Posted on May 17 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with the letter regarding conflicts of interest. It's tough b/c there's only 3 candidates for you to choose from for 3 seats. Look at the bright side... perhaps you can go to a meeting or write more letters asking for "trims" from each member of the board to find. As teachers on the front line they'll know just where to find safe "trims" in the budget.
In addition, you show passion for the district and should consider running next year. It can be free... grab some old paint, boards from your garage and you're on your way. I did. I'm running in Amsterdam and I'm just a "broke" RN with 5 children to support. I absolutely agree with you...Diversity is key.
Board members should represent ALL the residents, elderly, students and employees.
But, only 3 came forward in your district to work for free and face constant criticism. They were probably asked to run.

On Letters to the Editor for May 17

Posted on May 15 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's true. It's not only the youth though. My 90 y/o grandmother's taxes are $6200 before star. I hear the older generation talking in the grocery lines "we're paying more out than we're getting in..." with their carts bare. Just look around the next time your at the grocery store... their carts are practically empty. As a RN I can tell you they are "rationing" their medications to their own demise too. It was $76 to fill my gas tank in a 2004 minivan yesterday. I was mortified and terrified. Just because we make "trims" now doesn't mean they can't be restored later when the economy picks up. While I live in Fort Johnson... all of my family is in the city. We have to act now on the expenses we can control and go back to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. At least for a while.
I hope to be elected to the school board to do the same. If the city board and the school board commit to LOWERING taxes more people will want to live here.

On Added budget funds wanted

Posted on May 15 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree that these are certainly desperate times. Keep your eyes open as a team for ways to make "trims." The teacher's and administrators can contribute most by being out there on the front line. It would be dangerous though to cut your aides. Perhaps you can lay it all out and re-evaluate everything and every area. Designate committees to each area with an a time frame to come up with acceptable trims in each area they represent. Put it in the hands of the people that will be most affected.
As far as the principals and vice principals in elementary schools... Amsterdam's Elementary School Principals do an excellent job without assistants or curriculum coordinators.
How about cutting the cost of ink used to print the millions of letters to parents... post online. Ask teachers to post their news online and have mass emailings.It would also create an open communication tool b/n parents and teachers. Ink and paper can cost $1000's monthly. I'm sure if you empower the teachers they will pleasantly surprise you. I spoke with so many people recently while collecting signatures in Amsterdam and it was the teachers that had very insightful ideas. Tap your resources that are right under your nose.

On Residents tell Gloversville school board about 'desperate times'

Posted on May 10 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is very confusing to know what we're voting for. My mother and I were looking at our tax bills last night trying to figure them out. She's in the city and we think paid on 81% of her new assessment (up $20,000) and thinks there is a new law coming out that will make us pay on 100% of it b/c of the star program. Even my aunt that worked for Montgomery county election board made calls and can't find out what this means. My taxes are completely different from the town of Amsterdam with my assessments being raised yearly. We're very confused and having alot of trouble finding an answer clarifying the bottom lines for myself in the town and my family in the city. I hope someone reads this and can help clarify it before we have to vote. On one hand it's great to have the city and school district say no tax raise... but is this going to actually cost us more in the end?
Please don't be too hard on me... I am really pinching pennies everywhere... comparing all my services, clipping coupons and going w/o lunch at work to come home to pasta everynight so my children can eat well. I even had to stop driving my children to PT in Rotterdam through Sunnyview last month b/c of gas prices. This is very hard on all of us... that's why I am staring at bills and I would greatly appreciate any assistance you can offer. At first glance I thought it was an error and a decimal point was left out.
My uncle is selling his roofing business b/c of taxes and my 90 y/o grandmother, living alone had her taxes at $6200 last year (less with star), but is that even reliable these days?
You brought up my run for the school board... I am. To help bring a different point of view hopefully. While I have alot of family struggling with taxes I also have 5 children and respect the teacher's needs to support their families too through all this. It will not be easy and if I lose it's ok.
I'll still stay active advocating for getting an ASA chapter here for us. I'm working with others on this too.
Thank you for your comment... at the end of the night last night my mother said the same thing. I know we can't be the only one confused by this.

On $53M school budget goes to voters

Posted on May 9 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If the assessments on our homes have increased and the tax rate "per assessed $1000" basically stays the same... isn't that an increase?
I've heard that in addition the taxes were only based on 80% of our assessments last year but will be based on 100% this year.
If this is true then... for a home now assessed at $75,000... in the Town of Amsterdam we will pay
$13,375.50 compared to $11,082.60 last year.
That is an extra $191.07 monthly! It is an insult to our ability to use a calculator. Maybe they just hope no one has the time to look for the tax bills and do the calcultions.
Instead of further burdening us all... why not buy 1 bus or fix the 2 you have. There's $350,000.000.
Plus $200,000.00 for the property sale. Plus the revenue we'd get from leasing Bacon School to Whispering Pines. This is shameful. People already pinch pennies for groceries.

On $53M school budget goes to voters