A group of 15 parents from Katonah Elementary School loved the second grade teaching team’s policy of no birthday treats served in the classroom. They loved it so much they wrote to the third grade teachers to ask them to continue the practice.
When they were turned down, they approached the principal, Jessica Godin, saying there was an inconsistent application of the district’s wellness policy, which encourages healthy food to be served at school celebrations.
[posted by Brent]
WOW! "The policy committee, which Lipton chairs, is currently in mid-review of all 9,000 district policies and expects to get to the one on wellness this year"
Poor Mr Lipton must have drawn the short straw when chairs were assigned!
Posted by: robert dixon | October 07, 2011 at 09:23 AM
There is something seriously wrong with any organization that needs to operate with 9,000 policies.
Posted by: JohnCW | October 10, 2011 at 08:49 AM
John - a large number of them are actually required by State Ed law - another "unfunded mandate" from Albany.
Posted by: Brent Hailpern | October 10, 2011 at 08:52 AM
Right On Albany!
Soon you will be telling the schools what brand toilet paper to use. It's that splinters thing you know. Safety first!
Wouldn't we just love to see someone run for the BOE with their main plank: "Job One--reduce unfunded mandates and return education to home rule?"
Enough of this busy work with umpteen thousand long term/strategic plans and mickey mouse projects imposed upon our administrators and boards by the folks in Albany, county seat and Washington. I bet his name would not be on the ballot more than a day or two before the fellows in the white coats would be sent to get him. Well, I guess that would be better than sending in the drones-less collateral damage.
Bob D
Posted by: robert dixon | October 10, 2011 at 12:34 PM
It is amazing that this story has received 55 comments (so far!) on the Patch website. I guess that really tells you what the public is interested in, or at least concerned about, as far as public education goes.
Posted by: KLDude | October 17, 2011 at 08:20 AM
Hi Dude:
It's might be one of the few areas where they feel their input could have some impact.
Certainly no one has figured out how to improve the "broken" American Educational System and if they ever do I doubt if Albany or the 9000 policies would give them much wiggle room. Contrary to what some believe, we know even a school board or the teachers/administrators don't have much say.
Can you imagine being on a school board and being assigned to a committee that reviews 9000 policies?-even 900 would be a bust!
BTW: It is very easy to know when you have arrived in North Carolina: seems like every third person (a huge % young children) looks like Jim Henson's Big Bird or worse. People seem to always have a Slurpee or something like it in their mouths 24/7. I continually say to myself that this has to result in a national epidemic as times goes on. I am pleased the K-L parents are involved with the "cookie war".
Bob D
Posted by: robert dixon | October 17, 2011 at 12:04 PM
I dunno... back in my day... (before the flood), in Indiana... we used to eat like pigs!!! HUGE bowls of icecream, chocolate sauce, cakes, cookies... soda...
and we were thin, healthy and happy and had straight A's.
maybe its something else?
But sure... cupcakes is an excellent start for a school district that is now spending 30k per student and next year promises to be 31k per student.
hope that's not too harsh... I've been accused of bullying recently.
Posted by: Laurel B. | October 18, 2011 at 01:32 AM
Well:
Perhaps our junk food is worse than what you ate-maybe you exercised more. Perhaps some of your after school activities were more stringent than after school activities in K-L.
At any rate, what we see in NC is troublesome. We live near some long time South Salem residents who agree something is wrong in NC.
Perhaps its retribution for the state going democratic last presidential election.
Have you started using your new fields yet?
Bob D
Posted by: robert dixon | October 18, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Yes, Bob... we went outside to PLAY every day!!! and in the MUD and in CONSTRUCTION SITES, as our neighborhood was in the process of development. And we didn't wear seat belts and nothing was child proofed except for the liquor cabinet, but that was just because the cleaning lady would steal it, if it wasn't locked up. Oh, and we didn't "prep" for the SAT's... it was supposed to be an assessment of where we WERE, not what was shoved down our... hmmm... maybe that's WHY the kids are having weight issues?
what fields?
Posted by: Laurel B. | October 19, 2011 at 02:17 AM
Please forgive me... I just heard on the news, as I'm sure that everyone is watching about the horrific tragedy in Cross River. I did not know the Friedlanders and had NO idea that Amy Friedlander made her living prepping high schoolers for the SAT test. So, I'd like to apologize for my tacky, inappropriate comment in the light of this unspeakable tragedy.
I understand from one of her neighbors and a client of mine, that she was a very lovely woman and will be sorely missed.
May all of their souls, rest in peace. ~ Laurel
Posted by: Laurel B. | October 19, 2011 at 12:18 PM