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Letter to Editor (Post Star,
3-08-07)
At the February 13 Saugerties School
Board meeting, a presentation was made by the
district administration on a tri-part proposal to
create a full-day kindergarten, improve the program
for the district's autistic children, and increase
the time students spend in physical education, all
at no increase to the district's budget. The Board
was also informed of a personnel realignment that
has taken place over the past two years, saving the
district at least $180,000 per year.
At the same meeting, citizen George Heidcamp
complained about administrative cell phone usage
and the Superintendent's mileage reimbursement. He
didn't mention that any reduction of cell phone
usage would have no financial savings and that the
Superintendent's mileage reimbursement was
one-third the cost of what a plane ticket or rental
car would have cost the district.
While Heidcamp continues his politically
motivated attack dog tactics on Board members and
administrators, those very same people are
continually working on improving the district and
its programs and doing so in a fiscally
cost-conscious sound manner. Heidcamp cannot show
one thing that his rantings have done to improve
the education of our students or benefited the
residents of the district. On the other hand, those
he attacks and tries to demean have a solid record
of School Board accomplishments that are documented
and provable.
The Post Star is asking its readers to
comment on whether they should continue Heidcamp's
column or not. That decision should really be made
by the publishers of the Post Star who have to
decide what kind of publication they want it to be
and whether the slash and burn tactics of
Heidcamp's are the type of journalism they want to
support.
Vincent A. Buono Jr.
Edward Kovac
Members of the Saugerties Board of Education
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