Port Chester School Budget

         When school districts face budget cuts, town residents are usually seen rallying to save the art or athletic programs. These are usually the first to go. This year in Port Chester, New York though, the current proposed budget shows a cut of 30.5 jobs in the district. Cuts are a normal occurrence these days, but fifteen of these jobs are in reading departments throughout the district. Students need to learn to read, right? This essential position is that of someone who shapes the way children will approach text for the rest of their life. I for one, consider that to be imperative.

This year’s school budget vote in Port Chester will be a lot more important than years past. This vote can affect two separate groups of people if nothing is changed before the proposed budget is voted on May 15^th. The first group is the teachers. If the current budget does not pass, one million more dollars will need to be cut in a new proposal.

            My brother (Richard Gregory) is a Teacher’s Assistant at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Port Chester, so although I graduated from the district six years ago, the budget vote still hits close to home. He has worked in the district for four years and didn’t realize how difficult it would be to find a teaching job when he decided to follow this career path. I don’t think students who pursue a degree in education take all of the possible negatives into effect. “Finding the right job in education is extremely hard to come by these days” said Gregory.

           I sat down with Richard to discuss the fears that he and his colleagues face each day at work, and what he might have done differently if he could go back.



            The other group of people the proposed cuts will effect are the students. Year by year, more and more programs see their final days. This year, the entire district’s kindergarten is threatened to be cut down to half day, and the districts Early Learning Center (ELC) might be forced to close. In the past, things like drama programs, athletic competitions, state exam prep programs, and peer leadership have been let go. When asked how this will affect the students, Gregory said, “If there is no drama club, how will a child know if acting is their gift? If the dark room is closed, how will a student realize that they have a love for photography?”
          At some point, we are faced with a very difficult question to answer: How much does the education of the next generation of leaders mean to us? There is only so much we can take away from out schools before there is no purpose for it altogether.

Interviewing Rita

How student involvement changed Rita's life.

1) Which organizations on campus are you involved in?

2) How did you begin becoming involved in groups on campus?

3) How were you a different person before becoming involved in groups on campus?

4) Which club really made you feel that this was something important to you?

5) What organizations, if any, were you involved with at your previous college?

6) What have you learned about yourself through involvement in campus groups?

7) What is the most personally rewarding event you've been a part of?

8) Do you believe that student involvement has motivated you to become a better student? Why?

9) Does it ever become overwhelming to have the various responsibilities of these different groups in addition to your schoolwork?

10) Do you plan to join organizations at the college you attend after graduating from WCC?

Podcast Survey

1) The Hotshot Whiz Kids: The two men (Mike and Mark) who are featured in this podcast are discussing the time when one of the men moved out of his house and went a few days without eating due to a lack of money. The two men have known each other for a very long time so it’s cool to hear them talk about stories from years ago. I like this podcast because the two guys compliment each other by finishing one another’s stories. They also make fun of each other and it makes this more fun for me to listen to because there is cursing and it is aimed at adults.

2) Awkward Bubble: This podcast is given by a married couple (John and Lucy) whose goal is to chat about those awkward moments everyone experiences in life. In this episode, John discusses why he hates St. Patrick’s Day. His reasoning is that he works in New York City where the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world is held, and how that leads to him being thrown up on, on the way home from work. I really enjoyed this podcast because there’s always a chemistry that a man and a woman (married or not) have that you cannot get with any other gender combination. This podcast is also aimed at adults, which makes it more appealing to me.

3) Mayhew & Kempster Pop Culture: Tom and Dan are two friends that constantly make each other laugh. Their charm is part English accent and partly the observation that they seem to be drunk the entire time. The show consists of Tom and Dan talking about things in pop culture that really bother them. Although it is at times difficult to understand what they are saying, the constant breakout into song is absolutely hysterical. The listener will be automatically be put into a good mood because these two friends very obviously have a great time.

Rough Draft

           This year’s school budget vote in Port Chester will be a lot more important than years past. This vote can affect two separate groups of people if nothing is changed before the proposed budget is voted on May 15^th. The first group is the teachers. In the current proposed budget, fifteen positions will be eliminated before the start of the 2012-2013 school year. On the other hand, if the current budget does not pass, one million more dollars will need to be cut in a new proposal.

            My brother (Richard Gregory) is a Teacher’s Assistant at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Port Chester, so although I graduated from the district six years ago, the budget vote still hits close to home. He has worked in the district for four years and didn’t realize how difficult it would be to find a teaching job when he decided to follow this career path. I don’t think students who pursue a degree in education take all of the possible negatives into effect. “Finding the right job in education is extremely hard to come by these days” said Gregory.

            The other group of people the proposed cuts will effect are the students. Year by year, more and more programs see their final days. This year, the entire district’s kindergarten is threatened to be cut down to half day, and the Early Learning Center (ELC) might be forced to close. In the past, things like drama programs, athletic competitions, state exam prep programs, and peer leadership have been let go. When asked how this will affect the students, Gregory said “If there is no drama club, how will a child know if acting is their gift? If the dark room is closed, how will a student realize that they have a love for photography?”

            

Interview Questions

Questions to Ask Interviewees

Richard Gregory (Teacher’s Assistant at JFK Elementary School):

1)   What concerns you most about the cuts in the proposed school budget?

2)   Do you find that many teachers have trouble understanding the Tax Levy Cap?

3)   Will you vote yes or no if the proposed budget is not modified any further before May 15^th? Why?

4)   When you decided to become a teacher, did you think these types of cuts would ever affect you?

5)   If you could go back, would you consider changing your choice of career paths?

6)   Do other teachers in your school/district voice their concerns about any fear of losing their jobs?

7)   Are any of the programs you are involved with at risk of being cut in the proposed budget?

8)   How do you think the proposed cuts will affect the average life of the student?

9)   Do you think your tenure as a TA gives you any sort of advantage in relation to cuts?

10)Would you consider working in a different district if your job is cut?

Linda O’Connor (President of the Teacher’s Union)

1)   What concerns you most about the cuts in the proposed school budget?

2)   Would you say that college students who are getting their teaching degrees are entering this profession at a bad time?

3)  Do teachers that are fearful of losing their jobs approach you about the proposed budget?

4)   Will these cuts affect you in any way?

5)   Are any of the programs you are involved with at risk of being cut in the proposed budget?

6)   How do you think the proposed cuts will affect the average life of the student?

7)   Do you believe the proposed cuts are simply something that needs to be done?

8)   How severe are the proposed cuts in comparison to what other local districts are dealing with?

9)   Do you believe the students are at a disadvantage because of the inadequate state funding?

10)  Being the President of the Teacher’s Union must be emotionally and mentally draining, how do you deal with the stress?

Success for Every Student??

Who? Teachers and Aids in the Port Chester Public School system who could see their jobs on the line due to cuts made if the budget does not pass.

What? Because of government funding being cut back due to our failing economy, there is a chance this year’s budget won’t pass when the citizens of Port Chester vote in May. Tenured teachers, assistants and aids could be at risk of losing the positions they have poured years of their lives into. In addition, many programs that are loved by teachers and students alike could see their days numbered if a contingent budget is forced into place.

Where? Port Chester, New York (Westchester County).

When? The School Budget Vote will take place on May 15, 2012. There will be four Board of Education meetings between now and the vote: 3/8, 3/28, 4/19, 5/3.

Why? Although a budget vote is important every year and to every school district, this year hits particularly close to home for me because there are two people in my life who could be in danger of losing their jobs.

How? I will take advantage of the public Board of Education meetings to learn the most current information as it unfolds. While these meetings are broadcast on our local Public Access channel, I think it would be beneficial to attend each meeting to gain some feedback from teachers, parents and students who may be in attendance. This will give me the opportunity to get face time with board members, and those who will be directly affected by the upcoming vote.

So What? This topic wouldn’t normally be something that would make me interested enough to want to follow the coverage up until voting day. This year, my brother is a tenured Teacher’s Assistant and my good friend is in her first year as a teacher. These two young teachers, in addition to many others, could very well be at risk of losing their jobs if this budget doesn’t pass and I think that is something that could catch many people’s attention. In a college community, we are surrounded by people who will want to be teachers (among other professions) one day, and keeping in mind that any of us could lose our jobs at anytime is both scary and can be a way to keep our minds sharp.

How am I going to cover this? I will take advantage of the public board meetings that will take place between now and the day of the vote. This public forum could be used to ask specific questions that many might be thinking, but not saying. Being from Port Chester, I believe I have access to teachers, principals, parents and possibly board members. Interviews will be the source of most of my information because I wish to learn how this vote will affect employees of the school district. I could also interview people who will vote against this budget and get their thoughts on why this is their choice. Video will also be used from the board meetings to give the viewer the feeling that they are in the room as these discussions are happening.