Herkimer Superintendent: Optimistic about merger

Merger of the Friends wrote:

<quoted text>
You haven't asked.
Not surprising since you seem to be following others and believing without asking for real answers.
So vote yes because you're a follower. And stand proud. And then watch it all crumble because it was done too quickly and at the mercy of a one time state incentive.

14yrs of incentive is one big incentive. Oh and I hope you stood in line a long time waiting to vote no, dumbass.

Merger of the Friends wrote:

<quoted text>
Isn't it funny?
Two No votes posted below
One up your yes vote

YUP!!! FUNNY AS HELL

The people that go on these sites & post the vulgar and obnoxious pro merger comments certainly turn off many of us. Many of us are happy to just know that this is moving forward without acting like bad winners. Grow up. If you think this is so wonderful, act like an adult- if you know how. Don't embarrass the rest of us with your slurs and mud slinging. Seriously, this is about the future of three communities. Kind of hard to celebrate and be happy about it knowing that there are people like you out there that will now be a part of this school district. I for one hope my children don't come into contact with those of you that can't possibly respect that some people may have an opinion that is different from yours! What has happened to you in the past to make you feel a need to shove this in other people's faces? Embarrassing and sad.

and if "NO" had won
you dooshes would be cheering
like Jersey Shore tards

Hmmmmm wrote:

Tangorra $20k raise in the last budget, yet we have no money for programs....

this is the first time i have read any comments about Mr. Tangorra how much will Tangorra benefit from the merger. he has already told everyone the new job is his. perhaps herkimer and mohawk people should take a look at Ilion's test scores and why Cosmo Tangorra hasn't been held accountable. worse yet why are we rewarding him with a merger and a higher paying job. new school, name name, same idiots running the show. now that is progress

another reason to vote no, now i we can only get it throught the thick heads of all the old farts, were good, they can give a rats azz about the kids as long as taxes go down by 398, but in the end we all will be paying while coz has another drink for his big raise.

Seniors already benefit from STAR program they also worked at a time when pensions and health insurance was provided by employers. Fixed income how many working families would love those benefits

First thing that should be known is the merger study is a study to find reasons why a merger would be potentialy good for the three communities!It is not an unbiased assessment shwing pros and cons of what a merger would do to the communities!With this said here are some cons to larger schools (900 plus students) which the merger will create. The percentage of violent incidents is substantially higher, academic achievement is considerably lower and graduation percentage is lower when compared to smaller schools ( like we have now)this is according to OVAE adivision of the U S Dept. of Education. Instead of being yes men and women to some political agenda demand your elected officials fight for every dollar our schools deserve! Why if the schools merge is there now 60 million dollars available? Why isn't there 20 million for each community? Vote down the merger and demand our elected officials fight for our fair share of state aid! Merging is not the answer, getting the right people to fight for our childrens right to a quality education that is safe is the right decision to solve the problem not just a temporary fix!

merger propaganda wrote:

First thing that should be known is the merger study is a study to find reasons why a merger would be potentialy good for the three communities!It is not an unbiased assessment shwing pros and cons of what a merger would do to the communities!With this said here are some cons to larger schools (900 plus students) which the merger will create. The percentage of violent incidents is substantially higher, academic achievement is considerably lower and graduation percentage is lower when compared to smaller schools ( like we have now)this is according to OVAE adivision of the U S Dept. of Education. Instead of being yes men and women to some political agenda demand your elected officials fight for every dollar our schools deserve! Why if the schools merge is there now 60 million dollars available? Why isn't there 20 million for each community? Vote down the merger and demand our elected officials fight for our fair share of state aid! Merging is not the answer, getting the right people to fight for our childrens right to a quality education that is safe is the right decision to solve the problem not just a temporary fix!

Well said. The best interests of rural communities take a back seat to more affluent communities. If anyone from Albany denies this, they are liars. Our elected officials, as far as I can tell, haven't even weighed in on this matter. Where is the accountability for the downfall of these communities and the school districts? The state is trying to take us ALL for a ride.

Why have no alternative plans/proposals been set forth? We've been given two choices. The state will let us all continue to decline if we don't approve the merger. Or, the state will throw a limited, not even guaranteed, cash incentive to us to approve the merger. Our local politicians should be ashamed for not taking proper care of their neighbors, families and friends. They know how this game is played but they're all just sitting on the sidelines watching.

well after hearing about the party involving the valley schools all u people voting yes...now have a prelminary glance of what a wonderful merger u have to look forward to....

merger propaganda wrote:

First thing that should be known is the merger study is a study to find reasons why a merger would be potentialy good for the three communities!It is not an unbiased assessment shwing pros and cons of what a merger would do to the communities!With this said here are some cons to larger schools (900 plus students) which the merger will create. The percentage of violent incidents is substantially higher, academic achievement is considerably lower and graduation percentage is lower when compared to smaller schools ( like we have now)this is according to OVAE adivision of the U S Dept. of Education. Instead of being yes men and women to some political agenda demand your elected officials fight for every dollar our schools deserve! Why if the schools merge is there now 60 million dollars available? Why isn't there 20 million for each community? Vote down the merger and demand our elected officials fight for our fair share of state aid! Merging is not the answer, getting the right people to fight for our childrens right to a quality education that is safe is the right decision to solve the problem not just a temporary fix!

Correct. And the 60 million isn't such a large sum, when figuring 3 school districts, that it is going to cost a million dollars more per year to run the merged district, and inflation. In 20 years the money will be gone, taxes will rise rapidly while we are cutting all of the extra programs that we had just gotten used to. And at that time Tangorra will be retiring with th 10 plus million that he pillaged from us.

Perhaps the three schools should follow Utica's example and apply for and offer Charter Schools.
A little competition is just what might be needed.

End the Monopoly wrote:

Perhaps the three schools should follow Utica's example and apply for and offer Charter Schools.
A little competition is just what might be needed.

Good idea. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, this wasn't even explored because the study and proposal were biased by the state's agenda.

We're being rail-roaded and in the process friends, neighbors, communities and even family members are being pitted against each other.