Week of February 24

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Discussions for the week of February 24.

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2002

Answers

BOARD MEETING 7 p.m. February 25, 2002 Phoenicia Elementary School

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION:

Trustee D’Orazio moved to direct School Counsel David Shaw to File an Amended Answer to the Gerald Ricci and Samuel Mercer Petition and Seeks Permission To Do So – School Counsel David Shaw

Flash Cameras at Board Meetings – Trustee Doan and School Counsel David Shaw

Discussion on Individual Board Members Requesting Research and/or Creation of Reports from Administrators and/or District Employees – Trustee Carey

Policy Supporting Students in Program Regarding Condom Availability, Including and Educating Parents – Trustee Ostrander

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2002


Be aware that Barbara Clare replied to the Freddy Blue Fox letter in this weeks UCT. It contained many uninteliggible accusations (English must be the second language) as well as took big insulting swipes at Maureen Millar, the Rosato's and the Carey's. But she took Freddie to task which, I feel, is the result of making it personal as Freddie did in his first person attack on Doan. She defended Fred Perry and the board majority. She also raised the patriotism flag in a tirade which was largely undecipherable to me. But it does provide some insight into the focus of their campaign which is to make the board minority out as the negative naysayers, and political grandstanders. But it wasn't very comprehendible. Ed Ocker also voiced a letter of discontent with Hal Rowe in the same paper. He said "Teachers...as a general rule, are not practical business people".

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2002

Ed Ocker, I swear, has dimencia. I don't think people take him to serious. Is this the first time CARE has voiced in paper this campaign? See you tonight at Board Meeting, Phoenicia, 7:00.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

This is the first public CARE reply I have heard in several months. It was larely incoherent. Anyone else see that letter?

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

To as coherent as I'd like, the typo was meant to read "largely". Opps!

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002


yeah, pretty easy to be incoherent..I was sorry to have to pay the price of being printed with FBFox's letter..did you notice Killin's charming mangling of the typing of my letter..nice touch Blake.Barbara's letters are pretty entertaining altho I think she achieves occasional eloquence in her pro democracy tirades.I think CARE is so far dead in the water..we'll see what they pick up.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Sure wish we had an indie person in CARE to see what's really up...oh well. I would guess that if JD and Roase run (!) they will form a NEW political group, since CARE may be trying to become just educational. I wish Frededie had not gone ballistic and personal...I think he was trying to be funny (sarcastic) and to say the least it doesn't work...of course Ms. Clare makes the leap of connecting everyone she doesn't like on or off the board with Freddie's rantings. See you tonight...Perhaps Shaw will be willing to speak and be questioned in public...but I somehow doubt it. Tobe

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

So.....a friend of mine, Diana Bryan wanted to help me get signatures....she lives in Saugerties though. She apparently spoke to Jane Vandebogart (her friend) and Jane said she wasnt allowed to get signatures for me because she herself doesnt live in the district. Diana was going to go to Sunflower and sit outside to get the sigs.....why does she herself have to live in the district just to pass out the petition? Is this true?

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

Untrue.

As far as I know there are no stipulations as to who gets the sigs for your petition. What does it matter? Perhaps Jane was being cautious about her residency or she is busy with other matters.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002


I am tentatively scheduling Saturday at 9:30am as the time for us to help with the Bennett move into the modulars. Please help out if you can and have an hour or two to spare for this good cause. We will get our individual names in the Bennett newsletter for promotional purposes.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002


Meg and I will be at bennett.

For those who missed the end of the meeting, the softball field came up and Doan denied ever saying he would sign and seal the plans! Meg simply read the approved minurtes where it states that he agreed he would do thye plans and sign and seal them if SED required it (which they do.)

Now the softball field has been tacked onto the Bennett Project which probably means the expenses have to come from the Bennett money...I for one don't like this, and want Bennett parents to know that this Doan debacle may delay their school improvements even longer and take money from their use. The softball plans will now be done by the school's architects at a cost of up to $3600. This makes the softball project total about $38,000, and it may not be over...we'll see.

Meanwhile, because Doan didn't do his promised engineering and plans, nor manage the project in a proper way the girls may lose their season at home and any use of the field this year The short term buses used last year may no longer be available to take them to Davis Field. Can you spell MESS? etc. etc. His application for emergency generators also may have misrepresented the facts, since in it Doan certifies we have money to pay the non-federal share, ($750,000)and we clearly don't...doesn't this make the District's application automatically false and if this is the case, won't it get tossed by the grant-givers on the face of it? and shut out any chance of getting this grant? I have a copy of the letter of intent if any "legal" minds want to know. Tobe

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002


correct.untrue. signatures have to be from registered voters ...doesn't matter who gets you there.I'm sure you've been warned to get 100 or more yes neil?Diana Bryan makes those remarkable metal sculptures?hey can you believe the mentor program passed last night?Iwould'nt have bet on it.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

hi Tobe what's a short term bus?

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

Meg says to remind all petition signers to be sure they use their legal name (no nicknames,) fill in their complete address, include town and date and sign it. Even our daughter only wrote our PO Box and left off Glenford and we didn't pick it up....Meg had 40 names disallowed last time out..get lots and lots of names, sign up time is a good time for electioneering...name recognition. Tobe PS Hurely Ridge is a great place to be.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

I may not have this correct, but I think the girl's team went to davis park every day for practise and had a special bus arrangement...short-term is my made up name :-) Tobe

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002


What was the word on condoms and cameras?

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

condoms: Rose tabled her reuqets in the rush to get out easrly...Rev McCullum spoke at public be heard...damning Planned parenthgood, Safe or Sorry, etc...asking for morality and Birthright and Pregnancy Support Center to be included in health curriculum...abstinence now and forever.

Flashes..there are competing flash policies on the table..Tom offered one which removed Marty's power and restricted the policy to flash cameras only -no video or audio... T.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002


The girl's softball team was bused to Avery Park in Shokan. It was not a good arrangement as it depended on the buses after school and often they were inconsistant and late. Many complaints about it.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

I will ask everyone to consider this proposition.I've spent a fair amount of time with commissioner's decisions lately and believe that the behavior of the president and vice president of the boe may be worthy of a petition to the commissioner.The clear message from Monday's meeting was ..this opinion of Shaw's is not applicable to JDoan.I'd like to appeal his letter of intent to accept a grant and incur a debt in the name of the district without board authority and without board approval.I'd like to include in the appeal recent "directions" of this kind to district employees that occured w/out board approval.Particularly the REPORT. Appropriate Education Law s 1701 which states that a boe is a corporate body acting only through resolutions adopted by a majority of the Board.Commissioners decisions are VERY CLEAR on this.I have contemplated petitions a million times before but they are difficult to win. And since what I really want is not to win (I swear) but to assure compliance with the law that protects legitimate community interests..I would like to before filing..invite the boe in a meeting(next) to consider this issue ASAP and deal with legal compliance.I don't need to file a petition but I do need to see these minimum standards met.Frankly I would like to include the need to abide by Robert's rules of orders or change policy.If there are no rules, than Boards thru all time get to play these stupid games.Oh well what do you think I know feelings differ a great deal on this .

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Well, Rose offerred to drive me home on Monday, which was interesting. I liked how she stormed out of the meeting "I HAVE AN OBLIGATION, yadda yadda." Hee. Anyway, she spent the entire drive home telling me about how Dennis Guisler was a crook. That is, until she ran over a skunk, which sprayed her car. Karma?

You all might get a kick out of this... For Foreign Culture Month, every 11th grade student had to make a poster in another language. The theme was "From the Classroom to the Boardroom" (yes, it was as confusing and ominious as it sounds). A girl did a poster entitled "The Disturbing Truth: From the Boardroom to the Classroom" (all of this was done in Spanish). Underneath the heading are charicatures of myself, Rose, Joe D., and Dr. Rowe sitting in class. A text bubble above my head says, "Can't we all work together?" above Hal it says, "How can we help the other students?" above Rose it says, "I'm not supposed to be in this class!" and above Joe D. it says, "Who stole my money? I think it was..." Rose and Joe are also passing a note.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002


Pat asked me if I could write something up in order to show people who maybe don't know me (is that possible?) what it is I'm all about in terms of my Board Candadacy. Here's what I'm going to send to the papers next week. Hopefully Pat can use this too. Comments are appreciated, although it is really from my heart....so I'd like to say it all if everyone has a good feeling about it. Thanks

Why I’m running for the Board of Education
By Neil Eisenberg

The answer to the question "Why am I running for the Board of Education" is a simple one, and yet multi faceted. I am running because of the kids. Sure, that sounds like a cliché, but in reality it was my own children, and their friends who got me interested in attending Board meetings in the first place. Inspired by students like Rachel Hernandez and Laura Kandell, among others, I attended meeting after meeting in an effort to support these kids, who time after time have expressed themselves and their opinions in a far more eloquent and graceful manner than many on the Board level. I quickly became appalled at the behavior I witnessed from certain members of the Board.

Sure, dissention in our community could be traced back to the divisiveness of the Mascot issue, but it was surprising to me to see how polarized my own friends were becoming based on the actions of renegade Board members. This is not the example we should be setting. Sadly, Board meetings have become more of an entertainment event to see what certain Board members will do to make fools out of themselves then a productive environment where leaders are inspiring our children to achieve greatness. It has continued on such a steep negative spiral, that you literally have to choose sides to go to a Board meeting not unlike the wedding ceremony where you’re either on the Bride’s side or the Groom’s.

It is the job of the School Board to set the tone for the collective code of conduct for the students, teachers, and in the end the community at large. Instead of leadership, I witnessed vindictive witch hunts, negative tirades and loose cannon board members embroiled in legal battle after legal battle. The inappropriateness has escalated to the point where outright illegal actions on the part of Board members have become an everyday occurrence with the apparent motive being simply to fuel the inevitable “bullet list” of so called accomplishments come election time.

My friends and neighbors have never been so divided and the very educators that flocked to our district for its openness, innovative atmosphere and sense of community have not only been discouraged at every opportunity, but in some cases literally run out of town! Those who can stand the heat have managed to weather the storm, but many have done so at the expense of their dignity, and in the face of relentless criticism, second-guessing, and micro management. Even our kids have been made to feel less than adequate, and much of the stereotyping the students themselves have been working so hard to dispel has returned with a vengeance due to the thoughtlessness and irresponsible behavior of two or three of our so called leaders.

I have been giving back to my community for over 20 years, in one form or another, and I feel it is time to offer my skills at the Board of Education level. Having served on over 11 Boards, including a three year term as Chairman of the Board of the March of Dimes, Junior Achievement, where I also taught in the Newburgh City Schools, Hudson Valley Philharmonic, The Mid Hudson Civic Center, The Orange County Chamber of Commerce and Pius XII Youth and Family Services, I feel comfortable in the Board setting. I also co-founded Sunshine for HIV Kids, worked for years with the Orange Ulster and Sullivan County Associations for Retarded Citizens, and have organized, as well as performed in over 50 local benefits for every cause imaginable, including Phoenicia Schools Environmental Field Trip. I served for 5 years as Chairman of the Healthy Grants Executive Committee, which awarded numerous grants to the Onteora School District including the “sound baffles” in the Woodstock Elementary School cafeteria ceiling, among others. I have also received numerous awards and citations for my community service including a commendation from the United States Congress, as well as the New York State Legislature.

I can be opinionated yet I know how and when to build a consensus and do what’s best for the group. I make my share of mistakes, but I am willing to admit them, and move on, just as I am willing to accept the mistakes of others, and MOVE ON. I may not bring a vast knowledge of every issue to the table, but I am a fast study, and I know where to find the information I need. I believe in teamwork first, and foremost, and I will never let my personal feelings interfere in the ultimate responsibility of a Board member to put the students first. I do, however want to renew a process of listening, healing, and growing that begins on the Board level.

Only by involving parents, students, teachers, administrators, and every member of the community in the process will we ever accomplish our goals. Moreover, our goals should always focus on education, inclusiveness, and understanding.

I learn everyday from my children and their friends, and I intend to keep listening. It’s hard enough to provide even a basic education for our kids in times where funding sources are drying up, and budgets become increasingly harder to pass, let alone operate under. We need to squeeze every available resource out of our community, and that can only occur if we begin to open our minds, and accept the fact that we all want the same things, in the end. There may be slightly different paths that we will need to explore, and we may not please everyone all the time. However, we need to follow the rules, not bend them to suit our own personal agendas, and we need to set an example for the students who look to us for their future.

We are lucky to have the talent pool that we have here in our district. Now we need to work together and put the divisiveness behind us. Yes, I do come away from Board meetings feeling proud of the things I hear. Unfortunately, too often its coming from the “Students be Heard” portion of the meeting. Maybe we’ll be OK after all.


Hope you like!

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Ooops....in my cutting and pasting I left this sentence out of the end of the 4th paragraph.

Regardless of their intentions, a Board member should not rely on a shotgun approach to leadership and solo agendas that clearly lead to more dissention, less productivity, inappropriate spending, and out of control legal fees. In the end, we have little or nothing to show for it but bad feelings and late, late nights. Sorry about that.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Neil - That is a great letter!

But the timing of it's submission to the press is absolutely critical and I would strongly suggest that we wait a little while and plan carefully.

I would suggest that we first make a press anouncement to the papers a few days before a BOE meeting as to who is running as the slate. I spoke to Bill Kemble about a press release and he was very interested. He even made the suggestion as to when to have it in order to tie it into a news flow of the BOE for the Freeman.

Then shrotly thereafter, we can submit your letter to the editor or, perhaps, even as a guest editorial. Though in order to get printed in the papers as a letter, it may have to be shortened. The WT has a 500 word limit as to their letters to the editor. The Freeman has even a shorter attention span although a policy isn't apparent. Some letters do run longer. My reasoning is that we can get double the coverage that way and thus keep your name in the papers longer in a positive way. Also remember, that most people aren't as involved in the BOE issues as we have been. They may not be paying strict attention and will likely forget by election day that you were the guy who wrote that great letter - 2 1/2 months ago! Be patient and let the info flow slowly but persistantly.

On another note, I had a good conversation with Webb Leonard this evening and he again has offered the utmost support from the OTA. He has promised money and has a budget to spend with ads and a consultant. He and I spoke about coordinating our activities and, at times, combining them to be most efficient. We plan to meet with his campaign consultant shortly before the SOS meeting on the 16th.

He did have a great campign slogan which was nixed by the OTA publicity committee. DOAN'T

The OTA is thrilled by the prospects of a D'Orazio, Hochman and Eisenberg campaign(in whatever order we all agree)

Rachel-are you sure it was a skunk

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002


Another reason to not submit the letter is that it would be great to wait until after the March 16th meeting so we (SOS) can all be in agreement as to the official ticket we support. It is a matter of protocal that we have setup and it is more of a formality than a necessity in this instance but it is what most people have agreed to and feel most comfortable in persuing.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Neil: Thanks so much for your response. Boy, are you quick! Now...if I was computer savy I would know how to make a print. I have to get off the computer and do my MOM job, homework, etc. so...would you you mind faxing me a copy??? The fax # is 340-9074.

ALSO: Happy to know so many people will be at Bennett on Saturday. Has anyone contacted Beth to see if Woodstock Times is covering the move and whether she will be taking pictures????

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002


Beth lurks on this site so she will know about it and I am thinking about photo ops but it is a delicate political situation as the school adminstration does NOT want to appear partisan. Perhaps Beth could take some photos and include the candidates in them without mentioning their candidacies. It would be too much to announce there and then although the thought did occur. Laurie would have a heart attack and we don't want to appear to be too opportunistic.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

I have no problem waiting. You are more experienced at this stuff than I, however so many people now know about me running, I thought it would be nice to officially announce it. Of course, I do need your endorsement, so I guess I'll wait. Pat can still show this to anyone who wants to see whats what before signing the petition right? I'm a little anqious about getting the signature thing behind me.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

It's not so much about being nice but about making every move get the full impact in the press. Everyone that you know who knows you're running (including our opposition at this point) doesn't really win the election, it's the 3,000 other people who don't know you that win the election and they'll forget who you are in a week or two. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Well, that's why I asked. You are right. Timing is everything, and I want to follow the appropriate procedure, and, of course I'd like to get the endorsement of both SOS and OTA.

I can't believe I got so wrapped up in the Grammy's that I missed west Wing. DANG!

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

I'm a little concerned that Neil's letter goes too deeply into the subject of divisiveness. I'd like to see it focus more on the positive aspects of what he can do. He's got some good credentials, bring out his vision if positive things the board can be doing.

And yes, size matters. Make sure (this is for all of us), that any letters we send have run through a word processor program that can give a word count, and include that word count figure down in your contact information for letters to the editor. Neil's was over 1000 words, the Woodstock Times is currently asking for a ***300 word*** maximum, not 500. Pat, if you want to grab a copy of Neil's letter from here, just highlight the words you want, then copy and paste into Word or a similar program.

Letters that go to the Ulster County Townsman should perhaps be printed in a larger typeface, and one which is sans-serif? If anyone is enterprising, they could call Blake Killin and find out what typeface and size to use for optimum clarity. Buried in the last Middle School news was a complaint about some typos, and Blake said that they use optical character recognition software to scan TYPEWRITTEN (sheesh!!!) text. It's the twentyfirst century Blake, if you have a scanner why not just accept emailed text?

It was unfortunate that Maureen got dragged in with Freddie Blue Fox in Barbara Clare's rant, but at least Barbara had nothing real to pin on her, just guilt by association. Barbara's letter was important in that it illustrated how vital it is to not give the opposition anything they can pin on us. We must go through anything we write, sentence by sentence, and make sure that it is an objective, factual observation. Freddie blew it, no doubt about it, as we observed here when his letter came out.

As the election gets closer, it will be useful to assemble all the letters from the opposition, and see what points seem to be trigger points for them as running themes. That is, if there _is_ any coherent thread to their ramblings.

DOAN'T. I like that. Now if we were just running D'Orazio and Hochman, we could use D'OH...

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002


Morty wanted dates regarding he softball field events...so here they are best we can gather them...

1. Some unknown date the topic surfaces and Doan says it'll cost about $2500 with all free labor from community.

2. July 9th: Doan says he wants to put it on the agenda for August 20th meeting...at $10,000 cost. 3. August 20th...postponed topic until Sept. 10.

4. Sept 10...Doan requests $10,000...says he will do the plans for free....$10,000 cost said to include fences and backstop, materials, labor, engineering...Chuck says make it $15,000 just in case...Doan agrees.

5. December 3rd. Asks for $10,000 more for fencing and backstop (sound like familiar items??)

6. January 14th... when he initiates a conversation about the project, Meg counters by recalling the stages...now budget is up to $25,000. Meg asks if Joe has done the plans...Joe says yes, he has the plans.

7. January 28th...Joe DiGiovanni says add $10,000 more for bleachers and team benches. (I guess the fans and teams could always sit on the ground!) Chuck raises issue of SED involvement since costs are so high now....Doan requested that Chuck call SED to find out what they say about the field. Doan says loud and clear that he will sign and put his engineering seal on the plans if SED requires the plans to be submitted.

8. February 25th..Doan denies ever saying he would make the plans! Meg reads the approved (7-0 vote) minutes of January 28th meeting where Doan says he'll sign and seal the plans.

I count at least two times he said he would do them, and one time when he said he had them done...before his denial.

Anyone want to add to this list? Anyone recall about when Doan first brought it up at $2500 estimate? Tobe

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002


Great letter, Neil! I small critique... learned from the world of special ed. "Person first" is politically correct. "kids with HIV" rather than "HIV kids".

Talk in teachers room about doan and softball field...they're lovin' the heat directed at him!

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002


Thanks Melissa....but "Sunshine for HIV Kids" is the official name of our not-for-profit organization that I founded along with Larry Hoppen and Patty Smith Hoppen in 1994. In Conjunction with Birch Childrens Services we formed the organization to send kids diagnosed with HIV along with their whole family to specially staffed summer camps for a week where all their medical treatment was covered, giving them the opportunity to enjoy camp for a week while their parents and siblings joined them and were given a break from caring for the child. The expense as you can imagine is enormous, so we are only able to send 3 or 4 kids a year, but the Organization is still going strong after 8 years, although primarily funded through private donations at this point.

We got it off the ground with an initial benefit concert at UPAC which raised nearly $30,000 in one day.
Anyway....thats the name of it...Our committee, about 20 people from this area, named it, and filed the papers etc.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

I would like to comment on Maureen's proposition regarding the filing of an appeal, first to the board, then perhaps to the commissioner, regarding the unilateral approach Mr. Doan has taken regarding the Phoenicia School data gathering and the recent FEMA application. Both of these are clear examples of Doan's renegade behavior. This is what Maureen is concerned about and is considering a follow up procedure.

No one has commented on it but I feel that it is a very important consideration. Of course, Mr. Doan's behavior has been well documented and, in Maureen's opinion, illegal. It is a pattern of behavior behind many of the current problems now facing the board. And Maureen feels she has a strong well documented case.

However, IMHO I think that the public will not understand or even care that the details of current NYSED law. The public may likely perceive this as yet another nit-picking attack on Mr. Doan who is just trying to do something good for the district. I feel that in every situation we need to look at the gains and the loses asociated with our actions. This action would seem likely to promote more loses for us than gains.

Maureen has suggested that, god forbid, should Mr. Doan win this election this action may help reign him into good board behavior. I don't believe it will. Plus there is always the chance that the SED commish will not agree with Maureen's case and rule in Doan's favor. That is a scenario we simply cannot afford to have happen.

Another scenario, if it goes all the way to the commish, is that it never gets decided upon until well after the election. Given the results of every appeal filed to the commish in the last few years from Onteora, I feel this is the most likely scenario. It doesn't get decided upon until after the election. Doan then gets the sympathy vote without a timely slap on the wrist from the commish.

I don't see any political gains from this proposed measure after giving it some thought and discussing it with several people. Who will be persuaded not to vote Doan because of this action and change the vote to D'Orazzio? Even if the board reprimands Doan, what does it gain for our candidates? If anything it looks concilliatory, as if the board can work with Doan if he tones it down a bit.

I simply do not see any gains this measure will give to our candidates. Only dangerous possibilities and a sympathy vote for Doan. Even if the commish rules in our favor before the election, what do we gain politically? Not that much. Remember it is that moderate undecided voter to whom we must appeal. That can be done with more of our efforts put forth in a controlled media campaign, not in a political, uncontrolled state ed venue.

That's my 2 cents...

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002


Here's an attempt to jump start a conversation about GOALS for the district. I believe this is a way for our candidates to stand head and shoulders above the Doan gang.

I also know if we are smart, we can get our trusted board allies to talk about these same goals at meetings to pump up the need for changes in this direction. Please edit, change and add your own. I think Neil, Kathy and Marino can easily run under this kind of a baner: In fact, setting goals, vision and overall direction is what a board SHOULD be doing, not nit-picking principal and staff decisions on which musicians they want in their schools.

1. Promote cooperation and teamwork on the board. 2. Encourage and support strengthened shared decision making and school site teams. 3. Foster trust in school faculty, administrators and staff. 4. Delegate and support the authority of building level professionals to act in the best interest of students and staff in their buildings. 5. Insure that complete and accurate information is given by board members when they request items be considered by the board. 6. Increase opportunities for professional staff development. 7. Support creative initiatives to raise student achievement.

These are not in any particulare order...please let's make this a working document that will lead to a clear set of goals...positive things we and the candidates stand for. Tobe

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002


Thanks for the reply Jim. I would be curious who you spoke to about this and have the opportunity to speak to them myself. I can only assume that readers on this board are not supportive of the notion or would you please clarify.The behavior of this board of ed has been completely out of control for three years...it's not clear to me why imagined political outcomes are more important than establishing legal policy for the district that protects minority interests once and for all time.These are not little pointlesss grievances that are rooted in partisan politics,but serious violations of the law.I do not want to convince any one of the rightness or wrongness of this proposed action but to make a clear statement as to my reasoning.Pointing out to the public that behavior is illegal and innappropriate has virtually no value without legitimate back up, in fact it tends to look completely partisan. Neil , I think your letter is terrific and boy do you look good on paper. It is my experience that long letters to the Ed. are a problem..people's attention spans are quite short.Comments preceeding mine are valuable, in their questioning the need for negative comments on board behavior. Of all people it would be good to keep you well above the partisan fray. As for timing I guess I'm tempted to agree w/ comments about waiting, but please let's not get too tied up in telling people what to do and how to run.It's important to trust instinct and personal passion. Rachel...I can't believe that Rose was dissing Dennis G to you..talk about wildly innappropriate! what'd she say!!!??? Sorry to abandon you to her ..your Mom asked me about a ride home but we have car issues at my house lately..

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Here's an attempt to answer the Doan letter in the Freeman this week...I know it's still a bit long...but would request help from all in final shaping...I'll hang onto it until I get some feedback. Thanks in advance.

PS The softball field article (not very strong!) is hidden in today's Freeman on Page D6.

Tobe

As readers of the Kingston Freeman of February 29th article entitled: "Onteora's trustee's grant application worries board," can now see, Onteora Board of Education member Joe Doan has once more acted improperly and without any legal authority. This disturbing news was reported on the very same day that Mr. Doan published a letter twisting the truth to imply that he was previously given permission to act on the district's behalf, when no such permission was ever given.

When a board member says he or she intends to do something, or reports that he or she has already done it, without any motion, with no discussion and no board approval, the board member is acting on his or her own, without proper authority. In fact, the board member is prohibited by law from acting on behalf of the district without such approval. Mr. Doan knows this, but when it suits him, he continues to act in defiance of the Commissioner's regulations and State Education law. It's that simple, and Mr. Doan's calling my letters "moronic ramblings" when I dare to point this out, won't change the facts in this matter.

On June 6th, when Mr. Doan raised four items in a late night session, the first two were discussed at length, and appropriate board decisions were made. The last two items (water testing and asphalt borings) were never addressed before the meeting was adjourned. Mr. Doan lies when he says Mr. Millman said he thought it was a good idea. The video tape record shows that in fact the remark Mr. Millman made after Mr. Doan's 3-minute long list of items, was simply, "Joe, let's take one thing at a time." At no time did Mr. Millman ever voice any approval as Mr. Doan claims. And since the meeting ended before these last two items ever came up again, of course there was never any opposition voiced! As a footnote, it should be added, that months before this June meeting, Mr. Doan had already entered school grounds without any board knowledge or authority and dug holes in the asphalt for "testing." Of course, none of this was revealed when Mr. Doan briefly mentioned his plan to do more borings. I guess if we follow Mr. Doan's lead, it's OK for anyone in or out of the Onteora district to decide he or she can test whatever they want without any knowledge or approval from the sitting 7-member board.

Now, as reported, in his latest affront to the Commissioner and to school board authority, Mr. Doan has, on his own, dispatched a personally signed "Letter of Intent" asking for a $3,000,000 federal grant for power generators. In it Mr. Doan says "I understand that the non-federal share of the project funding will be 25% of the total project costs, and I certify that the 25% share will be available…" How does Mr. Doan know that the 25% ($750,000 of the $3 million request) will be available? This was never mentioned before the board or public, and there is no such sum in the school district budget for this year. I see no reason to think it'll be set aside in an upcoming bare-bones school budget for next year. When the grantors find out Mr. Doan was acting on his own, without the board's authority, they'll most likely toss the application out. Once again Mr. Doan's improper actions will have made the district a laughing stock.

How could Mr. Doan, without board approval, have honestly certified that the $750,000 district share "will be available"? This kind of district commitment was never raised and never discussed. In fact the whole thing was brought to the board as a fait accompli. Just as he had no authority to spend any money or to direct contractors to perform work in the district or to personally remove paving materials from the Phoenicia School parking lot, he has no authority to commit the district to have $750,000 available to meet the requirements of his proposal.

Doan's latest self-serving antics point out the continued bad board behavior of this renegade member. Unless he is reigned in, the financial and legal jeopardy he places the district and its taxpayers in will haunt us for many years.

Tobe Carey Glenford

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002


Tobe, it was Nov.6'00 that Doan 's comments re: softball field were first entered into minutes.....re: the letter.Way too long.Pretend the English teacher told you to make the succession of events as short as humanly possible while maintaining the story line..and ..remove all personal opinion.I think people are able to arrive at their own sensible conclusions and would prefer the info w/out the hyperbole.I have such issues with this myself that I dare speak to it.Your brief last letter to the ed is where I'm going.Straight factual no ury.love m

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

uh, that was fury...something I'm entirely unfamiliar with.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

And whether it should be used (I think not in this case), that would be "reined in," though "reign" certainly fits the bill with Doan.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Thanks Maureen and Carol...and others yet to come...I'll drastically reduce size and "fury".... Tobe

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Maureen - I strongly suggested Neil wait on the timing of the letter simply because many of us are very involved in helping these candidates run and a coordination of those activities is important and helpful. I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do but I think it is great to have a plan and a method of campaigning.

As to your plan, I have spoke to some individuals confidentially and others involved with us such as Tom and Marino. I haven't heard much from anyone else on this so I am just trying to formulate a group opinion. So far I haven't been able to understand the political benefits of your plan but I'm certainly willing to listen.

Saw Mr. Doan in the West Shokan general store today making plans on it's renovation I presume. But I'm NOT willing to listen to his plans.

Tobe - I'll join the choir on "It's Too Long, Baby". My suggestion is to cut all the previous history and jump to the action of the current situation...that is the $3M FEMA grant and the $750K district obligation. I thought you explained that well but I would delete the first half of the letter. Forget the borings (BORING!) and the water...go for the money.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002


I've added a bit to the softball field saga...Details from the Feb. 11 meeting, where Chuck clearly says the plans are needed before the field can be used.

I have posted this in Doan Deeds,so we can find it when needed. Tobe PS a short letter sample coming soon. Softball field dates: 1. Some unknown date the topic surfaces and Doan says it'll cost about $2500 with all free labor from community.

2. July 9th: Doan says he wants to put it on the agenda for August 20th meeting...at $10,000 cost. 3. August 20th...postponed topic until Sept. 10.

4. Sept 10...Doan requests $10,000...says he will do the plans for free....$10,000 cost said to include fences and backstop, materials, labor, engineering...Chuck says make it $15,000 just in case...Doan agrees.

5. December 3rd. Asks for $10,000 more for fencing and backstop (sound like familiar items??)

6. January 14th... when he initiates a conversation about the project, Meg counters by recalling the stages...now budget is up to $25,000. Meg asks if Joe has done the plans...Joe says yes, he has the plans.

7. January 28th...Joe DiGiovanni says add $10,000 more for bleachers and team benches. (I guess the fans and teams could always sit on the ground!) Chuck raises issue of SED involvement since costs are so high now...Doan requested that Chuck call SED to find out what they say about the field. Doan says loud and clear that he will sign and put his engineering seal on the plans if SED requires the plans to be submitted.

8. February 11th… quoted from the minutes - "Business administrator Chuck Snyder confirmed that the State Education department does require plans and specifications. Mr. Snyder further recommends that said plans and specifications be completed as soon as possible, with a copy filed at the School before students begin playing on the field."

9. February 25th…Doan denies saying he would make the plans! Meg reads the approved (7-0 vote) minutes of January 28th meeting where Doan says he'll sign and seal the plans if State Ed requires them.

I count at least two times he said he would do them, and one time when he said he had them done...before his denial. And the record is clear that he knew on Feb. 11th that State Ed required the plans…so he had time to do the plans and prevent any delay of use of the field…

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002


One more posting about the softball field...add to the top of your list, the following:

1. November 6, 2000…The topic surfaces and Doan says it'll cost about $2500 for the backstop with all the rest provided by free labor available from community. Says he will need to extend right field, do some grading, and take down a few trees to make it meet MHAL specs. Does anyone know if this November configuration is what was eventually used, or did the field get moved to a different configuration when it was actually done? The question remains whether or not the field is up to MHAL specs.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002


well sorry not to abandon this as fast as some might like but I want to respond to your remarks,Jim.For one thing I would appreciate being able to represent myself on this and not have you talk to Board members w/out any real take on the facts. Everything is not a political event. My interest in the politics is VERY minor and frankly I'm not entirely sure that these political machinations do anything other than provide us with entertainment and occasional fortunate timing.My interest in this is not political. It is legal. Even if Mr. Doan is not reelected , the issue is still valid . We have seven board members with seven different versions of appropriate board behavior.Not good.I make this argument for clarification and not to convince. I'll back away from the petition altho I have my doubts about that decision.Thanks.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Take two on the letter...shorter, no? Down to 336 words... Comments?

I've stripped it away as suggested...

Maureen, I think all your reserach work would be helpful as a series of letters and then as a campaign publication...into poeople's hands... the point you make is I think the same point I'm trying to make in this latest letter...

We need to have several fact and position papers for people this year...

It's March First everybody...Less than three months to go...we need to raise money and advertise for the benefit...any designs for ads, or ideas happening?

What's happening with the Special Ed community presentation with Kathy...Is that booked??

Info for prospective candidates for the board...

Prospective School Board Member Workshop March 21, 2002 Ulster BOCES Conferenbce Center Rte 32 New Paltz Excellent chance to hear some details of what's expected.

To the Editor:

The February 27, 2002 Kingston Freeman headline reads "Onteora's trustee's grant application worries board." The article makes it clear that Onteora Board of Education member Joe Doan has once more acted improperly and without any legal authority.

State Education Commissioner Richard Mills has said, "Unless the board of education has taken official action to designate an individual member as the representative of the board for a particular purpose, an individual board member has no authority to act for the board." This point has been made on several occasions by board members, by members of the public, and by the district's attorney. Now, without board authority, Mr. Doan has certified that Onteora "will" have $750,000 for his latest proposal.

On February 25th, Mr. Doan announced that he had submitted a "Letter of Intent" on behalf of the Onteora Central School District asking for a $3,000,000 federal grant. In the application, Mr. Doan declared himself to be the "Applicant's Agent." This self-declaration by Mr. Doan is in clear violation of the law as quoted in the Commissioner's statement. By signing the letter, Mr. Doan also asserted, "I understand that the non-federal share of the project funding will be 25% of the total project costs, and I certify that the 25% share will be available in the forms allowed by HMGP."

As the Freeman article says, the application "…could put taxpayers at risk of paying $750,000 in costs towards implementing a hazard mitigation program." This risk was never mentioned by Mr. Doan, and never discussed before he submitted the "Letter of Intent." Why didn't Mr. Doan show the "Letter of Intent" to the board and bring a motion for approval at the January 28th meeting, when he said he had the application in hand? Or, why didn't Mr. Doan ask the board to authorize the "Letter of Intent" at the February 11th public meeting with himself written in as Onteora's "Agent?"

Mr. Doan continues to show his contempt for proper board procedures and the State Education Law.

Tobe Carey Glenford

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002


Maureen..... I thinkyou have a lot of valid points, and I agree that Joe probably broke some laws. Are they the kind you get fined for, or the kind you get arrested for? I'm not sure if there is really a punishment for what he did, but it was clearly wrong. In the end its going to be hard to get these facts out without seeming petty. I know people who wont even read an article or letter about the board because they think the whole thing is disgusting. All they want is to stop the fighting.

I do think I'll wait a bit to make formal statements, although I'm very excited to get going. I think I'l wait until after we have the next SOS meeting.
Tobe....I love the shortened letter. Looks great. I asked an illustrator friend of mine, Diana Bryan to design an ad/poster for the Benefit. She needs like 2 weeks notice, but I am probably going to tell her to go ahead and start. She's amazing!!!
Music is all lined up. I want to get Tom R. to give me a call about his son playing, but otherwise, Justin and I will play a few songs...then a break...then the Pontiacs....Should be fun.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

That will be great to have Diana design the ad. I love her work.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Bennett moving still on for 9:30 tomorrow as scheduled?

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Great, Neil...sounds totally under control...What about funds needed for ads, flyers, whatever?

I bet Dennis would love to sit in also (not to speak for him...but...)Most of the rest of us are good at "audience!"

People are starting to come up to us and ask hiow they can help in the upcomign election... Wonder if we should start with some small ads in W Times with a phone number/email and asking for help ???

Tobe

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002


9:30 it is. Be there or be a common geometric shape.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

Good turnout at Bennett today. Thanks to all who helped out. I think the kids will be thrilled on Monday.

Don't forget to check out The Case of the Insubordinate Superintendent for some welcome comic relief and the realization that we aren't the only ones with wacky Board members.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002


Laurie Cassel thanked me today and said that she especially felt our efforts were genuine and that made her feel good. She understood, especially with Meg and Tom's presence, that our help was sincere and she appreciated it. Thanks to everyone who helped out. We made a great impression.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

I noticed in the Phoenicia Times they did an editorial regarding the upcoming election. I was disappointed that they dismissed Marino in hand and supported a clean slate of all new board members. I hope that we get better support from them in the future. They did not seem to be aware of any of the new candidates. Is Kathy definitely running? I haven't seen her petition yet.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002

Dennis...Yep. Kathy is running. Her Petition is circulating as is Marino's. I have heard the same sentiment expressed in the Phoenicia Times from a lot of people. It should be interesting to see what they think of the slate.

As to yesterday's move...I'm glad our efforts were appreciated. We did a TON of moving, and all I can say is thank God for Advil. That was no easy move. I pity the workmen who would have had to do it alone had we not shown up.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002


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