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Around ............................. 2 FYI .................................... 3 Acts of Kindness ........... 22 Home Sampler ............... 17 Business Directory ........ 20 History ............................. 9 Eats ................................ 22 Rockin Robin ................... 7 Around Town Eats .......... 22 Library ............................ 10 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Bayport, NY Permit No. 9 INSIDE October 2006 Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce Meeting Sept 7 , 8am Bayport-Blue Point Library Blue Point cont page 18 Photographers Mark Murphy Walter Petrule Laura Rhodes Tom Reid Lenore Ringer Prezioso THE EXPO is Coming See page 11 IS Education Mandates, School Budget, Teach- ers Contract – Keeping you informed By Lenore Ringer Prezioso As we settle into the comfortable rhythm of another school year, we are immediately met with the ongoing concerns related to our schools operations, improvements and teachers’ contracts. Many residents and parents have noticed the improvements of schools district-wide as well as the quiet demonstrations of our teachers whose contract expired in June. Most would agree that the school improvements were much needed and collectively share the opinion that we have a first rate teaching staff. The one question we may has pondered, “How do we pay for it all?” Our goal at the Gazette is to provide news, as unbiased and kindly as possible. We continually strive to focus on all the positive things our community has to offer. Taking on the subject of the school budget other then reporting on its pass or fail is usually left to those willing to tackle the controversy. Tom Reid, the Gazette’s Editor, felt strongly that we have a responsibil- ity to report on the school budget long before voting time. In an unbiased manor the Gazette will report on various issues that directly impact our schools’ budget. State and Federal mandates regulate just about every area of a school districts’ operation, testing, fiscal oversight and yearly reporting. These are just a few of the mandates required to receive any state or federal money to operate a public school. Understanding these mandates may be a beginning to addressing them. A perfect example of such a mandate would be the wide sweeping reform in education that gave us the No Child Left Behind Act (NCBL). NCBL mandates educational standards and holds states and school districts accountable for the performance of all students. Due to the rise in students living below the poverty level in New York City, school district through- out New York State have seen a reduction in aid and must cover the costs themselves. While the intention to level the educational playing field is noble, it did not take into account school districts like ours. With few students falling below the federal poverty guideline there is little financial relief to fulfill the requirements set forth by this Act of Congress. The No Child Left Behind Act requires rigorous testing in grades 3 – 8. School Superintendent Anthony Annunziato estimates that the testing alone represents $150,000 - $200,000 annually. Class room teachers grade the tests, so substitutes must be hired to cover classrooms. Further required is the remediation for students who do not meet standards for minimum competency. This academic intervention means hiring, on average in Bayport – Blue Point, 5.6 teachers, with salary and benefits. The overall estimated costs for our school district could represent close to 1,000,000,000 annually. Another highly contentious debate revolves around the 1970’s law pertain- ing to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) whose goal was to ensure that all children regardless of disability are entitled to an equal education. Students who are “classified” to receive special education cost a school district three (3) times as much as an unclassified student. Bayport – Blue Point has a sterling record when it comes to educating students with disabilities, yet the federal government has sadly fallen short of its promise to fund 40% of the overall costs. Mandates....Ahhhhhhh 2006 BBPHS Phantom Football Season Kicks Off Bob Faulkenburgh Coach Eric Iberger and his BBPHS Varsity Phantoms return this season hoping to recapture some success from last season ’ s 7-2 record. In his 3 rd yaer as the Head Coach of the BBPHS squad, Coach Iberger hopes to see the team return to the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. However, the team that has only 9 of last year ’ s 22 straters returning has it ’ s work cut out for them as they face a difficult 2006 schedule. the coaches are counting on the emergence of young players such as QB Jason McDonald, RB Christian Rourke, and MLB Patrick Tartaro coupled with the solid veteran leadership brought by RB Dave Mindich, SE Craig Wilkinson, and DB/SE Rob Sirianni. This is a hungry and gritty group of players, and the upcoming season against some tough competition promises to be very exciting. The Phantoms began their season in earnest with a scrimmage game at home against League IV rival Port Jefferson on Bob Sullivan Field. With both coaching staffs just looking to provide their players with some “ real time ” practice, this game was a bit sluggish. Neither team wanted to show the other very much, and it was cont page 18 Sports Beat
