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Messages - Hack72

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31
Hackensack Discussion / Re: 2009 School Board Election
« on: April 19, 2009, 09:45:54 PM »
long- parham voted for hiiring 2 politically connnected lawyers to fill 1 job

Who were the lawyers?  In what way were they politically connected?
I'm not "doubting this", I'd simply like to know all the facts.  Please share.

32
Hackensack Discussion / Re: 2009 School Board Election
« on: April 19, 2009, 12:47:10 PM »
I remember when the school board went unopposed for years at a time.  The same people served and no one stepped up to run against them.  I think it's great that there is more interest in the future of our schools now than in the past.

Yet, it concerns me that such a small number of people turn out to vote in a city of 45,000.  It also concerns me that so many people insist our schools are failing with little or no evidence of that.

What I'd like to see is a Board that will seek solutions to the "prepare for the test" mentality that has overtaken schools nation-wide.  There has to be a better way to prove to the taxpayers that teachers are doing their jobs then to test, test, test.

It seems that most people have forgotten what assessment is designed to do.  It is designed to confirm that learning has taken place and identify things that need to be retaught and addressed in a new way.  It should be a tool in improving teaching practices to ensure that students are meeting learning objectives.  It has, instead, become an ends in and of itself.  Teach this because it's on the test, find a way to prove you've learned it even if you haven't, and if enough kids pass the test, breathe a sigh of relief. 

Hackensack is not alone in it's panicked reaction to standardized testing.  I just wonder how many people realize that test preparation is eating away at our school's budget.  Books and software have been purchased system-wide to prepare for the tests.  Teachers are paid extra stipends to come in before school and stay after school to prepare kids for tests.  Extra courses have been added for the sole purpose of preparing kids for tests.

Before taxpayers balk at teachers' salaries or benefits packages, I hope this is addressed. 

BTW - I'm voting for McKenna and Parham-Long - and voting "yes" on the budget!

33
Hackensack Discussion / Re: 2009 Hackensack City Election
« on: April 06, 2009, 02:40:34 PM »
Is that the April edition?  I didn't get that one this time.  I'll have to get a hold of one.  Thanks.

34
Saturday, April 25th at 7pm-10pm
at the YMCA in Hackensack

$50 for 1 sheet of regular
prize tickets and
Fresh fruit * Tossed Salad * Relish
Tray * Pasta * Filet Mignon * French
Fries * Soda * Beer * Ice Cream Dessert
* Coffee & Tea (bring your own wine)
(adults only)

Funds are still needed to finish the playground! 
If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth a visit at 105 Grand Avenue
Download the attached file to print an order form.
Questions? email: fairmountplayground@hackensackschools.org

35
Hackensack Discussion / Re: 2009 Hackensack City Election
« on: March 31, 2009, 01:06:15 PM »
I have liked some of the changes in the city over the past 4 years.  Honestly, most of the biggies were done by the Upper Main Alliance, but the administration was supportive.  There have been some positive changes to the sanitation system, especially an increase in recycling.  There have been alot of ratables brought into town.

BUT - I question some of the recent choices that seem as if the city is being sold to Hackensack University Medical Center piece by piece.  First it was the strip on Essex Street between Prospect and Summit, but that ended up being what seems like an improvement, even if the process wasn't very graceful.

Then the hospital started gobbling up property near 2nd street and down to 1st street.  Again, maybe they were "blighted" properties, maybe not. 

There was, of course, the infamous EMT decision, where the hospital was given a contract to provide EMT service.  I am not so concerned that the new EMTs are not qualified, since I would like to believe that those who were hired by the hospital are as dedicated to the health and safety of their patients as anyone, but I was concerned about the way it was handled, and the motivation behind it seems, well, suspect.  The city insisted on going through with this to save each taxpayer, what, about $20 a year?  Despite the fact that most taxpayers were quite vocal about not wanting it.

Now I'm hearing rumors (just rumors, I don't know for sure) that the city has been given some sum of money by the hospital and HUMC is now going to be buying the Sears building and property to build more hospital buildings.  There is also a rumor about building an EMT training center at Foschini Park. 

Can someone let me know if these rumors are true?  If they are, they are worrisome, and if they're not, I'd like to set the record straight.

36
Events & Calendar / Board of Education Candidates Night - Hackensack
« on: March 30, 2009, 01:37:50 PM »
Hackensack Board of Education
Candidate Night

Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00pm

Fairmount School

105 Grand Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601
9 candidates are running to fill 3 seats

Sponsored by the PTAs of Nellie K. Parker and Fairmount School

37
Hackensack Discussion / Hackensack Board of Eduction Candidates Night
« on: March 27, 2009, 11:32:03 PM »
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30pm
in the Fairmount School Auditorium
There are 9 candidates and only 3 seats.


Will they stand for our children’s interest?
Do they know the issues? 
Will they represent Hackensack’s education system with all stakeholders in mind?
Do they know what  our teacher’s and district’s needs?
If you are interested in understanding the
issues and determining where each candidate stands before you vote?

Do you have a question or issue you’d like to present to the candidates?

Join us on
Tuesday, April 7th
as we moderate a forum for the
public and the candidates for……...
Hackensack’s
Board of Education

Sponsored by
Fairmount & Nellie K. Parker PTA’s
For More Information:
NKP PTA(Denise:201.647.2207/dm5692@aol.com) or Fairmount PTA
(Stephanie:201.681.9657/stouff@verizon.net)

38
I'm afraid that is untrue.  The science behind the trend towards global warming as a result of increased CO2 in the atmosphere is virtually undisputed, despite the same outdated study that Rush Limbaugh quotes time after time. 

There is very little financial gain to be made by saving energy, and billions to continually be made by using fossil fuels in excess.  It is baffling to me that solar panels were being installed on homes all over California in the 70s.  Since then, technology has changed to an almost unrecognizable state, yet, solar sources are still under-studied and under-produced.  You can't sell sunlight, so no one is interested in it.  You can't sell wind, so no one is interested in windpower.  Oil?  Petroleum?  Now there are some money-makers.

Regardless of whether you accept that the warming trend is spiking (we're talking centuries here, not year by year), there is no denying that fossil fuels are a finite resource, so either way, conservation of energy, along with improving sources of renewable energy, is the sensible way to go.

39
People all around the world will turn off their lights for 1 hour on 
Saturday, March 28th from 8:30-9:30pm
The organizers hope to have 1 Billion people participate. 
 
Participation in this event will be conveyed to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.  It is hoped that the leaders will see that the citizens of earth support the protection of our planet. Please read this link for more information and to download posters and other materials:  http://www.earthhour.org/about/
 
The Fairmount Environmental Action Team (F.E.A.T.) wants to invite all residents of Hackensack to join us in this far-reaching cause. 
 

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