The Hoboken Tax Reform Coalition
DAWN: DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
(I sent this letter to Mayor Dawn Zimmer earlier today in response to her attack, attached below, on the Real Results candidates for School Board.---- Maureen Sullivan, School Board Member)
Dawn:
I was shocked by your email to Kids First supporters yesterday in which you say that Real Results, the school board team I am endorsing, has a "starve the schools philosophy." It's apparent that you don't understand a thing that is going on in the Hoboken public schools or in the state of N.J. The financial situation in this state is critical and demands real leadership and not warmed-over propaganda.
It's also apparent that your talk of cutting the city's budget down to size is just rhetoric. This town is still reeling from a 47% increase in taxes last year. It's irresponsible of you to claim that candidates who want to bring tax relief to our beleaguered residents are trying to starve the schools. Are you trying to starve the police and fire departments? Do you have any idea how much harder you make if for us board members who have to go into negotiations with the teachers union in a few months? No doubt the union will play your "starve the schools" card at the bargaining table.
Last year, the Hoboken public schools spent $24,500 per student, the second-highest of the state's hundreds of K-12 districts and nearly double the state average. This year we are on track for a similar expenditure. The Real Results team of Liz Markevitch, Perry Lin, Kathleen Tucker and John Forsman backs me, a former Kids First member, in saying that cutting out decades of fat is hardly starving the schools. That slate put out a very detailed list of potential budget cuts that you can read on RealResults2010.com. Not one of those millions of dollars worth of cuts affects the classroom, so your claim of "starve the schools" is completely baseless.
As someone who very publicly supported your campaign for mayor last year-and took a lot of heat for it--I was disappointed that you didn't make any attempt to reach out to me before jumping in with your semi-endorsement of Kids First's launch last month. But it's now clear that you are not only endorsing the failed policies of Kids First, but using a bludgeon to attack Real Results with lies.
After years and years of mayors picking school board slates and superintendents, I thought you would be a different kind of mayor, one who didn't use her City Hall office to muck around in the schools. I was very, very wrong.
Sincerely,
Maureen Sullivan
Dear Friends,
The School Board election is upon us and
"Starve the Schools" philosophy and as always,
every vote will make a difference.
I'll be hitting the streets talking to voters,
I'll be hitting the streets talking to voters,
and I hope you'll be out there with me.
Dawn
Views: 6
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by rosethorn on -
This Dawn attack has all the earmarks of Michael Lenz. It's not like her to go after people who've supported her. Does Dawn really think that Liz Markevitch, whose daughter is going to Hoboken High next year, wants to "starve the schools?" I doubt it. Notice how the attack in the second paragraph is in a different typeface. Did Lenz insert that after Dawn had signed off? From what I hear Dawn has taken Lenz to the woodshed at least three times in the past year for stupid and embarrassing things he's done. Will this lead to No. 4?
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Permalink Reply by Overtaxed on
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Dawn should be ashamed of herself, and she should not get involved as she has enough problems of her own that needs solving. First of all, she is not sending her own children to the failing Hoboken schools; therefore, why would she support the enormous unjustified budget which feeds a bloated and incompetent administration and not its students? Second of all, she did not cut our taxes as she promised, but now she hinders the process of electing BoE members whose intent is to cut the taxes!
I voted for Dawn, but I am done supporting her. She is now supporting the same machinery she ran against last year!
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Permalink Reply by ditto on
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Maureen Sullivan pulled her children from the Hoboken public schools and yet she wants to set policy for the public schools; pot meet kettle.
Overtaxed said:Dawn should be ashamed of herself. First of all, she is not sending her own children to the failing Hoboken schools; therefore, why would she support the enormous unjustified budget which feeds a bloated and incompetent administration and never its students? Second of all, she did not cut our taxes as she promised, but now hinders the process of electing honest BoE members!
I voted for Dawn, but I am done supporting her. She is now supporting the same machinery she ran against last year!
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Permalink Reply by Jack Dawkins on
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but Maureen does want to "starve the students".......
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Permalink Reply by ditto on
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"As someone who very publicly supported your campaign for mayor last year-and took a lot of heat for it--I was disappointed that you didn't make any attempt to reach out to me before jumping in with your semi-endorsement of Kids First's launch last month. " Maureen Sullivan
Maureen your supporters could and have asked the very same thing of you: you suddenly "resign" from the Kids First electoral slate (when you were not running for re-election which is an act of false bravado) and then launch an all out assault against your former running mates damning them and calling for an election slate to run against them. Did you consult with Zimmer or your other supporters, who supported you last year, before you launched your wholesale attack against Kids First?
Here's an incredibly prescient consideration of your "resignation" from a former supporter of yours Greg Bond:
http://whatsupwithhoboken.com/2010/02/maureen-first.html
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Permalink Reply by Meatloaf on -
Ah, here you go again Sullivan. Lying to the public. Among many other inaccuracies and lies, The pp cost was 21,700 last year NOT 24k.
You still haven't answered the questions repeatedly asked of you, but onto more important issues:
Real Results Hollow promises for Education....
Draw on our years of management and business experience to conduct a thorough and professional search for a new superintendent to lead our district.-
Real Results wants to use 20-50k of taxpayer money to pay for a search firm who hires the supt for them. The district has a credit and would cost the taxpayers $0. Real results want you to pay 20-50k for an un-certificated, inexperienced Public School Administrator, who the taxpayers will have to pay to take classes, certify and mentor.
Make academic excellence an immediate priority. Raise expectations.-
This is already in place
Emphasize an approach to education that favors proven methods of instruction, such as phonics to teach reading and times tables in math classes.
This is already being done.
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Remember that children learn best when there is structure and discipline within a nurturing, supportive classroom environment.-
This is already occurring and is already the focus of the district
Enforce the policy that requires all students to wear a uniform-
There is no uniform policy. Policy must be set, first. Given, years of management and business experience You would think Real Results would have verified this before putting it in print.
So out of 5 promises 3 are already occurring, 1 is totally inaccurate statement and has no foundation and 1 promises that will all the years of management and business experience they have they will pay someone 20-50k (of taxpayer money) to find a supt.
********************Here are a few hideously funny statements from Real Results*******************
Real Results states: "Students who don't read well or don't know their times tables by the end of third grade will probably never be good at these crucial skills. This means that the drift away from phonics in our schools over the past few years must be reversed. "
1.There was NEVER a drift away from phonics nor "times tables" (multiplication- for adults).In fact phonics has become more of a focus than prior years.
2. Who in god's name came up with the ignorant statement "Students who don't read well or don't know their times tables by the end of third grade will probably never be good at these crucial skills." PLEASE..do some research. This is so ignorant and without merit.
Homework must not be unusual occurrences-
HBOE Students already have multiple pages of homework daily. HBOE probably gives more homework than any other school in Hoboken.
Students will not achieve unless serious standards are set and students are pushed to meet them.
Don't forget the statement about the No Child Left Behind Law at the forum....
The state of NJ sets standards.
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Permalink Reply by SmartyJones on -
Why is everyone suppose to reach out to Maureen Sullivan? She doesn't answer questions so that line being directed at people over and over again is somewhat weary. People have been asking and posting questions and Maureen gingerly disappears yet seems to always find time to accuse people of not seeking her out.
Was Maureen Sullivan actually shocked by Dawn's endorsement of Kids First? Really? Did that shock this year get compounded by last year's shock when Dawn Zimmer endorsed Kids First last spring? With all this shocking going on perhaps the brain has lost its short term memory entirely.
Does anyone recall Maureen Sullivan denouncing an endorsement from Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer last spring?
Bob Bowdon just announced the per pupil cost per student as over $18K. If that's the fact of the matter and one can guess Mr. Bowdon was accurate in his role as moderator, then the cost are dropping and now within a few thousand of the New Jersey State average. Sounds like excellent progress.
Maureen did you do your homework here?
Based on the comments at the Board of Education this week by Robert Davis, the so called attacks on the BoE theater program were not exactly accurate as depicted in the Real Results literature.
Maureen did you do your homework on this either?
As for understanding what's going on in the schools, you don't appear to be too well schooled on many issues and aspects of the budget including the committees you are on. And that's your job!
Maureen did the dog eat your homework? That's one well fed dog!
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Permalink Reply by Maureen Sullivan on
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THE ACTUAL COST PER PUPIL LAST YEAR (FY 2008-9) WAS $24,471.
I urge Revolt members to read the final figures posted last month on the NJ Dept of Education website under the heading Comparative Spending Guide 2010. http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/csg/10/csg.pl
Anonymous bloggers for Kids First love to call people liars and then throw out misinformation. The problem is that they have a difficult time analysing data. Last year means '08-'09. This year means '09-'10. We can't possibly have the '09-'10 "actual" figures because we're still operating in the current school year, which runs through June 30. And we're really not sure how 2010-11 is going to turn out. But the state has released the '08-'09 figure and it is $24,471. These are official NJ figures.
It's all part of the Kids First disinformation campaign. First they make up fake stats, then they spread them around on every blog, then they call out every member of the opposition as a liar, and then, unfortunately, some people buy it. It's the Big Lie...say it long and loud enough and even they start to believe it themselves. Throw in some poop and you've got a campaign.
Meatloaf, there is no way I will engage in a debate with you because you aren't willing to accept that facts are facts and opinions are opinions.
I would love it, however, if Dawn Zimmer would come on to this forum and explain why she thinks that talking about bringing spending levels anywhere close to the state average of $13,338 (K-12 enrollments of 1,801-3,500) translates into "starving the schools." We were $11,163 over the average last year!!! Other districts of similar size enrollment in Hudson County are Harrison ($13,664) and Secaucus ($13,257). How do they do it?
Wait, you may argue, we are an Abbott district so we're different. Then what explains Jersey City ($17,606), Camden ($19,337), Newark ($19,058), Elizabeth ($15,271)?
Hoboken spent $24,471.
The Real Results candidates and I think there is a way to cut that down. Kids First doesn't. The choice is clear.
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Permalink Reply by khoboken on
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Maureen
The more you write the funnier you beome and the less appealing you are as a candidate to keep your Board seat. Keep it up. Since you support RR - do you think it is appropriate that the infamous 411 letter was written by a wife of one of the candidate's in a very deliberate attempt to deceive the reader that the writer was an unrelated average "reform" minded voter in the 4th ward? To me, it speaks volumes about a lack of credibility and a level of manipulation that has no place in the election process for a BOE seat. So, answer the question - do you thhink it is ok for candidates to be deceitful?
Maureen Sullivan said:THE ACTUAL COST PER PUPIL LAST YEAR (FY 2008-9) WAS $24,471.
I urge Revolt members to read the final figures posted last month on the NJ Dept of Education website under the heading Comparative Spending Guide 2010. http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/csg/10/csg.pl
Anonymous bloggers for Kids First love to call people liars and then throw out misinformation. The problem is that they have a difficult time analysing data. Last year means '08-'09. This year means '09-'10. We can't possibly have the '09-'10 "actual" figures because we're still operating in the current school year, which runs through June 30. And we're really not sure how 2010-11 is going to turn out. But the state has released the '08-'09 figure and it is $24,471. These are official NJ figures.
It's all part of the Kids First disinformation campaign. First they make up fake stats, then they spread them around on every blog, then they call out every member of the opposition as a liar, and then, unfortunately, some people buy it. It's the Big Lie...say it long and loud enough and even they start to believe it themselves. Throw in some poop and you've got a campaign.
Meatloaf, there is no way I will engage in a debate with you because you aren't willing to accept that facts are facts and opinions are opinions.
I would love it, however, if Dawn Zimmer would come on to this forum and explain why she thinks that talking about bringing spending levels anywhere close to the state average of $13,338 (K-12 enrollments of 1,801-3,500) translates into "starving the schools." We were $11,163 over the average last year!!! Other districts of similar size enrollment in Hudson County are Harrison ($13,664) and Secaucus ($13,257). How do they do it?
Wait, you may argue, we are an Abbott district so we're different. Then what explains Jersey City ($17,606), Camden ($19,337), Newark ($19,058), Elizabeth ($15,271)?
Hoboken spent $24,471.
The Real Results candidates and I think there is a way to cut that down. Kids First doesn't. The choice is clear.
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Permalink Reply by khoboken on
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It is just about as deceitful and lacking in charatcer as the fear mongering over the theatre program that you have been spewing.
Maureen Sullivan said:THE ACTUAL COST PER PUPIL LAST YEAR (FY 2008-9) WAS $24,471.
I urge Revolt members to read the final figures posted last month on the NJ Dept of Education website under the heading Comparative Spending Guide 2010. http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/csg/10/csg.pl
Anonymous bloggers for Kids First love to call people liars and then throw out misinformation. The problem is that they have a difficult time analysing data. Last year means '08-'09. This year means '09-'10. We can't possibly have the '09-'10 "actual" figures because we're still operating in the current school year, which runs through June 30. And we're really not sure how 2010-11 is going to turn out. But the state has released the '08-'09 figure and it is $24,471. These are official NJ figures.
It's all part of the Kids First disinformation campaign. First they make up fake stats, then they spread them around on every blog, then they call out every member of the opposition as a liar, and then, unfortunately, some people buy it. It's the Big Lie...say it long and loud enough and even they start to believe it themselves. Throw in some poop and you've got a campaign.
Meatloaf, there is no way I will engage in a debate with you because you aren't willing to accept that facts are facts and opinions are opinions.
I would love it, however, if Dawn Zimmer would come on to this forum and explain why she thinks that talking about bringing spending levels anywhere close to the state average of $13,338 (K-12 enrollments of 1,801-3,500) translates into "starving the schools." We were $11,163 over the average last year!!! Other districts of similar size enrollment in Hudson County are Harrison ($13,664) and Secaucus ($13,257). How do they do it?
Wait, you may argue, we are an Abbott district so we're different. Then what explains Jersey City ($17,606), Camden ($19,337), Newark ($19,058), Elizabeth ($15,271)?
Hoboken spent $24,471.
The Real Results candidates and I think there is a way to cut that down. Kids First doesn't. The choice is clear.
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Permalink Reply by Tony Soares on -
Maureen, you wouldn't have been on The Board of Ed if it wasn't for Dawn Zimmer's political, financial and volunteer support of YOU and Kid's First last year!
Did you talk to Dawn Zimmer BEFORE YOU, went on a suicide mission against Kid's First?
No, is fine answer because You owe Mayor Zimmer Nada, and Mayor Zimmer owes you nothing either.
And really Maureen She's Mayor Zimmer, not Dawn.
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Permalink Reply by khoboken on
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I never really thought about how silly and uninformed you really are until I watched your idioitic performance regarding the selection of a superintendent. You have obviously never used a head hunter professionally or been responsible for hiring executive level managers. Your thought process is simply warped and has poisoned the well for any future selection process. Your annhilation of Romano was beyond mean spirited and gratuitously venomous. For you not to think that the spectacle that you engineered will have no future reprocussions on the pool of future applicants simply demonstrates your complete lack of fitness for your position.
Maureen Sullivan said:THE ACTUAL COST PER PUPIL LAST YEAR (FY 2008-9) WAS $24,471.
I urge Revolt members to read the final figures posted last month on the NJ Dept of Education website under the heading Comparative Spending Guide 2010. http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/csg/10/csg.pl
Anonymous bloggers for Kids First love to call people liars and then throw out misinformation. The problem is that they have a difficult time analysing data. Last year means '08-'09. This year means '09-'10. We can't possibly have the '09-'10 "actual" figures because we're still operating in the current school year, which runs through June 30. And we're really not sure how 2010-11 is going to turn out. But the state has released the '08-'09 figure and it is $24,471. These are official NJ figures.
It's all part of the Kids First disinformation campaign. First they make up fake stats, then they spread them around on every blog, then they call out every member of the opposition as a liar, and then, unfortunately, some people buy it. It's the Big Lie...say it long and loud enough and even they start to believe it themselves. Throw in some poop and you've got a campaign.
Meatloaf, there is no way I will engage in a debate with you because you aren't willing to accept that facts are facts and opinions are opinions.
I would love it, however, if Dawn Zimmer would come on to this forum and explain why she thinks that talking about bringing spending levels anywhere close to the state average of $13,338 (K-12 enrollments of 1,801-3,500) translates into "starving the schools." We were $11,163 over the average last year!!! Other districts of similar size enrollment in Hudson County are Harrison ($13,664) and Secaucus ($13,257). How do they do it?
Wait, you may argue, we are an Abbott district so we're different. Then what explains Jersey City ($17,606), Camden ($19,337), Newark ($19,058), Elizabeth ($15,271)?
Hoboken spent $24,471.
The Real Results candidates and I think there is a way to cut that down. Kids First doesn't. The choice is clear.
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