Please attend the September 10th Board of Ed meeting

Notes from Board of Ed Meetings

Reality Check - POB Math Scores

Letters from POB Parents

Articles from POB Teachers Congress

What You Can Do To Help

More Articles, Info & Links

Math Help for Parents & Kids

So glad you are definitely running.  Again, I am sure that I am among many people who would love to see you in this spot.  Let me know if I could make any calls on your behalf.  This absolutely needs to happen the way it is intended. 

 

Good luck, and talk to ya' soon.  
With warmest regards,
Kimberly

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I was on your website,,,,both for the math and the BOE running.  .... 

I am thrilled and hope that new "blood" gets their foot into the door of the BOE.  It is desperately needed!  I will vote for you and the two other members that you posted on your website.

 

Good luck!

 

Sincerely,

Ron

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I have been getting your e-mails regarding the math program.  I am on board with the thinking that there needs to be a change.  I agree with absolutely everything you are saying about this program.

I do have a few questions regarding how a change can happen.  Can the board vote to change it or is it in the sole discretion of the superintendent?  How many people on the board are in favor of changing the program?  Are any members up for reelection this year and if so is anyone running against them who favors a change in the program?  I would be interested in helping in any way I could to change this program. 

Thanks for your help
Scott

Scott,
There are 3 seats on the Board of Ed that are up for election this May. I am aware of 3 new candidates running for the 3 avialble seats who all want to see the math program changed.

My name is Gary Bettan and I'm running. I am the founder of this website. I run a successful family business on Long Island. My Son Max is in 6^th grade; my daughter Gabby is in 4^th and my youngest Jillian will start kindergarten in the fall. Some of you may know me from the playing fields - I've been coaching for the past 6 years. When we moved to P–OB over fifteen years ago one of the major considerations was the school district. While the issues in Math are what brought me into this, I realize that there are many areas in our schools that can benefit from a more businesslike approach. My goal is to bring back Common sense, Accountability, Responsibility and Excellence to our district. Follow this link to learn more about Gary.



Lori Weinstein has a strong financial background and 16 years of dedicated PTA service. She has a B.S. in Accounting from Binghamton University and is an experienced accountant. Lori has served as PTA Council President and Mattlin Middle School PTA President and currently sits on the Academic Standards Steering Committee and PTA Council Budget Committee. She is committed to raising  academic standards, fiscal responsibility and accountability and restoring confidence and pride in our school district.  She will bring to the Board of Education a person with the unique combination of an accounting background and detailed knowledge of our school district based on her years of service.



Angel Cepeda is also running. Angel, his wife Marlene Garber, and their two daughters Candice and Alexa, ages 15 and 10, have lived in Plainview for 13 years. They have developed strong ties to the community and wonderful friendships while serving through PTA and various other volunteer efforts. Angel's professional expertise can provide prudent management oversight of the ever-growing costs of the school budget. He is dissatisfied with our district's current NYS test scores and would like to give the BOE a stronger voice to raise our academic standards. His perspective as a parent and professional background in finance, audit and fraud examination would be an asset for our school board. Visit POBVOTE.COM to learn more about Angel

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I thought no one heard me, but I am thrilled to see I am not alone. Since the first meeting I have been saying that I think that the math issue is just a symptom of the real problems. The accountability, (or lack thereof,), the inconsistent curriculum and the acceptability from the board's stand point that our 4 elementary schools can have such a wide spectrum of results have been my main points of concern. I am counting on the new board members, (that I hope will get in) to take up these issues as among the highest priorities.

As a graduate of the POB school system, I submit that this was once a great school district. We were one of
the first in the country to offer Modular scheduling. WE had concerts and lectures during the day that were
available to all students on the free mod, and were widely attended. Students studied The bible as literature and discussed Kant and Kierkagard, we had students going to highly esteemed universities. WE had teachers who were creative and who cared, and evidently Principals who fostered these types of environments and a Board that held everyone accountable.

I hope that we can go back to these times. This is not immpossible, they were here not that long ago. If Egos and short sightedness were aside and the Education of students came first, if we as a community demand this, we as a community can achieve this.

Suz

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At the Mattlin Middle School Parent Math Night presentation, Mrs. Hodrinsky discussed sending the district math specialists for 2 week courses at Math in the City summer institutes.  

Math in the City, developed by C.T. Fosnot, is a well-established constructivist teacher-training program. 

You're reassuring parents that their concerns have been heard and are looking for their confidence. You are telling us that you are looking at solutions to fix our math problems, fill our gaps. You are claiming to be keeping an open mind and promoting a blended approach.  You are waiting to hear the findings of the Math Committee on April 23. And yet, it seems like you're already made your decisions. You are obviously heading in a direction that will perpetuate constructivist math teaching in our school district.  

Are you really trying to fix the problems here or just offer a new and alleged improved version of more of the same? I don't see a blended approach in your presentation of solutions. 

What you could be doing: Enlisting the expertise of mathematicians from local universities to advise on our program, advise on supplementing and professional development

 Marilyn Burn' is a nationally recognized constructivist teacher/trainer. Do her Algebra resources reflect her ideology of stressing writing in math class? Will that be helpful for our student's computational and fluency problems?

 I am very disappointed.
Stefanie

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You raise as a point the fact that the union is in direct opposition to Dr. Brooks approach, and herein lies one of our (and I use our as a parent - and by the way I am an attorney and a Plainview High School alum) biggest problem. There is the now well known confrontational relationship that exists, and has been created and nurtured by the board, between the teachers and the administration. The board policy of not hiring for administration positions from within and hiring administrators with minimal teaching experience has resulted in an administration that does not know our teachers (a problem in and of itself because there is no earned respect between the people teaching our children and administering the buildings, teachers and students) and has so little practical classroom experience that they regularly ignore pragmatic solutions in favor of the hypothetical. The fact is that the union's position makes it harder for the board and aministration to go back because it is an ackowledgement that the board and the administration was wrong and that their decision to abandon conventional, and proven methods of education, have resulted in huge damage to our children (I have a son in 8th and a daughter in 3rd; both are doing well in math but my wife and I teach them traditional math methods at home and incorporate the schools curriculum into our tutorial program - and yes, I will often suggest to my older son that he ignore what is being taught when it becomes circuitous and cumbersome), harm to our school districts reputation, and, if not corrected soon, harm to our property values because POB will be seen as a second tier or third tier district. The fact is that first, it is time for Martin Brooks to leave (he has been trying to get another job for at least 2 years; how come we can't figure out if we are not his first choice we shouldn't want him here), and the second is if the board will not do what is right for our kids then it is time to throw them out and replace them with people will.
See you on the 23rd.

Gary

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I question why we allow a superintendent who clearly is not meeting the needs and desires of our community to remain. I have a daughter in 7th grade that is a straight A, if not A+ student and is in "high" math and yet scored only in the mid range of 3 last year on the state assessment. Something seems wrong to me about that.

I agree that we should settle for nothing less than exceeding the standards. Average is no longer good enough.Thank you.Denyse

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Your letter to POB Board was an honest assessment of the state of  POB. Thank you on behalf of my family for representing us. It's not just math, but there is decline in all areas of learning.
The time is now for a complete overhaul and New Leadership.

 sincerely
Norman

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To whom it may concern:

I have been following the current dispute concerning the math curriculum in the POB schools.  I, too, have experienced my own dismay with the math curriculum after trying to help my 4^th grade daughter and 3^rd grade son with their homework assignments.   It is simply astonishing to me that the administration continues steadfast in its support for the investigations math program. 

I am particularly concerned at this very moment, however, when, after reading the latest email circulated, I learned that not all of the elementary schools in the district are being prepared for the state exams in the same manner.  The PCT letter reflects that the Parkway school has been receiving test prep booklets for each student and I am appalled that the proper test preparation is not uniform throughout the district.  My children attend Old Bethpage School, the same school I attended more than 30 years ago.  The talk about town, now and even way back when, was always that Parkway school was the elite school in the district, but that was always just rumor with no substantiation.  Now, proof exists that Parkway is the favored school, to the detriment of three-quarters of the students in the district!  Are you aware of any reasoning behind providing test prep booklets to only one elementary school?  Are you aware of any other instances where Parkway (or any other school) has been given different or favored treatment? 

The POB schools have maintained a stellar reputation in years past as one of the best school districts in Nassau County, on Long Island, and in New York State.  Maybe we have just been drinking the Kool-Aid.  Our students are obviously less prepared and, through no fault of the teaching staff, poorly taught.  Today it’s math, but who knows where the other deficiencies lie? 

To put it simply, I am disgusted. 

Brian

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I agree that something has to be done.  Every parent I know is very upset with the current curriculum in that we've all have hired outside tutors ($70-$80/hr ) to work with our kids on weekly basis.  The gaps in the program are outrageous.  These kids have never been taught the foundation.  Without that foundation what exactly are you building on?  

Outraged in Plainview

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So let me get this straight....Parkway offers to their students a test prep booklet to aid in preparing for the state wide assessments.  Why wasn't that offered district wide, for all POB elementary students?

To me, it is indicative of an inherent problem in this district.  The schools are not treated equally.  Materials offered in one school, but not another.  Don't we all pay the same taxes here? Whatever we decide to do about the current math situation, I certainly hope that the district will ensure that ALL of our schools are treated fairly, and afforded the same opportunities across the board. And truthfully, that policy should extend outside of the math issue. 

Pam

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The following letter was sent by a very frustrated P-OB parent to the BOE and administration:

To: Martin Brooks; Eileen Hodrinsky; Roberta Silver; Jonathan Mosenson; Debbie Bernstein; Cheryl Dender; Ginger Lieberman; Wendy Richter; Evy Rothman; Cathy Shapp
Subject: I told you so - no more Investigations!

I have to say it - I told you so.  Four years ago I spoke at a board meeting, met with Pat Chris and tried to put a stop to this program.  There was a petition at that time but on a much smaller scale.  I could see what a disaster Investigations would be but no one would listen.

Now the proof is there in the math scores and the hundreds of unhappy parents.

Cut our losses now and do away with this terrible program.  The entire state of CA banned this program years ago due to poor math scores but POB still continues to use it despite the embarrassing scores.

We pay way too much in taxes to have mediocre math scores in this town.  Nothing you can say will convince me that the program should remain.  Return to traditional math, it is proven to work.  The parts of Investigations that work for some kids can be integrated in to traditional math.

Stop thinking about how to make the program better and get rid of it!

Beverly

Now read the SHOCKING response by Roberta Silver, the P-OB Math Chairperson:

Since nothing I can say will convince you, I just want to rebut one statement you made:  Traditional math education does not work.  The vast majority of people in this country, who were educated in the traditional way, do not understand Mathematics, even if they do know their times table (which many of them, educated traditionally, do not!).  Graduate school Mathematics programs are filled with Asians and Russians, and almost no Americans.  The reform movement was developed in an effort to correct that.  Bottom line is we have to do something better than traditional Math in this country, or all careers involving Math will be out-sourced.

Roberta Silver
Plainview - Old Bethpage Math Chairperson

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Subject: RE: Notes from the Feb 26th Board of Ed meeting

If I had a chance to speak, I would have made the following comments:  

1. Dr. Brooks used flawed logic in stating that, since the 3^rd and 4^th grade math scores were OK, and TERC is relied on more heavily in those grades, that the problem does not lie with the curriculum. This observation may simply be due to the fact that 3^rd and 4^th grade math is simpler by nature, and the weaknesses of the TERC curriculum are not made apparent until the higher grades using more complex math.
   
   
2. Dr. Brooks again used flawed reasoning in responding to the first speaker about how he (Brooks) had heard the same complaints about having to hire tutors 4 years ago. This implies that 4 years ago Dr. Brooks assumed that the curriculum was at fault. However, he needs to provide us with the analysis he performed to determine this as justification for changing the curriculum to TERC. Maybe it was other factors, such as the quality of the teachers, and, in fact, the curriculum was fine.
   
   
3. Most important is the point that in Dr. Brooks position 4 years ago, faced with poor math grades, he should have instituted a study of why our district is performing poorly, and other surrounding, similar socio-economic districts are performing exceptionally using more “traditional” math curriculums. Using statistics to remove unequal factors, such as percentage of special-ed children, what is different about the districts? Things like per-capita spending, teacher’s years of experience as math teachers, teachers salaries, textbooks used, etc. are all things that Brooks should have considered before making a radical change in the curriculum.
   
   
4. Final summary point: thousands of school districts around the world for decades have been successfully teaching math curriculums based on more “traditional” programs. Why assume that the curriculum is at fault before evaluating other, more likely alternatives?

 

Feel free to distribute these comments if you think they are valid. I plan on putting them in a letter to Brooks.

Nathan Epler, Ph.D.
Principal Hydrogeologist

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I just want you to know how much I admire you for your leadership and all the obvious effort you're putting into this very important subject. With poise, clarity and clear passion you've presented the issues and kept the community informed. You should be proud of yourself. Hopefully, your efforts will be worth it. 

Mar

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I sat in the meeting until 11:30 p.m./front row, listening to everything.  I did not hear one parent bring up the real issue.  That while TERC may be fine to teach a child math, it is at odds with the state and federal standardized testing approach.  A district like Syosset or Jericho succeed not because their kids are smarter, but because they realize that the only way to get their kids into Duke or some other good school (let's leave Ivy League aside) is to train their kids to pass standardized testing. 

This is at every level of life.  I'm a lawyer and I note that St. John's always had a high passage rate for the bar exam.  That was always curious to me.  Finally someone told me that it isn't that the teachers are better, but they teach you to become a lawyer (i.e. pass the bar) not just to think like a lawyer. 

If there were no accountability, TERC may do fine to train my daughter to figure out the tip for a bill or to generally get through life.  Cold Spring Harbor is extremely proud of their almost 100% that go onto 4 year colleges.  Dr. Brooks is failing our students not because he likes TERC, but that he doesn't understand the disconnect between TERC and the state standardized testing rules.  We should be saying to Dr. Brooks, that if he wants TERC, to start with Albany and Washington to change the way children have to think to answer standardized questions.  Honestly, I would prefer to have my child get a good education in Syosset, CSH or Jericho and be more of a math robot, than to think outside the box, not get into a good college and end up living in a box on 42nd and 8th.

Lori

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I want you to know that I appreciate all that you have done by getting up there last night and speaking to the board.  I know how it is.  I went through this with my son when the program changed on him in third grade.  It was horrible.  The parents were freaking out.  I remember those board meetings and how they actually would make me more angrier when I walked out of there.  I really feel we are stuck in a very bad situation.  I will talk to you further another time.

Susan

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Those stats are almost criminal, that 1 school in the same district has almost a 400% difference in children attaining a level 4 than another.  I would like to find out what is being done differently in each of these schools.  I am also going to do some research about investigations around the country. I would like to also find successful math programs from around the country. I feel some what blessed that Gabriella goes to Parkway and has attained a level 4 in Math, but that is partly because after my first meeting with Gabriella teacher I told him about the problems I had seen in the book and that I would like him to go over all homework questions and implement regular math with Investigations. He agreed to these requests. I also teach Gabriella regular math at home, trying to minimize conflicts. Bureaucracies move to slow for me. If I can help you give me a call.                                          

Jerry

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You did your Homework. I support your efforts wholeheartedly and would like to share some other issues as well. Our districts lagging technology. Poor communications between parents and teachers/administrators. Commack has a system of district email utilized by parents and each employee has a personal voicemail accessible 24/7. We are urged to return calls & emails within 24 hours. The amount of phone tag the parents in this community play is absurd.

Also, the administration dodges parent calls ( at least at POBMS).Commack MS has a 7 hr school day. Plainview/Old Beth is 6:20 minutes and then the 2 days of 1 period remedial. We also have 1 hour mandatory extra help per class.AIS is built into the school day. Our kids in need have to go after school. I can go on and on. This district is WAY behind the times. Much of it is due to a militant union that far exceeds the administration's control.I agree more well attended meetings are needed until we break through the current structure. We also need some board changes. Keep up the good work. 

Mia

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I'm on board! Other than attending mettings, let me know how I can help. I am very passionate about correcting short comings in our education system. I am constantly frustrated with situations that I see arise, yet I have not found the appropriate method of turning that frustration into a positive productive effort to effect change.

Additionally, you have my support and my vote along with my wish that you run for a position on the school board.

Keep up the good work.

Rich

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What time did it end?  I left after the the math professor - he was great!!!  

It's clear to me that in order to get TERC out Dr. Brooks needs to leave. Also - how do we force the board to show their votes?  How many of the 13 are voted on positions?  

Let me know how I can continue to be involved other than to attend a meeting.  I'm good at getting people to action and such.

This is nuts!!!  My daughter practically reads a book a night, literally reads in bed for 2 plus hours and she "hates math" - it's not right, she's too bright and too smart to be frustrated at this young (and really not so young anymore) age.

I'm hopeful we can save our younger kids!!!!

Allan

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I too, am very concerned about the "Investigations Math".  My daughter is in 4th grade and is having problems with this math.  Since I do not fully understand  this math myself, I cannot help her.   I've talked with her teacher(s) and have decided to pay, out of my own pocket,  for a private math tutor for her.  Her teachers (who also are not thrilled with the math curriculum) advised me to get a tutor that can teach both the investigations math as well as the traditional math.  It's a shame with the amount of money we as POB residents pay in taxes, that I now need to pay extra for my daughter to learn Math -- something she should be learning in school.    I know it is early to be thinking about colleges for my daughter. But admission to good colleges are getting harder and more competitive.  I feel having good grades throughout your entire academic years is vital.

 

I'd loved if POB would get rid of this math program.  I have a younger child who will be entering 1st grade next year and would be thrilled if he learned traditional math.

 

Thanks for your email.

 

Liz

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Thanks for all your work.

 

Anthony

 

Regards.

 

Andrew

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Words can not express my dismay and disappointment regarding the recent fifth grade math scores (#46 out of #53).  I have always encouraged my children to return to their home roots for a better education for my grandchildren.  I now find myself recondsidering.

 

I implore you to reconsider your stand.  Not taking the necessary corrective action on behalf of our children and grandchildren seems reckless, at best.  The word is out.  POB is not on par with Jericho and Syosset.  Where did you fail (and it is a failure)?  To think it is not so bad is selling our children short.  THEY DON'T DESERVE THAT.

 

Thank you.

 

Sandra  

Sincerely yours,
Kimberly