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Saturday, June 30, 2012

WHEN DOES THAT RACE START AND JUST WHERE IS IT WE ARE GOING?

I couldn't believe it.
They must be WRONG!
Turns out it's true,
same old song.

I read on FACEBOOK today that we are not going to have an INNOVATION SCHOOL. I was all smug, I GOT THIS, no you're mistaken, you see that's what the WASHINGTON SCHOOL'S gonna be.

However, you see I MUST BE GETTING TO BIG FOR MY BRITCHES (that's how we talk down here in TENNESSEE), I find out that IN FACT we are NOT gonna get one. I guess I'll blame my lack of being in the know to a conspiracy perpetrated against me as a result of the on-line blackout of sound (what color is sound?). Hey what you looking at?

It turns out that their master plan did not pass muster with the state.

PLEASE TELL ME AGAIN, WHY WAS IT WE GAVE THAT $25,000 RAISE?

A THIRST FOR CHANGE

Wisdom from a genie who's bottle is brown
after election time you won't be around.

Gaining knowledge from yeast, barley and hops,
only with a new chairman, the madness stops.

PRESCRIPTION CHANGE

JUDY'S a DOCTOR of jurisprudence,
education is where LATHAM has influence.
Teamed together for a dual diagnosis,
more failing schools the bitter prognosis.

A new formula for princiPALS pay,
sorry CHARLIE, "Here's what we say".
Those that testified get more,
that's how we'll settle the score.

Even JOHN THE RIPPER had doubts,
calling it semi-guideline, an easy way out.
Chances for change not all that remote
cause come election time, the power of the vote.

DOLLAR DAZE - THE PRICE OF RE-ELECTION

Do you have your tickets yet for JUDY'S SECOND INAUGURAL BALL? Don't worry the trash police will be coming by shortly to give you your personal invite. The cash generated from our rodent windfall should make those political payback RAISES pain free.

Don't you just love how this works - First the people leave town because it's too expensive to live here, no jobs, and a failing school system thereby reducing the rodent food source and then whereby the vermin migrate elsewhere (maybe REVERE where our chance to have the state's first INNOVATION SCHOOL migrated to) thus FREEING us of the problem.

THREE CHEERS FOR "THE RAT LADY".

AND THE BEAT GOES ON - BUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE

The WATCH has gotten so powerful that the ITEM has resorted to using SUPER HEROES to combat me. Do you remember THOR of the THUNDERCATS? I think the ITEM recruited him to do battle with me.


Jokes on them, I was AFRAID of CHRIS STEVENS. You know me and women. Look at what happened to that SAMSON character.

Well okay, it's not the same character and this guy is not a cartoon. Still you got to admit this reporter shuffle is kind of funny. Maybe CATHE just used her influence with the ITEM to get CHRIS out of the way. Regrettably, I have a history of women fighting over me. Jealousy can throw logic out the window.

Who's kidding whom, I LOVE this stuff.

WOULD YOU PLEASE BE MY FRIEND?

Lynn principals to divide up approved raises

I HAVE THIS BRIDGE FOR SALE, YOU SEE.

Hey I figure if you swallow this story maybe I have a future in real estate. These RAISES were first disclosed at the last LSC meeting.

Some members were outraged, at the apparent inequality of the RAISES.  Taken aback frim having her fairness questioned, the good doctor promised to disclosing her reasoning in EXECUTIVE SESSION which she apparently did THURSDAY night.

Now remember. LATHAM is a recognized math whiz, team that with a longneck, lovin lawyer/politician and you come up with a RECIPE for actuarial deception.

 BOTTOM LINE - THREE PRINCIPALS GOT NO RAISE.

Friday, June 29, 2012

MAYORAL MAYHEM

JFK says, "BRING ON THE RATS"
we'll make you pay,
a ticket's the price of that,
to make them go away.

To earn her raise
did not even have to run
through a maze
screwing taxpayers sure is fun.

The price to fail just got higher,
when all is said and done
we, the citizens are the buyer.
Sell-out, you're the one.

A LITTLE READY MONEY

She got two tickets to paradise.
Pack your bags, she left last night.

Corruption, you know it's on the rise.
To save our kids, we must fight.

A train's leaving climb on board.
Let's get rid of Judy, Gallo, Capano, and Ford.

ASK NOT, WHAT I CAN DO

Paying homage to OUR LADY OF THE RAT,
the DOC offers up kids as sacrifice,
who says religion must be nice?
While we're at SCREW the teachers, that'd be NICE.

JUDY loves necks that are long.
Take care of your friends, same old song.
Who cares if our kids, we must fail?
Don't worry CATHE, the checks in the mail.

TERMINATE THE EXTERMINATOR

JFK the RAT LADY
giving out tickets to pay
so the SUPER gets her way.

We pay more for
LATHAM to stay,
for her a good day.


SORRY CHARLIE, MAYBE WE SHOULD BE THE ONES SORRY

CHARLIE GALLO, the DARLING DEMOCRAT has sided with RENEGADE REPUBLICAN that JUGGLING JUDY to disguise a TAX INCREASE by calling it funny little fine on rebellious rodents. However our furry little friends aren't the ones footing the bill, WE ARE.

PRESENT FOR THE PUBLIC

GO WITH IT!

We, the undersigned DEMAND that a public hearing be held whereby our school committee member's can publicly justify for the exorbitant raise granted to our superintendent of schools behind closed doors in private. While we appreciate the need to keep personnel matters private, we feel that such a large increase entitles the tax paying public some explanation

DOLLAR DAZE - TRASH TICKETS TO SUPERSIZE SUPER'S SALARY

GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT

A new TAX INCREASE disguised as a ordinance will fund a RISE in the price of FAILURE. A new petition is in order to force that MENSA MAVEN to JUSTIFY to the public why she, along with 3 others VOTED to give a PRETTY PRESENT TO A POTENTIAL POLITICAL PAL.

I told you that FREE CASH was PLUMB PICKINGS FOR THIS POLITICIAN.

TIED UP IN TENNESSEE - CONSPIRACY THEORY

Yeah I was BOUND UP BY LPS'S LASSO. I planned to watch LSC"S meeting on-line last night and I did. The only problem was there was NO SOUND.

I got to watch my daughter, ASIAH, there for the LYNN YOUTH COUNCIL sit in the row behind where I usually sit but heard NOTHING from the meeting. I saw JUGGLING JUDY arrive a half-hour late for the meeting she is supposed to CHAIR.

Our MENSA MAVEN did make it there in time to go to a BACK ROOM to vote for CASH FOR CATHE. She'll get by with a little help from her friends.

Think about this, a TEACHER who led her student's to NATIONAL ACCLAIM in DISNEYLAND got around one-tenth of the percentage increase as LUCKY LATHAM.

COMPARISON SHOPPING (OH I FORGOT,SOME VOTED NOT TO SHOP)

Lynn board awards Latham $25G raise

Attention FIREMEN! You've been doing it all wrong, if you want the percentage raise our GOOD DOCTOR got - YOU SHOULD LET THE BUILDINGS BURN DOWN. (You only got a measly 8% while she got about twice that much).

TEACHERS - How long did you go without a RAISE? ( I think you should get in her UNION)

Even KEVIN "SCROOGE" MCHUGH only got 7%.

I guess DOC you know who your friends are and they ain't mine or the tax payers of LYNN.

Well JUDY -HOW YOU GOING TO JUGGLE YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS ONE?

Thursday, June 28, 2012

PUTTING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE

Let's look at things a minute here before tonight's EXECUTIVE SESSION where they are going to vote on a NEW contract for the GOOD DOCTOR which I am surwe will include a NICE raise. Who knows how much? Well some people do but ain't nobody telling me.

Here's something though for everybody to think about, BABARA WHALEN, 5th grade teacher at BRICKETT had her whole class taken to DISNEYLAND winning a prestigous national award and brought much needed positive to LPS. She got a 2.5% raise.

I want you to keep that number in mind when you think about the double digit raises some of the princiPALS got and the number that eventually comes out from BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

That teacher's was what number again?

ROUND TWO IN THE BOOKS

Well I missed it. Maybe it is not quite as easy to keep my fingers on the pulse in Tennessee but then again I was probably just lazy. Yesterday they had round TWO of the SPEED DATING process we call principal interviews. I wish somebody would give me the name of that parent representative. Somebody probably deserves some credit. Anyway here's yesterday's interview schedule:


Irene Cowdell 2:00
Anthony Frye 2:30
Jennifer Dardenne 3:00
Patricia Muxie 3:30
Erin Magrane 4:00
Shamus Brady 4:30
Andrew Allen 5:00

Did I ever mention the single most important person keeping me in college was my grandmother, IRENE. Nothing better than keeping with family.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

IN YOUR HEART IS WHERE THE HOME IS

St. Mary’s students raise $3,000 for homeless coalition

While LPS goes without a HOMELESS SUPPORT SPECIALIST, St. Mary's students took positive steps to help their most vulnerable fellow students. A big applause to them.

DOLLAR DAZE - PEST CONTROL

City Council talks trash, approves $261.5M budget

Our HONORABLE MAYOR talks about having money in RESERVE to pay for RAISES but not for TAX relief. I wonder how much of that RESERVE FUND OF FREE CASH will go to "Care for Cathe"? Well we do have a RAT problem in the city.

PUT THE"WATCH" ON TV

Everybody run down to LYNNCAM'S  Open House tonight at their new place at the old ST.JEANS CREDIT UNION on Western Ave, Open House – June 27. Ask questions about what their plans are on covering education. I mean, I can't do it all alone. Besides you can't actually SEE poetry. Oh yeah, while you're down there, ask if there is any truth to the rumor I started about plans to build a WOTRING WING at the NEW MARSHALL. I'm doing my best to spread them.

SUPER TRAVEL PLANS

Thursday night will be a preview,
our budget we will have to review.

Our super wants much more
of that you can be sure.

Twice they went before,
in a room alone, they closed the door.

After many a shout,
both times they came without,

but not a word they did say
about the outrageous raise in pay

demanded by the DOCTOR to fail.
So I say send her out of town on rail,

CRUCIAL FOR A CANDIDATE

Someone responded to my musings on mayoral candidates that we need a mayor with a business acumen, one who will create an enviroment where business will want to locate in LYNN thus creating a large enough tax base that will generate more money for the schools and all our problems will be solved.

To that response, I say "Whoa! Wait a minute let's look at this a minute".

LPS will always be about half the city's budget. No one business or even two or three or ten are going to remotely compare. Half of any taxes they generate go to the schools and then it is leveraged to get a much larger reimbursement from the state.

On top of that, LPS will hold the children of the employees from each and every business as a hostage to it's education.

Since the mayor AUTOMATICALLY serves as chairperson of the LSC, their stance on education has to be the single most important qualification that they possess.

UNLESS OF COURSE, WE NEED THEM TO JUMP INTO THE RING OR YOU KNOW OF A PROJECT THAT NEEDS MANAGED.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

HOW COULD THE JOURNAL OVERLOOK CANDIDATE CLEO?

I am leveling the charge of VERTICAL DISCRIMINATION against that BASTION of journalism the LYNN JOURNAL. I mean CLEO measures up pretty good against the present MAYOR, they're nearly the same height.

Maybe THE JOURNAL is jealous because her blog, http://uneducacion.blogspot.com/, just hit 10,000 views. They probably don't like anything thoughtfully written. It just reminds people what true journalism is supposed to be like.

Maybe they ignored her because her candidacy is undeclared. Nobody knows about it, not even CLEO, but when did I let facts get in front of a story. No one's candidicy is airtight, I feel a DRAFT.

DELUSIONS, CONSPIRACY AND PARANOIA

I was NAVIGATING LPS'S archive of SCHOOL COMMITTEE meetings, http://lynnsc.lynnschools.org/tcs/#page:recordingList&pageNumber:,  and I realized that the RECORDING OF THE FIRST EVER public hearing generated by a petition is no longer available.

I was wondering if I look the same on camera from TENNESEE as I do in LYNN. Maybe the camera angle is different. But alas, I am gone. Why?

Do MATH people have something against HISTORY? Maybe they took it away so maybe, just maybe we all would forget a lot of people had questions about the direction LPS is headed before VOTING for our new "CASH FOR CATHE" program.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with me, well kinda sure.

DOLLAR DAZE - A REAL NOR'BEASTER

The GOOD DOCTOR'S prescription for our schools?
"Pay me much more money you fools."

When it comes to logic, we break all the rules.
A BIG raise is what I need, go ahead sell those family jewels.

I took care of my princiPALS,
so so a big raise is surely this GAL'S.

Hey Judy have you checked the weather?
Funds for a RAINY DAY fund will make my life better.

DON'T CRY FOR ME CATHE

I remember a converstion I had with DR. LATHAM last year after the LPS budget was approved by committee. She questioned the wisdom of adding a librarian over a Reading teacher at FORD SCHOOL. We had different perspectives on the values. She seemed to reslish the facts that the statistics would prove me WRONG. Really what did it matter, I had no influence, I was just a POOR volunteer who liked to write POETRY.

Well it's a year later and I look at FORD SCHOOL'S budget and I see they still have a LIBRAIAN (and I was hoping to get my old volunteer position back) and thanks to TITLE 1 grant money, they'll have a reading teacher TOO. Sorry DOC, I guess we just weren't meant to be together.

Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someone else before your contract's up. WHAT? They haven't RENEWED you contract? I mean, I thought with the BRADY-like comparison and all those ELIGIBLE (for re-election) men over at the LYNN CITY COUNCIL singing your praises, you'd be all set by now.

Believe me I know from EXPERIENCE  (4 wives) - LOVE HURTS!

Monday, June 25, 2012

DOLLAR DAZE - LIBRARY LUNACY

Someone who knows something here, please help me out. For the second year in a row PICKERING MIDDLE SCHOOL has been budget $2911 for LIBRARY MATERIALS. That is a small amount, considering the school has a budget of over 4 million dollars. There are a couple of problems I have with that though.

I mean I have been told that PICKERING doesn't have a LIBRARY. This despite the fact that I understand that MDSE (old DOE) mandates that MIDDLE SCHOOLS have them. If so, how do they (LPS) get away with it.

Since PICKERING is argueably the BEST middle school we have, that is if MCAS don't lie, think how much better it would be if it had a staffed library like the other MIDDLE schools.

CLEO KNOWs COMMITTEE


An Education: Lynn School Committee Meeting: 6/28/12
uneducacion.blogspot.com
Once again CLEO is out infront of the AGENDA. You go CLEO!

DOLLAR DAZE - A POCKET FULL OF MONEY

After Thursay night's TOP SECRET EXECUTIVE SESSION will JUGGLING JUDY unveil a new economic and educational stimulus package? Now that the PRESIDENT'S  " Cash For Clunkers" is over will it be replaced by "Cash For Cathe"?

With a FAILING school district, our schools could surely be perceived as a CLUNKER. Don't forget, if they raise is anywhere as outrageous as some of her princiPALS our CONCERNED CITY COUNCILMEN deserve some of the blame, I mean credit.

Wish I could be there waiting to hear what come from behind closed doors but thanks to modern technology I will be able to do what they do at FORD SCHOOL and benefit from DISTANCE LEARNING. So I  will be able to raise TROUBLE FROM TENNESSEE.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

WE'RE WAITING......

I  posting today from KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE. DR. LATHAM, what did I say  about the possibilities of DISTANT LEARNING like they have at FORD SCHOOL?

Lately I've been thinking, for the FIRST EVER PUBLIC HEARING before the LSC all 11 LYNN CITY COUNCILMAN signed a letter of endorsement for not posting the position of LYNN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT and the MAYOR cast the deciding vote.

My side lost. Well ......,

MAYBE NOT.

Time is running out and we still don't have a signed contract for THE DOCTOR. Makes you wonder who has the most influence in this BIG CITY.

Nearest I can tell from my SIMPLE ANALYSIS "Cash-lovin" Cathe wants TOO MUCH of the CITY COFFERS for JUGGLING JUDY to SIGN-OFF on. After some of the outrageous RAISES some of those princiPALS got our marvelous mayor don't want a FISCAL ALBATROSS dangling from her neck come election time. I've heard some BELLIGERANT BLOGGER will make an issue of it.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

ANOTHER JFK CONSPIRACY THEORY

Okay, the headline was written in such a way as to get me more search engine hits but hey I'm just out here trying to make a living and I live for starting trouble. Our HONORABLE MAYOR made the pivotal vote that put the SUPERINTENDENT in to OVERTIME. But after the DOCTOR;S new prescription for a raise, ole JFK ain't feeling so well.

Maybe now she's come to realize that TOM BRADY comparison wasn't too smart after all. Even MENSA divas make mistakes. Now what ya gonna do? You've got to offer HER a contract. It's like, the law.

OF COURSE.....,

it's not the law she has too accept it. You can play hard line, low ball her and give the GOOD DOCTOR an ultimatum. She either accepts it or WALKS.

IF SHE WALKS......

then we are exactly at the place we would have been if you would have voted to POST THE POSITION......

EXCEPT....

now we would have a time without anybody while we advertise and go through the interview process and all that legal, technical procedural mumbo jumbo.

STILL....

you could avoid all that by just paying her what she WANTS. But if you do that you have to worry about some renegade blogger running with it and making you a political laughing stop at least in his demented mind.

GO AHEAD, PAY THE LADY, IT'LL BE FUN.

HOSTAGE CRISIS - JFK UNDER THE GUN

Coming up real soon, maybe as soon as June 30th., LPS will have NO ONE under contract as SUPERINTENDENT. They havve tried to negotiate a NEW contract TWICE in EXECUTIVE SESSION and failed to come up with a number CATHE could live with. Then therewas the last meeting that for some reason another SECRET executive negotiating session was taken OFF the posted agenda.

SOOOO........,

now we are left with only one more meeting before what I think is the expiration of the contract.

WHAT'S  GONNA HAPPEN?

This is ONE scenario: Rather than have a $115 million system drift aimlessly, we will be held hostage by the good doctor's DEMANDS. We've alreadt had a vote to renew her contract. We had a PUBLIC HEARING to POST THE POSITION, our side LOST.

I'm GUESSING that when it came time to actually RENEW the contract, judging from the size of the UNPOSTED raises of the princiPALS, our MOST HONORABLE MAYOR was not ready to part with that much of that FREE CASH she had left over to be sprinkled around potential voters in her re-election bid. I could be wrong but rember SECRET and SPECULATE both start with S.

DOLLAR DAZE - LOOK WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU SPLIT AN ATOM

I wonder just what this $200,000 line on the second page of the CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION budget is. The line wasn't there last year. We have been told KNOW ATOM hasn't got a prayer of continuing. I mean, I thought we interviewed for a HEAD IF SCIENCE CURRIULUM and we do have 87 thousand and some change budgeted for the position.

Probably they will say it's for CONSUMABLES, you know replacing broken test tubes and the like. Hey listen, I used to be a SCIENCE NERD in another life and let me tell you it cost big bucks for everyone to dissect frogs. Oh, I forgot even ADVANCED classes don't do that in GRADE SCHOOL. Well it must be all that glassware broken in all those KINDERGARTEN CHEMISTRY KLASSES.

Friday, June 22, 2012

WILL IT BE A GOOD NIGHT IRENE?

http://www.lynnschools.org/departments_employment.shtml#gpm1_5

Well today was LPS'S vooray into speed dating for princiPALS. Parents were supposed to be involved, I thought we would have a representative. Maybe we did, I just thought the administration would tout it. You know toot their own horn. If we didn't it just, blows.

Since it was an open meeting. It was publicized, sort of. Lots of people could have been involved if they wanted to be. With only 15 minutes per candidate there surely wasn't much time for questions. Hopefully this was only the first in a series of interview, each with a dwindling number of candidates because that's not much time o make an intelligent delineation bewtween contestants in this PICK-A-PRINCIPAL game show.

Hopefully, a parent will be empowered with an acknowledged and substantial role in the selection process.

POTENTIAL PALS - THE PRINCIPLE OF LOYALTY

Wish I could be there. I've heard RUMORS. It will be interesting to see who they pick, I will definitely expand if the rumors come to pass. In the mean time I hope someone gets over there to OBSERVE.


June 25, 2012  AM

Mary Foster
9:15
Anthony Frye 9:30
Andrew Allen 9:45
Irene Cowdell 10:00
John Licorish 10:15
Michael Hanna 10:30
Jennifer Dardenne 10:45
Marijean Halas 11:00
John Billings 11:15
Shirley Bachini 11:30
BREAK 11:45 to 12:30 PM
June 25, 2012 PM 12:30 to 2:00 PM
Jonathan Eddy 12:30
Geoffrey King 12:45
Patricia Muxie 1:00
Sylvia Yamamoto 1:15
Erin Magrane 1:30
Shamus Brady 2:00

DOLLAR DAZE - OLD SCHOOL FOR THE GOOD OLD GIRLS

There are those of you out there that would say I'm partial to FORD SCHOOL. Well I did live for a few years across the street. Maybe that explains why I'm partial.

MAYBE NOT.

You see FORD SCHOOL doesn't have all the money that the two LEVEL 4 schools have, thebuilding doesn't have any fancy furniture, and the third floor gets so hot in the winter time we'd have to open up the windows in the library sometimes.

HOWEVER....,

what it does have is some of the latest technologu. I was noticing in it's budget a line item for $62,000 for DISTANT LEARNING. It looks like they've chosen to spend some of their TITLE 1 money that way. It is a great way to leverage a little money for a whole lot of learning.

My own daughter got to interact with SHUTTLE astronauts in a SPECIAL room they've got set up for DISTANT LEARNING. I've always been JEALOUS of her for that. What a special opportunity, what potential.

I remember LAST YEAR when the good doctor THREATENED TO CLOSE THE ROOM. She even went so far as to have ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER TOM BORGUE line up moving trucks. I  remember joining DAVID GASS, THE MAYOR, LSC MEMBER MARIA CARRASCO, and DR. CRANE, PRINCIPAL in what was going to be a potential human barricade to block the furniture from being moved out of the room. The MAYOR had came from another meeting and had had trouble getting a return call from DR. LATHAM.

WELL....

the good doctor blinked and the trucks never came. There have been a few unsuccessful attempts at closing the room thus hampering DISTANCE LEARNING.

In order to get an idea on the value and possibilities,consider the following - I have been analysing the LPS budget for a week from WEST VIRGINIA,(How do you like me now, DOC?)

Well maybe DR. LATHAM got the last laugh, DR. CRANE wasn't one of the princiPALS who got a raise.

DON'T FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS

The Daily Item: Lynn PTO leaders, pols blast idea of banning bake sales
www.itemlive.com

I HAVE AN IDEA THAT WOULD BRING ATTENTION TO MULTIPLE PROBLEMS IN OUR SCHOOLS AT ONE TIME.

Since BAKE SALES are not yet outlawed, only threatened and the conditions of our restrooms are present and real if we started having BAKE SALES in our bathrooms maybe some of the real substantial issues would be covered.

The close quarters would remind everybody how OVERCROWDED our classrooms are. Maybe someone would even take a picture.

DOLLAR DAZE - A PAYCHECK FOR NOT SHOWING UP

I just don't understand. The PARENT INFORMATION PAGE of the LPS budget has had a DROP-OUT PREVENTION line ZERO FUNDED for at least the past two years. The amount of money we receive from the statetis  closely tied to how many kids are actually coming to school. You would think some positive program to encourage the kids to come would be a net money maker for the school. I mean if you didn't realize the need for the program, why even have the line to zero fund?

LET'S SEE WHAT WE DO HAVE? Well we have 3.4 people at a cost of a little over $251,000. The cost is ACTUALLY much greater than that because I would guess by the time these people get involved we have already LOST state money for lack of attendance.

It would seem to me a little money spend on the front end where you at least have a CHANCE of recouping your investment would make more sense than putting all your eggs in the punitive basket.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

DOLLAR DAZE - RIGGED RACE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

There are those out there that are of the opinion that the exorbitant raises doled out to some of the princiPALS came from the RACE TO THE TOP MONEY. I am sure it will be denied, maybe rightly so.

Still listening to KEVIN MCHUGH explaining some of the fine points of budgetary gymnastics at the last LSC meeting, I can see how some people came to that conclusion.

SIMPLE SOLUTION - Put out a list of all the principals, their raises, and an explanation of where the money came from. You see I don't know, maybe some people have a little trouble telling the differance between transparent and opague. Seems like you can't always see through some of these VISIONARIES.

DOLLAR DAZE - NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T (WELL YOU NEVER ACTUALLY DID SEE IT)

We all have heard about those SELECTIVE RAISES THAT CERTAIN OF THE princiPALS got. If you would like to make comparisons so you could maybe start to justify them in your mind, well you CAN'T.

You see or rather you don't see them on the SEMI-TRANSPARENT budget placed on-line for the world to see. I did not notice one principal getting a raise and didn't the DOCTOR DEMAND DISCUSSIONS ON THE DOLE-OUT BE DETAILED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION?

Out of earshot of pesky bloggers.

DOLLAR DAZE - WIPING UP THE MESS

There is a line on the SUPERINTENDENT'S page of the LPS budget entitled NEWS LETTER. To put things in perspective, my blog is FREE. It costs naada, nothing, zip.

To get her information from whomever, THE GOOD DOCTOR has LPS shell out $30,000 dollars for next year. That is up $10,000 from last year.

For that kind of money I hope we see a compatible drop in toilet paper expenditures.

DOLLAR DAZE - DATA DOLLARS DRIVE THE RIGHT WRITER?

Snuggled in the DATA PROCESSING page of the LPS budget is a PROJECT/REPORT WRITER MANAGER at $82, 732 (a $2000 increase from last year). I worry about what this person does. Maybe LPS is going to start its own blog, THE WATCH WATCHER.

What kind of results are we getting for this sort of money. I do what I do for FREE. My only compensation is the fantasy in my mind of cutting the ribbon to open the WOTRING WING in the new MARSHALL

Back to reality what possible PROJECT could LPS have that we need to pay someone that kind of money to report on?

Okay, I'll go along if MADAME MANGLER THE MAYOR would tab me as PRESS AGENT for her nest title bout. I could do a great promotion for a TITLE BOUT against JOHN THE RIPPER.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

ROBERT C. BYRD HIGH SCHOOL - BUILDING OUR FUTURE




Hey MARSHALL - Study this

This is a NEW high school in my home town. It consolidated two high schools that were around when I went to high school. They have a foot field, baseball field and a POND on ca,pus. We could learn a lot from these hillbillies.

CHATTER SHOULD MATTER

It seems like a lot of people are having trouble with the perceived fairness of the availability of transfers to other schools. They are told there are waiting lists. STAND IN LINE. Fair's fair, Come on people, do you really think LPS would not be above board and TRANSPARENT?

UNLESS....

you want to talk about crafting a definition to fit a rule. As a LOVER of words (I am always getting into LOVER trouble - aka. 4 wives), I got to like this, I'm sorry. (Maybe I'll get that WOTRING WING afterall)

BIRTHPLACE OF A REBEL


My views on education were shaped here. I never had an EDUCATION course, no advanced degrees. The simple solution is usually the best.

DOLLAR DAZE - STORAGE WARS


Our economy must have had a dramatic turn. THE GOOD DOCTOR'S line for rental space has jumped from $20,000 last year to $40,000 this year.

I'm sure she is going to need the extra space to store that extra cash for that TOP SECRET raise she is requesting.

In the meantime our kids line up to use stinky bathrooms.

DOLLAR DAZE - IT DOESN'T ADD UP TO ME

There is a line in the SPED budget,  for Teachers'TBD - SPED 240. It looks to me like 22 different grants but I don't see any actual teachers attached to it. We are talking $129,000.

Someone's got some splaining to do!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

DOLLAR DAZE - SPIRIT SALARY

HELP! I can't figure this one out. Last year's budget list TWO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENTS at $269,198, then this year we got TWO at $284,540.

I would say the differance reflects the normal pay raise. Fine.

BUT WAIT A MINUTE.....,

we only had ONE DEPUTY for most of last year. How come the salary reflected a WHOLE years WAGES?

GHOSTS IN THE MACHINE

DOLLAR DAZE - HOME ON THE STRANGE

Thanks to a McKinney grant of $30,000 a year, we have a funded HOMELESS SUPPORT SPECIALIST. The only problem is I don't think we have had anyone in that position for at least a couple of months.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but it looks like we have a HOME (a position) but we are LESS a SPECIALIST. What happens to the money?

NO KIPP ON KAMPUS


TRIPPY and I were visiting my old college, you know the one that has no history of me graduating. He questioned JOHN WESLEY but he was as quiet as a statue.

Photo by TRIPPY

THE FIRST WILL BE LAST AND THE LAST WILL BE WHEN THEY WANT THEM TO BE

I hear from parents all the time about these appeals being denied about going to one middle school over another. There is a question of who they should go to to vent their problems.

Some say they should go to DAVE HEGAN, Acting Head of the PARENT INFORMATION CENTER. Since he also serves as HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION, he is uniquely qualified at sending people to the back of the bus.

Still others direct parents to UNCLE TOM IRRABINO who seems to have been annoited by the COMMERCIAL STREET CROWD to be in charge of parent put-downs.

I hear about these lines that seemed to be more geometrical than linear. I'm not smart like the GOOD DOCTOR.

BUDGET BLASPHEMY

School's Out now, my numbers have fallen a little with the rising temperatures so it is the perfect time to ram through a BUDGET stock full of padding and perks. We here at the WATCH are committed despite that to examing the LPS BUDGET with a fine tooth comb, pointing out areas of economic malfeasance, waste and potential corruption.

UNLESS.....

I appear again in a photo for the ITEM cutting the ribbon to the opening of the WOTRING WING of the soon to be built new MARSHALL. I would ask that the wholoe school be named after me but I am too HUMBLE. I mean the "T" has "HONORABLE" in front of his name. The only thing that's been in front of my name started with "DIS".

DOLLAR DAZE - A BARRIER YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK

While we are looking at the SPED budget, let's look at this line, 1 LS PARENT TRANSLATOR at $58, 181. Huh?

I witmessed DAVE ELLIS, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF PAC get into a heated discussion with SOMETIME PARENT LIAISON FRANCES MARTINEZ over LPS'S failure to provide COURT Mandated Translation Services....

YET.....,

we got a line item.

I seem to remember something about some discussion about this last year. There was some song and dance but when the music stopped one parent had to go to the OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS to compel LPS to provide PORTUGUESE translation at an IEP meeting.

CHA-CHING! Where did the money go?

DOLLAR DAZE - PARENT POINTS OUT POTENTIAL PADDING

Last year the SPED department budgeted a whole position for PARENT LIAISON at $52,310. However the position remained empty for around two years until it was filled by a part time person.
I don't know if the pay was part-time.

Because I know some of you out there like transparency, I applied for that job and was not only not given an interview, I didn't even get a a letter acknowledging my application.

It is my understanding that a PARENT LIAISON is supposed to work with PARENTS and a good way would be to go to PAC meetings. Well what started out as attendance at half the meeting evolved into total absence. Did her pay stop when she quit doing her job?

I don't know but I see that it is budgeted for a whole position at $52,310 again this year. I wonder what we will get.

Monday, June 18, 2012

DOLLAR DAZE - WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THESE CHARGES

Someone other than me is going through the LPS budget line by line to see what's on the line. Interesting stuff.
Another interesting thing is the electricity allocations - maybe you could help explain  It says Ford - 40,179 but Ingalls 152,462; Breed is 213,661 while Pickering is 83,216 and Marshall 71,012. How can these numbers be so different?
 
I'm not a MATH person but it might be nice to divide these numbers by the number of students served and then multiply it by their MCAS scores to get an idea of WATTS UP!

DOLLAR DAZE - FRIENDSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS

There is no doubt we have a LARGE SPED population. Normally I might be HAPPY about the growth of the SPED department to handle the burden.

BUT.....,

I got to wonder about the direction of the growth. Let's look at SPED administration for a minute.

They are adding one position at about $110,000, 1 program specialist at $74,000, and and a clerical person at $50,000 plus.

Maybe I'm looking at things wrong but it looks like we have no GRANT money here in FY 13., losing over $200,000.

All of this happening after I heard stories of a class of 17 last year at INGALLS which exceeded the state mandated limit of 12. No worries that princiPAL got a nice promotion. I'm not saying any quid quo pro stuff went on BUT that princiPAL did speak in favor of staying the course with a leader that has led us into failure.

WAS SOMEBODY LISTENING?

Lynn schools introducing iPads into city classrooms

If you remember earlier I said for the money we are paqying for a new DEPUTY we could go a long way to buying everyone I Pads? Then, I told the story about an old friend of mine who teaches in an early choldhood SPED class in my old school system in WV had 2 I pads in her class?

I am not saying I had anything to do with encouraging LPS to come into this century inregards to the use of technology. I mean, I'm just a poor,disabled poet, what do I know about such things?



Sunday, June 17, 2012

C'MON BABY LIGHT MY FIRE


Here is the POT-BELLIED STOVE located inside the one-room BAILEY SCHOOL donated by my BROTHER.  What was LPS'S line item for heating again?

RESIZING CLASS SIZE

http://home.comcast.net/~baileyrg/home.htm

In LYNN we may have 100 year old schools but at least they have more than one room. Here is the one-room school my mom went to and her mother (my grandmother) was the lunch lady.

Eight grades in one room. Puts our overcrowding into a different perspective.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

DOLLAR DAZE - SOMETIMES MORE IS LESS

This year LPS saw about a 7.5 million dollar increase in the budget - YEA!

UNTIL....

we look a litlle closer and realize that this MATH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE stuff translateinto a million dollar reduction in non-salary expenditures and eight million dollar increase in SALARIES.

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT CATEGORY TEXTBOOKS FALL INTO?

dollar daze - SOMEONE HELP ME SEE THROUGH THE SMOKE

 
 
I'm looking through the budget and I don't SEE the PRINCIPAL RAISES that caused such contraversey.

What does that say?.....
 
BEWARE OFTHE LABEL - "ADJUSTED"

"WATCH" BLOGGER "EXPOSED" TRUE MISSION


KIPP exec apologizes after Lynn teen abandoned on field trip
Blogger WOTRING has been telling everyone he is down here in WV to take his son to meet with family but the TRUTH he is on a secret bounty hunting mission to track down potential KIPP escapees.

WOTRING could not be reached for comment because the pipe they used to transport the sunshine is mysteriously clogged. It is thought his BFF has something to do with this sabotage.



 




Friday, June 15, 2012

WHEN YOU CHECK OUT THE FY 113 LPS BUDGET, IT WON'T BE IN THE LIBRARY

WITH A $7.5 MILLION INCREASE IN THE FY 13 LPS BUDGET surely we will be returning librarians to all the old schools and adding new ones?

Don't worry, we can count on CENTERBOARD for our reading. After all, think how much you can learn from one free book!

PUBLIC MONEY, SECRET DEALS

Why does the LSC have to go into a smoke-filled secret EXECUTIVE SESSION to try and sell a few LSC members the BROOKLYN BRIDGE? Last time I looked at the BALANCE SHEET it was OUR money.

DON'T WE DESERVE TO KNOW HOW IT IS BEING SPENT AND WHY IT'S BEING WASTED?

I see TRANSPARENCY, it's apparently not for LATHAM anymore.

DON'T LET LATHAM LANGUISH ANYMORE

DR. LATHAM deserves to have a contract tendered. We had a HEARING, we had a VOTE. My side LOST. So I say man up and offer THE DOCTOR a contract. I can take defeat, let bygones be bygonnes. What's the HOLD-UP?

UNLESS.......

the dollar amount demanded by theDEVILISH DOCTOR is so OUTRAGEOUS that it would be POLITICALLY SUICIDAL for JUGGLING JUDY to part with that much of her NEW FOUND FREE CASH, a.k.a. REELECTION SLUSH FUND.

Serving up CATHE SLUSHIES is just not in her fiscal or political diet.

I have not even heard rumors of numbers, I'm still in WV, but I bet those EXORBINANT PRINCIPAL raises were just an APPETIZER. They got to be high if they postponed their SECRET EXECUTIVE session last night until who knows when.

I sayquit OBSTRUCTING THE EXECUTION OF OFFERING A CONTRACT.

tHE vote WAS TAKENTO OFFER HER A CONTRACT, NOT TO MAKE HER SIGN IT.

PUT THE BUDGET UP NOW!

When is that BUDGET going to be ON-LINE so I can go through it again? It has already been passed. We havea right to see it.

LET'S GET REAL, unless some PESKY POET causes some trouble the ONLY thing that's going tocome out of a smoke-filled backroom secret session is BUSINESS AS USUAL.

Close your eues tight and pass the vaseline!

THE PRICE(NO STRIKE THAT - COST) OF LOYALTY

Hmmm... Some principals who testified in favor of not bringing in any challenges to the currebt superintendent got promotions and double digit payraises while others who remained silent got squat.

NO WORRIES, theincreases will be coveredd by JUGGLING JUDY'S "free cash" find. Who needs to get re-elected anyway.

HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR VOTE NOW, MAYOR? LET'S NOT FORGET ALL OF THOSE COUNCILORS WHO SIGNED OFF ON THAT LETTER OF SUPPORT?

Don't worry, I'm coming for you.

WHO'S SORRY NOW?

Raises for principals cause rise in tensions at School Committee

Not the principals who testified in support of THE GOOD DOCTOR at our hearing. How does KIMBERLEE POWERS score the DAILLY DOUBLE by walking away with BOTH a salary increase and a promotion?

WHO'S SLEPT IN OUR JUNGLE LAST NIGHT?

Navigators Sink the Sharks

In the fields of Frasier last night, TIGER, RAMS, and BULLDOGS were all roaming free. No it wasn't a lost episode of WILD KINGDOM or some new-fangled reality show but instead was a night to pay tribute to all high schools across the NORTH SHORE. MCAS weary students were asked: ARE YOU READY FOR SOME WINNING BASEBALL?

Thursday, June 14, 2012

WHAT DO THEY INTEND ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT?

EVEN the mayor wants tto have a SPECIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION to hear how the GOOD DOCTOR came to dole out HUGMONGOUS RAISES for special principals.

STILL....

there was NO talk tonightabout LATHAM'S contract....

SO....

the way it looks right now....

very soon LPS will NOT have a SUPERINTENDENT under contract.

HEY LSC you don't haveto gointo EXECUTIVE SESSION to say I'm giving out

MISINFORMATION because....

we are all in an INFORMATION BLACKOUT

nobody knows nothing!

SPECIAL DISCRETIONARY SPENDING FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE

Can anyone tell me why the agenda for last night's Finance Subcommittee was not posteed on the CITY OF LYNN'S WEBSITE but tonight's CURRICULUM SUB was? Does anyone else think this is suspicious?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewxmv2tyeRs

COULD IT BE......

because of the WILDLY inequitable PRINCIPAL RAISES?

Hmmm.....

I wonder if anybody has found a correlation between the RAISES and testimony in FAVOR of NOT-POSTING the SUPERINTENDENT'S POSITION?

Interesting, VERY INTERESTING.

FOLLOW THE MONEY IF TOU CAN


Default Live and OnDemand 13 Jun 12 6:58 PM
Jun 13 2012 - 6:58:47 PM
1 hour and 58 minutes

A lot of people were unsure about the existence of this meeting. A agenda for a FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE EXISTS FOR TONIGHT but I neveeer seen one for last night.

In fact, I didn't even notice any notice of it even occured. This recording is proof that it did. Thabks to DR. LATHAM livestreaming these meetings, I will be able tokeep up with thegoings on frommy WV SATELLITE OFFICE.

Just think, maybe I will be able to figure out why DR. LATHAM doesn't have a NEW CONTRACT.
Maybe she is going to work for FREE like I did in the library.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

WHAT'S UP?

THEGOOD DOCTOR'S contract has been taken off the table for discussion. Off the table and into the back rooms? Now I am in my satellite office in WV atthe moment butthatdoesn't meanI am not interested.

I mean it looks like I might have a hearing to go to. Give me a vote so I can start a petition or better yet be reasonable and let's focus on the kids. Something seems fishy and my SPIDEY SSENSES are tingling!

http://www.lynnschools.org/documents/district/school_committee/2012_notices/2012%20-%2011th%20Reg%20SC%20Agenda%20REVISED%206-11-12.pdf

READING ISTHE RIGHT THING TO DO

LYNN – Kicking off a summer of learning for every elementary student in Lynn Public Schools, teachers and volunteers will be distributing 7,552 books - one for each student grades pre-K through five – at 17 elementary schools in Lynn. The distribution, a partnership of Lynn Public Schools, Centerboard and United Way, will take place across the City of Lynn on Tuesday, June 12th through Thursday, June 14th.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

SCHOOLS OUT AND SHARPEN THOSE PENCILS

Why has the LSC failed to execute the contracts of the DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENTS, waiting until THURSDAY'S meeting? Possibly because too much time has elapsed since the vote was taken for the raises that a CHARTER MANDATED public hearing due to a significant number of citizens signing a petition might be AVOIDED due to a time lag between the actual vote and the release of the details? Hmmm..

MAAAAYBEEEEE.....,

PERHAPS.

Well after TWO FAILED super secret executive sessions that have not resulted in a contract for THE GOOD DOCTOR,

MAYBE......

we could save time and would only need ONE HEARING.

Monday, June 11, 2012

TASTY TRAVELS

I overslept yesterday morning. I was planning to sneak up to FORD SCHOOL and try to stowaway on their class trip charter bus. Sure going to PHILADELPHIA will be educational and touring AMISH country will help broaden the student's perspective.....

BUT

they are going to HERSHEY!!!!!

CHOC -A-LATE

MIDDLE MOVES

Here's your chance to enjoy still more graduation celebrations!

Middle School Graduations
   
Breed Middle School  ThursdayJune 149 AMAt Breed
Marshall Middle School          ThursdayJune 149 AMAt LEHS
Pickering Middle SchoolThursdayJune141 PMAt LEHS

GALLO STOPS SCHOOLING

I've been going to LSC meetings for a little over two years now and at the last one I heard something I've never heard before. That was a HOME SCHOOLING request not be approved. Now it didn't get denied, only tabled because GALLO being the lawyer his education says he is was uncomfortable with what everybody thought was a typo on the school year the request covered.

Got to have those "t's" crossed and those "i's" dotted.

REFINING ON-LINE

At the last LSC meeting they presented the new GRADEBOOK eSCHOOL PLUS. This new program will not only keep marks on-line but will allow TEACHERS remote access anywhere there is internet connection.

May I offer some limited seating at my BOSTON STREET OFFICE, free WI-FI and coffee for a dollar.

I wonder though if all of this new technology we are testing is just causing us more tests to test. Anyway, come on down, refills are free and join me and the senior coffee crowd. That's what us old people do.

DOES AMTRACK STOP AT COMMERCIAL STREET?

You might wonder why I ask? I got these questions, you see. When I was at the last LSC meeting a copy of the proposed FY13 BUDGET was supposed to be sent to LSC members by the end of the week.

That was before they FAILED to come to terms with CATHE on a contract. SO......

HOW can the BUDGET be put on the agenda for THURSDAY NIGHT"S meeting when we don't officially know what the SUPERINTENDENT is going to be paid and even if we are going to have a SUPERINTENDENT? Hmmm.....,

UNLESS......

they are going to try and RAM something down our throats. Not too tasty our most honorable MAYOR and you are coming up for ELECTION soon and it's no secret that the vultures are circling. Heck I mean I might even run, except I would hate to take a cut in influence. Being poor ain't so bad.

BACK TO BUSINESS....

furthermore and finally (probably not finally, it just sounds nice), how can you even schedule a SUBCOMMITTEE meeting a day earlier. What could you possibly have to present?

UNLESS.....,

backrooms have been busy. DEALS, DEALS and more DEALS. And I didn't even know COMMERCIAL STREET was tapped for a CASINO LOCATION.

THANK YOU CATHE AND CHERYL


Hold on to your horses, I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank DR. LATHAM, DR. MENINO, and the entire SPED for their efforts in regard to the services provided for my son over the years. I mean, I do everything else in public (except bath and YOU should be thankful for that), why not this?

Because of the services provided, he is now testing at the HIGH SCHOOL level in MATH while still in the 7th grade at PICKERING (I know it sickens me, he might be a MATH person) and exceling at ALL subjects there. So services are being drastically reduced.

Why are they being reduced? BECAUSE THEY WORKED. There is a lesson there and it’s no real epiphany. Provide the services early and they won’t be needed later when they are more costly both financially and socially.

Why did my kid get the needed services? Did I get SPECIAL TREATMENT? Perhaps, but others will tell you it was because I was just a PAIN IN THE POSTERIOR.

No matter for me but my example should be a lesson for LPS and if COMMERCIAL STREET keeps their learning disability, I am available for assistance. I don’t wear  funny shoes or make balloon animals but I do write a mean letter. And I will perform at events other than BIRTHDAY PARTIES.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

FACTEAU LEARY RECOGNIZED AND ON DISPLAY

At the recent LAW DAY at JUVENILE COURT the LYNNE M. O'CONNELL LAW DAY AWARD went collectively to MAURA DURGIN-SCULLY AND THE STAFF AT FACTEAU-LEARY JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL for making such a huge difference in the lives of their students. Even lawyers know EDUCATION MATTERS.

Hanging in JUVENILE COURT is an amazing piece of artwork made by the students there. I had hoped to post a picture but due to TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES I am left with begging you to go down and take a look. You will not be disappointed!

TECH'S CAPABLE COUNSELOR TOUTED

LVTI'S own JOHANNA SMITH was awarded 2012 MA School Counselors Association (MASCA) the TORCH AWARD: RISING STAR. Looks like the TIGERS are adding to their growing collection of hardware.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

A NEW KIND OF FRONT WHEEL DRIVE

That's putting a positive spin on the old axiom of PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. That's what the LSC will be doing this WED. night at the special FINANCIAL SUBCOMMITTEE meeting on next year's LPS budget.

How can there be a budget to discuss when after two failed attempts to come to a CONTRACT FOR CATHE in EXECUTIVE SESSION, the LSC are going to PRETEND to discuss the budget at this meeting.

What's to discuss? We don't even know for sure yet CATHE will be coming back. Yeah the LSC has to extend her a contract but at least twice before she must have REFUSED to accept it. She must want LOTS more money. Sorry teachers, firefighters and even old KEVIN, I bet you're not in her league.

How do I know? Has somebody told me something? NO, but when have I ever let facts get in the way before?

BANNER DAY FOR SOME BULLDOGS


ALL ABOARD! From the PARTY DECK of the U.S.S. NAVIGATOR the itinerary of my fun filled family venture included flying rubber chickens and dizzy bat dances.  The evening was started off with kids from THE LITTLE BROWN SCHOOL leading the crowd in THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER while the LYNN ENGLISH JROTC presented the colors. LYNN ENGLISH is always flying the flag! Those are some patriotic BULLDOGS!

A little rain delay did not dampen the excitement the night provided. Opening Day ended with a brilliant display of fireworks which is how every Friday night game for THE NORTHSHORE NAVIGATORS are going to end.

NAVIGATOR manager RICHIE HEBNER literally gave the shirt off his back (and his pants too) to the winner of the SILENT AUCTION for the DETROIT TIGERS  uniform with the number 2 jersey he wore.

Former CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE CLAY WALSH invited me to join LOU MARKAKIS on the PARTY DECK. I had the pleasure of sitting with 10th ESSEX DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE DUSTY CAUFIELD for five innings. LYNN CITY COUNCILMAN BUZZY BARTON stopped by to say HELLO to DUSTY (not me).

HIGHLAND’S HERO

Now I don’t claim to know all the details, that’s the talk of lawyers, trustees, and the like, far beyond the comprehension of this poor poet but I hear tell of a NEW SCHOLARSHIP targeted first for HIGHLANDS residents and if there are none it would default to a LYNN student for a full scholarship to SALEM STATE COLLEGE.

Going forward it will be known as the DR. CLAIRE CRANE SCHOLARSHIP. Hence forth her tireless efforts to promote the value of education to members of the HIGHLANDS community will be forever memorialized.  Legacy notwithstanding, I will repeat to you the words I have heard DR. CRANE utter countless times, “It’s all about THE KIDS”.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Lowdown on the Lockdown?

Did anyone else out there hear about the LOCKDOWN at INGALLS, Wednesday I Believe? It was around dismissal.

I know they had to wait for the police clear the area. I would have reported it earlier but I have been temporarily Internet impaired.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

PAC TO PICK NEW LEADERS

DAVE ELLIS has resigned as CHAIRMAN of the SPED PAC. Votes will be taken in two weeks for officers for next year. Hopefully both sides will work together more for the kids.

The PAC needs to grow with the increasing desire of the parents to become involved.

THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING DATE IS.....

Keep this under you hat. I don't want LPS to know what's coming.

Just as soon as the new POTENTIALLY BUDGET BUSTING BUMP to DR. LATHAM'S contract is voted on and no one has to rely on my making up numbers, I am positively predicting a petition drive.

KIPP KOMES THROUGH AND NO KOOLAID REQUIRED

A representative from KIPP was at last night's HIGHLAND COALITION MEETING . This showed a verifiable interest in the community. I can't say anything bad now for at least a little while.

LESLIE GREENBERG, co-chair of the HIGHLANDS COALITION told me the are even going to help out with the JULY 3 FREDRICK DOUGLASS event at HIGH ROCK TOWER. YEA!

(I still have problems with their funding mechanism but it's better to be on my good side)

IT’S WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT AND WE’RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AT LPS


With the job posting for a MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALSHIP at BREED MIDDLE SCHOOL that completes the TRIFECTA OF TURMOIL at LPS’S middle schools. Not a good thing at a CRUCIAL time in the development of our youth. These are the most IMPRESSIONABLE years.

With MR.MURPHY abandoning a crumbling ship at PICKERING (I know he says he’s leaving for professional growth  but that was before I learned about possible growth in the bathrooms) and now this vacancy at BREED bookending the surprise cancellation of DR. COWDELL’S departure at MARSHALL.

I had heard rumors about the BREED PRINCIPAL not coming back from his MEDICAL  LEAVE because of BAD BLOOD. But hey, you know me I’m not one to start RUMORS.

FACTS, I check them and recheck them. I only change’em if I need them to rhyme.

PHELAN DOESN’T FIGHT FAIR


Here I was minding my own business, sampling a couple of egg rolls Saturday night at HONG NET’S FUN(D)RAISER and out of no where COUNCIL PHELAN broadsides me with an introduction to his beautiful wife STACY.

Now it has been widely documented, mostly by me, that I have trouble thinking clearly and making rational judgments when I am exposed to women. Now it will might be hard for me to call him to task on what I feel are questionable decisions.

Everybody knows I am a SENSATIVE guy. Well maybe not so much.

REGULATING RAISES


Despite PICKERING’S bathroom being a DUMP
our SUPER wants her salary to JUMP.

Just how high, no one wants to tell,
cause that will be a hard one for the MAYOR to sell.

To progress, it we could tie
but that would be a hard one for LATHAM to buy.

Determining the raise would be clear sailing
because our district we are a failing!


HERE’S ANOTHER CHANCE FOR PAC TO PUT OUT IF LATHAM LETS


There is currently a job posting for a DEPARTMENT HEAD/SPECIAL EDUCATION at ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL. With curriculum development at the center of a detailed duty list, I think this is an important job.

Someone else must think so too since it pays $74,403.

I honestly don’t know in what capacity PAC could best serve. I mean we can’t MICROMANAGE every decision. Someone else has that job.

THE NEW MARSHALL BALL IS ROLLING IF EVER SO SLOWLY


Well a PROJECT MANAGER has been picked. And the winner is……JOSLIN, LESSER & ASSOCIATES.

NOW…..

what does this mean?

Well it means they are going to take a year to do a FEASEABILITY STUDY. No ground is going to be broken for at least that long. When it is done, a SPECIAL ELECTION will be called to see if the good citizens of Lynn will allow the CITY to put our share of the building on the city credit card.

RUMOR HAS IT, they, meaning the COMMERCIAL STREET CROWD, are concerned about which way the wind is going to blow when it comes to the voting.

TRANSLATION – they are bracing for a BLOGASTROPHY.

MY TERMS – Name the school after me and I’ll PLAY NICE.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

HAPPY TRAILS AT HONG'S FUN (D) RAISER

Went to HONG'S HOEDOWN last night enjoyed good company, loud music, and good food. Media from as far away as a regional CAMBODIAN paper from PHILADELPHIA covered the event. Pictures were taken by the paper but I don't know which ones they'll use.

I know this will come as a surprise to you, knowing how camera-shy I am but at least one of them was of me with HONG.

From the LSC, the MAYOR was there (must have been her-there were short legs and long necks) and MARIA CARRASCO (she was pumping the flesh and selling tickets to that LATINO SCHOLARSHIP DINNER DATE) were among numerous dignitaries. GARDY JEAN FRANSCOIS was cutting a rug in some group dance. Where I am from, we call that LINE DANCING. YEE HA! We could have called it SQUARE DANCING but there seemed to be more than one partner.

This being SUNDAY, I hesitate to say what I am going to say but my vow of SUNDAY POSITIVITY was self-imposed and I do have a track record of falling off the wagon. I cornered "BRUCE WAYNE" LOZZZI, WARD 1 COUNCILOR (that's MY ward and the one PICKERING is in) to express my concern over the reported deplorable condition of the PICKERING "PIT STOPS".

His response was he doesn't get involved in school stuff because he has enough to worry about on the CITY side.

REALLY NOW?

I wonder how he explains his signature on the GROUP CITY COUNCIL letter of support for LATHAM then

AND

the way I understand it, ISD which is a CITY department is responsible for maintainence at LPS. HMMM!

I guess that explains why he is going to pay $9000 a year to send his daughter to ST. MARY'S.

Let me end this post back on a POSITIVE NOTE;

                  HE HAS "NICE" HAIR!

CLASSICAL KIDS CLEAN UP

Winners at the GREATER LYNN ARTS AND CRAFT SOCIETY ART SHOW were:

NICOLE KULESZKA - FIRST PLACE

CHRISTA MARTIN - SECOND PLACE

ELLIS HOBBY - THIRD PLACE

All winners were RAMS. I don't know what they are feeding them over there. Must be KEVIN RICHARDSON'S new lunch menu.

AND THE WINNER IS......US

Lynn students honored for planning future education

Shucks, I hadn't looked at this story until now. I felt pretty sure the ITEM wouldn't print all the names, I would and I would have a scoop. Well FACE TO ME! I think they're all here!

Good for the ITEM and GREAT for the WINNERS. A little positive encouragement can go a long way. My theory: THE MORE PEOPLE WE POINT OUT FOR POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE MORE THERE WILL BE TO POINT OUT!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

TEMPERATURES RISING, SCHOOL'S CLOSING

The weather's getting warmer, flowers are beginning to bloom, and lawns need manicuring or is that pedicuring (Thinking about those DUEL DIVAS gets me all confused. Remember, I ADMIT I HAVE A PROBLEM). Time for a young man's fancy turns to SUMMER SCHOOL.

Last year's foray into INNOVATIVE EDUCATION, the much anticipated CAMP EXPLORER at LVTI was an attendance BUST. Instead of exploring new ways to success, it was resigned to RELIVING past failures.
With teacher development grant money gone, I guessing, other avenues are being explored.

A couple of things proposed are CAMP RAM and CAMP BULLDOG. Can you guess where. These will be either for 9th graders or middle school, I forget. They will be HEAVY into ARTS and ATHLETICS. Interestingly a good development is that TEN HIGH SCHOOL kids will be hired at each one.

A couple of teachers will be going into DAYCARES over the summer to do some POINT OF SALE TEACHING so kids won't have to lose those precious day care slots. I like this idea I just hope that the TEACHERS aren't being sent there to lead choruses of ITSY BITSY SPIDER.

Since the PRINCIPALS are supposed to be tied up all summer with PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT only four locations will be open for summer school this year. I wonder how those outlying district kids are going to get across town? And then LSC member DONNA COPPOLLA asked about two of the locations not serving lunch. Not being one that advocates missing meals, DR. WARRY promised to look into it.

CATHE CUTS CLASS TO SHOOT AT THE MOON

At the LSC meeting Thursday night, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the other PARENT concern at OPEN-MIC. I never MISS a chance to cause trouble, so why would I RE-MISS one.

Seems like there is going to be a SHOWDOWN AT SHOEMAKER. parents are a problem there for LPS, no not problem parents. I know from personal experience. TRIPPY used to go there. Back then I was just a concerned parent, not much of the troublemaker I've become. Parents there are active and organized. Of course, my involvement then was before MRS. MANN retired and the GREAT LEVEL 4 PRINCIPAL SHUFFLE. "No you see her, now you don't".

Sounds to me like they are losing a 1st grade classroom. Now from what I gather, (here I go with that fact thing again. Remember I have a license) the main concern is a LACK OF OPTIONS. Just wait, you'll be singing a different tune next fall when your kids start playing musical chairs to find a seat (Hey didn't we just win some NATIONAL DISTINCTION for our music department?).

Don't worry, you can put the overflow with the librarian. OH YEAH,I THINK DR. LATHAM CUT OUT THE LIBRARIAN TOO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. There should be plenty of shelving for all of your textbooks. You do have textbooks, don't you?

Now how can you expect us to pay for those undisclosed DEPUTY RAISES if we don't cut back somewhere? DR. LATHAM'S request for a raise MUST BE A DUESY if after two TOP-SECRET EXECUTIVE SESSIONS they haven't NEGOTIATED it. Our kids will be taking  quite a LUMP FOR HER BUMP!

Friday, June 1, 2012

WHY ARE WE LETTING LATHAM LANGUISH? IS HER NEW CONTRACT A BUDGET BUSTER?

Now I'm not much of a troublemaker. Well, maybe a little. Maybe the LSC don't remember but us parents, we lost the hearing thing. You've already voted to EXTEND the contract of DR. LATHAM. Why haven't you already?

Come on, let's do it already. What's the hold-up? Wait maybe it's because we the people would be entitled to the PUBLIC INFORMATION.

I admit, I was a little surprised last night at the LSC meeting when after speaking at OPEN-MIKE, I got a round of applause after pointing out the comparative RAISES of KEVIN MCHUGH, BUSINESS MANAGER, TEACHERS, AND FIREFIGHTERS but then wondering why a couple weeks have passed since the DUO of DEPUTY DIVAS signed their contract and we still don't know the details.

Now if we don't know the facts, I'll have to start making things up. Don't worry, I'm a POET, I can do that. I have a license, a CREATIVE LICENSE.

Sometimes though, my information is not completely WRONG. It's all in how you slice the data. An old MATH teacher taught me that.

PARENT POINTS OUT NO "P" IN PICKERING

Well not exactly. Before the beginning of last night's LSC meeting a parent from Pickering spoke at OPEN-MIKE to let everyone know of the deplorable conditions at PICKERING MIDDLE SCHOOL. We all learned about the BATHROOM BALLY-HOO.

According to this parent, there are only bathrooms on one of three floors available to the students. To make matters worse, only 4 urinals are functioning so when things get BUSY, there is a BATHROOM BACKUP. I guess how often kind of depends on the food the cafeteria is serving.

This comment included the statement PRISONERS ARE TREATED MORE HUMANELY THAN OUR KIDS. No rebuttal was offered despite the fact that counting ATTORNEY MIHOS, three lawyers were at the table. Oh I forgot, OPEN-MIKE is not intended for an exchange of views..