The 100 million dollar school budget

The Rome, NY Sucks blog has an interesting post on School Board Follies. He speaks of the 100 million dollar school budget and makes an interesting observation that our school superintendent Jeffery Simmons is earning $132,986.10 a year (roughly $65 an hour). He points out that this is four times the median income in this area.

This may be a competitive salary similar to what a school superintendent might make in other parts of the country. But for our little, economically depressed Rome, NY, this amount is disproportionate to the standard of living that we face. I've seen the argument that we need to pay them this much in order to recruit top talent from elsewhere. I would argue we could find a local willing to do the job for half as much, be just as qualified, and much more in tune with our own local social and economic realities.

RomeHater also points out the lack of interest in the school board - 5 candidates running for 3 seats. It's no wonder our property taxes are so high (and property values deflated as a result). The lack of interest and oversight into where these massive amounts of tax dollars are going are part of the reason we're in the mess we are.

Rome Free Academy is a wonderful building both outside and in. The music, arts and sports programs are second to none. However academically it seems we're falling behind. I know of several students who are failing multiple courses - generally the math and sciences. I also know some who have dropped out completely (or are in the process of flunking out). We are letting these kids down.

Why are students being allowed to attend three classes a day and then skip out for the rest of the day? I remember when the school first opened, there was a strict policy on not allowing kids to leave the campus. I didn't agree with it at the time, having attended the "old" RFA and enjoying the small freedoms that going out for lunch granted. But it seems like somewhere along the path the "new RFA" has fallen off the wagon.

I can't put the entire blame on the RFA staff and guidance counselors - the past 8 years at the White House have led to massive underfunding for science and mathematics. Parents are part of the problem as well, understanding that their child is failing but still allowing them a car, an allowance, and a 3 a.m. curfew. Substance abuse is as rampant as it ever was.

But with a budget of 100 million I expect more from our schools as well. We should be demanding more after-school hours out of the teachers who are leading to these massive failures. After-school programs for failing students should be mandatory. And we need to look critically at the teachers who are leading to these failures. Are they deserving of their jobs? Talk to the students - you're bound to get an honest assessment out of some of them on WHAT exactly the teachers are doing wrong to cause these failure rates.

CPJ's Bar & Grill

CPJ's is a bar/grill located along the strip of diners on Floyd Ave close to Griffiss Technology Park. They specialize in Italian foods and boast a large Italian menu. There is ample seating for dining in as well as seating along the bar.

I've tried both the chicken parm dinner and the garlic pizza & hot wings. The food is nothing to rave about. Pizzas come in a 9" x 13" square (six square slices) and remind me of Marina's pizza from when I was a boy. While the food may not be on par with other more expensive restaurants, the prices are definitely affordable. Most entrees can be had for under $12 and include choice of pasta/fries/rice/broccoli and garlic bread. A pizza/wing special will run you $18.

Barbi-Q's restaraunt

Located on Floyd Ave. just as you enter Griffis Business Park, Barbi-Q's is a relatively new business specializing in short order barbecue food. My experience with them has been all positive, from the friendly atmosphere, to the cleanliness and fast service, and of course the delicious food. You can get most BBQ dishes here including pulled pork and pulled beef. They also specialize in a "Texas Q" sandwich, which contains either beef or chicken served on garlic texas toast (!), which makes for an interesting flavor I wasn't sure I would like but went surprisingly well together. I've heard great things about their Philly Cheese Steak, although I've never tried it.

The interior is small so if you plan on going during the crowded lunchtime, seating may be limited. You can view their menu on their website located here: http://www.barbi-qs.net/ And no, they don't have BBQ ribs, although if they did they might get more business than they can handle!

Spring is finally here - GO ORANGE

Spring is here and I thought I would come out of my seven-month hibernation and update this blog!

It's amazing how life seems to freeze with the cold temperatures. Going out just seems like less of a good idea when you can sit inside your warm house and away from the snow. It's not so bad for those that enjoy winter sports - skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling - but winter is just something that's not for me!

Jim Boeheim has led the Syracuse Organgemen to another Sweet 16 appearance. They have a strong all-around team with some serious clutch players. They face some tough competition in Oklahoma and then likely North Carolina just to make it to the Final Four. While I would consider them underdogs this year, they have a strong enough team to put up a real fight.

I missed the Good Morning America segment on Rome, NY. I did hear from more than one person that it was less than flattering, focusing on the old industrial districts which are slowly going out of business or long-extinct, and completely ignoring the high tech jobs that are being turned out from Griffiss Park. It sounds like this was filmed 15 years too late. Rome has been struggling, but it's far from dying thanks to the revitalization efforts at Griffis and elsewhere in the city. Rome Research Site recently named one of their buildings after Sherwood Boehlert, and rightfully so, the man has done a tremendous amount of work to keep Rome Labs alive and thriving from BRAC closure to BRAC closure. With Rep. Boehlert retiring in 2007 I hope we have someone who can step into those shoes and continue to give hope and future promise to the area.

Here are some of the topics you'll see me writing about in the coming weeks:

Food Reviews: Including Sophia's, Barbi Q's, Big Daddy's, CPJ's, The Savoy

New businesses to the area: Including hot spots such as Griffiss Technology Park, Turning Stone Casino & Resort, The Orchard/Sangertown/New Hartford shopping district

Bar reviews: I'm making the self-sacrifice of sampling all the bars in the Rome circuit. Expect to see reviews including drink selection, crowd, music, pricing and more.

Movie Reviews: The summer blockbusters are right around the corner, so expect to see some reviews

If there is anything you would like to see written about please drop me a line or post a comment.

Footloose @ The Capitol Theater

As the final part of the 2008 Summerstage, The Capitol Theater in Rome is showcasing the musical Footloose.

I'd seen Man of La Mancha earlier this year and was left less impressed than 2007's musicals. While some scenes were well done, I found some of the actors annoying and others hard to understand. Sitting in the balcony may have been partially to blame.

I went into Footloose with lesser expectations but was blown away. The characters in the musical were all likeable and several outstanding performances were given. It was everything you could want from a show: from parts that were laugh out loud funny, to several moving scenes with characters showcasing their inner struggles, and most importantly, great music!

Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for students.

Rome, NY Amphitheater

My mom recently recounted from her youth often visiting an old amphiteahter in Rome. She said it was located off Floyd Ave near the nursing home, but after some biking I wasn't able to find a street or path down that way. I wonder has it been destroyed or had a house built over it?

Riggiefest '08

Today was the 2008 Riggiefest, an event that pits local restaurants against each other for the prize of holding the "best chicken riggie" title.

Teddy's restaurant in Rome ended a streak of three straight years as champion by being named to the "Riggie Hall of Fame", and choosing not to enter this year's contest. They are however rolling out two new kinds of riggies just for the event: steak riggies and shrimp riggies.

I didn't make it to this year's event but I'm looking forward to trying the new champion's riggies.

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The airstrip in Rome is seeing a constant increase in activity. I drive past daily and there always seem to be aircraft taking off or landing. Moving it to Rome was a good move that made use of a runway that was scarcely used. Hopefully we'll start to see more commercial flights into and out of the airport.