Click here, sign the petition, get Rodney removed!

http://www.change.org/petitions/dr-john-b-king-jr-commissioner-of-education-remove-rodney-krzykowski-from-the-ravena-coeymans-selkirk-school-board?utm_campaign=action_box&utm_medium=twittervia%40change&utm_source=share_petition

 

UPDATE: Petition to remove RCS Board Member Rodney Krzykowski elicits over 200 signatures!

There’s still time to sign! Click the link above and let Dr. John B. King Jr., NY Commissioner of Education, know how you feel! We are a district that is spread across many miles. It’s time to unify the “north” and “south” ends. Doesn’t matter if you reside in Glenmont or New Baltimore, there are many who don’t accept that this is the best we can give ourselves and our children. Here’s what some of your neighbors have to say. Why not let your voice be heard, too!

 

FEURA BUSH, NY

“In time like these finances are important to all of us who work and pay our taxes. If this individual chooses not to he should not have input on any tax increases that affect me personally.”

 

GLENMONT, NY

“I feel that someone who does not pay his own taxes and declares himself a sovereign citizen should not be on any public school board, and certainly not be on any finance committee. He sets a very poor example for others, adult or child. Where would we be if all U.S. citizens felt as he does?”

 

NEW BALTIMORE, NY

“It’s about responsibility. It’s about paying it forward. It’s about our future. Why would anyone expect that they do not have to pay their school and property taxes but expect to represent good citizens that do pay their taxes? It’s hypocritical.”

 

NEW BALTIMORE, NY

“I care about the children of our district. I am a former NYS employee for over 33 years and a taxpayer, who pays my taxes in a timely manner. Since my retirement more than four years ago I have volunteered in the education of 1st graders in the RCS district. My husband Ronald and I are distressed that Rodney Krzykowski has been allowed to remain on the RCS School Board, and serves on the Finance Committee no less. Please remove him as soon as possible.”

 

RAVENA, NY

“A “sovereign citizen” should not authoritatively participate in a community they are not a part of.”

 

RAVENA, NY

“Very Important information about this candidate was withheld from any biography info given prior to the election. This would certainly impacted my vote and many others. Being elected under false pretenses should be a crime and this member should be removed immediately.”

 

NEW BALTIMORE, NY

“A person who refuses recognize the government’s right to collect taxes should not be permitted to serve on the board of a school district. Schools require taxes to function, and having a board member who flaunts the requirement that citizens pay taxes undermines the authority of that board. It is especially ironic that he serves as the head of the finance committee; making determinations regarding the use of taxpayers’ dollars, to which he contributes nothing.”

 

SELKIRK, NY

“I never voted for this man, but this information was not known to the voting masses before he was elected. If it was, I am confident others would have made a different choice. It is a great distraction and keeps our district from taking care of the important issues and discussing education. He prefers to educate us on mushroom dirt! Please remove him.”

 

HANNACROIX, NY

“I have worked in Ravena for almost 20 years. 1. A person who refuses to pay school taxes has no legitimacy for allocating the use of taxes. 2. Mr. Krzykowski and his slate of friends on the school board have created the most partisan, unproductive Board I have seen there.”

 

Click HERE and let your voice be heard, too!

Click right here, sign petition, say goodbye to Rodney! It’s that simple!

http://www.change.org/petitions/dr-john-b-king-jr-commissioner-of-education-remove-rodney-krzykowski-from-the-ravena-coeymans-selkirk-school-board?share_id=tCJQiRvTBr&utm_campaign=action_box&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter via @change

 

(excerpt below taken from online petition)

This petition will be delivered to:
Dr. John B. King Jr.,
Commissioner of Education

There is a petition (complaint) that’s already filed with the New York State Education Department, to remove Mr. Krzykowski from the RCS Board of Education. The petition alleges that Rodney Krzykowski refuses to pay school or property taxes. It is estimated that the amount owed to the school district and to the town is over one hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Krzykowski has proclaimed in several legal documents that he is a sovereign citizen. A “sovereign citizen” often claims that they are not answerable to legal statutes and that taxation is illegitimate. A statue can be defined as legislative authority that governs a state, city or town.
If Mr. Krzykowski does not recognize governmental agencies or taxation then he should not be allowed to be a member of an organization that is responsible for the oversight of a community’s taxes. Rodney Krzykowski currently sits on the school board’s finance committee.
It is time to stand behind the petition filed with the state Education Department. This petition needs to be signed to ensure that those with the responsibility of protecting the legitimacy of a school board, hear your voice.

 

To:  Dr. John B. King Jr., Commissioner of Education

Remove Rodney Krzykowski from the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School Board

 

Sincerely,
[Your name]

You can also access the petition by CLICKING HERE.

If only we had known?!

“If you had known Mr. Rodney Krzykowski had unpaid tax debts, would you have voted for him?? The petition has already been filed. It is now imperative that the RCS community let Dr. John King know if they would have voted differently! For those of you who did not vote, would you have if you knew someone who refused to pay taxes was vying for a BOE seat? Perhaps it would have motivated you to cast a vote for a more suitable candidate. Yes – he received enough votes to garner a seat. So did Richard Nixon! However, that in no way absolves Mr. Krzykowski from his obligations, under the law, to pay his taxes. We all have to! So, if you feel you were deceived…or would have voted differently, please let Dr. King know it NOW! Click HERE for NYSED contact information! Thank you. 

—————————————————————–

Below is an editorial from the Albany Times Union’s web site
Post your own opinions on their site by clicking HERE

TU Editorial: In Ravena, Seeing the Light

THE ISSUE:
A petition (already filed) calls for the removal of an objectionable school board member.

THE STAKES:
The antics of Rodney Krzykowski diminish respect for an entire school district.

Finally, some encouraging news to pass on about the study in dysfunction known as the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school system — a promising development that’s perhaps worthy of the civics curriculum there.

It’s about, no surprise, Rodney Krzykowski. He’s the self-described “sovereign citizen” who refuses to pay either local school and property taxes or state taxes. How he can justify such defiant actions could be worth study by a smart RCS student.

What makes Mr. Krzykowski an altogether more maddening figure is that he’s an elected member of a school board that’s its own collective embarrassment.

The same guy who won’t pay his own taxes — delinquent to the tune of more than $100,000 — apparently has no compunction about making decisions about spending other people’s taxes. He’s even a member of the school board’s finance committee.

And now comes Matt Miller, president of the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk teachers union. He’s had enough of a farce that casts aspersions on the entire school system, even the teachers and administrators who are both ethical and competent. He wants Mr. Krzykowski off the board.

Good for Mr. Miller. And good for the unnamed Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk resident who signed Mr. Miller’s petition calling for the state Education Department to remove Mr. Krzykowski.

Talk about a cause worth embracing. Even a cursory look at the petition reveals a wake of pedagogical carnage created by Mr. Krzykowski.

Mr. Miller and his anonymous ally specifically cite how on “numerous occasions members of the community have expressed outrage, negativity and mistrust towards the board.”

Indeed. So let’s hear, loudly and clearly, from those people, too. A pair of exasperated signatories isn’t about to pressure the Education Department to do much of anything. But a sustained, grass-roots effort across three towns in southern Albany County might push the state to take such an admittedly extraordinary action as undoing the will of the voters — voters whom, we suspect, are having more than a few second thoughts about their choice.

It also might make Alan McCartney, the interim school superintendent, take the debacle created by an anti-tax subversive more seriously. He’s too quick to try to deflect what’s obviously an awkward situation for him and other Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk administrators.

“Mr. Krzykowski as an individual is being challenged for his qualifications to be on the board,” Mr. McCartney says. “The only one that can make that determination is the commissioner. We really have very little part in it except for that he’s on the Ravena board.”

That’s some serious exception, Mr. McCartney. Surely the district has something to say, from the standpoint of professionalism and citizenship, about a board member who has achieved a special level of prominence and infamy.

He’s not alone, of course. Board President John Vadney brought further embarrassment upon the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk schools with his arrest earlier this year on charges of harassing the father of the former school board vice president.

And let’s not forget last spring’s school budget election, which prompted a state investigation amid suspicion of the reported results and allegations of voter fraud and illegal electioneering.

An interesting case study for a civics paper, indeed. If only this was merely an academic exercise, and these individuals weren’t in a position to affect the education of some 2,000 young people or make decisions affecting more than 14,000 citizens.

Time to get rid of Mr. Krzykowski, and his ally Mr. Vadney, too, for that matter, and take back the schools. Spread the word, Mr. Miller.

(this blog is NOT associated with the Albany Times Union
or any other media entity…Just an ordinary Joe who’s had enough!)

Are you an RCS taxpayer??

“According to an article that ran in the Times Union on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, a petition has already been filed, “alleging that (Rodney) Krzykowski has “deliberately” refused to pay his school tax bill for more than a decade, making him unsuitable for his role on the board.

The petition alleges that Krzykowski owes $56,225 in delinquent property and school taxes dating back to 2001, and $51,011 in unpaid state taxes dating to 1997.

“What’s at issue here is the board member’s responsibility under the law to pay his school taxes just like every resident,” said NYSUT spokesman Carl Korn.

New York State Education Commissioner Dr. John King will eventually decide to either remove Krzykowski from the board or allow him to remain.”

 

Tell NYSED, your superintendent, RCS and the current board members how you feel!

The petition has already been filed. It is now up to community members to contact NYS Education Commissioner, Dr. John King, as he is the person who will ultimately decide whether Mr. Krzykowski is removed or allowed to remain on the RCS BOE.

 

NYSED Contact Info:

Dr. John B. King, Jr.
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
Official Twitter page: John King@JohnKingNYSED

Current RCS BOE Members:

jvadney@rcscsd.org – President, John Vadney
hengle@rcscsd.org – Bray Engel
rakrzykowski@rcscsd.org – Rodney Krzykowski
jlatter@rcscsd.org – James Latter
jlukens@rcscsd.org – Jeff Lukens
ereville@rcscsd.org – Teddy Reville
mrobbins@rcscsd.org – Vice President, Mike Robbins
jsylvester@rcscsd.org – Judy Sylvester
awhalen@rcscsd.org – Alice Whalen

Other Contacts:

Alan McCartney
Superintendent of Schools
(518) 756-5200, ext. 6003
amccartney@rcscsd.org

A.W. Becker Elementary School
1146 Route 9W
Selkirk, NY 12158
(518) 756-5200, ext. 5000

Claudia Verga, Principal
cverga@rcscsd.org

Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School
66 Church Street
Coeymans, NY 12045
(518) 756-5200, ext. 4000

Hakim Jones, Principal
hjones@rcscsd.org

RCS Middle School
2025 Rt. 9W
Ravena, NY 12143
(518) 756-5200, ext. 3000
Fax: (518) 756-1988

Pam Black, Principal
pblack@rcscsd.org

RCS High School
2025 Rt. 9W
Ravena, NY 12143
(518) 756-5200, ext. 2000
HS/Guidance Fax: 756-3534

Brian Bailey, Principal
bbailey@rcscsd.org

 

The below is an article from the Albany Times Union. 

Tax bill dispute leads to petition

State urged to remove “sovereign citizen” from RCS Board of Education
By Kristen V. Brown

Published 11:48 p.m., Tuesday, December 4, 2012

• 

  Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school board member Rodney Krzykowski listens to a speaker during a board meeting at the high school library on Tuesday night Feb. 28, 2012 in Ravena, N.Y. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union ) Photo: Philip Kamrass / 00016610A

ALBANY — Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Teachers Association President Matt Miller and an unnamed resident have filed a petition with the state Education Department to remove RCS Board of Education member and self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen” Rodney Krzykowski from the board.

On Friday, Miller and a petitioner identified as “A.B.,” with the backing of the New York State United Teachers union, filed a petition alleging that Krzykowski has “deliberately” refused to pay his school tax bill for more than a decade, making him unsuitable for his role on the board.

The petition alleges that Krzykowski owes $56,225 in delinquent property and school taxes dating back to 2001, and $51,011 in unpaid state taxes dating to 1997.

“What’s at issue here is the board member’s responsibility under the law to pay his school taxes just like every resident,” said NYSUT spokesman Carl Korn. “No one is above the law, and we expect a board member to set an example. By failing to do so, he has forfeited his right to serve as a board member.”

Korn said it is extremely rare for NYSUT or private citizens to file such a suit.

“Thankfully, 99.9 percent of board members are law-abiding citizens and petitions of this sort are not necessary,” he said.

Krzykowski was elected to the board in May 2011 and sits on the board’s finance committee. Krzykowski, 72, unsuccessfully ran for the board twice before winning election.

He did not respond to a request for comment.

The petition states that on “numerous occasions members of the community have expressed outrage, negativity and mistrust towards the Board” and Krzykowski due to Krzykowski’s refusal to pay school taxes. The complaint alleges that his actions have led to a “hostile environment for Board meetings and mistrust between the public and the Board.”

The petition says that at a Nov. 6 board meeting, Krzykowski admitted that he had not paid his school taxes for the previous year or any years prior for which he owed back taxes.

In several court documents, Krzykowski has often defined himself as a “sovereign citizen.” The FBI describes such individuals as anti-government extremists who believe that even though they are in the country they are separate or “sovereign” from the United States.

The petition also alleges that at the same time that Krzykowski has refused to pay his own taxes, he voted, last April, for a 6.8 percent tax levy imposed on all members of the RCS School District. It says that though Krzykowski considers himself a sovereign citizen, he has never abstained from casting votes affecting tax levies.

The petition says that while Krzykowski subscribes to a school of thought that recognizes most forms of government as illegitimate, the school board is a “local form of government and a municipal corporation that oversees and manages a public school district’s affairs.”

The RCS School District and Board of Education were also named as respondents in the petition, though no allegations are made against either.

Alan R. McCartney, interim superintendent for the district, said the suit really didn’t have anything to do with the district or the board.

“Mr. Krzykowski as an individual is being challenged for his qualifications to be on the board,” McCartney said. “The only one that can make that determination is the commissioner. We really have very little part in it except for that he’s on the Ravena board.”

He said the district would attempt to move forward “as normally as possible” while a decision is made on the case.

New York State Education Commissioner John King will eventually decide to either remove Krzykowski from the board or allow him to remain.

Krzykowski runs a tire-recovery business, RAK Tire, on the property of his Ravena home, according to his home voicemail message and documents filed with the state Department of Environmental Conservation in 2010.

He has been the subject of other charges – code violations alleging excessive garbage, weeds and inoperable or unregistered vehicles on his Route 143 property. The charges are expected to be dropped this month if Krzykowski continues to comply with demands to clean up his property.

The petition also says that Krzykowski has filed a $50 million claim against the town for violating his “sovereignty in bringing various land use code violations against him and he stamped the notice of claim with a seal that states ‘Rodney A. Krzykowski, Secured Party Creditor and Trustee.’ ”