merger

[concerned parent]

This is what I found:
1. We are told no teacher jobs will be lost. According to the study, we need 162 teachers for Pre-K through 12th, including special courses. According to the dates of hires lists for both districts I found on the internet, there are now 202 teachers. Will 40 teachers retire this year?

2. Ilion debt WAS NOT listed. Ilion's debt is 28 million. Mohawk's is 11 million. We were told Ilion has the highest rate of aid per child. An article in the Telegram on 10/12/12 showed that Ilion's rate of aid per child was $300 less per child than Mohawk, It also showed that their property values were approximately $89,000 per child while Mohawk's value was $112,000 per child.

3. The study lists numerous extra-curricular offerings. Mr. Tangorra advised us at the Ilion forum that those would not be offered. To quote "Let's be realistic, those won't be offered. It was a wish list. This money will be used to maintain what we have." He also advised that there would be no new course offerings, either. Why were these things in the study? To mislead the voters?

4. Mr. Tangorra also advised that the Mohawk teachers and non-teaching staff would continue to work under their current contract until everything was settled in "1 month, 2 months, 2 years". Teachers and staff with more time could be doing the same job for $6,000 less than Ilion teachers? Why were these details not worked out prior to the vote?

5. Mr. Tangorra stated in an article in the OD that Remington School would be closed whether there was a merger or not. At the forums, he stated that Remington would stay open if the merger fails. Which statement is the truth? I do know that you can go online and find the DEC study verifying that it os a toxic building, as is the old Duofold and the gas station site on main street. Will Mohawk take on the clean-up debts for these sites with Ilion?

6. I also looked up the Ilion School report card. 75% of Ilion's 10th graders failed the Global Study Regents.@ 75% of the students are in AIS. Teachers should realize that with the new APPR rules, your jobs can be in jeopardy if your students can't pass tests.

I urge people to stop fighting on social media and spend your time researching.

[Nope]

So how do you think not merging is doing for Herkimer? Want the same for Ilion?

[DHB]

concerned parent wrote:

This is what I found:
1. We are told no teacher jobs will be lost. According to the study, we need 162 teachers for Pre-K through 12th, including special courses. According to the dates of hires lists for both districts I found on the internet, there are now 202 teachers. Will 40 teachers retire this year?
2. Ilion debt WAS NOT listed. Ilion's debt is 28 million. Mohawk's is 11 million. We were told Ilion has the highest rate of aid per child. An article in the Telegram on 10/12/12 showed that Ilion's rate of aid per child was $300 less per child than Mohawk, It also showed that their property values were approximately $89,000 per child while Mohawk's value was $112,000 per child.
3. The study lists numerous extra-curricular offerings. Mr. Tangorra advised us at the Ilion forum that those would not be offered. To quote "Let's be realistic, those won't be offered. It was a wish list. This money will be used to maintain what we have." He also advised that there would be no new course offerings, either. Why were these things in the study? To mislead the voters?
4. Mr. Tangorra also advised that the Mohawk teachers and non-teaching staff would continue to work under their current contract until everything was settled in "1 month, 2 months, 2 years". Teachers and staff with more time could be doing the same job for $6,000 less than Ilion teachers? Why were these details not worked out prior to the vote?
5. Mr. Tangorra stated in an article in the OD that Remington School would be closed whether there was a merger or not. At the forums, he stated that Remington would stay open if the merger fails. Which statement is the truth? I do know that you can go online and find the DEC study verifying that it os a toxic building, as is the old Duofold and the gas station site on main street. Will Mohawk take on the clean-up debts for these sites with Ilion?
6. I also looked up the Ilion School report card. 75% of Ilion's 10th graders failed the Global Study Regents.@ 75% of the students are in AIS. Teachers should realize that with the new APPR rules, your jobs can be in jeopardy if your students can't pass tests.
I urge people to stop fighting on social media and spend your time researching.

Again, we can pretend to "research" all we want. There is only going to be 2 possible outcomes. If you vote to merge, both districts together can remain financially viable. If you vote not to merge, you need MILLIONS separately and immediately to keep both districts running. Merge or come up with cash. Which is best for your kids ? Do you want to play the Herkimer and Frankfort game ? Do you see the naysayers in either of those districts writing checks ?

Yes, teachers jobs in the merger could be in jeopardy with such test performances. The non merged districts do not have a choice. They are stuck because they do not have the teachers to make changes when such awful performances come to light.

[just saying]

Not a debt...a bill..vote yes