Chirs Farrell accepts an award with Trustee Maureen BowersI got to say that I am a little upset with the disrespect that Chris Farrell was shown by his fellow board members last week when they decided not to keep him on for another term as President of the Kingston School Board.
In my humble opinion there was no reason to change leadership. Chris Farrell is an extremely dedicated member of the school board and of this community. As a former candidate, I found Chris to be extremely helpful to me and all candidates running and very knowledgeable of the issues.
Chris Farrell has spent hundreds of hours promoting the district. Whether it begoing on the radio, going to community groups and explaining the budget process or talking with constituents directly; in addition to his regular duties as board president. Let's not forget in 2006 Farrell was reelected to the board with a mandate, leading the ticket by almost a thousand votes.
Nothing against incoming Prez, Dr. Fletcher. David is a friend of mine and I think he will do a more than adequate job as president. Bottom line, Chris Farrell has a year left on his term and should have been able to have served his last year as president on his own terms.
The board's decision is disgraceful, selfish and short sighted to a man that has dedicated many years to the Kingston School District. I thank Mr. Farrell for his leadership as president of the board.
37 comments:
I couldn't disagree more. Farrell has been an apologist for Gretzinger and the district. I hadn't heard he'd been replaced, but I'm happy to hear it.
Hey Blaber, Where was Mike Hein last night at the Childrens parade in Kingston? Lew Kirchner and Len Bernardo walked in the parade together. Mike Hein and Elliott Auerbach were no where to be seen. Bernardo and Kirschner looked mighty cozy. Looks like you better retract your "Mike Hein and Elliott Auerbach are everywhere" statement.
Mike happened to be at an event honoring a friend of his, is that ok? Not every candidate can be at every event at once, Bernardo has missed a few.
I'm not going to retract my statement, Hein and Auerbach are everywhere, going to upward of 30 events a week. He missed the Children's day parade, so did most of Ulster County.
As a past School Board Trustee in my own District, I couldn't disagree with your sentiments more, Mr. Blaber. The job of the Board of Education in any District is, as with all elected bodies in a democratic republic, to represent the will of the voters. A properly operating School Board MUST follow that principle. Accordingly, no person has a right to any particular position and there is no disgrace in changing leaders when accorded the opportunity to do so.
I am not personally acquainted with either the past President nor the new President of the Kingston Board of Education, however that is immaterial. Their persons are not the issue at hand. The opinion stated that the previous President should have been allowed to serve out one more year under "his own terms" is.
No elected official has the right to serve under "his own terms." Both the positions of School Board Trustee and School Board President belong to the people of the District, not to those who hold them.
There can, therefore, be no appropriate question of disrespect when speaking of the choice to elect someone else as President. The only people who deserve respect in this equstion are those who pay the bills. Only their desires, as expressed through the majority of a Board which actually respects those desires, are pertinent.
It was time for him to go. The school board spends spends spends. I would like you to explain why it is short sighted to vote him out...where was the leadership..because he made raido apprearance. He should be credited for giving his time, but it was not working. We have less students in the district and will continue to have less, but the spenidng keeps going up. They never cut anything. We need people in there that are going to be willing to make the hard decisions. Unfortunately, he proved he was not one of those people. Your support of him indicates to me that I was right not voting for you for school board.
Chris had to go!!!!! I'm glad that he is gone as the President. The slap in the face is the fact Chris thought he was going to be the President as long as he wanted to be.
Blaber is hiding selected comments - it may be his blog's demise.
na na na na na na na na heyyyyyyy goodbye
The Board has made a number of fumbles. Gave 18 Million to the teacher's health insurance trust. Wasted thousands on options for a new school site. Spent hundreds of thousands leasing under utilized warehouse space which they tried to overpay millions for and may yet. Neglected the Canergie library. Botched the Excel aid by underestimating costs.
But we must accept the bad with the good - many thousands of students receive quality education.
So Bill, accepting your reasoning, tell me how it helps to replace Farrell with Fletcher? Fletcher supported each of the votes you mention. On a number of those issues, he was a more fervent supporter than Farrell.
The job of the president is to lead and speak for the board. Most importantly, the president has to have the ability to mold nine individuals into a productive and working unit and to faciliate a productive relationship between the board and the administation as represented by the superintendent.
Chris managed those tasks quite well. Whether David can do the same remains to be seen.
If you want anything done in the district Farrell and Fletcher both should go.
I would like to see Superintendant Gretzinger appear on Kingston Community Radio instead of Mr. Farrell or Mr. Fletcher. The Superintendant is highly paid and should be available for taxpayers and parents to call in questions to him.
Chris did a good job. The board is lucky to have him. I hope he seeks reelection. As far as him no longer being board president, who needs that headache!
Blaber must have been paid off - he hides the fact that Farrell and Gartenstein wives are on the payroll at the district - a clear conflict. Is Blaber part of the problem?
So what if my wife is on the school district payroll. I am not on the board and have not been on the board for over a year.
When I ran for the board, I fully disclosed that my wife was a teacher and I was elected by a fully informed public.
Also,
Chris Farrell's wife is not on the district's payroll.
David Fletcher's wife is on the payroll.
But why should the truth get in the way of a good story.
Dan, the truth never gets in the way of a good story. These nasty bitter people have nothing better to do than think of nasty things to write about other people. Of course anonymously.
Farrell has said his wife is on the payroll - where were you Dan?
Never mind that Gretzingers package exceeds our Governors - gee we could lose him - I mean he worked at Coleman with Marie Anderson and they were comfortable doing a good job and making a living on 75% less. Oh yeah, Gretzinger's daughter works for the district too - any wonder why no jobs get posted in the Kingston District
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Perhaps we should all acknowledge that there is a difference between the past tense and the present tense. . .
Also, being "on the payroll" is a term of art. A per diem employee or a sub does not qualify.
Blaber "skews" and hides the Mohonk extravganza - while they raise on campus lunch costs - what's up? Again FOIL will show Blaber hide this.
Dan - did you go to Mohonk on the taxpayer's dime?
As to Mohonk, I paid for dinner for myself and my children out of my own pocket and did not stay overnight.
Lovely event although I must agree that given everything going on and the cost of an event at Mohonk, the district could have organized the event in one of the school cafeterias.
We addressed this issue on a number of occasions when I was still on the board and the board repeatedly objected to professional development events at expensive resorts.
FYI, the event is grant funded and the location and specifics are within the discretion of the administration not the board.
anonymous needs to get a life and stop hiding behind anonimity. He/she should get their facts straight too. My wife has worked in the past as a sub-clerical. Believe me you that is no great position nor did she get it through any favor from me. In fact I was not too thrilled because of the implications some jerks would make. She has not worked with the
district for several sememsters except once when a nurse requested her clerical assistance. Since this is the 21st century she can choose where and when she wants to work. As for the others mentioned in this blog who work for the district they are well qualified and earned their positions with the district through hard work.
As for those who are pleased that I am no longer serving the district as the President, so am I. I now have about ten more hours to spend as I please. I wish Dr. Fletcher good luck and I am sure the anonymous jerks will be casting dispersions on him in several years. Perhaps these writers should find something more constructive to do like volunteer in the community instead of bashing good people who try to make the community better.
Chris Farrell
So what's the secret now about Ulster Avenue?
Jeremy,
The Freeman finally caught up with this - your not slipping!
Maybe you could help the Freeman get the Ulster Avenue secret out in the open?
So Fletcher's wife is on the school payroll too? - Don't remember reading about this before elections.
How about Bowers, Horowitz, etc...
All living it up at Mohonk - but no money for security cameras.
It seems executive privilege is alive and well in the Kingston City School District--- how could the Church Mouse Superintendent host a gathering for crony district employees and their families with food, lodging, and leisure activities at the very expensive Mohonk Mt. House. Could that money be put to better use on behalf of the children. His expense account and slush fund should be audited, along with conference trips for staff, probably to Hawaii. Of course, for the benefit of the children. LETS BE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC!!!!!!
Politicons!
Perhaps the Record will run an article like they did on Newburgh's School District Administrative shenanigans today?
Where's the comments Fletcher?
Hide the facts - next Ulster Avenue giveaway?
Fletcher hid the fact that his wife is on school payroll - nice example for children you creep.
Why is Fletcher being attacked now for his wife on payroll - hasn't he always been on school board - or did she just get an inside promotion?
Your a jerk - Childs wife is on payroll too!
So is Horowitz's - but she is at another school, not Kingston.
These volunteers deserve to be paid for their work - so what if they get it in their spouses name?
It came out on Freeman finally of Childs daughter working for district - Kyle Wind didn't write about Fletcher's wife working for District.
My Goodness- move this to the top of your posts again before the secret deal with Ulster Ave happens.
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