snowed

A wonderful man. He also helped his wife taking students around the farm. He is a great example of a hard working, honest person. So sorry to hear this. My prayers go to Chris and the family.

For all of you "nay sayers:" The program is not exclusive. You want it? Move into the city, and take advantage of the opportunity. SCSD - like any other district- is what you make of it. There's PLENTY of disfunction in the suburban districts, just as there are in the urban districts. This program is not dysfunctional. As for only 3% of Henniger grads going to college--You're dead wrong.

basilisk14- You support your views, but I disagree. We all pay federal taxes. Here's where I'd like to see that money go- to the basics, and education is at the top of the list. Why take the $ from education? You say that it's too "bloated." In a moderate sized school district there's a superintendent, an assistant super- who usually doubles as a Director of Special Ed. or Student Services, a building principal, maybe an assistant principal who probably doubles as a coordinator of curriculum/grant writer, and then classroom teachers- who teach in classrooms of 22-30 students. If the federal government is going to hand down "race to the top" initiatives, they need to support it. Nobody in education is getting rich, especially the people implementing the programs. As far was welfare goes- lets keep sending hungry kids to school. The schools are already feeding them breakfast and lunch. It's a matter of time before we start feeding them dinner. As a tax payer, I'd like a big chunk to go toward education. So raise my taxes for education, just don't raise them for government bail outs.

Wow! What district is this? I've been teaching 21 years, and I don't make nearly that $$$. Sign me up!

Teachers don't think they are immune to the cuts. Jobs ARE being cut. A teacher's raise, not matter what, is miniscule. The cuts were taken before- before everyone started hooting about their own cuts. Now they want it to happen again. Fine- lets make it fair. EVERY public servant should take the hit.

There's also the issue of the influx of students who do not speak English as their first language. It's not unusual for any of the schools on this list to have quite a few students register at mid year who are in this situation. I'm curious to see the state's plan re: rewarding teachers who raise the scores of the students. It's likely there is no plan- they (the state) has no $ when it comes to this.

This article is disheartening. I'm not sure where a teacher can make $60K a year and work 10 years. I've been teaching for 21 yrs, 19 public and I don't make that. I have my Master's Degree and post graduate courses. I love my job. I love it because of what I do, not because of what I don't do. I don't go to Disney, I'm unable to some things for my kids many kids have. My kids go without and I think they're better for it. To complain NYS taxes are high because of teacher's salaries, is a cop out. They are highER due to education, they are highER due to the cost of public services, they are highER due to government costs. So yeah- the taxes are high. MOVE if you don't like it. No one "blinked" when the salaries of a new city/county administration were published. Many don't work a full day. They don't. I know that to be true. Some do, but not all. This article was negative, it was spiteful, and it's frustrating as a teacher to read an article that implies teachers aren't worth it. What else isn't worth it, according to the Syracuse papers? What's next? How about priests? Firemen? Policemen? What's worth something in this community?