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Date Posted: Wed. Feb 28, 2007 7:45 am
Author: sue again
Subject: Re: Proposed School Board policy would cost taxpayers and students
In reply to: sceptical sue 's message, "Re: Proposed School Board policy would cost taxpayers and students" on Wed. Feb 28, 2007 7:35 am

one more question: Giant Steps is not the only game in town as far as daycare goes. If I have my child in a licensed home daycare, am I accorded the same flexibility? Maybe my child is cared for by a friend on South Rd. for two days a week, but picked up at my home on Niles Rd. three days a week - how does that work? Does everyone receive the same treatment?

And, is it fair to my child that she/he be moved from New Hartford elementary, to accomodate a child from the Bakerville district simply because their parent chose to enroll them in a daycare program? I don't think so.

Does everyone who has an opinion about this have a kid in Giant Steps? What of the other parents?

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[> [> Re: Proposed School Board policy would cost taxpayers and students -- David Jones, Sun. Mar 4, 2007 3:41 pm [1]

Bus rides will be longer/ Taxes will have to go up.

These are not inflamitory statements, but are the simple truth.

If the bus has to make additional stops on an existing route, the route will longer.

If the bus has to travel to pick up students who happen to live outside the current bus route that will of course add to the total bus time as well.

Simply put we can not expect the same number of buses to make more stops and possibly travel to places not part of the current bus route without adding to the busing time.

We curently pick up approximately 20 kids at one stop, which is only 1/4 mile from the school. Picking up the same number of kids spread out all over town would clearly take longer.

The board of Ed says it is committed to keeping all bus routes under 60 minutes, (state mandated time). The board of ed recently raised the town limit from 50 minutes to 60 minutes to accomodate the proposed residenc policy.

It should be noted that although the board of ed says it is committed to keeping bus routes to under 60 minutes, there are currently several routes that are over 50 minutes and one that is 87 minutes long accourding to the bus schedule sent to us from the superintendents office.

The solution to longer bus routes is to add buses. Additional buses cost approximately $55,000 plus fuel. Adding buses to meet the boards goal of keeping bus routes under 60 minutes would mean added costs. (You are correct in noting that this would not necessarily mean added taxes. We would cut other programs rather than increase taxes.)

This issue affects everyone in town from a tax prospective.

This issue affects all parents and students if bus routes are increased or programs are cut.

This issue affects people who use in home day care that is not on the same side of the bus "swing line" as thier resisidence.

This issue affects parents who don't use day care, but have decided to drive thier kids to school in order to keep them from having to change schools (for instance parents who have moved from one side of town to another). I am aware of 2 such families.

No child is going to be moved from NH to Bakerville to allow for another child in day care. The issue is in the opposite direction. The class sizes are larger in Bakerville.

No childred are being bused from Giant Steps to Antolini. The Giants Steps program only runs to 2nd grade matching the New Hartford school system.

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[> [> [> Re: Proposed School Board policy would cost taxpayers and students -- Withheld, Mon. Mar 5, 2007 7:09 pm [1]

I don't think this David Jones guy could be any more obvious that he is nothing but a Spin Master for Giant Steps. He's not worried about the kids bus length or the increase in taxes. All he's concerned about is how he may actually have to take responsibility for the care and transport of his own kids and not have the rest of the town foot the bill. He's not worried about the equality of servies for ALL children, he's just worried about his own.
Come on, Mr. Jones, say what you mean and mean what you say.

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[> [> [> [> Re: Proposed School Board policy would cost taxpayers and students -- Patrick Cunningham, Tue. Mar 6, 2007 2:11 pm [1]

I don't know who you are, but I do know David Jones very well and your comments are not only ill-informed, but way off base. No small wonder that you "Withheld" your name. Although none of my children will be affected by this in any way but I have discussed this at length with Dave. I assure you that he has the best interests of the town in mind, not his own.

But as is usually the case on these boards, it's easier to rant from underneath a rock than to make an informed observation.

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