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Ha!
Oct 25, 2016 - 12:36PM
Re: Question 2

I have been teaching for over 30 years. Hate to sound like a stereotypical old-fogey, but I have seen the downward spiral for the past 20. In an effort to mandate accountability, the government (local, state and federal) has taken more and more control out of the hands of good educators and parents, and put all of the control in the hands of Pearson and the other test-makers. The mighty test dictates everything. The only pass you get is if you are an established, competent, well-known and well-regarded teacher who is confident enough to know that you can teach what you are passionate about effectively enough that the kids will still pass the test with flying colors. The administration leaves me alone, because my kids perform well. But any newer teachers (and by "newer", I mean anyone who got into the game in the last 20 years) simply teach like robots, because they have to- their evaluations (often being conducted by early 30-somethings who never taught a day before becoming a principal) depend on them teaching what they are told and how they are told. Creativity is all but dead. The days of creating a course or unit that derives from interest or passion are gone. I close the door and do what I want, because I know I am good at it, and the test scores stay high. The minute they drop, I will have to become a robot too, and at that point, I would just get out.

The idea of these clowns putting their "effort" and "energy" into fixing the problem they created is laughable. The problem is so far gone, I am not sure it is fixable, and I sincerely mean that.

The Absolute and Final Truth!
Oct 25, 2016 - 1:56PM
Re: Question 2

Fix the Skools
If the public schools are such a problem, why not just take all of this effort and energy of creating new charter schools and direct it to fixing the public schools?


Are you just plain stupid or just plain ignorant? Which one? The state and federal governments have been pumping billions of dollars into many of these failing school systems for decades - but with teacher unions and their paying off the political elite - not much progress has been made to improve the bad ones! If money could have solved this - it would be fixed by now! School choice - even by a lottery system better than continuing this charade!

The Absolute and Final Truth!
Oct 25, 2016 - 2:09PM
Re: Question 2

Ha!
I have been teaching for over 30 years. Hate to sound like a stereotypical old-fogey, but I have seen the downward spiral for the past 20. In an effort to mandate accountability, the government (local, state and federal) has taken more and more control out of the hands of good educators and parents, and put all of the control in the hands of Pearson and the other test-makers. The mighty test dictates everything. The only pass you get is if you are an established, competent, well-known and well-regarded teacher who is confident enough to know that you can teach what you are passionate about effectively enough that the kids will still pass the test with flying colors. The administration leaves me alone, because my kids perform well. But any newer teachers (and by "newer", I mean anyone who got into the game in the last 20 years) simply teach like robots, because they have to- their evaluations (often being conducted by early 30-somethings who never taught a day before becoming a principal) depend on them teaching what they are told and how they are told. Creativity is all but dead. The days of creating a course or unit that derives from interest or passion are gone. I close the door and do what I want, because I know I am good at it, and the test scores stay high. The minute they drop, I will have to become a robot too, and at that point, I would just get out.

The idea of these clowns putting their "effort" and "energy" into fixing the problem they created is laughable. The problem is so far gone, I am not sure it is fixable, and I sincerely mean that.


Folks the US Department of Education was begun under Democrat President Jimmy Carter - you know - the guy who brought us double digit inflation - the Iran hostage crisis - and countless other admin failures during his short 4 year stint! Ever since then, education policies have been dictated from Washington since who knows better than the elite bureaucrats in Washington?

Although both parties participated in this educational elitism - the Democrats have mastered the art of pushing their liberal and progressive agendas forward in education since most professors in universities and colleges as well as administrators are also liberal Democrats! What we now have gotten is Washington's version of education - the dumbing down of the electorate who need to depend on government for their needs - sound familiar - it should - it is what socialists depend on to keep their power.

Fix the Skools
Oct 25, 2016 - 2:14PM
Re: Question 2

Watch you mouth, a$$wipe. So, what you are saying is lets create another public school system that is not corrupt at all like the existing public school system. So, now my tax dollars are further being used for more public schools.

VOTE
Oct 25, 2016 - 6:08PM
Re: Question 2

I am voting YES on all 4 questions Melrose!!!

Because
Oct 25, 2016 - 6:16PM
Re: Question 2

Vote whichever way you think is right. The most important thing is that you do vote. There is NO excuse for not doing so. Remember Florida Bush v. Gore? Remember Dolan's one vote win in his first election?

No, no, yes, yes.

Mel
Oct 25, 2016 - 6:43PM
Re: Question 2

I voted today. No, yes, yes, no. I almost went yes on 4 but I would like to see the colorado experiment results in another year or so.

Pot
Oct 25, 2016 - 7:07PM
Re: Question 2

The question on pot? I will do the same and wait to see the results. The results in Melrose schools is vote yes on question 2. Teachers and staff will not help a child that is behind so that student suffers.

Voted Early!
Oct 26, 2016 - 9:13AM
Re: Question 2

I voted yesterday and voted YES on question #2 and NO on question #4. Thanks to all the posters who provided information and their insight on these issues. You all made some great points on both sides of those issues. By the way - there was a short line to vote early in the Alderman chamber at city hall - seems like people are taking advantage of this opportunity.

Voted Often!
Oct 26, 2016 - 3:15PM
Re: Question 2

...like a Hillary supporter

Care To Explain?
Oct 26, 2016 - 3:19PM
Re: Question 2

Point Made
"DESE is now prioritizing reimbursements to districts during the first year of a tuition increase (the 100 percent reimbursement tier of the 100/25/25/25/25/25 sequence). Districts due reimbursements for later tiers only receive funding as it’s available. For FY 2016 it appears as though funding will be close to sufficient for funding first-year reimbursements (DESE currently projects 95% reimbursement for year one increases), with little to nothing left over for later year reimbursements. This effectively shifts the formula in FY 2016 from 100/25/25/25/25/25 to 95/0/0/0/0/0."

Let's translate that to Melrose. If MV raises it's tuition $1000, in the first year Melrose will get most of that reimbursed. In the following years, Melrose will get none of it reimbursed, meaning a guaranteed additional shortfall of about $200,000.00 every year, and that's just for one $1000 tuition increase.


It isn't just tuition increases, it's ALL tuition. From the Free Press: "A 2010 law requires the state to reimburse school districts 100 percent of the per-pupil costs the first year a student leaves the district to attend a charter school, then 25 percent for each of the next five years." then zero after that.

To all those who say that charters don't drain money from districts, care to explain that?

Common Sense
Oct 26, 2016 - 3:53PM
Re: Question 2

Care To Explain?
Point Made
"DESE is now prioritizing reimbursements to districts during the first year of a tuition increase (the 100 percent reimbursement tier of the 100/25/25/25/25/25 sequence). Districts due reimbursements for later tiers only receive funding as it’s available. For FY 2016 it appears as though funding will be close to sufficient for funding first-year reimbursements (DESE currently projects 95% reimbursement for year one increases), with little to nothing left over for later year reimbursements. This effectively shifts the formula in FY 2016 from 100/25/25/25/25/25 to 95/0/0/0/0/0."

Let's translate that to Melrose. If MV raises it's tuition $1000, in the first year Melrose will get most of that reimbursed. In the following years, Melrose will get none of it reimbursed, meaning a guaranteed additional shortfall of about $200,000.00 every year, and that's just for one $1000 tuition increase.


It isn't just tuition increases, it's ALL tuition. From the Free Press: "A 2010 law requires the state to reimburse school districts 100 percent of the per-pupil costs the first year a student leaves the district to attend a charter school, then 25 percent for each of the next five years." then zero after that.

To all those who say that charters don't drain money from districts, care to explain that?


The sending school has many years to demonstrate and convince the parents that they should come back to the school! Schools that don't care - won't make the effort! Has Melrose made any efforts to get back parents - I'll answer that one - based on continuing OCR violations and SPED issues - answer is a resounding NO!

And
Oct 26, 2016 - 3:54PM
Re: Question 2

According to all the most recent articles, the first year the State is only reimbursing at 63% because it doesn't have enough $$$$. Expected to get much worse. The article is linked on this thread on page 2 or 3.

Can't compete
Oct 26, 2016 - 3:57PM
Re: Question 2

Common Sense
Care To Explain?
Point Made
"DESE is now prioritizing reimbursements to districts during the first year of a tuition increase (the 100 percent reimbursement tier of the 100/25/25/25/25/25 sequence). Districts due reimbursements for later tiers only receive funding as it’s available. For FY 2016 it appears as though funding will be close to sufficient for funding first-year reimbursements (DESE currently projects 95% reimbursement for year one increases), with little to nothing left over for later year reimbursements. This effectively shifts the formula in FY 2016 from 100/25/25/25/25/25 to 95/0/0/0/0/0."

Let's translate that to Melrose. If MV raises it's tuition $1000, in the first year Melrose will get most of that reimbursed. In the following years, Melrose will get none of it reimbursed, meaning a guaranteed additional shortfall of about $200,000.00 every year, and that's just for one $1000 tuition increase.


It isn't just tuition increases, it's ALL tuition. From the Free Press: "A 2010 law requires the state to reimburse school districts 100 percent of the per-pupil costs the first year a student leaves the district to attend a charter school, then 25 percent for each of the next five years." then zero after that.

To all those who say that charters don't drain money from districts, care to explain that?


The sending school has many years to demonstrate and convince the parents that they should come back to the school! Schools that don't care - won't make the effort! Has Melrose made any efforts to get back parents - I'll answer that one - based on continuing OCR violations and SPED issues - answer is a resounding NO!


If families are leaving for a longer school day, a longer school year, and bus transportation (because of two working parents) there is not much the sending district can do.

often
Oct 26, 2016 - 4:00PM
Re: Question 2

Voted Often!
...like a Hillary supporter




Voting early will help Hillary sadly. The bit$$ shouldn't even be 40 percent. Don't forget who got killed at war because of her. A neighbor military man from Winchester. If that was your son or daughter you would not be voting for her or her hubby.















Not Surprised
Oct 26, 2016 - 5:04PM
Re: Question 2

Care To Explain?
Point Made
"DESE is now prioritizing reimbursements to districts during the first year of a tuition increase (the 100 percent reimbursement tier of the 100/25/25/25/25/25 sequence). Districts due reimbursements for later tiers only receive funding as it’s available. For FY 2016 it appears as though funding will be close to sufficient for funding first-year reimbursements (DESE currently projects 95% reimbursement for year one increases), with little to nothing left over for later year reimbursements. This effectively shifts the formula in FY 2016 from 100/25/25/25/25/25 to 95/0/0/0/0/0."

Let's translate that to Melrose. If MV raises it's tuition $1000, in the first year Melrose will get most of that reimbursed. In the following years, Melrose will get none of it reimbursed, meaning a guaranteed additional shortfall of about $200,000.00 every year, and that's just for one $1000 tuition increase.


It isn't just tuition increases, it's ALL tuition. From the Free Press: "A 2010 law requires the state to reimburse school districts 100 percent of the per-pupil costs the first year a student leaves the district to attend a charter school, then 25 percent for each of the next five years." then zero after that.

To all those who say that charters don't drain money from districts, care to explain that?


I thought not. Interesting that when confronted with facts about what is a statewide issue, the vote yes folks never seem to respond to facts that do not fit their agenda. Instead the point out how bad the Melrose schools are, as if that's even relevant somehow.

The Melrose schools are a disgrace. That's a fact and it's a shame, but that has very little to do with this issue. No more Melrose kids can opt for a charter. We are capped. Except for tuition increases, we will not be paying any more to MV, but we will lose a tremendous amount of money overall thanks to the state's broken reimbursement promises, and our state tax dollars will be used to reimburse those towns where the new charters are placed. The bottom line is we will be losing even more money in both local and state taxes even though we cannot place any more charter students.

Voting no.

Hillary
Oct 29, 2016 - 10:00AM
Re: Question 2

often
Voted Often!
...like a Hillary supporter




Voting early will help Hillary sadly. The bit$$ shouldn't even be 40 percent. Don't forget who got killed at war because of her. A neighbor military man from Winchester. If that was your son or daughter you would not be voting for her or her hubby.



Hillary received 600 hundred phone calls on what was happening to our men and women and she only answer one...


















book
Oct 31, 2016 - 4:51PM
Re: Question 2

Hillary
often
Voted Often!
...like a Hillary supporter




Voting early will help Hillary sadly. The bit$$ shouldn't even be 40 percent. Don't forget who got killed at war because of her. A neighbor military man from Winchester. If that was your son or daughter you would not be voting for her or her hubby.



Hillary received 600 hundred phone calls on what was happening to our men and women and she only answer one...



Read the book Guilty As Sin, it starts with Bill Clinton. Tells how Hillary would step over her child, mother, father, lover, and grandmother to get to the oval office. All the Democrats crying about the FBI coming out with more evidence on Hillary. Like the post said 600 hundred phone calls to say we are under attack. Hillary answered only one person. If elected her 4 year term will be all legal troubles. Other countries will start black mailing her to get what they want. It will be worse then Obama's, and that was bad. The little brain was thinking, and not the big brain Weiner. If I had did early voting I would want to vote again after hearing about this heartless ***** Hillary. Who would ever think we would be thanking this sex offender. Leave it to the stupid Dems.


















voting
Oct 31, 2016 - 5:42PM
Re: Question 2

I am so glad I did'nt do early voting. I was never going to vote for crooked Hillary

anyways, but I know people are mad they voted early. They would like to change their votes

at this time. The new evidence mounting up on Hillary, I would want to vote again. The way

teachers are such bullies to the staff, what are they like to the students? Voting yes,

yes, yes, and yes.

Pro Charter
Feb 18, 2017 - 11:24AM
Re: Question 2

Big mistake here not voting for the charter schools.

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