer this home, KSQ Architects presented numbers that show it will cost $86 million to place the Middle School in Bennett; but only $70 million to place it in the MS/HS and close Phoenicia. And that’s without the additional State Aid factored in to the Bond costs. The current Board values dollars above everything; having voted for a Grades 5-8 Middle School, having secured through that vote the closure of another elementary school, we do not expect it to do anything now but to vote for the cheapest option.

4) At the urging of Trustee Resnick, who read a prepared statement which seemed to favor closing an Elementary School, the Board reluctantly "debated" closing an Elementary School for all of 15 minutes. No one spoke in favor of keeping three Elementary Schools open, and at least two Board members spoke of a future vision of TOTAL district consolidation at Boiceville.

5) The schedule presented by KSQ, shows that the Board will be voting at the end of June on which Elementary will close. This carefully orchestrated plan means the actual vote will be taken after Board elections but before any new Board members start their term. (Their term would start July 1.) This is no coincidence, as anyone familiar with how the 5-8 Middle School was voted in will tell you.

6) It should be noted that KSQ Architects' initial recommendations, in early 2006, were to create a 6-8 Middle School and retain 3 Elementary Schools. The opinions of these hired experts (at what cost?) were then disregarded by the Board, who went on to vote in their original agenda; district consolidation, the closure of an additional Elementary School, the creation of Boiceville as a centralized campus. Since KSQ have returned to the Community after a long absence, their findings have coincided perfectly with the Board’s plans. We wonder when their contract was last renewed and what discussions were had at the time.

7) The District’s "Budget Advisory Committee," which was originally presented as a volunteer group of community-minded financial experts, has since been exposed as a group hand-picked by the Board to support their agenda. It is no coincidence that their "findings" dovetail with and support the plan to close an Elementary School.

As we understand it, four of the five members of the Budget Advisory Committee live in Olive. One member of this committee, Drew Boggess, is married to Judith Boggess, the "point person" for Olive Matters and apparent self-appointed education expert, whose divisive, poison-spreading stance is quoted at length in the current issue of The Phoenicia Times and the Olive Press and is quoted in full (in the post below) at this web site.

All these "findings," which will, if the current Board is re-elected, result in the closure of, initially, Phoenicia or Woodstock elementary, and eventually both, are not a process, but are part of a closed system, presided over by a few, whose central aim, since day one, has been district consolidation.

Ralph Legnini writes...

Hi everyone, and welcome to our website. This is Ralph Legnini with a few comments regarding the recent newspaper article about Olive Matters. The three incumbent candidates, Cindy, Rita and Mary Jane, are running for re-election to the Board Of Ed. They have the full support of the group Olive Matters, which was the driving force behind their election win three years ago. At that time, we were all in the thick of the Large Parcel Issue, and the other three towns in the district sided against Olive. What Olive did was democracy in action - they motivated their town and voted in Olive-only candidates, and hence, had the majority vote on the Board. Olive Matters was a group of people fighting for what they felt was right!

It is now three years down the road. The divisive Large Parcel Issue is thankfully being viewed by most as being in the rear view mirror on the bumpy road that the Onteora School District has been on for many years now. I had a constructive and cordial meeting with the folks from Olive Matters last week. I told them that I had an idea to run against their incumbent candidates with a united block of four candidates, one from each of the four towns in the district - Woodstock, Shandaken, West Hurley and Olive. I felt this would hopefully go far to help heal the wounds inflicted over the years, upon our entire community, by all the divisive issues in our school district. Unfortunately, as I expressed to them, we could not find a fellow candidate from West Hurley to step up to the task, but our slate is filled with, what I feel is an awesome group of four individuals - one from Shandaken, two from Woodstock, and myself from Olive. If elected, West Hurley will always have our open ear for all their necessary input.

I did not expect support from the Olive Matters group since, as I told them, philosophically we differ on the future path of our school district. I met with them anyway so that I could have face to face contact with all those present at their monthly meeting (a contingent that includes the three incumbents), introduce myself, and express my passionate wish that this election be solely about the issues on hand for the district. I strongly feel that we have all done the town vs. town thing for years now, and hoped that we could all bury the hatchet and move on. After reading Judith Boggess' comments in the local press [see below], I can see that she and Olive Matters just are not ready to let go. I am disappointed, but I respect their feelings. I told Judith on the phone that I feel she and I could discuss school issues for hours and not change each other’s minds much, if any, but that I am happy we can converse in a spirited discussion, without any animosity - and in the end, just agree that we disagree.

After talking to hundreds of folks in all four of our towns - including many of the area's elected officials - it is clear that day by day, residue bad blood between the towns is evaporating drop by drop, and I am very hopeful that the community can slowly and steadily become united again. The main passion I have for running for School Board Trustee is to help make the schools AND the community better.

Please make an effort as members of this community, to be knowledgeable voters in this upcoming May 20th election. Come out and vote for the candidates of your choice. If you vote in the incumbents as a block, they will know they have the support of the voting public to proceed with the plans they've already put in motion.

However, if you vote for us (Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini, Laurie Osmond & Ann McGillicuddy) it will be a clear signal that the majority of the voting public disagrees with the current Board's decisions, and their future plans.

If elected by you, we (Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini, Ann McGillicuddy & Laurie Osmond ) would be the majority vote on the Board, and we will be in a position to turn this moving train in a different direction."

Sincerely,

Ralph Legnini

Olive Matters: What's their Stance?

The following story was published in this week's Olive Press and Phoenicia Times. Ralph Legnini will issue a response to it in the next post.

Haven’t heard recently from Olive Matters, the town-specific voting bloc that created the Onteora School District’s current board configuration? That’s not because they’ve been inactive, according to the ad hoc organization’s point person, Judith Boggess. They just haven’t been announcing their meetings in local newspapers or other ways that would let more than their members know what they’re up to via e-mails and phone calls.

“We’re getting together this Wednesday to discuss school board candidates,” Boggess said this week of a planned April 16 gathering at the Olive Free Library in West Shokan.
She noted that one newly-announced Olive candidate, Ralph Legnini, had asked if he could come before Olive Matters to seek their support for the slate of four candidates he’s running with who are against the current board’s pending proposal to redistrict Onteora for a new 5-8 Middle School, necessitating the closing of another elementary school.
“We said that’s crazy, that’s like asking somebody from Woodstock to support an Olive candidate,” Boggess continued. “We’re definitely not supporting anyone not from Olive… Olive only candidates, that’s who we support.”
Later, Boggess wrote that the group DID meet with Legnini, who made his case. But all in attendance politely disagreed, standing by their belief that taxpayer issues were paramount at the moment, at least in their terms.
In explanation of the Olive Matters Olive-only stance regarding Onteora matters, Boggess was no-nonsense. She noted that even though a deal has been struck between New York City and the Town of Olive that makes the Large Parcel issue that raised the townspeoples’ school taxes moot for the coming decade, her group won’t be happy until laws are passed in Albany that specifically remove reservoirs from any consideration if its implementation.
“All we have now is a ten year reprieve,” she said. “What happens after 10 years if New York City and the town can’t agree on a value anymore?”
Boggess said the rest of the Onteora School district had former Woodstock supervisor Jeremy Wilber and former Shandaken supervisor Bob Cross to thank for the Olive Matters stance, which would push for their town’s complete control of the school board until which time Large Parcel is removed from consideration by the state. No matter what any local candidates say about not implementing it. And no matter whether either of the former supervisors ever apologized for their previous stances.
She also noted that Olive Matters was fully supporting the Middle School plan, and planning process, pushed by the three incumbent candidates it helped bring to the Onteora board in an upset election three years ago. She pointed out that the middle school discussions had taken long enough – three years – to already allow everyone a say, and that “parents who don’t want this don’t understand” that unless schools are closed and consolidation allowed to happen, there would be more cuts to education, including “things like band and art” because of the district’s runaway expenses.
Boggess’ husband Drew served as a member of the school district’s Budget Study Group that recently recommended closing a school and consolidating programs, as well as hiring new teachers at lower wages, as a means of stemming the sort of high costs it characterized, in its recently disseminated report, via the image of a runaway train.
“These three people have kept our budget down and done a bang-up job,” Boggess said of OCS Board President MaryJane Bernholz and boardmembers Cindy O’Connor and Rita Vanacore. “We’re tired of seeing our board members being unduly badmouthed, just like we’re tired of being bad-mouthed as a town.”
Boggess spoke about how candidates opposing the Olive incumbents were talking about issues related to qualities of education and community when what mattered most to the Olive voters Olive Matters represented were more interested in pure economics.
“They should ride around with our Meals on Wheels programs and ask our seniors themselves to pay these $100,000 salaries for teachers,” she said. “Tell them why there are 60 passenger busses with only 40 kids on them. Tell them you want all this stuff paid for out of their Social Security checks.”
Boggess noted that Olive Matters didn’t care which school closed, as long as one did.
“We can’t keep feeding this monster,” she said.
After noting that Olive Matters wouldn’t mind Woodstock and West Hurley splitting from the rest of Onteora, the better for the remaining district’s school aid formulas, Boggess was asked whether anyone in her organization was giving thought to the effects of rising energy prices and those who are now saying it will force an eventual return to smaller, community-oriented education.
“I don’t think a lot of people here understand or care about any of that right now,” she replied. “Right now, everyone’s more concerned about paying bills that are piling up. And a lot of our senior citizens are without children now, so they don’t really care. ‘Why would it effect me,’ they say.”
Should the new slate ask to speak to Olive Matters at an upcoming meeting, via Legnini, an Olive resident, or any of the other candidates, Boggess said they would likely be put on the agenda. But the she added that there might also be a chance that no one would show up to listen to them.
Does Olive Matters have a fourth candidate for the open slots up for election May 20, in addition to the three incumbents they consider theirs?
Boggess said there were other petitions out but no official word of anyone yet.
Has their turnout been as strong as it once was, back when Large Parcel was more of a pressing issue?
“We have a turn out. We’re kind of silently active, with a formidable e-mail list,” Boggess said. “WE want a big push to have only Olive people on the board.”
Forever?
“It would be nice to figure out how the heck all these towns can get together,” she said. “But for now, we’re sick of people considering us ‘low tax Olive.’”

Voter Registration Information

Are you registered to vote yet for the upcoming School Board Election? No?

To request a Voter Registration Form:

• Call the Board of Elections at 845-334-5470;
• stop by the Board office at 284 Wall Street, Kingston, NY 12401;
• stop by your local post office, library, city or town clerks office
• or download a voter registration form (pdf)
• Or, on May 13th, from 2-8pm, visit any of the FOUR elementary schools, where they will be registering voters. That will be your last opportunity to register.

______

Will you be out of town on May 20 and requiring an Absentee Ballot? Yes?

Stop in at the OCSD Admin Office at the MS/HS Building in Boiceville, fill out an Application, and receive your actual ballot. This is by the far the quickest way.
You can also receive an Absentee Ballot application form by contacting District Clerk Jeanne Shultis jshultis@onteora.k12.ny.us
Phone (845) 657-6383 Ext 264
Allow time to mail it back before May 13.
_______

Requirements for voter participation in the OCSD election and more info on Absentee Ballots can be found on this PDF, as supplied by the OCSD.

How New Paltz addressed the future of its Middle School

'The aged infrastructure of the... Middle School has been under discussion for many years. The Board of Education has committed to make a decision in early 2008 on whether or not to rehabilitate the Middle School for educational purposes. Before investments are made the Board is asking the community to share its thoughts about what it considers are the most important factors that must be considered when taking this very important step forward."

Please visit the New Paltz Middle School blog to see how the Board in the New Paltz School District tackled its own controversial issues - and how it was able to reach a Unanimous Decision just a couple of months later. It's entirely possible to bring the community on board - if you involve the community throughout the process. Unfortunately, that has not been the case here in Onteora - which is why the Community is so divided.

How to help

There’s been lots of positive feedback since Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini, Ann McGillicuddy and Laurie Osmond announced their candidacy for the School Board, and many people have asked what they can do to help get them elected. Here are ten ideas to take into the weekend:

1) Talk to your friends. Next time you’re in the store and see of one of your neighbors or friends, take a minute to ask if they’re voting in the School Board election and if they’re aware of the issues. To help with this,

2) Carry materials with you. The press release and the Points of Unity are featured below, as earlier posts. Print them out and take copies with you. There will be some proper promotional materials soon. But these all cost money. And so,

3) Contribute to the campaign. The current Board will have you financing a multi-million dollar Bond to create a new middle school out of your taxes while closing another elementary school. In light of the likely increase in your school taxes if that happens, please consider a donation to help with the costs of garden signs, posters etc. We wish we didn’t have to ask for financial help but all these candidates are willing to give up many months of hard work over the next few years to represent us all on the School Board; a few dollars to help with their promotional needs is a small price to pay! We will have information on how and where to send money soon. In the interim, a "pledge" helps.

4) Call your friends. Think of five people who live and vote in the School District who may not know about the Election or the issues involved. Call one of them a night over the next week. Remember, everyone who pays school taxes in the District has a vested interest in the outcome. As you talk to them, be ready to …

5) E-mail your friends. None of us like spam, but most of us like to be kept informed on local issues. Again, think of people who live here, can vote here, pay school taxes here, but maybe are not involved in the local Schools and might normally sit out the election.

6) Offer your garden, or store window, for promotional purposes. If you have a high visibility home or business, we would love to be able to put up either a garden sign or a poster. Nothing gets the word out like getting the word out. If you can help with this, please make yourself known, by response here or contacting one of the candidates.

7) Meet the Candidates. Many of you know the Candidates. Some of you may not. There are going to be several formal opportunities to meet the candidates over coming weeks, and dozens of informal ones. Use the opportunities to ask them questions, offer opinions, share your experiences, or just offer encouragement.

8) Attend the Funraisers. We will be hosting some “Funraising” events in May, which we hope will be entertaining, informative, and also serve to raise some funds. The main event is a kids concert on the afternoon of May 11 at the Bearsville Theater. We are hoping to run raffles and silent auctions and so…

9) Contribute to the raffles/auctions. Again, if you have a store or a business, a restaurant, or you’re an artist of some kind (writer, painter, musician) who can contribute some kind of “prize” for one of our fun-raisers, it will be enormously appreciated.

10) Attach the web address on your e-mail signature. Add www.saveouronteoraschools.com to the bottom of your e-mails (which you can make permanent in your Browser Preferences), perhaps with a message of your own to encourage people to follow the link. It’s an easy and efficient way to spread the word. And best of all, it’s free!

The election is May 20, at the four elementary schools.

District Plan Fact Sheet

This Fact Sheet was put together in early March 2008 by member of “Onteora Parents," an ad-hoc collection of parents from throughout the District, which in July 2007 established an online group to help organize and communicate. (You are invited to join and participate in discussions at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OnteoraParents.) We hope the following sheet helps you understand the history behind the current Schools controversy.



OVERVIEW:
Geographically, the Onteora Central School District (OCSD) is the second largest district in New York State, encompassing over 300 square miles. It is recognized as a ‘Rural District’ by the Federal and State governments and results in unique geography and transportation issues. 1

In June 2007 the OCSD Board of Education (BOE) voted to change District configuration to a 5-8 Middle School model. This would result in the closing of an Elementary School, and a cost of $70-85 million, plus additional costs yet to be specified. Meanwhile, our school buildings are in need of repair and refurbishment. Anticipated costs for repair are in the range of $40 million, according to models currently presented by BOE-hired architects.


THE FACTS:
2004 - BOE forms the Middle School Steering Committee at the request of MS Principal Gayle Kavanaugh to study various Middle School concepts.

2004 - 2005 - MS Steering Committee members visit Middle Schools in Chappaqua, in suburban Westchester County, and Rondout Valley in Ulster County to help form opinions on the appropriate Middle School configuration. (Note that median household incomes of these districts are $173,368 and $48,606 respectively; median incomes in OCSD are $39,948).

FEBRUARY 15 2005 – BOE Future of the District Committee recommends three Elementary Schools, redistricting to equalize class sizes, a separate Middle School facility, and the hiring of an architect to review facilities and make recommendations in light of their (above) recommendations.

JUNE 14 2005 – The Middle School Steering Committee opts for a particular 5-8 middle school recommendation, with specific organizational and educational components and divisions.

AUGUST 2005 - KSQ Architects (KSQ) (of White Plains, NY & Tulsa, OK) hired by the BOE to evaluate the district facilities, and present options for future direction. Declining enrollment and aging facilities are cited.

FEBRUARY 2006 – KSQ presents 9 different district configuration options. KSQ recommends further evaluation of Plan A (three Elementary Schools, 6-8 Middle School, 9-12 High School). During this meeting “… the Board reached consensus that the architects should proceed with … Plan A”2. KSQ states that closing another Elementary School is not required.3 One Trustee requests further evaluation of Plan C (two Elementary Schools, 5-8 Middle School, 9-12 High School) in addition to Plan A.4 This prompts the Phoenicia Times to run an editorial titled “Watch Out for Plan C”. 5

SEPTEMBER 12 2006 - KSQ presents three plans:
• Plan A (three Elementary Schools, a 6-8 Middle School, a 9-12 High School)
• Plan C (two Elementary Schools, a 5-8 Middle School, a 9-12 High School)
• Centralized Campus plan with all schools in Boiceville

NOVEMBER 14 2006 – Dr. Judith Fox, former Superintendent of Byram Hill CSD in Armonk, NY speaks to the BOE on Middle School configurations. Her report finds no substantive drawbacks to the 6-8 or 5-8 Middle School models, but notes that “there may be quality-of-life and cultural drawbacks” to eliminating an Elementary School. 6

JUNE 5 2007 – After a late-night debate, BOE votes 4-3 to create a Grades 5-8 Middle School. (Note: after this, the BOE agrees not to vote on issues the same night as they are debated, but refuses to review this particular vote.) Two trustees elected May 2007 did not participate in the vote (their terms didn’t start until July 1 2007. 7) These two trustees also campaigned for election to the BOE by advocating a 6-8 Middle School and Plan A. 8

JUNE 2007 through JAN 2008 – Many parents and residents speak at Board meetings in opposition to the 5-8 model. Parents accuse the BOE of effectively forcing the closure of an Elementary School without taking a vote to do so. The BOE denies this, and asserts that the Middle School decision is not related to any particular Elementary School configuration.

OCTOBER 24 2007 – At a PTA-sponsored meeting, the OCSD Superintendent suggests that if the Bond fails, the next option may be to place Grades 5-12 in the same unimproved building, and on buses together.

JANUARY 15 2008 – At a BOE meeting, KSQ Architects present Bond costs and designs for a future Grades 5-8 Middle School. Regardless of MS location (either in current location or in what is currently Bennett Elementary), all plans call for retention of only two Elementary Schools, not three. When asked why there were no plans presented for three Elementary Schools, the Board President states that current enrollment does not support three elementary schools. (NOTE THAT THE BOARD HAS NEVER DEBATED NOR TAKEN A VOTE ON CLOSING ANOTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL).

KSQ’s configurations for two remaining Elementary Schools leave out the cheapest option (keeping Bennett and Phoenicia open). Asked why, BOE President replies that Bennett already serves the western part of the district. The district map shows Bennett to be just east of the center of the district.9

JANUARY 26 2008 - At a Community Forum held to discuss design ideas for the future Middle School, dozens of community members express unhappiness with the configuration and the plan to close another school. They are repeatedly told that the Grades 5-8 configuration decision is irreversible.

POINTS TO CONSIDER:
• We are not aware of a single person speaking at a BOE meeting or writing a letter to a local newspaper in support of this configuration and the closure of another school. Scores of people have expressed their disappointment/dissatisfaction with the BOE’s direction. The BOE seems unwilling to accept that its actions do not reflect public opinion.
• The public has been told low enrollment means we can’t keep three elementary schools open in a Grades K-5 configuration. No figures have been presented to demonstrate this and no public discussion has been held.
• The Board has not put forth a proposal that will simply repair our existing schools without closing one.
• The latest Bond proposals don’t show the costs of mothballing schools.
• The closure of a school negatively affects property values and tax revenues. The excellence of a school positively affects property values and tax revenues.
• The bond, as it stands, is certain to fail. Taxpayers with and without children in Onteora schools have spoken out publicly against the Board’s proposed plan. If the Bond fails, we are no closer to repairing our schools or having a more distinct Middle School.
• There has also been very interesting research presented by educators that suggest that middle schools are ineffective and falling out of favor, and that a K-8 configuration may be better both educationally and socially. The BOE never did thorough research or cost analysis on a K-8 model and has not explored K-8 as a way to "combat" declining enrollment.
• The BOE and Superintendent have not clarified what will happen if the Bond fails. Will the BOE attempt to push through its Grades 5-8 configuration regardless, placing all children from Grades 5 through 12 in the same building and on the same buses, and then deciding amongst itself which elementary school to close? We demand an answer to this vital question.

Candidates Points of Unity

Candidates Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini, Ann McGillicuddy and Laurie Osmond agree on the following key points:

• Education first: Kids Matter

• Moratorium on the Grades 5-8 Middle School configuration

• Save our Schools. Keep all 3 Elementary Schools open

• Moratorium on $69-$86M Bond Proposals

• If still an issue, Candidates will not vote to enact Large Parcel.

• Grade configurations that keep community schools open and enhance education

• Financial prudence: Avoid bureaucratic waste

• Keep taxes down.

• A creative, broad-based, well-rounded education for all children of the Onteora Central School District.

• A School Board that offers transparency and truly listens to the community.

Candidates Announced for Onteora Central School District Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, APRIL 14 2008

Ralph Legnini, Ann McGillicuddy and Laurie Osmond today announce their Candidacy in the upcoming election for the Onteora Central School District’s Board Of Education. They join Donna Flayhan, who already announced her candidacy, in campaigning for the four vacant Board Seats. The election is to be held on May 20.

Flayhan, Legnini, McGillicuddy, and Osmond are united and encourage everyone to vote for all four as a block. The four candidates, each of whom has at least one child in the School District, have agreed upon a ten-point shared platform, that includes the following key issues:
* Moratorium on the Grades 5-8 Middle School configuration
* Save our Schools, Keep All Three Elementary Schools Open
* Moratorium on $69-$86M Bond Proposals
* If still an issue, Candidates Will Vote Not to Enact Large Parcel
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Ralph Legnini has lived in the Onteora School District for 27 years, divided equally between the towns of Shandaken, Woodstock, and now Olive. He has two children in the public school system. He grew up in The Bronx, and moved to this area after graduating with a degree in music education from Herbert H. Lehman College. A musician who has recorded with artists like James Taylor and Kate Pierson, he has been music producer on Saturday Night Live, worked for producer Nile Rodgers with Mick Jagger and Madonna, and held a senior position in Todd Rundgren’s Alchemedia Productions, where he administrated multi-million dollar recording/production budgets. Ralph now runs his own music production company. He is a third degree USAF certified black belt in the martial art of Aikido, and director of the Children’s Aikido Program at Woodstock Aikido. "This election is not about separate towns within the School District. This is about the children across the whole of the School District. If together, we can keep our community schools open and thriving with quality education, wisely managed by a transparent school board – while staying fiscally responsible - it will be an accomplishment to be proud of.” He can be contacted at rlegnini@hvc.rr.com

Ann McGillicuddy and her husband Cornelius moved to Shandaken from Kingston six years ago to raise their children in this beautiful rural area, with its community schools and friendly towns. Having grown up in a small village in the Hudson River Valley, she has a love of the mountains and streams. Ann has a BFA from SUNY Purchase. She has three sons, the eldest of whom is twelve. A Phoenicia school parent and PTA executive member, she bakes, knits, quilts, weaves and fishes, and enjoys bringing people together. She wants to be a part of affecting change. “Let’s think outside of the box ~ In keeping our community schools open we will keep our children’s education local, and we will help support our own economies, and create a strong foundation for the future of our hamlets and towns.” She can be contacted at troutback@earthlink.net

Laurie Osmond is a parent with a child at Phoenicia Elementary School, and a small business owner. She and her family reside in Willow. She is an active member of the Phoenicia PTA, and is part of the team that helped bring recycling and an environmental awareness program to the school. She is also a member of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce. A producer, writer and director with twenty years experience, Laurie’s professional skills include coordinating groups of people, organizing, scheduling, budgeting, and thinking creatively. She attended Brown University and San Francisco State University, and has her B.A. in Broadcast Communication Arts. “I believe in creating a fiscally responsible, affordable plan for the District, that puts solid, broad-based education first and also values our local businesses and economies by keeping community schools open. This election is a wonderful opportunity to create something positive and inclusive for our children and our towns, and I look forward to serving.” She can be contacted at lauriego@yahoo.com

Donna Flayhan has two children at Woodstock Elementary (Grades K & 3), is an Associate Professor at SUNY-New Paltz. She received a B.A. from University of New Hampshire (1990), M.A. and a Ph.D. in Communication (Public Health & Cultural Studies) in 1997 at the University of Iowa. Flayhan Directs The Lower Manhattan Public Health Project, is on the Advisory Board of Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes, Inc (for the sick of 9/11), and is Vice President Elect of the New York State Communication Association. She and her family move to Woodstock from Maryland (where Flayhan worked on Gulf War Syndrome) in 2004. Flayhan lives in Woodstock, New York with her husband, two children, dog and cat. "I want to fix the transportation problems that are experienced from Big Indian to West Hurley...and I am for a Moratorium on the 5-8. No to 80 Million Dollar Bonds that will break our piggy banks and our childrens' spirits by forcing them to grow up too soon. Vote for us, we will reverse the 5-8 Middle School and Save all Three Elementary Schools from closure." She can be contacted at flayhand@newpaltz.edu
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Background: The current Board of Education has proposed a new Grades 5-8 Middle School configuration, which will force the closure of ANOTHER elementary school in the district (West Hurley closed in 2004). The combination of this new Middle School configuration, the closure of another elementary school, leaving only two elementary schools in the second largest district in the State, and bonds of up to $86,000,000 to pay for all the changes have drawn continued criticism from parents and taxpayers across the district, complaints that have failed to stop the current Board moving ahead with their plans. Three members of this current Board are up for re-election in May, and another seat has opened up due to a current Board Member’s sudden retirement. Donna Flayhan, Ralph Legnini, Ann McGillicuddy and Laurie Osmond look forward to filling these four seats to ensure an open and interactive School Board.

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