Cut Chiefs Before Indians

Ken O’Brien

According to The Worcester Telegram, Superintendent of Schools Sheryl Stanton observed, “With the [restructure] proposal defeated, … more money will be needed in the budget to fill gaps the district has with instructional coaching for staff, positions it needs for English Language Learners, to develop a discipline program and support for students, and to create positions around truancy and attendance problems.
She said the team would have to go back to the drawing board to reassess goals as a committee and district.” 

Budget Questions For The School Committee

Ken O’Brien

On Wednesday, March 18, there will be a committee of the whole meeting of the Southbridge School Committee. This meeting will be held in Room M100 at 25 Cole Avenue. The purpose of the meeting, according to the agenda, is a budget work session addressing the current budget and the Superintendent’s proposed FY 2016 budget.

Yesterday I presented an analysis of the FY 2014 budget data based upon its comparison on an expenditure per pupil basis with other school districts across the State. 

The Public Deserves An Answer

Ken O’Brien

On Sunday morning we posted a column titled “More Confusion”.

In that article we reported on credible claims that students who had failed the 10^th Grade MCAS in 2013 had in fact been retested. If true, such claims directly contradict the announcement made at Tuesday night’s School Committee meeting by the District’s Superintendent.

In addition we reported on rumors that the consultant’s contract with former schools’ Superintendent, Basan Nembirkow, had been terminated. 

The First Step

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.