Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hello, 4201 schools issues are important to some in the community.
Some people will become our opponents.
Some will be supporters. Some will be neutral. Some will just watch to see what happens.
It's always amazing how many different personalities are involved.
If you're wondering how to confront this,
my recommendation is to put aside all the opposing, negative or backstabbing. Just ignore them.
We should focus on our goal.
The goal is to tell the Governor that we do not support
his cuts to 4201 schools because 85% is too much.
We would understand 7%, but 85% is wrong.
This should be your goal right now.
Also, you should think about why you support 4201 schools.
Your experiences in the past show how 4201 schools helped your friends or self.
These stories are very important because our government does not know about our experiences.
How can you share these stories?
There are many ways you can do that.
Right now, I would like you to share those stories with me.
You can call me and leave a message on my video phone.
Or, you can write up something and email it to me.
I would be happy to review them.
I want to read your stories now, because they are important to share with the state's budget planning committee.
[Anthony DiGiovanni] I work here at Rochester School for the Deaf as the business manager.
I am also a parent of 2 deaf children who are 13 and 11 years old.
I have a long history with 4201 schools because, I myself, graduated from this program.
[Kristin Hawley] My children come here.
My husband, his family and my family all graduated from this program.
My children are the 5th generation of my family attending this school.
[Kelley Crocker-Kirschke] I grew up in mainstream schools from pre-k to 10th grade.
I feel that this really hit me close to my heart.
While I was growing up in a mainstream school, my experiences were totally negative.
I do understand the education was good but I lacked the emotional needs.
[Ricky Postl] I work at NTID in Admissions.
This allows me to visit many different schools in New York State.
As, I visit deaf schools and mainstream programs, I can see that we must preserve the deaf schools.
[Karen Westphal Mayes] Last year, my husband and I decided to move here from Indianapolis, In.
The school was good for their children's education. This situation makes things awkward.
[Anthony] I would like to make sure his children get the best education.
But, not only my kids, but all other children.
[Peter Artinian] This is scary for the children need 4201 schools because there are sign language support staff.
And, where are their resources. If children go mainstream, they will lack certificated interpreters.
Many of these mainstream schools do not have any certificated interpreters.
How will mainstream schools pay for more certified interpreters?
[Kelly] I hope that the legislature realize that it would be a big mistake to
transfer the money and program from 4201 schools to the district schools.
[Kristin] I would like go to Albany with a huge group showing that we oppose the 4201 budget cuts.
[Kristin] I can accept small cuts.
But, it is important that 4201 needs to stay alive and strong. Because, we need all eleven 4201 schools in New York State.
[Peter] Please, leave 4201 schools open and do not cut.
Please, because it is very important.
[Anthony] 4201 schools provide education access to deaf children
and is closer to their family’s homes.
That is what I am looking to preserve.
It is all about a best choice for our deaf children and that choice is deaf schools.
[Kristin] I was once enrolled in a mainstream school. I did not do well and my grades dropped.
[Kelly] I was a former advocate for children education.
I noticed while working with different district schools
they did not always support deaf children to attend deaf schools.
[Peter] What about Sports?
Currently, the deaf children attend ESDA (Eastern State Association for the Deaf)
where many deaf children from different schools come together at tournaments
because it help them improve their social, communication and sport skills.
This is exactly the same as in public schools, but deaf kids do not participate in those.
[Peter] It’s important to send letters to senators and legislators to keep the 4201 schools open, please.
[Walter L. Genther] It is important that we send letters to our legislators.
It does not matter if you can show up on March 10 or not.
If you can not show up, please give as much support as you can to 4201 schools.
[Anthony] I do realize that the governor needs to save money by cutting back some programs.
I would understand it if the governor made the same cuts in different programs.
Deaf schools should not be easy targets for cuts.
The Governor’s first action is to remove the deaf schools then leave the problem to the community.
Then, leave the problem to the community.
This will mean that the school districts will have to assume the role of evaluators of deaf children and properly placing them.
I actually wonder how the school districts can do that.
They do not have the right people or access skilled communicators.
There may be no signers and then how can they make decisions on the best placement for these children.
[Anthony] On March 10th, we are going to Albany.
Many deaf schools all over New York State
will be sending a group of alumni, students, parents, supporters and staff to Albany at 10 am.
More information can be found at the Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD) website at www.rsdeaf.org.
[Kelly] This is Kristin Hawley's daughter who will be a future student of RSD.
Please don’t close these schools.
As you can see these stories are really cool.
I was really inspired by these stories as I was talking with these people.
They believe that 4201 schools are the future for deaf children.
Actually, all people should have equal access to education.
In addition, these stories should be shown to the government, legislators and their staff.
I hope that you would be willing to contact me and let me know your stories.
Thank you very much and I’m looking forward to seeing your story.
If you call a legislator (Senate or assembly of New York State),
informing that you are against the governor’s proposal because 85% of the cuts toward the 4201 schools is not good.
And, the staff informs you that they support the governor’s proposal and apology.
If these legislators tell you this, I would like you to let me know by email.
Please inform me of the names of the staff or legislator and if possible, their reason for opposing our concerns.
Please put that information down and let me know in an email.
I would appreciate that. Thank you very much.