Will History Rhyme In Southbridge?

Ken O’Brien

Mark Twain observed, “History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme.”

I propose to put that observation to the test.

Last month an incident is alleged to have occurred at one of the Southbridge schools.

I will not discuss, nor allow speculation about, the nature of the incident in this forum.

The subject matter is too sensitive, the facts too obscure and the threat to personal reputations too severe for casual gossip.

Suffice it to say that the incident in question is undergoing proper review and will be adjudicated appropriately.

What I believe is a worthy topic for discussion is how the alleged incident was handled by the school administration, particularly in light of an analogous event in the recent past.

Rumors, Speculation and Fact

Ken O’Brien

In writing this blog I have been careful to distinguish between rumor, speculation and fact.

One of my blog colleagues is now accusing me of perpetuating a rumor.

As it was put,

“If we have enough credible evidence to put people on leave, let's get it over with, tell the people what happened (and treat us all like grown-ups and tell us the truth), and move on. That would put one conspiracy theory in the local blogosphere to rest...that being, that the principal was put on leave for a pocket knife incident. Nothing could be further from the full truth (although, I'm sure that didn't help). Apparently I'm guilty of being a psychic.” 

Which Came First…?

Ken O’Brien

Tammy Perreault

On Friday , December 21^st, we learned that Southbridge Middle/High School Principal Tammy Perreault had been put on administrative leave.

This fulfilled a prediction made by Dennis Martinek on his blog Speak Out Southbridge. On December 13^th he wrote in an article titled “As if things in Southbridge couldn’t get any worse”, “Tomorrow, or early next week, you will hear some rather shocking news that few people I’ve spoken with saw coming.”

In a follow up article published in the same blog today, “Another one bites the dust in Southbridge”, he confirmed that it was Ms. Perreault’s suspension to which he was referring. In response to one commenter on the article he wrote, “This is half of the big news that I was telling you was coming.” To another he wrote, “…I have to say, I knew, but decided to hold-off until something could be verified,..” 

This chronology of events raises a troubling issue.

No Apologies, No Regrets

Ken O’Brien

I am simultaneously somewhat amused and chagrined by the recent call for me to apologize by Brent Abrahamson. His basis for this is my handling of an exit letter by former SMHS assistant principal Sharon Goulet  published by The O’Zone.

His tortured logic and pious solemnizing demonstrate nothing more than an attempt to justify his one-sided personal agenda in school related matters, his well-known contempt for Scott Lazo and to discredit me because, as he put it in a comment on my site, “…you have chosen a side. You have been a supporter ever since you backed him for state rep. years ago.”

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.

Where Was Southbridge High?

Tammy Perreault

Ken O’Brien

Today's Southbridge Evening News carries a "Sound Off" addressing an issue that was brought to my attention prior to its publication in that forum.

Where was Southbridge High?

SOUND OFF:

On Wednesday evening, Oct. 3, the annual “High School Night” for current grade 8 students was held at Trinity Catholic Academy in Southbridge.

Southbridge School Bus Overcrowding - Fox News, Boston

Ken O’Brien

Tammy Perreault

Fox News Channel 25 in Boston has carried a report on claims of overcrowding on buses carrying students to the new Southbridge Middle/High School.

The report was prompted by a local parent, Willimaris Vega, contacting the station alleging that students were having to stand, sit three to a seat or sit on the floor while travelling to and from the school.

In a telephone interview, school Principal Tammy Perreault responded that officials had reacted quickly to the complaint, getting on the buses themselves to assess the situation.

Sunday Photo-‘Toons 1.18

Ken O’Brien

Here at The O’Zone we call these Sunday diversions Photo-‘Toons because they are usually variations (some would say corruptions) of photographs.

However, this week as we compiled our list of subjects, we found that a lot of so-called “real life” was, in fact, downright cartoonish. 

A Message From The New Principal of Southbridge Middle/High School

Ms. Tammy Perreault, Principal

Southbridge Middle/High School

Welcome to Southbridge Middle/High School

Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

It is with great anticipation that the administration, faculty and staff welcome Southbridge families to a well-deserved and long-awaited, new middle/high school. Our new building is incomparable and exceeds expectations in design, technology and safety. I cannot wait to see the smiles on our students faces the first time they see it!

Our new configuration unifies two separate schools and brings them together as one unified facility.  As the year passes, new relationships will be formed and preceding relationships will be strengthened.  Collaboration amongst administration, faculty, staff, parents and students is essential to our success.

Sunday Photo-‘Toons 1.17

Ken O’Brien

Well this has been a week where the political landscape has been changing at all levels – local, statewide and national.

Obviously the crowning event was the long-awaited announcement of Mitt’s running mutt. It was done with all the calculation of a late Friday night Washington document dump. 

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.

Breaking News: Perreault To Be Named Principal Of Southbridge Middle/High School

 Ken  O’Brien

Updated with new material from the Office of the Southbridge Superintendent of Schools after the page break (8/3/12 - 8:30 am).


The O’Zone has learned from reliable sources that Tammy Perreault, M,Ed, currently Director of Mathematics, K-12, within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction within the school district, will be named Principal of the new Southbridge Middle/High School.

A formal announcement is expected to be forthcoming imminently.

UPDATE: The Worcester Telegram is reporting (8/3/12, 4:30 am) Superintendent announces two new principals Tammy Perreault at the Southbridge Middle/High School and Dana Labb at West Street Elementary School. The article also elaborates upon what appears to be a bitter conflict between school committee members Scott Lazo and Mary Ellen Prencipe.