Statement of "No Confidence" in Avon Public School Leadership
56 Comments
R
Ryan Pereslugoff
10 years ago
The school board does not seem to understand the difference between "change" and "progress" and seem to think that quote-on-quote "modernization" and doing the en vogue thing somehow makes a better school. I'm glad to see that the buck had to stop somewhere before people would get angry enough to do something and I hope this petition shows these changes in policies are no better than window dressing and have done nothing to improve the quality of life for students, the caliber of education and recognition as such. By "fixing" what isn't broken our rankings, metrics and quality control of every kind have suffered in the past few years and I don't see anyway this decline can be reversed without a drastic change in leadership.
J
Jay Lasser
10 years ago
As a practicing psychiatrist, I strongly agree that the decision to limit mental health services to one provider type is ill-advised.
C
Carol Doeg
10 years ago
We can do better than we are doing now. Get with it Avon!
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
About time! Hey Gary no one to blame this time it's all you!
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
The school system has drastically declined in recent years with the horrific leadership of Mr. Mala. I over to this town for the fantastic schools only to be thoroughly disappointed! He needs to be out of Avon!!
C
Christie Hausman
10 years ago
Our children graduated from Avon High School in the years 2000, 2001 and 2005--years when Avon was at the top of the state's school standings. It is shameful how far Avon's standings have fallen.
C
Carmine Masi
10 years ago
Lack of physical activity and physical education for Pine Grove students detrimental to overall education.
L
Lauren Sabadosa
10 years ago
I have experience with school psychologists in other districts and am not confident that this is the best direction for Avon to go.
T
Timothy Prete
10 years ago
Action needs to be taken immediately or this will take years to rectify. We chose Avon years ago for the school system, not sure we would make that same decision today.
T
Trisha Masi
10 years ago
No Chinese...more art, music and gym more quality time with teachers at such a young age PLEASE!!
F
Fernando Vasconcellos
10 years ago
Although there are already almost 200 signatures, as soon as I've heard about this petition, I decided to sign it. When all families with children in Avon public schools become aware of this petition, I believe there will be many more signatures. I have no confidence in Mr. Mala as a school board manager since long before that absurd decision about social workers. I'm glad to know that Avon parents are trying to do something to restore our trust in our children's schools!
L
Liem Nguyen
10 years ago
Besides this issue, I would like to raise my concern about the class selection for students. AHS rejected the test-out before assigning class to students though we asked long before the Spring semester ends. As red tape, they just put students in their rigid curriculum without any flexibility. For example, my daughter has completed the Geometry H successfully with Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. We asked them to test her if she can exempt from taking it next year, but they refused to. Avon Middle allowed students to be assigned to their appropriate level, but Avon High refuses. It is really ridiculous for High School is closer to College, so they are supposed to be more flexible as college does.
E
Elena Thornton
10 years ago
I have friends that use the social workers at AHS. This is a big loss for them. One of my closest friends is no longer attending AHS due to this.
T
Trish murphy
10 years ago
Featured
I am very disappointed with the rankings and negative press that our schools have gotten! As a real estate agent, I can tell you that I am hearing it from my buyers. They are choosing other towns over Avon.
N
Ni Lin
10 years ago
We want to take this opportunity to voice our concerns on Avon high school ranking decline. AHS performed very well at math and reading proficiency tests, by data from USNews, what dragged Avon high down in ranking is AP offerings. Wish school district could address this issue, stop ranking slide and move AHS back to where it was, or better than where it was.
J
Juliana H. Mando
10 years ago
This was an ill-conceived, rushed, decision implemented under the cover of darkness.
D
Doris Paluso-Davanzo
10 years ago
Social workers like Laura Knee at Avon High School are vital to the success of many students. Ms. Roell's generalization that only "45 students received counseling from school social workers last year" shows a short-sited and ineptness that can only be that of someone detached from not only the 21st century classroom but really, our national educational system. Investigate your schools - look at the inclusive classrooms that are the modern face of education -- count the student to teacher ratio and consider the radical skill range of the students under the charge of our teachers - then say social workers are expendable. The fact that social workers support our community's children by fostering healthy emotional development should be of critical importance to everyone.
T
Tracy Beland
10 years ago
Agreed
..mental health is a huge issue, social workers are key to help identify and fill in gaps of services.
C
Christina Davies
10 years ago
Featured
As an Avon taxpayer with MSW degree (though not working in the field) I believe our school board's actions to be unsound, harmful, and financially wasteful. The board has not come forth with any plausible rationale for this move, and should account to students, parents, and taxpayers for this retrograde decision.
K
Kathleen Hicks
10 years ago
Featured
The social workers were an amazing part of the Avon schools. My youngest will be a Junior at AHS and he does not use services anymore. I was so fortunate to have the support system and feel badly for the families in town who will not have the superior school system we were able to experience.
The school board does not seem to understand the difference between "change" and "progress" and seem to think that quote-on-quote "modernization" and doing the en vogue thing somehow makes a better school. I'm glad to see that the buck had to stop somewhere before people would get angry enough to do something and I hope this petition shows these changes in policies are no better than window dressing and have done nothing to improve the quality of life for students, the caliber of education and recognition as such. By "fixing" what isn't broken our rankings, metrics and quality control of every kind have suffered in the past few years and I don't see anyway this decline can be reversed without a drastic change in leadership.
As a practicing psychiatrist, I strongly agree that the decision to limit mental health services to one provider type is ill-advised.
We can do better than we are doing now. Get with it Avon!
About time! Hey Gary no one to blame this time it's all you!
The school system has drastically declined in recent years with the horrific leadership of Mr. Mala. I over to this town for the fantastic schools only to be thoroughly disappointed! He needs to be out of Avon!!
Our children graduated from Avon High School in the years 2000, 2001 and 2005--years when Avon was at the top of the state's school standings. It is shameful how far Avon's standings have fallen.
Lack of physical activity and physical education for Pine Grove students detrimental to overall education.
I have experience with school psychologists in other districts and am not confident that this is the best direction for Avon to go.
Action needs to be taken immediately or this will take years to rectify. We chose Avon years ago for the school system, not sure we would make that same decision today.
No Chinese...more art, music and gym more quality time with teachers at such a young age PLEASE!!
Although there are already almost 200 signatures, as soon as I've heard about this petition, I decided to sign it. When all families with children in Avon public schools become aware of this petition, I believe there will be many more signatures. I have no confidence in Mr. Mala as a school board manager since long before that absurd decision about social workers. I'm glad to know that Avon parents are trying to do something to restore our trust in our children's schools!
Besides this issue, I would like to raise my concern about the class selection for students. AHS rejected the test-out before assigning class to students though we asked long before the Spring semester ends. As red tape, they just put students in their rigid curriculum without any flexibility. For example, my daughter has completed the Geometry H successfully with Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. We asked them to test her if she can exempt from taking it next year, but they refused to. Avon Middle allowed students to be assigned to their appropriate level, but Avon High refuses. It is really ridiculous for High School is closer to College, so they are supposed to be more flexible as college does.
I have friends that use the social workers at AHS. This is a big loss for them. One of my closest friends is no longer attending AHS due to this.
I am very disappointed with the rankings and negative press that our schools have gotten! As a real estate agent, I can tell you that I am hearing it from my buyers. They are choosing other towns over Avon.
We want to take this opportunity to voice our concerns on Avon high school ranking decline. AHS performed very well at math and reading proficiency tests, by data from USNews, what dragged Avon high down in ranking is AP offerings. Wish school district could address this issue, stop ranking slide and move AHS back to where it was, or better than where it was.
This was an ill-conceived, rushed, decision implemented under the cover of darkness.
Social workers like Laura Knee at Avon High School are vital to the success of many students. Ms. Roell's generalization that only "45 students received counseling from school social workers last year" shows a short-sited and ineptness that can only be that of someone detached from not only the 21st century classroom but really, our national educational system. Investigate your schools - look at the inclusive classrooms that are the modern face of education -- count the student to teacher ratio and consider the radical skill range of the students under the charge of our teachers - then say social workers are expendable. The fact that social workers support our community's children by fostering healthy emotional development should be of critical importance to everyone.
Agreed ..mental health is a huge issue, social workers are key to help identify and fill in gaps of services.
As an Avon taxpayer with MSW degree (though not working in the field) I believe our school board's actions to be unsound, harmful, and financially wasteful. The board has not come forth with any plausible rationale for this move, and should account to students, parents, and taxpayers for this retrograde decision.
The social workers were an amazing part of the Avon schools. My youngest will be a Junior at AHS and he does not use services anymore. I was so fortunate to have the support system and feel badly for the families in town who will not have the superior school system we were able to experience.