I know it has to been done but that sucks. Most of the terminated employees are our friends and neighbors right here in WI and I feel for them and their families :(

Did Mr. Simon forget to mention all the trauma that he and the BOE is dumping on our ES children as well as the staffing cuts. Did he mention the the severe overcrowding with 29 students in a classroom, the decreased teacher to student ratio with the resultant decrease in ES academic quality, loss of computer labs in a digital age, possible loss of indoor playgrounds for inclement weather, possible rental of trailers for more financial waste and overflow conditions, mold remediation for Oqinoock which failed NY State tests in 2010, dispersal of all the Special Needs children throughout the district, after a promise to both the children and their parents that they would graduate from Westbrook. No it did not have to be done. Cut had to be made and the district had to stop spending on wants and luxury items. But no the school can be saved and the children don't have to be the scapegoats forbourvmistakes. Closing these schools is just an excuse to keep doing business as usual. We can Save Our Schools but it takes real cuts.

District leadersip needs to stop biting off the hand that feeds them(our children & tax $'s) and start realizing that if they decimate the entire WI school system with school closures and teacher layoffs, their will be no school system left! What happens next year? We are out of schools to close, by the time this years budget session is over our students will have lost everything from buses to sports to music programs and whatever else the BOE thinks they can do without. Stop the madness NOW and take the cuts from where they need to come and the only place left soon for them to come from, Adminstration down sizing, school calendar adjust, terminating unreasonble fringe benifits from contracts, and more personnel responsibity for health and dental. If it is done NOW instead of later then our children will not have to lose anymore than has already been lost!!
And for whomever fills the BOE seats in July, Please stop the August pow wows!

He can always put it on the backs of the ES children. They're the most resilient. Nothing can hurt them. At least that what the BOE thinks!

there will still be approximately the same amount of children dispersed into 4 schools instead of 6...how will cafeteria aides be able to handle 30+ more children per lunch period who are on their "break" from school work...it gets very loud in these cafeterias...how will 5 less custodians be able to handle the everyday messes these children make...these cuts are not saving the district any substancial amount of money, just creating more overtime for higher paying custodians and creating unemployment in our town. Offer these employees a retirement incentive so maybe some of the old timers will leave saving some of their co-workers positions. The administrators recieved a VERY generous payout...probably spent more on these incentives than the combined salaries of the "peons" that are losing their jobs. The whole thing is just stupid. Combine the MS sports programs...make these kids work together before entering HS..to bad if you get cut from a team...eliminate the IB program...although its a good program that benefits an elete few..it could save a job.

The problem is that is that it was wrong decision from the very beginning. It was unfair to ES children and unbalanced because only the ES children took the full brunt of the deficit which the entire district created. It totallly exempted grades 6 - 12. When a district incurs a deficit everyone must bear the pain of the deficit. That is why Mr. Simon and the BOE can't sell their plan. It's not fair. Until they wake up and really listen to the community, no one is moving on and their budget will fail. How they honestly expect the 2000 parents whose children are going to removed from the only school that they have only known, crammed 29 into a classroom, loss of computer labs and indoor playgrounds, poor teacher to student ratios to really move on. Especially when every other student in the district breezed though the budget deficit, completely untouched. That's why the budget will need to fail to wake them up. Vote No on the Budget. Wake Up the BOE.

The bottom line really comes down to Mr. Simon and the BOE doing there jobs. The students must be the last to feel the pain of the district previous over spending. And never should the cuts affect the quality of the students education. Unfortunately the BOE decision totally and traumatically effects the ES children and worse it dismantles and destroys our Elementary School education program. They have single handedly increased class size, cut teacher to student ratios, cut computer labs, and completely destroyed the Special Needs Program at Westbrook. This is why I will not support the BOE or their budget.

Here's another thing we can all scratch our heads about and wonder what's going on.....
Mr. Simon was at Westbroook's PTA meeting last night. I brought this article with me and asked him if the administrators who have left the district (Parvey) and the administrators that are retiring this year (Vertovez and Jones) and the principal who is retiring (Anderson) are included in the numbers of "terminations" given by Simon for this article. Mr. Simon told us that he never commented for this article and didn't know where the information and the specific numbers of employee types for this article came from.
Illumination please?

They are not laying off the principles from the school closings they will be placed in other schools or in the district office. They are laying off 10 full time aides and 6 parttime aides. These poor children.

I guess they had a choice between laying off the Aides or laying off Administrators. Once again the children loose.

What is the best way to stop the decision?
Who has immediate jurisdiction over the BOE and Mr. Simon?
Who can investigate whether or not there is a connection between a BOE member and Winkler Real Estate?
Which agency of the government investigates building safety for children when there is mold contamination?
Which NY State and Federal Agency investigate when the children with Special Needs educational program is sacrificed due to the "potential marketability" of a building?
Please who ever has these names, addresses, or contact information, please post so that we can get this campaign going. Let's get together and Save Out Schools for All Our Children.

To find the adency that reported on school conditions for the state go to the Citizens Board of West Islip click on school information and you can find the original report form 2010. There should be something on it indicating which agency preformed the inspection.
In regards to any other wrong doing or injustice you may feel has occurred you can go to NYSED.gov their is a list of all the New York ed. depts. -see which one best seems to fit your concern and utilize either the phone or e-mail contact.

A the PTA meeting last night, Simon quoted the 45 positions being excessed do to schoolclosings - he also quoted the savings of said positions equaling $1.5M. Back of the napkin that's $33k per year per FTE - and that includes benefits. It's the little people here that are getting hurt.

Simon also indicated that the current 11 positions that have either elected separation may be replaced. He was non-committal in terms of NOT replacing them.

The larger issue at hand - insuring the long term health of the district is being avoided !!!!!

We need pay freezes, give back of perks, larger contributions for benefits, and an overall re-look at the benefit structure.

The adminstrative postions will be replaced. The retireing principal will be replaced with 1 from a closed building, district will need a director for music & arts, the retiring asst. superintendent will be replaced. Possibly not being replaced is the other director I think of language( maybe someone else can "find time" to absorb those duties.) Don't forget the district has not been assured that our 2nd asst. superintendent Dr. Parvey willn't be replaced. Other principal who should be excess due to building closure will inevitably be place in D.O. somewhere(perhaps as a director).Balance of the retirements were 6 teachers which will prevent 6 teachers from being let go.
Net savings to the district the salaries of 2 principals in regards to adminstration.
And yes the balance of savings will come from teachers&other low end paid non-professionals.
The BOE protects the adminstation&neglects the student needs & that will likely not change til they run out of student needs to take.
I'll keep saying it & hope all listen- last year teachers got layed off, teachers took pay freeze, teachers gave 2 % more on healthcare, students lost planetarium, es foreign language and jv9 sports(there was talk of bringing back so apparently league didn't fold), IN the August 11th minutes you'll find that while others lost &taxpayers coughed up 7% increase- the BOE gave Mr. Simon a contract extension(closed amendment may have other changes) & other admin. personel benifits. IT HAS TO STOP!

It is unfortunate...Simply put, West Islip does not have the tax base to afford the costs imposed on it. Consolidation of Suffolk school district admin is probably up next. No need to have the hundreds of BOEs etc. With budgets going up 6% to 8% every year for the last 15 to 20 years eventually something had to give. Pensions and salaries have to be paid per contract and paying $12,000 a year in taxes (net out of pocket) as an average for most in the District is not somehting that can be afforded. The understanding of same , and the submission of budgets, should have been considered 15 and 20 years back, before we got into the mess we are in now. Really sad.

@ Gerry, The asst. super. retiring is Debbie Vertovez for special ed. As far as the director for music/arts being replaced-We have a fantastic program and alot of talented young people. If our present program can be credited to Mr. Jones then I think if we can find someone (preferably from in the district) who can maintain the programs level of excellence it should be filled. As far as the 6 retirees I think 1 is an ES librarian, 1 is an ES resource room instructor and 1 is an ES art teacher, so at least 3 of the 6 retirements will mean someone does not lose a job. One of the most disturbing things is that we still have no commitment from the district that Dr. Parvey's position will not be refilled. Given declining enrollment at ES the postion never should have been created, now considering there are 2 less buildings to oversee it is certainly not a needed postion. For many years the district had a much larger enrollment and 1 superintendent and 1 asst. worked out just fine.

Good leads Lauren. We have tried writing to the BOE and Mr. Simon and they were uninterested in the helping our children or saving our schools. If everyone who is following this injustice on the Patch or Topix will sit down and write to Sen. Owen Johnson, Sen. Schemer, Sen. King, NYSSBA, NYSED, NYS Board of Regents. Include these points. BOE not taking recommendation of its own Search Committee, BOE ignored the testimony of the majority of public that testified at their own meeting, voted on school closings at a secret meeting which took place several weeks before the scheduled meeting for the vote, impact of the deficit was dumped completely on grades 1-5 resulting in overcrowding, poor teacher to student ratios, loss of computer labs, and dispersal of our children in out Integrayed Special Needs Program, loss of 1.5 million due to negligence and not filing paperwork, choosing to close the school with our Inegrated Special Needs Program because of its "potential marketability" but keep open a school with severe mold problems found by the NY State Inspectors, don't forget the BOE giving Mr. Simon an contract extension, perks and bonus all while our district is in debt and they are closing our schools. I believe they slipped in his extension, perks, and bonuses, during summer when schools are closed and we are not watching.

The time for posting is over. I have written to Sen. Owen Johnson & Shumer, Congressman King, NYSED, NYSSBA, and Newsday. If everyone of the other 2,157 parents whose Elementary School children are going to suffer by the BOE's decision can write a letter or two, maybe we can get this disaster reversed for our children.

Michele the aide may have told that Sen Johnson was unable to do anything. But something unable is not the same thing as unwilling. I am very sure that if the Senator get phone calls, emails, and letters from just some of the 2,157 parents whose ES children are having their education destroyed by the BOE, he WILL do plenty. All it takes is a phone call from him to the BOE and Mr. Simon to get the ball rolling.

Always remember we the parents of the Elementary School children are 2,157 strong. Sen. Johnson will listen and eventually the BOE and Mr. Simon must listen. We are an incredibly STRONG VOTING BLOCK when we stick together. We can save out schools.

Quick thought. A very easy way to contact your representatives. Most of us hear from our Representatives by email each week. Simply hit the respond button and let them know what's happening to our schools and our children. Maybe they can get some honest answers from the BOE or maybe they can help us find ways to to keep our schools open. But they more people who are aware of this disaster, the better chance we have to solve it correctly. So when you hear from a Senator or Congressman asking for a donation, tell them what We need in West Islip.

Yes, Michele is right, they are not above lying. Here is something that really bothers me (and it does not affect my children,just really bugs me). All along we were told even if your child goes to a school that remains open, they may be redistricted. We were promised the lines would be drawn in a fair way and anyone could be moved. Now it seems Mr. Simon wants to move the least amount of children. The lines are being drawn in a way that does not make sense. Ex. It would have made sense to send all of Kirdahy to Bayview and move some of Bayiew's children to Bellew (areas near Keith Lane, etc that used to go to Bellew years ago). Seems that is not being done and Kirdahy children will be split and some will get sent to Bellew even though they live a lot closer to Bayview. Also had Manetuck and Westbrook stayed open, they would have been large enough to accomodate all of the north children. Because of the small size of Oquenock, Westbrook's children will now be split 3 ways - Manetuck, Oquenock, and Bellew. When Mr. Simon and Mr. Gellar were asked what will happen to the families that have children in Udall and now their other children will be sent to Bellew (Will they get sent to Beach or Udall? Will families have children in 2 different middle schools?) they said they don't know yet. Seems this should have all been worked out before a decision this big was made.

Another good reason for an investigation by a higher authority. Mr. Simon and the BOE have not done things fairly or balanced yet for our students. Why would it change now with redistricting. We need the NYSSBA or the NYSED to investigate what is going on and to get some truthful answers.

Please write to these officials:

Congressman Peter King
1003 Park Boulevard
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
Phone: 516-541-4225

Senator Charles Schumer
145 Pine Lawn Road #300
Melville, NY 11747
Phone: 631-753-09

Senator Owen Johson
23-24 Argyle Square
Babylon, NY 11702
United States
Phone:(631) 669-9200

Contact these People:

NYS School Board Association
Thomas J. Nespeca - President
24 Century Hill Drive,
Suite 200
Latham, New York 12110-2125

NYS School Board Association
Florence D. Johnson - Immediate Past President
24 Century Hill Drive,
Suite 200
Latham, New York 12110-2125

CHANCELLOR Merryl H. Tisch
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Board of Regents, Room 110 EB
Albany, New York 12234

VICE CHANCELLOR | Milton L. Cofield
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Board of Regents, Room 110 EB
Albany, New York 12234

And please don't forget:

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

If any one would rather take this issue to a higher authority than keep posting, here are some points to to mention in your letters
We have tried writing to the BOE and Mr. Simon and they were uninterested in the helping our children or saving our schools. If everyone who is following this injustice on the Patch or Topix will sit down and write to Sen. Owen Johnson, Sen. Schemer, Sen. King, NYSSBA, NYSED, NYS Board of Regents. Include these points. BOE not taking recommendation of its own Search Committee, BOE ignored the testimony of the majority of public that testified at their own meeting, voted on school closings at a secret meeting which took place several weeks before the scheduled meeting for the vote, impact of the deficit was dumped completely on grades 1-5 resulting in overcrowding, poor teacher to student ratios, loss of computer labs, and dispersal of our children in out Integrayed Special Needs Program, loss of 1.5 million due to negligence and not filing paperwork, choosing to close the school with our Inegrated Special Needs Program because of its "potential marketability" but keep open a school with severe mold problems found by the NY State Inspectors, don't forget the BOE giving Mr. Simon an contract extension, perks and bonus all while our district is in debt and they are closing our schools. I believe they slipped in his extension, perks, and bonuses, during summer when schools are closed and we are not watching.

Interesting article in todays Newsday about Syosset Admin salary and fringe benefits. I cant believe the taxpayers are ok with it. BTW they used WI for one comparison.

Anyone interested in following the issues concerning the BOE and our Elementary Schools, can go to the Topix forums at :
http://m.topix.com/forum/city/west-islip-ny/TLUINTND2H5O4L748

Thanks Rich for all the info and the time you put in to get the message out. Hopefully more people get involved and take action. Another good contact is Arnold Diaz Shame on You investigative reporter : http://www.myfoxny.com/subindex/news/shame

Thanks Deb K. I will drop him a line too.

Julie C. - yes Mrs. Pratt will no longer hold the position of ES principal; however she may very well move into the D.O in the capacity of Executive Director of Elementary Ed.. This was a position the was created and tailored with the excess that was necessary in the ES principal position.

@Mary,
There aren't any but then again I also haven't heard of any 'incentives' offered to the paras or aides who've been with the district (some for 20+ years) to retire. Some positions just hold a greater value to the district than others I suppose. Hopefully the BOE and Mr. Simon will realize that paras and aides are of great use to the students and staff (which they have worked to preserve) and won't hit those groups so hard with the excessing. There are after all still the same # of children in the district they are just dispersed differently; but they will all still need lots of help, attention and extra eyes to take care of them.

Not to worry wd, it's okay to fire 6 low paid cafeteria aids who really need their jobs even though it will certainly impact our children. But the good news is that the BOE never re-negotiated with the Administrators do their benefit packaged are completely intact.
Vote for Montes and Zotto for a change in how the BOE does business.