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Publications and News

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Publications and News for the 2011-2012 School Year

District Publications

December 2011 District Newsletter
2011-2012 School District Calendar

The above newsletters and other documents posted on this page open in "PDF" format and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print. You can get a free copy from the Adobe website.

News: Monticello Central School District

2011-2012 School Year

February 2012

Black History Month resources posted on the Culture & Diversity web section (2/2/12)

January 2012

Monticello CSD Launches "Parent Today" e-Newsletter and Website (1/26/12)
New menu items on the horizon for school lunches (1/23/12)
New Math, Science, Technology Director Appointed (1/11/12)

December 2011

SCBOCES Community Connection (Winter 2011)
Cooke students perform winter concert (12/22/11) 
Fifth graders visited by Judge Burton Ledina (12/22/11) 
Cooke students honored for being responsible (12/22/11) 
Student Council conducts food drive (12/22/11) 
Former teacher and coach honored with a BOE award (12/16/11)
Renewed Commitment to Culture & Diversity Initiative (12/14/11)
The Community Builds a Playground for Preschoolers (12/14/11)
Chase students recognized for being great communicators (12/14/11)
Boys Basketball team finishes second at Hawley Rotary Tournament (12/14/11)
Two beloved support staff members say goodbye (12/5/11)
Students learn about Native American artifacts (12/5/11)
Cooke students honored for showing respect (12/5/11)
Cooke-Rutherford PTO hosts Craft Night (12/5/11)
Fourth graders give thanks, create Native American shelters (12/2/11)
Cooke Elementary fifth graders celebrate Thanksgiving (12/2/11)
Fifth graders create Joseph Cornell Memory Box (12/2/11)
RJK musicians to perform winter concert (12/1/11)
High School musicians to perform winter concerts (12/1/11)
MHS Guitar Ensemble to perform at Government Center (12/1/11)
MHS Jazz Band to perform at Government Center (12/1/11)
Fifth grade choral students join Chorus Prism Concert  (12/1/11)

November 2011

Chase students observe Fire Safety Month (11/30/11)
Legislator Meet-and-Greet with Superintendent of Schools (11/28/11)
Students Connecting to - and Helping - the Local Community (11/28/11)
New PPS leader, David Pulley, takes the reins (11/23/11)
Chase IB program used as example for upstate district (11/22/11)
Coaches for 2011-12 winter sports season (11/18/2011)
Monticello students selected to perform in Area All-State Music Festival (11/14/11)
Halloween tradition continues with Halloween Parade (11/10/11)
News from the Monticello High School Key Club (11/10/11)
ESL families take trip to Crawford Public Library (11/8/11)
Nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System to be held (11/3/11)
Culture and Diversity Initiative Honored with Prestigious Award (11/3/11)
SCBOCES beauty salon open to the public (11/1/11)

October 2011

Fire prevention at Cooke Elementary School (10/27/11)
Spotlight on Dr. Eileen Flicker, SCBOCES Technology Specialist assigned to Monticello (October 2011 - NYSCATE)
School attendance officer helps fight breast cancer (10/22/11 - THR)
Mid-Hudson School Study Council (MHSSC) Awards Ceremony 2011 (10/20/11)
Eugene D. Nesin Memorial Scholarship Recital (10/20/11 - NMS Press Release)
Breast Cancer Fundraisers Help Support Research for a Cure (10/17/11)
MHS Academy of Finance students featured in a Times Herald-Record story (10/13/11 - THR)
Superintendent of Schools and Business Administrator Sworn-in (10/11/11)
Sullivan deputies to replace school officer: Service will be provided for free  (10/4/11) - Times Herald Record)

September 2011

Interest-free payment deadline for school taxes extended through October 21 (9/29/11)
Dental services available to students (9/26/11)
Monticello educator honored with prestigious award for excellence (9/26/11)
Monticello applies to extend interest-free payment deadline for school taxes (9/23/11)
KLR to participate in Lee National Denim Day (9/23/11)
New High School Leader Appointed (9/23/11)
Chase students receive donations of school supplies (9/22/11)
Monticello pulls cop from high school in salary dispute (9/20/11 - Times Herald-Record)
MHS remembers 9/11 attacks 10 years later (9/20/11)
Help Hurricane Irene victims: Donate non-perishable food to local pantries throughout September (9/20/11)
Kindergarten parents: View Exiting Outcomes for students (9/20/11)
School and political leaders talk candidly about this year’s budget challenges (9/20/11)
NY State Enacts New Concussion Law (9/19/11)
The Past and Present Come Together as Superintendents Meet (9/19/11)
MHS students, staff to participate in Lee National Denim Day October 6 (9/19/11)
Kindergarten Kick-off welcomes new students to school (9/14/11)
Sell Entertainment Books and win a pizza party (9/12/11)
Monticello School District Staff Gather for the Opening Day of the New School Year (9/9/11)
Monticello schools chief takes reins: He's gone from 'drumstick to drumstick' (9/2/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Grade 5 Morning Music Program begins the week of September 26 (9/2/11)

August 2011

Panther Camp helps familiarize incoming 9th graders with their new school (8/29/11)
Camp Panther event welcomes incoming 6th graders to middle school (8/25/11)
Summer school graduates take first step to realizing their dreams (8/22/11)
Monticello Central School District Launches a Facebook Page (8/22/11)
Monticello Schools Assistant Superintendent for Learning Kenneth Newman Earns his Doctorate (8/22/11)
Monticello Central School District Tax Warrant Approved by Board of Education (8/22/11)
Monticello Schools Help Local Library Celebrate its 75th Anniversary (8/15/11)
New School Business Administrator Appointed (8/12/11)
NY State Assessment Scores Released: Monticello Schools poised for the challenges ahead  (8/11/11)
School lunch prices to increase by 25 cents (8/8/11)
January 2012 Regents Reinstated (8/4/11)

July 2011

Monticello Schools Receives Multiple National Communications Awards (7/22/11)
SLE group receives Renaissance award for gardens (7/12/11)

June 2011

BOE appoints new Superintendent of Schools Daniel A. Teplesky
Annual Art Show Overflowing with Talent and Creativity
Organic garden joint effort of MHS & RJK Eco Clubs
ESL students celebrate at annual picnic
After 14 years, School Business Leader Gladys Baxter says Goodbye
Monticello students win library essay contest
Two members retire from the Board of Education
Honoring Eugene D. Nesin: Dedication Ceremony Touches the Heart of the School Community

FYI: Ongoing Information

"Google Translate" feature available on this website
Celebrating Culture and Diversity in the Monticello Central School District
Wind turbine will save the district money and energy
Monticello School District Attacks the Achievement Gap

In the News: Race to the Top (RTTT), Teacher and Principal Evaluations

Cuomo ready for new 'battle' (2/1/12 - Times Union)
A new head of the class  (1/22/12 - Times Union)

Cuomo set to impose teacher evaluation system if unions balk (1/17/12 - NY Post)

The Value of Teachers (1/11/12 - NY Times)
State dealt blow by federal impasse (11/22/11 - Buffalo News)
Regents adopt emergency rules on teacher evaluations (9/14/11 - Poughkeepsie Journal)
Future of state’s data system in jeopardy after contract rejection (8/29/11 - Gotham Schools)
Schools unclear on teacher evaluations (8/26/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Court Says Teacher Rankings Should Be Public (8/25/11 - NY Times)
NYSED Plans Appeal of Court Ruling (8/24/11 - NYSED Press Release) PDF
For State Teachers’ Union, a Victory on Evaluations (8/24/11 - NY Times)
Court Decision Invalidating Key Provision of Regents' APPR (8/24/11 - Capital Region BOCES Press Release) PDF
NYSUT v. Board of Regents Court Decision (8/24/11 - NY State Supreme Court) PDF
NYSUT claims victory in court ruling (8/24/11 - Times Union)

In the News: Information and Articles About Education

Record Online Education Blog: Latest News and Budget Information GO

Slate of Education Blog: Covering School Issues in the Hudson Valley GO

Tools for School Reform - Engage NY GO

A 'cheat sheet' to take with you to meetings (2/1/12 - Times Herald-Record)
Mandate relief for the long haul (1/25/12 - Times Union)
State school aid formula spins web of complexity (1/25/12 - Times Herald-Record)
Average is Over (1/24/12 - NY Times)

New York Campaign for Achievement Now www.nycan.org
Another Player Enters New York's Advocacy Arena (1/12/12 - NY Times)

Public documents must go online before meetings: New law called a breakthrough for citizens (01/13/12 - THR)

State schools chief outlines changes: Panel discusses reforms at Sullivan event  MORE (12/14/11- THR)CLICK HERE to view the PowerPoint presentation used by Commissioner King. (PDF)

Stopping the bully: Schools ramping up education for staff (1/21/12 - Press Connects)
State pulls school funding (1/4/12 - Times Union)
Cuomo To Take On School Accountability in SOS (1//2/12 - NY Post)

Regents propose state aid formula change for schools: benefits poor

School funding reform would be a lasting gift (12/14/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Regents targets school-aid increase to high-needs districts (12/14/11 - Gannett)

Regents proposal for changing the state aid formula (PDF)
Poor would benefit from aid change (12/13/11 - Times Union)
Regents committee urges aid boost to high-need schools (12/13/11 - Times Herald-Record)

Schools should learn from BOCES (12/13/11 - Newsday)
Mom sues Monticello district over son's volleyball wrist injury (12/3/11 - Times Herald-Record)
State must fund schools fairly (12/3/2011 - Post Star)
More Flexible Rules on Use of Race in School Assignments; Admissions (12/2/2011 - Education Week)
It's time for New York to stop tiptoeing around special education mandates (11/30/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Teachers, the other 1%: While we lavishly pay our CEO’s, our educators barely get by (11/30/11 - Daily News)
New York State's Testing Director Resigns (11/30/11 - NY Times)
Four-Hour Exams For Third-Graders? (11/29/11 - Daily News)
More Capital Region pupils touched by poverty (11/29/11 - Times Union)
As school budget battles begin, let's fight for solutions (11/23/11 - Times Herald-Record)
State's education chief faces tough tasks (11/23/11 - Times Herald-Record)
School Districts May Not File Bankruptcy (Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP) (PDF)
State dealt blow by federal impasse (11/22/11 - Buffalo News)
How About Better Parents? (11/19/11 - NY Times)
Schools officials: State list of those needing improvement is 'insulting' (11/19/11 - Journal News)
Two Sullivan districts seek merger input: Manor, Roscoe outline options (11/17/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Tax-free land squeezes governments: Nearly 20% of Sullivan County exempt (11/17/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Kingston school board picks Albany-area superintendent to lead district  (11/17/11 - Daily Freeman)
'Average Is Officially Over'  (11/16/11 - U.S. News)
Averaging the stats on funding produces a misleading picture (11/16/11 - Times Herald-Record)
More NY schools come up short (11/11/11 - Times Herald-Record)

Unprecedented Number of Schools Added to "In Need of Improvement" List PRESS RELEASE and DISTRICT LIST (PDF) (11/10/11 - NY State Education Department)

Cuomo starts $75M competitive grant program for school districts  (11/3/11 - Times Herald-Record)

NYSED's Graduation Rate Reporting Changes - graduation rates will now be based on the federal cohort definition, which is intended to standardize the way graduation rate is reported by the states. MORE (PDF)

Tests missing mark gauging new policies (11/2/11 - Times Herald-Record)

Why Johnny Won't Go to School (10/13/11 - U.S. News and World Report)
The symptoms aren't often alarming: headache, stomachache, fatigue. But they tend to come on weekdays, specifically when your child should be heading off to school. Psychologists call it school avoidance, and it can take different forms in many age groups.

Education commissioner King sets course for New York schools (Vimeo video)
NY State Education Department Commissioner John King's presentation at the NY State Council of School Superintendents' (NYSCOSS) Fall Conference on Superintendent Leadership and the Regents Reform Agenda. 

Senate Panel Approves Bill That Rewrites Education Law (10/22/11 - NY Times)
States Ready Tests for Kindergarten (10/21/11 - Wall Street Journal)
Hispanic agency targets high school dropouts (10/13/11 - Poughkeepsie Journal)

"Education Speaks" initiative launched by Capital Region BOCES (9/28/11)

Why we sued the Regents: Ruling a Win for Education (9/27/11 - NYSUT)
Law provides a better option to handle cyber bullies (9/27/11 - Gannett)
What if the Secret to Success Is Failure? (9/14/11 - NY Times)
Regents act to head off test cheats (9/14/11 - Times Union)
New York weighs test restrictions on teachers to prevent cheating (9/9/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Back to School Message for Students and Parents from NYS Education Commissioner John King (9/2/11 - NYSED)
Back to School Message for Educators from NYS Education Commissioner John King (9/2/11 - NYSED)
School Reform: the Common Core, data-driven instruction, educator practice, and network teams (9/2/11 - NYSED)
Economic and technological realities require students to be taught differently (9/4/11 - Times Union)
While private sector CEOs are raking in millions, school superintendents have to defend their earnings (9/7/11)
NYS Education Department changes spring break week for CNY schools (8/29/11 - Syracuse News)
NY enacts tax cap: Leaders frustrated with lack of real mandate relief (8/25/11 – CapReg BOCES Article) PDF
Change in meaning of word 'proficiency' complicates results (8/24/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Eager for Spotlight, but Not if It Is on a Testing Scandal (8/22/11 - NY Times)
Middletown schools a model for battling education gap: Technology, data (8/21/11 - Times Herald-Record)
City of Poughkeepsie teachers adjust curricula to state standards (8/20/11 - Poughkeepsie Journal)
Review of Census Data Reveals Information Tied to Schools (8/19/11 - NY Times)
What Americans said about the public schools (Phi Delta Kappa / Gallup Poll 8/17/11) - PDF
Governor Signs Law to Expand List of Crimes that Disqualify Persons from Becoming School Bus Drivers (8/16/11)
EDITORIAL: Teachers ought to be graded, too (PostStar 8/6/11)
Ten common myths about teaching (eSchoolNews 8/5/11)
Congressman Maurice Hinchey's Statement on Debt Ceiling Deal (Catskill Chronicle 8/1/11)
Pols, pundits should keep facts straight in education debates (THR 7/20/11)
New APPR Evaluation System for Teachers and Principals: Districts scramble to comply with system that will rank educators on a scale of 1 to 100 (Syracuse)
It's time to get serious about mandate relief (THR)

Tax Levy Limit / Cap

Unshackle Upstate advances agenda (1/24/12 - Press Connects)

www.unshakleupstate.org

Understanding NY's Property Tax Levy Cap as it relates to public schools

CLICK HERE (PDF) for the Capital Region/Questar III BOCES publication that details the new tax levy cap law and explains its effect on the 2012-2013 school budget process.

CLICK HERE (PDF) for the Tax Levy Limit Formula.

New York State's Property Tax Cap - A Citizens Guide - Empire Center

The New 3 Rs: Reducing, Restructuring and Redesigning - NYSSBA (PDF)

Office of the State Comptroller Local Government and School Accountability - NYS website

Understanding the Tax Levy Cap - SCBOCES (PDF)

New York’s property tax cap math not as simple as 2 percent (1/22/12 - Auburn Pub)

Tax Levy Limit "Cap" Fact Sheets

The following materials are provided by Questar III and Capital Region BOCES.

Flyer 1 - The Three Tax Levy Numbers You Need to Know (PDF)

Flyer 2 - Tax Levy Limit Formula - A Detailed Explanation

Budget News: NY State, Regional and Local  

Governor Cuomo's 2012-13 Proposed Executive Budget Unveiled

January 17, 2012 - Governor Cuomo unveiled his proposed 2012-2013 Executive Budget MORE

CLICK HERE for the NY State 2012-13 Executive Budget Publications and Legislation.

CLICK HERE for the Education and Arts section of the 2012-13 Executive Budget Briefing Book. (PDF)

Visit EDUCATION SPEAKS for news coverage and organization responses to Cuomo's proposed budget.

Cuomo Pushes Teacher Evaluations (1/18/12 - Wall Street Journal)
Gov: Boost school aid by 4 percent: Revised teacher evaluations a must (1/18/12 - Times Herald-Record)
Cuomo and Legislative Leaders Agree on Tax Deal (12/6/11 - NY Times)
Leaders lied to schools  (12/3/11 - Leader Herald)

Tax cap opponents shift tactics (11/14/11 - Times Union)
NY State Governor Launches New "Citizen Connects" Website (11/10/11)

School Funding Fairness in NY State: An evaluation of the Foundation Aid program (11/10/11 - Rutgers University)

More Inexcusable Inequalities: New York State in the Post-Funding Equity Era (11/8/11 - School Finance 101)

A call for an “equitable, predictable and fair” state aid formula for public schools (10/24/11 - Education Speaks)

Communities Rebel Against Cuomo’s Cap on Local Taxes (10/24/11 - NY Times)

NY State Comptroller’s Tax Cap Website: www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/realprop/index.htm

School-tax pain: Blame the system, not districts (9/28/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Levy slams some taxpayers: What's up with your school tax bill? (9/26/11 - Times Herald-Record)
Misunderstandings abound about property tax cap, planner tells school (9/22/11 - The Chronicle)
Website designed to guide localities through tax cap (9/8/11 - Daily News)
Will local municipal unions agree to state CSEA cost savings? (8/22/11 - Times Union)
Steep pension cost increase will sock school districts in 2012 (Gannett News 8/17/11)
NY State passes 2% Property Tax Cap (Governor's website)
Property tax cap passage signals new era for upstate (Times Union)

Other News

Other recent news articles about education

Education Data Community - is a central place to find education data and resources including high-value data sets, data visualization tools, resources for the classroom, and more. The data has been gathered from various agencies to provide detailed information on the state of education at all levels. www.data.gov/education

Schools can do more with less - up to a point (1/18/12 - Times Herald-Record)
Duncan: It's Time to Create Race to Top for Districts (1/18/12 - Education Week)
Grades 3-8 Revised 2012 Testing Calendar Released by NYSED (NYSED)
Longer math, English exams ahead for NY students (12/20/11 - Times Herald-Record)

Governor Cuomo delivers State of the State address  (1/4/12) PRESS RELEASE  STATE of the STATE

NY State Mandate Relief Redesign Team Report READ (December 2011 - PDF)

While we lavishly pay our CEOs, our educators barely get by (11/30/11 - Daily News)
It's time for New York to stop tiptoeing around special education mandates (11/30/11 - Times Herald-Record)
New York State's Testing Director Resigns (11/30/11 - NY Times)
Four-Hour Exams For Third-Graders? (11/29/11 - Daily News)
'Average Is Officially Over'  (11/16/11 - U.S. News)
Redefining Public Relations in the Age of Social Media (11/20/11 - NY Times)

New website launched to help job seekers November 2, 2011 - Governor Cuomo announced the launch of a new website designed to help New Yorkers who are seeking employment. JOBS EXPRESS The site sorts thousands of jobs by region and industry. MORE

Bill to save teaching jobs fails in Senate (10/21/11 - Post Star)
Despite Protests, Cuomo Says He Will Not Extend a Tax Surcharge on Top Earners (10/18/11 - NY Times)

NY State Enacts New Concussion Law - September 19, 2011 - Governor Cuomo signed a bill that will require students who may have suffered a concussion in a school sport or gym class to be sidelined for at least 24 hours and cleared by a physician to return. Education and training for coaches and teachers about the symptoms and treatment of mild traumatic brain injuries is also required. MORE

Routine Goal-Line Play Leads to a Sudden Death and Unsettling Questions (10/16/11 - NY Times)

Education Dept.'s Reform Plan for Teacher Training Gets Mixed Reviews The U.S. Secretary of Education laid out measures to change how teachers' colleges are evaluated and supported, but the plan has some sticking points for the colleges and teachers' unions. (10/2/11- The Chronicle of Higher Education)

Governor Cuomo Announces Household Appliance Grant Program for Storm Recovery (9/14/11 - NY State)
For more information and press releases from the governor's office, visit www.governor.ny.gov.
Free Trips with Commercial Purposes: Pearson sends education commissioners on free trips (9/19/11 - NY Times)
Tax debt deals ready as New York state seeks revenues (9/17/11 - Times Union)
SPECIAL REPORT: Great Recession has left great doubt in many lives: Stifled economy creating a sense of hopelessness (9/18/11 - Times Herald-Record)

Colorado cantaloupe still being investigated (9/14/11 - MSNBC)
 Cantaloupe warning issued after Listeria outbreak (9/13/11 - MSNBC)

Lessons In Business From Dr. Love (10/3/11 - Fast Company)
The many lives of Susan Lyne  (10/3/11 - CNN)

News and Publications Archive

Click here for Past Publications (2007-2011)

Click here for Archived News (2008-2011)