| My Anonymous Message Board 10/29/99 11:58 pm Welcome to my Yahoo! GeoCities Message Board. Message: 1 of 200 Har-Mer by: Har-Mer parent 11/16/99 07:45 pm A building is more then walls. It is a reflection of the people and culture who built it. Message: 2 of 200 Har-Mer by: Taxpayer 11/16/99 10:32 pm I am a SRASD taxpayer, without any children in the schools. I can not believe that the school board can continue to debate renovating a school that does not have adequate facilities for instruction, closets for library and computer classes, none of the advantages of the other two elementary buildings and unsafe drinking water! This is really intolerable and I'm ashamed that my tax dollars are not put to good use. I don't want Bill Adams to save me $3.00 a year at the expense of the children of Harrisville. Message: 3 of 200 HarMer by: Concerned Citizen 11/17/99 09:14 am It's time for the school board to take action and bring the Har-mer building in line with other schools in the district. The teachers and children deserve a school building that is safe and sturdy. Too much time has passed. The board should worry less about making a statement about cheap construction and more about those who spend so much of their time in a rapidly deteriorating building. Message: 4 of 200 A question for Portersville by: Curious 11/22/99 07:28 am Why do you keep electing Bill Adams to the school board? Message: 5 of 200 Get your facts straight too! by: Har-Mer Parent 11/23/99 11:42 pm Like most of Harrisville citizens I don't want to see Har-Mer short-changed. However, when you can't even get a man's name straight (it is ROGER Weaver not RANDY Weaver) I wonder how much more of your "report" is inaccurate. Message: 6 of 200 Re: Get your facts straight too! by: RPratt 11/24/99 06:02 pm Sorry. I must have been thinking of Ruby Ridge. I will be sure to change it! Sorry Mr. Weaver. As for how accurate my report is- please check my "disclaimer". It clearly states" nothing on this page is guaranteed to be correct, complete or up to date or anything at all". I do my best. :) Thanks for your imput.RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 7 of 200 Alumni Information by: SusanP 11/29/99 10:04 am I just wanted to say thanks for the Unofficial Homepage! When I needed info about the reunion for the High School, your page was the only source I could find online. Thanks for all your help. I'm surprised that Slippery Rock dosen't have an official page! Maybe they will in the new century. In any case-thanks! Susan Message: 8 of 200 - by: D. 12/03/99 08:34 pm This page really stinks. If you would not lie as much, I would offer to help you make a decent design. Message: 9 of 200 - by: D. 12/03/99 08:34 pm <font color=blue>This page really stinks. If you would not lie as much, I would offer to help you make a decent design. Message: 10 of 200 This page stinks by: RPratt 12/04/99 10:07 am Hello D, Thanks for your input. Since the Slippery Rock School District has chosen not to build it's own "official" Homepage, I guess this one will have to do. Your interest in this page and your willingness to post here shows that there is a need for it's existence. I would suggest that you contact the district and ask why we don't have an "official" page. Board member Edwin Christmann is the chair of the Computer Committee. However, I learned at the last meeting that this committee has not met all year and Christmann didn't even know he was the chair. Perhaps Christmann could use your help in the design of a distrist homepage. But, given the apparent lack of interest on the part of our board in proper use of computers, and Christmann disinterest and lack of awareness in particular, we will have to get by with the Unofficial Slippery Rock School District HomePage. Even if it does "stink". RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 11 of 200 Official Page by: - 12/04/99 01:12 pm Hello, Given that you should make a better page, I will be talking to Dr. Duryea soon. A while back, he said that SR needed their own official Page. I am designing it now. If he approves of it, than it should be posted perhaps February of next year, maybe sooner. You seem like a nice person, but what is it that you have against Dr. Duryea? Message: 12 of 200 Web Page by: Interested 12/08/99 10:36 pm Just as a point of interest, several people, including professional web page developers, graphic artists and staff members, have offered to supply their services to the district, but received no reply. Mr. Pratt should be commended for his efforts. Message: 13 of 200 Photos by: John 01/18/00 07:16 pm Checked out your update with the photos today. Great! Now I can put faces on those that spend my tax money! Good job. One suggestion. Maybe you could label the pics with their names. This would help alot! Message: 14 of 200 An Educational and Exciting School Assem by: Brett Ridgeway (Program!) 02/04/00 08:15 pm Brett Ridgeway is offering a truly exciting educational opportunity to take a walk on the wild side with Brett Ridgeway’s Reptile Encounter reptile programs! Brett Ridgeway has been working with reptiles and capturing some of the world’s most exciting reptiles for nearly thirty years! A professional speaker since 1980, his Reptile Encounter programs will both thrill and educate in a memorable way. Brett Ridgeway’s Reptile Encounter is up and running with a brand new web site. Please check out this exciting new site with pictures,stories, program descriptions, references, and other information about these fascinating educational reptile lectures! We added a student interactive quiz page for school use. All this and more on this newly listed site! Check us out at: http://www.homestead.com/reptileencounter/ Please note that we have a new phone number, toll free for your convenience. We are on the road most of the time so please use our voice mail and remember to leave your complete phone number including your area code and we will get back to you immediately! CALL TOLL FREE: 1-888-942-1205 If you have not received our full color brochure and are interested in this educational opportunity, please call our toll free number or e-mail us and we will be glad to send one to you. If we can be of further service, please let us know. We look forward to hearing from you! E-MAIL US: fbridgeway@juno.com Sample reference letter: "I wanted to take the time to thank you for the wonderful assembly you did for the Saxonburg Elementary School. Not only did I as a parent/helper learn a great deal about each and every reptile, but the way that you presented the information helped to dispel my fears... It was evident that the children, teachers and parents thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. As a former assembly chairperson, I will be sure to recommend you to other schools in the area for inclusion in their assembly programs. Thanks again and keep up the great work." Jan K.Tudor Saxonburg,Pa. Picture Attachments: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 15 of 200 Crappy Page by: Anonymous Joe 02/06/00 05:57 pm Your page really stinks. Not just from the Info, which I doubt you really look hard for, but also your design. For current issues, have you ever noticed how the background doesn't stay in place? As you scroll, you get the whole picture over and over again, and it looks completely retarded. All you have to do is add bgproperties=fixed in your background code. If you would keep your mouth shut and your fingers stop typing, then maybe you can learn descent scripting. Message: 16 of 200 Future Har Mer Student by: L. P. 02/08/00 01:20 pm As a mother of a future student of Har Mer Elementry, I'd like to know where the nearest nursery school is located. And if anyone happens to know when the registration is held for the upcoming fall school year? Message: 17 of 200 RE: Future Har Mer Student by: RPratt 02/08/00 09:03 pm Sorry, I don't know of any nursery schools in Harrisville. You might want to contact Slippery Rock University SGA Daycare Center at 738-2102. As far as reqistration at the Har-Mer school, call the school- I think they are already planning for the kindergarten registration. If you would email me I could get you in touch with the Har-Mer Home and School Asso. Hope this helps! RPratt www.geocities.com/srschools srschools@aol.com Message: 18 of 200 Thanks for th info! by: L. P. 02/09/00 06:58 am I appreciate the information concerning the nursery school. I'll look into it today. It's really nice to have this message board to see what is going on with SRASD. Message: 19 of 200 official web page by: - 02/21/00 02:27 pm Mr. Pratt and others: We are actually in the process of making a district web page. It is being done at the high school with the computer teachers. Hopefully, the board will approve of our work. We are actually working on the site without their knowledge or approval right now. Message: 20 of 200 Problems accessing my site by: RPratt 02/24/00 01:55 pm Over the last few months 2 people have emailed me to say they were having a problem with bringing my page up. I think the problem in one case was that they were using an older version of Netscape on an Apple. Seems like I remember reading that some users of older Netscape browsers might have problems bringing up geocities pages. Is anyone else having problems? If so please let me know and I will do whatever I can to get to the bottom of it. I don't think this is a problem for most visitors, I hope. Thanks, RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 21 of 200 Glass houses by: PROOFREADER 03/05/00 07:58 am I believe you meant "decent" scripting, instead of "descent", which means coming down, like a descent of a mountain trail. Slippery Rock graduate? Message: 22 of 200 no info on page! by: curious person 03/20/00 05:31 pm There is no information about Slippery Rock schools on here. You have strictly information about the school board. I do not understand your logic. Why is anyone interested in what the school board does if they do not like in the Slippery Rock district? Message: 23 of 200 no info on page! by: curious person 03/20/00 05:31 pm There is no information about Slippery Rock schools on here. You have strictly information about the school board. I do not understand your logic. Why is anyone interested in what the school board does if they do not live in the Slippery Rock district? Message: 24 of 200 RE: no info on page! by: RPratt 03/20/00 09:19 pm Hello, curious person. There is, in the "Contents" box a link called "District Profile". This site requires you to search on "Slippery Rock Area School District" and will give you a complete profile for each school in the district. You asked why anyone would be interested in what the SR board does if "they do not live in the SR district". I'm not sure what you mean by that question. A lot can be learned about how district schools are run by the politics that control them. I am interested in what the SR Board does because I live in the district. Many people visit this site because they are considering moving to our area. Others have visited because they are alumni and are seeking information. Still others have visited, from around the world, because they are intrested in educational/political issues in general and find the information useful in understanding local issues and in some cases, teaching about these issues in their college classes. Many Education majors from across the country and world have found this site useful in their classes. Indeed, this site has an average of over 700 hits a month. And to my knowledge is the only one like it anywhere. Why did you visit? RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 25 of 200 RE: RE: no info on page! by: Webguy 04/01/00 01:48 pm One of the reasons WHY you have an average of 700 people a month is actually bacause your counter is a piece of crap. If you will notice, when you go back to the main page, it coutns you as another person. So, if someone is on your main page and clicks on a link and wants to come back to the main page to go somewhere else, it counts them again. Also, you don't know how many people came to your site, said "This stinks," and left. Counters don't know that. Don't brag about the people you get if you aren't getting as many as you think. Message: 26 of 200 View Replies to this Message Re: Visitors/counters and number crunchi by: RPratt 04/02/00 06:36 pm Hi Webguy. My counts per month are based on the number of "hits" on EACH page. Not the "counter" on the main page. The more Board meeting, and more "Board Updates", there are in a month, the more visitors. One thing is for sure- this site gets 100% more visitors then the Official Slippery Rock Area School District Homepage. Thanks for you continued interest. Visit again- real soon. RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 27 of 200 counter by: Moraine Parent 04/03/00 07:41 pm It dosen't surprise me that you have 700 or whatever visitors a month. I visit at least once a week. I visit even more now that you have a place to search on yahoo and tell others about your site also. I for one would like to thank you for all your work and concern. THANKS! I think Webguy is just ignorant. Message: 28 of 200 SRHS SUCKS by: someone 05/22/00 11:04 pm SLIPPERY ROCK SUCKS at just about everything. nuff said Message: 29 of 200 Where's the news? by: Uninformed 06/07/00 09:38 pm What happened to the updates? I enjoyed keeping up with the School Board news. Message: 30 of 200 Yea! GO SR! by: Cheerleader 06/07/00 09:43 pm Yes! we're no. 1! We suck at everything! Seriously, sorry you have such a down attitude. Cheer up! Message: 31 of 200 new messages??? by: just wondering 06/11/00 09:22 pm Do you plan on continuing with the board updates? I like to know what is going on at the board meetings since I cannot attend them on a regular basis. Message: 32 of 200 General Comments by: David S. Ciochetto 06/12/00 06:46 am Good day all, The comments on this message board all serve a purpose. I came to this site as I was seeking email addresses for an old friend and mentor (Teacher at SRHS) 1. I agree the site is useful as SRHS does not have a web site, the middle school does have a start, and none of the elementary schools do... True it is focused on the Board and their decesions. I think some students do not like the overall concept and rebel against the apparent attacks to their school in the form of HTML coding, which leads me to my next comment. 2. The material presented by Mr. Pratt is of a highly cynical nature. True it is his site, true it is his perogative, and his intentions are good. However we are plagued by cynacism in today's american culture. I am of the opinion to try and not propagate cynacism but rather constructive energy and efforts. Obviously the however many independent hits that the site gets shows that there is a general concern for the state of the school district. It would be (in my opinion only) better to seek positive ways to approach the school board with constructive solutions and in mass. A more democratic means rather than expend energy on getting angry. Without quoting the many old sayings and proverbs, it is better to work together towards a brighter future than for many forces to oppose each other. Good so it is agreed that there are problems. Then use the power of the media to motivate and gather support constructively. I do enjoy the site, I have learned much in my visit. I will never understand why the culture of Tibet was banned. Life is short, lets work together to make tomorrow less dim. There are things I do not like as well, but it is an unregulated form of media and Mr. Pratt has his freedom of speach. The only thing I question the legality of is the posting of the contact information of the board members. I am sure he will inform us of the legality soon in response. Sorry to ramble on, education is important. When I went through the system, SR area schools did a fine job at preparing me to compete in the academic world. I commend the past educators on that. I hope that the problems that are perceived are not great enough to limit a good educational community for the future. And do not be afraid to disclose your identity with your opinions, Mr. Pratt is laying it all out there and revealing himself. For what it is worth, Slippery Rock does not SUCK my name is David and I am proud to be a SR Alumni! (Parody of a Canadian Beer commercial which the states may never see... for the sticklers, that was humor) Message: 33 of 200 Board Updates by: Robert Pratt 06/12/00 01:05 pm Well, I got soooo cynical for a while there I couldn't find it in me to write about our board. I continue to attend the meetings. Do I dare continue in my efforts to enlighten the public when the message is so troubling? I don't know. I sometimes wonder if our citizens are really apathetic, as some beleive, or do most of us accept the current state of education in our district? Perhaps some of both. RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 34 of 200 Re:General Comments by: RPratt 06/12/00 05:11 pm I thank Mr. Ciochetto for his reasoned comments. Many in our district have attempted to work in "constructive" ways with our school board. Those who do have been the recipient of ridicule and name-calling. As you noticed, many who post on my message board do so anonymously. The fact that you didn't, indicates that you don't have a child in the district. Until our district develops it's own homepage, mine is all inquiring minds have. You are the second person to question the legality of me posting the names and numbers of our board members. What could possibility be illegal about publishing this information? Information that is public and published in both the phone book and district directory. Then again, maybe you're right. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that politicians may have made it illegal to publish their names and phone numbers. After all, we elected them, we should all just shut up, go away and let them do what we elected them to do. Right? What? Me cynical? RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 35 of 200 Re: Re: General Comments by: David S. Ciochetto 06/12/00 06:45 pm I just wanted to state here that even if I did have a child in the school district. I would still stand up and claim my own views and opinions, is that not what makes a Democracy great? It sounds like a political state if people need to hide in annonymity. If large groups or even a few people feel strongly enough to come forward about it they have to listen, are they not publically elected officials? Who put them there? Who can take them away? (Legally) Actually I do wish I could be back and have a child in the system. Barring the high rates of Cancer in the area, it one of the greatest places on this earth to live. Anyway. I just wanted to say do not be afraid to stand up and fight for what you feel is right. Mr. Pratt is out there, don't let him take the fall for you if you agree with his statements. Show them the strength of numbers and make them change things if you feel it is wrong. Get out share opinions and vote. Produce better candidates. Use the system. That's all. I will leave you folks to straighten it out. I do wish I were back there, but life is a curious vehicle. Cheers David Message: 36 of 200 Great Page by: Gunny 07/19/00 04:19 pm Mr. Pratt, thanks for a nice visit in my hometown. I left SRHS in 1964 and I see there are still some small town minds around who do not understand your putting your thoughts out as you see them is what helps to make change possible. Abraham Lincoln said "To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men". ..........Gunny Message: 37 of 200 Administrators by: No Name 08/09/00 10:00 pm You sound as though you believe Dr. Spinella leaving is a bad thing. Perhaps the Board finally decided they had had enough of his do-nothing style. Have you tried to reach him ANYTIME this summer? What about the curriculum? What about the math books? I believe clearing out this particular piece of "dead wood" is a definite plus for the district. Message: 38 of 200 Amen by: Anonymous 08/09/00 11:20 pm I agree. Sometimes the School Board gets it right and this happens to be one of those instances. What do we country people say? Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in awhile. And by the way, I think the Technology Coordinator is gone also but you probably wouldn't know that, since no one ever saw him. Message: 39 of 200 Admin by: RPratt 08/10/00 10:50 am While I agree that Spinella needed to go, (I was against his hiring in the first place)I think it's a bad thing that we are losing all our administrators at once. RPratt Message: 40 of 200 Amen by: RPratt 08/10/00 11:20 am I disagree. Our Board got it wrong to begin with. They hired Spinella in the first place. The hired him twice. First as principal of the Area Elem., then when that didn't work out, they moved him to the centeral office. In my opinion, Spinella was a "yes" man for Adams. In fact, the vote to make him Dir. of Curriculum and Staff Development was taken twice. The first time around Adams voted against hiring him. At the next meeting another vote was taken (don't ask me why, two votes is highly unusual. Adams voted yes this time stating that he had a "deal" with Spinella. This "deal" included Spinella implementing Core Knowledge, looking into grade inflation, and mandatory homework. So, while a blind pig may well find an acorn once in awhile, sometimes the pig and it's children starve to death in the process. I too have heard we are looking for a new Tech person. RPratt Message: 41 of 200 Math Curriculum by: concerned citizen 08/12/00 10:02 am I just would like to know about the time, money, and effort the entire math department spent this year writing curriculum. The books have not been ordered to my knowledge. Now that there is no curriculum supervisor, what are they going to do with the students that signed up for the new math programs? There are no books? Message: 42 of 200 Curriculum by: RPratt 08/12/00 11:52 am Have the math books been ordered? I'm not sure. On May 22, the Board adopted a budget that allocated $47,640.64 for grades 6-8 (texts, materials, classroom calculators and assessment tests)and $69,590.00 for 9-12 (9 new texts, graphing calculators, assessment tests, supplies and a multi-media projector - and 17,000 complimentary materials...). No texts for the k-5 were adopted, even though the curriculum was revised, because the Board decided to adopt the Core Knowledge curriculum... If books weren't ordered, does the blame go to Dr. Spinella, the Board's fearless yes man? (We know who the Board will blame...) Or is it the fault of the Board's perpetual micro-management? Despite the fact that teachers developed a new math curriculum (has it even been approved yet?), and suggested books to be bought, the Board knows best. As late as June 19, a consultant came in to talk about a computer-based math program from Carnegie Mellon for the High School. Does this mean as late as June 19 the board hadn't approved the curriculum committee's proposed curriculum???? So...is there a new math curriculum? Who knows. Are new books on the way? Who knows. Whose to blame? The Board will undoubtedly say Spinella. But if you look closely, it's been the Board making decisions about curriculum - Core Knowledge, computer aided instruction, grade inflation, homework. After all, we have to remember, they are our elected officials and they do know what's best for us..... There has been so much confusion on the subject of curriculum, I believe the board dosen't even know what they have or have not approved. This confusion is because the board won't allow our administrators/teachers do their job. If books have not been ordered is because the board failed to vote to approve what the curriculum committees have recommended based on their professional opinion. If anyone out there can shed light on this subject, we would all like to hear from you. RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 43 of 200 DISTRICT IMPORTANT!! by: Kelly McCloskey 08/13/00 11:08 am I'm a sophmore at Slippery Rock University and I just took my PIAA official's test to be crtifyed in track. I was wondering what district Slippery Rock is in? So I can register. Thank You.. Message: 44 of 200 Math Curriculum by: concerned citizen 08/15/00 08:54 am This is what I know. The books have NOT been ordered, however the kids have been scheudeled for the classes. Who is to blame? Look at Christman. He wanted to wait to approve the new books. Since Spinella left, there is no one with the authority to order these books. Yes there is a new math curriculum. The departments collaborated and worked very hard to hash out what they thought was the best for the kids. The biggest change comes in the "lower track". The math department wanted to implement a class called INTEGRATED math which focuses on all the math areas including algebra, geometry and even trigonometry and statistics. I know that if my kids were signed up to take this class and then it is not going to be offered, I would be outraged. Moreover, I feel bad for the teachers who spent all that time working out the curriculum that would best suit the kids' needs. Message: 45 of 200 Who, What, Where, When, Why? by: deeply concerned 08/17/00 09:44 pm One has to wonder what is going on at SR! Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing? If no one is in charge then no one is to blame but what about the studnets education. Parents and citizens of this community must be tired and out raged with this free for all. Not only is there a question about the math curricululm and books there is also the question of what happened to the reading curriculum and books? When are the citizens of this community going to stand up and say Chart a course and stay with what is best for students? Why are there so many unanswered question when school is starting in about a week? Message: 46 of 200 What is going on? by: RPratt 08/18/00 01:18 pm We are in freefall, meltdown. I am working on an analysis of how our board (those who are in charge)has gotten us here. The district has spent thousands (our money) to pay our teachers (and subs for our teachers)to write new curriculums last year. These new curriculums will not be in place when school starts. Why? Well, be checking the "Current Issues" page for my take on how we got here. I hope to have it up in the next day or so. In the mean time, if any of you want to offer your spectulations here or in an email to me, please do so. Also, I cannot urge you strongly enough to call a board member and profer your concerns. This issue directly effects your children. RPratt Message: 47 of 200 Hard to Understand by: Gunny 08/18/00 10:20 pm I do not know much about the current school board or for that matter Mr. Pratt. But there is a glaring fact that screams for an answer. Where are the imflamed parents that should be standing tall at the school board meetings? Slippery Rock area is full of academicians yet no one is yelling about the lack of academic excellence that should be demanded. At least look at the information that Mr. Pratt is presenting and check for yourself on the validity of the information. Your lucky to have someone willing to go the "extra mile"! Good luck. Message: 48 of 200 Three cheers for Mr. Pratt! by: concerned educator 08/21/00 04:41 pm Thank-you for your explicit accounts of how disjointed our wonderful school board leaders are. It's time we start looking at teaching our children and forget about teaching programs. Why don't we let the people who have the most expertise at doing this be decisive in choosing what's best!Keep up the good work! Would you consider a seat on the school board! Message: 50 of 200 Ya Know? by: DUH 08/30/00 08:02 pm You know if our allustrious Christmann knew anything about math books he would have a hard time finding one that did not follow the NCTM standards. What book company would print one without including those standards? Three cheers for those teachers who are doing a heck of a job with the resourses (NONE) that they have. They should strike over the lack of support they get from the board alone. Message: 51 of 200 so now we are back to 15 days of absence by: jsrmco 09/05/00 08:53 pm I once believed that nearly everyone had at the very least some credibility, albeit hard to see, but now you've lowered the bar to where it was prior to last year re: # of absences per school year. Correct me if I am wrong but is that not a state mandated number?. I sincerely wish someone would publish statistics on students who just gave up and quit, as a result of your arbitrarily massaging the #'s. But then again just think of all the money that could potentially free up for your sports teams. So perhaps you are now autononmically correct. Hey here is a thought, lets say everyone south of 422 shall attend Butler school district, and look at the money that could be saved in transportation alone. What tremendous teams you could field then. Having raised two children through your system, I can honestly say that there are many professionals who are very capable but they are (in some regards fortunate for us all) in instructing positions. Has anyone but myself ever noticed the frequency of the monniker Dr., applied in the address of so many esteemed colleagues. Get off of it. Lose the overpaid administration and farm the work to the teachers, and perhaps the students (they already run the office). I'm sure that the teachers would be more than greatful for an additional few bucks and would rise to meet the challenge. Unfortunately many in charge have been born here, raised here, schooled here, and never really quite left the sanctuary of high school. Even if it is only in their minds. So, honestly what do you think it would cost to run an effective educational system, I'll bet we could start with pink slips, rebates, and better served children. Message: 52 of 200 Re: so now we are back to 15 days of abs by: RPratt 09/06/00 04:13 pm jsrmco, Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts with the readers of the Unofficial Slippery Rock School District HomePage. Your points are well taken. Perhaps now is a good time to remind everyone that neither I nor the Unofficial Slippery Rock School District HomePage is in anyway associated with the Slippery Rock Area School District, it's Board of Directors or employees. RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 53 of 200 have you heard this one... by: Bad JuJu 09/20/00 01:53 am Did you hear about the administrator that got caught with some naughty cookies(and i don't mean Girl Scouts)? No? Well, of course not. He had a super cover-up... Did you hear about the guy that thought that Granny's were great, and that some needed more? He took the first Shuttle out of town... Message: 55 of 200 Re: STOP THE INSANITY! by: concerned citizen 09/28/00 05:51 pm Dear Mr. Pratt, As a concerned citizen and parent I would like to know why some sudo teachers aka Dr Spinella are worth $64,000 and the rest of the teaching staff at Slippery Rock can't even get a decent pay raise and now must fight for what they are worth. Can you address this issue please. Message: 56 of 200 Re: STOP THE INSANITY! by: RPratt 09/28/00 08:05 pm Well.....if my information is correct, Dr. Spinella is now a $68,000 substitute/aid. Gossip has it that he no longer has a teaching position. So....., I quess the question is why are we paying him $68,000 a year to be a Sub/Aid! I can't answer that question. But, I figure it has something to do with his contract. RPratt geocities.com/srschools Message: 57 of 200 Re: STOP THE INSANITY! by: Reggie MakCessar 09/28/00 09:43 pm Mr. Pratt, you likely need to find a more current source of information. Dr. Spinella may NOT even be with the district now. People need to look harder at what is wrong with SRASD. Dr. Spinella is hardly an example of that. His situation and others in the district are just the more visible examples of a more pervasive decay. Let the blind pig see if it can find the acorn it this mess: What will it see? Will anyone notice the search? Message: 58 of 200 RE: meeting at the flagpole by: concerned citizen 09/30/00 08:40 am I agree that Spinella may be the most visible example of what is wrong in our district and I think your name highlights some other areas. I must disagree with your information, Mr. Pratt, about the flagpole controversy at one of our schools. I was there and your information about a parent recruiting students is totally false. There was a parent in the hall going door to door to let the teachers know they were going to start and the children would be supervised. Not one student was recruited. Your source of information was not there and before you go to the board with information you should make sure it is correct. I'm tired of good things that happen in this district being made to look like something they are not. Message: 59 of 200 RE: meeting at the flagpole by: RPratt 09/30/00 03:54 pm Thank you for responding to this issue. First, I was careful to say "if this is true". Second, one of my sources of this information was at Har-Mer. Third, I didn't go to the Board about this issue. Fourth, you say that my "name" highlights what is wrong "in our district", care to elaborate?? By the way, I also wrote in the update concerning the "Meet you at the Pole" issue that "teachers also left the classroom to join the students", since you were there, can you comment on this? Is this incorrect information too? Once children enter the school bus, or the building, "in loco parentis" comes into play, and the District is responsible for that child. "See you at the Pole" sponsors recommend having children gather about 6:30 in the morning to avoid this issue altogether. Once children enter a school building, is it ok for them to leave the building without a note from their parents? Recess is one thing, since it's part of the regular school day. But leaving the building for something not school realted seems like a security issue. I know my child better never be allowed to leave the building without my permission. Would a Buddhist parent be given the same access to the classrooms??!! I want to make it clear that I support students' right to pray around the pole-BEFORE OR AFTER school. But, if what you are telling us is true, and, you were there, the school day had already started when they left the classroom and met at the "pole". Again thanks for your input, and helping to set the record right. Open dialog such as this is a good first step in working together to make this a district we can all be proud of! RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 60 of 200 RE: meeting at the flagpole by: concerned citizen 10/01/00 08:48 am I did not mean your name highlights a few of the problems, I meant Reggie MakCessar, the message prior to mine. Sorry about the confusion. Didn't your wife go to the board with this information? Why bring something up if your not sure it is true? I saw one teacher at the flagpole who was there because of the children. I don't know if there were any others because that is not where my focus was. I thought it was a good thing. Message: 61 of 200 RE: meeting at the flagpole by: RPratt 10/01/00 11:53 am I invite anyone who knows the "real story" to post it. I'm stickin' by my story. Just remember... nobody ever said I wasn't full of crap. Judge me and my version of the story as you will. RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 62 of 200 Re: Thank You Mr. Pratt! by: Proud SRASD Teacher 10/05/00 07:51 pm Dear Mr. Pratt,<br> I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the support you have given to the teachers at SRASD. The teachers in this district are highly educated and dedicated professionals. I believe that the quality of education is directly proportional to the quality of the educators. How does the school board expect to attract the best quality educators to our district if we continue to fall behind in salary and benefits as compared to other districts? The future of our district and the students is at stake! Will our teachers choose to leave and go to another district where they are paid what they are worth? Wake up school board our kids are counting on you! Message: 63 of 200 Re: Thank You Mr. Pratt! by: Proud SRASD Teacher 10/05/00 07:53 pm Dear Mr. Pratt, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the support you have given to the teachers at SRASD. The teachers in this district are highly educated and dedicated professionals. I believe that the quality of education is directly proportional to the quality of the educators. How does the school board expect to attract the best quality educators to our district if we continue to fall behind in salary and benefits as compared to other districts? The future of our district and the students is at stake! Will our teachers choose to leave and go to another district where they are paid what they are worth? Wake up school board our kids are counting on you! Message: 64 of 200 "What do you say, Watson?" by: Conan Doyle 10/06/00 10:56 am It shouldn't take a Sherlock to know that a comparison with all other IU4 districts has been done, unless board members aren't paying attention, or attending meetings. Maybe the board never really had an interest in fact-finding. "Yikes, lookout, it's the facts!" As in the classroom, participation is essential. There is a lesson to be learned here from 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', ch. 10: “What do you say, Watson?” I shrugged my shoulders. “If he<the board> were safely out of the country<SRASD> it would RELIEVE the tax-payer of a burden.” Need a clue? Find a quater and see if you can go buy one... |
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