VOTE NO ON THE SCHOOL BOND
The $55.8 Million Dollar School Bond is not in the best interest of Mt. Pleasant Taxpayers or Students. The Bond as proposed, does nothing to improve the education of the students enrolled in the Mt. Pleasant School District. At a time when School Districts in communities surrounding Mt. Pleasant continue to receive accolades and awards for the excellence of their educational programs, the Mt. Pleasant District concentrates on adding lights for its athletic field, rather than attempting to improve its learning system. But, is that fact surprising when one considers who makes up the leadership of the Mt. Pleasant School System?
Susan Guiney is the current Superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant School District. That should be the first indication that this District has serious problems. The Superintendent of any successful School District normally is a highly professional, extremely well qualified and experienced educator. The normal procedure in the hiring process of a School Superintendent is to conduct a formal search; to seek out the best candidates available to fill the position. Interviews are then conducted to assess who the best choice would be to fill the position, and that person is then hired.
The Mt. Pleasant School District seems to have a different policy in place. That policy apparently doesn't require that a formal Superintendent's search be conducted. If a search had been conducted for the then vacant Mt. Pleasant Superintendent's position, it is doubtful that Ms. Guiney would now hold the Superintendent's position. However, no search was ever conducted by the Mt. Pleasant School District. Ms. Guiney was the only candidate considered. Why? Is there more to her very questionable selection than meets the eye?
After reviewing Ms. Guiney's resume, it is difficult to understand how someone with her limited abilities and lack of educational background and experience could be selected for such an important position. Her resume would indicate that she would be better suited to fill the position of a Librarian, than to hold the position of a School Superintendent. Her claim to fame seems to be the time that she spent as "Head of Curriculum" for the Mt. Pleasant School District. But does that qualify her for such a critical job? It is difficult to understand how the Board could have ever selected Mc. Guiney to be Superintendent. They obviously did not have the best interest of the students in mind when the choice was made - a very dubious choice indeed. (Truthful One will address the hiring matter in a later article. Were deals made? Is this Bond issue part of the deal for her selection?) The Board entrusted the education of hundreds of young students into the hands of an unqualified Superintendent. Now, the District is reaping the consequences of that decision. By the way, how does the District justify paying the exorbitant Superintendent's salary to someone so unqualified - just another example of how this School Board wastes your tax dollars!
The Bond issue sheds light on Ms. Guiney's incompetence. Rather than focusing on much needed improvements to the educational programs that are provided to the children enrolled in the Mt. Pleasant School System, she is focused on making cosmetic changes to school buildings and athletic fields. While the "improvements' may give a luster to these educational facilities, they will do nothing to provide a better education for the students. In stark contrast, surrounding School Districts, which have been cited for excellence in education, don't seek to burden their taxpayers with unnecessary requests for items that don't affect the students education. Those districts apparently only care about offering the best education possible to their children, and not wasting taxpayer funds on nonessential luxuries. The Mt. Pleasant District should take note of that fact.
As previously stated, this proposed bond does nothing to improve the education of the students. Lights for the athletic field? Not, a necessity - no educational value. Adding a new two story science wing, when enrollment is expected to decrease over the next few years (as per the District's own Study - see the graph below). That is not an efficient use of funds. A new artificial turf athletic field; new fitness rooms and lockers? Again, what educational value will these lavish nonessentials provide? The answer - NONE!
The Graph shown below, was taken from the "Comprehensive Long Range Planning Study" conducted by Western Suffolk BOCES for the Mt. Pleasant School District. It shows the anticipated drop in student enrollment forecast for the District through the year 2021.
Some additional considerations in regard to Ms. Guiney - her own daughter does not even attend the Mt. Pleasant Schools. Rather, she attends private school in New Rochelle. One must ask Ms. Guiney, why, if the Mt. Pleasant System is so good, isn't her daughter enrolled here? Also, Ms. Guiney uses the title of "Doctor". When and where did she earn that title? There is nothing in her resume to indicate that she holds the title of Doctor. Is the use of the title an attempt to deceive parents and students into believing that she is more qualified than she actually is??
As can be seen from the above information, Ms. Guiney is extremely unqualified to hold her present position. She has no expertise in the area, but, she is the driver behind this Bond issue. Are you going to allow this inept individual to waste more of your hard earned income on lavish, unneeded items that have no educational benefit?
There are some other important points that should be considered as to the manner in which this Bond vote is being conducted. Why is this vote being taken at such a random time? Is there an effort underway to sneak through a questionable issue, while most residents aren't paying attention; but, for which they will be obligated to pay, if the Bond is passed? Why not conduct the Bond vote along with the School Budget vote in the Spring and give the residents more time to research and review the proposal? There are too many questions left unanswered to allow the passage of this Bond. There are too many expensive, unnecessary items included in the Bond proposal to allow the Bond to pass. Please join me in voting against this issue.
Tell the School Board NO - Vote NO on this boondoggle. Tell the Board to go back to the drawing board and if a bond is necessary, come back to the people with a Bond that is streamlined; will seek only needed "education related" items; and which will not cost Mt. Pleasant taxpayers as much. Voting will take place on Saturday, November 15th, at Westlake High School Gymnasium, from 7:00am to 9:00pm.
Make sure to vote - only you can prevent your tax dollars from being wasted!
I am so happy that someone finally exposed this totally incompetent woman that we have as the Superintendent of our schools. She was NEVER qualified and has not done anything to lead our school district forward. Over and over again she has lied to the parents and continues to do so. If we want a solid academic future for the schools of the Mt. Pleasant School District, the first step would to lead Ms. Guiney out of here.
ReplyDeleteON Nov. 14th FACEBOOK page “Residents of the Town of Mt. Pleasant, NY” Mr. Carminucci posted a question about kitchen equipment, I cannot find the post, but he mentioned something about equipment already purchased. The kitchen equipment is now being installed! Isn’t it a coincidence that after the Bond was voted on, its now being installed? How can we trust a district on the next proposal, if they lied on the first? I wonder what really has to be done in the schools.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Mr. Carminucci’s post is no longer visible , which makes me believe someone deleted it …why?
BRAVO to the Truthful One!!! Wish you were around 10 years ago. This district has been disintegrating since John Whearty retired!.
ReplyDeleteSue Guiney came from one of the small river towns, Hastings, or Dobbs Ferry, she was a LIBRARIAN, though she had the title of Director of Library Services, or some such nonsense. She had maybe two people to direct - herself and another librarian. How she was even hired as the "Director of Curriculum" for Mt. Pleasant, is a mystery...much less later being hired as Superintendent of Schools.
Sue Guiney had created the most poisoned atmosphere we have ever seen in the district, and is universally hated by her employees. Which, apparently, makes her the darling of the Board of Education and all those who believe the TEACHERS are the root of the problem. THEY ARE NOT. Once there was a spirit of cooperation between the teachers and the Board of Education. Now it is distrust and animosity. Guiney LIES to the public about the teachers, about the union, about ANYTHING that makes her look like a tough anti-union administrator. Adding fuel to the fire is the despicable Law Firm of Ingermann & Smith, who have bamboozled the BOE into believing hat threats and intimidation are the way to go when dealing with employees. And law suits, or threats of law suits and firings. Has anyone ever investigated how much money the district pays this Law Firm, over and above their standard work? They have threatened and intimidated employees who were in district many, many years to allow Guiney to consolidate her power, and keep her and the BOE using fear and intimidation tactics to keep people silent. You want to know who is REALLY running that district these days? Ingermann & Smith. WHY did Mt. Pleasant feel it was necessary to hire a law firm from Northport, Long Island? Because they had a reputation for breaking the backs of the unions. The days of collegiality between teachers, employees and administrators is long dead in Mt. Pleasant. Guiney and Company have brought about a Reign of Terror. Employees are afraid, just keep their heads down, mouths shut, and, no matter what they know, or what they see, they say nothing. They are afraid. What a way to operate a school district. IF you REALLY want to know what is going on...talk to the people who see it from the inside...but are usually ignored...the teachers.
She is nothing more than a hood ornament, Grieco and the rest of those self serving Board of Education members are the vehicle and Ingerman and Smith are the nuts behind the wheel. They railroaded Lodovico and then had to pay him off for several years so he would go quietly; as they did with many other staff members. She is perfect for them, that's why they gave her a contract extension, big increase and health insurance into retirement before Fowler was ousted the last time and McCabe was voted in. All the rest is just insult to injury. bend over and grab your ankles it's not over by a long shot. They treat the teachers horribly and have no regard or appreciation for them. They are the ones that are teaching and caring for our children. Not the evil queen!
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