Stinks The outpouring of complaints, concerns and criticisms at this week’s Henry Hudson Board meeting in Highlands sounded like the final release of an awful lot of pent-up emotions and frustration with any number of things in all three schools over the past three or four years.
The story in VeniVidiScripto also brought out thousands of readers, many of whom contacted me personally or VeniVidiScripto to say thank you for making it all public.
There were those who complained they couldn’t get up to the meeting; some who asked why the meetings have to be held at Hudson now that it’s a regional district.
Why not take turns and have meetings in all three schools?
Or in Highlands, which is the most central of the three?
Or how come they can’t attend the meetings on line?
All of which are solutions to yet another problem the district is facing, but that’s another story.
Parents are afraid, it seems, not only of retaliation should they be critical of some teachers or programs, but they’re also frustrated by the lack of communication.
This teacher who was the subject of this week’s complaints is apparently a gentleman and perfect instructor who has been beloved for so many years and appreciated by so many.
Sadly, apparently, he is not coming back to school. All the parents are asking is why have they not been told?
Why did they not know there would be a substitute for the remaining weeks of school?
Why were they advised in an e-mail he was going to be out, expected back after the spring break then find out that isn’t so either?
Not sure of all the means of conversation, but what is clear is the parents of children affected by many different problems don’t seem to either be heard by administration or have their problems addressed, let alone resolved.
One parent also pointed out there are members on the current school board who did nothing about her complaints years ago when they were, yes, on the school board then.
Some of the parents say the problems , especially when youngster with special needs, go back many years. But all say things have gotten much worse in recent years, and while Highlands seemed to have more complaints about their elementary school in the past, it’s Atlantic Highlands elementary that seems to be suffering now.
Sad to hear parents say things like “I can’t see how we can ever get better” or “the principal tries, but I guess he can’t do something if the superintendent doesn’t want it to happen.”
One bright spot in all of this discouraging conversation is a Highlands lady named Jessica Noonan.
She stood up at the meeting and said she’s been through it all and is offering her help to anyone having trouble especially with youngsters needing special education help. “We all have to work together,” she said.
Jessica faced her problem several years ago and when she couldn’t get help, decided to take matters into her hands. She did, her son is now happily in another school and she’s offering to help anyone who wants to know how to fight city hall …or, in this case, the superintendent’s office……
But that’s another story!
