Everyone VOTE today for your School Budget!

I don't see the relevancy of certification in different states with raising taxes.

LI has the highest taxes for education yet other states have very good results.

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Posted by MrsP2Be

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Posted by ms.j

People cannot afford to live here anymore. My parents taxes are $16,000 a year!!

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Agree, my parents school taxes went up 55% last year, and now they're getting closer to 20K a year now. We didn't even bother voting today..it always passes anyway. There is a for sale sign on every corner.

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So true...it's so sad. Houses are for sale all over...no one can afford to live here anymore!

The superintendent of schools or whatever his title is in my district makes an OBSCENE amount of money! His car is paid for and gas...for business and personal use! What for? It is disgusting what he makes! There is also a 10 to 1 ratio teacher to students....sorry but that is crazy! No need for 10 kids in a class! I voted no and hope to god the budget doesn't pass!
Also why exactly should I have to pay for other people's kids after school programs? Hire a nanny if you're not home to watch your kid. Or just charge for after school programs...people who do not utilize the after school programs should not have to pay for them.
I'm also all for a fee for sports activities. My school district buses kids to a field a good 15 minutes away from the school b/c it's a newer, nicer field. Bussing them costs money....they have perfectly good fields right at the school.

want to know why the taxes here are so high compared to the rest of the country? we get very little Gov't aid to help subsidize the schools... we get almost nothing!

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Posted by KandE917

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Posted by MrsP2Be

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Posted by ms.j

People cannot afford to live here anymore. My parents taxes are $16,000 a year!!

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Agree, my parents school taxes went up 55% last year, and now they're getting closer to 20K a year now. We didn't even bother voting today..it always passes anyway. There is a for sale sign on every corner.

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So true...it's so sad. Houses are for sale all over...no one can afford to live here anymore!

The superintendent of schools or whatever his title is in my district makes an OBSCENE amount of money! His car is paid for and gas...for business and personal use! What for? It is disgusting what he makes! There is also a 10 to 1 ratio teacher to students....sorry but that is crazy! No need for 10 kids in a class! I voted no and hope to god the budget doesn't pass!
Also why exactly should I have to pay for other people's kids after school programs? Hire a nanny if you're not home to watch your kid. Or just charge for after school programs...people who do not utilize the after school programs should not have to pay for them.
I'm also all for a fee for sports activities. My school district buses kids to a field a good 15 minutes away from the school b/c it's a newer, nicer field. Bussing them costs money....they have perfectly good fields right at the school.

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What school district are you in?

I would totally pay for my child to play sports after school like I did. If my childs school does not have an after school sports program I will put them in the Youth Leagues etc.. Its just too bad b/c I LOVEd playing every single day with all my clsssmates.

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Posted by KandE917

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Posted by MrsP2Be

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Posted by ms.j

People cannot afford to live here anymore. My parents taxes are $16,000 a year!!

---

Agree, my parents school taxes went up 55% last year, and now they're getting closer to 20K a year now. We didn't even bother voting today..it always passes anyway. There is a for sale sign on every corner.

---

So true...it's so sad. Houses are for sale all over...no one can afford to live here anymore!

The superintendent of schools or whatever his title is in my district makes an OBSCENE amount of money! His car is paid for and gas...for business and personal use! What for? It is disgusting what he makes! There is also a 10 to 1 ratio teacher to students....sorry but that is crazy! No need for 10 kids in a class! I voted no and hope to god the budget doesn't pass!
Also why exactly should I have to pay for other people's kids after school programs? Hire a nanny if you're not home to watch your kid. Or just charge for after school programs...people who do not utilize the after school programs should not have to pay for them.
I'm also all for a fee for sports activities. My school district buses kids to a field a good 15 minutes away from the school b/c it's a newer, nicer field. Bussing them costs money....they have perfectly good fields right at the school.

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To clarify:

1. A superintendent's salary and car do not come out of the school budget. It is all contractual.

2. 10:1 student to teacher ratio does not literally man that there are 10 students in the class, and if there were, that is awesome and those kids will probably learn so much better than if they were in a class of 30.

3. The taxes on LI are high for many reasons, but the schools are just a part of it. Just like what other people have said-- the budget increases across the board are minimal and will not raise your taxes by much.

I understand that many people feel that since they do not have children or send their children to the schools, they should not have to pay for other people's kids to go to school. It does seem unfair, but it is not going to change. It has been like this for so long and it is like this all over the country. Taxes are lower in other places mostly because of the cost of living.

I am just trying to explain some things, because many people hear the wrong info. I hope this helps. I didn't mean to be preachy or anything, I just get a little heated about school related issues.

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Posted by KandE917

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Posted by MrsP2Be

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Posted by ms.j

People cannot afford to live here anymore. My parents taxes are $16,000 a year!!

---

Agree, my parents school taxes went up 55% last year, and now they're getting closer to 20K a year now. We didn't even bother voting today..it always passes anyway. There is a for sale sign on every corner.

---

So true...it's so sad. Houses are for sale all over...no one can afford to live here anymore!

The superintendent of schools or whatever his title is in my district makes an OBSCENE amount of money! His car is paid for and gas...for business and personal use! What for? It is disgusting what he makes! There is also a 10 to 1 ratio teacher to students....sorry but that is crazy! No need for 10 kids in a class! I voted no and hope to god the budget doesn't pass!
Also why exactly should I have to pay for other people's kids after school programs? Hire a nanny if you're not home to watch your kid. Or just charge for after school programs...people who do not utilize the after school programs should not have to pay for them.
I'm also all for a fee for sports activities. My school district buses kids to a field a good 15 minutes away from the school b/c it's a newer, nicer field. Bussing them costs money....they have perfectly good fields right at the school.

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Okay so I hope that your future children never want to play a sport or be involved because then, why should other poeple have to pay for your children to be involved. That is so selfish, you may not have kids in the district now, but one day you may. My parents always voted up, we were always after school for some program or another and my mom STAYED HOME!! It had nothing to do with being too lazy to watch us or hire a nanny. Kids WANT to be involved in programs.

My mom also stayed home watching my little sister because we couldnt even afford daycare, we were POOR and she never voted down the budget.

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Posted by sr081906

I don't think it's fair to call people selfish because they are not voting for yes to increase taxes.

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It was not because she didn't want to vote yes but because she isn't currenlty utilizing the programs. I think everybody will agree that when you have kids in the district you want them to have all the services/programs they need and want. Why then can't other people be able to have those programs/services for their children.

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Posted by sr081906

I don't think it's fair to call people selfish because they are not voting for yes to increase taxes.

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i think she means that it is selfish to just vote down the budget because your children arent reaping the benefits of the school district yet...

I have always paid for schools even if I don't have children yet. Yes, I agree, it's being part of society. I trully don't have a problem doing it.
We share. Like we all pay for the library but not everybody uses it.

I think sometimes you/me/people (LI people) don't know how to say enough is enough and voting no is a warning to tell board executives that this is not an open account. That they have to be accountable for missing money and mismanagement.

Yes, I agree in the end the kids will pay but I don't think LI people have found another way to 'revolte' about the million dollars scandals.

so many people are UNINFORMED of what voting down a budget means. i just had a half hour 'discussion' with FH over this

i didn't vote since i just got home 10 minutes ago, but i would have voted yes.

taxes are getting insane however. they need to get rid of school boards, consolidate districts and figure out how to spend less money! as a new homeowner i can't believe i have to pay $10K for TAXES on a tiny house. it's just insane.

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Posted by HenryAlba07

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Posted by Meaghan729

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Posted by sr081906

You cannot compare. They don't even make the salaries of NY.

Masters degree, 25 year experience. Income in a Jr HS is high $40s.

Tell that to a NY teacher. They would be laughing.

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well of course they arent going to make as much - the cost of living is significantly less.

im just saying that if people are complaining that school taxes are too much, and that in other places taxes are way less, that it may be because a portion of the teachers arent even certified.

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Under No Child Left Behind it is illegal to hire a teacher without the necessary credentials.

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True, but they have something (at least in CT) called a DSAP- which allows you to finish courses or testing and still work and get paid as a teacher. In many city schools where hiring and keeping teachers is not as easy, they do this fairly often. You have a two year period to get your initial certification

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Posted by july06bride

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Posted by HenryAlba07

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Posted by Meaghan729

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Posted by sr081906

You cannot compare. They don't even make the salaries of NY.

Masters degree, 25 year experience. Income in a Jr HS is high $40s.

Tell that to a NY teacher. They would be laughing.

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well of course they arent going to make as much - the cost of living is significantly less.

im just saying that if people are complaining that school taxes are too much, and that in other places taxes are way less, that it may be because a portion of the teachers arent even certified.

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Under No Child Left Behind it is illegal to hire a teacher without the necessary credentials.

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True, but they have something (at least in CT) called a DSAP- which allows you to finish courses or testing and still work and get paid as a teacher. In many city schools where hiring and keeping teachers is not as easy, they do this fairly often. You have a two year period to get your initial certification

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And in NYC can't you teach without your degree also??? If they are desperate they will do anything.

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Posted by Jackie&Justin

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Posted by july06bride

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Posted by HenryAlba07

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Posted by Meaghan729

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Posted by sr081906

You cannot compare. They don't even make the salaries of NY.

Masters degree, 25 year experience. Income in a Jr HS is high $40s.

Tell that to a NY teacher. They would be laughing.

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well of course they arent going to make as much - the cost of living is significantly less.

im just saying that if people are complaining that school taxes are too much, and that in other places taxes are way less, that it may be because a portion of the teachers arent even certified.

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Under No Child Left Behind it is illegal to hire a teacher without the necessary credentials.

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True, but they have something (at least in CT) called a DSAP- which allows you to finish courses or testing and still work and get paid as a teacher. In many city schools where hiring and keeping teachers is not as easy, they do this fairly often. You have a two year period to get your initial certification

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And in NYC can't you teach without your degree also??? If they are desperate they will do anything.

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we're not talking about NYC- we are talking about LI.

and MY FH is a teacher in NYC and he had to be certified -- i think if you are a teaching fellow you dont have to be but you have to get certified...

Actually the original post is about voting not certification.

Those are 2 different issues.

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Posted by sr081906

I don't think it's fair to call people selfish because they are not voting for yes to increase taxes.

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Thank you for sticking up for me!!!

And to the person who called me selfish....How the heck do you know I don't have children in school right now reaping the benefits? To assume makes a you know what out of you and me! Don't assume anything my dear...

I just think this post is side tracking into certifications, being selfish, etc.. when the original post is about voting.

When you post such a topic you have to accept that everybody is not going to agree.

Newsday Results

here is a link to the newsday tracking (you can click on nassau or suffolk in the article)

and yes, originally this post was just to remind people to vote for their budgets, but it turned into a discussion about taxes and teachers, naturally. I like to think that this is an open forum in which people can express their opinions whether they agree or not!!!

eta: In the article is says that Bridgehampton's budget failed - with a 0% proposed budget increase. how crazy is that??

I would just like to state that voting 'YES' doesn't always equal service for the children as many times the money does not go towards students but mismanagement and administration and some times even fraud (see: Roslyn School District, etc).

Also, voting for a ten percent increase every year is not in the interests of anyone, as there is a way to be fiscallly responsible and work on a budget that only raises with inflation AND not break the backs of the taxpayers.