Ken
O’Brien
After slow-walking the superintendent search process
the hit-and-run Chair of the School Committee and her sycophants decided that
the Acting Superintendent’s contract should be extended and the selection of a permanent superintendent should be left to the incoming committee.
In a related matter, immediately following her
contract extension, the newest one-year wonder presented a plan to reorganize
the middle/high school. The (supposedly) carefully-crafted, extensively vetted
plan had no associated job descriptions and no budgetary impact associated with
it.
Isn’t it interesting how, on one hand the two lame
ducks and their hangers-on could push to leave the selection of a
superintendent up to a new School Committee while pushing to have a half-baked,
poorly documented last minute surprise plan to restructure the middle/high school
rushed through?
While we constantly hear about the need to focus on
the welfare of the children, it is my opinion that these two actions are just
another example of adult politics taking center stage.
On her way out the door and out of town the
corpulent doyen Chair of the committee wants one more opportunity to exercise
her (by now) well-known vindictive streak.
It should be a secret to no one at this point that
it has been a point of contention that the complaint of the current middle/high
school Principal led to the hasty departure of the former superintendent. A
number of sources have reported that she was recently asked to resign her
position and that she refused to do so.
So, in my view, the current actions of the majority
of the school committee membership has more to do with creating the opportunity
to force her out than with any real concern for the students.
This is coupled with the candidate slate for the
next election. It is shaping up to be a contest between the surrogates of the
current majority and a couple of their prominent supporters against proponents
of the old system who have their own agenda.
In the middle of this is the just reported letter
from retiring Superintendent of the Dover-Sherborn district and former
Southbridge school Principal Steven Bliss. In the letter he indicated his willingness
to assist the district in its efforts to chart a future course.
I ask the question “If you are going to appoint a
one-year interim Superintendent, who is better suited? Do you go with someone
who’s last position was as a middle school principal or someone who has been a
superintendent and who previously was at the helm of a local school as
principal?”
But, once again, the majority clique on the School
Committee wouldn’t even entertain this possible option. Their vendetta was set
and it would be pursued with little more than a soupҫon of invective about
inside information. What kind of inside information is needed to indicate an interest
in a position that has been so widely reported upon?
Members of the ruling committee junta referred
repeatedly to the comments of Glenn Koocher during his appearance before the
Committee. Never mind that, as
we reported, his remarks directly contradicted his own statements two
months earlier to the Boston Globe.
I am not saying that the proposed two principal
structure is a bad thing. But it certainly deserves more vetting than being
sprung as a last minute ploy, the primary purpose of which is to deprive a
current principal of her position.
The School Committee has never been devoid of
politics. But it has never been as consumed by the politics of personal
vindictiveness as it has been under the leadership of the current Chair. As she
beats feet to Woodstock or wherever, it seems that she is intent on seeing that
this legacy survives her exit.
Mr. O'Brien:
ReplyDeleteMcLoughlin acted not alone during this current reign of terror. You have let others, particularly Kara Donovan, off the hook. She is just as vindictive and inept as McLoughlin. She needs to not be allowed to slip out the back door without her actions being judged.
These two women, along with Prencipe, Woodruff, Quinney and Abrahamson have brought the school to unprecedented lows. Their actions have consistently had little to do with improving educational opportunities and experiences for our students.
I wonder if the District Attorney has looked into these five yet?
The criticism of Mary Ellen Prencipe and Patricia Woodruff is completely unfair. I worked with both of them when I was on the school committee and can tell you they are dedicated to this district and focused on creating better educational opportunities for our children.
DeleteWell it worked for her in 2012 didn't it??? Newly elected and eager to please - she happily voted to restructure the Middle/High School from 2 principals to 1 - 30 days before the start of school; now, 3 years later she votes to change it back - 30 days before the end of school....
ReplyDeleteAnd all the BS about a proper search committee, giving the NEW SC the opportunity to search/review/vet/ interview and select a Superintendant....they've had PLENTY of time to get their act together and put together a search committee...
Meanwhile - who will be selecting the NEW principals???? Yup....the Super Stanton....and all the administrators will be 'selected' NOT by verified credentials/experience/results - but by who they know and how well they drink the KoolAid and fall in line - no one will want to make the same mistake that Mrs Earls made in standing up for what is right...
The arrogance - and - there is no other way to say it - STUPITY - is just unbelievable.
Meanwhile....the kids suffer, the hardworking teachers & staff suffer, the Town suffers, we all suffer.
It’s abundantly clear how close minded the foolish four are. If they were going to appoint another interim superintendent for a one year term why wouldn’t they even consider Mr. Bliss. Clearly he’s at least as qualified as Stanton. They can protest all they want that they’re concerned about the welfare of the students but the facts clearly tell a different story. They didn’t have to go looking for him, he came to them. Just what is their motive? I can only conclude that it is as you say, to get Ms. Earls.
ReplyDelete