The BOE is planning on eliminating the Wood/Metal Shop at the Middle School
For those of you who are not aware of this issue, here is a letter that I addressed to the BOE. The letter was also sent to the Mayor.
Dear Members of the Washington Township School Board,
I wanted to share some information I learned from a friend of mine in the Washington Township School district.
Just as some background, we have lived in Long Valley for 16 years and have 2 children in the school system and our current property taxes are over $10,000 this year. I attended the recent township committee meeting when the proposed budget was presented..
The information that I learned was that the BOE has slated to eliminate the woodworking/shop teacher position in the LVMS. Therefore of course, eliminating the course/program. That class is one of the most popular classes in LVMS. Many of the children who put it as their first choice do not even get in. One year my son was put into a "community service" class instead of it. Why we have that class escapes me. Anyway, not to get off track three years ago the present teacher was hired. He was able to revamp the shop, get everything in good working condition for the students and from what I understand started at one of the lower salaries when hired. According to the information I received there is an abundance of really good wood in the shop and the only expense to keeping the class open is the cost of the salary of the teacher. The High School offers no such course anymore. The kids really like the shop teacher, I have never met him.
If the shop class is eliminated the students will have absolutely no opportunity to acquire these very important lifelong skills. An extremely disturbing fact is that most won't even be exposed to it.
If those facts are correct it makes absolutely no sense to cut that teacher position and extremely important and educational class. Cut out the community service class. Not one student that I know of actually elected to take that class. They get it by default.
If you find this information is not correct I would be interested in learning which aspects of it are in error.
The majority of the tax payers in this community support the wood shop course at the LVMS.
If you require a petition with a certain number of residents stating that they support continuation of this program/course please let me know with a date you would need it by and I will most certainly get one to you.
I would like to thank all of you for the hard work you put in at this very demanding volunteer position.
Looking forward to your response,
Sheri Andrus
1 Christopher Drive
Long Valley, NJ
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If you do not want this program eliminated you MUST speak out so that they are aware that there is more than just one or two people opposed to shutting this down.
The total cost of keeping the program including teacher salary, maintenance contract for equipment and supplies is ~ $85-$90,000. Teacher salary including all benefits is would be ~$80,000. It is not that there is no money in the budget it is that they have chosen to eliminate the most popular program in the LVMS. Just ask you child what they think about it and you will learn just how much this means to all the student, it is popular to both boys and girls.
Sheri Andrus 
Sherry - The teacher who teaches the community service class is a tenured teacher with senority. They are not going to lay her off.
LV Resident"One year my son was put into a "community service" class instead of it. Why we have that class escapes me."
I just bet it does....
I am not familiar with that specific class, but I would imagine it has something to do with the world of non-profits/volunteer work and might be targeted to teach children to care about someone other than themselves and what classes they deserve/want....
Sounds like it's needful, after all....
3fatponies 3 Fat Ponies-isnt that your job and mine? not a teacher making over 100K a year who used to be the 8th grade english teacher until last year and then they "found" a new job for her and hired another 8th grade teacher!!! I dont need ANYONE telling my child if she doesnt bring in toilet paper for the homeless shelter she will not pass her class. And believe me ask any kid who has had the "required" clas that is what she tells them. I am sure she doesnt mean it, but thats what she tells them. Go back to teaching basics.
I think you are all talking about Mrs. Dickinsen. She's not a teacher, she's an indoctrinator for the cause of liberalism. My daughter Corrie had her in 8th grade. Mrs. Dickensen made the class write a paper about the difficulties of immigrants in America. Mrs. Dickensen didn't like the way my daughter wrote the paper so Dickensen slammed a book down on my daughter's desk and screamed at her. Mrs. Dickensen only wanted to hear the negative, anti-American aspects of immigrant life. My daughter wrote about all of the positive opportunities and success stories that she learned about from my wife--who by the way was born in Cuba and migrated here with her family and did very well. I pulled my daughter right out of her class the very next day. When it came time for my son to have her, I pulled him out too.The guidance counselor put him in wood-shop.
Mrs. Dickensen's class was then called Language Arts Literacy and it now called Service and Community.
Tom Lotito Tom, Agree 100%. My daughter has come home with too many stories about this teacher during her 2 yrs there. She has begged me to get her out of there. After reading your statement I will do that next year.
LV Resident,
I can't defend the class, as I know nothing about it. But I CAN defend the concept of non-profit and community service as a valuable area worthy of exploration in education. As someone with experience in that area, I can tell you that reputable non-profits accomplish less with more and if they wish to thrive, they learn the value of thinking outside of the box and looking to the community and business world for strategic partnerships, rather than relying on the system supported by tax payers.
In other words, they make it happen, rather than waiting for someone else to do it for them. When employers top complaints about new grad hires are things like "can't problem solve," these ARE valuable life skills for our children. Wood shop full up? Well then, figure out to make it happen from another angle instead of just protesting the decision.
With that in mind, here are two possible solutions for your problem (I am sure there are more, but these were two quick ones and may give you some inspiration outside of the usual "friends and family help" answer):
1. Reach out to local media and inform them that you are looking to create a parents' group which provides additional educational opportunities and you'd like to find adults who would be willing to help those children learn valuable life skills. Make it clear that parents will be accompanying children and screen the people who respond. I'd bet there are some good people out there with impressive workshops who'd be willing to help if approached and handled correctly.
2. Approach Lowe's and Home Depot about the classes they hold. Not for anyone under 18? Ask if the under 18s can simply come along and watch if their parent attends--they can still learn all kinds of valuable skills by observing, especially if you make the effort to continue the education at home with your own tools. No go? Then ask for the contact info for whomever sets their educational policy and reach out to them, pointing out the benefits they may receive in addition to warm fuzzies, such as increased flow of customers and excellent PR.
Again, these are just two quick ideas and they may not work, but they may be worth trying. While collecting toilet paper for grades may not be something I am willing to comment on, I would urge you to consider that your attitudes toward the concept in general may shortchange both you and your kids by causing you to miss some great opportunities, that's all.
I CAN talk about the class, because my child and the prior posters children on this board are living it!! I volunteer countless hours and teach my children to do the same, hoping that when they are adults they will become promising members of our society. However, in this day and age of budget cuts and my taxes going up an up and up, I do not need a "teacher" spending 50 mins a day for 8 weeks telling my child what charity to donate supplies to. I can comment on exactly what is being taught because my child just got out of that class. They watch movies, and constantly get what I think is harrassed by this teacher.
If you had a child who came home, like Mr. Lotito's child and told you they HAD to bring in stuff or get an "F" I am sure you would be upset too. There are some families in this town whose parents are on unemployment and their houses are being foreclosed. Do you really think it is proper for a "teacher" and I use that term losely with her, is right in sending home lists of stuff that MUST be brought in. Thats right MUST. It is not like she tells the kids IF your parents can afford it, it is told that it is a requirement of the class.
Here are the facts she makes over 100K(state records prove it) she used to be the 8th grade english teacher, dont know why she left, they hired a new one, and created a new job!!!!! That does not show budget cutting, that increase the budget.
I am not saying we need wood shop or metal shop. But the school just purchased over 30K worth of machinery last year ( our money) and now got rid of the class. Smart idea. Here's a clue, kids always need help in math and english. Do you see how some highschoolers write??? I do. Every parent I talk to says "the school says that my kid needs extra help," and the teachers dont have time to give it. Then make math class longer, or have a special that gives the extra help.
I dont need a woman, or as the previous poster put it an "indoctrinator" talking about Michael Jackson, gay rights and everything else she talks about. As I said, I can comment on it because my child comes home and sometimes is mortified at what comes out of this woman's mouth. I for one will stand my ground next year, and pull her out.
Another side note. She makes roughly 100K, prior records from 2008 showed her at approximately 96K. Have to add in that 4% for 2 years. She works 180 days a year. That means she makes approx. $555 A DAY!!!!!!!! With that let her buy her own paper towels for the shelter in morristown. No wonder she doesnt retire, where else can she make $555 a day for not even 8 hours of work, contributing nothing to heatlhcare.
She has 42 years of service...she should retire. It sounds like the problem is the teacher, not the 'concept' of the class.
Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful organization, perhaps Wood Shop can have a community service spin on it as well:) I think it should be saved!
Advocate She also makes money by running a travel service for high school kids. She recruits the kids in the 8th grade to go on a trip to London and then in subsequent years they go to other locations. The trips are not cheap and are actually pretty expensive. It bothers me that she has access to kids through the school for this "business" of hers.
With what the TC announced tonight, a lot more will be cut than a wood/metal shop.
Try all sports. All music & art. All gifted & talents. All anything extra. Just basic education and that's all. All becuase a couple of guys that couldn't hack it on the BOE had to wield some power. The kids of this town will suffer.
Kiss your house values goodbye.
My husband and I left Long Valley six years ago. We left for a number of reasons, but the property taxes were top of the list. We didn't get our moneys worth then, and clearly you don't get your moneys worth now. Long Valley has become a school district only. The town offers little or nothing for the empty nester, the elderly, or people without children. Trust me, once your children graduate from this mediocre school system, you will run not walk to get the H--- out of there.
Smith
Former Long Valley resident
Quote Gina,"With what the TC announced tonight, a lot more will be cut than a wood/metal shop.
Try all sports. All music & art. All gifted & talents. All anything extra. Just basic education and that's all. All becuase a couple of guys that couldn't hack it on the BOE had to wield some power. The kids of this town will suffer.
Kiss your house values goodbye."
Do you really believe that? Stop believing the BOE lies, If any of those programs are cut, your beef is with the BOE. Their are more retirements coming, if the BOE follows the TC recommendations our schools will be out a few administrative positions, and the kids will be fine.
Absolutely agree with Tom. If the BOE follows the recommendations of the township committee by eliminating administation positions, having teachers take a one year salary freeze and pay 1.5% toward health benefit they can keep all the programs that are in the school system this year and not effect the children.
This is what the majority of town residents want and since the BOE member are elected officials this is what should be implemented.
A. West Morris Central School District ranks very highly year after year.
B. Mrs. Dickinson probably makes 2 or 3 times more than her salary from her "trips" for students (for which she does recruit in 8th grade) considering the fact that a trip to London for a week costs around $4000 with her (probably $1000 profit off each kid * 40 kids * 3 trips a year).
C. I took both the English Lit and the Woodworking class back in LVMS quite a few years back and I must say I probably learned a whole lot more from woodworking than from that joke of an "English" class where we were fed anti-US propaganda every day.
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