The Arlington (NY) Central School District School Board of Education Seeks Perfection
They chose an impossible goal: no failure. [B]y the year 2017: a. Increase 5 year graduation rates to 100% b. Achieve 100% grade level literacy by the end of Gr...
Tag: school budget
Against Full-Day Kindergarten
The Common Core State Standards website asks, Q: Why do we need educational standards? A: We need standards to ensure that all students, no matter where they li...
On the Arlington Central School District Budget (2012-2013)
Arlington Central School District budget planning for FY 2012-2013 has resulted in a fairly good budget. I particularly like the appendices that are included fo...
Comments on the Arlington Central School District Budget (2010-2011)
The Board of Education of the Arlington Central School District has made the difficult decision to close an elementary school in order to reduce the district...
Freeze Tag
As previously mentioned, the school district needs to trim about $18.5 million in order to avoid a tax increase.
Pretend You’re a Chainsaw
During a depression, wages are sticky downward. That is, they do not drop quickly, though prices do. Instead, jobs are lost. Fine. I’m going to pretend I&...
Painful Balancing
The Arlington Central School District is treating this budget planning a bit differently than the past few, because of the severe fiscal pressures. This is a go...
Are Guidance Counselors Superfluous?
The Arlington Central School District sends out a newsletter every now and again — oddly enough around budget season. This time it includes a piece titled...
Here We Go Again
School budget season has started. This year’s spending increase: 7.2%.
School Budget Season
The board of the Arlington Central School District approved yet another year of increased spending. I’m sure their hands were tied by the contract negotia...
The Powerlessness of the School District Budget Process
On Tuesday, voters defeated most of the proposed school district budgets in Dutchess County. The New York State Education Department, however, said that state-w...
Lesser of Two Evils
We live about five miles, 11 minutes, by car from the Kindergarten, but the Big Sister rides the bus for 30 minutes or more. Last night residents in the Mahopac...
The Economics of Government Schools
Grumbles upon receiving the school district's budget
Big School Districts
We just voted down the proposed budget for the Mahopac Central School District, because of the 9.95% property tax increase involved. 2,593 persons voted, with 1...