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youtube link — https://youtu.be/f3xIjVtOip8
whiteplainsweek.com link — http://www.whiteplainsweek.com/
PLUS BAILEY AND BENEROFE DISCUSS THE LOCAL CABLE NEWS GAFFE WHAT’S AHEAD FOR REAL NEWS IN THE COUNTY
AT THE LIMITS FRIDAYS WHERE THE ACTION IS
BENEROFE & BAILEY: 19TH YEAR OF BRINGING YOU TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS TV EVERY WEEK
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the New York State Education Department. August 23, 2019:
The State Education Department late Thursday released the results of the 2019 Grades 3-8 English language arts (ELA) and mathematics tests administered last April and May.
Editor’s Note: In the White Plains City School District, 43% of Students taking the ELA were “Proficient”, placing in levels 3 & 4, compared to 45% being deemed proficient in 2018. In Math, White Plains students improved to 44% “Proficient” compared to 41% in 2018.
“The Board of Regents and I are committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of where they go to school, have access to equitable opportunities and a high-quality education,” Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. “As our Every Student Succeeds Act plan emphasizes, we need multiple, interlocking strategies to address achievement gaps as well as opportunity gaps. State assessments are one tool that helps us do that.”
“During my tenure with the New York State Education Department, I’m proud of the progress we have made in terms of reducing gaps in student achievement,” State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said. “As I’ve consistently said, assessments are a part of the larger picture that we look at when we examine performance levels across the state. This year’s test scores are a positive sign that we are making progress and I believe the deliberative and thoughtful approach outlined in our State’s ESSA plan will continue to benefit the students of New York State.”
The state did not make significant changes to the 2019 assessments; therefore the 2019 results can be compared with the 2018 results. However, due to the change in 2018 to the two-session test design and the performance standard review process, the 2017 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math results cannot be compared with 2018 and 2019 results.
Of the Big 5 city school districts, New York City continues to have the highest percentage of students proficient in both ELA and math, with Yonkers having the second highest in each. In ELA in 2019, New York City exceeded the statewide proficiency rate by 2 percent, with 47.4 of students achieving proficiency, compared with 45.4 percent statewide. In math, 45.6 percent of New York City students scored at the proficient level, compared with 46.7 percent statewide.
| 2018 | 2019 | Percentage Point Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC | 46.7 | 47.4 | 0.7 |
| Buffalo | 23.4 | 24.7 | 1.3 |
| Rochester | 11.4 | 13.2 | 1.8 |
| Syracuse | 15.4 | 17.7 | 2.3 |
| Yonkers | 26.7 | 31.5 | 4.8 |
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PEOPLE TO BE HEARD NOW ON YOUTUBE AND WHITEPLAINSWEEK.COM AT
PTBH with Dr. McLennon-Wier has been posted on the internet
The YouTube link is https://youtu.be/H38DlBZ9064
and here again is the wpweek.com link http://www.whiteplainsweek.com/
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. AUGUST 21, 2019:
May we have the results, please?
The New York State Education Department has not given a date for when New York school districts can expect the results of the second year of Questar,Inc.
Questar was chosen to prepare the assessments, given a five year contract for $44 Million, replacing Pearson (the world leader in performance test preparation), in 2015. QUESTAR has prepared the New York State Assessment Tests in 2017-2018, and 2018-19.
The effect of the late results on the White Plains School District that begins the 2019-2020 the day after Labor Day on September 3, has been that curriculum and instruction specialists in the district have been unable to view district Grades 3 to 8 performances on the second year of the supposedly new and improved user-friendly, computer submitted tests.
Why? Because the test scores administered in April and May last spring have not been released yet.
The school district has had to plan curriculum without ability to compare with results of White Plains Students on the Math and ELA tests in the second year of Questar preparation effectively.
WPCNR asked the Superintendent of Schools of White Plains, Dr. Joseph Ricca, how this has affected the district.
WPCNR asked if teachers used assessment test scores of individual students to discuss with students with poor scores, areas the students needed to improve.
Dr. Ricca said this was not possible because of the time it has taken to receive the test scores. “The students have already moved out of your (last year’s teacher) classes, they are in this year’s classes.”
I asked if teachers got actual assessment test sheet results on each student from the previous year’s results.
Dr. Ricca said “No. We take a look at overall student performance on the assessments, and emphasize areas for improvement sensitive to individual students from (White Plains) assessments we give (in our classes). Our assessments give us current sense of where our children are. The state does not send individual assessment answer sheets related to each child.”
I asked if the state assessment test results indicate most missed questions. Again, the district has no transparency. Dr. Ricca: “A picture of the district failure rate by question—that doesn’t happen.”
I asked how the assessment tests are graded?
Ricca explained, “The test computerized answer forms are send to computer centers and Questar grades them by computer based grading . The written portion of the tests are reviewed and graded by individuals.”
“Dr. Ricca concluded: “The educators in the White Plains School District continue to work hard to support every one of our students succeed. Standardized assessments are simply one measure of growth. We are very proud of our children and they continue to grow and excel.”
He said as of Monday the school district had not been notified when the state assessment results would be released.
The State Education Department told WPCNR last week: “The scores will be released later this summer, on a similar timeline to the 2017 release (August 22) Unfortunately I cannot give a more specific date. “
Asked why in 2016 test scores were released July 29, (not August 22), the Department furnished this statement: “The release of the scores was later in 2017 because the math tests were administered three weeks later than in 2016(April 13-2016, v. May 1-17, 2017).”
The State Education Department explained the Questar delay to September 23 last year on the 2017-2018 results because of a need for a performance review:
“In 2018, because of the switch from three days of testing to two, and the resulting need to conduct a new performance standard review, the statewide scores were released about a month later than usual.”
It is possible the scores could be released tomorrow August 22, or Friday August 23 and meet the 2017 date.
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WPCNR WATCH ON THE RHINE. August 18, 1019:
A Veriozon spokesperson announced today that effective in November, Verizon Fios would drop is FIOS Newscast, which has been produced for them by Regional News Network. RNN, in turn said in a filing with New York State they would layoff the 150 persons employed by RNN to produce the Verizon Fios News Service.
The Verizon news service has been provided for 10 years as an effort to offer an alternative news service to Altice Cablevision News 12 that has recently touted itself as the Number one Local News Service in Westchester television. Verizon FIOS 1 News service has not caught on due to Verizon Fios lack of success in winning over subscribers from Altice Cablevision.
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| Do you have chipped and peeling paint? Was your home built before 1978? Is your home in need of repairs? Do children under six years old or pregnant women live in the home? If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may be eligible for the Lead Safe Westchester (LSW) Program. Applicants must provide proof that they earn at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Westchester County. If lead is inhaled, swallowed or absorbed into the body, it affects the brain and developing nervous systems of young children and fetuses, which can lead to learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Westchester County received a $4.1 million grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to reduce exposure to lead-based paint, dust and other safety hazards for low and moderate income households. Westchester County provides project management services and improvements at no cost to the property owner or tenant. Apply today! LSW Applications are now being accepted and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority consideration will be given to units housing children under the age of 6 and/or units where a pregnant woman resides. LSW funds are awarded based on the household income of the resident. After the applications are processed, the County will inspect each unit, develop the scope of work and assist the property owner to solicit bids from licensed and certified lead abatement contractors to complete improvements that may include: paint stabilization, door and window replacements, minor electrical repairs, installation of smoke detectors and other safety repairs.If you are a property owner or a tenant and you live in a property that was built before 1978, you may have lead-based paint in your home. Applications can be accessed here: homes.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/lsw19app.pdf.For more information contact the Department of Planning at (914) 995–4602 or via email at Tkr3@westchestergov.com.Sincerely, |
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link for youtube for wpw 8/16
link to whiteplainsweek.comhttp://www.whiteplainsweek.com/
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Investigation into identity theft and credit card fraud is continuing
WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From The Westchester County Police. August 15, 2019 UPDATED 1:15 PM EDT:
Westchester County Police arrested five persons Wednesday and charged them with stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from TJ Maxx and other retail stores in recent months. Investigators estimate the loss of goods to be valued at more than $500,000.
Kieran O’Leary, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer told WPCNR the operation was first noticed by the TJ Maax management when they noticed large purchases being made on newly opened accounts that used up the credit line within a very short time of purchase.
TJ Maxx notified the Westchester County Police.
O’Leary said the fraudulent purchases were made at different locations in Westchester, Long Island and New York City. The County Identify Theft unit started the investigation five months ago, and is looking into where the merchandise was purchased from to effect returns. O’Leary said the current spate of thefts seems to be limited to the five suspects.
The five suspects are accused of engaging in identity theft and credit card fraud to commit multiple larcenies over the past five months. The suspects obtained numerous credit cards through fraudulent means and used the cards to purchase merchandise before the fraudulent cards were discovered and shut down.
The ring would purchase several thousand dollars in merchandise a day, including high-end pocketbooks and clothing, televisions and furniture, the investigation revealed.
The suspects are preliminarily charged with multiple counts of Grand Larceny and other offenses. The investigation into the scheme is continuing and additional charges are anticipated.
Westchester County Police detectives, assisted by members of the County Police Special Response Team and investigators from the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, executed search warrants Wednesday at one residence in Mount Vernon, three in the Bronx and one in Queens. The suspects were taken into custody at those locations and numerous items of stolen property, valued at more than $100,000, were seized.
Several vans and a U-Haul truck were needed to haul away the seized stolen goods, and a complete inventory of the recovered items is still under way. In addition, devices used to make fraudulent credit cards and fraudulent identification were also seized.
“I would like to commend the General Investigations Unit for the painstaking investigation it conducted in recent months to identify these thieves and bring them to justice,” Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said. “I am grateful to the prosecutors and investigators at the Westchester District Attorney’s Office for their invaluable assistance throughout this lengthy and complex investigation.”
Gleason also thanked TJX Companies, the parent company of TJ Maxx, for its assistance and cooperation during the investigation.
“This was a lucrative criminal enterprise that victimized numerous retail establishments in Westchester and beyond,” Gleason said. “We have evidence that this scheme was also utilized outside of Westchester and we will be sharing information and evidence with other jurisdictions.”
“This was an important collaborative effort to stop the kind of theft that begins by stealing identities of innocent victims and then becomes theft of property. We commend Westchester County Police investigators in conjunction with the team from TJX Companies for pursuing these criminals,” said Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. “Our specialized Identity Theft Unit will see that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Arrested in Mount Vernon were Hassan Miller, 46, of Chester Street, Mount Vernon, and Dawn Anderson, 48, of East 143rd Street, Bronx. They were each charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 2nd Degree, three counts of Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device and 76 counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, felonies.
Miller and Anderson were arraigned Wednesday in Mount Vernon City Court and were remanded to the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla. The remaining three suspects were held overnight at county police headquarters in Hawthorne and will be arraigned today in Yonkers City Court. They are:
The case is being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Investigations Division Identity Theft Unit.
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