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September 2010 Vol. 27No.1
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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College
DOE partially ~~~!!?E~~ budget In response to an appeal for additional funding, the Department of Education (DOE) in August agreed to add $320,000 to Harris's budget for this school year. Though this money will help maintain supplies and programs that might otherwise have been in danger, the school still falls short of the total amount of money it requested from the DOE. Because a gap in funding still remained, Harris lost five faculty members this fall who couldn't be replaced fulltime. Since there's no official college counselor this year, Guidance Counselor Jonathan Hirsch is now also overseeing college counseling duties originally held by Antoinette Teague, the school's college counselor, who retired in June. However, the Alumni Association provided the school with money to allow Ms. Teague to come in part-time this year, to help ease the transition process in the college office. "Though this is not the best possible outcome, our work together avoided the deep cuts that were originally projected for our school," said Principal Kenneth Bonamo in an email addressed to the school community. Aside from losses in faculty, the budget cuts have not yet made much of a visible impact on the school. However, as the year progresses, their effect will become more apparent. "Right now, we don't have the money to pay teachers to come in at night or on weekends," said Ellen Fee, Assistant Principal of Organization. That means when AP season comes around, the school won't be able to fund weekend tutoring sessions, as it has in the past. Faculty members still have the enrichment time designated for clubs and tutoring, but weekends don't fall under persession spending. The future of performance events like Harrisfest and Free the Children's annual Variety Show remains up in the air. However, the administration anticipates being able to fund the school play, Science continued on Page 3
Wild weather shakes up Queens
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Unexpected weather disaster disrupts commute for many
photo by Gabriella Niyazov
(see Page 9)
Lazio leaves campaign; simulation to be reconfigured by Tracey Wang In a recent development, Conservative candidate Rick Lazio has dropped out of the New York State race for governor. According to The New York Times, Mr. Lazio, who was running against Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Carl Paladino, has formally withdrawn from the race as of September 27. Since the Election Simulation reflects the real political races, this means the Lazio campaign will officially be dissolved. Senior Mohammed Islam, who plays Mr. Lazio in the Election Simulation, said, in character, "It's very unfortunate that I had to withdraw from the race, but I hope my decision helps New York in the future."
In the real election, Mr. Paladino's name is expected to replace Mr. Lazio's on the ballot for the Conservative Party. Members of the Lazio campaign in the Simulation have been redistributed to the other campaigns within their Participatory Democracy class. Social Studies teacher Maureen Lonergan said that her main concern was for the students working on Mr. Lazio's campaign, saying she's "disappointed for them." Assistant Principal for Humanities, Susan Getting, said, "I think it's a shame that [Lazio] decided not to run, because it means one less candidate [in the Election Simulation]. Ms. Lonergan and Ms. Getting both agreed that a three-way race
would have been more interesting. As of now, Mohammed has; relocated to the Dan Donovan campaign for Attorney General. Mohammed said, "I was looking forward to all the activities like going to classrooms and holding fundraisers and learning more about Rick Lazio, but unfortunately, all that has to come to a sudden halt." Senior Brian Rivera, who plays Carl Paladino in the Simulation, said, in character, "The Republican Party will be more united and there will not be a split in the Republican Party [now that Lazio has withdrawn]."
To read more about the Election Simulation, turn to Page 3.
INSIDE: new teachers page4
college stats pages 6-7
MUT pageS
Harry Potter World
page 11