HERE'S WHERE YOU START WITH YOUR QUESTIONS

LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

SUB-COMMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

2012 - 2014

ATHLETICS: Chair: John E. Ford, Jr.

Maria O. Carrasco

Richard B. Starbard

BUILDING & GROUNDS: Chair: John E. Ford, Jr.

Maria O. Carrasco

Donna M. Coppola

CURRICULUM: Chair: Patricia M. Capano

Donna M. Coppola

Richard B. Starbard

FINANCE: Chair: Maria O. Carrasco

Charlie N. Gallo

Richard B. Starbard

NEGOTIATING: Chair: Donna M. Coppola

Patricia M. Capano

Charlie N. Gallo

PERSONNEL: Chair: Donna M. Coppola

Patricia M. Capano

Maria O. Carrasco

POLICY: Chair: Richard B. Starbard

John E. Ford, Jr.

Charlie N. Gallo

GRANTS: Chair: Charlie N. Gallo

Patricia M. Capano

John E. Ford, Jr.

AS A POET, HOW COULD I NOT SUPPORT THIS?

Public Art 2.0

www.kickstarter.com

As our urban neighborhood continues to transition into art and cultural hub we hope to use public art to SPARK a creative economy

College Application Education Project, Inc.

Cordially invites you to the 2012

Film Fundraiser Event

To benefit student educational programs of C.A.E.P.

[Text Box]

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Showcase Cinema, Revere. Doors open 8:00 A.M.

565 Squire Rd. Revere, MA

Seating is Limited. Reserve T-O-D-A-Y ! !

$20 DONATION includes: Movie, Snack & Conversation

To Reserve and book via Credit Card or PayPal: www.caeproject.org. Tel: 781.595.1022

WE ALL NEED TO TRY AND BE A SAINT

It's not only LPS we're WATCHing here at the WATCH. We would like to give a shout out to the students at ST. MARY'S HIGH who agreed to volunteer at CENTERBOARD to fulfill a commitment to "RACHEL'S CHALLENGE".

Rachel's Challenge - In Memory of Rachel Scott

www.rachelschallenge.org

S. O. S. - SAVE OUR SCHOOLS

For all you WATCH addicts, there is talk about holding a group therapy session at tomorrow night's LSC meeting. The treatment will consist of HOLDING PROTEST signs to SHAME the LSC! The ITEM will be there and probably LYNNCAM too!

This radical treatment session by being RADICAL was suggested by CHARTER WATCH subscriber LISA CONALLY. So grab your sponsor and attend. TOGETHER, WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS!

A PATTERN OF DECEPTION?

You know, here I was surfing the Internet. I stopped by the LPS web site  to see if tomorrow night's agenda was up. SURPRISE, it wasn't there. Here's what was there:

Go to Upcoming Meeting Agenda - Wednesday 1/12/2012 at 7:00pm

Not only was tomorrow's agenda not there, when do they ever meet on Wed? Even my typing is not that bad!

PICKERING STUDENTS PACK ON THE POUNDS

I imagine you could substitute any middle or high school's name in place of PICKERING'S, it's just that;s where I was at yesterday when I saw this flood of students when the class bell rang. Maybe it wasn't every student but the majority of the students were doing all they could do to carry their textbooks.

Not just one, but it looked like a locker full of books. Before they all end up crooked like me, I would pose a couple of alternatives. One they could allow enough time between classes to go to their locker OR LPS could take the money they are going to pay the new COMMERCIAL STREET CLOWNS and buy I PADS and KINDLES for EVERYONE!

IT'S A HARD KNOCK LIFE

This is a picture of a Yorkie found in Lynn, MA near Classical High School.

 

Iswear this dog could have escaped from MARSHALL'S production of ANNIE. Did I say that my DAUGHTER was in in? Anyway help the poor little guy find his way back home!

TAKE A LESSON FROM THEM

Classical students honored for years of perfect attendance

The ITEM did a GREAT job calling attention to these SPECIAL students. Life is about showing up. Hmm, maybe these exemplary students can TEACH us something. WE need to SHOW UP for them and DEMAND better from LPS.

Good job KATHY and ALICIA, you are a BEAST! That also says something for PRINCIPAL  CONSTANTINO that 94 students have perfect attendance, I would guess so far this year. That's creating a GOOD learning environment!

A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM - MAKING SCHOOL CORRUPTION, HISTORY

There this thing going on down at the LYNN MUSEUM tomorrow and well I guess everybody should attend. The MUSEUM see They did this presentation at Thurs. night's LSC meeting talking about all the things going on and how they want to work with LPS. Good deal because the MUSEUM is a valuable resource.

ATTORNEY JAMES CARRIGAN (it pains me to talk good of an attorney but work with me here) and ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ABBY BATTIS outline several different programs that I would like to elaborate on.....AT A LATER DATE.

Now I just want to talk about one and it occurs tomorrow from 6 until 8:30 pm at the MUSEUM at 590 WASHINGTON STREET. You see they are having a little get together called: "An Evening With Lynn Legislators". Scheduled to attend are SEN. THOMAS MCGEE, REP. ROBERT FENELL, REP. STEVEN WALSH, REP. LORI EHRLICH, and REP. DONALD WONG.

They will have a round table discussion for an hour and a half talking about who knows what (politicians are never short on things to talk about) but then  you'll have a chance to talk to them. Here's your chance. While they press the flesh, you press the issue. Bad things are happening at LPS and we want help. Maybe they don't have any DIRECT influence on all of these questionable transactions but if they start asking questions people will start listening to them a little faster than this poor, disabled poet.

Me, I honestly know if I'm going to make it. I mean the NEW LYNN COALITION is having a meeting at 5:30 and they invited me to come. I mean they offered dinner and well I don't work any more again and my stomach still gets hungry.

I may make it over in time to smooze a little and I bet they are serving dessert. (It sounds better all the time)

FIGHT YOUR ADDICTION

I have been made aware that some of you out there may be addicted to the WATCH. I'm sorry to hear that (Not Really).

Sorry but there is only ONE CURE. Contact your LSC members:

Patricia Capano: 781-581-7235 Maria Carrasco: 781-599-7375 Donna Coppola: 781-593-4433 John Ford: 781-598-6156 Charlie Gallo: 781-592-9498 Rick Starbard: 781-599-7999

OR MAYBE. contact the mayor:

Lynn City Hall and Memorial Auditorium 3 City Hall Square Lynn, Massachusetts 01901 (781)-598-4000

THANK YOU LORI, LPS LOSERS AGAIN?

Now I believe Kask King Kevin is hanging his hat on the following interpretation.

They can charge (special education) costs to the Circuit Breaker account that had been originally budgeted from the local School Committee appropriation. Doing so frees up local funds to spend as the School Committee wishes.



PROBLEM!!

All of the positions added from the SPED RAID were never in the budget!

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?

LORI D'AMICO a devoted WATCH reader got this response to a complaint about the NIGHT SPED GOT RAIDED!:

Special Education Circuit Breaker funds can only be used for services that generated reimbursements. I’m sure local Lynn officials are aware of this!

ARE they now? Well they are now

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

Since last THURSDAY night's RAIDING party at the LSC meeting, I have had over 2500 hits on my BLOG. That's TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED hits. I'm not sure how that translates into VOTES but I would pay attention to that number if I was running for office.

One of the upcoming things everybody needs to be on the lookout for is the much anticipated, long promised new MARSHALL. When it comes to new construction, the MSBA controls pretty much the pace. SLOW. They also control the size, I think it was first approved for a 1000 student capacity but we appealed that size and got it bumped up to 1100. Woefully small according to projections but we have no trouble stuffing kids in over capacity, just ask BREED.

I believe we got a 90% reimbursement from the MSBA. JOHN FORD LSC member happens to work for state delegate STEVE WALSH and I heard JOHN brag on how hard STEVE worked to get such a favorable match.

STILL...

That means we are going to have to come up with 20 million or so for our share. You think you're paying taxes now.

IT'S ALREADY STARTED.....

Council just approved a feasibility study (required) at $750,000. Kind of a waste, if you ask me. Look at our class sizes and the condition of our buildings and you can see that we need it for FREE. But that's the way we have to play the game.

SO....

We better WATCH out. There is POTENTIAL for corruption everywhere. Bids are being taken or will be taken soon. The BIG one is for PROJECT MANAGER SERVICES. Now there is no set figure, these kind of things are always SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION (does anyone else's alarm bells go off here?).

THERE WILL BE FUTURE STORIES!

JUDGING FROM OUR LEADERS, THIS CAUSE IS APPROPRIATE

Support Anti-Bullying Laws Nationwide While almost all states have some anti-bullying laws, they vary in form and strength. Due to several highly publicized student suicides and a rise in cyber-bullying, lawmakers are taking notice of these inconsistencies. This year, New Jersey adopted one of the strongest anti-bullying laws in the country. Teachers will receive training to address bullying and students will band together in "safety teams." Perhaps most importantly, investigations of bullying incidents will occur within one day. Each state needs to have strong policies in place to foster safe learning environments for every child. Sign the pledge today in support of anti-bullying laws in all states! Take Action!

TROLLING FOR DOLLARS

Well I told you it was in my notes, now if I can just read my WRITING! Hopefully some of you can't wait to attend. I'll be there, front row on the left. Oops! I shouldn't disclose my location. There are a few people out there who don't wish me well. And if I whack someone across the knees with my cane while I'm defending myself that's a felony. That means I'm going to jail......NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN

Back to business. The next LSC meeting is January 19 at 7 pm at LVTI.

HOWEVER....

It is not your regular type meeting. There is probably not going to be an "Open Mike" cause it's a "Meeting of the Whole" to discuss GRANTS and CONTRACTS. No votes can be taken.

WHAT THEY CAN DO.....

is look for other sources of revenue they can find to justify MORE frivolous expenditures. GET INFORMED and come join me!

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

I been thinking again. You know our present superintendent, DR. LATHAM, well we are on the hook for her salary until June, no matter what. It's just the way her contract is written. Fire her today and we still have to pay. So we just might as well just let it run out and not renew it. I mean we got to spend the money for her salary anyway.

WELL......

Firing her now does have a couple advantages. First it might stop the ticker on some of those perks like a car allowance and other miscellanous expenses.

BUT....

It also might prevent further costly decisions like the ones that ravaged the SPED budget to pay for hiring friends and other administrators to add to the crowding down at COMMERCIAL STREET.

JUST A THOUGHT....

What are you thinking? You should let the Mayor know. That smart lady is often the deciding vote in a lot of matters,
       jkennedy@ci.lynn.ma.us

Lynn City Hall and Memorial Auditorium 3 City Hall Square Lynn, Massachusetts 01901 (7)-598-4000

LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!

I'm filing my complaint. How about you?

Program Quality Assurance Services
Compliance nd Monitoring
compliance@doe.mass.edu


Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my concern over some recent decisions made by the Lynn Public School system. They have recently hired a second Deputy superintendent, a position they intend to fund with the proposed increase in the CIRCUIT BREAKER reimbursement schedule. Even if this is legal, the fact is they posted the position on Dec. 9, 2011, interviewed one candidate, phone calls were made to school committee members prior to the Jan. 12, 2012 meeting, and did not technically have the money to fund the position until a vote was taken to move money out of the line item funding "out of district placements" for qualified SPED students.

I would home that you would investigated this alleged impropriety and get back with me with your results.

Sincerely,

Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.

(781) 248-8933

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED BUT WE'RE USING MY MATH

I hear that the paraprofessionals in the classrooms haven't gotten their raises yet...

BUT....

we can FIND THE MONEY in the SPED budget to pay for a NEW DEPUTY with all the trimmings.

Anyone who has ever been in a classroom KNOWS how hard that job is and what are they being denied? A paltry  increase compared  to KEVIN MCHUGH'S 7% raise to $123,000.

Wait a minute, was that the same KEVIN I heard using accounting logic to vouch for the legality of raiding SPED'S coffers?

JUST SO YOU KNOW....

THE PROBLEM RESOLUTION SYSTEM INFORMATION GUIDE

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ("the Department") is committed to helping individuals and school districts resolve problems promptly. Laws exist to protect the rights of all students in the Commonwealth, and to ensure that all students receive equal educational opportunities.
The Department encourages schools and districts to take quick action to respond to questions and concerns about students' educational programs. Therefore, individuals with such concerns are encouraged to contact school district personnel (for example, the principal, superintendent of schools, or the administrator of special education) first to resolve the problem. However, individuals may ask the Department for assistance without speaking first with someone in the school or district.
Through its Problem Resolution System (PRS), the Department handles complaints that allege a school or a district is not meeting legal requirements for education. Program Quality Assurance Services (PQA) is the unit that manages the PRS. Anyone, including parents, students, educators, community members, and agency representatives, can contact PQA for assistance.
Contact Program Quality Assurance Services at:
Program Quality Assurance Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Telephone: 781-338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay: 1-800-439-2370
FAX: 781-338-3710
Email: compliance@doe.mass.edu
Web: http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Lynn school panel split on new hire

Thank YOU ITEM, SEVERAL DAYS LATE AND and we're several dollars short. WATCH readers knew about this last FRIDAY.

AN APPLE FOR THE TEACHER, I MEAN SUPER

WARNING! WARNING! POET DOING MATH. I got to thinking, you know if the superintendent's office is costing LPS about $300,000 a year (including secretaries) and there are say 14,000 students in Lynn (a very rough guess) that works out to about $21 a student. PRETTY EXPENSIVE FRUIT.

THE PRICE WE PAY

I didn't think I could stand it. I promised myself that I would only write positive LPS stories on Sunday. I thought it was going to kill me. So in order that I don't explode, I'll write this now at 7 pm and post it at 12 am tonight. Wait you didn't hear me say that. (No, they read it silly)

With all this uproar about the hiring of SUE ROWE as a second DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, I almost overlooked another possibly somewhat gratuitous expenditure. I said ALMOST.

Slipped in with some of the other plums that were payed for by paid for by taking fruit from the SPED fruit tree was a SECOND Confidential Secretary, JANET COSTIN, for DR. LATHAM.

Let's take a look here. Now these figures are just my best guess, probably on the low side because I don't know who gets what perks. I remember RICK STARBARD complaining about a $350 a month car allowance that some of these administration people get. You see DR. LATHAM GOT $184,000 last year plus, now two CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARIES at $50,000 each.

That adds up to us paying $300,000 a year for the privilege of having a leader that has charted a path to failure. If we want to go a different direction, let your LSC members know. We need to decide to make a change by MARCH.

ON THE MARCH

Must be that uniform thing. Whenever Sgt. Major Oswald, MCJROTC  comes before the LSC DR. LATHAM and the MAYOR just gush with admiration. Rightly so, everyone wants to march in step with success. He has led ENGLISH to NATIONAL RECOGNITION!

Last Thur. night he came before the committee to request permission for three trips for competition. Who would be brave enough to deny the SERGEANT MAJOR anything?

Anyway, one of the trips was to Reading, Pa. while the another was to Colts Neck, NJ (he should get hazardous duty pay going to NJ).

HOWEVER...

the destination location was to DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA to the Nationals on May.

Is it to late to join the team? I could learn to twirl my cane!

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT THIS DONATION

HARRINGTON SCHOOL received a donation of office supplies and other office stuff from NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES. Connie Reardon-Program Administrator

MISSING NO MORE

Some kids were all set to get some notoriety for winning a Columbus Poster/Drawing test ....

BUT

the announcement was not made due to the fact the kids weren't there....

SO,

it's up to me to give credit where credit is due. Using the posted agenda for the LSC meeting as my source, here we go:

     From the HOOD SCHOOL,  we have: Eileen Salazar-First Place- Gr. 4,Adman Jalgl-Second Place-Gr. 4,and Byron Garcia-Third Place-Gr. 4.

     From LINCOLN-THOMPSON, we have Merlyn Garcia-Third place- Gr. 1

Congratulations! I know being mentioned on my blog is not the same as having your name in the ITEM

BUT

more people probably read my blog.

ENGLISH RUNS WITH IT

Congratulations!

LYNN ENGLISH BOY'S TRACK COACH JOHN WALSH crossed the finish line this year winning COACH of the YEAR honors in the NORTHEAST CONFERENCE/SOUTH.

TRIBUTE TO TECH

Yeah I play favorites, so what. If you want objective news, go read the ITEM. You won't get as much news but at least it will be objective or what passes for it. Me, I got a  couple ponies in this race. One that runs for PICKERING while the other wears the MARSHALL colors.

When it comes to high schools, well that's where it gets a little more complicated. You see my daughter cheers for EAST LYNN POP WARNER and well, they are the BULLDOGS and they practice at ENGLISH.

My son has played for LYNN YOUTH SOCCER so I sometimes get into saying, "GO GREEN". LYNN CLASSICAL also overlooks the field.

DIVIDED LOYALTIES, WHAT DO I EVER DO? I sort of solve that problem by being a partial to LYNN TECH. It's not that I don't want to choose between the two (like a parent I love my kids equally, different but equal), I have made a choice I favor LYNN TECH and here is why.

I feel like LYNN TECH lives in the REAL WORLD. I admit I have always had this passionate predjudice against anything academic. Sure I went to a fancy (remember I'm from WV and well our definitions are not quite the same as you yankees') private college. All my test scores said that's what I was supposed to do.

I was miserable so I went through things as fast as I could. Life through up a road block as life tends to do and slowed me down. You see I was going so fast, I couldn't see what was really important, what mattered.

Life is looked at with differing perceptions, change your perceptions change your life. A lot of people pooh pooh LVTI as a second class  high school because of the "V" word, you know "vo-ca-tion-al".

Well "news flash", AP courses don't make you smart. Yeah, you might do a little better if you are ever a contestant on "Jeopardy" but that is not a guarantee. Living life is what makes you smart. Some people see better with their hands than their eyes and a traditional classroom is not going to correct their vision. If the focus is too narrow, well maybe you just need different lenses.

Every year LVTI has an "open house" to recruit eighth graders to become potential students. Enrollment is down BUT this year's recruitment session was WAY better attended than last year's.

WHY WAS THAT? Paradis's proficient leadership? Perhaps. Better weather, no blustery blizzard?  Maybe. Could be the added exposure due to a wildly successful CAMP EXPLORER during the summer session last year. I would venture to say probably it might be the realization that times they are a changin. College is getting just too expensive and for what.

It is not that we should close all the doors to HARVARD. We need doctors, teachers, and yes, even LAWYERS. It's just that we don't need everybody taking the same path to get to different locations.

Don't fall into that old academic prejudice that you have to go to college to become smart and that's why everyone should go to the traditional high schools. Let me call your attention to Ron Beckett, the president of LVTI alumni association. I don't have his resume in front of me but I KNOW he was ENORMOUSLY successful as a TECH grad. Mostly because of his passion for the importance of vocational education the MACHINE SHOP was saved through his efforts to get the superintendent and the mayor to see the light. That's a doctor and a lawyer.

Then there is MY DAD. He never went to college. Heck, he didn't even finish high school. He got his GED in the ARMY. He out argued a fancy local lawyer and won an employment dispute. Like every young boy, I wanted to make it to the Major Leagues and my Dad was my Little League coach and NOBODY knew the rule book any better. On top of that, I was a hot shot teacher's pet but my Dad regularly wiped up the floor with me in chess. Pretty good for a TEAMSTER.

The point is that there is more than one way to learn and be smart. It's all about options.

WILL THE COMPLIANCE OFFICER GET HANDCUFFS?

So we got to have a COMPLIANCE OFFFICER, so what. Well, it kind of means you been having trouble following the rules. Why else would you need to pay someone $92,000 a year to make sure you play fair. Our numerous SPED violations should give her plenty to do.

Looking over the job desciption I notice that she is also tasked as the BULLYING COORDINATOR. In the past that job has been in the purview of DENNIS THOMPSON and SUE "SHE'S A BEAUTY" ROWE. They seem to know BULLYING real well up on COMMERCIAL STREET.

I'll tell you right now, I'm going to spell this wrong but I can't find my notes and I want to get this out there. Anyway people spell my name wrong all the time but the bill collectors manage to find my door. Maurice Horgan was tabbed for this position. She was even introduced at Thursday night's LSC meeting.

INTERESTING CHOICE. I'm sure she is well qualified....

BUT....

I hear as the story goes she used to be over at the ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL and crossed CATHE so she was relieved of her duties and was reassigned to the administration building. The GRANT money funding her banishment was running out and well this position got imposed on us by the DOE and it just kind of worked out as a way to continue the exile without violating any contracts. SWEEEEET!

SHOWTIME!

Butter Up The Popcorn! Here's a chance to enjoy a movie, learn some history, and support our future.

 

College Application Education Projec...

Saturday, January 21 at 8:00am

DID YOU EVER GET THE FEELING YOU WEREN'T LOVED?

I mean, I've been doing this BLOG thing for almost a year and a half. When you look at my numbers, you would have to say I'm pretty successful.

I have maybe had one or two posts that MAY have been slightly controversial....

BUT...

I have also been very PRO  student and school, giving up valuable Internet time (okay, okay I get it for free. Can't you give a poor poet a break) promoting various events, programs, and students and I get nothing. No credit, no recognition, I just get my e mails blocked from LPS.

YET...

Some local FOOD BLOG writes one little review about the students restaurant at LYNN TECH and DR. LATHAM acts like BON APPETIT labeled it as a destination location. I am happy for the good press for LVTI but I am a little friggin jealous at the continued slight to me.

PLAY(ING) THE GAME

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now...

January 19 at 8:00pm

You know, I got to thinking. MARSHALL'S under appreciated (not by me, but I have a vested interest named Asiah) production exposed me to the power of plays. These showcases of students who are stars if even for one night provide precious opportunities to our kids to learn that hard work and dedication can produce a product they and we can all be proud of.

That being said, it is important that we support such projects in the community so our kids all have something to aspire to.

Okay, Okay, I admit it. I'm giving this plug because COREY offered to try and hook up with MARSHALL in future productions. SHOOT ME! (remember we talked about this) That's the way it works, we all have to help each other. COMMON GOAL, you know.

LATHAM TO OCCUPY?

Has the good DOCTOR seen the light? After the miserably failed TIGER PAWS adult learning experiment. Out of 7 proposed programs, ran over I think 3 or 4 days, only 2 of them ran. A community of 6 were served, that's 6, count them S-I-X.

The cost for this poor excuse for a success story ran in the thousands. I mean there was the cost of advertising, cause you see, unlike me the ITEM expects to get PAID for letting you know what's going on. Then there was all the materials that needed to be purchased just in case somebody showed up for the classes.

WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR ALL THIS? You would think that sort of stuff would have been decided in advance. DIANE PARADIS, principal at LVTI, testified before the LSC Thursday night giving a report on the venture. She had assured everyone that the unused supplies could be used up by her students so IF it comes out of her budget it won't be a total waste.

IF, that's the key word here. Don't you think she should have known in advance? Then again WHY should it come out of her budget just because the good DOCTOR wanted to make what appears to be a thinly veiled attempt at trying to circumvent OCCUPY LVTI.

The low attendance at this HIGH-PRICED diversion could be parlayed as an excuse not to move forward due to lack of interest. PARADIS was optimistic about the future, taking the lessons learned from this failed venture and planning better in the future, perhaps this spring.

LSC member DONNA COPPOLA pointed out that there were other community groups interested in trying to use the facility. Hello, OCCUPY LVTI here! Anyway the good DOCTOR expressed her willingness to work with these groups. Come on now LYNN COALITION, here's your opening. The offensive line has made a whole, so run with the ball.

LATHAM'S LOONEY LAUNDRY

After that PARENT publicly embarassed DR. LATHAM for pulling a previously approved one-on-one from her child, the good DOCTOR assured her that she had signed off on the approval and things should be all set.

And OH YEAH there was not any need to go so public with this. Geez some people might get the impression that we are airing our dirty laundry. Next time just come to me.

FAST FORWARD to the next day. There was NO ONE-ON-ONE.

HOW CLEAN IS YOUR UNDERWEAR?

PAC GETS PAID BUT.....

DR. CHERYL MENINO graciously gave $100 from the PAC line item, MAYBE FROM HER POCKET, I DON'T KNOW, so there will be snacks at the next PAC meeting. My tummy thanks you. Just like FIELD OF DREAMS, have pizza and they will come.

BUT...

Hey, I'm the TREASURER but was the money given to me? NOOOOOOO! Maybe she couldn't reach me. I mean I know my e mails are blocked from LPS, maybe they can't send them either.

Well there are other officers that could have been contacted. My BFF, she's co-chair, she could have been involved in the transaction. Her passion for extreme couponing could have turned the $100 into possibly bushels of snacks and 99 bottles of shampoo!

Then there is the other co-chair, DAVE ELLIS. But his relationship with the SPED department is not warm and fuzzy, it's caustic even. You see DAVE is a stickler for rules and proper procedure. I always wondered if they have to follow ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER at his dinner table.

SO....

the money was given to a BOARD MEMBER. Was it a thinly veiled attempt to diss us? I DON'T CARE. Thank you DR. MENINIO for the pizza! My stomach is not proud!

OH! BY THE WAY, WHERE WERE YOU ON THE NIGHT SPED GOT RAIDED!

HOW DO U LIKE ME NOW?

Judging from the number of my hits and the fact that two different parents spoke on two different issues, I would venture to say LPS is beginning to see some of that elusive PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT they claim they want but never see. I don't believe we parents are going to stand for business as usual because we got POP (Power Of the Parent).

IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU COUNT

Lynn has some class size problems, no doubt about it The new INNOVATION SCHOOL, aka THE WASHINGTON SCHOOL is supposedly set to open in the fall. This was after we were teased a little that it might open up in JAN. OBVIOUSLY maybe that was too ambitious.

We were told last night that in order to relieve overcrowding the district would be carved up in such a way that WASHINGTON would pull kids from COBBETT, CONNERY,and HARRINGTON. MARIA pointed happened that the same kids always get the new programs. Heck, FORD is at about 600 kids, near a 20 year high and NOTHING.

WAIT A MINUTE....

you might be on to something there MARIA`. I seem to remember something about the DOE saying you can't redistrict students going to a LEVEL 4 school just to get them out of that school. HARRINGTON and CONNERY are LEVEL 4. That's to prevent math wizards from playing with the numbers to remove a school from LEVEL 4 status. What was DR. LATHAM'S major again? I've always said that she is a smart lady. I wouldn't pack those moving boxes just yet.

DOING A LITTLE NUMBER ON THE MUSICAL

With all the POWER POINT PRESENTATION of BS last night about yesterday's news on INNOVATION schools and believe me, I got a lot to say, take a look at the resource LPS thre away.

Date announced for 9th Annual Gospel/Jazz Brunch! | Building Bridges Through Music

buildingbridgesthrumusic.org

My kids were lucky enough to benefit from MS, MURRAY at FORD SCHOOL but that was one of the partnerships LATHAM nixed.

WHERE WERE YOU ON THE NIGHT SPED WAS RAIDED?

I'm sure I won't be the last to ask that question. If you want to find some answers, here you go:

Patricia Capano: 781-581-7235 Maria Carrasco: 781-599-7375 Donna Coppola: 781-593-4433 John Ford: 781-598-6156 Charlie Gallo: 781-592-9498 Rick Starbard: 781-599-7999

Oh let's not forget our MOST HONOURABLE MAYOR:

  jkennedy@ci.lynn.ma.us

Lynn City Hall and Memorial Auditorium 3 City Hall Square Lynn, Massachusetts 01901 (781)-598-4000

ROWE'S REVENGE

Let's think back a minute. DEPUTY DR. WARY approached me at a LSC meeting last year to ask if I would take it easy on this pretty little lady (sorry, I can't help myself, I ADMIT I HAVE A PROBLEM) and quit calling attention to the FACT her son was ARRESTED at FORD during lunch early last year while he was working as a classroom aide.

Honestly I don't know what eventually happened but I know there was a status hearing. Innocent until proven guilty, but drugs in a school that's bad. Also I know I go to almost all the LSC meetings and I don't recall any disposition of his position. Usually they list all the firings, resignations and reassignments, I've seen nothing.

Somebody please help me out, I mean I want to report a successful resolution. I'm sure everything is on the up and up.

IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT

BUSINESS MANAGER KEVIN MCHUGH swears he wins the BATTLE OF THE BEANS. Simple really, you just move this figure here, then this figure here and it all balances out. Come on DONNA, it's only math.

BUT.....

LSC committee member DONNA COPPOLA is not so sure. After talking with some people at DOE, she thinks they expect us to put this new found funding bonanza back into SPED and not fund our SUPERINTENDENT'S SHOPPING SPREE.

I hope DR. LATHAM saves her receipts, I smell a forced RETURN coming.

MISSED OUT ON MARSHALL

With all the presentations packed into last night, it seems like LPS was just interested in seeing that we were up for paying the price for their administrative indiscretions. Not a word was mentioned about MARSHALL'S MOMENTUS production of the musical classic ANNIE.

Okay my daughter was in it so I'm predigous. SO WHAT, SHOOT ME! (wait put that down, it was only a figure of speech)

My point is that it's the STUDENTS who are important and not the administrators.

LET YOUR LSC MEMBERS KNOW ABOUT THEIR VOTE

The breakdown of the vote went like this: These people voted to move funds from the SPED department to pay for the salaries of the new hire, including the DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT.
           PATTI , JUDY,  FORD, and GALLO

Those who voted against the pillaging of the SPED department were:

           DONNA, RICK, and MARIA

Patricia Capano: 781-581-7235 Maria Carrasco: 781-599-7375 Donna Coppola: 781-593-4433 John Ford: 781-598-6156 Charlie Gallo: 781-592-9498 Rick Starbard: 781-599-7999

THE WATCH HAS SOME POP

POP- Power Of the Parent.

Last night I was sitting in my usual seat, left-side front-row, at open-mike when I heard this voice, it wasn't me (I mean it wasn't slurred and it seem a little higher) but I SWORE the words were mine.

Some PARENT, LORI D'AMICO was lamenting about the wisdom of spending all this money on a new Deputy Superintendent when we need the money in the classroom. She was PREACHING my sermon, but there weren't enough people in the choir.

BEAUTY AND BRAINS, AT LEAST ONE OF THE TWO

Make no mistake about it, SUE ROWE is an UPGRADE in the looks department at that department level. I was waiting for newcomer CHARLIE GALLO to break out in song after the announcement of her new hire.

"HERE SHE IS, MISS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT"

But SUE ROWE is not all beauty, she's got EDUCATION. Uh well, she doesn't have her doctorate and LYNN is the fifth largest school district. She's got EXPERIENCE. Okay so she has never been a principal of a school, neither has DR. LATHAM and she seems to lead a failing district just fine. Come on now, at least we can say we are the best of the worst.

You know, after four wives maybe I'm not the best to weigh in here.

EMBARRASED INTO ACTION

After the mother of the child who's one-on-one has been playing the "Now you see him, now you don't game" spoke her piece (my BFF was stuck in traffic), our MOST HONOURABLE MAYOR directed DR> LATHAM to speak to the mother in private.

SO.....

After some tears about not needing to go public and assurances to the parent that she could "come to me", the situation was supposedly successfully resolved. Not before her child had been suspended for three days because with no aide was available.

AFTER....

A few points of Special Education law were tossed around, DR. LATHAM assured her that she had already signed off on this and not to worry. A broken record must have been playing because I've heard that song before.

SUE ROWE ILLEGITAMATE?

Stop it! I am not talking anything about birthright. Although being a poet the visual image of seeing certain LPS administrations sweat and squirm while MAURY POPVICH screams :
"YOU ARE THE FATHER" does intellectually stimulate me.

No I am talking about the DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT'S position was posted and filled before the money was ever approved to fund the position. Last night, they controversially finally approved on a 4-3 vote to take money from SPED to pay for all of these newly created positions.

This was done AFTER DR. LATHAM conducted the interview and notified the LSC of her choice. Now there were three licenced attorney's at the table, JOHN MIHOS, JUDY, and CHARLIE GALLO yet nobody question this point of order. It's been my experience to find that "if lawyers knew the law, we wouldn't need judges". I've known me some judges.

GALLO'S GRAND ENTRANCE

A 108 million dollar a year budget, two months since the election and LPS insults CHARLIE GALLO by giving him a homemade label over VINNIE SPIRITO'S old name plate.

MORE GALLO GALLOWS

Charlie Gallo at his first LSC meeting. Forced to have homemade nameplate!

EVERYBODY WANTS A PIECE OF ME (SOME WOULD LIKE ME IN LITTLE PIECES)

Dwight “Dusty” Caufield’s Kickof...

I got a personal invite this event. Pretty BRAVE of him to invite me. Seems early to get back in the political mode but....its really never too early because government happens all the time. I may go check this out cause I got a lot of interests and SOMEBODY has got to give you the straight stuff (you thought I was going to say something else?).

A GAME OF SHADOWS

The anticipation for tonight's LSC meeting just keeps building. After being confronted with a dizzying and possibly somewhat hidden agenda, I learn from my BFF that a one on one that I have fought for has been taken away.

Even though this has clearly been a successful tool in keeping a child in his neighborhood school where both he and his mother want him. Rather than continue this COST SAVING measure, it is my understanding that DR. LATHAM and her SPED friends would rather ship this kid out to some out of district placement.

Well my BFF, she'll have her words tonight. Maybe if DR. LATHAM had not ravaged the CIRCUIT BREAKER bonanza, there would be money left for our KIDS and not some administrators pocket.

BIRTHDAY BABE POINTS OUT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS

An Education: Lynn School Committee Meeting 1/12/12

uneducacion.blogspot.com

Even on her birthday, CLEO continues to confront the issues that count, that is why I consider her a calculated choice candidate for the committee in two years.

Maybe at the meeting tonight a DEPUTY will jump out of the CAKE.

WHAT CAN A DEPUTY DELIVER?

Can a Deputy make our class sizes smaller?
Can a Deputy improve student/teacher ratios?
Can a Deputy make sure we have plenty of classroom supplies?
                      (Well I guess she could carry the paper)
Can a Deputy provide up-to-date textbooks?

A Deputy can pad the payroll.
A Deputy can employ another CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY at 50K.
A Deputy can fill up empty office space down at COMMERCIAL STREET.
A Deputy can provide a job for a loyal friend.

"TRANSFER" OF ASSETS

Our classrooms are crowded,
supplies are running short.
Down at COMMERCIAL STREET they're
calling in reinforcements just like a fort.

EDUCATION isn't just about learning,
It's a business model their yearning.

When this happens there are
problems of spelling.
The end results can be
quite overwhelming.

EDUCATION becomes EXTRACTION
resulting in overall reduction.

TRANSFER TROUBLES

Good thing CLEO is out there cause it looks like I would still be thinking about the agenda for the special meeting back in December for DR. LATHAM'S evaluation. Was it tucked away by design? Packed full of presentations so something could be slipped in?

Hmm. Lets see last Dec. 8 when DR. LATHAM redistributed the SPED wealth throughout COMMERCIAL STREET, not a thing was heard from KEVIN.Now with this TRANSFER OF FUNDS, it looks like she enlisted the help of FARMER MCHUGH to plow through the LPS BUDGET to HARVEST another cash crop of cash.

WHATEVER FOR..........?

Let's see there is that DEPUTY thing at $130,000 with her sidekick, a CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY at $50,000. come on you know, every BATMAN needs a ROBIN.

Well I could be wrong, I have been wrong before. BUT.....

If you don't count the wives thing, not too often when it comes to LPS. Tonight should be interesting.

I DON'T THINK BEING USED FRIENDLY IS THE SAME AS USER FRIENDLY

Thanks to CLEO for sending me that link to the City Clerk's office so I could see tomorrow's LSC agenda on-line. These young people are so smart.

Being old just assumed they'd have it posted on the SCHOOL COMMITTEE site in a timely manner. I feel pretty sure that having it posted on the CITY CLERK'S website satisfies any and all the OPEN MEETING laws, No violations here.

BUT.....

Not putting it up at the same time on the SCHOOL 'S own website just isn't too cool. It's like they're being ANTI-USER FRIENDLY (translation*anti-parent). When you are that way you raise suspicions about the most innocent of things.....

LIKE.....

Item IX A.on the agenda, FISCAL - KEVIN MCHUGH - transfer of funds. It's probably a simple transaction, just like reconciling a checkbook. But with only a little information, the mind can begin to wonder. Memories of the re-appropriation of monies spent on SPED students into administrators with COMMERCIAL STREET real estate just keeps invading my conscious.

But KEVIN is good, I mean that must be why we gave him a 7% raise up to $123,000. What did the teachers get again?

DRESS CODE - THE SEASON'S THE REASON

My wife and I were out driving yesterday. Wait a minute, in the interest of FULL DISCLOSURE, she was the one behind the wheel and I rode in the passenger seat. Anyway, we noticed a couple of kids coming COBBETT in shorts.

Now I'm not one to stifle any one's freedom of expression. It's a creative thing." Rules are made to be broken" that is if the right people break them. Before I go off into an Orwellian tangent, let me just say one thing.....

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE.

HIGH TRAFFIC TODAY - TIME TO PLUG

Unfortunately I personally won't be able to attend this, my son's got something. No major loss for you all, I don't sing very well. Still this is a very IMPORTANT event and I urge everyone to attend. Maybe somebody could save me some party favors.

	More Than A Party January 13, 2012 at 6:00pm Lynn Museum

YOU CAN DO MAGIC

I can't wait until the LSC agenda comes out on line. See I can't get to city hall, none too easy like to see where they are supposed to post them 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE so I can see if there are any answers to questions I have.

WAIT, I just flipped back to the LPS website and I got even MORE questions. Originally I was wanting to know about a HIGH LEVEL (big salary) position on the same level as the SCIENCE DEPARTMENT head who was supposed to head IT or some other TECHNOLOGY thing. Both positions were announced at the same time on December 8th. The SCIENCE job was posted the next day but not the other position, hmm.

I remember PATRIOTIC PATTY asking that some language be written into the job description that the person have some degree of proficiency in ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY because of that rapidly expanding area. I had to applaud her level of awareness and recognition that modern technology is the special educators friend.

BUT....,

then they never posted the position. I go back to the website just before writing this post to check on the wording of the SCIENCE POSITION. When I click the link for the job postings, it's gone. Just like magic. So I guess I'll wait for the LSC meeting to see what the GREAT DR. LATHAM pulls out of her bag of tricks. Who said there would be no more magic after HARRY POTTER goes?

WHO SHOULD PLAY?

What could be a better example of how education is supposed to be than a school play? It has all the elements. Literature, the play itself, and math, even. I mean there is the timing thing which is kind of mathematical in a digital sort of way. Then there is the applied math when you thing of the set construction.

It all comes together in the performance. It's a big picture thing, even if it's not on film. Because life is a performance, don't you see. We do our best to live up to what other people expect, you know the ones that pay our salary (oh, I just remembered this poet don't get no salary no more).

A school play also gives us a chance to pay the students for a job well done. But there might be a little resistance to employing any additional school personnel from the administration .....

UNLESS.....

they are going to be a six figured DEPUTY.

Well KEVIN MCHUGH doesn't even have to come up with a new line item to fund paying our student actors and actresses. We pay them with ATTENTION. Positive attention, a little limelight. A spotlight even. Flowers don't grow in the dark.

We need more chances to turn the lights on. We spend too much energy on numbers that don't grow in the dark they just expand.

My EX-WIFE was right when she said IMPORTANT PEOPLE were going to be there last night. Her problem was she didn't realize who those important people were. That's because those people were all the sons and daughters on the stage.

AND....

Important people read my BLOG. COREY JACKSON of ARTS AFTER DARK fame and all that down town ARTS scene. Well to make a long story, short, he wants to hook up with some of the school people to coordinate.

That's how EDUCATION should run. We need to take advantage of our natural resources. I guess I think like that maybe cause I'm from WV and we had plenty of coal and timber.

In these tough economic times we need leadership to navigate the ever-expanding field to capture all available resources.

CLOSED TO OPEN?

I thought because of the OPEN MEETING law you had to post the agenda for the LSC meeting 48 hours in advance? Isn't there a LSC meeting Thurs. night? I see nothing on the website.

I smell  either somebody's monkey business or technological incompetence. Not a pretty choice but they don't have a beauty school down at commercial street unless you count the cosmetology program at LVTI.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

MY DAUGHTER IN YELLOW

Asiah sings

STILL MORE ANNIE

MORE ANNIE

ISN'T THE THEATER AT INGALLS AWESOME?

TOMORROW WAS TODAY FOR MARSHALL'S "ANNIE"

The music was too loud but the kids were great in Marshall's ANNIE at Ingalls. Sometimes the recorded music overwhelmed the fledgling middle school voices but what do you expect? The orchestra couldn't play because of union conflicts.

I didn't see too many IMPORTANT PEOPLE turnout for my daughter's musical debut like my ex-wife assured me in a lame effort to try and SHAME me into coming

UNLESS.....

she was talking about all the MARSHALL students who showed up to support their fellow classmates. The play was an ambitious effort and everyone should be proud of the result. We need more of this type of education in or schools. BRAVO DR. COWDELL!

THERE'S A GOLDEN PARACHUTE AT THE END OF SOME RAINBOWS

I was just wondering.....If the LSC chooses NOT to renew DR. LATHAM'S contract, what happens with all her SICK TIME? Are we going to have to BUY it back? Some contracts do and some like when I worked for the STATE bought it back at a pro-rated rate (20%).

I bet she probably has several hundred days which will translate into around $300,000. Teachers, how big was your raise again?

HERE I COME NOW, GUNS A-BLAZING

Well I'm back to being a POOR, DISABLED POET. My experiment with working has ENDED. I just can't physically handle this job stuff. My neck hurts and now for whatever reason suddenly I have trouble seeing out of my left eye.

SO....

Now I will have more time to look at how things are going at LPS. I can get Internet at the library if the HOMELESS SHELTER doesn't have access. And I can always go to MY BROTHER'S TABLE but he does live in TENNESSEE.

HAS PAC GONE PACKIN?

With the holidays, New Year's and MLK, the first and third Mondays are shot. What to do, what to do? I know our input will be missed at LPS!

CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?

Everyone has heard the old adage "There's more than one way to skin a cat". All of this MCAS, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND type of testing seems to refute that old theory. There may be more than one way, but only one best way  That's the thinking behind this numbers-oriented philosophy. The data supports it.

BUT....

Did you ever think about the fact, there is more than one type of cat. One size doesn't fit all in education either.

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

You know Finland has been getting a lot press lately about how their education system is at or near the top for the past few years and they provide a free and public education all the way through graduate school. We on the other hand languish around the middle of the rankings.

We, as a nation, have been looking at various ways of moving up in those rankings. SCHOOL CHOICE, that's the ticket. A VOUCHER PROGRAM, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, CHARTER SCHOOLS, or maybe RACE TO THE TOP (yeah that'll take us there) are ideas that at times have been timely, solutions to close the achievement gap.

These are all FISCAL APPROACHES and the answer we are looking for is not a monetary one. FINLAND is not the economic powerhouse that the UNITED STATES is, in fact, nobody is. What they realize is that it's not the MONEY that has value, it's the EDUCATION. Money can't think, but if you can think, you can get MONEY.

PLAY AHEAD

My daughter, ASIAH, is in a play that the students at MARSHALL are putting on at INGALLS Tuesday night at 7 pm. The play is ANNIE and there will be pictures!

IT PAINS ME THAT MY POWERS OF PERSUASION HAS NOT PROMULGATED THEMSELVES INTO A PRO-PICKERING POSITION

Hmm. The STATE required CONNERY and HARRINGTON to have LIBRARIES in their Turnaround plans. Then CLEO posted those reading numbers at the FORD SCHOOL and well they are the only other school with a professional dedicated librarian. Do you think DR. LATHAM is missing something? Why doesn't she insist that all our schools have librarians?

Now that we are on the subject of libraries, I'm going to have to bring up something that pains me a little. Now I like PICKERING. Without a doubt it is the most academically challenging of the three middle schools in Lynn.

BUT.....

Not only does it not have a librarian, it doesn't even have a LIBRARY. I was once told by a librarian that this was a clear violation of state law as it pertains to middle school. I don't know about state law and the fact of the recent hiring of a COMPLIANCE OFFICER it is apparent, neither does LPS.`

SOMEBODY MAY BE WATCHING YOU

Well it,s not BIG BROTHER unless your related to OFFICER FERRARI. Word is most of the elementary schools have new multiple cameras (say 16) that are streaming to the Internet so they can be viewed at a remote location.

This should make parents feel a little more secure that they won't have to worry about their kids being accosted by GANGS OF RATS from INGALLS GARDEN. (Sorry that was from another post, I just can't get that visual out of my mind).

Seriously, hats off to both OFFICER FERRARI and DR. LATHAM (see I can say nice things) for making this upgrade in security happen.

READING BETWEEN THE LINES ABOUT READING

An Education: Urban Districts Decline in 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency; Lynn Improves Slightly

uneducacion.blogspot.com

CLEO sure is good about all that journalism stuff. Don't think I could do that. I'd rather be irreverent and irresponsible, reference the four marriages. On top of all that I'm not that good of a speller, although I seem to have no problem spelling "I DO".

One of my multiple disabilities, you see, is that I don't you see, see that well.  Numbers, well they jump all over the page.  They must suffer from a similar disability down at COMMERCIAL STREET. They don't seem to see the numbers too well either or at least they can't see what they mean.

Hmm! Let's see FORD SCHOOL did so well why? They don't even have a READING teacher.

BUT......

What they do HAVE is a LIBRARY  where they have books. NO they don't have a READING TEACHER, they have a READING PROGRAM. Reading is valued and encouraged.

I remember being almost accosted by DR.LATHAM last spring at a LSC meeting when we were discussing the wisdom of FORD SCHOOL choosing to add a librarian over a reading teacher.

A READING TEACHER was the way to go she assured me and that the numbers supported her view. I had to walk away telling her we would just have to agree to disagree. I was a little scared by the look in her eyes, Well I don't think these numbers would bolster her argument,

Now that I look back on that special night maybe I come up with a different interpretation of what transpired. I think maybe, she was trying to say if FORD had chosen that READING TEACHER that I could have hung around as a volunteer librarian and she just didn't know how to put into WORDS how much she was going to miss me.

DANGER AT DREWICZ

This problem has been pointed out to me several times but I never have gotten around to writing a post about it. My wife is real good about making me see the sense of urgency. I know where my bread's buttered.

The problem is that when it comes time to dismiss school, HOOD STREET, becomes a HIDEOUS HIGHWAY. Driveways are blocked, traffic tied up, and pedestrians dash around at their own risk.

I know somebody is going to be inconvenienced, it is after all a SCHOOL. Kids have to get to school somehow. But all this traffic trouble presents a perilous problem for pedestrians as well as drivers.

My wife thought a yellow line or something signifying a place for buses to be might be a simple solution.
Some schools have crossing guards, why can't they have someone out there directing traffic?

Don't Let The Page Turn On This Calender Offer. Show Your Support For Pickering!

PICKERING MIDDLE SCHOOL FUNDRAISER C...

GALLO'S GRANDPARENTS GO GA-GA (nothing but a G-thing)

Last night at the Inauguration I had the pleasure of meeting CHARLIE GALLO'S grandparents. You never outgrow making your family proud.

D.O.A ON "IEP'S"

I need a COMPLIANCE OFFICER who won't drive me crazy.
You see when it comes  to SPED regulations I'm kind of lazy.

When it comes to violations,
well they don't phase me.

I need a COMPLIANCE OFFICER who won't drive me crazy.
Laws? They don't really apply to me.

All I really want is to be
able to fund my DE-PU-TY.

LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE BEING SWORN IN

LYNN CITY COUNCIL BEING SWORN IN

LYNN ENGLISH COLOR GUARD

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME?

Patti Capano, I believe was the only person on stage who did not cross their heart during the Star-spangled Banner!

Now this was not her first rodeo. You would think she would no about decorum and protocol. Then again, maybe she's the only one who got it right. Protest or patrioticless (I don't think that's a word)? You be the judge, I'm fair and balanced.

Waiting for the Inauguration!

PLEASE PURCHASE SOME PICKERING POWER FROM THE PARENTS OF PUPILS

What does everyone need to start the New Year? A calender, that's what. I've got a connection that I'll share with you where you can buy SPECIAL calenders that'll give you the chance to win RED SOX tickets, dinners, cash, and other cool stuff. All of this for only $5.

Where? Pleeaasee! Pickering of course.

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD

The Disability Watch: YEAR IN REVIEW, LOOKING AHEAD

rsvpada.blogspot.com


I have added this post from my other BLOG to prove I sometimes say good things about DR. LATHAM.

FAIR and BALANCED, don't you know.

LATHAM'S BATTLE CRY

Please stop the po-et
I really need a De- pu - ty.
I swear I work too hard.

The classes are crowded, I KNOW
But I got to spend that SPED money before I GO.

The teacher's raise was small surely
But in that big old office I get lonely.

Please stop the poet!
I really need a De - pu - ty.

The buildings are old.
The walls may be full of mold.

So some of the kids can't read.
Do we really need staffed libraries?

Please stop the poet!
I REALLY NEED A DE - PU -TY.

PSA PREDJUDICE

The Highlands Watch: LISTEN UP!

thehighlandswatch.blogspot.com

NOT JUST ANOTHER NEW YEAR, ANOTHER STRONGER VOICE

My New Year's resolution is to see the WATCH hit 100,000 HITS! Power to POETRY and PARENTS!