Selective Memory At Work

Today’s Worcester Telegram contains an article titled “Southbridge superintendent interviews planned Wednesday”.

In that article Southbridge School Committee Chairman Scott Lazo lashes out at the State DESE, local legislators and the previous school committee.

We have criticized Mr. Lazo and others in the past for overlooking the fact that in 2010 as members of the school committee they dissolved the search committee and went ahead without them. The “process” resulted in the selection of Eric Ely as Superintendent whose troubled term ended with his dismissal.

Candidates For Acting School Superintendent Emerge In Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

As The O’Zone previously reported, the Southbridge school committee is considering two candidates to serve as acting superintendent pending resolution of the allegations regarding current superintendent Eric Ely. 

No Holiday For Southbridge School Politics

Ken O’Brien

Political issues within the Southbridge school system continue behind the scenes despite the holiday season. Pending investigations into charges against Superintendent Ely and SMHS Principal Perreault have not held such maneuverings at bay. Anyone who thinks otherwise is sadly misinformed. 

Sunday Photo-'Toons 1.33

Ken O'Brien

Southbridge School Committee: Wiggin Stipend, Search Plan For Acting Superintendent

Ken O’Brien

Terry Wiggin

Tuesday night, at a special meeting of the Southbridge school committee, plans were outlined for its search for an acting superintendent to replace current acting superintendent Terry Wiggin. Mr Wiggin is currently serving double duty, also being the school district's business manager. 

The acting superintendent would serve until there is a resolution of the investigation of Superintendent Eric Ely, who is currently on paid administrative leave. At that point his services would end if Mr. Ely returns to active service or continue until a new superintendent is hired following Mr. Ely’s departure. 

Boiling Down Rumors

Ken O’Brien

Speculation is palpable regarding the executive session meeting being held tonight by the Southbridge school committee regarding the future of Superintendent Eric Ely who has been put on administrative leave regarding a charge of misconduct.

Reporting on rumors is a very tricky business as one of my blogger colleagues noted in August.

Nevertheless there are competing strains which boil down to two recurring themes. 

Sunday Photo-'Toons 1.31

Ken O'Brien

New Details Emerge About Meeting That Put Ely On Leave

Ken O’Brien

Sources close to the decision to place Southbridge School Superintendent Eric Ely on paid administrative leave have provided new details regarding the matter to The O’Zone.

Initially the Worcester Telegram and Gazette reported on November 14^th, in an article titled “Southbridge school committee votes to put superintendent on leave”, that, “The decision was made during an emergency meeting held in executive session at the district's administrative building on Cole Avenue, the former high school.” 

Breaking News: Ely Placed On Leave

Ken O'Brien

The Worcester Telegram is reporting that an emergency meeting of the Southbridge School Committee has voted to place Southbridge School Superintendent Eric Ely on administrative leave. The action results from an undivulged complaint received by the committee.

School Business Manager Terry Wiggin will assume the duties of temporary acting Superintendent.

The story is available HERE.

Departing Assistant Principal Severely Criticized SMHS Principal

Ken O’Brien

Sharon Goulet

Monday’s Southbridge Evening News carried an article titled, “School officials address fights, resignation”.

In it they addressed the resignation of assistant principal Sharon Goulet. The article reported the circumstances surrounding her departure as follows:

School officials dispute the anonymous claim of a recently submitted Southbridge Evening News “Sound Off” entry ….

Regarding Goulet’s departure, Perreault said the Sound Off claim is true, but had nothing to do with the discipline issues.

Ely Responds

Ken O’Brien

As a result of the questions raised on The O’Zone post Southbridge Superintendent Announces Rumor Control Plan, Southbridge School Superintendent Eric Ely has responded.

His comment on that post read, “I have posted responses on the district website front page today. I will add to them as more questions come.

Southbridge Superintendent Announces Rumor Control Plan

Ken O’Brien

Southbridge School Superintendent Eric Ely has launched an effort to keep the public informed regarding the truth about rumors relating to the school system. In addition, it is his desire to provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions in a concise forum.

He informed The O’Zone as well as Brent Abrahamson of his plan in an email this morning. The email read as follows:

Stop The Madness!

Ken O’Brien

Source

I have refrained from expressing an opinion on the recent developments on the Southbridge school committee.

To date I have attempted to play the part of an impartial referee reporting the developments as fairly as I could. 

Southbridge School Tussle Is Big News In Upstate New York

Ken O’Brien

Southbridge is garnering headlines in the Albany/Schenectady area of New York State.

Unfortunately, it’s not the result of any positive community news.

Rather it’s a result of the fascination over the recent effort by three members of the Southbridge school committee to remove Superintendent Eric Ely.

Sunday Photo-‘Toons 1.16

Ken O’Brien

Another week in beautiful cosmopolitan Southbridge and we return to the local humor mill.

Once again I am bedeviled trying to come up with anything more laughable than what our local solons provide for us.

Nevertheless, we give it the old collage try with raw materials provided as usual by the Southbridge town council and the Southbridge school department.

An additional dollop of amusement is provided at the end of the week as Mitt Romney wrangles an endorsement from another socially potent icon.

So, in the spirit of the Olympics, down that heaping bowl of Wheaties and wash it down with a frosty mimosa made of Florida OJ and French champagne, sit back, enjoy the funnies and let all that fiber do its thing.

Be Careful What You Wish For…

Ken O’Brien

Southbridge politics have forever been defined by coalitions sharing grudges and vendettas.

Last night’s meeting of the Southbridge school committee cemented in place a new brick in that relentlessly growing wall of infamy. 

One Principal At Southbridge Middle/High? The Span of Control Issue

Ken O’Brien

Tonight’s meeting of the Southbridge School Committee will address an issue that has drawn a lot of attention in recent days for a variety of reasons. The agenda item reads:

“Vote to reorganize the Middle and High School Administration to create a new position of Principal of Southbridge Middle/High School (job description attached), and three (3) Assistant Principals for Southbridge Middle/High School, thereby abolishing the current positions titled, Southbridge High School Principal, Southbridge Middle (Mary E. Wells) School Principal, High School Assistant Principal, and Middle (Mary E. Wells) School Assistant Principal/Dean of Students.” 

Oversight: A Contrast Of Imbalances in Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

Two issues have come to a head in Southbridge and will result in either decisions or ongoing indecision in the near future.

The issues are the question of whether there will be one or two Principals at the new Southbridge Middle/High School and the growing disaffection between the Chief and the rank and file in the Southbridge Police Department. 

Single Principal Planned At Middle/High School

Ken O’Brien

Correction: 7/20/12 – It has been announced by Brent Abrahamson on The Massachusetts Observer that Amy Allen will become District's new Director of Instruction and Assessment. Obviously she would not be a candidate for the position of principal as a result. I apologize for the error.

The agenda for the next Southbridge School Committee meeting will contain a new business item calling for a single principal for the new Southbridge Middle/High School. Indications are that the current majority on the School Committee favor the proposal. 

Sunday Photo-‘Toons 1.12

Ken O’Brien

Well, the local elections are over and we are settling into the dog days of summer.

While the new school committee has shown it has a bite, it’s beginning to look like the town council will be just more barking.

While temperatures are tending to moderate after yesterday’s swelter, we may have to crank up the A/C Monday night around 7 pm to stay cool.

But right now it’s Sunday morning. So sit back, relax and unwind. Enjoy those eggs Florentine along with that mimosa or bloody mary. Then you can get to work making enough of those refreshing jello-shots to get you through Monday night’s council meeting.