Messages which absolutely need to be seen today due to time constraints or breaking news. Remember to check the"new answers" link for the most active topics. This topic will run for a week, and then we will start a new dated "urgent" file.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2000

Answers

here are some sample questions for candidates' night (and possibly for use on the Sam mercer show sunday night) Please reflect on them and post additions, changes, corrections, etc. Tobe

Questions for candidates:

Given that there is no funding to implement the Comprehensive District Education Plan, how would you address the issue of students in danger of not meeting the new state standards?

With a new science curriculum about to be adopted by the district, how do you feel about teaching creationism?

How do we meet the needs of students without Assisted Intervention Services (is this the correct phrase?) in this year's budget?

Speak to the results of the Onteora report card. What are the weaknesses this revealed and how should they be remedied?

What is the role of a board member? How does that fit with your constituency?

If the board votes six to one on an issue, and you are the dissenting vote, what's your responsibility to support the majority decision?

What resources will you use as a board member when deciding on issues?

What criteria do you use to vote on a question which you know is unpopular, but which you feel is the right thing to do?

Marty Millman: Please explain the contradiction in your position on the Onteora "Indian" mascot issue.

If elected to the board, please tell us what you intend to do on the "mascot" policy.

What should the board do to help in deciding whether there is a need for an expanded middle school?

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

"What are your qualifications and experience in the field of education?"

"What tribe of Native Americans was the image on your flyers taken from ? Where are they located, and what situations is their garb [not best word,Dennis, what?]appropriate for?"

My Inner Copy Editor is wondering whether that phrase which I think is "we the taxpayers" on the palm card of the CARE candidates is correct and whether it shouldn't be "us the taxpayers," as the object of the sentence. Will call a couple of writer friends this weekend and find out which one is grammatically correct.

Since I don't get the Freeman regularly, I have no idea if there have been any biographical info or position papers of the CARE candidates printed. what is

How will questions be asked of the candidates-- will they be submitted from the audience by recognizing waving hands, by lining up at a mic, by filling in cards and passing forward? Or will the moderators submit their own questions, in which case we need to see if they are amenable to receiving a list from us, the sooner the better. Should we each agree to pick a question in advance, so that we don't get caught all wanting to ask the same one?

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2000