Ok being that the other board is no more because of some petty reason I am hearing cuz someone has a huge ego, Let's start back the talks about the merger. Does anyone have the articles from the other board that can be posted here ?
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Karma always comes full circle, becareful who you scorn and never let your ego get in the way.
A Center Moriches School Board member has marked the end of a two-year tuition agreement with East Moriches by alleging that a “political agenda” is responsible for fewer East Moriches high school students attending Center Moriches next year.
Wayne Vitale also believes that some East Moriches administrators “have been instructed to encourage as many students as possible to attend Westhampton Beach” instead of Center Moriches. The result is an effort to influence the tax rate in Center Moriches, he said, in order to discourage a merger.
Mr. Vitale published his comments in a blog on the internet on March 15.
“Given that, after a record 35 freshmen last year, only eight new students will be enrolling at Center Moriches next year, it seems obvious that something is going on,” Mr. Vitale wrote. “After all, the Center Moriches program has never been better. An anticipated 90 percent of the class of 2008 will be graduating with a Regent’s diploma; a community record. So, why the dramatic change, but for some sort of a political agenda?”
The tuition agreement was entered into in an attempt to forge a closer relationship between the two districts by attracting more East Moriches students to Center Moriches. It was supposed to benefit East Moriches financially. Based on a sliding scale, the deal stated that the more students who went to Center Moriches, the less East Moriches must pay per student in tuition.
But the “agenda” of East Moriches officials has been to steer students to Westhampton Beach, one of the district’s three sending schools, rather than Center Moriches, Mr. Vitale said.
Such a move could impact the Center Moriches tax rate by reducing its revenue, Mr. Vitale said.
“I believe they are seeking to increase the tax rate in Center Moriches by reducing the tuition we receive,” Mr. Vitale wrote. The deal was not renewed for next school year.
The decision came about two months after a merger study between both districts was concluded in January.
Both districts are presenting final budgets for next year in April.
East Moriches School Superintendent Dr. Charles T. Russo said the cancellation of the deal will not have a major financial impact on the district.
The president of the Center Moriches School Board, Joseph W. McHeffey, said the deal was not renewed because, with the downturn in the economy, the district now needs the revenue sacrificed under the deal.
Mergers between districts are typically done in order to pool resources to improve program offerings to students and to control the school tax rate for residents.
Last week, East Moriches School Board President Dr. Stephen A. Curtis said that the cancelation of the tuition agreement could harm the relationship between the two neighboring districts.
Mr. Vitale said the comments in the blog were reactions to what he has heard from sources working within the Center Moriches School District since the merger study was completed in January. The School Board member also claimed the trend could be viewed as evidence of East Moriches trying to influence the tax rate in Center Moriches.
He said that he has no first-hand knowledge or evidence that East Moriches officials are intentionally steering kids away from Center Moriches.
Around the same time the merger study was completed, it was revealed that East Moriches had entered into discussions with Westhampton Beach about a possible merger.
Of the district’s high school students this year, 276 attend Westhampton Beach, 65 attend Center Moriches, and 36 attend Eastport South Manor.
“I don’t know whether they’re doing it to increase the tax rate or not,” Mr. Vitale said. “My personal opinion is that there is an agenda that is encouraging people to not go to Center Moriches.
“I think the agenda is to undermine a merger between East Moriches and Center Moriches,” he added.
Center Moriches School Board Vice President Wendy Turkington said that Mr. Vitale’s views do not represent the views of other members of the board.
“I don’t like to conjecture about other people’s motives when I don’t have firsthand knowledge,” Ms. Turkington said. “I don’t know what their motive is for having students come here or not come here.”
However, she said of Mr. Vitale’s blog, “If Mr. Vitale says he heard that” officials are steering students away from Center Moriches, “I know him to be truthful.”
Mr. McHeffey, after saying that he had not read Mr. Vitale’s blog, said that he “has no knowledge of a political agenda” in East Moriches.
When asked if Mr. Vitale was going out on a limb, Mr. McHeffey said, “He’s an American. He’s entitled to free speech.”
Fewer students coming to Center Moriches could affect the tax rate, the School Board president said. He declined to say if an increase beyond the inflation rate was anticipated, because state aid numbers have yet to be released.
“It certainly could be affected,” he said. “The less revenue we have, the more it impacts our tax rate.”
After an East Moriches School Board meeting on Wednesday, Dr. Russo denied Mr. Vitale’s accusations.
“Absolutely, unequivocally false,” Dr. Russo said. “It’s repulsive to think that anyone would say that.
“The only strategy is to get out accurate information,” Dr. Russo continued about the ongoing issue of a merger between the districts. “It’s unfortunate that there are some people that seek to drive a further wedge between the communities.”
Merger talks are expected resume after 2008-2009 budgets are finalized in April.
In a blog, Wayne Vitale, a Center Moriches School Board member, accused East Moriches officials of steering kids away from Center Moriches in an attempt to negatively influence the tax rate in Center Moriches and sink merger prospects between the two districts. East Moriches Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Russo, second from right, denied those claims. BRYAN FINLAYSON
Nearly a year ago, discussions began between the Center Moriches and East Moriches school boards regarding the possibility of conducting a school district consolidation study. At the time, Center Moriches was on the heels of a dramatic tax increase, while the East Moriches district found itself facing deficits and its own looming financial crisis. While the idea of a merger between the two districts is not new, given the situation, it seemed a logical time to revisit the issue. After all, the State of New York provides substantial financial incentives to school districts that merge. In light of the financial realities facing both districts, it seemed prudent to at least explore the possibility. Since that time, both boards have authorized a merger study, and thanks to assistance from State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle and Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., we have been awarded a New York shared services grant to fund the study. Requests for proposals have been sent out, and the two boards are now in the process of selecting the consultant who will perform the study. Hopefully, with continued goodwill and mutual cooperation between the boards, the consultant will shortly be appointed and the study completed by the target date of September 2007. As this process has continued, questions have arisen in both communities regarding the reasons and implications of a merger study and, in the event it is passed by a referendum in both communities, the actual consolidation of the two districts. The residents of each community have their own unique set of concerns. In East Moriches, the primary concerns seem to center on two issues: a perceived loss of autonomy and the loss of “high school choice.” In Center Moriches, we find ourselves being asked why we would pursue a merger with a district dealing with significant financial difficulties. There are also long-standing cultural issues that must be overcome, many of which relate to misconceptions about the quality of education at Center Moriches High School. We often hear ourselves compared unfavorably with other districts, often based upon old, preconceived notions and the unfair or inaccurate use of statistics. While we try not to take these comments seriously, they nevertheless give members of the Center Moriches community reason for pause. Over the past five years, the Center Moriches School District has seen dramatic improvements in its instructional outcomes. In New York, the ultimate measure of the overall success of any school district’s program is the rate at which students graduate with New York State Regents diplomas. In Center Moriches, we have seen our Regents diploma graduation rate rise from 45 percent in 2001 to 86 percent in 2006. Over the past several years we have seen similar improvements in other independent measures of academic success. Our English Language Arts scores have increased 14 percent and English Regents passing rates have increased by 13 percent. Fully 90 percent of Center Moriches graduates now go on to higher education upon graduation. This is a far cry from the results we were experiencing just five years ago. While we are pleased with the results to date, we are not sitting idly by. The Center Moriches Board of Education is firmly committed to the continued improvement of student achievement at all levels. We have now embarked on a major program to improve results at Clayton Huey Elementary School. Make no mistake about it: the Center Moriches School District is on the move. We will not be satisfied until we are ranked among the best school districts on Long Island. Given the fact that we have made such progress, that our financial situation is much improved and that there seems to be serious reservations in some segments of the community, we are increasingly being asked why we are pursuing this process at all. Wouldn’t it be better to simply continue to build on our successes and remain as we are? The short answer is that we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of the programs we offer our students while simultaneously controlling costs. The substantial financial incentives provided by a merger could potentially allow a combined Center Moriches-East Moriches School District to provide one of the best instructional programs on Long Island, while simultaneously reducing the tax burden in both communities. The Center Moriches Board of Education feels it would be irresponsible not to at least explore the possibility before coming to any premature conclusions. Amidst the skepticism that seems to be arising from some quarters, we believe the community should understand a few issues. First, it has become apparent that there are certain groups of people who would very much like to derail this process. The groups range from those in favor of retaining the choice of schools, to those who believe a merger would result in a loss of control, identity or a drop in the level of education at East Moriches. It must be understood that, should it be created, a new “Moriches Bay School District” would be an entirely new entity, separate and distinct from the two current districts. If the process works as advertised, which it clearly has for our neighbors at Eastport South Manor, a new board would find itself in the enviable position of having the resources to make the new district the “crown jewel” of eastern Long Island. This new district would also provide tax relief and stability to its residents for the foreseeable future. The time to get this study underway is now. Only a completed consolidation study, conducted by an experienced, independent consultant, can give us the answers to our questions. A new, combined school district could have tremendous benefits to the taxpayers of both communities and to our children. The possibilities are limitless. Once and for all, the time to get this study done is now. We owe it to our communities. We owe it to our children. We owe it to our future.
Mr. Vitale, an insurance broker and owner of the Vitale Agency in Center Moriches, is a member of the Center Moriches Board of Education.
Westhampton Beach and East Moriches are open to consolidation study By Jessica DiNapoli Dec 22, 08 2:58 PM
Westhampton Beach School District officials confirmed this week that they are open to exploring the idea of consolidating with the East Moriches School District, five days after officials in that district announced that they would support the creation of a central high school district to help curb spending.
Westhampton Beach and East Moriches school officials have arranged a meeting with State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, tentatively scheduled for next month, in order to “gauge with Senator LaValle if this is something that could feasibly happen,” East Moriches Superintendent Charles Russo stated last week. As of Monday, Westhampton Beach Schools Superintendent Lynn Schwartz said he did not have a solid date for the meeting to discuss the proposed consolidation.
If East Moriches and Westhampton Beach did consolidate, and a central high school district was created, all East Moriches students would then have to attend Westhampton Beach High School, Mr. Schwartz explained. At the present time, East Moriches students also have the option of attending either Center Moriches or Eastport South Manor high schools.
Unlike a merger, where both districts would be governed by a single school board, a consolidated district would lead to the creation of a new board of education that would be solely charged with overseeing Westhampton Beach High School, according to Mr. Schwartz. Separate school boards in East Moriches and Westhampton Beach would still govern the K-8 schools in their respective districts.
Last week, East Moriches school officials stated that the feasibility study would explore the idea of creating a central high school district, a move intended to reduce East Moriches’s high school tuition expenses. The district paid more than $7.1 million this year to cover the tuition fees of its 350 students attending high school in Westhampton Beach, Eastport South Manor and Center Moriches.
However, it will not be clear until the completion of the feasibility study, which is expected to take about 18 months, whether Westhampton Beach would benefit from such a combination of services.
The potential impact on school property taxes, in both East Moriches and Westhampton Beach, would also be the focus of the feasibility study, Mr. Schwartz explained. Because East Moriches is located within Brookhaven Town, the hamlet has a different tax structure than those hamlets in Southampton Town. The East Moriches school tax rate is calculated on a $100 per assessed valuation basis, while Westhampton Beach school taxes are calculated on a $1,000 per assessed valuation schedule.
“The tax rate is part of the complexity of this study,” Mr. Schwartz said. “We need experts in the field to conduct a study to see what the financial benefit is for Westhampton Beach.
“One of the results of the financial study would be to determine the tax rate,” he continued.
In the Westhampton Beach School District, school taxes are $4.78 per $1,000 of assessed value for the 2008-09 school year; in East Moriches, school taxes are $213.26 per $100 of assessed valuation for the current school year. How these tax rates would change—and whether or not the tax rates would be uniform in both districts—would be examined as part of the study, Mr. Schwartz explained.
Westhampton Beach School Board Vice President Jim Hulme said this week that he thinks that his district and East Moriches are essentially consolidated already as “most of the high school students from East Moriches come here.”
For the 2008-09 school year, 267 students from East Moriches—about 75 percent of all high school-age students in that district—attend Westhampton Beach High School, according to Mr. Schwartz.
At the present time, the Westhampton Beach School District charges $18,100 a year in tuition for each student who attends its schools from one of its sending districts, which includes East Moriches. Other sending districts include Remsenburg/Speonk, Quogue, East Quogue and Tuckahoe.
The Quogue and Remsenburg/Speonk school districts have also expressed an interest in participating in a consolidation study. East Quogue and Tuckahoe have stated that they are not interested in participating.
The proposed consolidation of the East Moriches and Westhampton Beach school districts is not a brand new concept, as officials in both districts have been discussing the idea on and off for the past several years. However, the talks escalated again after the East Moriches School Board rejected holding a straw vote on a possible merger with the Center Moriches School District earlier this year.
“Now that East Moriches has made a decision about Center Moriches, we’re going to take a look at this in a collaborative way,” Mr. Schwartz said.
Mr. Hulme noted that the beginning of the feasibility study is “not too far down the road.”
Staff writer Bryan Finlayson contributed to this story.
1)You have borrowed $2,000,000 to cover your school district’s overspending; 2)You are now spending $53,000 a year in interest to borrow that money, for the next ten years; 3)The new building your BOE said would receive over 55/60/65/70% state aid (you pick one), instead receives less than 45%, with the rest paid for by you; 4)The leadership of the BOE last year told you that you should have been paying even more in taxes than you were, and actually posted this message to you on the school website; 5)You paid over $7,500 each for over thirty 42” flat-panel televisions in the elementary school; 6)You have stared at empty and useless portable classroom buildings left to neglect at the middle school; 7)The district has identified no less than seven leaks in the roof of the middle school. 8)You have been told to be patient, wait for the merger study, not make hasty decisions, and to listen to facts, not fiction.
Since 2005, blame for the problems in East Moriches have been placed on:
1)The New York State Education Department 2)The NYS Comptroller’s Office 3)Dr. John Roche 4)Ms. Allyn Leeds 5)The Town of Brookhaven Assessor’s Office 6)The Center Moriches UFSD 7)The Governor of New York 8)The NYS Senate and Assembly
Since last year:
1)You were told you would get the right to vote on high school choice, then some on the BOE tried to take that vote away, then when you got it you were told to vote “no” if you meant yes and vice versa. The results, they say, were unequivocal; 2)You were told to wait for the merger study, then when the details of the merger study came out, you were told to not believe it, after every single member of the BOE voted to hire the firm who conducted the study; 3)You were told that negotiations with Westhampton Beach were taking place to reduce tuition at least for Special Education, and the results of those efforts of the BOE leadership went nowhere; 4)You were told that maybe we could merge with Westhampton Beach, so as not to rush into a merger vote with Center Moriches; 5)You are now told that a new taxing authority, the Westhampton Beach Central High School District, requiring special legislation and the approval of voters in WHB to give up their high school, is a real possibility and not to rush to judgment; 6)It has been shown that the merger study is indeed flawed, since it predicted a tax levy increase for East Moriches in 2008-09 of 4.5%, when we have proposed a tax levy that is 75% HIGHER than that at 7.92%, while Center Moriches has proposed a 2008-09 tax levy that is 3.88%, or 30% LOWER than the projected tax levy increase of 4.7% found in the merger study.
Now we know. The vision put forth is to wait until 2012, when high school enrollment is lower, and relief will then be in site. If we would only wait, then everything will be better.
It is time for a change. You and your children are not better off than they were in 2005, or 2002, or 1999. It is time to give your children and their teachers a better program with tools and technology that keeps them current with their less-taxed peers. It is time to say to the taxpayer there is a better way to use fewer of your dollars, for the better of everyone in our community.
It is time for a change. Voting on this budget leaves you no options. To vote no leaves the great possibility of a contingent budget higher than the one you rejected. To vote yes leaves your tax rate 8% higher. You have no choice like the choices the BOE majority asks you to maintain.
It is time for a change. There is another way. A process of inclusion for all parties, without prejudice, bias or disrespect. Reject the politics of fear, and embrace the potential of a new reality, one that benefits every person in East Moriches. changeEMoriches schools Shirley, NY Reply » |Report Abuse |Judge it! |#2 May 17, 2008 Are you or your K-8 child better off now than you were three years ago? Six years ago? Nine years ago?
Since 2005, the East Moriches school district tax rate has increased over 36%. Since 2002, the East Moriches school district tax rate has increased over 52%. Since 1999, the East Moriches school district tax rate has increased over 68%.
The tax rate is East Moriches exceeds 15 of the 19 school districts in the Town of Brookhaven.
In 2005, your child:
1)Could have played an instrument in a band in 4th grade; 2)Could have played on a 7th grade sports team; 3)Could have enjoyed a full K-4 library program integrated with their classroom curriculum; 4)Could have had a security person supervise their entry and exit from school, and protected their buildings at night; 5)Could have chosen French or Spanish as a foreign language; 6)Had the benefit of a full-time elementary school Principal; 7)Had the benefit of an after-school late bus from elementary school, middle school and high school; 8)Had the opportunity to take worthwhile field trips in every grade level, to places like Computer Associates, Bethpage Restoration Village, Museum of Natural History, Bronx Zoo and Medieval Times; 9)Had the benefit of learning from a textbook that in most cases was three years younger than it is now; 10) Used computers that were three years younger than they are now; 11) Had access to more teachers offering more courses than they do now. changeEMoriches schools Shirley, NY Reply » |Report Abuse |Judge it! |#3 May 17, 2008 Since 2005, you and your child have not:
1)Had access to homework and assignments on-line; 2)Had wireless networking technology, upgraded software and hardware, or Smartboard® integration into their curriculum; 3)Had an introduction to foreign language in years K-5; 4)Had physical education instruction on a weekly basis at the kindergarten grade-level; 5)Had a strings program for any grade level.
Since 2005:
1)You have borrowed $2,000,000 to cover your school district’s overspending; 2)You are now spending $53,000 a year in interest to borrow that money, for the next ten years; 3)The new building your BOE said would receive over 55/60/65/70% state aid (you pick one), instead receives less than 45%, with the rest paid for by you; 4)The leadership of the BOE last year told you that you should have been paying even more in taxes than you were, and actually posted this message to you on the school website; 5)You paid over $7,500 each for over thirty 42” flat-panel televisions in the elementary school; 6)You have stared at empty and useless portable classroom buildings left to neglect at the middle school; 7)The district has identified no less than seven leaks in the roof of the middle school. 8)You have been told to be patient, wait for the merger study, not make hasty decisions, and to listen to facts, not fiction.
Since 2005, blame for the problems in East Moriches have been placed on:
1)The New York State Education Department 2)The NYS Comptroller’s Office 3)Dr. John Roche 4)Ms. Allyn Leeds 5)The Town of Brookhaven Assessor’s Office 6)The Center Moriches UFSD 7)The Governor of New York 8)The NYS Senate and Assembly changeEMoriches schools Shirley, NY Reply » |Report Abuse |Judge it! |#4 May 17, 2008 Since last year:
1)You were told you would get the right to vote on high school choice, then some on the BOE tried to take that vote away, then when you got it you were told to vote “no” if you meant yes and vice versa. The results, they say, were unequivocal; 2)You were told to wait for the merger study, then when the details of the merger study came out, you were told to not believe it, after every single member of the BOE voted to hire the firm who conducted the study; 3)You were told that negotiations with Westhampton Beach were taking place to reduce tuition at least for Special Education, and the results of those efforts of the BOE leadership went nowhere; 4)You were told that maybe we could merge with Westhampton Beach, so as not to rush into a merger vote with Center Moriches; 5)You are now told that a new taxing authority, the Westhampton Beach Central High School District, requiring special legislation and the approval of voters in WHB to give up their high school, is a real possibility and not to rush to judgment; 6)It has been shown that the merger study is indeed flawed, since it predicted a tax levy increase for East Moriches in 2008-09 of 4.5%, when we have proposed a tax levy that is 75% HIGHER than that at 7.92%, while Center Moriches has proposed a 2008-09 tax levy that is 3.88%, or 30% LOWER than the projected tax levy increase of 4.7% found in the merger study.
Now we know. The vision put forth is to wait until 2012, when high school enrollment is lower, and relief will then be in site. If we would only wait, then everything will be better.
It is time for a change. You and your children are not better off than they were in 2005, or 2002, or 1999. It is time to give your children and their teachers a better program with tools and technology that keeps them current with their less-taxed peers. It is time to say to the taxpayer there is a better way to use fewer of your dollars, for the better of everyone in our community.
It is time for a change. Voting on this budget leaves you no options. To vote no leaves the great possibility of a contingent budget higher than the one you rejected. To vote yes leaves your tax rate 8% higher. You have no choice like the choices the BOE majority asks you to maintain.
It is time for a change. There is another way. A process of inclusion for all parties, without prejudice, bias or disrespect. Reject the politics of fear, and embrace the potential of a new reality, one that benefits every person in East Moriches. confused in EMO Shirley, NY Reply » |Report Abuse |Judge it! |#5 May 17, 2008 Mr. Grunseich states that he is interested in the possibility of creating a "centralized high school with Westhampton Beach".(which would never be approved by the voters of WHB as it would raise their taxes) while his signs state Grunseich for "choice." Which one is it going to be Gary? You can't BS the voters any longer. It is either one way or the other. Stop with the double talk...you are starting to sound like a seasoned politician. Your integrity is at stake. Pick one side of the issue and go with it. CHOICE LIVES AOL Reply » |Report Abuse |Judge it! |#6 Nov 22, 2008 Vote on merger rejected by EM BOE 11/19/08
EM officials cite issues with study
Side notes:
The new BOE member elected last spring supported HS choice
The EM voters won vote to to keep HS choice AGAIN. Tired Center Moriches, NY Reply » |Report Abuse |Judge it! |#7 Nov 25, 2008 I am tired of the double talk and waiting game. The first persons posts were right on the money. There needs to be a vision for the future and not these dreams. Mr. Grunseich just last month talked about laptops for our 8th graders. What alternate universe is he living on?
Showing posts 1 - 7 of 7 Type in your comments to post to the forum
Since 2005, blame for the problems in East Moriches have been placed on:
1)The New York State Education Department 2)The NYS Comptroller’s Office 3)Dr. John Roche 4)Ms. Allyn Leeds 5)The Town of Brookhaven Assessor’s Office 6)The Center Moriches UFSD 7)The Governor of New York 8)The NYS Senate and Assembly
I blamed most of it on the earlier board that did not properly account for the new school and left with a huge tax increase.
The newer boards have gotten a lot better (despite the merger issues). i do not blame any of the above for the most part.
Well, well, well. I guess I'm not surprised that the news that CM is now on the "bad boy" list is not being discussed. Looks like ther merger opponents were right!
Well well well I have a feeling there will be a lot of discussion....I will say upfront that I am angry that our highly paid and professional staff and administrators let this happen, and they will have to answer for it. This will make it more difficult for the board to get a budget passed this year.......and rightfully so. I want answers. To say that this proves that the people who killed the merger were right is simplistic.
No one ever said "Well, well, well" the three different times WHB students were arrested for drug use this past year alone, including two from East Moriches. The East Moriches residents who would do or die for WHB are pathetic. They are so insecure in themselves and their ability to partner in a real school district with CM, including having their own high school program, that they will take any attempt available to slam CM while WHB festers in its own crap right under their noses.
There are issues in every district. I find it very hard to believe that for a district like CM, that has received special recognition from NYS the past three years for their program is suddenly so inept.
