Breaking News: Dr. Kenneth Eastwood's Depositions To Be Released!

Inside Middletown Schools contributer Francis Hoefer from Oswego, NY will soon be releasing excerpts of Dr. Kenneth Eastwood's deposition in his state case in which Dr. Eastwood sued him for libel over allegations made by Hoefer which first appeared on "Inside Middletown Schools."

(See: http://bit.ly/tTQTBq, http://bit.ly/tjvOyG, http://bit.ly/rYjMPU)

In these documents, you will be able to read Dr. Eastwood's own words -- no editorializing, no editing -- the whole truth and nothing but the truth -- straight from Dr. Eastwood himself.

Did Dr. Eastwood really "attack" a female student? Did Dr. Eastwood openly support a male staffer who was busted for drugs for a position in the Oswego school district? Up until now, Eastwood has denied - and has gone as far as refutting these allegations. But was he telling the truth? You be the judge! Stay tuned and check "Inside Middletown Schools" often for these explosive releases!

WARNING TAXPAYERS: HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLETS!!!!

We at Inside Middletown Schools predict that the Middletown School District will attempt to override the tax cap, and significantly raise taxes for the third year in a row. In the past two school years, in some parts of the district, the school district has raised taxes by over 20%. This may be the year in which school taxes may increase by over 30% in three years. Can you afford to pay this increase?

For the past two years, Dr. Eastwood has asked the tax payers to compensate for the State's cuts in our district's school aid, and blamed Governor Como. The district tax payers have picked up the tab for the State's reduction in school aid for the past two years in a row. At the same time, even though the school district's budget has not increased, it has never fully decreased its spending enough to adapt to its reduction in State aid. In order to prevent a yearly request of taxpayers for more money, much larger cuts in the district's budget need to be made. Dr. Eastwood should stop blaming Governor Como for the district's current financial situation, and make the necessary spending cuts to prevent this reoccurring problem. Regardless of the value of its programs, the district must keep within the ability of its taxpayers to pay more taxes. It appears that the Governor's tax cap was designed just for districts like Middletown.

As we enter the board's development of next year's school budget, this scenario is how Inside Middletown Schools predicts the district will request an override of the tax cap and a large increase in school taxes. Initially, Dr. Eastwood will present a budget within the governor's tax cap, and complain about the Governor's cut in State aid. This budget will have cuts to programs such as ROTC. Dr. Eastwood already knows that these programs are highly supported by the public. He also will claim that the progress made by the district in addressing its identified status will be jeopardized. Subsequently, his supporters on the board will do the dirty work and ask to override the tax cap and approve a higher tax levy.

What is the basis for our prediction? First of all, this scenario is exactly what has happened for the previous two years. Secondly, regardless of the fact the the district's reserves are higher than allowed by State Law, and are one the highest of any district within the State, the district has stubbornly refused to use any of these funds to decrease the tax rate. One should remember that these funds accumulate as the result of monies unused in a given year's budget; thus, may be considered over taxation. Thirdly, the resent comments by Dr. Eastwood, and many board members predicting the academic consequences for not increasing the budget, and their comments about the tax cap. They have all disregarded the fact that by overriding the tax cap they are really saying that YOU can afford to pay more taxes.

There is one addition point that the voter need to consider about the new developing budget. Namely, that the administration and many board members are counting on the fact that only those with a vested interest in overriding a tax cap and approving a large tax increase will vote. If you do not approve of higher school taxes, you must oppose and vote against any budget that attempts to override the tax cap.

UPDATE : Special Treatment For Athletes In Summer School?

In response to our earlier posting of Dr. Mauro's email to Mr. Estrada (see copy of email below), Inside Middletown Schools was contacted by a school employee and given an update about this matter. According to the employee, the district did attempt to offer a special math course to four graduated student athletes. The district only suspended these efforts after being informed that the NCAA would not accept this special course. At the same time, our posting of Dr. Mauro's email has kicked up a firestorm and an investigation by the district's labor attorneys about special treatment for athletes in summer school. To our knowledge, both district employees and board members have been questioned. Inside Middletown Schools questions the need for this investigation. One would think Dr.Eastwood should be aware of all the facts surrounding this matter. Could the true purpose of this investigation be to uncover the source(s) for these information leaks and/or to intimidate employees about releasing future information ? To date, the administration has neither commented nor clarified this matter. We await their response.

Did Dr. Eastwood Give Special Treatment to Student Athletes in Summer School?

The following is a transcript of an email sent to Mr. Estrada on September 26, 2011 at 11:09. The Board of Education, Teacher Union President, Ms. Esposito, and High School Principal, Mr. Gonzalez were copied.

Subject: Summer Hiring

From this email and Ken's earlier email, I gather that there may be some dissension in the ranks. What is this all about? I did hear an unconfirmed rumor that Ken hired a teacher for summer school to teach a non remedial math course to only four athletes. This type of course offering would be contrary to past practices. I gather that these graduated students needed this course in order to accept their athletic scholarships, and the students were given credit for this course even without completing the required weeks for summer school. Special treatment? Visions of Newburgh? Please confirm or deny this rumor.

To date, no reply has been given, and none is anticipated. As a point of fact, summer school is suppose to be only for remedial work,and class size is usually about 25 students. The public has the right to have the substance of this rumor confirmed or denied, and the right to know if special treatment was arranged for some students.

Dr. Nicholas A. Mauro

Is Validation Study of the District's Academic Achievements Just Another Con?

At the September 1 meeting of the Middletown Board of Education, Dr. Eastwood had a paid consultant present his Validation Study on the district's academic accomplishments. According to the presenter, his study was based primarily on data and information derived from State testing. This article by Susan Edelman in The New York Post brings into question the value, credibility, and reliability of State educational testing, and the derived information about education provided to the public by the State. Since any study can only be as sound as the data and information from which it is derived, both the conclusions of the current Validation Study and academic accomplishments of Dr. Eastwood's administration become questionable. Please read the article and draw your own conclusions.

Fund Balance Reserve vs Employees and Taxpayers

For the past few years, the Middletown School District has only appeared to to use its fund balance reserve to offset higher taxes. Although it has applied from about 4.8-5.2 million dollars for each budget year, these funds were immediately replenished by monies collected by a tax levy surplus and/or from the state aid package. State Education Law section 1318 limits the size of the tax levy surplus to 4% of the upcoming school year budget. Currently, in the Middletown school district, this amount is approximately 3.7 million dollars.

Let's illustrate how this process works. According to the district's June 30,2010 auditor report, for the 2010-2011 school year, the district had approximately 16.8 million dollars in its unreserved fund balance. Approximately 4.8 million form the reserve fund was applied to the 2010-2011 school year budget. This left about 12 million dollars in fund balance. As of March 2011, according to Sate Comptroller, this reserve fund had been replenished by 4 million dollars, and contained about 16 million dollars. This amount is sixth largest fund balance in the state.

During the same time period, using the excuse of a $400,000 shortfall in state aid, the district eliminated 26 position, and raised taxes by about 12% in some parts of the district. Clearly, the first priority of the district is the preservation of its fund balance and not employee retention nor lower taxes.

Currently, in the proposed 2011-2012 year budget, the district has proposed to apply approximately 5.0 million dollars from the reserve fund balance, cut 97 positions, and have a 7.99% tax levy increase. If the same priorities hold, we can expect a replenishment of reserve funds at the expense of both employees and taxpayers.

The administration has justified its position for maintaining a large fund balance in order to keep its high bond rating, and as a reserve for paying tax certiorari. According to their records, although they claim that the district has 25 million dollars in potential tax certiorai, they paid out only about 1.27 million dollars in the 09/10 school year, and a similar proportional amount this year to date. We must ask: If the district is so concerned about its 25 million dollars in potential tax certiorari, why did they start construction on a new 67 million dollar elementary school? The administration can not have it both ways.

In the May vote, the voter needs to decide whether or not they will support a large increase in taxes, and massive employee cuts. The district needs to do more than make a show of its use of its fund balance, and should use part of its reserves to maintain its workforce and lower taxes.

Vote No On The Proposed Budget!

Will Middletown's Voters Say No to Higher School Taxes?

After voter approval and the application of tax equalization, the Middletown school tax rate will be increase by over 25% in two years for some areas within the district. Recently, in response to Governor Cuomo's comments that the State's financial contribution to public school will not increase significantly next year, Dr. Eastwood predicted a further large increase in school taxes for next year. These facts paint a grim picture for Middletown School District's taxpayers. Based on assessed valuation, the taxpayers within the Middleton school district already pay more proportionally in real estate taxes than people in New York City or more prosperous areas.

During Dr. Eastwood superintendency, the district has improved with the addition of many new programs and improved facilities. The question becomes - Can the tax payers within our district afford all these new programs, the added expenses of a new elementary school, and maintain the school district in its current expanded form? I must answer NO! It is like a person who owns a big expensive car when he can only afford a used car. Something must be done. Admittedly, some of the current programs are financed by grants. However, grants run out, and previously funded programs eventually are financed often by the district budget.

For two years in a row, Dr. Eastwood and the board have refused to develop a long term plan to fully deal with the problem of decreased State funding. Although cuts in spending and personnel have been made, no long term plan to scale back and retrench the district to an affordable level have been developed. Dr. Eastwood and the board majority have merely complained about the Governor's cuts, taken a band-aid approach to the budget, refused to use any of its sixth largest reserve fund in the state to lower taxes, fought to maintain the district in its current form, and asked the taxpayer to pay through the nose to maintain the status quo. This approach is unacceptable.

In the upcoming school elections, the voters will have the opportunity to stop the current madness and say no to a proposed school budget tax increase. They also should refuses to elect board members who support higher school taxes. If you do not come out now to vote to oppose paying more tax money than you can afford, when will you come out to vote. The choice is yours. Vote No!

Is There Still a Mold Problem in Chorley?

At the February 17 meeting of the Board of Education, Dr. Eastwood informed the public that black mold spores were not detected in Chorley elementary school. However, his announcement glossed over the fact that mold spores from many different species can induce allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Some of the symptoms of mold spore allergies are running nose, nasal congestion, and irritation to the nose, throat, or lungs. More information about mold spore allergies may be obtained from your physician or the Department of Public Health.

Historical, the persistent and periodic water leaks in this building are well known. It is the moisture from these leaks that creates the perfect environment for mold growth. Since mold spores are always found upon examination, according to the State Health Department, the existence of persistent water leaks in a building may be sufficient grounds for initiating legal action for mold spore exposure. Recently, after an employee in Chorley reported that both he and his daughter were suffering from allergies that they attributed to mold spores in Chorley, he was dismissed. Please refer to an earlier blog. We also have received unconfirmed reports that other Chorley employees may be suffering from allergies that they attribute to mold spore exposure. These individuals are afraid to come forward out of fear of administrative reprisals. We will inform the public of further developments.

Employee Dismissed After Making Complaint of Mold in Chorley

By a one vote margin of five to four, The Middletown Board of Education upheld Dr. Eastwood's recommendation to dismiss a non instructional employee who had complained of an adverse reaction to mold spores in Chorley. After complaining that both he and his daughter suffered from respiratory problems they associated with exposure to mold spores in Chorley's air, he was informed by his superior in the school administration that, " He was not a team player ", and would be dismissed.

As is typical in these situations, his dismissal was attributed to his work performance, and signed letters attesting to the quality of his work were ignored. Despite claims by the administration that there is no mold problem in Chorley, and that all water leaks in the roof have been corrected, we at Inside Midddletown Schools have been informed that Chorley's roof still periodically leaks. According to the State Health department, the existence of a leaking roof is sufficient grounds for potential litigation for mold. At this time, it is uncertain whether or not this former employee will sue on behalf of his daughter and himself for alleged exposure to mold spores and/or will sue the district over his dismissal claiming he was a "whistle blower".

Eastwood threatens to back out of Channel 20 at a detriment to our students

According to Mayor DeStefano, in response to the formation of the Community Access Committee, Dr. Eastwood has indicated that the school district may end its participation in Ch 20. This position was presented to the Mayor without consulting the board. Although Mayor DeStefano has informed Dr. Eastwood that the committee will have no or little effect on the school district's current programing, Dr Eastwood has rejected all attempts by the Mayor to work together in the operation of the TV station. It would appear that Dr. Eastwood is incapable working with other individuals unless he is totally in charge, and in total control.

Unfortunately, with his unquestioning support from the board majority, the district may be pulling the plug on their use of Ch 20 in the near future. It is regrettable that the students may lose their ability to participate in Ch 20 because Dr. Eastwood is incapable of working with this new committee, and the Mayor.