May 11, 2015
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing you as the President of the Baldwin Teachers Association. I am asking you to support the Baldwin School District by voting YES for the proposed school budget on Tuesday, May 19th. The passage of this school budget is critical because it maintains staffing at the current level, adds 5 ESL teachers as required by Part 154 regulations, adds 13 high school college-credit courses through higher education institutions, expands Career Academies to include communications arts, and expands Fine and Performing Arts and ESL/Foreign Language administrative positions to K-12. This year, the District has once again been able to stay within the Tax Cap.
What happens if the budget fails? If the budget fails twice, by law the board must adopt a contingency budget, which would mean: • Approximately $1.3 million in cuts • Loss of approximately 15 teachers • Half-day kindergarten • Bare-bones programs in athletics, arts and music • Community groups may no longer be allowed to use district facilities and fields or would be subject to charge • An academic program that may pass “basic and sound” education requirements by the state but no longer one that is unique as a Baldwin signature education, or one that would sustain the ability of Baldwin students to enter prestigious colleges.
As our union sisters and brothers, you are well aware of the attacks made against public education. Now more than ever we need Board of Education Trustees that will advocate for our schools and fair funding from the State. We attended the PTA sponsored candidates’ forum and listened carefully to all of the candidates to ascertain their positions and qualifications. We have decided to support Mary Jo O’Hagan and George Siberon’s candidacy to be elected to the Baldwin Board of Trustees for a three year term. Mary Jo has served on the Board of Education for 21 years and is an active member in community organizations: Baldwin Board of Education member (President 7 terms; Vice President 6 terms); Baldwin Human Relations Advisory Council member for 26 years; Brookside School PTA member (Past President); Baldwin High School PTA member (Past President); Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association member for 14 years (2013-2015 President; Vice President 4 terms; Secretary-Treasurer 2 terms); New York State School Boards Association (State Legislative Network Appointee; Commissioner’s Advisory Council Member; Regents Roundtable Appointee; Nassau Representative and Resolutions Committee member for the Annual Business Meeting); Nation School Boards Association (Federal Relations Network Appointee); Long Island Education Coalition (N-SSBA Liaison); Nassau County/Nassau Schools: School/Municipal Savings Initiative (21st Century Demonstration Project Grant Steering Committee); Long Island Regional Planning Council (“Long Island 2035” Initiative: education Working Group; Long Island STEM Hub (N-SSBA Representative). George has been an active community member for 24 years: Lenox School PTA member (Past Co-President; Past Chair of Legislative Committee); Baldwin School District Budget Committee member; Baldwin School District Community Partners member; Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association (Executive Director); Nassau County Youth Board (Past Executive Director); Past District Manager for Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. We believe that Mary Jo O’ Hagan and George Siberon are the right choice for our open Board of Education Trustee seats.
I urge you to vote YES for the budget, and vote for Mary Jo O’Hagan and George Siberon for Board of Education Trustees on Tuesday, May 19th. ANY person at least 18 years of age who is a US citizen having lived in the town of Baldwin for at least 30 days and being registered to vote should vote. Please let your friends and family members know how important it is to vote YES for this budget, and to vote for Mary Jo O’Hagan and George Siberon for Board of Education Trustees. We must preserve the quality and character of our schools and continue to provide the framework for a bright future for our students and ourselves. For additional information regarding the vote, go to www.baldwinschools.org. Thank you so very much.
Sincerely,
Christopher L. Greer
President-Baldwin Teachers Association
If you would like to DOWNLOAD the above letter, Click on Link Below.
2015-letter-teachersinbaldwin.pdf