David Williams, President of the Southbridge Education Association (SEA), has broken his public silence over recent issues regarding the conduct of the School Committee and the District's Administration.His comments appeared as a Letter to the Editor in today's Southbridge Evening News.
However, the letter had been distributed previously to SEA members as well as the Superintendent.
What nobody is mentioning is that the Superintendent had approved the presentation that was made. It was definitely a set up.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time!!! Good for them!!!!
ReplyDeleteHowever, why the union continues to be this reserved and not unleash its full might on this deserving administration is beyond me. Southbridge is fortunate they haven’t done so.
What does it take to get a vote of no confidence and how far away from one can we really be?
I'm sure that fact is unappreciated and lost on the District and instead they will only growl and snivel at this letter.
It is one thing to hear about poor labor relations but, it is a whole new ballgame when it is displayed publicly on local access TV.
We need three principals YET AGAIN. Who in their right mind would want to come here after the last SC MEETING ????? Perhaps this is why no one makes a career teaching in Southbridge anymore.
Some people did make Southbridge their career and got porked. Teachers and Staff: Get out while you can!
DeleteDavey Williams going against Big Mac, The Spelling Quinn, and Buzz Light year? OMG!
ReplyDeletewell if they want to spanl him they need only look at the eighth grade MCAS scores. Perhaps he should be brought to the podium and offer up a presentation!
And I understand that the union agreement has yet to besigned. Why? Not enough money in this year's budget?
Looks like 'oil Davey screwed his members again. Does he really think the girls are going to dole out raises to those horrific teachers and guidance counselors?
RE: those horrific teachers and guidance counselors?
ReplyDeletesays who ?
and with what supportive documentation?
Area district have been very happy to have the teachers who have left on their own or that have been dismissed for not kissing the ring.
Our loss their gain.
The posy above didn't say the author thought the teachers and counselors were horrific, he/she implied that the SC believes they are.
DeleteThis point can be evidenced in the vast number of terminations, suspensions, and paid leaves. It can really be observed on the video of last SC meeting which displayed a public humiliation of the guidance department.
I just spent some time on the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. They have complete MCAS data on their site.
ReplyDeleteI am very concerned about the Southbridge numbers, especially math and science. My son needs to pass these tests to graduate. I'm not convinced that our schools can help my child make it.
I've lived here all my life and have been basically satisfied with the elementary schools. However, as he gets ready for grade 6 in September I'm afraid I will be taking him out of Southbridge and using the school choice option.
The constant upheaval at that new school, added to the constant antics of our elected officials, leave me no other option. I'm so disheartened!
The district belongs on level 5. "Level 5 is the most serious category in Massachusetts' accountability system, representing receivership. The Commissioner may place a Level 4 school in Level 5 at the expiration of its redesign plan if the school has failed to improve as required by the goals, benchmarks, or timetable of its redesign plan; or if district conditions make it unlikely that the school will make significant improvement without a Level 5 designation." (http://www.doe.mass.edu/apa/sss/turnaround/level5/districts/)
ReplyDeleteAgain, it is not a single school that is the problem in Southbridge, but the system hierarchy. Over the last two to three years the governance of the Southbridge Public School System has gotten worse instead of better. Leaving MCAS scores out of it, take a look at what two superintendents and two years of this school committee have done to the schools, These people and the people who they have put in place have no connection to the community or any real care for the progress and welfare of the students. Ely, Allen, Buzz, Gardner, The Bobble Heads, and those they brought into to the district to fix it were, and are only in it for themselves or their progeny.
One reason that the Administration really doesn't want the state to come in is that the first thing that the State does is get rid of the Administration. And, that would be the death knell for all those supposed aspiring administrators, Maybe Buzz got the buzz from the DESE that Southbridge is going to be placed on level 5 status and that is the reason he came down with the Walking (out the door) pneumonia.
Are we paying him while he's out "sick?"
ReplyDeleteHe is no longer on a $500 per diem.
DeleteWhen he decided to stay on he was given a contract that runs from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.
He is paid $155,000 per year.
He gets a $7,500 annuity payment.
He gets 25 vacation days.
He accrues 1.5 sick days per month.
He gets 2 personal days.
So can someone tell us what corrective action Buzz and the girls have taken to improve the performance of our guidance department since the public thrashing two weeks ago?
ReplyDeleteRoooooop Rooooooooooop Roooooooooop (sound of an air-raid warning,,,) Emergancy Meeting of the Administrators to plot which lies to tell next, what people to point the finger at, and which ones to get rid of now.
ReplyDeleteWhen and where?
DeleteMaybe Buzz told them he won't be back.?.?
DeleteWhat will the bobbleheads do?
DeleteAs always, whatever they please.
DeleteSeriously though, is any of this true or is it just rumor?
Which part? Buzz is in CA. The girls are in shock. And the schools are in deep shit.
Delete1450 people voted for Big Mac andher pon. Would those that did please stand up. What do you mean we need 2200 chairs?
The emperor has no clothes, The king is dead, long live Queen Gardner . . . Not.
DeleteTM Reed told Gen Gov subcommittee that school unemployment figures for FY 2015 were "staggering". However, projections were not presented to the subcommittee by the school administration and so the budget is level-funded FOR NOW.
ReplyDeleteGonna stock up on drinks and snacks for tonight's school committee meeting. Friends and I are going to view and comment a la Mystery Science Theater 3000. If Rome is gonna burn we might as well have a fiddle handy.
ReplyDeleteDamn, that sounds like fun. Maybe I'll get some people together and do the same. And we can have party games like pin the tears on the chairman, or punctuate this sentence, or humiliate that teacher. Wow, PAHHHR-TEEEE!
ReplyDeleteWell at least we won't have to listen to Buzz tell us everything was broken before he got here. He's Ill in California; ah, the weather. Perhaps he will Skype his BS in. How can the girls hold a meeting without their Boss there? I always thought the school committee was the Superintendent's boss - nope, he the All Powerful Buzz.
ReplyDeleteWhy is McLoughlin announcing the formation of search committees to select our new principals. The Education Act of 1993 clearly states that selection of principals is the task and mandate of the superintendent. Now the girls want to be on ALL the principal search committee! Haven't these bobble-heads done enough damage?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone think that Buzz will go against the individual sent forth by the girls? He's the guy grabbing $500.00 a day and is camped out in California. If he's not up to the job to find competent principals, give him the boot. It's about time he felt what he's done to so many others, unjustly. The bobble-heads will be dismissed by the voters shortly.
The district is a Level Four district because of the continued meddling by school committees. This taking-over of selection committees by school committee members is an outrageous abuse of power and violates the spirit of the 1993 law.
In a country founded on liberty and managed by law, our school committee and superintendent think little of either.
The school committee amended Policy GCF, Professional Staff Hiring, by adding the following - "The administrator responsible for the hiring of a staff member....is directed to establish a representative screening committee."
DeleteAlthough the Education Reform Act of 1993 gives the superintendent the sole authority in hiring whoever he/she chooses as principal, the school committee expects "the screening committee's input will be a factor in the decision."
I believe the school committee feels, contrary to Ed Reform, that they have, not only the right, but the educational expertise to choose the principals. If they fill the 19-member principal search committees with their cronies, chances are the end result will be the hiring of principals that these obtuse, pompous, neophytes desire.
Well they certainly pick and choose the laws and policies they wish to follow. At least MCAD, Dept of Employment Security and juries on civil courts force them to comply. Too bad it cost the taxpayers and not them personally.
DeleteFrom the T&G Southbridge school supt. seeks medical leave.
ReplyDelete