Pyramids Child Development Center - Save our School - www.pyramidscdc.org

Clinton County Fair Field Trip and Benefit

2008-07-24T03:58:00.000-07:00

A day at the Clinton County Fair Grounds. The Clinton County Sheriff's Department assisted with a safe crossing for children ages 3-5. A fun and educational day for all.

Parents with children serviced by Pyramids have come together to host a benefit to raise monies for classroom computer equipment and classroom supplies.

Benefit for Pyramids Child Development Center

The American Legion Post 20
162 Quarry Rd, Plattsburgh

Saturday July 26 - noon to 5:00 p.m.

Hot Dogs, Hamburgers & fixings
kid games, raffles,
horse drawn carriage rides (weather permitting)

Letter To The Editor - Summer Session News

2008-07-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

With the ending of the school year and now the beginning of the summer session there has been less of a focus to update this blog with this transition. Today is a good day to make an entry to announce the release of the Letter to the Editor submitted by Lola Johnson, Press Republican, July 8th, 2008, copied below.

On behalf of the Pyramids' Employees, and the families that support Pyramids and myself, we are appreciative of Lola Johnson's submission in her efforts to bring attention to the mission of Pyramids.

"TO THE EDITOR: Ever since I read the front-page story nearly a month ago, I have been shaken by the misrepresentation of Pyramids Child Development Center and the impugned reputation of its founding director, Mellisa Felicelli.There are always two sides to a story, and it certainly seems that Melissa Felicelli and Pyramids have not had a fair opportunity to present theirs. Implied judgment by front-page journalism which, in my opinion, was incomplete and unexpectedly biased, is unworthy of good, small-town newspaper reporting. I am disappointed and fret for an appropriately balanced presentation of the facts. A truly transformative, compassionate and effective educational concept was developed by Melissa and realized through endless hours of labor, the high energy of conviction and the desire to better serve a needy population. The creative renovation of an entirely empty school building was undertaken, and the implementation of a truly imaginative curriculum, which served handicapped and other pre-school children was carried out, successfully, by Melissa and a truly dedicated staff. They are to be applauded in a role-model situation.I taught yoga to these wonderful staff people, and my three grandchildren have attended and benefited by participation in this unique program. There is no hesitation in my conviction that Melissa is a person of complete integrity and absolute commitment. If some kind of problem has arisen, it will be because of the complexity of her achievement.I trust that her side of the story will receive equal pronouncement."
Lola Johnson,Chazy

In closing, Pyramids Child Development Center is pleased to say their summer program for preschool special education is in session and child care is in full operation. Pyramids is operating two fewer preschool special education classrooms this summer. With the support and understanding of parents who pay for child care services, child care services are now ending a half hour earlier each day with a 5:30 pm pick up. This is amounting to a fiscal savings and a benefit to the child care employees as well.

A number of the employees work reduced summer schedules, while some take the summer off and others take positions they would not normally perform during the course of the school year. Summer is always a pleasant change, with plenty of opportunities for fresh air and out door instruction appreciated by the children and the teaching staff alike.

Thank you to all our readers and those who continue to seek information to better understand the situation concerning the creation of the debt.

Pyramids Child Development Center continues to seek Charitable Donations to help pay down the debt. Pyramids is a 501-c3 approved as a NYSED Educational Charter. All interested parties may contact the following for further information.
mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org vreiner@pyramidspreschool.org and mcarter@pyramidspreschool.org

Pyramids Can Expect Rate Revisions

2008-06-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

Pyramids Administration met with NYSED representatives Thursday June 5th to learn that Pyramids will be able to re-submit for insufficient funding for preschool special education services. This news will allow Pyramids to move forward with a restructuring of the debt. This is very good news to the families served by Pyramids and the employees who value and appreciate their employment.

These revisions come at a cost. It is the regional counties served by Pyramids that are mandated to absorb these costs. Therefore, some of the questions that are worth addressing with today's blog are as follows:

How has debt been created in the amount of 800,000 over 4 years?
Each year, since 2004, in order to cover all the costs of operating the mandated preschool special education programs, Pyramids required an additional 7% of revenue annually to stay in the black.

Why are these programs so expensive?
A preschool special education classroom ranges in cost between 150,000 to 250,000 per year in actual cost depending on the nature of the needs of the children serviced by that classroom. The more therapies necessary the more the cost of the classroom. No surprise to anyone the increased cost of health insurance and employee benefits and general operating expenses also increases the cost. But another very important point worth mentioning is the reduction of revenues to share overhead costs.

As any good business person knows, shared overhead costs for a facility, materials, equipment, and administration costs, spread out over more programs, reduces the cost to anyone program. This is a significant point to be made in Clinton County and one that deserves to be understood by the voting community.

When the facility, Pyramids in Morrisonville was opened, 2002, the business plan was a good one. Under one facility, marry child care with preschool special education programming, and allow other programs, such as early intervention revenues and preschool home service revenues, share the cost of overhead and administration costs.

What happened then?
In 2004, the local legislators, voted to create two new agencies in Clinton County doing the same work for early intervention and home preschool services using employees at the time currently working for Pyramids and with clients currently serviced by Pyramids. Since 2004, the revenues for these other programs, to help off-set overhead and administration costs, has been reduced by 70%. Essentially transferred to start up agencies to do the same kind of work.

Who then needs to take responsibility for the deficit created to operate the mandated preschool special education preschool programs?
No one person but rather a collective group. A group of legislators whom voted to collectively dismantle programs to Pyramids that were acting to off-set overhead costs, to keep the costs of operating the mandated preschool special programs from running a deficit or at the very least a deficit that would not result in a forced Chapter 11.

Why did they do this?
Depending on who you speak to, legislators, county officials, the county attorney, Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, you will hear a different answer. Yet, collectively there has been one single mission since 2004, to distort the truth. What tactics and measures have the responsible parties willingly engaged in to distort the truth? Although nothing surprises me any longer, it may help the reader to explain why I relocated my family. Regardless of the reason, the vote, .. an unprecendedted phone vote .. by the legislators in 2004, to dismantle revenues, has the fiscal result of higher regional costs to educate the preschool child with a disability.

In closing, this is a good day for the Pyramids team. There is relief and a sense that all the work to bring parents and employees together to unite with a single voice stating emphatically they want their school to survive, their programs to remain in tact, has paid off.

There is more work to be done. Private donations will continue to be a focus to finish the debt entirely. Our fiscal reports for 06-07 are being completed with the help of our Albany based consultant and finally, the state audit report, with all its flaws and misrepresentations is being formally disputed.

A very big thank you to the readers of this blog who continue to show their support and the increasing amount of individuals who desire to be informed and not mislead by a selected few.

To receive a copy of FAQ's please email drrecore@pyramidspreschool.org

All prospective donors, please call 518-562-3847 and ask to speak to Vivian Reiner, Melissa Dorsett-Felicelli, Karen Hachigian, Margi Carter or Valerie Bragg.

Melissa will be happy to discuss the issues concerning the audit. She may be contacted at mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org or 518-593-8945.

Parent Support

2008-06-04T10:19:00.001-07:00

More Parent Quotes:

“ Since birth he has faced many “ life and death" experiences…..Pyramids has given him the support and tools ...to make incredible strides…devastating….to close the doors on such a fantastic school.” John and Debbie A., Lewis, NY

“ A year ago, my family and I were so scared that Quentin would not have the capabilities to adjust to life beyond the four corners of his bedroom…..with the help of Pyramids programs….Quentin has excelled beyond our beliefs…discontinuing …will be detrimental to my grandson” Deborah C., Plattsburgh, NY

“ has come a long way in a year….loosing Pyramids would be shameful….disappointing…..( he was)3 yrs(old) before speaking….at this point hasn’t stopped …since beginning Pyramids”
Shana B., Plattsburgh, NY

Tuesday, June 3rd, resulted in another successful support meeting attended by parents with preschool children who have been found to have special needs. Many children attended this meeting and were filmed by WPTZ Channel 5 news. The Press Republican sent a reporter to interview parents to understand what Pyramids means to them and it what it would mean if Pyramids is unable to continue full operations for the preschool child with a disability.

Another 54 support letters were collected.

As support letters are being collected they are being sent to state officials and regional stakeholders able to shed light on the expense of educating a preschool child with special needs and to see that these programs are sufficiently funded to meet with actual cost.

Pyramids operates a total of 7 preschool special education classrooms and like BOCES, operator of these programs prior to Pyramids with a reported loss of 1.7 million, Pyramids has experienced insufficient funding since 2004. In the past, Pyramids has used early intervention revenues, infant/toddler intervention program, to help off-set these losses. Currently Pyramids does much less with regards to early intervention services. That said, special education for the preschool child must stand alone with revenues to match the expense of each classroom. Depending on the nature of the needs of the children attending these federally mandated programs, year to year, these expenses will vary. With the assistance of an Albany based consultant, Pyramids has submitted revisions to reflect actual cost for the 05-06 school year. This in effect will adjust the 05-06 school year reimbursement rates and the past two school years ending a cycle of debt created out of insufficient rates. Pyramids is awaiting a response from the New York State Department of Education concerning the revisions submitted by an independent consultant.

Pyramids is also using parent support letters with our fundraising efforts that are well underway. As of today oever 70 packets have been sent out to individuals and foundations in the state of NY who have in the past shown a history of sponsoring and supporting programs for children. Revised rates with donations can end the pattern of creating debt to pay for insufficiently funded preschool special education services.

Prospective donors may contact our main office at 518-562-3847 and request to speak to Margi Carter, Vivian Reiner, Melissa Dorsett-Felicelli, Dawn Recore or Karen Hachigian.

To all those staying up with the blog, we will try to update at least twice a week and more often as information is learned about rates, donations and anything else we can share with our regional community supporting Pyramids Child Development Center.

A set of FAQ's developed as a result of the inaccurate press release 5/15/08 and the truth concerning a number of issues can be requested by contacting drrecore@pyramidspreschool.org.

Questions concerning the blog or any other matter may be addressed to mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org. Melissa may also be reached at 518-593-8945 (cell). Melissa is happy to answer any and all questions directed at efforts to make it appear Pyramids mismanaged the preschool special education funding.

Parent and Employee Support

2008-05-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

It has been about ten days since this blog was first created. It's intention, to correct any and all misperceptions about Pyramids Child Development Center initiated by a select few with hidden agendas.

This entry will include excerpts from parent support letters. Excerpts from employee support letters will follow in the next blog entry. Employees and parents mutually share the same concerns, to keep all programs in full operation, without threats of closure caused by inaccurately reported information.

Support Letter Excerpts:

"Every night when we bring our 4 year to bed she says "I hope, I dream of my school school because I love it." We doubt we could find a state or county official who would be willing to look our 4 year old in the eyes and tell her why she may not be able to dream about her school anymore." Jennifer and Matthew W.

"Pyramids is unique in its mission to provide children with a holistic environment that nourishes their bodies, minds and senses ideally. The physical space, loving staff and food free from detrimental and artificial ingredients, offers children optimal circumstances for growth and development." Megan M-K

"This school and their program is amazing. It has helped many children that are autistic actually be able to communicate and feel! It has helped children without words speak! It has helped children without a voice, gain a voice." Josee P.

"I can not say enough about the team of professionals at the Elizabethtown center. Words that come to mind include: welcoming, sensitive, consistent, nurturing, approachable, creative and energetic." Tom and Julie B.

"Our son received speech therapy, special education, and occupational therapy services from Pyramids between the ages of 2 to 4 years. The quality of services was unmatched and the progress he made was exceptional. I truly believe those early years of high quality services, as well as prayer, helped him to be what he is today, that being a typical fifth grader with no special education services" Kristen F.

"Thanks to Pyramids, my daughters are exposed to the virtues of eating healthy locally-organic-grown foods. I am also very impressed with the environmentally friendly approach to hygiene and cleaning practiced by Pyramids." Tina C-S,

To request a copy of our support letters, both from parents and employees (about 70 at present), or to tour our programs or facility, please contact khachigian@pyramidspreschool.org vbragger@pyramidspreschool.org
or vreiner@pyramisdpreschool.org.

To inquire about making a tax deductible charitable donation please contact mcarter@pyramidspreschool.org or mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org.

To request for FAQ's concerning the May 15th, 2008 press release, please contact drecore@pyramidspreschool.org.

Melissa Dorsett-Felicelli or Margi Carter may also be reached at 518-562-3847 to request for the specific financial needs at present.

Honoring Staff During Hard Times

2008-05-22T02:58:00.000-07:00

Today's entry is about honoring the staff of Pyramids Child Development Center for their dedication and loyalty to the children and families they serve, especially during the five week period that started in November, when they worked without pay after CNB froze the PCDC accounts. Since then, they have yet be be paid their 11/15 payroll. This is also an entry to recognize the parents and supportive families that came through to help with small cash donations, food donations and just general emotional support.

If you were working for PCDC during this time, you shall never forget the experience. It was an experience, that although united staff and families, it was also difficult emotionally and frightening. Clearly an experience no one would want to go through again. Although closing was an option discussed, there was immediate unconditional support to remain open. Therapists, teachers, child care providers and administration held strong through the experience to deliver their services and to show up each day without pay. In turn the children with special education services did not go without services, and families did not go without the child care they rely on each day to go to work.

How are we today as an organization?
As an organization, as a whole, we are passionate about what we do with views and beliefs on how to provide the best of care and quality for the children we serve. That said, we are an organization that has suffered two major events this year: both without warning, our lender, froze our accounts the day after Thanksgiving, black Friday, to prevent payroll from clearing and now, the State Comptroller's report was released to the press before PCDC administration ever received a Comptroller's final report. Orchestrated by a few, both events initiated without warning, did nothing more than to cause fear, panic and suffering to employees who each day show up to perform the valued work of caring for young children.

Those responsible for setting off two unnecessary negative public events need to ask themselves why would they intentionally want to cause panic, fear and insecurity to employees who are daily responsible for the care of the very young child, ages infants through five?

As a community we entrust the PCDC staff to care for our children, to nurture them and to make sure their every day is filled with security and love. An effort to cause internal turmoil to people who show up every day to perform the most valued work of our society, is all too disturbing and honestly, just shameful. It brings tears to my eyes to know anyone would deliberately want to hurt or cause harm, emotionally or otherwise, to a group of incredibly talented and dedicated people simply trying to perform a job they love - to care for the youngest amongst us. Let's hope this is the end of surprises - let's hope the community that loves their children can heal from the efforts of a few with hidden agendas, and who seemingly have no respect for those we entrust with the care of our children or for that matter, the children themselves.

In closing:

PCDC continues to need financial backing, donations and a lender willing to refinance our debt into a long term mortgage that prevents our current lender, CNB, from further seizing our assets and receivables.

All serious tax deductible charitable donations, can be made by contacting mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org.

What do we need in terms of cash to move forward

Payroll from 11/15/07 $135,000
Payables outstanding from November and in the present $200000
Another $200000 to work with a new lender to refinance our debt into a long term mortgage.

OR

Enough to pay off our existing debt of $800000.

FAQ's can be requested from mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org or ffelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org.

To hear from our employees to obtain copies of employee support letters, please contact dgiroux@pyramidpreschool.org.

Thank you for reading and sharing today's blog. Please continue to pass on the blog address http://pyramidscdc.blogspot.com/.

Enjoy the Photos Of Our Caring Staff

2008-05-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

Little time to write today.

Word continues to spread of the blog and our mission to raise private funds to decrease three years of debt. State tuition adjustments for children with handicapping conditions are pending.

Today's pics are pictures of children receiving therapy services.

All prospective donors, to help save our special school, please contact mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org or vreiner@pyramidspreschool.org

FAQ's may be requested by emailing mdefelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org or ffelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org

Pyramids Child Development Center is a 501-c3 Charitable Organization.

What Makes Pyramids Child Development Center Special

2008-05-20T02:24:00.000-07:00

What makes Pyramids Child Development Center special? As with any organization, it is the caring and dedicated staff that show up each day with enthusiasm and creativity to serve the young child with special needs and to care for the children in our child care programs. The children, of course, make everything special for everyone just by being children. The facility is as unique as it is impressive. Moreover, the families we serve are supporters and believers in the work we do and the philosophies we uphold. One might imagine after four years of unpredictable attacks, directed at me, that the organization would crumble, piece by piece. Yet, surprisingly, this has not happened. For every attack, subtle, or blatant, there is a bubble of panic, a public reaction, and then, a slow return to normal. What, then, is normal? Normal is a day when teachers, therapists, assistants, aides, child care providers, help a three year old autistic child speak their first word for the first time, assist a physically handicap child with their first step or first crawl or a reassure a first time mother that her infant, will be loved and cared for each day while she attends to her work.

Since the creation of this blog, the response has been overwhelming support along with suggestions to keep the focus on the school and our mission to raise monies to pay off past debts created by an archaic state funding formula. It is also to ensure continuation of all programs, on and off site, for a region that needs to see PCDC survive. Therefore this will remain the focus as I continue to share stories and photos of the children in action alongside our dedicated staff.

Some have asked, is the blog going to be the most effective method to raise monies? In response I reply, it is one way. Other avenues, all avenues, are underway and being pursued. This includes working with SED, despite the Comptroller's erroneous report, writing letters to prospective donors and garnering support from those who believe in providing the young child with programming that is exceptional. For those who have not seen our facility, to experience what PCDC is all about, please consider arranging for a visit. You will be greeted by a welcoming and proud staff who would love to show you what we are all about.

To conclude today's entry, as advised, I need to be succinct. Therefore, I am preparing a set of FAQ's, to address in more detail the questions that have been generated around the funding gap since 2004, the attacks and the why a First Amendment law suit was initiated and necessary. Please email me if you desire a copy of the FAQ's.

In closing, continue to share this blog address http://pyramidscdc.blogspot.com/ to everyone you know residing in the state of NY. There is much to be gained both in soliciting funds and sharing the truth.

Please contact Melissa Dorsett-Felicelli, at her email address below, to make a one time tax deductible charitable donation, and/or to provide suggestions for improvement to this blog.

mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org

Pyramids Child Development Center

2155 Rt. 22 B

Morrisonville, NY 12962

518-562-2847

Photos and IRS W2 forms - www.pyramidscdc.org

2008-05-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

Today, my third day of maintaining this blog, we are getting ready to post photos of Pyramids Child Development Center. Beautiful photos of the school and the children we serve participating in quality programming.

Watch for photos and copies of my W2 forms.

I will be scanning my personal W'2 for the wages earned from Pyramids Preschool, Inc (Pyramids Child Development Center) for 05,06,07. Let the citizens of the North Country see the deliberate lies released by the press and the state audit. The press was given copies of these W2's before releasing the article, date May 15, 2008. Let the community decide for itself. Wasting tax payer money is simply untrue.

Three Consecutive Years of W2 Wages listed below for Melissa Dorsett-Felicelli, Excutive Director of Pyramids Child Development Center, 501-c3.

05 $68,649.13
06 $45,632.40
07 $54,481.48

Please email mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org if you would like copies of the W2's for my wages for Pyramids. I am unable to save them to the blog pages but would be happy to forward these to all my readers.

Why The Attacks - Press Republican May, 16th, 2008

2008-05-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

It would seem in an effort to save a school and to provide exceptional quality to children with handicapping conditions, Pyramids Child Development Center would have the support of their local government and by extension the state. With a 3.2 million annual budget, a 104 employees, 70% receiving full benefits and a 180 children serviced on and off site via our main campus, satellite sites and home services, NY state is getting a lot of bang for their buck.

So why the continued attacks against me as Executive Director. Is this really because I chose to move away from the beautiful school I created out of my own vision and hard work? Because, as the press release, Press Republican 5/15/08, from the audit report claims, I was not on-site "enough" during the 05-06 year to validate wages. I think not. These attacks and numerous others, along with schemes to undermine and spread false information that have occured since 2004, are the direct result of filing a first amendment law suit against Clinton County, Spring 2004 and by extension the state. Blog, May 15, 2008 clarifies the salary issue.

If you happen to be a NY state resident, and I was for 17 years, and you exercised your right to speak your views only to have them ignored, slandered and distorted, and you are brave enough, or foolhardy enough as the case may be, to sue the government that supposedly "feeds" the programs you are attempting to deliver and provide with the best of quality and care, then you will know first hand why I chose to relocate and get my family out of NY state. We now live in NC where my husband, three girls and myself can say without hesitation, it is the best decision we ever made. My work is performed, thanks to the advantages of modern technology, remotely via server access, constant emails, phone consultations along with on-site visits to the facility. What has been done to keep the organization above water and to keep it from falling apart since the Spring of 2004, since the law suit was first filed, is nothing short of a miracle and the credit goes to myself and my incredibly loyal and dedicated staff.

Beginning spring 2004, the experience has been brutal, exactly what certain interested parties and various stakeholders have orchestrated in order to protect their nefarious actions. Full steam ahead to derail a first amendment law suit that will expose corruption at the hands of local officials and government. As with any legal case there is more to the story, but the facts do not lie, and the additional investigative information gained since the law suit was first filed, is downright frightening.

There is no time to waste however, PCDC is in need of some major funding and we are seeking first time donors, individuals or companies, with the capital to make a one time donation anywhere between 10,000 and 500,000 thousand to pull our school out of debt and allow us to be less dependent on government revenues in the present and in the future. Blog May 15th, 2008, clarifies the funding issues.

Please contact and email questions to mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org.

Additional financial records and our charitable contribution number can be provided upon request for parties in interested in making a tax deductible donation to Pyramids Child Development Center, 2155 rt. 22, Morrisonville, NY 12962.

History of Pyramids Child Development Center

2008-05-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

As Executive Director, and founder of Pyramids Child Development Center, it is my intention to maintain this blog, my first blog experience, to solicit donations for a special early childhood school in Morrisonville, New York.

Since 04-05, the school has experienced funding gaps in the amount of about 250000 per year due to a cost reporting error made on our state report in 04-05 by by a consulting CPA firm. That said, now with debt of 800000, we were forced to file Chapter 11 this past November. This is now further complicated by a recent state audit that combined my private company income with my salary for the school, 68000 and 45,000 as reported on my W2 for 05 and 06, respectively. We can anticipate PCDC will not realize reimbursement rates consistent to reflect program costs, particularly the costs for educating the child with handicapping conditions. These programs have historically been underfunded, and the regional organization that delivered these programs prior to PCDC, lost 1.7 million before deciding it was in their best interest to discontinue preschool special education services.

The organization first established in 1994 and the the school/facility (501-c3) opened in 2001 with a 1.25 million dollar state grant. The programming is exceptional, with a respected reputation and quoted by NYSED as exemplary. The school serves children with autism and children with multiple physical and learning handicaps and is also a regional child care facility. Pyramids Child Development Center is as progressive as it is impressive with quality staff to serve the whole child through wholesome practices. For example, we maintain a green building with regards to cleaners, perfumes and solvents and provide an organic menu, partially grown on our own land. Our facility houses a dance room for free movement and yoga for children, a water room where children suit up to play in water and beautiful outdoor play spaces. We service a region of five counties with remote locations to service children on site and in their home. We maintain an annual budget of 3.2 million with 104 employees ranging from physical therapists, occupational therapists speech language pathologists, special education teachers, teacher aides, child-care providers, office and administrative personnel. The highest salary is 85000 and the lowest is 22000.

To inquire about our immediate funding needs please contact mcater@pyramidspreschool.org or mdfelicelli@pyramidspreschool.org

To request for FAQ's concerning the recent negative press release contact drecore@pyramidspreschool.org

To request for copies of support letters please contact khachigian@pyramidspreschool.org.

Margi Carter and Melissa Dorsett-Felicelli can be reached at 518-562-3847.