Rich Amato took the third seat on the Kingston School Board beating out Rev. James Childs. I'm very disappointed to learn this news. Rev. Childs' ideas for the district are much more in line with my vision for the future of the district. Amato's victory and the defeat of the budget, and the candidacy of Childs, Costen, and my own is disturbing on many levels. This shows the low turn out was an anti-district vote.
I like Rich Amato on a personal level but his ideas are wrong for the board. It's easy to pander and talk about taxes being too high and administrators being over paid, it's a whole other story to offer realistic solutions to address these concerns. Nonetheless, Mr. Amato won fair and square and I wish him the best and I just hope he does the right thing.
It's disappointing that in a district as diverse as the Kingston City School District, we now have no representation from the African American community.
This should be fun. Richie Amato has done nothing but complain for the last 20 years. Let's see what he can do to fix the things he has been whining about!
ReplyDeleteThis is not good news for anyone
ReplyDeletewho wants the best education for our children
Jeremy. You did a good job with your candidacy. You conducted yourself with dignity and ran a hard fought race. You should proud of your efforts. Although, I thought the BOE did a much-beter-than-usual presentation of the budget, the bottom line is still the bottom line and I think many residents came out and expressed their dismay at the city reval process and their new tax burden. You can expect to see more of this I think.
ReplyDelete-Tom Hoffay
Amato used pure scare tactics toward his retired friends regarding taxes. Those who really know Amato or even those who have read his letters to "the editor" in the Daily Freeman over the years will know that he is anti-school district. Not anti-tax but anti-school district.
ReplyDeleteHe lives on Andrews Street and often calls the school district to complain about security lighting shining into his house and noise from the fieldhouse and pool buildings.
Plain and simple - he is not a friend of the school district. I am not saying that you need to be "in bed" with the school district either. Folks be prepared to see a negative vote on each and every item that comes before the Board and that does not help us, the tax payer.
Not being a friend of the school district is great for me, a taxpayer. Stop the damn whining and pay for your share of the kids, who obviously by the looks of Broadway, are not learning much except to be aholes.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe that anyone would complain about paying for the KIDS. Its paying for the administrators and the chief that we are bitching about, and the wasted money on stupid ideas (anyone recall the flood plain or the need for another new building). When did the new building become such an issue? No one was complaining when they were giving money to Brad....
ReplyDeleteNow that the deal was shot down another stupid deal is in the works.
The school board needs to realize that this city and it tax payers are all tightening thier belts, but they continue to spend like a drunk sailor.
Deal with the building and save some cash and get rid of the overpriced assistants to the assistants to the assistants and watch the people vote for whatever you need!
Stop acting like pigs and spending because you feel like it, and start worrying about the kids.
In the freeman the dont mention anyone of them taking less of a raise, but they do tell everyone how the kids will suffer (no sports and music), that sounds kinda crooked to me.
If the grown ups fail todo thier jobs right the kids suffer?
Seems like it should be the other way around.
Take some of thier money and perks and give it to the kids, after all the is the SCHOOL BOARD and its designed to help the kids, not Gretzinger and the rest of the get fat!!!!!
Keep voting NO
Hoffay needs to wake up as an aldlerman..this has nothing to do with the reval...we are tired of all these increases in our school taxes and school spending without any improvement in the schools even while the student population goes down. In fact, they seem to continue to get worse each year. I for one am tired of seeing my taxes go up and the schools. especialy the high school, continue to be an embarassment to our community. There is a reason why the private schools in the area have all seen a rise in enrollment.
ReplyDelete10 to 1 Amato resigns before the end of the calendar year. Historically, those who run in order to express their anger at the school district yell for a few months, they get tired of attending late night meetings, they put their tails between their legs and they go home. It takes more than that to serve out a full term and more than that to be a productive member of the board.
ReplyDeleteJeremy I went to candidates night in 2007&2008 in 07 I voted for McCoy and in 08 I voted for you. The difference between you in one year was amazing. You picked a bad year to run, I agree it was a year when people are fed up, a guy like Rich Amato getting on is proof of that. I know it's hard but a third shot will do it, it does not have to be next year but please do run again.
ReplyDeleteI'm sick and tired of hearing that kids are growing up spoiled and learning how to be aholes, etc... Anyone who sincerely CARES about the district and takes the time to look into the daily going-ons of any school within it knows that we are loaded with talented children who are compassionate and motivated. Of course we have your punks and do-nothings but that will always be the case. Kingston needs to offer MORE ways for our youth to excel so that we can showcase the exceptional abilities of these children. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR FOLKS! Keep complaining about our youth being a bunch of thugs and that's exactly what YOU will help THEM become!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you think Amato is going to resign you sadly underestimate how fed up he is and how stubborn he is. Wait till his third year on the board then you will see some fireworks.
ReplyDeleteAt least Amato won't make millionaires of Deegan and Ryan and Tack(Deegan's partner on Wash. Ave)
ReplyDelete