Dear Mr. Albero,
After reading several remarks pertaining to the school cancellation tomorrow I thought it best to send you a quick note. I have drafted a letter to John Fredericksen regarding the fact that many of these snow days can be excused if he just asks for them to be. I'm all for our children attending school as much as they possibly can and making the most of their education. However, my son attends Northwestern Elementary in Mardela where more than half of the school has no air conditioning. Not only are half of the classes not air conditioned, but neither are most of the common areas shared by students (gym/cafeteria). The school is unbearable at the end of August when school begins and will start becoming uncomforable in late May when the temps really begin to rise. With that being said, I realize that air conditioning is a luxury - not a necessity. I was raised in a home with no airconditioning (where my parents still reside with no A/C). My point being that I understand that people can survive without the luxury. With all that being said, my question to the WCBOE is if they would like to go to school through June 18th knowing that they had no air conditioning to keep them cool. That won't happen. You can bet that they will be sitting in their nice, comfortable, climate controlled offices while our children try to learn while they stick to their seats with sweat.
I read some similar concerns in the comments section of your website and would just encourage anyone with the concern, to call the WCBOE and voice their opinion or draft a letter. I would love to know if Dr. Fredericksen intends to request that some of these days be excused and intend to ask him. Thanks for your voice on the web.
Sincerely,
Rae Murphy
Dr. Fredericksen at the WCBOE - 410-677-4596
WCBOE
101 Long Ave.
Salisbury, MD
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
20 comments:
I applaud you but Fredericksen does what HE wants to do. He does not listen. HIs mind is probably already made up. He cares about one person and thats him!
I can't believe anyone is talking about air conditioning!!! Go bottle up the weather outside, it's freezing!
Good luck with your request!
Totally agree. I hate seeing my children sweat when they come out of school in June and August while the office personnel is sitting in their air conditioned offices.
We need to demand equal rights for our children to combat the selfishness of the WCBOE.
Dr. Frederickson, please consider and then put in place year round schooling for all of Wicomico County.
I have a solution to keep your kids out of the heat and sweating. Lets extend the school day by an hour. that will take care of a few extra days we missed cause of snow......wait that will make some one mad because the kids are in school to long.
It is all babysitting any how. The work is completed grades are in and all they do is sit.
I think that Dr. Frederickson works for us so lets make it a priority that he hears us.
JOe can you help?
Kids in Wicomico County attend school an extra 30 minutes every day of the school year. If the county chose to follow the part of state law that relates to hours kids attend instead of to 180 days, we are going enough time. Parents are never told that part of it. They need to ask.
The BOE sucks , nothing you can do about it either , suck it up , let em sweat.
10:06 - Oh yeah...that's a GREAT idea... Extend the school day! REALLY???? Have you even considered the fact that we are talking about kids?? ***Attention spans...Students with disabilities......come on now...most students have trouble sitting through the 90 min. Reading and Math blocks now!
Wah, wha, wah. You people are the biggest crybabies ever. For the person that "hates seeing your child come out of school sweating in July and August", on what occasion have you seen this happen? Maybe you WOULD hate it, but so far I've never seen the school year last that long, UNLESS your child has had to attend summer school. If that is the case, perhaps the BOE is not your only issue. Are you people actually holding Dr. Fredrickson responsible for this season's weather? He is doing what he can do to make sure your children get a proper education with budget constraints and current weather problems. If you don't think he listens to what you have to say, perhaps you should have volunteered for the redistricting task force. It is pretty obvious that he cares about what people think and takes it into consideration.
Oh, and as for the spanish dialogue, you'd have a different group of issues on your hand if he did not attempt it. Some of the students may speak English, but their parents do not. I'm guessing those people with complaints about that are putting ALL children first too, eh?
My kid wont be going to make these days up. I can't tell you how many movies they watch in school and that s all they do the end of the year anyway. No need for me ever to rent movies they see enough in schools. What a joke! Until teachers are held accoutable we will continue to have this.
anon 11:22 - Oh that is a great way to show your kids the value of a good education! Oh and by the way, won't and that's should have apostrophes, and the word you wanted was accountable. Maybe you shouldn't have missed so much school!
there were 2 days, that did not need to be canceled the Tuesday before Christmas and last Wednesday. Actions always speak louder then words and what the school board is saying, is they don't plan for the occasional bad weather. The BOE needs to give up days during spring break and professional days. The parents of the children had to make arrangements and sacrifices during bad weather so should the BOE.
Closing school on those two days i mentioned above, was a statement saying "i can close school because i can" Some one will inadvertently mention safety, well its like this, you can not create a world purely safe, you can do the best you can, but that is all you can do. We don't get much snow, but with all the rain we get and on the occasion the weather is freezing and the two mix, we get a whole bunch of snow. in 78 to 79 the bay froze over, a month later we got two to three foot of snow. You teach kids to be prepared for the unforseen, the occasional mishaps, now the board of ed needs to show they too can be prepared.
School does NOT need to be canceled as often as it does.
Anon 12:22 that is what a product of the Wicomico County School system will get you. Yes they do watch movies for the last week or two of school. Teachers are on cell phones talking or texting, kids are movie watching and yet there is no accountability! Yet the teachers keep getting raises and the retirees even get a boost in their retiree benefits! Go figure
Great generalizations I see on this topic. I do actually teach in the county. For the record I don't show any movies - ever. My grades aren't in until the last week because middle school report cards are mailed. I have never used my cell phone during teaching hours unless it was to call a parent of a misbehaving child. I would venture to guess that the people making most of the generalizations in this thread haven't been inside their children's classrooms beyond American Education week. I can count on one had, with fingers left over usually, how many parents visit my room during PTA nights and I teach a major subject. Sad, really sad.
11:22 Get a life. The generalizations you make are not true. There are no movies shown at Northwestern Elementary unless they are curriculum related. Period!
I just wish he would leave messages about school delays and closings in the english language instead of spanish!
Ms. Murphy...
If you were a true parent, you wouldn't care about whether your child is not or cold as long as he/she is getting a good education. Students at Northwestern seem to have one of the best test scores in the county so they don't seem to be effected by the temperatures.
Get a life!
8:06 - Seriously? If I were a true parent? You are clueless. I'm involved in every aspect of my children's lives. My son goes to a great school and has great teachers. My only point was to encourage people to do something about their concerns rather than sit on the blog and write anonymous comments - much like yours.
Rae Murphy
wicomico county schools suck and i am looking forward to a move out of here this spring....
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