It seems that at least somebody is reading this blog. I, of source was at the LSC meeting where the approval was voted on to post the position. Rick Starbard asked a very poignant question but wasn't given a very clear answer. Part of the argument attempting to justify creating this new position was the increased workload due to the elimination of ten positions from last year's budget. This meant an increased workload. However Starbard pointed out that they had gotten a report on the "Race To The Top" grant by a newly appointed program specialist and wondered just how many other "new" positions had been created. No clear cut answer was given.
Donna Coppola pointed out that this "new position" would almost automatically create still another $50,000 a year position since a new Confidential Secretary would be needed. Lynn Public Schools are already embroiled in a costly lawsuit involving another Confidential Secretary. Who knows how much resolution of that case will cost.
We are spending all of this money and we still have 5 failing schools and I think only 3 schools in the city that made AYP. It is time for an audit of the finances of the Lynn Public Schools so we can know just where we are spending our money and who is spending it.
I personally think anyone who voted for this "new" position should be voted out of office come next election. The only exception I would make is Maria Carrasco who was "bullied" into voting in sub-committee meeting to even allow the full committee to vote. In the past Carrasco stood beside the mayor, myself and a couple others to thwart the superintendents attempt to crush the NASA program at Ford.
Committee member Patricia Capano felt that the new deputy position because of the long hours put in by Dr. Latham. I wonder how many teachers out there put in long hours for a lot less than the $160,000 a year that Dr. Latham makes?
Lynn super under fire for request
My wife who is a Boston Public school teacher has been putting in 60 hour weeks the past several weeks because she is the chair of her school accreditation committee. I have so little sympathy for Latham. I say no new head quarter hires until all classrooms are under 25 students.
ReplyDeleteLike I've asked before, "How much direct contact will this person have with our kids?". Let's put our money on our kids and not on adding layers of more administration.
ReplyDeleteRight the CS had plenty of contact with parents, students, teachers, and principals making sure we got our supplies to run the classrooms. Since she has been gone I don't get gloves for my classroom and nobody seems to care. Put the CS back in Special Ed where she belongs. We don't need another Adminstrator makng huge money and loosing our CS in special ed. who has been the 'GO TO PERSON FOR YEARS'! We need her more than we need another Administrator assisting Dr. L! Dr. L let's face it her years of employment way more than many in the system!
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to ask the questions, but the hard part is getting the truthful answers. I believe that no one is "bullied" into making a vote. In the end it is the sole responsiblity of the individual who was voted in by the citiztens of Lynn to make the best possible decision for the children and families in the Lynn Public Schools. So I would have to say to the school committee members start digging deeper and demand answers.....get results for our children.
ReplyDeleteMy eyes have opened wide after the last School Committee meeting:
ReplyDelete1. No resolution on Confidential Secretary positions or the law suit against the city.
2. Not allowing some people to speak at the wonderful "open mic" time...5 mins.
3. Asking for a Deputy Super...and most School Committee members going along with it....ugh!
4. Leaving the meeting more confused than when I walked in.
**My child attends the Capt. Shoemaker School and I am a member of the PTO. We were informed by Principal Riley at the last PTO meeting that our school has NO Reading Teacher, NO Computer Teacher, NO Librarian, NEW computers coming, BUT no one knows how to use them or if they will be ready to be used....??????? I would like to know where the Super Latham, Deputy Warry, School Committee members stand on that? Do we really need another Deputy or more staff? I am sure that other schools in Lynn are having the same issues. We would love to hear from you too!
I am growing more concerned by the day for our Lynn Public School system.
It is true, at the end of the day everyone is responsible for their own vote.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I have not had any parents raise any concerns about Shoemaker until now. When the principal made you aware of these issues, was it done in a way to call the PTO to action? I know that we have principals in the city that do not want to say too much out of fear of retribution. It's kind of sad that they need computers yet we have 20 sitting in the basement of city hall. The other sad part of that is, if it wasn't for those hearings going on, we would not have known about them. If there is anything that I can do, let me know.
ReplyDeleteRick, I commend you for being responsive and the only school committee member/ school dept. person to publicly follow and contribute to our discussion on our schools.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rick Starbard for your vote to deny the Deputy Super at the last School Committee meeting.....Make sure they show you a copy of the Grant (guidelines, usage, reporting) and where the money should be used and make sure it gets there....please!
ReplyDeleteAs for your question: Is this the first you are hearing about this at the Shoemaker School? Have you checked with the other schools, because many of the parents at the PTO are also teachers in other schools throughout Lynn. I am shocked that you have not heard this from anyone else....
With regards to the Shoemaker PTO, I have been a member for the past two years now. We have a very large PTO and new members with every new year. Parents were asking questions and trying to figure out how we could assist the Principal and staff. We became aware at the meeting when she stated "that she has been filling in as the Reading teacher for our building". I commend Pat Riley on her efforts and think she is doing a great job, But where is the money???? No Reading teacher in an Elementary school......it does not make sense to me. No computer teacher, but we are getting new computers.....does not make sense to me. We have a library but our children can not access it unless the classroom teacher takes them down thier once a week..We have had parents covering the library...
I just can not believe that the School Committee members do not know about this......I am glad that you, Rick Starbard are willing to help and start asking the questions for us!
Look forward to the answers that you get from School Administration.......
Regards,
Dolores DiFillipo
I also like to add that I do not feel that Principal Riley was trying to call the PTO into action as much as she was just trying to give the parents an honest answer. So, with that being said....if you (Rick) need to use a name at Shoemaker....please feel free to use my name and that I am very concerned as well as the other parents about this. Principal Riley should not take the heat for me or anyone else bringing it to light....But, we do need this to be corrected, if our children are expected to do well on the MCAS...
ReplyDeleteThanks again for following up on this....
Dolores
Rick you are correct many principals are afraid of retaliation...I am the Confidential who filed with Civil Service, retained Attorney William Appel, and filed with Office of Civil Rights...he is right here in Lynn if you want to meet with him!
ReplyDeleteThank you to the many individuals who have responded about the Confidential Secretary article showing support...things are going in the right direction!
Sincerely,
Holly Shorten Tx!
Thank you, Holly for the story. There is no place in our school system for retaliation. To find answers we need and open and frank discussion without fear of reprisal.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stanley:
ReplyDeleteThere's no secrets in Lynn and often the public find out more than the employees...look at you LOL.
There's so much I wish I could share, but as I said the lawyer is handling it...you caught on quickly where I was going with the open microphone session - thank you for caring!
Keep up doing your articles you are filling me in on what I've missed during my absent period LOL...you are getting alot of responses...if my family, friends, and neighbors knew about this you'd be well over 1,000 responses...most of them don't like computers because they work on them all day LOL!
Thanks again,
Holly
Tx,
Holly Shorten
Holly, spread the word about the Watch to you friends, neighbors, and whoever else cares. The bigger our numbers, the louder our voice.
ReplyDeleteStanley,
ReplyDeleteI just read what Dolores said...take her advise and reach out to the PTO's just like you did with me LOL! Then again you may not be able to keep up with all the comments LOL!
You're giving people the opportunity to share their interests and concerns...keep up the good work and I'm amazed with what you know...Wow!
Deeply appreciated,
Holly Shorten