One Day At A Time...Not Always

I saw a little saying this week that I really like:  “I try to take one day at a time but sometimes a few attack me all at once!”  It is not just Board stuff but everything else I try to do…it can get to be a bit much.  And right when I thought I was back on track with this blog, I once again, fall behind!!  I am beginning to think that maybe it is more realistic to post every two weeks but the problem with that is that then I may have too much to write about and it will seem too overwhelming…not for you necessarily for me to write but for you to read!  Maybe I shouldn’t think of being on a schedule with the blog but rather just do it whenever…I will have to think about that…so anyway, I am not going to go into a lot of detail with everything here but still try to give you the scoop on the last two weeks.

It all started with the “Arts Below Sunrise” Fair that was put together by the Hewlett-Woodmere Public School Endowment Fund.  This is definitely something I would have gone to anyway but just want to continue commenting on it because it was such an amazing community event!!  There were so many people there and I can’t wait until next year…it just keeps getting bigger and better!

The next day was the unveiling of the Community Garden.  The YLF kids did such an incredible job and the community came out in full force!  There were delicious vegetables from the garden cut up for people to munch as they walked around and took a tour of this very special place.  Tomorrow there is a “Garden Call” at 9AM…come on out community!!

That evening was the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association Resolution Dinner.  The purpose was to review and discuss proposed resolutions of the New York State School Board Association (NYSSBA).  The Association then voted on their final position.  Last year there seemed to be more discussion and debate…but it was still lively and interesting to hear.  Everything we heard there was used at our Board Work Meeting to bounce off of and discuss how our voting delegate will vote at the NYSSBA Conference later on in the month.  There was also a speaker that spoke about the Gap Elimination Adjustment, unfunded mandates, and the effects of decreased funding of schools.

Senator Flanagan held another hearing, this time in Syracuse.  NO…I didn’t go to Syracuse!  They live streamed it!  I wanted to watch it because I really wanted to see if the witnesses in that region would say the same things that are said on Long Island.  We spend so much time advocating at all different levels…I was seriously curious to see if other parts of New York were on the same page as us.  It was interesting to hear all of the same things…Senator Flanagan even mentioned that they were saying the same things that were said on Long Island although he did also say that the Long Island hearing was more passionate.  Not all of the same Senators were present…this time Commissioner King spoke but then didn’t stay for anyone else’s testimony…it lasted five and a half hours…this is where I would love to go on and on about what my thoughts were about the hearing and the things that were said but I won’t…I do want to…but I won’t.

The Policy Committee had another Policy Meeting…together we reviewed a policy that is now going through the full review process.  We made a plan to meet the first Tuesday of every month.  Did I mention that I love this committee?!?

That night the Board had a Special Meeting to appoint a new Executive Director of Special Education.  If anyone is keeping count I believe this is the 14th new Administrator in the District this year…

I ended the week with the LIASCD (Long Island Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) Fall Conference.  This is a bi-annual conference that I have been attending for many years as a member of the Curriculum Committee…long before I was even on the Board.  The theme for this one was “Education at the Crossroads”.  The Keynote Speaker was Regent Merryl Tisch.  She continued the NY State Ed Department mantra of low graduation rates and college and career readiness, etc…she then artfully dodged questions.  She ended her speech by saying that the Education Department is listening and hearing all the concerns, that she is too…and then she left without listening to and hearing the panel discussion that was led by Dr. Rogers, the Superintendent of Nassau BOCES.  Just saying.   The panel included a whole bunch of people who are very vocal about the state of education these days.  They included Dr. Carol Burris (Principal in Rockville Center), David Gamberg (Superintendent of Southold SD), Dick Iannuzzi (President of NYSUT), Michael Fox (Senior Legislative Policy Analyst of NYSSBA), someone from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, Jim Viola (Director of Governmental Relations for the School Administrators Association of New York State).  Let’s just say that they are all heavy hitters and Dr. Rogers asked some very provocative questions…it was riveting!  In the afternoon we all broke out into workshop sessions.  The two I attended were “Flipping the Classroom with Digital Media” and “Implementing an Effective After School Program for Students with Autism”.   It was a day well spent…as usual…I look forward to the one in the Spring!

Luckily this week my Board obligations were somewhat mellower which often seems to happen when I have a lot of other things going on…the pendulum swings and in the end keeps me in balance.  On Monday I attended a SEPTA meeting and then Wednesday we had a Legal Workshop before our Work Meeting and Executive Session.  So now when I tell you we had a Work Meeting you already know that that means there was a packet to read to prepare.  And, as you know a Work Meeting is usually the week before a Regular Meeting and that also means a packet to read.  So that is what I will be doing this weekend…among other things!  I hope to see you this Wednesday at the Board Meeting at WEC!!