VOICE COBBETT'S CHOICE

CALL OUT OR COMPLIMENT, YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER

CHARLIE GALLO was the only LSC member I saw at the STATE OF THE CITY address today Keep in mind though it was dark in certain parts of the library, I am completely blind in one eye and have limited vision in the other. Sadly, where are the others? Given the precarious state the schools are in the Mayor's rosy speech should have been interrupted by cackles of laughter.

After the address was given, I had to chase CHARLIE down to shake his hand and congratulate him for his championing the cause for the need for new textbooks at the last LSC meeting. He probably expected a joy buzzer in my had but hey when somebody does good you gotta say.

WRONG ADDRESS?

Went to the MAYOR'S STATE OF THE CITY address today sponsored by the LYNN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. I even applauded and was part of a standing ovation. Now you know how difficult it is for me to do to things at one time. Good thing it wwas only standing and clapping. I never was any good at rubbing my belly and patting my tummy at the same time. Shucks after my accident when I learned to walk again, I had to do it sans gum.

At the end there was the usual Q and A. Of course I Q'd.  You see, I thought the Mayor had the wrong addressandwas lost and I wanted to helpout by steering her back on track I tried to point out some of the stormy fiscal clouds on our horizon, one of which is NET SCHOOL SPENDING and how she SHUT DOWN discussion on it at the last LSC meeting. Well she demonstrated how much smarter she is than me.

First she said she didn't SHUT DOWN the discussion. She is right. I used the wrong word. She never let it start or more specifically LIMITING the discusaion. Roll the videotape.

Then she pointedoutin a very classy way just how confused I was over the CFO conondrumn. With my cataracts I have trouble reading my financial scorecard. Fortucci is NOT the CFO, justthe firer of Pace who was CFO and she NEVER fired Fortucci his term expired. Gotcha or rather you got me. Cause I questioned how she could have confidence  that  he was goning to give her right answers on this NSS mess. That's when she pointed out PETER CARON was the CFO. How stupid was I? I knew that cause of the BROOKLINE BOONDOGGLE and his email that I printed regardingthe political implications that came into play in the purchase. Remember about how that purchase solved a political problem by preventing a potential, possible purchase in case someone ever wanted to put in a place for poor people to habitate. Well, excuse meI made a mistake.I know one of many but you see I have had some serious (is there any other kind?) BRAIN DAMAGE.

Anywho, she confidently told me her own people told her there is no problem. Funny though she didn't say anything about the state saying there is no problem. Oh well IGNORANCE IS BLISS.

IS THAT THE PIPER CALLING? TIME TO PAY UP!

Someone needs  to tell the Mayor she doesn't make the rules. Sure she claims to be giving the school a big increase after she has been shortchanging them for years, artificially INFLATING her current effort. And you know what, it still ain't enough!

“The schools are being treated very, very well with $126 million,” Kennedy said.

Another great example of how the leadership in this city views the education of our youth and the condition of our schools. Until the leaders of this city start making our schools a priority, they will never improve!!

http://www.itemlive.com/news/kennedy-stands-pat-on-budget/article_bb922f78-e873-11e3-bc2e-001a4bcf887a.html

Kennedy stands pat on budget

www.itemlive.com

Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy said a $132 million proposed School Department budget is “not going to stand.”

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• 

  Lori D'Amico Good for those school committee members who stood their ground!! I hope everyone remembers the Mayor's cut in the school budget (because it "won't stand") when talks about her 50% raise come up again.

  2 hours ago · Like
• 

  Ron Mendes Well at least that is the tension that is supposed to happen... In the past it felt like the SC members and the Supt just fell in line behind the Mayor to underfund the schools... I'm glad to see SC members and the Supt at least advocating for the district...

  about an hour ago · Unlike · 2

THE NAME GAME

Can somebody please tell me why somebody uncertified and without a waiver can be hired as a short-term, long-term sub who does have a good last name be hired to teach regular ed classes....

BUT....

when it comes to a SPECIAL ED elementary position NO temp sub is hired. If my old BBF was around I am sure she could find some legal VIOLATION. Maybe she'll take up the cause.

TRY HOLDING YOUR BREATH

No doubt, the STATE OF THE CITY is chaos.
Hanging from JUDY'S neck like an albatross.

Our SHIP OF STATE may sink
Because of the way she may think.

You must learn to play by their rules
If you want all their Chap. 70 jewels.

MUSICAL FISCAL CHAIRS

That MAYOR, she sure has a way of keeping us guessing. She said at the LSC meeting that they wasn't going to ALLOW discussion on NET SCHOOL SPENDING until the CFO could appear before the committee because he has been meeting with the auditors, lots of other people and such. He most certainly possessed extensive knowledge on the subject.

Notice HOW she did not identify that individual was that because she does not know who that person actually is: PACE or FORTUCCI. Didn't JUDY fire FORTUCCI and replace him with PACE because she didn't have confidence in his ability. The COUNCIL unaminously overuled her firing taking PACE out of the temporary CFO position and reinstalling FORTUCCI.

Then  FORTUCCI fired PACE in what the SU{ERIOR COURT deemed as POLITICAL PAYBACK potentially costing the CITY three million dollars. I wonder how MR. FORTUCCI is going to be held responsible for that blatant disregard for the law that will cost the taxpayers.

Blatant is a good word becauseit also describes the 57 NILLION dollar error he made over the MARSHALL Bond. He may have extensive knowledge about the NET SCHOOL SPENDING mess he helped to create all right but excuse me if I don' feel confident he has the right knowledge.

KEEPING UP WITH CHOMPS AT LPS

The North Shore Navigatos mascot Chomps visiting Ford Elementary school this morning. Chomps poses with Highlands Coalition Board members and Executive Director. Save the Date! June 13 th, 7pm Navigator game at Fraser field, which includes Fireworks! Come support the Highlands Coalition and have a great time!

Chomps went to HARRINGTON after his visit to FORD today. MARSHALL us set to have a day at the ballpark on July 14. Details to follow.

It was learmed yoday CHOMPS is actually a graduate of FORD school. After all, it is a community schoool.

EVEN CLOSED DOORS HAVE A BACK ONE.

Things were so out of whack with the agenda being posted out of the regular order it was hard to follow. Combined with contentious fiscal discussions I almost overlooked something. The request for Executive session that has I think bwwn twice before tabled included discussion about negotiations wfor the School Business Administration.

Call me crazy,(that is probably the nicest thing I am being called) but didn't they just vote to give our BUSINESS MANAGER a 7% raise last year and some of the PRINCIPALS double digit raises (Oh I forgot they were structural adjustments)?

Why did they have to go into EXECUTIVE SESSION? Given ALL the budgetary problems, what else could the strategy be but 

"Just Say No!". 

LOOKING FORWARD TO LOOKING

GOODY, GOODY GUM DROPS!

I just saw the budget on the agenda! I hope they approve it so they will post it on-line and I can unviel DOLLAR DAZE III!

SILENT BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

I AM WATCHING LIVE!

I can't wait to get mysurgery and get back to attending the LSC meetings live. There seems to be a shortage of people going to OPEN-MIC. I will solve that problem. I know they miss me!

International Night at Classical tonight!!

THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR - LPS STYLE

The winner will serve up some tasty lite fare for our students con-familia providing a recipe for providing education under the required amount. All participants have been assured any fiscal indegestion will be allieveated by some legislative home remedies.

The grand prize winner will have their own salary raised wehile subjecting the classrooms to a restricted diet!

REVING UP YOUR READING

LYNN LITERACY EVENT MAY IS LITERACY MONTH IN LYNN Saturday, May 31, 10-Noon Student reading logs have been passed out and should be filling up quite nicely with the accumulation of 300 minutes of reading during the month of May!

To celebrate this herculean reading task, the Lynn Museum, as a proud partner in the Lynn Literacy Campaign, will be at the Literacy Celebration on Saturday, May 31st from 10 to noon at the Lynn Public Library. Join us for FREE activities, crafts, games, and fun for the whole family! All children must be accompanied by an adult. Children who complete the reading log and bring it to the event will receive an I Love Reading bracelet.

NO CHOICE BUT YOURS

Lynn treasurer: No choice but to fire Pace

This strikes me as funny and  I like a good laugh. I know from experience, in court there aren't many opportunities to chuckle so you have to cherish them. Now mind you Mr. Fortucci had no choice but to fire MR. PACE over less than three thousand dollars.....

yet.....

there was seemingly there was no problem with the fact that in direct testimony to me he told me the city was only going to have to BOND 35 MILLION when it turned out to be 92 MILLION (and that is for starters). That is a differance of 57 MILLON dollars. Kind of makes the PACE PENNIES pale by comparison.

MR. FORTUCCI puts himself as the the OMNIPOTENT OVERSEER but has systematically been DERELICT in his DUTY to make sure the proper amount was paid to LPS. This has been going on for a certain number of years. Some people, certainly not me, might try and point out for political profit that the UNDERPAYMENTS might be tied to this administration. Well I better stop, my knees are getting all bruised up from slapping them. I think I pulled a rib muscle too.

MUM IS THE WORD, SILENT ABOUT THE GOLD

Hey, there's no BUDGET talk on the agenda for this week's LSC meeting . Why is that? We all saw DR. LATHAM hand it out. There is only TWO regularly scheduled meetings until the end of this school year.

Maybe they don't want to talk because they are NOT really sure how much they are going to have. You know the NET SCHOOL SPENDING fiasco I've been harping about. REP. FENNELL did try and get a BAND-AID but honestly we don't know for sure yet it is gonna slow the bleeding because right now it is just a WISH for a BAND-AID.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT SO WE CAN COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN.

IT'S ALL IN WHO YOU KNOW

This why this program is SO IMPORTANT! I predict our ELEMENTARY Science MCAS will continue to RISE and in my opinion this program is MOST responsible. Once again, I will remind everyone that after the grant expired for the test trial in 5 schools and the sentiment was to walk away from this program,MARIA CARRASCO successfully fought to have it expanded throughout the city.

LEARNING IS ABOUT PRESENTATION.

KnowAtom, LLC

1 hr · 

Make ‪#‎STEM‬ education more accessible through creative media. Nice piece via @Forbes ‪#‎edtech‬ http://buff.ly/1oqZBo3

Here's An Idea: Make STEM Education Fun

VideoIt wasn’t a plan. It just happened. Enzo, then age 7, decided to make a video about a praying mantis for a science project. He posted it on YouTube. The video went viral. Before he knew...

FORBES|BY DEVIN THORPE

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TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES

An Education Blog

51 mins · 

There is a school Committee meeting this Thursday, May 29th, at 7pm; the meeting will be preceded by a policy sub-committee meeting at 6:30pm.

See the link for the full meeting agenda.

www.lynnschools.org

LYNNSCHOOLS.ORG

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ANOTHER HIT FOR LPS

Picture of my daughter, ASIAH, singing the NATIONAL ANTHEM at the FIRST ANNUAL LPS DAY at the NAVIGATORS last year. Every FIFTH GRADER in the city was treated to this special day at the ball park. Thanks to the NAVIGATORS and DR. LATHAM for making it happen.

No plans for my daughter to sing this year as she is out of LYNN but I look forward to seeing the kids this year entertained by a certain dancing GATOR.

The day this year is on JUNE 12th with the first pitch at 10:30 am.

REMEMGERING REQUIRES PARTICIPATION.

As always I was impressed with the award-winning, nationally recognized LYNN ENGLISH JROIC when I saw them in today's MEMORIAL DAY PARADE. It is always heart warming  to see them pay tributeon such a solemn occasion.

Seeing LSC members CHARLIE GALLO, RICK STARBARD, and MARIA CARRASCO marching was also encouraging tosee them representing LPS.

The CITY of LYNN was represented by DAN CAHILL,HONG NET, BRENDAN CRIGHTON, and PETE CAPANO. Representing our state delegation was SEN. TOM MCGEE and REP. BOB FENNELL. I am sorry if I missed someone and if so I hope somebody comments to correct me. In themeantime, I amanxiously awaiting my CATARACT surgery.

MARSHALL'S SOLEMN SALUTE

Thurgood Marshall Middle School - Lynn, MA

16 hours ago

Hey Mustangs! Here is the brief video that was part of our solemn Memorial Day Celebration. It is a montage of faces of soldiers from Massachusetts who have given their lives for us over the past 10 years in Iraq or Afghanistan. The video ends with a roll of the list of all of the soldiers' names and their home towns (75 who died in Iraq and 48 who died in Afghanistan). You will find two from Lynn, two from Swampscott, two from Salem, and one from Revere. This is just a small group of all of the soldiers who left families and home behind to fight for us. As we enjoy the long weekend, take a minute or two to look at these young faces of men and women from our own state who gave it all for us. Thank you soldiers and soldiers' families. Happy Memorial Day!

SPIN THE SPENDING

POET-AT-LARGE: JOIN MY DELUSION, STATE OF CONFUSION

poet-at-large.blogspot.com

ALL LEARNING IS HISTORY

My Great Uncle, my Mom made the movie

John Hardman

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Remembering from where you came is the only way to gain direction on where you want to go. I am proud of the service of my great uncle in WW II and doubly honored by my mother's creative ability in paying tribute to him.

BLIND MISTRUST

Remember to FORTUCCI I did listen
To MARSHALL bond amounts a missing.

Told was 35 but quickly became 92
So how do I believe what you say is true.

When it's either he said or she said we must believe
Only to find both sides decieve.

Former Lynn comptroller claims confusion on correct pay amount

PICKERING PUTS ON PRIMO SPREAD TO SHOW THANKS TO TEACHERS

FOLLOW THE RULES TO SHORTCHANGE OUR SCHOOLS

Kennedy points finger at Phelan

Not enough in the election she gave him a wailin
Judy says, "I've got more for you Timmy Phelan!"

"Now I don't mean to cast aspersion."
"But as for my role in the school spending mess, this provides disversion."

Differances aside, it's all the same.
"Guilty? Don't look at me, he's to blame!"

KEEPING FROM LOSING

She needs 1000 votes so far 707! Thats pretty damn good sign the petition to save Union Hospital...good job so far Katerina Panagiotakis... I'd hate to be waiting for 8 hours in a crowded Salem hospital emergency room or what if it's your parents or kids...sign it Lynners keep our hospital!http://www.change.org/petitions/maintain-a-full-service-hospital-at-nsmc-union-hospital-lynn-ma

Maintain a full service hospital at NSMC Union Hospital, Lynn, MA

Please sign this online petition. A community of 90,000± residents and surrounding communities are losing a full service acute care hospital. ...

CHANGE.ORG

SACRED SCREAMS TO START

Wake Up Call from Sacred Heart School

Wednesday's Wake Up Call comes from Sacred Heart School in Lynn.

WCVB CHANNEL 5 BOSTON|BY WCVB

LIL'LORI CHIRPS "CHANGE THE SHORTCHANGE"

Lori D'Amico‎Stanley Wotring

2 hrs · 

This is good news, but what the article does not mention is the fact that the city has been shortchanging our schools since FY11. Even if this "fix" happens, the city will still be shortchanging our schools, they just won't get hit with a penalty because they will be within the 5%. This is the problem in Lynn. City and school officials believe that as long as they are within the 5%, they are spending enough on education and are fine. However, the shortage just gets carried over to the following year. Therefore, if the city does not start spending the full amount of the required net school spending figure, we could find ourselves in a similar situation in the future.

http://www.itemlive.com/news/lynn-school-spending-fix-near/article_a5a75a18-e084-11e3-bba4-0019bb2963f4.html

Lynn school spending fix near

Disagreements over a state school spending formula, which threatened to cost the city $7 million in reduced education aid, could be resolved as soon as June.

ITEMLIVE.COM

CHECK IT BEFORE YOU BLOG IT

Everybody knows I live life dangerously and a healthy dose of paranoia helps insure that I will live longer. I got this ANONYMOUS tip in the mail. Silly me I didn'thave it tested for ANTHRAX, so if the WATCH suddenly stops posting you'll know what happened.

This TIP(from a member of the TEACHER'S UNION) was so HOT that I uncharacteristically did a little INVESTIGATING  before I went with it. (Keep that under your hat though or you'll ruin my REP!) It seems a TEACHER at LVTI is teaching without certification or a WAIVER from the STATE allowing him to do so. What makes this even more INTERESTING is the FAMILY connection between DR. LATHAM, this TEACHER, and certain ELECTED officials.

A call to the LPS HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT confirmed the TRUTH of my tip. The explanation given to me that LPS is allowed to hire teachers without certification or a waiver if it's for less than 90 days. OKAY.....

I just wonder though if there might have been people out there who were certified or more qualified who just didn't have the right last name or in a play group with somebody's kid. How exhaustive, I wonder was the search conducted to fill this position, hmmm?

By the way, my anonymous tip indicated that it went out to numerous sources but apparently I am the only one irresponsible enough to do anything about it.

YOU GO HAVE YOUR MEETING!

There was this meeting last niight.

Reclaim Our Schools Coalition Meets at Lynn Museum May 19 | Lynn Happens

Lori D'Amico‎Stanley Wotring

12 hrs · 

Absent from tonight's event regarding our schools were the Mayor, all city council members except Hong Net, and everyone from administration. Most of our school committee members were present though!!

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• Joanne Tobey Lindner and John Smart like this.
• 

  Stanley Wotring Cause they do NOT want to talk about money. Parents are only for taxes.
• 
  

SURPRISE! First let me congratulate those of LPS and the LSC who were present. It show a forward thinking on matters about modern education. A good team works together and your prescence demonstrated a willingness to cooperate for the common good.

Honestly though, the people that matter most mostly told you in most prolific poetic terms, "TO GO POUND SAND!". The absence of all but one of the council members and MOST importantly the MAYOR means that the only people who can fully fund education weren't even at the table. Hope people remember come election time.