Wappingers Central School District

Question submitted anonymously, 2-9-23 
Just wanted to send along a comment that while it's nice to offer that benefit to those volunteers,  how do you plan on conpensating (sic) for that loss in revenue? I hope not by increasing taxes for the rest of us? Many of us give our time in different ways by coaching, scouts, etc as well so while I appreciate their service, I don't feel this is fair.

Response:
Thank you for your comment; it has been shared with the Board of Education.
The proposed exemption is 10% of the total property and school tax bill if the criteria are met for compliance.  The District has a similar exemption in place for clergy and paid firefighters and the impact is minimal for those communities. 

Comment submitted by Marika Mills on 2-9-23
Hello WCSD,

I was happy to see that the district is considering a property tax break for volunteer firemen and ambulance workers.  I think this is a great idea, especially given the unpaid service these individuals provide to our community. 

Response:
Thank you for your comment; it has been shared with the Board of Education.

Comment submitted by Gina Vilardi, 2-17-23
Hello,

I just wanted to take a moment and voice my thoughts regarding the partial tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.  I think that is a wonderful benefit for these selfless individuals and their families! My husband volunteered in the local fire department for over 20 years out of the pure goodness of his heart and interests.  As a result he missed many family meals or moments when the call came to help others.  I have sat at multiple restaurants alone or left movies when the bell rang.  This exemption would be a great way for our community as a whole to give back to these individuals who train multiple times a week and run out to help others at all hours no matter what they are doing or with whom.  My husband is no longer a volunteer so we personally would not benefit but I do think it would be a nice perk for the families who do.  

Thank you!

Response:
Thank you for your comments; they have been shared with the Board of Education. 

Response:
Thank you for your comments; they have been shared with the Board of Education.   

Question submitted to budget@wcsdny.org on Feb 23:

Good evening.  On the website it says there is a budget presentation on 2/27.  Where and when is that meeting? Also, where can I see the line item/detailed budget?

Thank you,

Rachel (Adam and Rachel Van Der Stuyf)

Response:

Hello. There will be a preliminary 2023-2024 budget presentation during the next Board meeting.  The Board meeting will be held at the Wappingers Jr High School Auditorium, with public session set to begin at approximately 7:30pm. The PowerPoint presentation will also be available for public viewing after 3pm this Friday by following this link, clicking on the 2/27 meeting, and then the agenda item for the 2023-2024 budget.

Please note that the annual budget process begins in October with the budget calendar and ends in May with the Budget Vote.  The budget process involves many moving parts, which includes the finalization of the New York State budget resulting in NYS aid amounts for school districts, the use of several estimates for health insurance, general liability, negotiations, contracted services, supplies, etc., as well as input and feedback from the Board of Education, school district administration, building-level administration, and the community. This process can extend into April as we await a final Aid amount from New York State, which then drives the proposed budget for the Board of Education's approval prior to the proposition on the ballot on May 16th.

Thank you,

Kristen Dainty

Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business Development

Question submitted February 26, 2025: 

As a WCSD taxpayer I have a few questions regarding the budget. How often is the WCSD budget audited? Who performs the audits? In past audits what percentages of the budget were found to fall into the category of Waste, Fraud & Abuse? Thank you.

Greg Prando

Response:  The District's financial activity is audited annually by a public accounting firm, as required by New York State.  The external audit firm was chosen based on a Request For Proposal (RFP) as performed every three years, awarded and approved by the Board of Education.  The external audit firm performs fieldwork based on materiality sampling, review of policy and internal controls that could detect fraud and/or abuse of funds, review of documents, and other on-site fieldwork related to financial records.  At the conclusion of the audit, a report is issued that provides an opinion on the financial statements as a whole.  The District’s financial statements have always received a favorable outcome with no material weaknesses in internal controls.

Public Comment 

Questions submitted by Anne M. LaValle 2/5/22

Who in the District made the official decision to implement mandatory, universal masking for students, teachers, staff and visitors to WCSD Buildings?

On what date?

By what authority?

According what specific criteria?

(Please note the question refers to “specific criteria”; not vague and ever changing “guidance”.)

Please respond to each question individually; ie, please do not substitute criteria for authority as they are distinct components of the decision making process.

Is the requirement a mandate?

A policy?

A contract/ESSER grant condition?

Did the Board of Education formally vote to adopt the requirement? 

On what date?

What are the enforcement criteria and consequences for non-compliance?

By whom were they determined and where are they detailed?

Is the Board President privately soliciting individual Board Member opinions on mask-wearing either on his own behalf or on behalf of the Superintendent in violation of; or in order to avoid Open Meetings Law and requirements that the public is aware of such decision-making processes?

Did the District and or the Board of Education implement universal mask-wearing in compliance with the District’s Reopening Plan as approved by NYSED and as a condition for receiving American Rescue Plan - Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds (ARP -ESSER Funds); and in accordance with Commissioner Rosa’s statement in the attached image?

I am formally requesting that these questions be answered publicly at the next Board of Education meeting scheduled for February 28, 2022, or sooner, and on the District Website and that all associated internal correspondence regarding the decision to adopt universal masking requirements for students, teachers, and staff be made available for public viewing ASAP.

Response:  

In 2020, NYSED required that the District draft and publish a Reopening Plan for the 2020-2021 school year and required that the District involve a number of stakeholders in the school community in this process. Based on that input, the District finalized and shared its 2020-2021 Reopening Plan in August 2020. The minutes of the August 19, 2020 meeting where the Board ratified the Reopening Plan are available for your reference Click here for 8/19/2020 Board Minutes.  

For the 2021-22 school year, NYSED still requires that districts maintain a Reopening Plan outlining COVID protocols. Some revisions were made to the plan to reflect the guidance at the time, and the revised plan was published on August 17, 2021. That Reopening Plan remains in effect at this time.

The Reopening Plan is on our homepage and can be found here: 

Thank you for your submission.

October 18, 2021

QUESTION SUBMITTED BY MARGARET IANELLI:
The State of NY has allocated 14.7 Billion dollars in general aid to Elementary and secondary Schools.  Please provide current Funding to date that WCSD received from the Office of the State Comptroller as targeted assistance relating to COVID 19 Relief Program.  Please also provide what available balance is available and total expected. Thank you for your attention and response.

RESPONSE:  Please see the below information in response to your public comment question related to COVID 19 Relief WCSD Funds.

The usage and funding is as follows:

 

ESSER funds spent in 20/21: $941,697

GEER funds spent in 20/21 : $159,602

GEER II funds spent in 21/22 $151,131.25

ESSER II funds spent in 21/22 $330,753.94

 

The GEER II total allocation being requested for 21/22 as of today for WCSD is $1,059,504.

The ESSER II total allocation being requested for 21/22 as of today for WCSD is $9,046,404.

The ESSER III total allocation, which is currently pending with NYS, being requested for 21/22 as of today for WCSD is $7,402,856.

The total CRRSA (ESSER II and GEER II)  allotment to WCSD from 2021 to 2023 is $10,103,745.

The total ARPA (ESSER III and GEER III) allotment to WCSD from 2021 to 2023 is $8,688.894.

Thank you for your submission.

September 20, 2021

Q:  Here are some of the questions we would like addressed at tonight’s BOE meeting.

1. Why are we not using dividers? If we use dividers can we lift the mask mandate? 
2. Who will be paying for the weekly Covid tests being imposed on school staff if they are not vaccinated?
3. Who will be paying the person administering the tests to school staff? Will it be coming out of our tax dollars? 
4. Will the staff members be compensated for the time they lose while getting tested every week?
5. If we have reached over 70% vaccinated why are we still mandating masks? 
6. When will these children be free of masks?
7. Will you be mandating the vaccine once FDA approved for kids 5-18? 

Thank you. 

AnnaMarie Croniser 

RESPONSE:  

A #1 - In June 2021, the NYS Department of Health issued an Interim Guidance for In-Person Instruction, on page 8 of that document, the CDC indicated that dividers were no longer recommended as a mitigation device.  Masks, good hygiene, enhanced ventilation, and social distancing were the best mitigation measures schools should use as part of their overall COVID planning process. Therefore, desk dividers do not replace masks as an appropriate COVID mitigation measure; however, and where appropriate, for students who are exempt from wearing masks, we are using desk dividers in addition to the other mitigation measures.   

A #2 - Currently, the weekly COVID screening process is being paid for by a grant from the State to the local County Department of Health, which in turn works with each local school district.

A #3 - See above.

A #4 - No. We are in the process of developing a district-wide comprehensive COVID testing process which will allow most of our staff to receive their COVID test within the confines of their school day and/or building. Based upon COVID screening observations, the entire process takes about 15 seconds as it is compromised by two nasal swabs, and not to the degree they were administered last year.           

A #5 - Masks were mandated by the State during the month of August. It would appear, although it was never explicitly stated and/or communicated, that masks were mandated due to the fact that full time in-person instruction was the primary order of the day and although we had social distancing guidance, we were informed that no student should be deprived of in-person instruction solely due to difficulties with social distancing; therefore, masking becomes our main mitigation device, along with appropriate air flow and good hand hygiene practices.    

A #6 - As of yet, we haven’t received any word on when the inside school mask mandate will be lifted by New York State, as there has not been a metric provided to schools to address this issue. 

A #7 -The WCSD has not mandated vaccination for students in order to attend in-person instruction.     

Q:  We would like to enquire about enrichment programs in elementary schools.  Based on our experience they simply don't exist.  We understand that at one point WCSD had enrichment teachers so why did that program stop?  What can the district offer to talented and gifted students during normal school hours?  Also, why is there no policy on skipping  grades?  Traditional classroom enrichment is not enough for a gifted student.     

Ewelina Czauz

RESPONSE:  

The elementary schools use the workshop model to provide instruction to students.  This format allows teachers to group students in the classroom and provide targeted instruction to students based on their academic level and needs.  Classroom teachers are able to provide remediation or enrichment as needed  using small group instruction.   In some instances, where scheduling and staffing permits, students receive support/enrichment during a “skills period” which is in addition to the reading and/or math block of time.   Elementary schools may also provide before school or after school enrichment opportunities for students.  At the secondary level, students have the opportunity to take courses at various academic levels including, Honors, Advanced Placement, and college courses. The District will consider bringing this matter before the Policy Committee to discuss.  

From Sherri McNAMARA

Can someone please tell me why Wappingers is contracting out the Bus Company Orange County Transit?? I work for Wappingers and have lived in Wappingers school district for over 50 years and have never seen full size buses being contracted out. I have 2 concerns. 1st: as an employee I see more bus drivers being deemed to cleaning schools while bus runs are being contracted out. 2nd: As a tax payer. What is going to happen to all of these Union jobs the bus drivers currently have. Is Wappingers looking to dispose of these union jobs? How much money is Wappingers saving to contract out Buses. Thank you. Sherri

RESPONSE: 

WCSD had a need to contract with an outside vendor due to the transportation requirements set forth by the NYS Department of Health (DOH) in order to open school in the fall of 2020. Additionally, there were not enough bus drivers employed or eligible for employment due to a national shortage that has been documented for quite some time.  

To attempt to relieve the pressure of the small pool of eligible drivers, WCSD began a driver training program.  It is free to any bus driver candidates and is run by WCSD Transportation supervisory staff and WCSD driving staff.  This program has produced 5 drivers to date all of which have been hired by WCSD while several others are still working toward the required licensure.  Additionally, WCSD has placed notices of open positions in newsprint sources, on school marquees, and on our facilities and courier vehicles.

The civil service title for these staff is driver/cleaners.  It is completely allowable that these staff members can clean in buildings.  That being said, as for drivers being deemed to cleaning in schools, this is only being done on their non-driving time to fill out their day - whether that be 5 or 8 hours. This need to fill out the workday is a direct result of the in-person and hybrid learning that has been required and expanded throughout this school year.  The increased building time is completely related to the pandemic.  The contracted vendor would still be necessary whether the WCSD drivers were working in school buildings or not for the reasons noted above.

The Union has not lost any positions from the use of the contracted vendor nor is the District looking to eliminate bus driver positions.  Again, the contracted vendor is needed because of the shortage of bus drivers and the increased requirements of transportation by NYS DOH.  As the District continues to hire eligible drivers, the additional need for the contracted vendor will diminish and subsequently be eliminated.

Will the district reconsider the projected number of incoming students to the WCSD because families are leaving the city and moving up to Dutchess County due to the pandemic?

Thank you for your consideration, 

Alisa McFarland

RESPONSE:

We do not have any information that correlates home sales to school-aged children that would help us with these projections.  Not only would we need home sale data reports that show school-aged children moving into a home in the District, but we would also need reports that show the families school district of origin to help us ascertain if the families who are buying homes are new to our community, or if they are simply moving from within the District.

Q: On Wednesday's, WCSD students are remote learning and WCSD drivers, (approximately 160 full and part time drivers), are in school buildings.  With that being said, there are 14 to 15 private and parochial runs being driven by Orange County Transit on Wednesday's, costing $8,370.00 for that day.  If a month has 4 Wednesday's that total is $33,480.00 and  if the month has 5 Wedesday's that totals $41,850.00 of tax payer dollars.  Starting with January 6, 2021 through June 2021 there are 24 Wednesday's that will cost $200,880.00 in addition to the salaries that are already be paid to the WCSD drivers who are in the schools on that day, (plus the money already spent on Wednesday's since October).

Why would you not utilize WCSD drivers on Wednesday's to transport those students who attend private or parochial schools to save tax payers $200,880.00?

Response:

The total number of runs being covered by Orange County Transit is 14 as of this time.  On Wednesdays when WCSD is remote there are up to 11 runs for private and parochial schools being bussed using Orange County Transit.  The costs for Wednesdays could be as much as $6,138 or could be less if schools or programs are not running for whatever reason.  WCSD only pays for the days that Orange County Transit operates.   While many of these private and parochial routes run 5 days a week, as these schools have full week programs, they have also experienced closures and shutdowns that WCSD has not.  The Wednesday cost therefore fluctuates from one week to the next.

The bus driver may be the first school employee face that is seen by students as they start their school day.  Consistency is important for students.  While there are many issues with absenteeism for a variety of reasons, both WCSD and Orange County Transit make every effort to maintain the same driver as much as possible.  If WCSD were to switch up Wednesday drivers in addition to the absenteeism that both WCSD and Orange County Transit are experiencing, this could add more stress to the students.  Additionally, there could be an increased opportunity for mistakes to be made on the bus (i.e.: students offload at an incorrect location) as drivers will not know their student ridership.  

This absenteeism is not a new phenomenon and WCSD has been working on this for many years now.

1. Allison Conti

Again, I appreciate all the work that done at this unique times. Many including myself have been attempting patience and positivity as we’d want the same grace. I’ve heard many state that school is not a babysitting service and although that is true people have set up their lives around the school day for more years than most of us are on earth. Parents have used the return dates to sign up and hold limited spots in childcare facilities, taken leaves of absences based on those dates and scheduled and budgeted for return to work choices based on those dates and school hours; all of which has seemed to change within a week of opening.

The parents of the district and the community are pondering…

1) - why were buses changed a week after being posted as nothing had changed within that weeks that the public was informed of ?

RESPONSE: As the schedules were being finalized and updated based on current information coming from NYS and the District’s phased in education model, the updated bus routes were provided as soon as possible.

2) why would the day be shortened? Not just change transportation times — meaning

Northern 8-3, Southern 9-4

RESPONSE: With the start of the Hybrid Model, teachers are still instructing students in-person and remotely. In order to ensure all students are receiving equitable academic support the students, attending in person's day needed to be shortened to allow teachers additional time to support the alternate hybrid and exclusive remote learners. Our teachers have to provide a full day of work and most work beyond their 7-hour contractual day.

3) outside of a COVID spread should there be an anticipated changes to secondary start dates Or school hours for any building as that effects many working families?

RESPONSE: Members of the District’s senior staff are working with representatives from the Wappingers Congress of Teachers and the Wappingers Administrators Association regarding the opening of secondary schools during the hybrid phase-in.  The schedule for Hybrid phase-in for secondary students has already been released to the community.  Additional information will be shared shortly.

4) why isn’t the school hours for secondary released? Are they still unknown? If so why?

Families need those to plan if they have younger children or special need secondary students that need care themselves via lack of independence or to plan for outside services?

RESPONSE: See response to #3.

5) will families be required to make choices on decision fir rest of year I’m next survey AFTER actually experiencing hybrid for ALL students? As some have only secondary students

RESPONSE: We continue to monitor the COVID19 increases and decreases throughout NYS.  Just recently, Red, Orange, and Yellow Zones have been implemented to determine school opening and closings as well as for other major agencies. The lack of certainty and clarity does not stem from the district. We are continuously monitoring this pandemic, making revisions, and discussing unanticipated options that may very well occur in the near future.  This question will be addressed as we close out the first marking period.

Let me be clear, every parent should be making their child’s education their first priority, unfortunately most have other obligations like yourselves ( such as employment in our district, elected positions on a school board, civil servant, coaches, comedians, spouse, parent, caregiver to ill spouse or child) with that balancing all of that on an average day can be difficult but during this time is more stressful.  MOST families are doing the best to juggle all of this and are handed last minute schedule changes due to what can appear to be poor planning it spirals (into financial losses, work stress, anxiety issues) which can cause a spiral effect on who matters most in all this... THESE CHILDREN! When the state hands us surprises MOST are reasonable and are understanding, it’s out of the districts control and we had to make do.

Thanks for your time.

1.  Allison Conti 

Where are the support teachers for remote Learners that have been promised? Are they not available or starting soon?

RESPONSE:  Full remote students will receive academic lessons and support from their classroom teachers and when appropriate/necessary, additional support from a designated staff member.  The elementary principals have already started assigning additional staff to work with remote only students, to support the instruction provided by the classroom teacher.  Parents should contact their child’s teacher and/or building principal if they have questions about the teaching and learning. 

Tony Cifelli

Q:  Has the 3 tier schedule in transportation been considered during covid 19, (example to follow), that was used for years before implementing a 2 tier busing system? In the 3 tier system, transportation had the availability of WCSD drivers to cover runs which was more flexible than a 2 tier and the current schedule. 

     example: 

 1st tier - High Schools, 2nd tier - Junior High Schools,  3rd tier - All Elementary Schools

The contract for out-sourcing 15 bus runs to Orange County Transit for $8,370.00 Per Day, where is this money coming from?  Is it from tax payers,  a grant,  a fund or government assistance?  Also, in the unfortunate event that  WCSD has to close district wide due to covid 19, does the contractual amount of $8,370.00 Per Day still payable to Orange County Transit during the closure?  

The Orange County Transit contract states it is in effect until the end of June 2021, does this mean that WCSD will not be hiring bus drivers to take the runs that are being out-sourced?

Thank you for your time.  

RESPONSE:

A three-tier system is currently being used for the hybrid educational model that was phased in.  This system was put in place due to the number of drivers and monitors available to drive.  There are not enough drivers to cover the runs as needed to open school or to model the past three-tier plan that you refer to in your comment.  

As such, a bid was completed to cover the outstanding run packets.  The contracted runs are in place to cover the outstanding packets.  Every WCSD driver is currently being utilized.  This is being funded through the general fund budget.  There is a 30-day clause to cancel the contract for both parties.  These routes are in place through June 30, 2021, or until no longer needed by the District.

Public Comment - 9/21/20 Special Meeting

1. Julie Fiege:  jefiege@aol.com- "When will 8th grade special ed begin? I have two kids in self-contained special ed classes-one at Van Wyck and the other at Wappingers Junior. They are the neediest students, so they should be back in school first. If they don’t get back into school before their gen ed peers do, it will be a disaster. When will we know?"

RESPONSE: Presently, we are not able to update the schedule, but if we can we will be sure to do so.  We first have to assess our K-6 entry process. We will assess the four day implementation model for the students and if we are able to accommodate them prior to the start of when all grades 7 and 8 students are scheduled to enter our phase-in model, we will inform parents.

2. George McDonald - no comment left on form.

3. Allison Conti: "Who’s doing virtual instruction? It’s next week, do we still not have a plan yet? Parents are waiting for answers, to know if they are changing. These are children that need to prepare for this with more than vague answers. Other districts are back or have presented the plan to them. Our community has been patient but this is frustrating. Thanks for your time."

RESPONSE:  Class rosters will remain the same when the District moves to the hybrid model.  Some teachers may need to be reassigned to ensure adequate class coverage.   Please refer to the Parent's Guide to Hybrid/Remote Learning for additional information. 

4. Allison Conti: "Day 3 and 6 are both on Wednesday do balancing that evenly in elementary can not be fair with present plan PE on 3,6 will be half the time and always virtual, please correct me if I’m not understanding our current plan. Thanks for your time."

RESPONSE:  Please see responses from Public Comment dated 9/14/20.  The District has been monitoring various aspects of Remote Learning.  We will continue to review what has been working and what remains a challenge to make changes accordingly. 

5. Allison Conti: "Although I don’t believe that schools should necessarily be closed ( I respect both sides) not having in person BOE meetings is sending a confusing message to the community at large. Those needing to go virtual can, but when can expect to see in person and public welcome? Thanks for your time."

RESPONSE: The Committee on Open Government recently posted this decision: Check here for the link. It says that if the Board is going to have an in-person meeting, the public should be allowed to attend. However, if you are unable to accommodate anyone who might want to show up (i.e. the room has a limited amount of space for social distancing), or you anticipate more than 50 people being present, then you must also live stream it.  Meetings conducted with public present would necessitate a health and safety process including temperature screening, having masks available, and hiring the adequate personnel to maintain and monitor social distancing, as well as extra custodial staff to clean up and disinfect. At this time the Board continues to conduct virtual meetings. 

9/21/20 EMAILS BEFORE MEETING:

1. From Angela Hanlon: I would like to offer my input on the WCSD distance learning for the 9/21 board meeting.  Distance learning is failing my children who are in 7th and 5th grade at Van Wyck and Gayhead Elementary.  Please see my below points:

-My husband sent an email to superintendent, board of ed and staff and never received a response.

-JR high school teachers are ending classes after 15minutes. They are also posting videos and NOT teaching. Classes are already shortened from 45min to 25min.  Now some are shortened to 15 minutes.  What can you possibly teach and or learn in 15min.

-We have NOT received textbooks for Junior high school subjects. No communication was given from van wyck and I have made phone calls inquiring.

-I had to request textbooks & workbooks for my 5th grader. 

-Van wyck spent $1.70 for a mailing about applying for free lunch. Waste of taxpayers money.   They can mail this but not schedules? I took a picture of it.

-Gayhead had more turnover losing our beloved principal Mr. Gerson.  He was an vast improvement from Mr. Olavarria who lacked in leadership and interest in our children.

-Teachers are requesting parents do NOT listen to lessons. How am I able to support my child without listening especially if we do not have textbooks to follow along.

-My daughter has to print out all of the google docs for Junior high. That is an expense that the school should provide.  I pay over $8300 in school taxes. We should be supplied all dittos and documents for kids weekly and should NOT have to print.  I would gladly pick up these documents at Van Wyck weekly.

-Teachers are NOT communicating with parents, but rather with the children’s email addresses.  My 10 year old does not communicate via email.   

-Teachers computers keep glitching and freezing. Kids computers are doing the same resulting in missed lessons.

- Teachers should not be teaching from their homes.  This is NOT acceptable.

-Both my children are stressed and unhappy with distance learning.  They feel like failures the first week and half.

This is a disgrace.  Wappingers Central School District is a disgrace.  You are not giving us a sustainable option.  Kids will suffer even more than they already have.  Our taxes are being raised in the process. Mr. Carrion and the Board of Education should be ashamed of themselves.  They had six months to work this out and they came up with this plan at the 11th hour.  You should see the school ratings for the schools within our district.  They have received abysmal scores. My kids cannot continue to learn this way because they are NOT learning.  If other districts can find a way to be back in school so can we. Wappingers is taking the easy way out.

RESPONSE: Please contact the building principal if there are issues or concerns with remote learning.  Staff have been provided with specific guidelines and expectations regarding remote learning.  If these expectations are not being met, the first course of action is to inform the principal and they will look into the matter to determine the next steps. 

As per the National School Lunch program website “Schools send school meal applications home at the beginning of each school year.” (Check here for the link).

While this may seem like a wasted expense it is a federal requirement that all families have equal access to this opportunity and application.  As the District cannot guarantee email or website access to all families/guardians we must mail these applications.  To ensure that we have reached every possible student that needs this opportunity, we will continue to mail these applications.

2. I have a son in the first grade. Please provide details about how/whether virtual schooling will change for the k-2 students who will be remaining full virtual while their peers switch to hybrid. Will they still be guaranteed 20 minutes of synchronous learning time per subject? Will their teachers be changed? Will class sizes remain comparable? 

Thanks, 

Laura Sperling
 

RESPONSE:    Please refer to the Parent's Guide to Hybrid/Remote Learning for additional information.

Public Comment - 9/14/20

1. Allison Conti: - "There is no if any doubt of the amount of work that has gone into establishing a return to virtual learning. It seems clear that an every other day schedule works for secondary schools for PE and lab. I’m not sure that all realized ( if so how sad) that this is not conducive for elementary students, which the majority of our population is (especially post redistricting, as 7 grades are here).

Specials from my understanding are for todays for PE and other specials are built around that. They are 1/4, 2/5, 3/6; which would mean that kids getting specials on this cycle would have 1/3 of the required PE mandated by the state regs as well as half of all other students. A lot of time was spent discussing what was equitable and this does not seem to have been considered like other topics. As day 3 and 6 will stay virtual even if we return such specials scheduled on that day will not only still remain at half they will also remain virtual meaning:

Kids with PE on 1/4, 2/5 will have line twice a week

Kids with PE on 3/6 will have once a week virtual

That is one third of the elementary students I figure that has to be around 2k students?

I can’t imagine having a special like art and loving it and being an artist and only getting that class 2 times a month. I’m also pondering how parents renting instruments for about $30-$50 a month will feel when they get virtual instruction 2x a month from a screen but their other child hers it live once or twice a week.

Has the district considered a A1, B1, A2, B2 schedule? Or something similar?

Secondary can use days A and B for labs and PE

Elementary students can have PE on A and B, meaning A1 and B1

Music on A2, ART on B2

Computer can push in during (writers workshop or science?) and Library can push into Readers workshop.

I know the schedule is made but my belief is when this is realized by all especially those with excellence and or challenges in these areas that more will come forward with sane questions and concerns."

RESPONSE:  There are a few special area classes that fall on a 3/6 schedule.  The teachers and building and district administrators have collaborated continuously to resolve any conflicts as a result of the scheduling.  Many of these conflicts have already been resolved.

2. Christine Jordan: "Is the district ready for the hybrid model to begin on Sept 29th?  As a parent of a first and second grader I would like to know if the district is prepared with the proper technology to ensure the hybrid model is possible beginning September 29th.  If not, we would like to know now and not a few days before the hybrid model is expected to start.  I am sure you have been inundated with comments and issues from many parents.  The teachers have been fantastic trying to adapt to this new way of teaching.  As a parent, I am concerned about the effects that all remote learning will have on my 1st and 2nd grader.  I would like reassurance that the hybrid model is ready to go and the schedule will still continue on as presented as long as the virus and spread remains under control.  My concern is that the district is not prepared to take on a hybrid model and that the parents will not be notified until last minute.  Most of us are trying to balance full time jobs and now "home schooling".  Advanced notice is requested if there is a change to the hybrid plan.

RESPONSE:  Please referto the Parent's Guide to Hybrid/Remote Learning for additional information. 

3. Micah Jumpp: a John Jay High School 2017 Alum and the current students, alum, parents, faculty and staff of the WCSD Change Movement: "Despite your Board Goals stating, “We strive to increase participation of community members to vote in school elections and participate in committees, board meetings and presentations.” our attempts to participate with a call to action continues to be ignored.  Is this really how the process is supposed to work?  We go to school here, become responsible citizens, try to get involved, and just get ignored?  No dialogue?  As it seems the world moves on, as if systemic racism is resolved, at least to the public it seems you have. Although OUR district chooses to ignore us, we are committed to staying in touch with current students, and be their voice if necessary, since many continue to state that they do not feel heard, included, or empowered to speak. We would like to inquire why there have been no responses to the many public comments of current students, parents, alumni and community members from your Board Meetings on August, 3, Aug 17 & Aug 31, when your website states that you will respond to public comments within 2 business days?  On your site the last response was back on June 3, 2020.  We ask for transparency. We are not the district’s adversaries, we are members of this community who still come home from college, and still support the community.  Our parents, siblings and other family members still live here.  We want to see the district declare publicly that it is addressing systemic racism, not pretending that if you ignore it, it will just go away.   We still respectfully ask for a meeting to talk about changes."

RESPONSE:  The Board of Education has developed and adopted a goal around Cultural Responsiveness - “To establish a committee to develop a culturally responsive curriculum, both inclusive and accurate, of local, state, and national history.  This would be incorporated into Social Studies and English without placing an additional burden on teachers.”  In addition, the District has created an administrative position to lead the work on Cultural Responsiveness.   The Curriculum Committee will convene to create a sub-committee to address the goal of the Board of Education.  Part of the work of the sub-committee will be to speak with various stakeholders.  A representative from the committee will reach out to you to schedule a meeting to discuss your concerns. Based on the goal that was developed by the Board of Education, the administration will work towards this goal by taking several measures from hiring personnel to establishing Equity and Cultural Responsiveness Committees for each school that will address the content of this comment along with other matters related to equity.   Thank you for your patience.

Marie Johnson

Question: I want to clarify for any questions.   I plan to drop my ballot to ensure it is received in time.  However my husband is unable to drop off due to his work and other schedule.  Is a spouse or other household member allowed to drop off?  This is also to limit number of public that expose or are exposing others.

Daniel Fischer

Q:  Why does the school board think it is their duty/right to raise taxes double the state governor's cap, about 4%, when there are a significant number of town residences that are out of work due to Covid-19 and are unable to make their rent/mortgage payments?

A:  The Board of Education has approved a budget that meets the needs of students and maintains programs. The proposed tax levy is below the maximum allowable limit for the 2020-2021 school year.  There have been many reductions in many areas of the budget that will be going to the voters on June 9th.  For more information on the WCSD 2020-2021, budget and vote can be found at:This link.

Q:  Why do you provide an opportunity to view the meeting live instead of after? The current link posted on the website (only one and it was intentionally left out from the mass mailing) is to the posted meetings after it has been edited.

A:  The Board of Education meetings are streamed live on YouTube.  The live feed appears on the same page as the recorded board meetings.  You will not see the live feed of the meeting until the meeting has started.  Board of Education meetings are not edited

Public Comment Question from March 4, 2019 Board of Education Meeting:
Wappingers Central School District uses the full day co-teach model in both the elementary and high school communities. Why then does our middle school not offer that vital support? This inconsistency is affecting numerous seventh and eighth graders across the district.  Special education services are meant to level the playing field. This specially designed instruction, given by a certified special education teacher, meets the unique needs of a child with a disability, allowing for a student to participate in common core level material.

The Wappingers administration did believe in the middle school co-teach model in the past. Any educational professional will tell you that a patchwork of resource rooms, teacher assistants, and special classes can’t compensate for the knowledge and continuality of having a specially trained teacher working hand in hand with the subject teacher.

The issue arose when the Board of Education needed to make budget cuts and decided that they would eliminate the program. What the Board of Education may  not have realized was that by doing so, they were in violation of the federal mandate that requires districts to provide students with an individualized appropriate education in a least restrictive environment. This action also may be jeopardizing federal funds that are specifically earmarked for Special Education Services.

When a student’s CSE Team meets and is forced to place a child in the only alternative that is offered rather than choosing the option that they really need, both the law and the trust between parent and school is breached. If you are in doubt of the fact that this inclusion model works, just look at your northern neighbor, the District of Arlington. They have the co-teaching model in all subjects in both of their middle schools and view it as a necessity for many SPED students.

IDEA says that children who receive special education should learn in the least restrictive environment. This means they should spend as much time as possible with peers who do not receive special education.

I will end with two statements that the New York State Education Department has offered to parents fighting for their child’s federally mandated rights:

One, your child should be with students in general education (and I quote) “to the maximum extent that is appropriate.”

And two, special classes, separate schools or removal from the general education class should only happen when your child’s learning or attention issue - her “disability” under IDEA - is so severe that supplementary aids and services can’t provide her with an appropriate education.

I respectfully request that you reinstate the inclusion program at Van Wyck Junior High School for the 2019-20 school year. Please consider aligning the schools in our district and righting the wrong done to many WCSD Special Education students.

District Response:
The Wappingers Central School District offers an array of services to students with disabilities classified in district schools.  However, in every situation which comes before the Committee Special Education  (CSE) the overriding consideration is the appropriateness of the placement in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) based on that student’s individual needs.

At the junior high school level, we offer Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) in the areas of English and math with certified teachers.  In science and social studies embedded support is provided by certified teacher assistants working with the designated certified teacher.

There are school districts in the region that offer a model of support in which certified teaching assistants are embedded in the curricular areas of science and social studies supporting special education student needs. This still allows for the students to continue to receive instruction within a general education setting. This aforementioned model does not take the District out of compliance to continue to receive their adequate federal funding.  For example, teaching assistants within this type of service are also paid for by Federal funds that the school district receives yearly from New York State in the form of the 611 and 619 grants.

Certified teaching assistants who work within the guidance of special and general education teachers did not, at the time of the change, and still do not put the Wappingers Central School District out of compliance while still providing a continuum of services for students.        

Question from Lindsey Purdy:

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the meeting on Monday night. I have an incoming kindergartener for 2017-2018 school year, who as of right now would be going to Fishkill Elementary, as we live on Baxtertown Rd.  I know there was mention of redistricting to Myers Corners Elementary.

Was hoping you could tell me how this was received when brought up at the meeting?   And when will this be voted on?

Response from Amy Watkins:

Any boundary changes proposed by the District must be approved by the Board of Education. The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 8th in the Wappingers Junior High School auditorium, with the public session to begin at 7:30 p.m.   An additional public comment period and Board discussion would be available at this meeting if it becomes a part of the agenda.  The agenda will be made available on Friday, January 5th at 3:00 p.m. by clicking on BoardDocs.

Questions from Nine Schutzman

Open Meetings Law and School Leadership Teams

• If the school leadership team is not subject to open meetings law, how could a valid executive session be held at a school leadership team meeting? According to the state open government website, “an executive session is not separate from an open meeting, but rather is a portion of an open meeting during which the public may be excluded.” Therefore, if the meeting was not a public meeting, but rather, a private meeting that the public was invited to attend, how could the principal have called for a vote to go into executive session?

Responses in red
The Wappingers Shared Decision Making Plan, which was approved by the Board of Education in March 2011, indicates that School Leadership Team meetings are subject to Open Meetings Law.  In compliance with the District’s Shared Decision Making Plan, the meeting was noticed as a public meeting. One of the exceptions to the Open Meetings Law is to discuss matters made confidential by state law, which includes seeking advice from legal counsel.  Consistent with the Open Meetings Law, a motion was made during the public portion of the meeting to go into executive session for the purpose of soliciting legal advice, and that motion was seconded, and approved by the Committee.

• If a school leadership team has no decision-making power, why did discussion of a controversial mural need to take place at one of its meetings? Why didn’t the principal make a decision on his own, if it’s his decision to make?

Board policy 8200 provides the principal with the authority to make the decision to repaint a wall in a school building.  The principal may also decide to include key stakeholders in the decision-making process.  In this instance, the principal decided to include his School Leadership Team in the decision-making process.
 

• Along that line, why did the superintendent feel it was necessary to have an attorney present at the school leadership team meeting? If the decision belonged to the principal alone, and not the leadership team or anyone else, why would the principal need legal counsel and input before a decision was made?
   

As per the WCSD Shared Decision Making Plan related to Open Meeting Law, the school was informed of their options pertaining to SLT meetings. The decision to convene an executive session was made because the SLT committee needed to solicit legal advice regarding the mural’s continued presence on the wall, as well as the interpretation of Board policies as to who is responsible for overall care and maintenance of school buildings.

Subject:  Fishkill Plains Mural

• Why did district officials feel it was necessary for the mural discussion to take place in executive session, with legal counsel present?
  

See response to item #3 above.
 

• How much will it cost to repaint the fifth and sixth grade wing at Fishkill Plains? How will that cost be paid?
  

All of our schools average between $250-500 based on the length of the hallway.  These costs are included in the annual budget as part of maintenance.

• Has the mural been covered/repainted as of Dec. 11? If not, is there a date set for covering it?
  

To date, the mural has not been covered/repainted.  Painting is scheduled by the Department of Facilities and Operations and occurs when students are not in attendance to ensure that there is no disruption to teaching and learning. There is no date set for the repainting of the wall.
 

• What images will be put in place of the images that are being covered?
  

Projects related to wall design will reflect the curriculum and school-related initiatives being provided to the students currently enrolled.

• Who decides what those images will be?
  

The building principal may decide on his/her own or may decide to include the School Leadership Team in the decision-making process.
 

• The superintendent told me, in an email: “schools throughout the District have had murals/painted wall projects painted over.”  In those instances of repainting, what was the decision-making process like? Were the district’s lawyers ever involved in any of the discussion or the decision-making process? Were any executive sessions held as part of the process?
  

Other schools have made the decision to repaint student projects on the walls.  As per policy 8200, the decision may be made by the building principal without convening a School Leadership Team.  
 

• The superintendent told me: “Board Policy 8200 leaves the decision ultimately in the Building Principal’s hands because each principal is responsible for the care and maintenance of their building.” What Board policy 8200 says though, is: “Building Principals shall, on an on-going basis, undertake their own inspections of school buildings and grounds, searching for any dangerous or hazardous conditions and take immediate steps to remedy the problem.” Based on the policy quoted by the superintendent, is the district saying that the mural is considered a dangerous or hazardous condition? If so, why?
  

The quote provided in the question is actually from policy 8220 and not 8200.  The Superintendent referenced the correct board policy 8200 which states, “Each Building Principal is responsible for the care and maintenance of school buildings and grounds and shall assist in the supervision of the custodial staff in the performance of their duties. Teachers and students are expected to make every effort to utilize school buildings, grounds, materials, and equipment in a responsible manner.”

Question from Mrs. Conti 

"Can it be explained why Kindergarten and 1st grade children were offered part time inclusion in every building and 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th would be offered full time inclusion, but 6th grade would be offered 40 minutes Math, 40 minutes Writing, for inclusion as previously stated by the district in the 9/1/17 comments all of these grades are considered elementary programs?" 

Thank you, 

Mrs. Conti

Response from Dr. Cardwell

Hello Ms. Conti,

Regarding ICT, the instructional time and program services allotted for each student, as mandated by a student’s IEP, is handled no differently at the 6th-grade level than it is at the 2-5 grades levels when subject areas are departmentalized as per the Principal’s discretion.  When following a departmentalized schedule, ICT is scheduled to accommodate the instructional needs of students during the ELA and Math periods.

The decision to move to a part-time K-1 ICT model, full-time 2-6 ICT model was based on research, conversations with other districts and information gathered through the Tri-State Consortium. The District supports how ICT services are delivered. Each year the District reviews its programs and services to ensure the needs of each student are being met. Modifications are made as appropriate. The report from the Tri-State Consortium is available online for all to review. Click here.to access the report.

Public Comment and Responses from November 21, 2016

Public Comment and Responses from October 17, 2016

Public Comment and Responses from September 26, 2016