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Friday, May 25, 2012

WHAT'S THE HOLD-UP ON LATHAM'S VICTORY LAP?

Since we don't OFFICIALLY have a SUPERINTENDENT signed on for the next school year yet where does that leave LPS? No contract was tendered after the last TOP SECRET and TUMULTUOUS negotiating session last Thursday night,soon DR. LATHAM'S contract will run out and we could be left aimlessly wandering in the crosscurrents. A lot of BIG things are on the TO-DO list.

There's the building of a new MARSHALL, a new INNOVATION school, opening up FALLON again, the MAYOR'S wanting to move all the administration to BENNETT STREET, and a few other things. Still no contract.

Why? I don't know for sure. The rumor mill is pretty silent on this one. I don't have many facts to go on. But I ask you, when has that ever stopped me?

So I have been forced to look into my crystal ball (.which is actually an old bowling ball I used back in the 80's before my accident) to make some guesses on the holdup.

DR. LATHAM had the votes to get an offer extended. We all saw that after the hearing thing. A contract should have been offered if they could just come to an agreement. It should have passed just be REASONABLE....but it didn't.

Hmm, who broke the vote that was clearly in LATHAM'S favor? Was it CHARLIE GALLO, the political animal that he is who maybe realized the historic uprising of parental concern could put his future political career in jeopardy? Or maybe it was MADAME MAYOR who thought LATHAM'S raise increase was too extreme and didn't want to part with enough of that 16 million in FREE CASH already targeted for projects to help move her reelection campaign along. Then there is JOHN "THE RIPPER" FORD, maybe his knife got too dull from all that throat slashing, he couldn't carve out a big enough piece of the revenue pie to fund her raise. Don't forget PATTI CAPANO, well maybe you can forget her. I saw no first-aid tape on her nose caused by any sudden moves by the GOOD DOCTOR.

Well we KNOW the are obligated, mandated, and necessitated to offer LATHAM a contract,

BUT......

LATHAM is not required to ACCEPT it.

ARE WE HAVING A MEXICAN STAND-OFF?

I can't wait until next Thursday.

9 comments:

  1. The only sensible thing that you said is that you don't let a lack of facts stop you!!!

    I can't wait until the victory lap!! Get ready for your High-Five LOSER!!

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    1. Who will be celebrating this victory lap you speak of? Certainly not the children of our failing district who have no choice but to attend failing and under-performing schools! Sadly, they are the only 'losers' here. I am sure our superintendent and our administrators are celebrating their 6 figure salaries, who wouldn't be? By the way, I haven't heard you or any other of your anonymous friends and colleagues deny the FACT that Dr. Latham is leading a failing district and the children of this city are attending failing and under-performing schools! Throw all the immature insults and name calling you want our way. They may make you feel better and superior, but they don't change the facts, do they!

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    2. Boy Lori, there are a lot of nails out there with bruised heads.

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  2. I am sick of hearing that our schools are failing...I am not a prejudice person and the problem is people need to teach their kids to speak English...bottom line why do kids fail MCAS...when my family came to America we had to learn to speak English so why is anyone else any different...we are the free and the brave, but honestly learn the language...stop the feel sorry for me because you don't want to learn English...if I were to go to your country would you put up with me speaking English when you speak Italian, Greek, French, Spanish, Khmer, etc...COME ON PEOPLE FACE THE MUSIC! The LPS staff does their best to teach kids...keep in mind many children come from homes were there is alcohol...but we are being out-numbered with our govt. giving many refugees free everything to come here...with this being said they don't speak English which holds the classrooms back...short and simple SPEAK THE LANGUAGE...THE TEACHERS AND AMDIN. are NOT MAKING THE SCHOOL FAIL - IT'S THE STUPID PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF AMERICA...people come here and don't care to respect us, but my family did...in order to move forward we need everyone to have their children speak the language, following our American dream to succeed, and STOP BLAMING THE SCHOOLS!!! Ford School has FREE programs to learn the language so now what's the problem...do you realize that Somalians don't have a written language and there are many coming here that we have to teach sit, dog, cat, hat, etc...no I am not a teacher but I see what really is going on...so these kids take a test they can't read...do I need to say anymore!!!

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    1. English speaking kids are not passing the MCAS either, so who do we blame for that? Classrooms do not have textbooks for the students, so who do we blame for that? Teachers have to ask parents to purchase supplies and resources for their classrooms, or go without them, because they are not provided (as they should be by law) so who do we blame for that?

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  3. There isn't a school system anywhere that doesn't ask their kids to provide supplies....I get a long list pencils pens paper towels Kleenex hand sanitizer on and on every year and I live in a small community. I know lots of Lynn teachers and no one has ever said they don't have books. As a matter of fact a friend just told me she had orders lots of new reading books more than she needs. And another in high school had surplus money after ordering and gave it to the librarian to order more . Teachers can get grants, have fundraisers, etc if they need additional material. It is done everywhere in lots of cities and towns. New superintendent in Hamilton we ham no prior experience $165, 000. And yes we have a much larger #of special Ed and ELL kids than most districts.

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    1. You are right about the pencils and stuff. As for raising extra money for the extras you are also right. However, on the textbook thing you must have a hard time sitting because of all of the blowing sunshine. My son never gets to bring his books home. I know of elementary classes that have to share textbooks and classes can't have class on the same subject at the same time.

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    2. I am not referring to 'teachers wishlists' such as kleenex or hand sanitizer. I am referring to actual required and necessary learning supplies and resources. It is against Massachuesetts law for a public school not to provide required supplies (whatever they may be) free of charge. Also, I would encourage you to contact more schools, and I am sure will discover just how many classrooms don't have enough books, have decade old books or don't even have books. Just recently I had several parents tell me tha Sisson is among the schools that has classrooms with no books.

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  4. I have to agree with Lori and Anon. Name calling will not help, however, the LPS is not completely supporting their teachers/staff. We have many great teachers in the system and we have many that need to leave or retire, But the bottom line is that we need to be here and on the same page for our children. They are the ones who are losing and suffering from such a disconnect in LPS/Parents/teachers. Every child should speak ENGLISH if they are here in the USA. That is a requirement. The problem is lack of support for the teachers as well as the families. LPS gets plenty of ELL, Title 3, Title 1 monies.....where is it ALL going? That is what everyone should be asking. Even the Mayor does not ask and she is the Chair. I watch ever School committee meeting and it is all the same. Nothing is accomplished and they are all fighting. We will never win and our children will continue to suffer.
    Please begin to hold the school committee members accountable and put pressure on the Mayor and Super to do the right thing for our children and teachers!!!!!

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