5/17/11
The Buffalo News reported a preview of the Lockport vote. Since it is on the main Lockport page I can't link to it. So it is copied here:
Preview of Lockport School Election
* Candidates (Elect three to three-year terms; elect one to a one-year term): Incumbent Thomas W. Fiegl, incumbent David M. Nemi, Roy Joseph O'Shaughnessy, Anthony P. Molinaro, Regina L. Marker, Paul R. Black and Louisa Smith. * Total budget: $79 million, up 2.6 percent. * Property tax rate per $1,000 assessed value: $24.94 per $1,000, up 4.9 percent. * Taxes on $100,000 home (market value): $1,855 with Basic STAR. * Percentage of budget from property taxes: 43.1 percent. * Percentage of budget from state aid: 49.7 percent.
* Noteworthy: City residents are in the process of undergoing a reassessment of property values, whereby taxes are expected to decrease by $1.55 per $1,000 assessed value. If all things were to remain the same as last year, however, homes with the Basic STAR exemption would see an increase of $176.37 per year.
* Proposition 2: Would allow the sale of DeWitt Clinton Elementary School for $4,500 to Niagara County Head Start, the nonprofit organization the district leased the building to for the current year at the same price. The group provides early education and day care services to children of low-income families. All proceeds from the sale would be deducted from the state building aid the district still receives for the building.
* Proposition 3: Would allow district officials to use $881,520 from its capital reserve fund to complete an infrastructure improvement project for six buildings totaling nearly $19 million. The state would contribute about $18.1 million in the form of building aid. In the event of changes to the state's building aid formula, the district would expend up to an additional $1.9 million from its capital reserve fund to ensure the project would come at no additional cost to taxpayers. Construction work at the six elementary school buildings would include repairs to roofing and concrete, enhancement of lighting systems, the repaving of sidewalks and parking lots, the addition of three new playgrounds and a new and upgraded district-wide data infrastructure.
* Proposition 4: Would allow the use of $211,232 from the capital reserve fund to undertake a capital upgrade of the district's athletic facilities totaling $5.9 million, as long as three conditions are met: voters also must adopt Proposition 3; the State Education Department must approve the capital project; and private outside donations of $750,000 must be raised by June 30, 2012. The state would contribute about $4.9 million in the form of building aid. In the event of changes to the state's building aid formula, the district would expend up to an additional $530,000 to ensure the project would come at no additional cost to taxpayers. The majority of funds would be used to build a multipurpose field complex large enough to house sectional events in sports such as lacrosse and soccer. Improvements also would be made to district tennis courts and football practice fields.
* Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. — 1st Ward, Washington Hunt Elementary, 50 Rogers Ave.; 2nd Ward, Board of Education, 130 Beattie Ave.; 3rd Ward, Anna Merritt Elementary, 389 Green St.; 4th Ward, Charles Upson Elementary, 28 Harding Ave.; 5th Ward, Roy B. Kelley Elementary, 610 E. High St.; all towns, Lockport High School, 250 Lincoln Ave.
Voters will be asked to approve a $79 million spending plan, which stands to raise the tax levy by a true rate of more than 4.5 percent, despite $3.9 million in expenditure cuts.The spending plan cuts the equivalent of 36.5 full-time positions. Roughly $1 million in savings was found with a plan to reorganize the district and convert the two middle school buildings into one that houses fifth and sixth grades and another that houses seventh and eighth. If the plan is not approved, the district will be forced into a contingency budget for the second year in a row and would have to find roughly $566,000 in additional cuts, Superintendent Terry Ann Carbone said. The district has lost more than $8 million in state aid over the past two years. Last year, officials closed two elementary schools and cut 38 positions.
The seven candidates running for three, three-year terms on the nine-member board are:
* Noteworthy: City residents are in the process of undergoing a reassessment of property values, whereby taxes are expected to decrease by $1.55 per $1,000 assessed value. If all things were to remain the same as last year, however, homes with the Basic STAR exemption would see an increase of $176.37 per year.
* Proposition 2: Would allow the sale of DeWitt Clinton Elementary School for $4,500 to Niagara County Head Start, the nonprofit organization the district leased the building to for the current year at the same price. The group provides early education and day care services to children of low-income families. All proceeds from the sale would be deducted from the state building aid the district still receives for the building.
* Proposition 3: Would allow district officials to use $881,520 from its capital reserve fund to complete an infrastructure improvement project for six buildings totaling nearly $19 million. The state would contribute about $18.1 million in the form of building aid. In the event of changes to the state's building aid formula, the district would expend up to an additional $1.9 million from its capital reserve fund to ensure the project would come at no additional cost to taxpayers. Construction work at the six elementary school buildings would include repairs to roofing and concrete, enhancement of lighting systems, the repaving of sidewalks and parking lots, the addition of three new playgrounds and a new and upgraded district-wide data infrastructure.
* Proposition 4: Would allow the use of $211,232 from the capital reserve fund to undertake a capital upgrade of the district's athletic facilities totaling $5.9 million, as long as three conditions are met: voters also must adopt Proposition 3; the State Education Department must approve the capital project; and private outside donations of $750,000 must be raised by June 30, 2012. The state would contribute about $4.9 million in the form of building aid. In the event of changes to the state's building aid formula, the district would expend up to an additional $530,000 to ensure the project would come at no additional cost to taxpayers. The majority of funds would be used to build a multipurpose field complex large enough to house sectional events in sports such as lacrosse and soccer. Improvements also would be made to district tennis courts and football practice fields.
* Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. — 1st Ward, Washington Hunt Elementary, 50 Rogers Ave.; 2nd Ward, Board of Education, 130 Beattie Ave.; 3rd Ward, Anna Merritt Elementary, 389 Green St.; 4th Ward, Charles Upson Elementary, 28 Harding Ave.; 5th Ward, Roy B. Kelley Elementary, 610 E. High St.; all towns, Lockport High School, 250 Lincoln Ave.
Voters will be asked to approve a $79 million spending plan, which stands to raise the tax levy by a true rate of more than 4.5 percent, despite $3.9 million in expenditure cuts.The spending plan cuts the equivalent of 36.5 full-time positions. Roughly $1 million in savings was found with a plan to reorganize the district and convert the two middle school buildings into one that houses fifth and sixth grades and another that houses seventh and eighth. If the plan is not approved, the district will be forced into a contingency budget for the second year in a row and would have to find roughly $566,000 in additional cuts, Superintendent Terry Ann Carbone said. The district has lost more than $8 million in state aid over the past two years. Last year, officials closed two elementary schools and cut 38 positions.
The seven candidates running for three, three-year terms on the nine-member board are:
* Incumbent Thomas W. Fiegl, 68, a retired police captain of 25 years who worked for the Lockport City Police Department for 35 years. If elected, Fiegl will serve his third term.
* Incumbent David M. Nemi, 53, a college business professor at Niagara County Community College for 25 years. If elected, Nemi will serve his third term.
* Roy Joseph O'Shaughnessy, 61, owner of Oak Run Golf Club. If elected, O'Shaughnessy will serve his first term.
* Anthony P. Molinaro, 38, a building trades instructor for Orleans-Niagara BOCES at Niagara West Center for four years. If elected, Molinaro will serve his first term.
* Regina L. Marker, 35, a stay-at-home mom with 11 years teaching experience in the Lyndonville school district. If elected, Marker will serve her first term.
* Paul R. Black, 59, a technical field support worker at Syracuse Supply for 30 years. If elected, Black will serve his first term.
* Luisa Smith, a stay-at-home mom who served as president of the John E. Pound Elementary School Parent Teacher Association for two years.
The fourth highest vote-getter is elected to finish the unexpired term previously held by Allan Jack, who resigned two years ago. Incumbent Marietta Schrader was appointed to Jack's seat for one year at the time, but she is not seeking re-election. Incumbent Margaret Lupo also is not seeking re-election.
5/16/11The fourth highest vote-getter is elected to finish the unexpired term previously held by Allan Jack, who resigned two years ago. Incumbent Marietta Schrader was appointed to Jack's seat for one year at the time, but she is not seeking re-election. Incumbent Margaret Lupo also is not seeking re-election.
LUSJ reported on our loaded ballot.
Voting locations are:
1st Ward: Washington Hunt
2nd Ward: Board of Education Building
3rd Ward: Anna Merritt
4th Ward: Charles Upson
5th Ward: Roy B Kelly
Towns: Lockport High School
Voting is from 12pm to 9pm.
5/13/11
LUSJ reported on the canidate session sponsered by The Lockport Council Parents Teachers Association
I'd quote some of it, but nothing jumps out as relevent to making an informed choice. ;)
5/10/11
The Buffalo News reported on the upcoming LSD vote. In addition to the $79M budget and 3 propositions they discussed the school board representative candidates:
...Four of the candidates advertise themselves as of the same mind, and they haven’t been shy about accusing the current board of being complacent and submissive to the wishes of Superintendent Terry Ann Carbone, who they say has been overseeing the district for five years without accomplishing much of anything.
“I sit and listen to [board members] just pass motion after motion after motion, and there’s no questions being asked,” said Regina L. Marker, a stay-at-home mom with 11 years’ teaching experience in the Lyndonville School District. “I feel like the public meetings are a dog-and-pony show.”
Newcomers Paul R. Black, Luisa Smith and Joe O’Shaughnessy agree with Marker and insist they can bring the needed change to the School Board. But incumbents Thomas W. Fiegl and David M. Nemi strongly reject the notion.
Maybe if more of the discussions were open to the public, they would have an idea what's going on with the board?
“They’re obviously not involved and have no idea what’s going on with the board,” said Nemi, 53, who is running for a third term. “We challenge [them] on everything....”
Feel free to discuss the candidates here. And as always, keep it respectful (pro or con) or risk deletion or the comment in its entirety.
132 comments:
I'd like to respectively ask if Mr. O'Shaugnessy's golf course is up to date on paying his school taxes, I have heard rumors he isn't. Be ironic running for the board if he isn't.
I'd like to know what the newcomer's plans are for "open meetings."
I have never doubted that anyone who runs for School Board goes in with good intentions, but somewhere along the line the group mentality becomes theirs as well.
I'd like an answer and a promise that if their answer is not followed they will voluntarily quit the Board as this is what their primary complaint is (I think). It's certainly mine.
Do we want 4 people with one mind or 4 people who can think individually and do what's best for all of the people that live in Locport. My vote will go to Fiegl, Molinaro and Nemi at least they try to consider the best interest of both students and taxpayers.
I know there is no way I could vote for Black after he tried to get the national anthem banned from little league games. Plus his editorial chastising people not running for town board while he announced he was running for school board, that makes absolutely no sense.
Is there a way online to find out if Oak Run's school taxes are up to date? I looked and couldn't find the information.
Whether you keep the same people, or bring in new people, the issue is TAC needs to go. We are sinking fast. Test results stink, taxes up, continual reorganization, no answers to problems, and then we get a stinking budget and a threat that if it doen't pass you'll get something worse. Thats the kind of leadership that you get for $200K per year? Where is the accountability? The view that the Board puts up with Carbone's incompetence because she allows them to hire friends and family is what troubles me more than anything. Incumbents are not bad people if they held her accountable.
So if she goes, would you vote yes this year?
I do think it was typical Ulrich showboating to put up his $25,000 reward if TAC does the same. Considering her salary is around $200,000 and his has to be 5x that or $1,000,000+, wouldn't it have been fairer to say you put up $25,000 and I will put up $100,000????
If Ulrich would not of received all his exemption on his properties all our taxes would be lower. He doesn't want the school district to benefit from tax dollars, but he doesn't have a problem accepting public money from people that rent from him. (ex. DMV, George Maziarz, Board of elections etc.)
Ulrich is not the issue here. We have a terrible Superintendent who is overpaid and has done nothing but run the district into the ditch. Get rid of her befoer it is too late Right now there are many people inside the district that doubt we will ever turn this train wreck around.
Problem is how do you task MJ with figuring out what's truth and what's rumor? He can't be responsible for determining who's lying and who isn't...
Even when someone says "Rumor has it..." doesn't solve the issue.
David DID act a bit bizarrely last time out - there's proof of that - but David acts inappropriately with some regularity.
That's why I am now giving all of you my real name - you can bash me all you want (like that's something new) - and suggest that anyone involved in either of these elections, or is a relative or close friend, must disclose their name as well. Otherwise it's just a "my guy's better than your guy" with a lot of b.s. thrown in for good measure.
In all the conversation above there is very little discussed about any issues facing the schools least of all where a canidate stands/stood on the issues and what there plans would be.
It seems that's how most elections go. A couple generic statements on what the individual running wants (but no hard plans) and then the bickering between building up or knocking down a reputation. Typically a waste of time trying to figure out who will do the least damage.
Election time always reminds me of the South Park episode: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douche_and_Turd
MJ..if you notice most of the action is a back and forth because the "family" of Anonymous posters are ALLOWED to slander and name call, and then you have people reacting to it. Why not try to cut down on the character assination by deleting "those" remark right away. You may be amazed by how many people will stay on topic.
Alot of accountants advise businesses not to pay their taxes on time, it's how they operate. The County and the City rely on interest from late payments as income. It's what smart businesses do, period. Before you bash Paul Black you need to get your facts straight. The comment about him not running for town board yet running for school board is what makes no sense. As far as David Ulrich is concerned, maybe he's just fed up with Terry Carbone and he's trying to get her to contribute something for a change. If all these posts were as concerned about the quality of the education the children are getting as they are about nit picking people we'd have a good conversation going here!
Oh, OK so i guess it's OK for a candidate running for school board to not pay their school taxes, they are doing the district a favor! Gee, I never thought of it that way..... very intelligent post.
The point is Black complains about people not running for town board, but yet he runs for school board. All the while complaining about our national anthem being played at baseball games!
No, I think almost everyone knows why Ulrich complains about carbone, it's because his girlfriend doesn't have the job she wants!
Anon 8:02 you are part of the reason why people don't take much stock into what gets said on blogs. All the bashing on here won't help anyone make any decisions on who to vote for, it will only discredit people like you who try to feel good about themselves by saying stupid, rotten remarks that can't even be proven. Get a Life.
OH yes, almost as intelligent as someone saying that entities rely on people paying their taxes late so that they can collect late fees!
That's a heck of a way to defend someone!
I can see the TV AD now....cue the scary music with sad pictures of little league players with silence of no national anthem being played. Let's reanimate Vincent Price so he can do the voice over.
If Mr Black would show plans reduce the budget 10% and increase performance 10% does the fact that he complains about the national anthem at little league games really matter even remotely? Will being on the school board even give him any power over that "critical" isssue? How does that actually affect the school system and our taxes?
I recall back in 2000 when Hillary was running for senate my much younger sisters (around 10 at the time) told me the attack ad line of (You just can't trust her.) I asked them why and they said because the commercial said so. Then "admitted they really don't know" why. Maybe something I'd expect from a 10 yr and an opportunity for them to learn. Unfortunately it appears a good portion of the voting population decides the same way.
Maybe that's why those tactics are used. No one really cares or wants to be responsible for making decisions (votes) on concrete isues and plans or take the time to actually learn about a canidate (that is if the canidate is actually offering anything concrete). If your only reasoning is unrelated BS and half truths, well, you really can't be blamed for that right?
Should there be any doubt why voter apathy is so huge in this country? People most likly get to make more informed decisions voting on American Idol than they do in political elections.
To me, Paul Black complaining about the playing of the national anthem at baseball games shows his character and his (distorted) views. If his thinking is that radical on something like this, do we want him in a leading position on the school board? What next, no pledge of allegiance at schools?
Sorry, in an election like this where the 'press' doesn't look at every aspect of a persons life you go with what you have. If someone rails against the national anthem, or someone doesn't pay school taxes (and, has anyone confirmed this?), that's enough information for me to say no thanks.
What was the actual complaint? DO you know? Is it because he hates America or hates children? Maybe both? ;) Have a link to anything or a qoute?
One could complain that the anthem should be reserved for special occasions, done by profesionals to remain respectful, etc. Would any of those opinions prevent someone from serving on the board?
I know almost nothing about Mr Black. But I would not be swayed either way in any election by generic statements with no concrete reference to what complaint/idea/etc was actually expressed. Unfortunately a lot of people will.
I don't know any specifics behind it, but really is that really such a huge issue? I'm assuming the guy lives next to it and the loud speaker plays the anthem all day long. Did he complain? and if he did, oh well... Move on.
I heard of Paul Black b'1ch^%$ about the National Anthem when someone raised the issue in this blog a couple of months ago. I'd never heard of Paul Black for that matter.
I do agree that if he is totally against the playing of the National Anthem anytime, anywhere I don't want him on the School Board, but this sounds like a tempest in a teapot to take everyone's eye off the ball.
Perhaps Mr. Black will deign to enlighten us - although I doubt he will. If he doesn't do it soon he'll lose a lot of voters who might have otherwise voted for him.
My guess is it's over some sort of etiquette. Maybe the kids are not being shown how (made) to stand attention. Maybe they not taking their hats off. Most likely it's the usual controled chaos of little league sports.
If so it's within his right to express his desire to see etiqutte followed. No different than any aspect of the flag code. http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html Some people take it more seriously than others.
Does it make him evil to say they should follow proper etiquette? Does that have anythin to do with him being able to serve on the board?
He could suck, be great, or just another person keeping the ship a float. But an over simplified statement of "He's against the anthem at little league games" is quite disingenuous. But then again what else would we expect from the current state of politics and voters?
businees first this and busness first that. i bet if business first would of said the district is top heavy with adminstration the candidates would be howling.
must have missed that report as they seem to think we are still heavy on top.the rankings do not agree with the gang of four's stance. they are going to need a new chant.
all four of you should be glad scott leffler is off the radio,the softballs that were thrown to you on the radio maded me ill.
four quick questions.
1 black. did you complain about kids playing baseball?
2 marker. have you been denied tenure/or left a teaching job because you were denied such
3 O'shaunessey.are your taxes paid in full and on time (and on a side note, the sports complex is endangering life come on.
4 smith. are you going to micro manage the workers or are you going let the people we pay do thier jobs.
i will wait for your answers if any...
-black supposedly is against the national anthem being played, not sure if he is also against baseball.
-did o'shaunnesy really say the sports complex would endanger life? lol I did notice he said that the boe supports 20,000 people, where actually it is the city and most of the town - 40,000 people.
-also will smith be running to lawyers every time something happens, will she be another ed lilly???
Sorry for any missing comments but Blogger seems to have had a problem. I did not delete anything the last couple days.
As for Black:
My guess is he had some type of problem with the amount of etiquette that was being shown for the anthem. Were the kids at attention? Were there hats off? My guess is most were not since we know the controled chaos that is a group of little kids.
There is nothing wrong with someone wanting to see "proper" respect shown for the anthem or not having it played at all. Same for any part of the US flag code. Some take it more seriously than others. There is nothing wrong in stating that opinion.
http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html
But from that, we can see it gets simplified to he denies the anthem to kids at little league games, to no to little league, to maybe he would ban the pledge of allegence if ellected etc. The negative oversimplified statement is very disingenuous and shows the current state of politics and voters. Nothing of substance; only half-truth petty character attacks.
I don't know much at all about Mr Black. He may suck, be great or just another person who would keep the ship afloat. But if he is just demanding respect for the national anthem, how is it related at all to the school board service and if so, how is it a negative?
I'm not sure how a rigorous curriculum will help anything in the classroom if NY still mandates the curriculum & state tests and then evaluates schools (and soon teachers) on those tests. NY tells the schools what the curriculum is (not the local school board) and teachers basically have to "teach to test" because if they don't the state will come in and take over the school (like Buffalo) when all the kids fail the tests. I'm not sure how the Lockport school board is going to change the educational system of the entire state.
I believe Mrs. Marker was fired from her job as an educator
Mr. Black shame on you! I also heard he likes to punch little kittens in the face!
You people are really screwed up.....
Everyone who works in the district knows that Carbone has jacked up the graduation rate by putting future drop outs at Lockport Opportunity--she never lets them become a part of the ninth grade class. When you write those kids off that early you do not need to figure them into your HS dropout rate--cause they never really entered the HS. Also, the Business First rankings matter because our performance is compared to every other WNY district's. Our perfromance is not keeping pace with the improvement of other districts. We may be showing slightly improved passing rates on some state tests--but we are sliding backwards fast in relation to the performance of other WNY districts. Don't let Bone Head fool you our performance is lousy and we are sliding backward in relation to the competition. That is bad for the future of our community and this Board does not get it--or has sold out on holding our $215K Superintendent accountable in exchange for getting family hired.
You really have a problem with her, your attacks are very personal. Once again, I suggest you need some help, get it before it's too late.
And your facts are totally wrong, she's actually added more special ed kids to the high school which bring down the rate, guess you don't know everything!
Love it, one candidate says quit teaching for the state tests....then our scores will go lower and more people will co plain. People saying not to teach like the state says obviously don't have a clue, they shouldn't even be considered.
Black wasn't against playing the anthem due to improper respect. Sorry some people make fun of bringing this point up, but as someone who has defended this country - people who can't put up with a minor annoyance such as the 'noise' the anthem makes at his house REALLY bothers me. Plus it defintely makes me question his values.
Shemp..are you absolutely sure it was for "noise" reasons...?
If it was the "noise" it has nothing to do with our National Anthem. but....if people object to the noise of children playing baseball....
Don't buy a house near the park..Doink!
On the other hand...the playing of the national anthem at amateur sporting events has always been reserved for "special" games, not used every day for every game.
If someone pulled into your driveway every night at 8pm. and blasted "The Star Spangled Banner" My guess is you wouldn't run out your front door to salute them...you'd call the cops.
I would venture to say that if your "Black" story is true, it has very little to do with respect or no respect for the Anthem, and everything to do with noise.
This is a "Red Herring" issue...let's get serious about fixing the schools.
Hey Anonymous @ 7:42..
Is it impossible for you to make your point without the name calling and personal attacks?
I think the most creditable point you have going for yourself is You! If you're a product of the Lockport public school system, the entire English Department should be fired!
Grow-up... Stop the name calling.
At some organizations (like little league) and at many/most school athletic events the anthem is played before contests, it is not reserved for special events.
I have asked many times if it is true that he tried to get it banned, and can't get an answer. You'd think he would speak up.
I don't think it is a red herring issue, to me it goes to his values.
Anonymous 7:24
You're certainly welcome to your opinion, I don't have to tell you that, but I think your info about the anthem is wrong. So If I go over to the HS to see the girls softball team play on a Thursday at 3:30 PM.I'll be able to hear the national Anthem.??
By the way, you're being as intolerant as you accuse Black of being.
I don't know Mr. Black and I don't know if he's worthy of my vote, but I do know hypocrisy when I see it populate the conversation.The fact that you oppose him.....makes me think maybe I should vote for him.
G.I.Joe makes one of his exceptional points. Sadly he's had to make it again. I agree with him and suggest that Mr. Black answer this silly question. once and for all. If he chooses not to, so be it. IF this is his position, what does it have to do with the School Board?
Why on earth are you people arguing back and forth over THIS issue? There are enough problems with the BofE w/o hammering on an alleged anthem issue. Grow up.
Obviously some of you aren't as patriotic as others, or you would realize this does define the character of this gentleman, if true.
No, you wouldn't hear it at a softball game due to the lack of a sound system. You would hear it at basketball games, wrestling matches and football games though - if you cared to support youth sports.
And the point I will offer again, in an election of this sort we hear very little about the candidates, so you have to go with what you know. In this case, if this is true, I don't respect his values at all if he would demand little league not play the anthem due to the noise it produces at his house. I wouldn't want someone that intolerant on the school board. Just as I also wouldn't want Mr. O if he hasn't paid his school taxes, Mrs. marker if she really is a disgruntled fired teacher and Mrs. Smith as I think she would be another Ed Lilly type constantly run ning to lawyers to settle problems, as she already has the last few months.
Shemp - I basically agree with you. I am disgusted with the lack of appropriate conduct every time the Anthem is played. Gentlemen from 6 to 60 and beyond are apparently unaware of what one should do in that situation. It's pretty basic, really, but there are far too many kids whose mothers don't smack their kids' heads when they didn't remove their hats when called for.
Oops - now the school will come after me for child abuse - hardly.
Sometimes I don't believe what I read on this blog. Some of the remarks are beyond logic and nearly incomprehensible. I think there has been to much "heavy Metal" in the water supply around here for too many years. Shemp from his own lips knows very little about the candidates and he's not sure if what he's hearing in true, but he's willing to continue to repeat it, over and over again...Shemp come back with some proof.. OK? Then what you're saying can be analyzed for consideration. Rumor innuendo, here-say, gossip...stop being a source of misinformation. Your tactics are working.
correction..the last line should read...........are NOT working!!LOL
He just fits the profile, Joe. Nowhere does the ability to post have an I.Q., or even "submit your transcript" requirement. I know why MJ does this that way, but I can't imagine how much time he must put into this.
All I can do is hope that most of the readers have a brain in their head.
Who says that it is misinformation? Everything posted has been said many times without being refuted!
Sorry GIJoe, I didn't realize we had to clear our thoughts with you before posting them.....
Ok..who are the sources??...lay it all out.
Or..stop with the speculation. I haven't heard of any of it before...I don't follow the blog. So enlighten me.
It's been said before? ....by whom???
Don't post such negative remarks unless you can back it up...
Black answer the question. Did you call the Lockport Little League complaining about the National Anthem? If you can not answer this how can you expect us to trust you at all. Again the new people running have no platform other than being negative. Do not delete this one Mr. Black.
I hope all you people really think before voting. Do not throw away our money to another district in New York State by voting down the projects, both of them. The traffic on Dorcester? Ever try to make a left on to Transit. No one uses Dorchester. The same people on Dorchester against the school project were against Wal Mart and they LOST. Let's give something back to the kids of our community and not give our monaey to another area.
Ok let's vote no to propositions three and four. You want to save tax payers money go a head vote no and send our money to another town or city. I guess that is your way of saving Lockport tax payers money by giving our money to another area. It is to bad we have so many negative people that dislike kids in our area. We were all once kids remember that. Let's set an example for the yound adults in our area and show them we care and vote yes. The stadium will only be used a few times a year not every day or night. Use our heads and show the community that we care.
You want Mr. Black on a school board when he is against the National Anthem and Little League baseball? The last I checked the schools are made up of kids. He is a fine example to our community and children and young adults. Where did you work Mr. Black? If you keep this post on long enough for others to read please answer.
Thanks to Anonymous @ 6:39 for laying out some facts. What a breath of fresh air! Now I might be able to make an educated decision.
As far as Anonymous @ 6:49 do you really think Mr.Black can erase your post here?. Against the Nation Anthem, hates kids?...We still have time..anything else you want to accuse him of doing or being?
Like I said in an early post; you have convinced me to vote for him because of your obsession against him. He can thank you for additional votes.
The key remains not who is on the Board they are all community minded people, but whether they will hold accountable or get rid of a terrible Supt. TAC cherrypicked a few positive results for her letter to the Union Sun but the reality is other school district have made much more progress thus they move ahead of old Lockport in the Bus. first ranking. That is bad for our community. If you own a house in this community it is very bad for you. Had enough yet?
ok..who will replace TAC?
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article423884.ece
Oh, so now, when it's time to put up or shut up, District officials are suddenly going to follow policy?! What a joke!
Looked up the assessed value of DeWitt Clinton. It is $975,000. Does anyone else see a problem with the current Board allowing the proposition to give it away for $4,500? If we sold it for anything close to the estimated value we could make enough to pay for the local portion of the "sports palace." More Bone Head moves.
Don't you bother to listen to comments made by Mrs. Carbone and the Board. If we did sell Dewitt Clinton for $975,000 we would get $975,000 less in our state aid. Are you people confused by the facts, or just choose not to believe the facts.
That person is too mentally challenged to move past calling Carbone names, let alone think about anything financial.
You have a choice, sell the building for $4500 or keep it and pay the costs to mothball it or keep it heated so pipes don't burst, because Head Start will move it and find a better location.
If you have another buyer in mind let us know -
Again too, Kenyons on Lincoln Ave accessed for $800,000, the school for $975,000 - can't you see these assessments don't make any sense at all?
"That Person"....What person?...you're all a bunch of Anonymous blabber- mouths with your own self interest in mind....The last Anonymous post 10:40 called some other Anonymous poster a name for calling Mrs. Carbone a name...what???
Suggested she/he was "mentally challenged".???
Grow up......
I don't believe that is how the state aid works. We had paid recently to have a security system put into that building and used capital improvement money for it. We are receiving a portion each year in state aid because of it. If we were to sell DeWitt, we would no longer receive the aid on that building. Ms. Coder did not disclose the amount we are getting each year.
ok, so do you keep a building facetiously valued at $900,000 that costs you money to keep and is a potential liability, or do you give it way to someone to reuse freeing you from worrying about it? NO ONE WANTS IT!
It appears the biggest issue for school board voting is why one person may or may not like the anthem played at little league games.
It shows just how poorly the canidates relate any valuable information to those voting for them and what we as a populace fall back on for making a choice. Might as well make it a lottery. We would probably get the same results and save us the time of going to the school and vote.
A canidate is for raising test scores? A canidate is for lowering taxes? Duh. I'd rather see someone say they are going to raise the budget 500k with the money going here and there for these specific results. Then let the judgement begin the next voting cycle based on the results. Even though it would cost more I'd at least see them as honest, having a plan and unafraid of being judged on the results.
MJ..scrap that approach...it makes to much sense.
MJ I believe the people that are running have made themselves much more accessible than candidates in the past. Many have gone door-to-door, spoke on the local radio station, and appeared at the candidates night forum. I'm sure if someone really wanted to know about the information(if you want to call it that)that continues to pour out here on your blog, all they have to do is call Mr. Black or any other candidate and ask. Their phone numbers are listed in the phone book.
I don't think any of them claim to have all the answers but I do see a willingness to want to do right by the community and an eagerness to learn what is necessary to do the job correctly. In many cases common sense should prevail!
I believe most people enter wanting to "do right".
I'm saying it would be nice to see some concrete ideas/examples of what the person running wants to see. Say "XX school district did YY to these results and I think it would work great here". It would be nice to have an idea of what they envision would work here. It would offer a little more substance.
It would at the very least help differentiate people basically saying the same thing. Right now the only thing to differentiate is "so and so beats up kids and steals there anthems", "so and so is going to form a communist power block with their spouse and take over the city", etc. Sometimes I wonder if we are just looking to ammuse ourselves with the lack of useful topics to discuss.
well maybe it is a lack of formal reporting or central information that leaves little to discuss.
It is a little late now, but I'd like to see an action group submit a short questionnaire to be filled out by candidates, and posted in direct comparison. Lack of response by a reasonable deadline results in a "not participating" for that candidate.
They do not have any of the answers and they kind of make up things that makes their points, most schools went down in Business First since 2006 because they added private schools in their rankings I believe in 2007
4 people acting as 1 is not a good situation for any board let alone a board that is suppose to protect our childrens future
to the guy who says nobody uses dorchester, i live on it and trafic is usually non stop, and people usually are speeding to add on top of that
lets hurry up and build the sports complex before someone else needs another district needs a new roof,thats all the pros are saying,its our state tax return,well isn't anyone sick of paying these taxes for such bullcrap ! my tax return i want is not to pay these insane taxes which will probably get raised once we have to pay for the upkeep on the "palace" !
I think the "4 acting as one" is another overblown statement. All they stated is that they have similar goals like open meetings etc and then went further to say other than that they are their own person. Add that to the "overblown irrelevent to the election".
And how do we know the current board does not act like "one"? How many decenting votes are there currently on resolutions?
It may be bad reporting, but if anything worth quoting was said at the candidate session, I'd assume that the LUSJ would have been smart enough to report on it.
If no other candidate is going to say anything specific, a candidate is probably safest to do the same thing. Why expose yourself to specific critique when your opponents are not doing the same? Does anyone still waste their times watching "debates" on television. An hour of babble that says nothing is enough to drive one mad.
But by not talking that leaves you open to comments like did Black really try and ban the anthem at little league and will he do the same thing at school events, does O'Shaunnesy pay his school taxes or not and is Marker a disgruntled terminated teacher?
If they were more public with their thoughts we would know the answers.
Turns out the Teacher's Union said early on that they would not support the 4 candidates that a running for "reform". They endorsed Nemi, Fiegl and Molinaro without even asking for an interview from Black,Marker,Smith,& O'Shaughnessy.
Also just thought it needs to be said...Mr. Molinaro seems to be a nice guy but he again has many family ties already in the district and happens to work for BOCES which is funded by the Lockport City School District. Sorry I would prefer not to go there....
you just keep repeating those same talking points,
My GOD! Hide the children! the next thing you know he'll try to ban the Anthem from school events...I don't like to name call but...you are down right ignorant.
If the group of four did not have Teacher Association support that is a good sign--on the other hand the teachers will get out a supportive vote for their candidates. If you want new blood call your friends--it will take a large turnout to get new faces on this board (and to defeat these silly projects).
Of course it's a good thing that they didn't get Union support. They were probably ticked off when some of the candidates said that if things got worse, they would ask the teachers union to take a pay freeze....
If the four radicals get in there our kids are in troble. Keep them out. None of them have stated what they will do and are all mouth pieces or Monday morning quarterbacks.
nice...your spelling is very good
Now they're "radicals", Monday Morning Quarterbacks,Mouth Pieces...
You're against them? Then I urge everyone to vote FOR them....
They've been paid for, guess by who? Also all 4 of them get their scripts handed to them. I don't need Lockports money bags looking out for my best interest.
What scripts? The newbies and the existing ones all say the same generic stuff. I don't feel any of it would require a script.
I laugh at the "radicals" name too. Are they trying to tell us the sun doesn't rotate around the earth?
Similar to what Moe said, with the void of actual items to base my vote off of, I'm prone to vote against those doing the most fear mongering.
Just to balance it out, all I have heard about Nemi, Fiegl and Molinaro is that they are there to protect relatives with school jobs. So what fear mongerer's do you vote against? Is such a crap shoot, I really don't think we know enough to vote for any of them.
So I think I'm going to do a 'why bother even voting?'.
You know the budget and sports complex are going down, do votes even matter?
Does anyone know where we can see how much of the budget goes to Music/Arts vs. Athletics? That will pretty much dictate how I plan to vote today, so if anyone knows where I can find that information I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
If you check out Nemi's FB page for re-election he even admits that's why he wants to be re-elected- "So that my children and grandchildren will continue to live here."
My tax bite for Lockport schools is obscene. Anyone opposed by the teacher's union has my vote. I will vote against this budget with a 7.5% increase in taxes and all of the propositions except for selling DeWitt Clinton and getting it off the books. Of course the biggest problem is NYS and the fact that it has and is run by union bosses and bought-off tax and spend Democrats who tie the hands of local school boards with their laws and rules. I urge everybody to get rid of all politicians from Governor to school boards who will drive people out of the area with their tax and spend ideas and obscene wages and benefits for public employees.
The supporters of complex have been working hard have been told they have been having monthly meeting to recruit yes votes & heard they have over one million dollars raised,so get out & vote NO ,we need every vote
Why vote no on the budget? It wont lower your taxes. I hope all propositions pass to make it a better community that people want to live in
The biggest issue this year, besides the loss of state aid is the $2.9 million increase in employee benefits. This was covered through reserves. (The state aid reduction was covered in cuts)It will need to be funded next year along with any increases contained next year.
Not one person going for the board has mentioned a plan for this. Except for liking "lower taxes". What are they going to cut next year to pay for these benefit increases? Benefits?
http://lockportforum.blogspot.com/2011/04/lsd-budget-2011-12-2.html
That should be the question for the cost conscious. Any direct tax costs to us for the sports complex is very tiny in comparison.
And if they did bust their rumps somehow and get $1 million in hard pledges already (I doubt it) why punish them for that work? Did the arts and music programs raise money for the current "Arts Palace" funded in the last capitol project?
I'm not to concerneed by the fact that people are for or against something, it's usually the reasoning that's the cause for concern (in either direction)
What the heck is the "arts palace" and did it actually happen? I didn't pay attention to the budget last year because everything I read pretty much indicated the budget was a done deal regardless of the vote. My concern with the sports complex is that if you're going to toss a bunch of money at something, it should be equally distributed. If this sports palace will even the playing field across all lockport programs, then sure, I'll vote for it. I find that hard to believe. Sports are always funded more than other programs. I'd rather they fund math and science courses so our students can actually have a chance at high paying jobs in this economy than sports and yes even arts.
http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1227548600/Lockport-High-School-s-23-5M-makeover-nearing-completion
It was two years ago. The complete makeover of the autditorium, AV equipment and music rooms was a main part of the $23 million capitol project that was approved the same year the athletic field was originally defeated.
And I only throw the name "arts palace" out there to prove a point. You can mock and name almost anything to get a response out of people instead of laying out some information and then letting things fall where they will. But maybe we only respond to "tax refund" or " sports palace" in our group mentality voting practices.
Thanks, that was before my time in Lockport. So, that's sort of what I'm talking about - it was spread across multiple programs - arts, music, library, technology, athletics. I would have voted to approve that. It just makes me uncomfortable to see a bunch of money going in one direction. I asked earlier but does anyone have a copy of the full budget to see where all the money goes, not just the "sports palace"? If funding is equivalent across programs then I would vote to approve the sports complex. Is one available at polling places perhaps?
As for the "done deal". It is true in a round about way (they only have to cut 500k more to meet requirements for a contingency budget.) But I think it can go a long way if people are not happy with the way the budget was cut. I.E. one time stop gap reseve funding of $2.9 million in employee benefit increases this year.
The only better way is vote out the people who voted for it.
It's not in one direction because prop 3 ($19M) with the other capitol projects must be passed in order for prop 4 the athletic complex to be valid ($6m).
Prop 3 is at various schools and completes items such as from parking lot repairs, locker rooms, renotavating science rooms, playgrounds, etc. They were detailed in the one mailer that sent out.
I plan to vote yes for prop 3, it's prop 4 that I haven't decided on yet.
Liz - please remember that prop 4 will not cost you a dime in future taxes. The money for it is coming from the state from taxes you already paid. Yes, I know the states in trouble, but it isn't our fault they are still offering this money. If they would throw the $5M against our operating budget I would say forget the sports complex, but they won't - it has to go to capital improvements. If we don't spend it another school district will use it. It will reduce maint costs in the future, plus we will get rental income from it for sectional contests.
The 'arts palace' is gorgeous! Voters at the high school were able to check it out, it is nicer than I thought it would be.
Hmmm not a dime. Maybe someone should contact Niagara Falls new stadium and find out that it costs them $5000 everytime they have to use electricity for a night game...
yep 80 per hour per light !
Anonymous 4:39 your logic is such a turn off. I am so disgusted with people such as yourself telling us that it won't cost a dime and that we already paid for it, we deserve it. Blah,Blah,Blah!
Tell me, what other area in NYS pay $51+ per thousand in taxes(for county,school & city)? Maybe you should be more mad at how our politicians allowed Niagara County to get so far out of hand.
Thats pure BS on the cost of a light! Here's what it costs to light a professional field - $127 per hour for all the lights! and thats more lights than we would have! -
"Difficult to cite exact answers for AT&T park, but for comparative purposes, Chase Field in Phoenix uses 850 1500 watt metal halide lights. Thats 1275 Kilowatts/hr. at .10 cents per kilowatt, the cost would be about $127 an hour to operate. These stadiums were built within a few years of each other and have similar seating capacities."
And what difference does it make on our tax rate if the complex isn't going to cost us any tax dollars? The logic of saying it is bad for our taxes is way off base. And it's not my fault you live in the city!
I asked the question at one of the informational meeting they had two years ago & the engineer had to call & he told me $80 an hour & I said per light & he replied yes!
Hey..don't litter the discussion with facts!
Let's vote no for everything that would want to make new people come to Lockport to raise a family. If your unhappy with the Taxes call George Maziarz office and complain. If you want lower taxes blame the politicians. Stop making all the rest of us that want good schools, good sport facilities, good streets, and good neighborhoods from getting them because you're afraid you might have to pay an additional few dollars on your tax bill. I'd rather continue to pay more to get more..then pay less and watch the whole damn city go down the drain.
I vote yes on everything...I also voted for Smith, Nemi. O'shagnasty,Black, and Marker. Mostly because I wanted to vote against the one Anonymous poster who ticked me off with all of the B.S he posted...so stick that in your pipe and smoke it!
At $.10 a kilowatt if you divide $80 by .10 than you end up with an 800,000 watt light bulb - sounds a little extreme! He must have misunderstood the question.
what did you do, vote twice since you voted for 5 people? Or are you a liar?
Moe you are stupid. You can not even make up your own mind. The sports complex cost nothing free money what don't you people get. Great send it to another city and we can build a stadium for them.
How in the world do you continue to call it "free"? That's the stupid part. You probably live in an apartment I guess because then I suppose it really is free for you. Maintenance is never free my dear!
I stand corrected..I didn't vote for Nemi...
I might be stupid..but your Anonymous.....Just think I canceled out YOUR vote! Your vote was meaningless..now who's stupid...
The current field also costs maintenance. The new auditorium and AV will require maintenance. As did the old one.
1 hour to go....
and enough of the stupids or I start some house cleaning.
ohh god - this is ridiculous - how do you know I didn't cancel your vote?
MJ - prediction time -
i don't have any idea who is going to be on the board -
budget - fail
clinton - pass
prop 3 - pass
prop 4 fail - :(
aqny others?
"free" money is money we already paid to the state, sitting in a budget for capital project, that we, as Lockport residents can use for free to build the sports complex. It is as FREE as any state grant. yes we contributed to it, but the money is gone from our pocket and it is going to be used by someone, it could be us - but I don't think enough people here will grasp the idea that is is free.
MJ - the point of the new complex is the avoided maint costs that we wouldn't have if it was built- mowing, rolling, striping, fertilizer, etc.
I think prop 1 fails, prop 2 passes,prop 3 & 4 pass a lot of young people out,no handicap parking at high school kinda sh*try if u ask me!
Shemp..if ya did ya did....Mom always liked you better.
On facebook it says 1 2 3 passed now are up 50 some votes with 100 absented ballots that need to be counted
Ballots are still being counted from lhs, 1 2 3 did pass. Molinaro, nemi, fiegel, and Joe O win school board seats
Thank you to all Lockport School District residents who voted. No matter which way you voted, you came out on a crappy day to excercise your right and perform your duty! Awesome turnout. Congratulations to those Board Members that won!
How do they know that nemi going to be one year board member & fiegel only got 2 more votes than him but they don't know if the complex passed
Isn't it possible there are more write in votes coming in? Didn't they just have to be postmarked by yesterday?
Smells kinda fishy to me, it didn't pass now they are trying to find a way to pass it!
Oh yes jerk, it's a big conspiracy!!
Why should any young people stay in Lockport? I have advised my kids to make sure they don’t plan to live here, and when I can retire in a few years we will definitely be moving too. Are there any good reasons to stay here? We are rapidly becoming a ‘ghetto’, full of low income apartments, non-working people and drug users. The biggest year round event downtown is drug court days when it is tough to get parking spaces. We have the concerts, but at the expense of cutting the parks program budget in half. We have Applebee’s, but that’s it as far as youthful restaurants (i.e. Fridays, Red Robin, etc.). We don’t have a cinema, but we are getting a super Walmart (wow!). We don’t have any great prospects of jobs, and the ones we do have are for high school graduates – we really don’t have any jobs for college grads. Our taxes are crazy, especially in the city. We have an empty lot where a Y was supposed to be built (though it should have been downtown) and an empty building where a hockey rink was going., but both appear to be dead due to lack of funds. Now we turned down an opportunity for a sports complex we could have been proud of at no cost, but…
So I ask again, why should any kids live in Lockport? What future do you see for them? Working as a canal guide at the locks?
Sorry to be so discouraged today, but after seeing the new, beautiful auditorium at the high school and seeing all the young people voting I was very encouraged - the vote was a big disappointment.
And I do think all the grandparents that don’t have kids in school and that voted no should remember that grandparents without kids paid school taxes to support your education, your no vote just hurt your grandchildren, and is a factor (but definitely not the major cause) of the rapidly escalating downfall of Lockport.
(MJ - maybe this could be a topic by itself, why live in Lockport?)
Sorry, I forgot one big point. The other reason not to stay in Lockport is how bad the schools are getting, but it is NOT the fault of the administration or teachers, it is the fact that almost every class now includes so many kids with parents who just don't care. Most of these kids are from area's such as genesssee St, Strauss Rd, trailer parks, etc. You can't learn in a classroom when a teacher has to spend their day disciplining kids, and right now that is the state of our schools.
Again, why stay here? Why not move to an area where the majority of the parents really care?
I am in total support of a boycott of Mr. O'Shaugnessy's golf course.
You want to damage the school district that my kids attend? Then I am in support of anyone who will damage your business.
This fight is FAR from over...
what damage?
Really???? I have totally new respect for the man and will go out of my way to golf there!
this blog is getting scary..ooooooooo
people from Trailer Parks!0000000000000000 :-0
All the children leaving Nooooooooooooooo
....This blog is a good reason for people stay away from Lockport when they read comments from all the nut-bags that live here...
Someone just pointed out that there is a Sports Complex Facebook page. After reading the comments from many of the supporters, I am very sad and concerned. There are comments from adults and students that really worry me. I thought we live in America where people are entitled to vote and speak their conscience. When a student wishes a slow painful death to someone who gave his opinion in the paper, it makes me wonder how we have led these kids to feel so militant about such a matter.
I am a member of that Facebook page...
While the comment was inappropriate, the comment was made in response to a person that joined the page and then taunted the members of the page after the vote was defeated by 38 votes.
The commenter (whose initials are R.A.) called everyone in favor of the complex stupid liberals who want to spend other peoples money... He also made some other very personal insults...
The comment - again, inappropriate - was an emotional response by a disappointed person who was being taunted and called names...
I'm sorry it is still no excuse and it was not just that comment that's a bit offensive. These kids were so worked up over this issue. Unbelievable.
It's important to them...
Are you saying that you WEREN'T worked up about? Are you saying that you voted against something that you did not feel strongly about? If you didn't feel strongly about the issue, why didn't you just leave that part of the ballot blank and not vote either way.
Mr. Black avidly campaigned for school board - largely on this issue. Are you saying he wasn't worked up about it?
Mr. Kugler was an avid opponent of the project - was he worked up about it?
School Board Member Diane Phelps was not only against it but actively worked for it's defeat... was she worked up about it?
With 5,000 people voting in a school budget election, I think it's safe to say that there were a lot of people worked up about it.
Was the comment inappropriate? Yes... and I already said that.
But so was the taunting and insults from R.A... especially on a Facebook page that was for members who were in favor of the project. Mr. R.A. did not post his taunts on his OWN page... he actively sought out the page for people in favor of the Complex and taunted and insulted them.
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