I really need to get to sleep but first I just want to lay out who voted for what. I'll get in to more in-depth analysis and poetry in the morning.-
In the personnel subcommittee, DONNA COPPOLA and MARIA CARRASCO voted to post the position of the superintendent. PATRICIA CAPANO did not, so the measure passed 3-2.
Then DONNA made a motion to bring the posting before the WHOLE committee. She was joined by MARIA. For all her complaints about not having an opportunity to discuss the posting PATRICIA voted against bringing the matter before the whole committee where it could be discussed. HOW DO YOU SPELL HYPOCRISY?`
Once the motion for the posting was put before the whole committee, it went down to defeat with the MAYOR,CHARLIE GALLO, JOHN FORD joining PATRICIA CAPANO siding with the "We;re failing just fine the way we are crowd".
DONNA COPPOLA, RICK STARBARD, and MARIA CARRASCO unsuccessfully to open up the contract for competition.
While DONNA, RICK, and MARIA were licking their wounds. LATHAM had put on the agenda the renewal of her contract for three more years. Do you remember I told you she was a smart lady.
Although they were not ready to lay out the particulars of the contract, they voted on the TIME only. meaning a guaranteed three more years, details to be worked out later. MARIA broke ranks and voted for the extension. MARIA,what were you thinking?
You can't hardly use the excuse of a language barrier because THERE WAS NO LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT. It was a BLANK check. She topped the list of city employees in the last released statistics at $184,000. What will it be for the next three?
Mr. Wotring, tear down this blog! You should be embarrassed by your actions. The community spoke, and the vast majority of the city is clearly against you. Your lack of a real understanding of the major issues was never so evident. Take the little shred of dignity you and your friends may have left and move on.
ReplyDelete…Go write a poem.
If by "the community" and "vast majority of the city" you mean the PRINCIPALS of the schools whose JOBS are in Dr. Latham's hands and who received an email from their BOSS "asking" them to attend and show support....then I guess you are correct.
DeleteA.,dear A., I would have thought Latham being a math teacher would have taught you better than that. Even with all of the nonresidents who don't represent the community that crowd size doesn't add up to the number of hits this blog gets.
DeleteAnd thank you, I will write a poem. SEVERAL IN FACT.
By the end of the next 3 years, Dr. Latham will have accomplished her goal of making Lynn THE LOWEST performing district in the entire state. I would just like to thank Patty Capano, Charlie Gallo, John Ford and Mayor Kennedy for making this disaster happen (all of which do not have children in the Lynn School System correct?) In fact, I believe (and correct me if I am wrong) Miss Patty's kids went to private school. What's the matter Patty....you didn't want your children going to the great schools in Lynn that you cast your wonderful votes on, that are led by the wonderful superintendent you continue to support??
ReplyDeleteThe mayor's kids go to Pickering. And Patti's son's SPED services are paid for by Mr. and Mrs. tax payer.
DeleteMelissa....thank you!! I did not know the mayor's kids went to Pickering, but now that you mention it, I do remember hearing that Patty did have a child going to school in Lynn who received SPED services (but I also believe I heard her other kids went to private school) I am guessing private school doesn't offer the same SPED services. I wonder if she has any trouble getting her son the services he requires like so many other parents seem to be having with thier children's special education services??
DeleteThanks for this interesting post. It quite impressive.
ReplyDeleteContracts
I was surprised at Maria's vote also...Anonymous must be a school dept employee that will benefit from Latham's contract renewal...the children of Lynn are once again on the losing end!! Please continue your blogs Stanley!
ReplyDeleteI don't know any parent who has voiced a positive vote towards Latham. All the parents I have spoken too want Latham out and search for a more qualified and effective Superintendent. What do we parents know? It's just our children who are effected by the decisions.
ReplyDeleteI agree, anonymous must be a school dept employee being told to be there by the BOSS ! If anonymous were to have attended more SC meetings he or she would probably realize Lathem hasn't got a clue. And because of this, his or her school is losing funds that could benefit the schools directly.I said it a million times last night and will say it again, it's a sad day when certain SC members, Patricia , are proud to be the best of the worst. Keep up the great blogs Stanley !
ReplyDeletePatricia...Today Charlie Gallo proudly mentioned to me that Lynn is "near or at the top of the urban districts" as if I was suppose to be impressed by that....I had to remind him that out of the 30 lowest districts in the state, Lynn was 16, which isn't at or near the top!!
Deletehttp://uneducacion.blogspot.com/2012/01/comparing-massachusettss-urban.html
DeleteSee the link above. There 9 other urban districts that Lynn is grouped with including Boston, Lawrence, Worcester and Springfield. I've listed their MCAS scores, graduation and dropout rates as well as their students' post graduation plans. You can decide for yourself how 'good' these numbers are.
You did a fantastic job presenting all that information in a very comprehensible manner!! Thank you very much for sharing the link and the information. I actually am aware of the infamous "Commissioners Districts" and that Lynn is (as Dr. Latham and some of our school committee members love to brag about) "at or near the top" of this list. However, as a parent I am still not impressed because the fact remains that they are all among the lowest performing districts in the state. You would think Dr. Latham, who claims to be so educated and well versed, would know that failing is failing, an F is an F and you don't get points or credit for claiming to have an F+.
DeleteYou need to move . Or talk tosenator Kerry and brown about immigration restrictions. How do you think a 15 year old who has no English and moves here from Dominican is going to score? That' s a lot of your problem, there a re hundreds of thos kids in our middle and high schools, they haven't got a chance, the don' take advantage of all the extra programs Dr Latham has put in place like Saturday MCAS school, school night MCAS school, MCAS school at NSCC, free online MCAS prep. They don't even show up to retake the MCAS which they can do. They don't participate in credit recover programs that Dr Latham has set. Up so the can at least get a certificate of attendance.
DeleteThese are the 2011 combined ELA and Math CPI results from the DOE for the lowest 30 districts in the state. As you can see, Lynn isn't very far from the lowest, nor are they so far ahead of any of them that Dr. Latham & Company should be bragging!!
ReplyDelete125.3 Holyoke
130.9 Springfield
132.4 Lawrence
136.0 Southbridge
143.1 Fall River
142.7 Boston
141.7 Brockton
142.3 Fitchburg
143.4 New Bedford
145.2 Lowell
143.5 Worcester
148.0 Chelsea
146.1 Winchendon
149.2 Webster
146.7 Somerville
148.7 Lynn
147.3 Salem
146.6 Randolph
150.9 Haverhill
153.3 Greenfield
152.1 Everett
152.9 Chicopee
151.7 North Adams
152.9 Athol-Royalston
159.6 Freetown
155.5 Methuen
157.6 Malden
155.7 Ware
155.7 Provincetown
159.3 Gill-Montague
Where' do u think an urban school system with so many non English speaking students will score? Deal with reality...you don't live in Lynnfield. If you want to live in a depressed city you reap the rewards It is not going to change as long as the poverty level ..most schools have 50% or more free lunch, lack of employment, lack of brains continues. It' s Lynn !!!
ReplyDeleteIf you did your homework, you would know that this district is not failing just because of our demographics. You must work for Latham cuz she is always blaming the ESL kids for her failure. Newsflash....the white english speaking kids are failing the MCAS too (even the ones who don't get free lunch) You my friend are a moron!!
DeleteA. 830 : Where do you live?
DeleteThere's your problem I guess, I am a teacher. Why don't you become part of the solution, go back to school, be a Lynn teacher and help correct all these injustices. I have worked under 5 supers, it doesn't really matter . It is the demographics of an urban area. Look carefully at the MCAS data white students are failing but at a much lower rate, look at schools that have predominately white kids, they are doing. iChat better than schools that have non-white populations. That is fact whatever you chose to call me.Not everyone is going to pass , even the President agrees with that now! You can twist data any way you want I guess if you have an agenda I don't.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are a white, older teacher who is so out of touch with today's society and the children in it and definitely lack the necessary skills needed to be a teacher in an urban district. Also,the only injustices are the fact that Lynn's children have to attend schools that have teachers like you (clearly predjudice) in a district lead by Latham.
DeleteI'm a highly educated Lynn teacher who could have left for greener pastures within and without Lynn years agp. I have attended classes about Mckinley homeless act, SIOP , English language learners, etc. I have tutored kids free on Saturdays whose parents have no resources for such things, so yeah I am older, but I am very much in touch. I stay after school every night and help my students who have no computers, printers, or need extra help all for no pay. Tonight I am editing two college essay and. Implanting a FASA form for a student For no pay. Where are those parents? There are lots more like me out there and we are sick of people like you telling us how out of touch we are !
DeleteYou did not reply to my request for you to review MCAS scores. You just attacked my credentials.
DeleteIf I may jump here...I have reviewed MCAS scores and have had numerous conversations with the DOE about those scores. I am very well aware of the diversity Lynn has and the many challenges Lynn faces that many districts do not. This is one of the reasons why I feel we need a more qualified and experienced superintendent. However, as a parent, it is disturbing to hear a teacher like yourself say that Lynn is failing because we have more kids whose first language is not english. Of course this is one of the many contributing factors, but it certainly is not the sole factor. You said it yourself, "white kids are failing too, but at a much lower rate" It doesn't matter how fast or slow these kids are failing, what matters is the fact that they are failing!! I agree that not every child may pass the MCAS no matter what we do, but right now the problem is that too many kids are not passing. I think it's great that you dedicate so much time to your students, and I know there are other great teachers out there. In fact, my child has some right now. The problem is that there are also many not so great teachers out there. Lynn is a failing distict and Dr. Latham is leading this failing district....this is a fact. All we parents want is for our children to at least have a chance at a better education. We feel our children were denied that right when the school committee renewed Dr. Latham's contract and refused to even search for other more qualified candidates.
DeleteBorn in Lynn went to highland school Eastern junior High LEHS and then got a BA, And Masters. Work in LYnn. Got another Masters because teachers have to constantly update their educations at their own expense. Belong to Lynn YMCA . Just got my elderly parents out of Lynn because there were 2 shootings on their street,
ReplyDeleteThank You, you brought out a very good point, you said "Got another Masters because teachers have to constantly update their educations at their own expense". Doesn't it make you sick that we just lowered the criteria for DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT while at the same time always raising yours? Do you make six figures? Do you have a personal secretary? We are really not as far apart in opinion as you might think.
DeleteSue Rowe has been doing the job for a long time. She deserves to be paid for it. I have no gripe with the position. I could have advanced myself if I wanted to take on those responsibilities but I would rather be with my own kids than work those hours and have those responsibilities. Do you expect her. To set up her own appointments, type her own reports, etc as deputy? wouldn't you rather , for the salary she is earning, be effective in the field instead of doing her own clerical work? We are miles apart ...if you want professional people you have to pay them...I am a teacher, I would love more pay but who wouldnt ?
DeleteMaybe you are right, we might be miles apart. That's because you don't know where you are. This particular post had nothing to do with SUE ROWE or CLERKS maybe you could have advanced in this culture of corruption but that's nothing to be proud of.
DeleteMr Wotring...before I sign off forever because this is a waste of my precious time, I taught both of your children, knowing one for a number of years. You personally complimented and asked for my advice several times. Funny, now I am old white corrupt, a moron and whatever else you and your cronies called me. Good luck with your anarchy. There is no rational discussion here!
Delete