VERNON VOTES TO KEEP SCHOOL CHOICE.
Vernon Vermont Brattleboro Union High School District withdrawal vote 374 yes 124 no
WILL UPDATE MORE TOMORROW
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Ok I will say it , what a bunch of BS
Pioneer superintendent clarifies budget situation
Recorder Staff
Monday, August 08, 2016
NORTHFIELD — More than a month after the last Pioneer Valley Regional
School District Committee meeting, members of the public now have
answers to some of their most frequently asked questions.Superintendent Ruth Miller posted on the Pioneer Valley Regional School District’s website outlining what became of a reported $477,487 budget shortfall and whether exit interviews had been conducted with resigning Pioneer employees.
Understanding the finances
Miller did not understand the finances plain and simple. She was digging to discredit Dayle Dorion PERIOD. This also has been shown to be a fact . Ruthless had no idea how to do school choice nor did she understand that certain districts paid at different times. She than chose instead of trying to find these facts out, to go to the media and report this money missing . This was Ruthless trying to make a name for herself and discredit Dayle Dorion which only made her look more of an ass than she already was .
Miller came under fire from concerned parents and faculty at the June 23 committee meeting and earlier as a result of an article published by The Recorder on Sept. 14, 2015, which stated Miller, going in her first year, had discovered a significant budget deficit.
Miller said she never used those words to describe the district’s financial situation and the district was not in financial danger. Rather, money had been allotted in different accounts than she had originally expected.
“In the past, (the district) put all the expenses into the general fund, but that’s not the way it’s supposed to be done,” she said in a phone interview. (LIAR.. she had no idea of any of this and now shes treading water to cover her ass , sorry but its all in black and white )
“I want our account to line up with the requirements of the Department of Education,” Miller said. “That’s the way you’re supposed to do it.”( Maybe someone should of told her this when She was at Templeton before She destroyed a whole town that went without emergency services in order to recover from her budgets )
Miller said she also included facets in the budget that the previous superintendent had not.
“It was just a little murky,” Miller said. “What was unclear was did we have the right amount of expenses coming out and did those expenses balance what the town was going to give us.”
Another issue arose because Miller could not factor in anticipated grant funding at the time of the budget’s completion.
“We did not have new grant figures when we completed the budget,” Miller explained. “We always get a special education grant that comes in at around $400,000 … We always know we’re going to get the grant, so we should be fine, but we didn’t know the number at that point.”
The district also regularly receives a Title I grant and an early education grant, Miller continued. However, because grant funding has declined significantly in the past five years, it has become more difficult for administrators to anticipate funding and Miller did not want to incorrectly account for grants.
Miller said Daniel Haynes of Scanlon & Associates completed an audit of the district and found her calculations made sense.
“I spent many hours on understanding the budget, revenues and projected expenses,” Miller said on the district’s website. “I reviewed the auditor’s recommendations and implemented many of them.”
Some of Haynes’ recommendations included separating the School Choice revolving fund from the budget presented to the towns and working to increase the district’s reserves, which have been decreasing each year.( NOT ONE NEW CHILD CAME TO PVRS FROM SCHOOL CHOICE THIS YEAR AND THE LARGEST CLASS OF SCHOOL CHOICE STUDENTS GRADUATE THIS YEAR . )
“I made it clear (to the School Committee) … that we would be in OK shape this fiscal year,” Miller said on the website. “But we need to tighten our spending and find inefficiencies. There is just not enough in reserve to continue spending the way we have been able to in the past.”
HMM ,,I CALL A $32000.00 A YEAR RENTAL A UNDO EXPENSE WHEN A BUILDING IS AVAILABLE OR A SPACE IN THE SCHOOL COULD BE MADE FOR HER OFFICE, SHE HERSELF STATED ENROLLMENT WAS DECLINING A THAT HUNK OF CHANGE COULD COME IN HANDY , IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO MOVE TO NORTHFIELD I AM SURE IT WOULDN'T TAKE LONG TO MOVE BACK . ALSO, THIS WOULD HELP WITH THE LUNCH PROGRAM ISSUE AS WELL .
One problem, Miller said, is the school lunch fund.
“The school lunch fund is $198,000 in the hole,” she said. “Essentially, we don’t have any reserves. Any amount of money we had left over last year, we needed to apply that to the school lunch fund and it’s still in the negative.”
“Hopefully, at the end of this year, we might be able to get rid of that in its entirety,” she said. Miller has a goal for the district to eventually have 5 percent of its budget in reserve.
Miller said the auditor also recommended enhancing the district’s internal controls in financial reporting. NOW COME ON YOU HAVE MANAGED TO GET RID OF THE HIGH PAYING JOBS TO PUT IN A PRINCIPAL, A VICE PRINCIPAL , AND A SPECIAL ED TEACHER AT LOWER PAY RATES , SO HERE'S EXTRA CASH , NOT TO MENTION THE PARAS , CAUSE ITS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS .WHAT WILL THIS EXTRA CASH BE USED FOR, YOUR BUILDING WHICH IS COSTING TAX PAYERS A UNDO EXPENSE ?
“My staff and I sat down and we went through every different control that we need and rewrote our control manual,” she said. Such protocols would control the district’s transactions and eliminate fraud.( FRAUD?? )
Exiting faculty On the district website, Miller wrote that “exit interviews have been done for some, but not all of the staff that have left the district.”
Faculty, parents and students had asked that exit interviews be conducted with departing staff members after several announced their resignations from the high school. Pioneer Principal Bill Wehrli, Assistant Principal — and then Acting Principal — Mike Duprey, Computer Network Manager Mike Holloway and Director of Special Education Sharon Jones are four of the long-term staff members to leave the school since fall 2015.
Yes, lets start here with Wehrli- Ruthless was after him from day one. Her intention was to rid the school of high paying employees , ( which as you can see she succeeded in doing ) but lets talk about the verbal abuse . Ruthless had no idea about the Superintendents Award which Pioneer does yearly , and wanted it done by Mr Wehrli who had no idea how to do this , it was the SUPERINTENDENTS job. So after her threats of him doing it and given a short time frame in which she demanded it be done, he called together 4 others ( which will remain nameless to protect them) who sat in his office and had her on speaker phone and heard it all. The threat and vulgar language of abuse is something nobody should have to endure .Again, another job she seems to be not able to handle.
Than we have Mike Duprey . She was relentless calling him on the phone, checking his work , humiliating him, writing letters demanding he sign, forcing him to choose to go against his own principals or be fired . In a case where a teacher should of been fired Ruthless chose to allow him to stay . Mike left because the abuse and constant harassment became to much and its called INTEGRITY. In the end PVRS lost a large part of who it was and made us who we were .
A book exists of what happen in our school in 2015/2016 .. but its up to the one person who has it to allow us to bring it forward without releasing names but to show the abuse Ruthless is doing to our beloved teachers past and present .
“I think it would appropriate for teachers to do exit interviews with their principals, for administrators to interview with me,” Miller said. “The exit interviews would be conducted by their direct supervisors.”
There is currently no format for exit interviews within the district, Miller said, but she intends to have administrators create a process for conducting exit interviews with all staff who resign or retire.
Just not with the ones we lost loss from your abuse .
NOPE NOT OVER AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH A VENGEANCE THIS YEAR TO ENSURE OUR SCHOOL AND TEACHERS ARE PROTECTED .
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Well it seems giving space to Ruthless is a bad idea . Now we have lost yet another, Julie Anne Levin.
According to sources Ruthless changed Julies job title so she would no longer be protected under the teachers union. ( Not sure, but is this even legal?? I think we need to dig deeper ) A warning was sent to us anonymously to watch Ruthless, she would go along just above the line to where it would be illegal to get her way .
Also, according to sources, getting rid of the higher paid employees is part of what she does to bring in inexperienced blood so to speak to offer lower wages. This we have seen played out already , but its not for the kids benefit , but for hers. RUTHLESS wants the building she resides in and will go after it at all cost to get it . For Ruthless its not about the kids , so don't let her fool you , its all about her. Remember when she gives her "I really didn't want to present this budget speech, its the last thing I really wanted to do' , remember the loss paras and lower wage employees.
I think if she stays with the road she is on many, including the school Board will wake up and see what we have seen for over a year now .
WERE BACK RUTHLESS AND WE ARE WATCHING YOU .
According to sources Ruthless changed Julies job title so she would no longer be protected under the teachers union. ( Not sure, but is this even legal?? I think we need to dig deeper ) A warning was sent to us anonymously to watch Ruthless, she would go along just above the line to where it would be illegal to get her way .
Also, according to sources, getting rid of the higher paid employees is part of what she does to bring in inexperienced blood so to speak to offer lower wages. This we have seen played out already , but its not for the kids benefit , but for hers. RUTHLESS wants the building she resides in and will go after it at all cost to get it . For Ruthless its not about the kids , so don't let her fool you , its all about her. Remember when she gives her "I really didn't want to present this budget speech, its the last thing I really wanted to do' , remember the loss paras and lower wage employees.
I think if she stays with the road she is on many, including the school Board will wake up and see what we have seen for over a year now .
WERE BACK RUTHLESS AND WE ARE WATCHING YOU .
Well here is Mr. Dupreys replacement .
Jennifer Albert Perry is new PVRS assistant principal
Recorder Staff
Wednesday, August 03, 2016
NORTHFIELD — As of Monday, Jennifer Albert Perry started work in her
new position as the Pioneer Valley Regional School’s assistant
principal.Albert Perry, 36, of Florence, is replacing former assistant principal Mike Duprey, who announced his resignation in May.
Pioneer Principal Jean Bacon officially offered Albert Perry the position on July 18 following a series of interviews with 12 candidates.
“She brought a lot to the table,” Bacon said of Albert Perry, who she described as having a deep level of diverse experience in education, curriculum development and working with faculty.
“I think (involving staff from diverse backgrounds) makes for a richer team,” she continued. Albert Perry also had the broadest support among students, faculty and parents, Bacon added.
Albert Perry said she was attracted to the school’s community feel.
“I came away (from the interviews) with the sense that this is a family,” she said, adding that the school seemed like a natural fit for her.
Albert Perry received her bachelor’s degree in English and history, with a concentration in education, from Kalamazoo College in 2002. She also received two master’s degrees: one in East Asian languages and cultures from Columbia University in 2007, and another in school leadership from American International College in 2015.
From 2008 to 2012, Albert Perry held two different teaching positions within the New York City Public School District at P.S./I.S. 50 Vito Marcantonio School and at The Facing History School. From 2012 to recently, she taught at Dupont Middle School in Chicopee. She has experience teaching English, social studies and humanities.
Albert Perry said she appreciated having positive role models — her own teachers — while she was growing up in Gibraltar, Mich., and that her goal as a teacher has been to provide a safe, consistent learning environment, especially for children in low-income areas. But, Albert Perry was always interested in acquiring a position of leadership.
“As a teacher, I didn’t want to be just a teacher,” she said. “I wanted to be a leader.”
In high school, Albert Perry remembers wanting to be a guidance counselor.
“I had a really significant experience with my guidance counselor, who was one of those people that brought me into the school and made me want to be there every day,” she said. “I think what I really desired was that one-on-one, helping students through their problems.”
Albert Perry said she is excited to transition from being a teacher to being an assistant principal as it will allow her to put her enthusiasm about education to good use, put some of her ideas into place and build personal relationships with students.
Though Albert Perry said she has a lot to learn about the school and the community before implementing any changes, she’s been working to integrate the school’s new resource officer, Igor Komerzan, and to review the student handbook to decide if it’s comprehensive for what students and teachers need.
Albert Perry and Bacon said they have a lot of ideas for the school, and hope to have a five-year plan in place by the end of October.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Here is the resource officer ..
NORTHFIELD — Starting Aug. 22, the halls of Pioneer Valley Regional
School and the school district’s four elementary schools will be graced
with a new face. Igor Komerzan, 26, of Northfield, has been named the
district’s new school resource officer.
The Northfield Police Department was officially tasked with providing a resource officer following the annual town meeting in May, when the town approved a $7.9 million budget that included money for the position.
However, Northfield Police Chief Robert Leighton has had a hire in mind since March, as Massachusetts mandates all school districts in the state to employ at least one school resource officer for the 2016-2017 school year and beyond. Leighton said he knew right away that Komerzan would be a great fit for the position.
“He has a great personality, he’s very easy to talk with and he interacts with young people very well,” Leighton said.
Positive interactions Komerzan was born in Moldova, and came to the United States with his family in 1999, settling in Turners Falls. Growing up, he remembers believing that police were the bad guys, and didn’t have any interaction with them to lead him to believe otherwise.
So, at the age of 10, when he was playing with his brother in
Turners Falls, Komerzan was surprised to have a positive experience with
friendly neighborhood officers.
As the officers approached, Komerzan was worried he and his brother would get in trouble. As it turned out, the officers were simply looking for a missing girl. Later, Komerzan remembers the officers bringing them candy.
“Looking back, that was the first defining moment,” Komerzan said, the one that made him want to become a police officer himself.
Komerzan attended Greenfield Community College, where he earned an associate degree in criminal justice. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at American International College in 2014.
Since he entered law enforcement in 2012, Komerzan has worked for Bernardston and Northfield police departments. He graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Academy in February 2015.
Komerzan said many children’s perception of police is based on videos they see on television and the internet. Komerzan hopes the district’s children will be able to have positive interactions with him, like what he was able to have with officers when he was young, so they can develop new, positive perceptions of police.
“Hopefully, by having that communication, we’ll be able to identify problems before they start,” Leighton added.
Responsibilities Komerzan will have three main roles: as a law enforcement officer, law-related counselor and law-related educator. Some of his responsibilities will include teaching students the consequences of unacceptable behavior; developing emergency crisis plans; handling situations involving possible weapons violations and the identification of dangerous substances; and deterring trespassers on campus.
Leighton plans for Komerzan to be involved in teaching classes where he could share his knowledge about the fourth amendment, constitutional rights, democracy, the judicial process, forensic science, the detrimental effects of drugs and alcohol, and more.
As a certified CPR instructor, Komerzan could also teach the high-schoolers how to perform CPR.
“Maybe we can teach them skills that I didn’t have the chance to learn when I was in high school,” Komerzan said.
After he takes a two-week class that will teach him how to pass on knowledge about drugs, alcohol, bullying, violence and personal safety to children, Komerzan hopes to implement the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program at each of the district’s four elementary schools.
Safety first “The whole initiative is to make our schools safer,” Leighton said of employing a resource officer. “We owe it to our children to provide a safe learning environment … This is the natural next step for our department and for community policing.”
“In the wake of the school violence that has happened across our country, it’s just a smart move,” Leighton continued. “Just because this is a rural area doesn’t mean that bad things don’t happen.”
Leighton added that, in the process, Komerzan will participate in school functions and truly become a part of the school community.
Before school starts, Komerzan will attend a 40-hour class with the National Association of School Resource Officers in Wakefield, R.I., where he will learn more about his responsibilities, interacting with juveniles, identifying at-risk children and intervention responses.
The Northfield Police Department was officially tasked with providing a resource officer following the annual town meeting in May, when the town approved a $7.9 million budget that included money for the position.
However, Northfield Police Chief Robert Leighton has had a hire in mind since March, as Massachusetts mandates all school districts in the state to employ at least one school resource officer for the 2016-2017 school year and beyond. Leighton said he knew right away that Komerzan would be a great fit for the position.
“He has a great personality, he’s very easy to talk with and he interacts with young people very well,” Leighton said.
Positive interactions Komerzan was born in Moldova, and came to the United States with his family in 1999, settling in Turners Falls. Growing up, he remembers believing that police were the bad guys, and didn’t have any interaction with them to lead him to believe otherwise.
As the officers approached, Komerzan was worried he and his brother would get in trouble. As it turned out, the officers were simply looking for a missing girl. Later, Komerzan remembers the officers bringing them candy.
“Looking back, that was the first defining moment,” Komerzan said, the one that made him want to become a police officer himself.
Komerzan attended Greenfield Community College, where he earned an associate degree in criminal justice. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at American International College in 2014.
Since he entered law enforcement in 2012, Komerzan has worked for Bernardston and Northfield police departments. He graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Academy in February 2015.
Komerzan said many children’s perception of police is based on videos they see on television and the internet. Komerzan hopes the district’s children will be able to have positive interactions with him, like what he was able to have with officers when he was young, so they can develop new, positive perceptions of police.
“Hopefully, by having that communication, we’ll be able to identify problems before they start,” Leighton added.
Responsibilities Komerzan will have three main roles: as a law enforcement officer, law-related counselor and law-related educator. Some of his responsibilities will include teaching students the consequences of unacceptable behavior; developing emergency crisis plans; handling situations involving possible weapons violations and the identification of dangerous substances; and deterring trespassers on campus.
Leighton plans for Komerzan to be involved in teaching classes where he could share his knowledge about the fourth amendment, constitutional rights, democracy, the judicial process, forensic science, the detrimental effects of drugs and alcohol, and more.
As a certified CPR instructor, Komerzan could also teach the high-schoolers how to perform CPR.
“Maybe we can teach them skills that I didn’t have the chance to learn when I was in high school,” Komerzan said.
After he takes a two-week class that will teach him how to pass on knowledge about drugs, alcohol, bullying, violence and personal safety to children, Komerzan hopes to implement the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program at each of the district’s four elementary schools.
Safety first “The whole initiative is to make our schools safer,” Leighton said of employing a resource officer. “We owe it to our children to provide a safe learning environment … This is the natural next step for our department and for community policing.”
“In the wake of the school violence that has happened across our country, it’s just a smart move,” Leighton continued. “Just because this is a rural area doesn’t mean that bad things don’t happen.”
Leighton added that, in the process, Komerzan will participate in school functions and truly become a part of the school community.
Before school starts, Komerzan will attend a 40-hour class with the National Association of School Resource Officers in Wakefield, R.I., where he will learn more about his responsibilities, interacting with juveniles, identifying at-risk children and intervention responses.
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