MAYBE ON A DARE

I definitely had planned to sit this one out. I even put my sign in storage at WASTE MANAGEMENT. Not to mention I've had some health problems which looked like they were going to keep me off the corners and away from the cameras and local TV cameras.

But after getting my second back injection yesterday and a little arm twisting, I have to admit I am considering making a new sign. You see, that might well be the only way things that need to be talked about are brought up.

It's a WHOLE new political and educational landscape out there.

I AM GETTING KIND OF BORED

CHUCK CAUSES CATHE'S CRASH

Lately I have been hitting ol'CHUCK pretty hard. Well I mean, it's what I do. However last Thursday night he did something I consider PRETTY GOOD. By sticking to his guns and voting for a DOCTORAL requirement to be added to the job posting for a new DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT he helped thwart what appeared to me to be a covert attempt to have the position filled with a preferred person. Just a feeling mind you.

CHUCK'S demands that we must strive to expect highly qualified candidates is actually consistent with his previously stated principles and at the same time preventing the perfectly placed positioning of a princiPAL in close proximity.

Sewell-Anderson Elementary School

· 

Save the date!

FORD SCHOOL GARDEN FINISHED

Before I start hearing from some administration people, let me say that what I am about to say is my OPINION and not anything a little birdie told me. However I am pretty good at reading the tea leaves and since we are talking agriculture it seems appropriate. We appear to have a BUMPER crop.

There was talk last night of REEVALUATING which translates to SHUTTING DOWN as we know it. There was also some discomfort displayed at COMMUNITY people having keys to the fence around it, In fact it looks as if the GARDEN'S use as a meeting place will be severely restricted. Old thought to resolved battles over code violations are about to be ressurected.

With all of the battles waged over this piece of real estate can I claim to be a WAR CORRESPONDENT?

PUTTING SOME PUNCH INTO PAC

Lynn Public Schools

On Monday, March 2 at 6:00 PM, the Lynn Special Education Parent Advisory Council (PAC) will welcome renowned child care trainer Charlie Appelstein, who will speak with parents about “Helping Your Kids to Be All That They Can Be." This free presentation for parents will be held in the Lynn Public Schools Administration Building at 100 Bennett Street, in Room 205.

Described as "the best youth care trainer in America" by Robert Lieberman, former president of the American Association of Children's Residential Centers, Charlie uses his unique blend of passion, humor, and clinical expertise to inspire adults to focus on the strengths of the children under their care. To learn more about Charlie, please visit the website of Appelstein Training Resources athttp://www.charliea.com.

For more information about this presentation, please contact Frances Martinez, Parent Liaison of Special Education, at 781-477-7220 Ext. 3336.

NEW LEADER OF THE PRIDE

New LVTI Principal Announced

Superintendent Catherine Latham is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Robert Buontempo, Jr. as the new Principal/Director of Lynn Vocational Technical Institute (LVTI).  Mr. Buontempo has spent over twenty-seven years at LVTI in various capacities and is himself a graduate of a vocational/technical school, Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield, MA.  He is extremely well experienced as a vocational educator, administrator and advocate and is well placed to lead LVTI forward. CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT

I AM A FAN!

LOOKOUT AT LPS

When will the layoffs begin?
Bad fiscal news once again.

First it was about the NET.
Have we seen that MILLION from FREE CASH yet?

Thanks to KIPP they'll be NO overcrowding in our bank account.
Who will be let go and in what amount?

Too late to cry over milk that was spilt
Unless at windmills you do tilt.

ON-PAPER TIGER, LATE

Educators in war of words over student retention

Where was DR. LATHAM'S fire when it could have mattered? The SPACE argument was a loser bcause regardlless because really the kids have to go somewhere  whoever educates them. Besides it doesn't matter now, LPS already LOST the battle.

Now what they have to begin concentrating on is how they are going to cope with the MILLIONS of dollars they are going to lose in FUNDING.

WHO LEAVES NEXT?

DANGER, DANGER! A CLASS-ICAL RESPONSE!

• Tuesday
• 

  2/24, 6:30pm
  

  Lori D'Amico
  

  
  

  
  

  The city, specifically ISD, has not removed all the snow at all the schools. Classical had an emergency evacuation yesterday due to there being smoke coming from a vent. The snow was not removed from all the exits, so the kids were forced to seek alternate exit routes to the point that many had to turn around and re-enter the building to find another exit. Thankfully, the smoke was due to a motor in a vent and not a more serious incident like a fire, or worse. I sent an email to Mike Donovan, but did not receive a response, which of course is unacceptable. I also sent emails to the scho committee, Mayor, superintendent, Dan Cahill, Terry Young, the executive assistant for the city council. Rick and Donna were the only ones to respond and Terry responded to tell me Councilor Ford was going to notify Andrew Hall of the DPW. I am sure he would be wasting his time with that since ISD is the responsible party. I will be checking tomorrow to make sure all exits have been properly cleared, even if I have to go check myself. The lack of response by city and school officials, especially regarding such a serious issue, is astounding!

SUPER'S SWAN SONG

Will LATHAM now retire
And save the battle of rehire?

With CHARTER SCHOOL expansion I must confess,
The money available will be less.

With allies moving on,
A new day about to dawn.

With budget battles all around,
Walking away right now looks pretty sound.

COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT

Does anyone else find the timing of these two events funny, "priceless" perhaps. I talking about yesterday's announcement that CHARLIE GALLO will not be seeking re-election and the announcement that yes, indeed we will have charter school EXPANSION.

After all CHUCK was a CHAMPION of the anti-charter CAMPAIGN. I guess now we have something in common, "We are LOSERS!". Oh MY BAD, he join those ranks in his last election attempt for state delegate and then again when he tried UNSUCCESSFULLY to have FELLOW LSC member removed from a sub-committee. I guess maybe we are both about the same at keeping friends too.

Where we differ though is how we react to losing and how we face challenges. A loss provides you with a learning experiance and can make you better at overcoming obstacles. But hey, who am I to say it's wrong to work on your practice. Nobody's perfect, least of all lawyers.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM LOSING

Learning now elementary at KIPP

Finishing at the bottom of the LAST election cycle kind of makes me an expert on the subject. Recently ALL the current LSC members (the Mayor included) signed a proclamation, a declaration of sorts of their undenying distaste of  the prospect of ANY more charter schools.

In her argument against CHARTER SCHOOL expansion DR. LATHAM stated to the BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION:

“To support their planned expansion, KIPP will be using what precious little building and land space is available in Lynn,” 

That my friends was and is a LOSING argument.

Let me TRANSLATE:

" THEY CAN'T COME BECAUSE WE HAVE TOO MANY KIDS NOW."

DUH!

Finding space will be on them. It almost sounds like a PRO-charter school argument. I wonder if the fine people at KIPP sent her flowers for that statement, because another TRANSLATION is:

"WE GOT TOO MANY KIDS AND NO PLACE FOR THEM!"

Given LPS's track record versuses KIPP'S record of being able to put up a new building makes them look pretty darn good.

Don't think I'm a turncoat here, I'm still against CHARTER SCHOOLS but that's because I just don't like PUBLIC money going into PRIVATE pockets. The CORRUPTION temptation is just too great. That's not to say it doesn't exist in the PUBLIC sector, there are numerous court cases to testify to that. That's why they need someone to WATCH over them.

We are already in deep over the NET SCHOOL SPENDING mess and with KIPP drawing more off the LPS budget soon, things are going to get interesting. Maybe that is why half the LSC is leaving.

IS THAT A BELL I HEAR TOLLING?

Could the WOTRING WING be in danger?
With the exit of JOHN, RICK, and now CHUCK,

Could things get any stranger?
When it comes to funding we may be out of luck.

The latest figures on NET SCHOOL SPENDING
Shows that we are far from winning.

Don't say I didn't try to warn you,
Well maybe our MAYOR will sue.

NEXT STOP - FISCAL ARMAGEDDON

An Education Blog

50 mins · 

Per an updated February report from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, public education in Lynn was underfunded by $17,312,312 in FY14 which resulted in a $8,623,703 penalty (loss in state aid).

In FY15, Lynn received a net school spending waiver of $1,427,633. Still, public ed is currently underfunded by $18,555,106 which could mean an additional penalty of $9,538,282.

Source: MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

USS LPS

With GALLO gone there'll be poems never written
Yeah, a sad day from where I'm sittin.

No doubt he had more to give,
Without an easy target how will I live?

Leaving office to practice his torts.
Sorry for all of you he supports.

Days soon'll be over of being a swing vote.
Remember rats are first to leave a sinking boat.

WHAT WILL I DO? LOOKS LIKE I'LL HAVE SOME ALLITERATION SEPARATION!

Gallo will not seek third term

It is with GREAT sadness I report this. When I read this my heart with tears of sadness. Not much longer will I have my CHUCK character to provide comic relief.

THAT'S THREE OUT OF SIX MEMBERS OF THE LSC (NOT COUNTING THE MAYOR) SEEKING RE-ELECTION, TALK ABOUT TURNOVER!

WHAT WAS OLD CAN BE NEW AGAIN

By virtue of a ANTI- DISCRIMINATION put forth by PATTI CAPANO (who voted to SEVER ties with GORDON COLLEGE) the GORDON  students would technically NOW be able to re-enter the classroom by simply signing a simple pledge of non-discrimination.. Funny, that was a solution they proposed in the first place.

LET'S SEE HOW THEY VOTE NOW!

IT AIN'T OVER TIL IT'S OVER

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2015/02/22/gordon-college-president-hopes-renew-ties-lynn-schools/CAt8E3NksABDwBpYLXTbrO/story.html

Gordon College president hopes to renew ties to Lynn schools - The Boston Globe

www.bostonglobe.com

Six months after the Lynn School Committee voted to end its long relationship with Gordon College, the president of the Christian college in Wenham is hoping to renew ties to the North Shore’s largest public school district. D. Michael Lindsay was one of 14 religious leaders who last July signed a l…

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

Charter groups top unions in lobbying, campaign spending | Capital New York

$16 million vs. $12 million

CAPITALNEWYORK.COM

Stanley Wotring

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COMMON CORE SCORE

Thanks to an old friend and teacher, MARY KAY GREER, for sharing this article.

Principal: ‘There comes a time when rules must be broken…. That time is now.’

Award-winning educator writes that because Congress is not expected to eliminate annual standardized testing in the new version of No Child Left Behind, 'the only...

WASHINGTONPOST.COM

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SCHOOL SCHEDULE SHOWDOWN

In an effort to insure that we are not faced with continued calender commotion due to weather-related issues it has been deided that Christmas vacation will be cancelled next year thereby freeing up the necessary cushion. Because of structure damage sustained to roofs from the excessive amount of SNOW this year ISD has determined that SANTA CLAUS does not have a safe place to land anywhere.

WHEN THE SNOW FINALLY MELTS THINGS ARE GONNA GET UGLY

Yeah, things are pretty covered up right now. With this record snowfall no one wants to think about what lies beneath. Still though warmer weather will eventually come, melting will happen leaving all the financial nastiness exposed. Here are some things to think about.....

--That million dollars of FREE CASH that was promised to help narrow that NET SCHOOL SPENDING gap IF it hasn't been paid yet and I haven't seen that it has, what are the chances it goes instead to pay for SNOW REMOVAL? These kind of things happen. That is why you don't rob PETER to pay PAUL.

--Remember we got to start SERVICING the 92 MILLION DOLLARS in BOND money to pay for the NEW MARSHALL. Since we have to pay for it with the CITY BUDGET we have. How are we going to do it? About not raising TAXES........Which services are they willing to cut?

--With all the money the STATE is spending, there is going to be even less money coming from this source. Yes, be prepared to OUTSOURCE. Good news for CHARTER SCHOOLS, bad news for the MAJORITY of the students.

Being UNPRECEDENTED doesn't mean you get yo IGNORE!

BLACKOUT IN A WHITEOUT

I figured with the impending BLIZZARD today would be the perfect time to watch the replay of the last LSC meeting to you know analyze what was said, oh I din't know maybe write a couple poems but NOOOOOOO! They haven't posted the recording. In fact, they didn't post last month's either.

What is going on here? It must be a plot to silence me! Ha, Ha, Ha, you fools I'll just start making stuff up! Unfortunately my back is getting better and I don't need pain meds now and we all know some of the greatest poems of all time were written under the influence of narcotics. I really had planned to write an ending for KUBLA KHAN.

So I guess that this means as soon as the snow MELTS, I'll just have to start going places!

SOME VICE IS NICE

Congratultions are due to the NEW vice-principal at MARSHAALL, RANDY PENA.We  at the WATCH wish him well as he embak on what may seem like a thankless job!

VALENTINE DAY'S CHEATERS - 50 SHADES OF MCAS

It seems that about 6 sophmore students were suspended from LYNN TECH for having the same answers on a MCAS test. Details about this incident are of course a little sketchy and hard to come by. The pressure of all this standardized testing can only lead us down a dark path!

SHOW ME THE MONEY, AGAIN

I don't know if I should wait until THROWBACK THURSDAY to ask this question, "Whatever happened to that MILLION DOLLARS that was going to be added to the LPS budget once the FREE cash was certified. It was SUPPOSED to help close our NET SCHOOL SPENDING DEFECIT!

YEAR END FORECAST

I wonder what the plan is for making up snow days. Maybe there hasn't been much talk about it BECAUSE they LSC has their own share of CANCELLED meetings and not all of them weather related.

NEW SCHOOL CANCELLATION POLICY

Due to growing weather related safety concerns, LPS has adopted a MODIFIED  school cancellation policy. From this point forward, in addition to the regular school closing due to the snow on our students, elementary students will not be required to attend classes if the snow banks are higher than their heads. Walking in this instance presents an unnecessary risk to your littlest love ones ESPECIALLY at the corners where crossing the street is particularly hazardous!

THIS IS A JOKE! I DO NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO MAKE POLICY, (PARTICULARLY AFTER THAT LAST ELECTION).

PICKERING PERSON TRIES TO LEAD IN COMING OFF

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I’m Buzzing it Off for Kids with Cancer!
I am fortunate to be a healthy kid and I enjoy playing sports.  I go to school and play hockey in my home town of Lynn for the Jets.  I wanted to do something special to help kids that are not as lucky as I am.  For the last 3 years I have been participating in the Kids Cancer Buzz Off held at Gillette Stadium and I am doing it again this year on June 8th.
Everyone knows how much I love my hair.  My parents were bugging me to get my hair cut.  So I thought it would be a great idea to buzz off my hair, well, actually shave my hair off (don't be fooled, it's not just a typical buzz cut) to raise money for children and their families fighting pediatric cancer. All proceeds will benefit Children's Hospital Boston and the vital programs and services they provide to help kids beat cancer.  I decided to shave off my hair to raise money for the children who have to go through painful treatments and lengthy hospital stays. Their families are faced with unimaginable stress, anxiety, and financial strain.
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TOLERATE OR DISCRIMINATE

Sometimes it's sad
When do-gooders do bad.

Despite what they say,
It's deeds we must weigh.

Either way, a CHOICE
To silence a VOICE.

No easy answers in Gordon controversy

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Posted: Friday, February 6, 2015 3:00 am

By Paul Halloran | 0 comments

The front page of Thursday’s paper included an interesting story that came out of an editorial board meeting with Gordon College president Dr. Michael Lindsay last week.

There was no pretense to the reason for Lindsay’s visit to The Item: He came to Lynn — along with his VP of marketing and communications and a very competent PR consultant — to make the case for a reversal of the School Committee’s August vote to sever what had been a remarkably beneficial partnership between the college and Lynn schools.

The School Committee was responding to Lindsay’s signing on to a letter supporting a religious exemption to an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating in hiring on the basis of sexual orientation.

Those voting in favor of cutting ties with Gordon cited an unwillingness to be associated with an institution whose leader would lend his name to a letter to the president of the United States that, in their minds, effectively requested the right to discriminate.

Those who supported maintaining the relationship pointed to the immeasurable amount of good that has been done in Lynn Public Schools by Gordon students.

In the end, the committee was split, 4-3, and all you need to do is to look at how committee members voted to understand this is not a simple issue.

Voting to end the relationship with Gordon were Charlie Gallo, Patty Capano, Maria Carrasco and John Ford. On the other side were Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, Rick Starbard and Donna Coppola.

On a non-unanimous vote, it was unusual to find Carrasco on the same side of an issue as Gallo, Capano and Ford — as well as Superintendent Dr. Catherine C. Latham, who supported ending the relationship. And it was somewhat shocking to see Coppola and Carrasco on opposite sides.

Was any committee member’s vote based on political expediency as much as a desire to see everyone treated equally? Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and say no.

The committee was faced with an extremely difficult decision — and if anyone tells you it was easy, they’re either misinformed or just plain wrong.

One can certainly understand a vote to cut ties with Gordon on the basis of principle. Despite his assertions that he signed the letter as a private citizen, Lindsay has to realize that on an issue like this it’s hard for most to separate Lindsay the man from Lindsay the college president.

I would disagree, however, with those who assert that a vote for keeping Gordon was necessarily a vote for discrimination. Lindsay’s case was thoroughly reported by Cyrus Moulton yesterday so I won’t regurgitate all the numbers, but when you hear that Gordon students have done thousands of hours of community service in Lynn in the last 11 years, and you realize how many students have benefited from the relationship, it has to make you think.

I would submit that it is perfectly reasonable for anyone to be at the same time opposed to Lindsay’s support for the religious exemption and in favor of maintaining a relationship with Gordon College.

Would Lynn schools be better off with the eight student teachers from Gordon who would have been working in classrooms this year? Did Gordon students play a meaningful role at Harrington when the school was battling its way out of Level 4? Have more Lynn students gone to college as a result of being exposed to collegiate life by regular visits to the Gordon campus at a young age?

Those are rhetorical questions with easy answers — all “yes.”

Here’s a tougher one: Is all the good done by Gordon and its students outweighed by its seeming intolerance for beliefs and activities that do not fall in line with its Christian tradition?

That one’s not so simple.

“We care deeply about Lynn … Lynn remains a community we especially feel called to serve … We are heavily invested in Lynn … We still have a deep commitment to Lynn,” Lindsay said over the course of the hour-long meeting.

Lindsay said Gordon has student teachers in approximately 30 school districts. He said Lynn was the only one to take action against the college based on his signing the letter. So, perhaps it boils down to this:

Was Lynn right and everyone else wrong?

Paul K. Halloran Jr. is managing editor.

VACATION PLANNING

LSC Meeting Notice 2/12/15

LYNNMA.GOV

Looking ahead

Looking ahead at the agenda I see they are planning on canceling yet another meeting in March. How responsible is this? With all the finacial TROUBLE the state is in the CITY can't be far behind. I am sure CHUCK plans to speak up to make sure you taxpayers get your money's worth out of the other committee members.

WHAT HAVE I BEEN SAYING?

An Education Blog via Tracy O'Connell Novick

3 hrs · 

Schools concerned about scheduled cuts to education

WORCESTER — Several city officials Friday said they are concerned about the effects cuts announced this week by Gov. Charles D. Baker Jr. could have on education in the city, particularly that of young children.

TELEGRAM.COM

A NEW DEFINITION

Gordon College states its case


Seems what is old is new again.
Discussions about who has the right to define sin.

Rules of Life and Conduct they must bend
To become our new found friend.

Everyone will play with words in the end
Whatever it takes for our students to win.

A PAGE FROM PATTI'S POLITICAL PLAYBOOK

It's funny how things have a way of working out. Back at the start of the school year, PATTI CAPANO was one of the FOUR votes that led to the decision to SEVER ties with GORDON COLLEGE. After it was pointed out repeatedly that the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of CATHOLIC CHARITIES (PATTI is a CATHOLIC lay minister, BTW, - a good thing), PATTI began pushing a policy waiver that would allow INDIVIDUALS to pledge that they would not practice they same sort of discriinatory practices put forth by their SENDING institution.

If that idea sounds familiar that's because it's pretty much the SAME solution offered up from VAL BUCHANNON from GORDON COLLEGE when the TIES with LPS were sliced. Back then CHUCK'S CRUSADE crushed the consideration. CATHE commented, "Severing ties meant severing ties". It seemed like there was not much room for TOLERANCE OF INTOLERANCE.

We were told there were institutions lining up to fill the VOID left from severing those ties. Ha, ha, has it happened. With education services surely to suffer setbacks from the DEFICIT DILEMMA brought to bare by BAKER can we AFFORD REVERSE SELECTIVE DISCRIMINATION?

CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR-ING ABOUT IT?

Lori D'Amico‎Lynn School Watch

3 hrs · 

A public hearing on the matter will be coming in the next couple of months!

http://m.itemlive.com/…/article_1862de3c-acf5-11e4-9b90-d7a…

Gordon College states its case

The president of Gordon College said the school remains committed to Lynn and urged the school committee to reconsider its vote cutting ties to the private Christian college after furor over its policy toward gays and lesbians.

M.ITEMLIVE.COM

SISSON'S SNOW SHUTTERS

Lori D'Amico‎Lynn School Watch

3 hrs · 

This is a post that a parent left regarding the snow that has not been removed at her child's school in Lynn. She also had a picture of the snow and the blocked handicapped parking spots. The lack of snow removal in this city, particularly around our schools, is not only unacceptable and extremely dangerous, it is preventing some students from going to school.

"We are the parents of a 6 year old kindergarten student at Sisson. Our son has Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy and has mobility issues. During most days he needs a few accommodations, but he tires very easily and cannot walk for long distances. We use a wheel chair for him on the days that he has trouble walking or if we have to walk a long distance . The parking issues at Sisson School are atrocious. The street and adjacent side streets are one lane only and the handicapped spots are full of snow. I have NO SAFE way to get my son to school. I cannot risk pushing my 50 pound child in a 30 pound wheelchair down my steep and very slippery hill. There are many sidewalks that are narrowly shoveled or completely un-shoveled, leaving not enough room for his chair and the streets are so narrow that there is only inches between the cars and the snowbanks. This is extremely distressing for our family. How am I supposed to get him to school? The American's with Disabilities act requires that Handicapped parking spots be cleared of snow within a reasonable time frame. The spots at Sisson have not been touched for over a week. I'm sure that other schools are in the same condition."