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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

WE ARE READY

If you are a registered voter in Lynn and are interested in signing a petition to the Lynn School Committee asking them to rescind the vote to sever ties with Gordon College, which will result in a public hearing on the matter, please let me know.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY SHARING THIS BLOG POSTING!

PICKERING TO WELCOME PARENTS TO THEIR HOUSE



3:07pm Sep 29
Pickering Middle School will be having its first Open House on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 from 6-8 pm.

NOT SO FAST, HERE WE COME!

Since DR. LATHAM and the LSC have been unable to provide BASIC questions surrounding the severing ties with GORDON COLLEGE, LORI and myself will begin circulating a petition to DEMAND a PUBLIC HEARING on the vote to do so.

BE PREPARED for it to happen. We know how to do this since it has been done twice already in the past couple of years!

MUCH MORE ON THIS LATER! WE STAND WITH "ALL" THE STUDENTS OF LYNN!

LEADESHIP WITHOUT LATHAM

Monday, September 29, 2014

OUTCAST YOUR VOTE

Tonight we had a HIGHLANDS COALITION meeting at the FORD SCHOOL. We are of course thankful for the current interm principal DEB RUGGERIO'S cooperation for making the gym available. It was a good community meeting. Ward 4 Councilman RICH COLUCCI dropped by to join LSC member RICK STARBARD who happens to be unning for COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE in the next election cycle. Also present was COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE CANDIDATE CANDIDATE BRIAN LAPIERRE.

Mostly nomal business was talked about. Plans for the joint OPEN HOUSE at the school followed by HICO'S HEALTH and HAVEST FAIR coming up in OCTOBER.One item of concern was all the hard work HICO has put into bringing back voting to the community school at FORD may have all for naught due to possible resistance from a new administration with old roots.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Looks like they will have to have a new BOND for the NEW MARSHALL, I believe I had warned about that location. Now we've had trouble across the tracks.

Lynn police respond to report of shooting

By Item Staff

LYNN -- Police at this hour are on the scene of a home in Brookline Street, not far from the construction site of the new Marshall Middle School, after a report on the police radio shortly after 1 p.m. that a person had been shot in the chest.

RESULTS REVEAL RAMS REAMING

2014 MCAS RESULTS HAVE BEEN POSTED
LynnAn overview of our school and district MCAS 2014 results have been posted.
Please visit our MCAS Info and Results page for more.

A QUICK glance will show you CLASSICAL dropped from Level 1 to Level 2 status just as I predicted. Seems like now the FAVORED SON won't look so BAD. With this years budgetary diascrepancies what will be next? Could it be a Level 3? We shall see.

There will be a change this spring on whether or not to renew DR. LATHAM'S contract for another THREE years. Can the RAMS afford it?

RICK'S REAL REASON

I am so STUPID. Here I thought RICK running for COUNCIL was out some HIGHER,moral sense of OBLIGATION.But NO......I forgot there is THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL! Have you ever head of a game on TUESDAY night?

RICK'S EXIT?

Saw on a FB post over the weeked RICK may be running for COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE. This truly saddens me on a couple of points. First even though I did not always agree with him at leastI was always confident that he put a lot of thought into his positions. But more importantly now I may have to look for a new hair style. That's not an easy task for us old guys with Widow's peaks.

Although I would bet this move is just part of the natural political stair climbing, I can't help but wonder about the frustration from being on the LOSING end of so many key votes.(I FORGOT, HE'S A MASCHUSETT'S REPUBLICAN. HE IS USED TO LOSING).

Anyway the next LSC won't be the same.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

MARSHALL MESS HAS BEEN MAGNIFIED

I am going to post this letter and then I am going to RANT!


Hey Mustangs!
Get ready for a really long letter.
It was GREAT to get a chance to make a short visit on Friday. I was very happy and proud to get the reports from Mr. Ridley, Ms. Franco and Ms. Doucette. They all reported that you have been great and that the school year has started very well. As you know, I am working in a different district this year, but still thinking a lot about you, your teachers and the school. I don't think that I will have another chance to visit for awhile, as we are both in school on the same days.
I had to get on here to tell you how proud I am of all of you who were students at Marshall last year. Your MCAS scores have come in very strong! Our ELA scores stayed about the same, as our strongest area. Our math scores rose and our science scores went through the roof. The number of students scoring advanced in ELA, math and science rose enough for the school to receive bonus points on our CPI score. The number of students who scored warning/failing in ELA, math and science dropped enough for the school to receive bonus points on our CPI score. There is no doubt that this is a direct result of the extra effort that everyone put in...mostly YOU and your teachers! I know we met last year and talked about how important it was to do well to make sure that we did not fall into Level 4. You did not disappoint me. Some of you worked tirelessly on First in Math, others showed up for Saturday school, some did a vacation camp, while others came after school for tutoring in math or science. Your extra effort is what did it. I always felt lucky to have you as my students! So I had to get on here to say, "THANK YOU!!." Many of your teachers put in extra time at school or elsewhere, working with each other to improve lessons. They used data to figure out where the next lesson should go. They cheered you on and pushed you when they needed to. They did not accept anything but your best. They worked the tutoring sessions, the Saturday school and the vacation camp! Many times they worked on things for you, instead of spending time with their own families! I always felt lucky to have the teachers and staff that I had! THANK YOU!! I also was lucky to have the vice principals that I had! They are the main reason that the school has opened so smoothly this year. THANK YOU!!
But...this is just the beginning! We have to keep it going!!
Even though I cannot be there with you this year, I will continue to cheer you on from afar. I will be expecting you to continue what we have started and to keep up the solid effort academically. I will also expect that you will continue to follow the DREAM, whether you are in school or outside of school. Last month I was invited to speak at a conference run by the state department of justice. They wanted me to speak on how we were able to turn a tough, urban, middle school into a place where respect and friendliness are norms. I didn't get to go because of my change of job, but if I had, I would have told them that to do it you have to create a pride in the school and to remind everyone in the school (administrators, teachers, students, and parents) that they are all leaders in the change. So please continue to remember that you are all leaders! You are role models for others, so please make good decisions. Treat everyone with respect. Behave (and speak) as though people you respect are watching you.
Please know two things: I'm very proud of you all. I miss you all, so much.
Please keep it going!
Remember to keep your respect high and your voices low. (And of course, keep smiling!)
With respect, gratitude and pride,
Dr. Cowdell
What a loss this was to LPS! LET ME SAY RIGHT UP FRONT! THESE ARE MY OPINIONS AND I HAVE NO INSIDE INFORMATION! Dr. Cowdell used Facebook EXACTLY as I visualized it should be and LPS FINALLY has caught up with the MODERN world. DR. COWDELLL transformed the culture of that school. His leadership pushing the FIRST-IN-MATH program and ALL of the other programs he pushed helped propel MARSHALL forward. His positive attitude and respect was contagious.

I can not help but believe there was MORE to his leaving than has been PUBLICLY shared.

THIS HEARTFELT PUBLICALLY SHARED TELLS ME ALL I NEED TO KNOW TO SUPPORT MY BELIEVE THAT UNDUE AND UNCALLED FOR PRESSURE CAME FROM ABOVE!

Saturday, September 27, 2014

TIGER NOTES

Be still my foolish heart (my record is not good here), checking out the first edition of LVTI's newspaper, TIGER EXPRESS, I noticed a call for oiginal artwok, stories, and POETRYcreated by students for publications in future editions.Any creative expression shows real intelligence because it demonstrates an ability to synthesize all that you have learned into something new! (Do keep it clean)

The TIGER EXPRESS CREW meets every MONDAY after school in MS. MERCALDI'S GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION'S SHOP

#tigertalk

Friday, September 26, 2014

LORI'S LETTER TO THE LSC


Good Afternoon,

I was reading over the final CPR report and the following findings were concerning:
  • The district is operating an unapproved day program (T.E.A.M.S) for middle school students with severe multiple disabilities.  The district has not applied for or received approval from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for this day program.  
  • The district currently has 18 unlicensed special education teachers and not all Career Vocational Technical Education teachers are appropriately licensed.  
  • A site visit by the Office of Career/Vocational/Technical Education safety specialist revealed that not all instructional facilities used for career/vocational technical education meet current occupational standards and that not all instructional equipment used for career/vocational technical education meets current occupational standards.  
  • At Lynn English and Tech all “resource classes,” which are instructional groupings of only students with disabilities, in English Language Arts, math and science exceed the required class size of eight students or less per certified special educator.  Also, at Callahan, the developmentally delayed program’s instructional group includes one-to-one aides in its ratio of staff to students, but when these students and their aides leave the classroom for inclusion or related services, the number of students to staff exceeds the required instructional group size.  
  • Two elementary schools (Harrington and Ingalls), two middle schools (Breed and Marshall) and three high schools (English, Classical and LVTI) offer programs with SEI classrooms. the district does not provide English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction to most of the students in program schools or to any of the ELLs assigned to non-program schools. Record review also demonstrated that ELL students consistently receive less than the recommended hours of ESL instruction for their proficiency levels.
  • Record review of LEP students indicated that translation of documents into families’ native languages is inconsistent.
The district was not fully compliant in other areas as well, but these were of particular concern to me. I do not understand why the district continues to fail to be in full compliance in all areas. Whose responsibility is it to oversee the district and all schools to ensure they are all in full compliance in all areas?  I thought it was the compliance officer's responsibility, but perhaps I am wrong.  According to the report, an action plan was due on September 22.  I certainly hope the district submitted this action plan and that all necessary changes will be made to bring the district and all schools in full compliance in all areas. 

Thank You


Lori D'Amico

GIVEN ALL OF THESE DISCRETIONSAND CITATIONS BEGS THE QUESTION, HOW COULD CHUCK GIVE SO MANU"EXEMPLERARIES" IN HIS EVALUATION UNLESS.....CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS CLOUDED HIS JUDGEMENT!

ONE MAN'S RUNWAY IS ANOTHER MAN'S PLANK

I don't care what people say (and somee people are saying-

AnonymousSeptember 25, 2014 at 12:13 PM
Isn't Gallo gay? He should make a statement if he is or not so the public knows if his decisions and lack of answering public questions are based on personal emotion, rather than real reasons.)
CHUCK'S choice of a PINK tie last night was a BOLD fashion statement! Not since the days of his predicessor GQ has a LSC member been so worthy of walking the RUNWAY!

CHUCK IS CHEAP

First let me begin with a DISCLAIMER, I attended last night's LSC meeting and am writing this blog post UNDER THE INFLUENCE. Some serious PAIN meds that is. In fact the doctor told me "not to drive". No worries there DOC. Seriously though I am worried about walking.

Obviously CHUCK didn't listen to my advice. He voted on the SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION last night despite the questionable political contribution to BOTH his canpaigns by the FIRST HUBBY OF LPS.

Bad form, perhaps? It seemed like he only words to come out of his mouth were "EXEMPLARY". Looks like money well spent for such a small price to pay. Then again CHUCK knows small.

ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE BETS I GET A RESPONSE THIS TIME?

Thursday, September 25, 2014

DOCTOR-ING THE TRUTH

Tonight at the LSC meeting there was a somewhat heated exchange between DR, LATHAM and LSC member MARIA CARRASCO because MARIA was trying to hold the good DOCTOR responsible for hiring a princePAL who mad ean inflammatory  remark against LATINOS as being responsible for low marks and insuring a perpetual LEVEL 3 designation for ENGLISH and the fact that CLASSICAL had it easier because it had more ASIAN immigrants in its student population.

DR. LATHAM asserted that the princiPAL in question was talking about MCAS sun-groups, nothing DEROGATORY and since MS. CARRASCO was not present she could not really be SURE what was said. TRUE........but guess what niether was the good DOCTOR.

HOWEVER I was.  I was even in the audience tonight and nobody asked me nothing.

The princiPAL was MR.STRANGIE at ENGLISH. The remarks were made at a SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL meeting as an OBSERVER. LATINO students were blamed for he low scores. No reference was made to any sub-groups. I remember being SURPRISED by the REMARKS because he knew I was there and wellI've developed sort of a reputation. BLAME was assigned to aWHOLE class of people and denied that the school has any culpability.

EXTRA HELP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STEM


Bob Clary bclary@webucator.com

Sep 22 (3 days ago)
to me
Hi,

I wanted to follow up on my last email. My name is Bob and I'm in charge of community outreach for my company, Webucator.  I'm writing to let you know about a new free program we have for high school students involved in STEM programs.

We've decided to make all of our self-paced training courses available for free to STEM students.  This includes courses on web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc), Photoshop, Dreamweaver and many others.

If you think your website visitors would be interested in these free courses, we'd love to have you give them the instructions on accessing these free courses:
To register for a course, students simply:
  1. Go to our Self-paced Courses page.
  2. Browse through the courses.
  3. Click the Order Now button next to the course.
  4. Enter STEM for the Coupon Code and click Validate Coupon.
  5. Complete the registration. Students will need to verify that they are a student between the ages of 13 and 18.
  6. For any registration questions, simply email: stem@webucator.com.
Thanks,
Bob

LIL'LORI LEARNING TO SKI ON SLIPPERY SLOPES


Saw the following post yesterday. (Remember that slippery slope and all the unanswered questions many of us have been talking about in regards to the Gordon decision?)
"I need some input. I've been trying to find out the answer to this question and need a lead or idea of where to look. I've called the ACLU, but never got much of a response (I imagine they have bigger fish to fry). So, is it okay for a public school to rent space to hold an event at a Knights of Columbus hall - you know, that religious organization that has raised MILLIONS for anti-gay and anti-choice efforts? The fee to rent the space would support a religious organization to continue their political activity/lobbying efforts which are discriminatory (contrary to the anti-discrimination policies of many schools), yes? Your thoughts, ideas, leads, please..."
 

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE LPS WEBSITE

IMPORTANT HEALTH UPDATES POSTED | SEPTEMBER 2014
Lynn

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON OUR HEATH SERVICES WEBPAGE
Enterovirus D68
Schools in a number of states are seeing an increase in students with a severe respiratory illness caused by enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). At this time the state of Massachusetts has confirmed at least one case of the enterovirus.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
The second illness is one we have seen in our schools, although there are very few cases. It is also caused by a virus and is called hand, foot and mouth diseaseHand-foot-and-mouth disease is common in children but can also occur in adults. It can occur at any time of year but is most common in the summer and fall. 
Flu
Flu season will soon be upon us!  The Lynn Health Department has two upcoming FREE flu clinics for all residents 6 months old and above. Both clinics will be held at Lynn City Hall, City Hall Square, Room 103. Please bring your health insurance card if you have one, however you may still receive a vaccine if you do not have a health card! CLICK HERE FOR MORE

WHO YOU KNOW TELLS YOU WHAT YOU KNOW

During my losing SCHOOL COMMITTEE quest
On LynnCAM I was often a guest.

Where else can a loser be on TV
So Lynn and the surrounding towns can see

The CORRUPTION in the city that exists?
Political involvement guarantees it will persist.

With the ITEM'S purchase the takeover will be complete.
Our LIBERTY goes down to DEFEAT.

#poetrywithapurpose

HYPOCRISY NEVER FELT SO GOOD

Filings track LynnCAM salary jump


Say what you like about our MAYOR (and I often have), she's got B#%%$. (BIG ONES). I  find it HILAROUS the talk about salary jump given the ASTRONOMICAL one she and the council just petitioned the state for HOME RULE on.

MISSING from this story is the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS that are in DISPUTE that some claim the CITY owes LynnCAM.

Given the close relationship LynnCAM has with LPS, I feel the needto report this.

OKAY,IT GIVES ME A LITTLE PLEASURE TOO!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

SCAPEGOATS SERVE SPENDING SNOWBALLING SHORTFALLS

About a month has passed since Mayor Kennedy brought Lynn into the national spotlight with her statements on the precarious state of Lynn’s public school budget. The mayor pointed to a new flood of immigrant children arriving in Lynn as the source of the Lynn Public Schools’ financial woes, even travelling all the way to Washington, D.C., to speak with the Center for Immigration Studies (“CIS”), a think tank for the anti-immigrant movement. While it is clear Lynn faces serious budget issues, a quick look at the facts shows a story very different from the one the mayor has been telling to the media and to the rest of the country.
Here are the facts: The State of Massachusetts requires the City of Lynn to spend a minimum amount of money on the schools each year. In order for the Lynn schools to receive state funding (around 75% of our total school budget) Lynn must meet this required spending amount, called Net School Spending. When the city spends less than 100% of Net School Spending, the remaining unspent amount is factored into the following year’s Net School Spending number. When the city spends less than 95% of Net School Spending, Lynn faces a penalty which results in losses to our state funding. Every year Lynn falls farther behind Net School Spending, the city has to spend more and more just to meet the legal minimum.
Perpetual under-spending and underfunding have been problems in the Lynn schools for years, but since Mayor Kennedy first took office in 2010, the cuts to the school budget have become even more pronounced: Lynn schools were underfunded in: FY96 (99.8%); FY00 (99.6%); FY11 (99.5%); FY12 (98.3%); FY13 (94.3%); FY14 (92.1%). The cycle of under-spending has forced the 9.3% increase in the school budget that the mayor pins on an increase of foreign born students.
This year, the budget was raised to $126 million. However, that does not mean the schools are getting the necessary funding they need in order to operate. Mayor Kennedy believes net school spending to be about $129 million, while the school department estimates it is closer to $137 million. In either case, the amount that was authorized for the school department is likely lower than the amount the city needs to spend in order to meet its responsibilities. There is also a substantial difference between the Mayor and the Superintendent’s budget which begs the question of why so much less was allocated to the school department than the superintendent requested.
If the increase of 538 foreign born kids (unaccompanied minors in particular) in the 2013-14 school year were really the cause of increase in the school budget, which Mayor Kennedy claims forced a 2-4% cut to all other departments, it would mean each kid would have to cost the city a whopping $24,163.57. In reality, per pupil spending is a lot less: $14,000 when all is averaged out. Further, the percentage of ELL students (defined as “a student whose first language is a language other than English who is unable to perform ordinary classroom work in English”) has actually decreased significantly in Lynn in recent years, from 25.8% in 2008-09 to 17.8% in 2013-14. What’s more, only about a fifth of this years’ new foreign born students are actually unaccompanied minors. Again, this shows that our budget problems, including cuts to the police and fire departments, are clearly the result of chronic underfunding to schools and increasing debt to the state, not a “flood” of young immigrants.
That being said, it undeniably takes greater resources to educate our English Language Learning students. Luckily, there are plenty of Title III federal grants available to cities like Lynn to use for exactly that purpose. The city has applied for and received these grants, yet over the past years has not spent them. According to the Massachusetts Department of Education in 2013, Lynn received a Title III grant of $530,860. For that same year, Lynn claimed an estimated $177,000 of that money yet only spent $4,000 and returned an estimated $173,000. Lynn has claimed only $154,869 of the 2014 award of $449,389 to date and is likely to reapply for the remaining $294,520.00 as carryover funds for the following year. The facts show that each year, the substantial unspent portions of these grants carry over into the next year, yet aren’t spent by the city. In addition, Lynn did not apply for a summer grant this past year, but was eligible to do so.
In the end, there are federal funds available to support our schools that are either not being spent or applied for. This makes it even more bizarre that the mayor went to D.C., not to advocate for increased federal funding for the school budget or to lobby for more federal support, but to speak with a group called Center for Immigration Studies (“CIS”). CIS is directly connected to the anti-immigrant movement. The organization’s academic standards are non-existent, and they write entire papers bashing immigrants only to admit that there is no actual data to support their position. The reason becomes clear when you see that their staff and board members have written forvdare.com, a white supremacist website. Indeed, their Senior Policy Analyst once said that immigration threatens, “(T)he American people as a whole and the future of Western civilization.”
The mayor’s divisive anti-immigrant rhetoric is not based in reality. Fear-mongering does nothing to solve the city’s problems. It only serves as a distraction from the city’s real challenges. As Yvonne Abraham wrote in a recent op-ed in the Boston Globe, Lynn would do well to look to Chelsea as an example. “We welcome and we educate,” Chelsea Superintendent Mary Bourque said. “We do not get into the political fray.” Instead of placing the blame for our financial problems on our most vulnerable residents, the mayor needs to do the work of actually solving these problems and creating a better city for all.

Carly McClain is organizer of the New Lynn Coalition, and she submitted this guest commentary on behalf of the Coalition.

CONTROL OF THE GATEKEEPERS

LynnCAM president resigns


I don't know what all this means but believe me there is something going on here. In one way or the other LPS has their fingerprints all over this. Maybe they are just funny coincidences but I am not laughing.

First let's start with start wtth the president of LynnCAM's OTHER job. She just happens to be a CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY to DR.JAYE WARRY, I believe. LPS has had a somewhat litigous history with CSs. Remember the CS that was WRONGLY terminated and then reinstated after a costly lawsuit. The WATCH does and owes much of its initial growth to its coverage.

The SUPERINTENDENT of LPS appoints a board member although had left that appointment vacant until last week. They could have asked me. I had some FREE time.

Also, coming up is the impending acquisition next month by the same PR firm that LPS had hired of the ITEM.

SHAPING HOW THE NEWS GETS TO YOU?

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

SOMETIMES THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN A GOOD POEM

I just got to share this cause well this is IMPORTANT legislation and well SEN. ROCKEFELLER did use to be PRESIDENT of my ALMA MATER and he was once MY GUEST at a KIWANIS dinner in ELKINS, WV. He CHARTERED a plane in special because he missed his flight because he was talking to his daughter Valerie on the phone. Funny thing is that was the name of my wife (#1) at the time.

SMALL WORLD
ICYMI: Read my op-ed in today’s Charleston Gazette on why we must invest in STEM education and research.
Throughout my career in public service — first as president of West Virginia Wesleyan College, then...
WVGAZETTE.COM

RAMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Women of the World were inspiring. One of them is Debrah Pierre LCH grad ! Lots of talent in our midst.
Women of the World were inspiring. One of them is Debrah Pierre LCH grad ! Lots of talent in our mid...

Monday, September 22, 2014

CHUCK'S CHOICE?

Look on this link to find a $100 contribution to CHUCK'S SCHOOL COMMITTEE CAMPAIGN by D. LATHAM'S hubby.

http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/cityhall_documents/clerk_elections/campagin_finance/2013/sept_09_2013/Gallo,%20Charlie%20-%20School%20-%20Received%2009-09-2013.pdf

When CHUCK got more politically ambitious, LPS'S FIRST HUSBAND got more generous writing a $250 check as detailed below.


http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/cityhall_documents/clerk_elections/campagin_finance/2013/sept_09_2013/Gallo,%20Charlie%20-%20School%20-%20Received%2009-09-2013.pdf


 
2/15/2014Latham, Jr., Howard 
46 Magnolia Avenue Lynn, MA 01904
Retired
Retired
$250.00

NOW I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING ILLEGAL WAS DONE. CHUCK is a LAWYER and when was the last time a LAWYER ever did anything ILLEGAL?

Still though you have to admit there are some bad optics here. I mean CHUCK has toVOTE on DOC LATHAM'S contract. This is definitely a POCKETBOOK issue. I am sure he won't  ASK me for ADVICE but I would RECOMMEND he RECUSE himself any VOTES on her contract or EVALUATION.

SOMEONE COULD SPIN THIS AND IT WOULDN'T BE FLATTERING

JV TIGERS TAMED

Unfortunately the JV squad of the LYNN TECH TIGERS football team did not enjoy he same success as the varsity did on Saturday. They lost, 20 - 0 to GREATER LOWELL'S JV squad this afternoon.

PROGRESS REPORT TO GO OUT TOMORROW

There is a meeting tomorrow I would like to go to but unfortunately I have sort of like an emergency doctor's appointment for PAIN in my back. Right now I can only dance with short girls because I can't hold my head up. Maybe Ill check with ARTS AFTER HOURS to see if they are planning on peforming THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME any time soon. I would be a shoo-in for the lead role. No makeup needed.

You know how I am always complaining about how they talk about these written progress updates that are "included in your packets"  for the committee members that everybody doesn't have access to? Well tomorrow there is a PUBLIC MEETING on the MARSHALL BUILDING PROJECT.

Agenda For Next Marshall Building Comm. Public Meeting, Sept. 23rd 11AM

It's in ROOM 204 in the Administration Building at 100 BENNETT STREET @ 11AM.

Funny, I didn't see any mention about the plans for a WOTRING WING on the Agenda. Surely it must be an oversight.

ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS ARE COMING OVER THURSDAY NIGHT


There is a Lynn School Committee meeting this Thursday, September 25th at 7pm (Personnel and Policy Sub-Committee meetings precede the regular meeting starting at 6:15pm).
See the link for the full meeting agenda.
LYNNSCHOOLS.ORG

Sunday, September 21, 2014

EGG ON MY FACE, WHAT'S WRONG WITH WU?

As I have said over and over I am glad to seeLPS step into the 21st century and get a FACEBOOK page. I did my part and LIKED it. I don't think they BLOCKED me.

STILL.....

the HYPOCRISY of it all has NOT been lost on me, I mean who else has a policy on paper that they don't pay attention to.  Although she claims not to have a FB page, DR. LATHAM was giddy about it when announcing it at the last LSC meeting and said she findsherself checking it allthe time lookking for UPDATES.

I do wonder HOW you could be checking it all the time if you are not onit? Oh well, if I really knewhow to use social media, the WATCH would have a whole lot more hits. Hey, when a person keeps checking your page are they called a CREEPER?

Anyway DR. LATHAM gave DR. WU credit for singlehandedly VIOLATING policy. My BAD I thought she went to HARVARD must have been GORDON.

WHAAT CAN I SAY? I AM WRONG ALL THE TIME.

THE PETTY PRINCIPAL

Time to take back our schools from this heavy handed self serving style of administration. Our kids deserve better than petty politics!
Fred Hogan added 2 new photos.
ampions Team Plaque to Case.... Over 75 Lynn English Student Athletes earned their picture in the Case only to be Removed because they were not happy the way Coach Fred Hogan Resigned from his head Coach Position. This is about the Alumni of Lynn English. Instead Adults who are in Leadership positions have Decided to make this Move. The Kids won the Championships, Not the Adults. Sad Day ........ Attached is a before and after picture of Trophy Case.
Last I checked SCHOOL was supposed to be about the kids. This CHILDISH behavior just seems a little STRANGIE to me. The WATCH has praised FRED HOGAN'S use of social media to instill a positive sense of pride and teambuilding. We here at the WATCH do not LOOK kindly on this move.Unless SANER step in and RESTORE THINGS BACK THE WAY THEY WERE, well I feel some POEMS coming on.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

BULLY, BULLY! TAKE THAT!


Marshall Middle School staff and administrators have been working extremely hard in the last year to improve instruction and improve student testing outcomes. It appears their hard work is paying off.

It appears that CLEO has found some numbers that validate some of my earlier predictions about the potential success for MARSHALL'S student performance. I know the FIRST IN MATH hard work kind of made that prediction a NO-brainer and I imagine a loto f the significant SCIENCE improvements can be traced to the involvement of former LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTE candidate, LORRAINE GATELY, who I believe was actively involved in some programs there.

I believe the BULK of the credit goes to the NOW former principal DR. RICHARD COWDELL whose leadership put the school on a path toward SUCCESS that had PREVIOUSLY only occured in a DREAM.


TIME NOW FOR A POETRY BREAK

I'll cast no vote before it's time
Or at least before your contribution's mine.

Political campaigns can be expensive
So for the right price, my suppot can be intensive.

With the proper amount of deception,
No one will question my perception.

Since your contract we must renew,
C'mon now pay the devil his due.

TIGERS TOUGH IT OUT

What a game! With two touchdowns in the fourth quarter the LYNN TECH TIGERS beat GREATER LOWELL  19-12. I tell you that last quarter was not for the faint of heart. The TIGER defense has only given up twelve points in the last 10 quarters and six of those today came from a kickoff that was run back.

Looks like this could be a great season as the TIGERS improve their record to 2 - 1.

ABSENCE AND FOND HEARTS

Of course I went to Dr. Crane's retirement party last night, would you have expected anything else from me? DR. LATHAM was there. Hugs were given (Not by me, thereis this reputation thing!). The FORD SCHOOL TRANSITION TEAM was thee to pay their respects. Good for them, that's how it's done.Whether or not you agree, you show up if nothing else than to validate your own position.

DONNA COPPOLA, MARIA CARRASCO, and RICK STARBARD came.Easy call. Notably absent were PATTI CAPANO, CHUCK (he usually shows up for everything,probably AFRAID he run into BRENDAN and he would have), JOHN FORD (the school is named after his uncle for goodness sakes), and the MAYOR. I guess they paid their DISRESPECTS. Oh well DR. CRANE may only be jut a local legend but they must be legends in their own minds!

Friday, September 19, 2014

PARTY PLANNED

Claire Cranes Retirement Party tonight!

In lieu of gifts, a donation can be made to the Dr. Claire Crane Scholarship Fund/Salem State College. High Rock Tower from 6-9pm. Music, Food and a chance to thank Dr. Crane for all her hard work. Dress warm!

Leslie Greenberg
HICO Chair
781-632-6979k
 
 
 
Help us bring 40,000 free books to our children in December!

In partnership with the Lynn Teachers Union and the national nonprofit First Book, we're taking the Book Truck Challenge! Through the First Book website at www.firstbook.org/aft... See More
Photo: Help us bring 40,000 free books to our children in December!

In partnership with the Lynn Teachers Union and the national nonprofit First Book, we're taking the Book Truck Challenge!  Through the First Book website at www.firstbook.org/aft, we are seeking to register 2,000 Lynn teachers, school staff, community agency staff, and others who work with children in need in our community.  If we meet this goal, First Book will send a Book Truck filled with 40,000 brand-new books to Lynn, just in time for the holidays!

The illustration below describes the groups in our community who can help us win this challenge.  If you know anyone who works for any of these organizations in Lynn, please share this post.  

The registration link that will count toward our goal of 2,000 sign-ups is www.firstbook.org/aft - please sign up today!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

CAPANO'S COZY CAPER

FACEBOOK is quite TABOO .
I'm not talking about for ME but YOU.

POLICY and DEEDS must always necessarily MATCH
But MY case there is a CATCH.

When talking about a college called GORDON
PATTI says we can't be AFFORDIN

To follow our standards DOUBLE
Without sending a message that causes TROUBLE.