Trentonian Insider


Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Trenttins' edumacation cistem


After taking note of the past couple Trenton Board of Education meetings all we can say is, wow!


The fact that any child learns anything in the Trenton school system is truly a testament to the hard working students, the parents who care enough to help them out and the dedication of the teachers and other staffers who actually remember that their job is to serve those kids. Because if the job of educating these young minds were left solely to the people in charge of running the place, the situation, if you can believe it, would undoubtedly be even worse than it is now.


Apparently this bunch forgot all they learned in Kindy-garten about playing well with others.


At one point during Tuesday's meeting to talk over the fate of Trenton Central High School, it looked like board member Lisa Kasabach was gonna get an American Gladiators-type smack down from Board President Joyce Kersey on her right and fellow member Alexander Brown on her left--and all because she had the audacity to suggest that it might be a good idea for the board to know what they were voting on before they go and, um, vote--what gall?!


Apparently their analytical skills are lacking, or at least they're not too quick on their feet.


Even though state representatives at the meeting said they couldn't answer all of the board's questions, and informed them that more time for discussion wouldn't hurt their position, it still seems like the board is set to vote Monday on whether to renovate TCHS or let it meet a likely date with a wrecking ball. Let's hope cooler heads prevail at that meeting and that the group heeds a City Council request to slow things down a bit.


They don't seem to do their homework and are not so great at preparing reports.


At the end of the day, choosing to abandon the old building may be the smartest way to go. But it doesn't seem to make sense to rush to that decision before all the facts are in and the pros and cons of each plan are laid out in public. Each time the plans are discussed, and depending on who you're talking to, the numbers and figures seem to keep changing. The district has put nothing in writing--no printouts or mock-ups or diagrams, no nothing. The public, and even some board members, seem confused over the most basic parts of this discussion, like, I don't know, how many schools are we building here--one, two, three? Where are they to be built? How many students in each? How much will each cost and who is going to pay for them? They seem like important questions.


Maybe the board and district leadership were just all drama majors.


Well, if nothing else, the debate should make for good theater this Monday. The special meeting had about 100 people there who weren't allowed to speak. At the next meeting, they'll get their chance if they so choose. Adding to the spectacle could be another group concerned over a different city high school issue--the folks protesting the situation at the Daylight/Twilight program and the suspension of their principal (more to come on this later). They've rallied about 100 of their supporters at meetings in the past and they've been encouraging their ranks to show up again, so things could get interesting.

Maybe some group could set up a concession stand at the next few board meetings and raise enough money to renovate all the city's schools.


Maybe they need a tutor...


So far only pro-renovation groups like the Trenton Historical Society have put together comprehensive reports on the potential options, and their calculations show that both choices could be done for about the same price. No school officials have discounted those figures, but maybe they haven't seen them yet--maybe they should. You can find them here.



...Or maybe they need to spend some more time in Phys Ed, building up their spine!


Because if the issue is only that the state will not fund a renovation project, but will spend the same amount of money, or more, on building one, two or three new schools, then someone from the district, and the city, needs to stand up to the bureaucrats, set a better example for the students and fight through the red tape for the taxpayers and for the concept of common sense.



Time for class participation!


Tell us what you think. Based on the information available so far, do you think the district should try to maintain and renovate the new school or just move on and build all new?

Labels: , , , , ,

2 Comments:

Blogger Irving Bertrand Clean said...

Glad to read that you were at the same meeting as I. That was a steaming pile of dog sh*t, and the entire Board should be ashamed of itself.

Jan 24, 2008 3:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Trentonian Insider said...

Whoa!

Didn't know I was in the presence of the illustrious Mr. Clean!

Glad to see you taking the time to peruse the Worst...well you know.

And yes the steaming stench is still circling the building.

Jan 24, 2008 3:17:00 PM  

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Trentonian Blogs: Trentonian Insider: Trenttins' edumacation cistem

Trentonian Insider


Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Trenttins' edumacation cistem


After taking note of the past couple Trenton Board of Education meetings all we can say is, wow!


The fact that any child learns anything in the Trenton school system is truly a testament to the hard working students, the parents who care enough to help them out and the dedication of the teachers and other staffers who actually remember that their job is to serve those kids. Because if the job of educating these young minds were left solely to the people in charge of running the place, the situation, if you can believe it, would undoubtedly be even worse than it is now.


Apparently this bunch forgot all they learned in Kindy-garten about playing well with others.


At one point during Tuesday's meeting to talk over the fate of Trenton Central High School, it looked like board member Lisa Kasabach was gonna get an American Gladiators-type smack down from Board President Joyce Kersey on her right and fellow member Alexander Brown on her left--and all because she had the audacity to suggest that it might be a good idea for the board to know what they were voting on before they go and, um, vote--what gall?!


Apparently their analytical skills are lacking, or at least they're not too quick on their feet.


Even though state representatives at the meeting said they couldn't answer all of the board's questions, and informed them that more time for discussion wouldn't hurt their position, it still seems like the board is set to vote Monday on whether to renovate TCHS or let it meet a likely date with a wrecking ball. Let's hope cooler heads prevail at that meeting and that the group heeds a City Council request to slow things down a bit.


They don't seem to do their homework and are not so great at preparing reports.


At the end of the day, choosing to abandon the old building may be the smartest way to go. But it doesn't seem to make sense to rush to that decision before all the facts are in and the pros and cons of each plan are laid out in public. Each time the plans are discussed, and depending on who you're talking to, the numbers and figures seem to keep changing. The district has put nothing in writing--no printouts or mock-ups or diagrams, no nothing. The public, and even some board members, seem confused over the most basic parts of this discussion, like, I don't know, how many schools are we building here--one, two, three? Where are they to be built? How many students in each? How much will each cost and who is going to pay for them? They seem like important questions.


Maybe the board and district leadership were just all drama majors.


Well, if nothing else, the debate should make for good theater this Monday. The special meeting had about 100 people there who weren't allowed to speak. At the next meeting, they'll get their chance if they so choose. Adding to the spectacle could be another group concerned over a different city high school issue--the folks protesting the situation at the Daylight/Twilight program and the suspension of their principal (more to come on this later). They've rallied about 100 of their supporters at meetings in the past and they've been encouraging their ranks to show up again, so things could get interesting.

Maybe some group could set up a concession stand at the next few board meetings and raise enough money to renovate all the city's schools.


Maybe they need a tutor...


So far only pro-renovation groups like the Trenton Historical Society have put together comprehensive reports on the potential options, and their calculations show that both choices could be done for about the same price. No school officials have discounted those figures, but maybe they haven't seen them yet--maybe they should. You can find them here.



...Or maybe they need to spend some more time in Phys Ed, building up their spine!


Because if the issue is only that the state will not fund a renovation project, but will spend the same amount of money, or more, on building one, two or three new schools, then someone from the district, and the city, needs to stand up to the bureaucrats, set a better example for the students and fight through the red tape for the taxpayers and for the concept of common sense.



Time for class participation!


Tell us what you think. Based on the information available so far, do you think the district should try to maintain and renovate the new school or just move on and build all new?

Labels: , , , , ,

2 Comments:

Blogger Irving Bertrand Clean said...

Glad to read that you were at the same meeting as I. That was a steaming pile of dog sh*t, and the entire Board should be ashamed of itself.

Jan 24, 2008 3:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Trentonian Insider said...

Whoa!

Didn't know I was in the presence of the illustrious Mr. Clean!

Glad to see you taking the time to peruse the Worst...well you know.

And yes the steaming stench is still circling the building.

Jan 24, 2008 3:17:00 PM  

Post a Comment

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