Schalmont is in a unique position as a school district, they are a big-little district. Big in square miles, small (or medium) in pupils... If Union and school politics weren't in the way, Mariaville should be annexed to Duanesburg and Woestina to Scotia Glenville. School districts don't have to follow town lines.

The fact of the matter is it is much more efficient to run one large school than 3 small ones.
The taxpayers are in no mood for higher taxes right now, so I don't know what choice the board had.

2 -- MORONs -- in the same School District

Quoted Text

“She’s 30 pounds. Put her on a school bus with fi fth-graders. I’m not quite sure how this is going to work.”

just like it has generation after generation after generation........Draper is still empty

Quoted from 55tbird

Schalmont is in a unique position as a school district, they are a big-little district. Big in square miles, small (or medium) in pupils... If Union and school politics weren't in the way, Mariaville should be annexed to Duanesburg and Woestina to Scotia Glenville. School districts don't have to follow town lines.

The fact of the matter is it is much more efficient to run one large school than 3 small ones.
The taxpayers are in no mood for higher taxes right now, so I don't know what choice the board had.

TRUE

OK, so here's the newest rumor that one of my friends has heard.  In a possible move to make room for the 5th graders at the middle school, it appears that there may be another class moving out.  It is possible that the 8th graders may be getting bumped up to the high school.  Has anyone else heard anything about this???

in the very big picture that may.....be a good thing

if this is true it is up to the our young adults to set the bar and show the adults of this district their true maturity level

(1) current HS students need welcome their new classmates - now
(2) invite groups of 7th and 8th graders into their environment on a regular basis thru the end of this school year
(3) juniors need to be assigned to incoming freshmen and sophomores assigned to under-freshmen via study groups, sports, arts
(4) MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS IS THE JOB OF THE STUDENTS and TEACHERS - not the parents or administration for it is at the student teacher level where sucess will be rooted
(5) if this is true the parents need to SUPPORT the desicision

and from the farmers corner -

most of all remember there is a bad apple in every bushel some are on top and some are burried deep in  - and the bushel shall never be judged by one bad apple

and i have known some bad apples that have come together with good apples to make some great apple pie

Quoted from TippyCanoe

in the very big picture that may.....be a good thing

if this is true it is up to the our young adults to set the bar and show the adults of this district their true maturity level

(1) current HS students need welcome their new classmates - now
(2) invite groups of 7th and 8th graders into their environment on a regular basis thru the end of this school year
(3) juniors need to be assigned to incoming freshmen and sophomores assigned to under-freshmen via study groups, sports, arts
(4) MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS IS THE JOB OF THE STUDENTS and TEACHERS - not the parents or administration for it is at the student teacher level where sucess will be rooted
(5) if this is true the parents need to SUPPORT the desicision

and from the farmers corner -

most of all remember there is a bad apple in every bushel some are on top and some are burried deep in  - and the bushel shall never be judged by one bad apple

and i have known some bad apples that have come together with good apples to make some great apple pie

I like that....

So last night I heard that the 5th graders are going into trailers or in politically correct "standalone classrooms". Any truth to this? If so whats that going to cost and what happened to "we have plenty of space to consolidate into"

Quoted from 1140

So last night I heard that the 5th graders are going into trailers or in politically correct "standalone classrooms". Any truth to this? If so whats that going to cost and what happened to "we have plenty of space to consolidate into"

what about all those Katrina trailers at the campbell plastics lot?????

Quoted Text

Proper attitude will aid with Schalmont shuffle

    Re Feb. 15 article, “2 elementary schools set to close”: I am a part-time employee of the Schalmont school district and also have grandchildren who have attended Jefferson, Woestina and now the high school.
    The hesitation and withdrawal the parents are feeling is understandable, but kids adapt quickly. They will have their friends around them and will meet the kids in this area a few years earlier instead of waiting to blend in sixth grade. I think this will create a more unifi ed school district as there will no longer be the “country kids” pushing into the “city kids’” space. It will be everyone’s school from the beginning.
    The downside to this is, of course, losing the convenience of having your child close to home if you live near Woestina or Mariaville. I also ride the bus as a monitor, and know the bus routes are being redone to accommodate the time spans that are a concern for all the parents. I am amazed at how big our district is and how fast we get back to school. It seems so far away, but there is a great system in place to move things right along.
    The parents are right in defending a small-school atmosphere, but their anxiety is rubbing off on the children and if they have any hesitation about going to their new school it will soon fade once they are there. Please tell everyone you know that the PTO is in need of them and to stay very active in their kids’ lives. Right now the parents need to start reassuring their kids and themselves that all will be well. It is all going to take adjustment, but if Woestina and Mariaville parents blend as well, this new school group will be outstanding. I hope this calms you and gives you a little peace.
    It is a sad day for a small, active community to lose a piece of themselves, but life goes on. How we all adapt to it will show our children what compromise is all about. Don’t underestimate your children. Most children have parents that work outside the home and have been shuffl ed to baby sitters, grandparents, day care centers, etc., and are quick to adapt to the changes that occur with all of that. This is a very busy society and changes are happening all the time.
    The bottom line is that Schalmont students will have a great learning experience in every grade and will benefit immensely if the parents and teachers work together.

    CAROL RAMUNDO
    Rotterdam

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r03202&AppName=1

one of the best things a child can learn is adaptation and survival.....of course having the knowledge that it was so that someone else didn't have to
adapt to a new pay scale.....nah,,,,they wouldn't understand that....but the parents do....

but they will also learn that they get to keep paying as they get into adulthood for others inability/refusal to adapt to new ways of working/compensation

Wisconsin might be another state...but,,,it's really only around the corner.....

Quoted Text

In Schalmont, it’s about the kids, not parents

    This is in response to Carol Ramundo’s Feb. 20 letter [“Proper attitude will aid with Schalmont shuffl e”] regarding the Schalmont district closing two elementary schools.
    I agree wholeheartedly with what she is saying. I believe the parents are making this more about themselves than their kids. To them, this is more of an inconvenience than something that could turn out to be great for everyone involved. I graduated from Schalmont, but my two daughters graduated from Mohonasen and now my two grandsons go to Jefferson [Elementary] and I couldn’t be more happy.
    Jefferson is so organized when it comes to protecting the kids and I, for one, am very confident that this transition will go smoothly. There are so many parents who are willing to help and I am one of them.

    JUDY YOUNG
    Rotterdam

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00706&AppName=1

Quoted from senders

one of the best things a child can learn is adaptation and survival.....of course having the knowledge that it was so that someone else didn't have to
adapt to a new pay scale.....nah,,,,they wouldn't understand that....but the parents do....