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Baldwin school board discusses facilities
by Joan Delaney
In addition to a presentation on facilities and a possible bond issue (see article on page 5, the Baldwin Board of Education approved numerous business items and discussed fiscal and educational mailers at its regular meeting on October 8. Superintendent Kathy Weiss noted that the Board of Regents had met that day and approved changes to certain aspects of Regents testing and grading. Responding to recommendations of the Commissioner of Education, the Regents approved allowing districts to keep the grade of 55 percent which has been functioning as a safety net for students taking Regents exams during this period of transition to higher standards. It was indicated that a passing grade of 65 percent on Regents exams as a requirement for graduation for all students was " an unachieveable goal in such a short period of time." The Math A exam will be given after one year instead of I 1/2 years and the scoring of the exam will change. The department of education will compile raw scores of the exams from throughout the state before setting a grade for a passing score. A four-person work group of the Board of Regents also indicated that the Regents exam in physics should reflect a level of expectation comparable to other exams, not comparable to an advanced course. Recently, the Baldwin School District announced that because of the nature and scoring of that test during the last two years, it will no longer require that exam for course credit or graduation. The Board of Regents also announced that special education students may still take a Regents Competency Exam for graduation. There were concerns by school districts that the requirement of Regents exams would make it impossible for special education students to ever graduate. In other business, board member Mary Clark announced that board member B.A. Schoen has been re-elected as President of Reform Educational Financial Inequities Today (REFIT), a consortium of school districts seeking equity in the financing of education. Board members discussed recent court decisions in a case brought by representatives of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) concerning the responsibility of the state to adequately finance an appropriate education. Mr. Schoen noted that an "appropriate education" has been defined as a "high school education as defined by the
Regents.'' Board member Mary Jo O'Hagan gave a timeline of dates which will impact on the governor, the legislature and the courts relative to state aid and financing education. She predicted that unlike much of what happens in education, "We expect things to start moving quickly." The CFE and school districts have indicated, however, that they do not want financing to be conducted in a way that "robs Peter to pay Paul" in giving tb poorer districts at the expense of other districts. ! Board President James Scannell pointed Qut an inaccuracy in recently mailed lax bills which indicated that "school districts set the tax rate." He explained thai districts set a tax levy, the amount of money needed to be raised in taxes after school aid and other revenues are known. The assessor's office, he said, sets the rate. There will be a special board of education public work session on November 5, in District Offices at which the board will discuss "educational practices, programs, afhd student performance." Unlike regular monthly meetings, no votes or action will be taken and there will be no period for audience questions. The district's commu-
nity input meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 29, at the middle school at 8 p.m. and the next regular monthly meeting will he on November 12, at 8 p.m. at Sleele School. There will also be a special program on
Monday evening, November 3. at 7:30 p.m. at the high school. Dr. Robert Brooks will, deliver a -presentation on "Raising Resilient Children." All are invited. The next day, he will speak to teachers during stall development programs.
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lottors L For Scanned To The Leader: On November 4, Baldwin residents will have an opportunity to choose their county Legislator. I will be voting for the future of Baldwin by casting my ballot for Legislator Joseph Scannell. I am impressed with his dedication to the community. The clean roads project together with the two beautification projects (and a third on the way) have certainly improved the condition of Grand Avenue,-Legislator Scannell has also secured funds so that our local ponds will receive long-needed renovations. He also takes an interest in our individual residents. I have seen notices for mammography vans, prostate screening, tlu shots, child safety seat seminars and many town hall meetings. A vote for Legislator Joe Scannell is a vote for Baldwin! Murry and Florence Duitz
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