Woodruff Weighs In On Trinity

Patricia Woodruff

Ok people it's time for my 2 cents on this one!! I have done my homework on this lunch situation. Thirty plus years ago the School District and Trinity had a good faith agreement to feed the children. Back then the School Committee and Trinity worked as a team. They were given 2 people to work there and the food to feed the kids. Trinity has always paid for their lunches and milk which covered the cost of the employees and the food. There is nothing illegal about it. Now the cost of everything has gone up and quality of food down, therefore leading to less kids buying. As a result, Trinity brings in less money while the cost of everything continues to increase.

Former Southbridge School Committee Chairman Speaks Out

Patricia Woodruff

Former Chairman of the Southbridge School Committee Patricia Woodruff has spoken out regarding Tuesday night’s meeting of the committee. In a statement issued exclusively to The O’Zone, Ms. Woodruff said, “I am very disturbed that the School Committee members and the Superintendent would publicly humiliate the Guidance Staff over a presentation.”

It should be emphasized that this statement was totally unsolicited.

This only goes to further illustrate the integrity that Ms. Woodruff exemplified by the dignity with which she announced her departure from the Southbridge School Committee.

The O’Zone is honored by her decision to use our forum as the vehicle to make this statement. The full text of her remarks follows.

Breaking News: Christopher Olivo Chosen To Fill School Committee Vacancy

Ken O’Brien

Christopher Olivo has been chosen to fill a vacancy on The Southbridge School Committee. The opening was created with the resignation of former School Committee Chairman Patricia Woodruff. The selection was made during a joint meeting of the Southbridge Town Council and the School Committee as mandated by the Town Charter.

Mr. Olivo stated he had been a resident of Southbridge since 2006. He is an active duty member of the Massachusetts National Guard with experience in overseas deployment and is a native of Texas. 

Woodruff Speaks Out

Ken O’Brien

Former Southbridge School Committee member and Chairman Patricia Woodruff has spoken out about her resignation to reporter Brian Lee of The Worcester Telegram.

In the article titled, Southbridge School Committee chairwoman quits, Ms. Woodruff expands upon the statement she made at Tuesday night’s meeting. 

Chairman Resigns from Southbridge School Committee

Ken O’Brien

In an action that surprised most observers, School Committee Chairman Patricia Woodruff announced her resignation from the School Committee during tonight’s meeting.

Reading from a prepared statement during the Chairwoman’s Announcement segment of the meeting, she said; “It appears to me the politics of the school committee have overtaken the true mission of this committee.  There seems to be a prevailing opinion of the current majority of the school committee that this would be cured by my absence.  While I do not share this opinion, I feel it is only fair to our children, who should be the true focus of our actions, to allow the majority to have their way.  I therefore resign from the committee to be effective at the conclusion of this meeting. I hope that this gesture will encourage the remaining members to focus on what is important, the youth of our community.” 

Sunday Photo-'Toons 1.33

Ken O'Brien

Southbridge School Committee Reconstituted – Moves Aggressively for Change - Ely's Contract Extended

Ken O’Brien

The Southbridge School Committee held its reorganizational meeting tonight following the June 26^th town elections.

Committee member Scott Lazo was excused from the meeting.

Patricia Woodruff was elected as committee chairman and Mary Ellen Prencipe was elected as vice chairman.

The committee also eliminated the collective bargaining subcommittee. Preference regarding the latter seemed to lean toward a negotiating panel consisting of a member of the school committee, the school superintendent, the school business manager and, when appropriate, a legal advisor. It established a new subcommittee on Communication and Family Engagement to facilitate community wide communication and enhance citizen participation in school affairs.