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Letter to the Editor: Help All Residents Be Informed About Seaford Avenue School Sale

Seaford resident DeVita sends open letter to community urging help to get people up to speed on proposed condo development at former elementary school property.

The following is an open letter addressed to residents of the Seaford School District from Lorraine DeVita

To the editor: 

For many years and more recently brought to light with the Seaford Avenue School sale, this district has an ISSUE with full and complete notification to all its residents. Inconsistency is the name of the game it seems. Therefore out of pure frustration and the need to provide a pro active  solution to stop the  excuses, I have  assigned myself the task of insuring this district has a complete and thorough list of all registered voters to insure full and complete notification to all residents of the Seaford School district.

This morning I simply picked up the phone and  contacted the Board of Elections. They have a LIST! Which it appears they can send to ANY school district upon that district's request and they will send it to them on a CD. This List is by zip code.

So of course there would be some weeding out to do of the addresses North of Jerusalem. As well those Seaford residents with 11793 zips would need to be subsequently added.

Conceivably this should not be a Herculean task, however the school district MUST request list from the Board of Elections I am not allowed to do so. But it appears most all of the other school districts do this annually to keep their records current.

I will be emailing Seaford Superintendent Brian Conboy with the earth shattering information as well I am enlisting your help. 

In order to facilitate  information being dispersed in a more timely fashion it would be of great assistance if every resident did the following IMMEDIATELY: Call or emial Mr Conboy's  office at 516-592-4002 or Bconboy@mail.seaford.k12.ny.us. You can also contact District Clerk Carmen Ouellette at 592-4013. Provide them with the following information: 

  • Your Name Your Address 
  • Your Telelphone number 
  • Your Email address 

Also ask to be placed on the ROBO call list as well as the districts email notification/distribution list, as well  please VERIFY they have your proper mailing address.

If everyone could do this ASAP I would greatly appreciate it,  as important information will soon be coming regarding the Seaford Avenue School sale. We need everyone to be informed. Also as we are all aware not everyone reads or has access to the Patch or even email  so please  if EACH of you could contact as many people as possible, especially those that you know who do not receive information  and share this with them,  it would then hopefully spread and everyone will have the opportunity to be an informed voter.

I will also draft a letter to the district and the board of education to have them contact the Board of elections. Be assured  I WILL follow up to insure they have done so. I am tired of hearing excuses.  Here's My PRO ACTIVE solution so please help me in making it happen. Let's not give anyone an excuse for not informing the ENTIRE  community, nor an excuse  for being uninformed. An informed Seaford makes informed decisions!

If you have any questions or further suggestions to remedy this abysmal situation  please feel free to contact me at ljdcom@aol.com. Thank you.

- Lorraine DeVita

   Seaford

Sam October 12, 2012 at 07:01 pm
educating children is not part of the Seaford board's plan (scores have been decreasing). Their priorites are simple: protecting teacher's contracts and having a strong conference IV varsity football team.
Lilly Hayden October 12, 2012 at 07:01 pm
I rather doubt the District Clerk, as well as Mr. Conboy, is personally involved in educating your children.
How would you propose residents of those without children in the schools be informed?
Sam October 12, 2012 at 07:04 pm
Educating children is not part of the Seaford school board's plan (scores have been decreasing). Thier priorities are simple: 1) protect the teacher's contracts and 2) put together a strong conference IV varsity football team.
Lisa F October 12, 2012 at 07:12 pm
I would hope that Mr Conboy is day to day involved in educating the children in the district and not compiling lists by address. Let them get the list from the board of elections. If you are outside the district lines or need to be added call and give your address. Why are we instructing people to call if they are already on the mailing and call lists?
Unjust October 12, 2012 at 07:30 pm
Great Lorraine... Thanks!
Lorraine DeVita October 12, 2012 at 07:35 pm
@LisaF.
BECAUSE, this has waited tooooo long to happen, approx 35% of this community is NOT on any list and totaly uninformed and to be fair Mr Conboy VERY rarely answers his own line. His CLERK does and she SITs right next to the DISTRICtT clerk and can if busy transfer the call or take the information and input.. Its all about EXPEDITING .. the more people CALL and contact Mr Conboy the more likely someone will actually DO something. ie ENTER THE INFO...and i am quite SURE that if enough people start calling they have wherewithall to establish a special VM box or a system where the caller can leave the info and one of our highly skilled clerical staff can retreive it and enter the info to a user friendly contact data base.I hope you ALL share this info and make sure EVERY RESIDENT is on ALL the lists. ROBO call, EMAIL and MAILING.
Lorraine DeVita October 12, 2012 at 07:42 pm
lol @ lisaf and when was the last time Conboy was in your kids classroom EDUCATING THEM????..And the District Clerk is NOT an educator she is a sec/adminstrative individual who is probably the BRIGHTEST bulb in the ADMIN chandelier and will be more then capable to handle any and all calls professionaly. to insure your information is captured and preserved properly ....
Lisa F October 12, 2012 at 07:57 pm
@Lorraine...That's fine. Let the 35% call or email. Flooding them with phone calls and emails from the 65% that are already getting informed is not going to solve anything. It's just obnoxious. In addition, there is no way a database is going to be formed correctly from some of the people reading an article on the patch and calling in their info.
Lorraine DeVita October 12, 2012 at 08:36 pm
Dear Dear Dear LisaF- Darhlin LisaF didnt you KNOW my middle name is OBNOXIOUS. Actually OBNOXIOUS is when you have a 1/3 of the commnity UNINFORMED . Get over yourself darling- If it is so obnoxiuos maybe JUSt maybe the District will take the not so subtle hint and actualy be proactive and DO something to rectify their OBVIOUS mistake. But wait let me guess you are one of highly skilled and paid clerical staffing that will be tasked with in PUTING all this info. And as an aside. their are a plethora of ways to accomlish this you just need to be informed and educated on how to do it Perhaps our esteemed IT director can discuss this indepth with you to assure you.. oh wait hes probaly on the same page you are. all sarasm aside it isnt as HARd or as complicapted as you are making it sound .. just takes WORK..
Lorraine DeVita October 12, 2012 at 08:48 pm
If the existing contact data base has been established correctly as soon as somone enters partial info and the resident is already in the system it SHOULD automatically populate all their information. then you go ok your veify it then. ON to the NEXT person . for example- if you have saved your shiping info on a website. as soon as you START entering your info it ALL pops up, you verify and you proceed on. Same premise simplified.
This really isnt rocket science people. its really very simple IF and this is a BIG if We had the wherewithall to set up a contact management system/process properly.
Johnny October 12, 2012 at 08:50 pm
Great idea Lorraine and thanks for taking on this mission. I had an idea that the newsletter that is sent to every home in the district also be available on line at the seafordk12 website. (we do have an IT director ..Right?)
Lorraine DeVita October 12, 2012 at 08:54 pm
imho its questionable as it pertains to your last remark ! lol..
BeeKay October 13, 2012 at 12:53 am
@Sam, please elaborate. What scores have decreased? Thank you.
Lorraine DeVita October 13, 2012 at 01:09 am
Thats a great idea and a BIG cost saver as well! , Perhpas we should have something inplace that enables the district to save some money in a reduction of printing costs by being able to identify those who have and dont have internet access (yes there are still some around) or would prefer or need hard copies mailed .. SO perhaps when people contact the district then can stipulate what their contact preference is. Even those who are already on the list. !
Lorraine DeVita October 13, 2012 at 01:17 am
Idealy these robo calls and informative EMAILS notifications combined with an UPDATED current Website would be able to contact everyone to let them know when the board meetings are being held and WHAT the agendas are. People can decide if they need to attend a specifc meeting or not. Residents need the opportuniy to be informed WHAT they CHOSE to do with that information falls then on their shoulders. As long as This SD has done its job responsibly then there should not be ANY complaints -" I didnt know.. NO one told me"
Ozone Park Native October 13, 2012 at 01:22 am
I found out about this sale when I drove down Seaford Ave after work, saw some fliers on the sign and door of the building - I pulled over to read them. In one word - DISGUSTING - a mass mailing should've been done to notify each and EVERY resident of this town. They would've had as much help as needed had they asked. They didn't, and as a result way too many people were left out of this. My son graduated in 2001 - I've not received anything from this school since then. Wake up Seaford Board - start listening to us for a change.
Ozone Park Native October 13, 2012 at 01:28 am
I'm sure if they don't have a specific person to post things on their website, they could find one. Since they haven't done any upkeep on the Seaford school building for sale let's dip into that 100K and start spending it the RIGHT WAY. How about getting a few IT people, maybe they would volunteer their time a few days a week to keep the website up to date. OOPS - that's right, they don't want outside help. I was there while Lorraine expressed her willingness over and over to take on the huge job of informing people and even scanning documents - they weren't listening because they didn't want to hear it. Well hear this - WAKE UP or get out of your position and let someone else in there who will do things for this town.
Concerned citizen October 13, 2012 at 02:20 am
And then you all get to complain about the robo calls you are getting. Are any of you ever happy? I have gotten district information from mailings to my house, from postings at the library, from the district website. If you are choosing not to be proactive that is your fault. Why does everyone expect the board of Ed to come knocking on their door? If you want to be informed get out there, it's not that hard. I could not believe when one person said they don't look at district mailing becausentheir child/grandchild wasn't in a picture! Read the rest of it and get the information. You can blame the district all you want but this issue has been discussed for ages - frankly you would have had to been under a rock not to know and in the last hour to complain is just ridiculous!
BeeKay October 13, 2012 at 03:00 am
@Johnny, the district newsletter IS available on the website via a PDF file when it is first released, and remains available online for several weeks thereafter. Where it gets archived to on the website after those first few weeks is another question. I have been unable to find any past newsletters, so this is certainly an update the website could use - archiving past documents, etc. for easy access.
Lorraine DeVita October 13, 2012 at 03:22 am
I am truly happy you GET all the notifications. however if people arent aware there is a problem or issue, then WHY would you or anyone EXPECT them to seek information. I live right behind the library i havent set foot in the place save for last yr to attend a meeting in 38 yrs! ( I have replaced all my hardcover reading with electronic acces). MANY who werent informed did search and what WAS there was slightly less then informative. However my concern is that you would deny these people the right to Be informed, which i find troubling- It is the Districts responsibility to insure ALL registered VOTERs are informed, What the residents DO or how they chose to ACT once the information is received is on their shoulders. But they need to be informed. and the only thing i can agree with you on is the fact thay this has been ongoing for many years. Something we need to address and FIX not continue/ignor. Again i dont understand your issue. Contrary to some, many peoples lives do NOT revolve around a School. That does NOT mean they shouldnt be informed! It simply means we have a problem and we need to address it , make the neccessary changes to fix it. Ignoring it doesnt make it go away. People need to be given Notice & the pertinant information to make an informed decision, That onus IS on the DISTRICT, the onus to ACT or not is on the Resident/VOTER.
Lorraine DeVita October 13, 2012 at 03:31 am
To address the annoyance of ROBO calls, We need to be able to offer our residents a CHOICE of HOW they want to be contacted, Robo calls, emails, snail mail etc. Again once the district establishes and implements a solid process and procedure THEN the onus is on the RESIDENT not the District.
Avoiding the "No one told me" syndrom.
Chris Wendt October 13, 2012 at 09:51 am
You are proposing a standard for notifications that is not in agreement with the current laws. Instead of having people call the district, your suggestion belongs with the NY Legislature.
Myself no longer having a child in Wantagh schools, I am not eligible to be added to the robocall list or to certain email lists. There is a good and valid reason for this, which I perfectly well understand and accept.
Lorraine DeVita October 13, 2012 at 12:26 pm
The District has INVITED the residents to be added, Chris. They are working towards being INCLUSIVE which is a good thing...
Path mark dad October 13, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Lorraine as usual you are leading the charge here to keep the parents and all tax payers informed. Kudos and please give consideration to running for the board. Your time has come ans you need to answer the call of the people.
I agree that it would seem that keeping the teachers union happy and maintaining ours conference four football time champs is more important then educating the majority of the kids. People have little knowledge of the reality of the scores or college destinations because we only get the propaganda of the top twenty kids blasted at us by teachers union and the board. Additionally years ago I was shocked to see the hundreds of kids in front of the manor loading onto buses to go off tomthr five catholic schools. Had to be five busses full, probably a fifth of quarter of the kids don't even get educated here. Didn't impress me as a parent and tax payer.
Lilly Hayden October 13, 2012 at 03:15 pm
Now this is amazing. I just brought in my mail, and lo and behold- i received a mailing from the school district announcing the delay of the vote. It is addressed to Postal Patron, Seaford Union Free School District. I no longer have a child in the schools- my youngest son graduated in 2006.
Lisa F October 13, 2012 at 03:29 pm
@Lorriane ... I'm still saying what you are asking for is unreasonable. If someone wants to be added or removed THEY should call. Not the rest of us.
And to answer your quote, " their are a plethora of ways to accomlish this you just need to be informed and educated on how to do it Perhaps our esteemed IT director can discuss this indepth with you to assure you." Yes! 'There' are multiple ways the district can access resident lists. Having an entire district call them is probably the WORST way to accomplish it.
Lorraine DeVita October 13, 2012 at 04:13 pm
Lisa.
A) do you actualy THINK people who are on the list and RECEIVING the information are That Dumb to call and say "place me on the list I am ON already". a little confidence in your community members intelligence please! Common sense prevailing Those who Havent been receing information should contact the school, As WELL people who want to receive information Electronically should contact the school..and give the school their email information. People like my friend Lisa who is already well informed and on the list should obviously Not contact the school .. Make ya happy Lisa. I assumed we were working with Adults here with a soupcon of smarts!
Lorraine DeVita October 13, 2012 at 04:29 pm
LMAO-- seems somebody put their THINKING caps on! Lilly lets hope EVERYONE gets one!
Lorraine DeVita October 14, 2012 at 12:36 am
Well hopefully the situation has been resolved people, the district has utilized the Post office as means to contact all residents in SD 6- addressing the blue post card notices to:
Postal Patron Local Seaford Union free school district LMAO... a FIRST even i received IT! Hopefully everyone else has to. Now the question of the day is WHY THE HELL DID'NT THEY DO THIS BEFORE??? WILL they continue to contact us with this apparent very simple solution?? If you havent received this BLUE POST CARD pls contact BOTH the School adminsintrative office AND the POST OFFICE! Now the challenge will be for the district to get notices out in a TIMELY fashion. But i am impressed they took the time to find a solution'@ LIsa- Now do you understand WHY I left it ambiquous : for ONE & ALL to contact the school.a VIABLE solution was found rather quickly when confronted with the possibility of an AVALANCHE of phone calls they assumed they were going to get. Lisa you need to learn how to play poker ......
Lorraine DeVita November 24, 2012 at 03:06 pm
While Sandy has been a Major issue in Seaford from which many are still affected , we have another MAJOR ISSUE looming before us - The sale of the Seaford Ave. School slated for a referendum vote in a few days. I Hope MANY realize that the SALE of this school is something we need to take very seriously. In light of what happened with the storm are we truly ready to sell a buidling that could have been utilized as a relief center, a viable alternative school option etc. Yes it is an expensive propostion to restore but no more so then the field of dreams investment. Are we going to sell an asset to a developer just to get rid of it for a lousy 5 mil in 2 years and 500k per year in tax revenue or are we as a community going to look long term and possibly realize that somewhere down the road we may need this building in the future and be proactive in looking at ways to refurbish it . I for one would rather see a combination of options a compormise so to speak.. Sell PART of the property to a single family home developer and utilize those funds to revitalize and refurbish the school for future use. Please vote NO to allow this community the time to heal from Sandy and look for more family freindly community friendly alternatives that will serve this community in the best possible way now and in the future.

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