I've been cursed to have a poet's mind. How can I understand the way the world works or at least the way LPS works. First there is this CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY to SPECIAL EDUCATION you see who gets fired or otherwise eliminated.
Then there is this lawsuit or complaint with the Civil Rights Board that she supposedly wins where they are supposed give her her job back EXCEPT the job NO LONGER EXISTS. Long story short, you may win but you still lose.
So if you lose, you can still turn defeat into victory by dragging your feet. In the meantime our SPED Department is threatened with takeover by the state. So rather than admit defeat on a personnel matter, LPS has chosen instead to reposition this person away from the very place that has been acknowledged needs HELP. Blame it on the unions. Sure, that's the easy excuse for poor management of HUMAN resources.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
LYSOA Family Evening at The Museum Thursday 8/25
THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO GET READY FOR THE END OF SUMMER AND THE UPCOMING START OF SCHOOL!
LYSOA Family Evening at The Museum Thursday 8/25
LYSOA Family Evening at The Museum Thursday 8/25
Monday, August 22, 2011
USE YOUR VOICE! VOTE!
As long as we keep the status quo, then we only have ourselves to blame for our failing schools. Unfortunately there are not enough candidates running for a good cleansing of the LSC.
However this upcoming General election is VITAL! The SUPERINTENDENT'S contract is up sometime right after the election. That makes your VOTE even more important.
Register now,even if it's too late for the Primary there is still the General election.
The
National Mail Voter Registration Form can be used to register to vote,
to update your registration information due to a change of name, make a
change of address or to register with a political party, and contains
voter registration rules and regulations for each state and territory.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
VOLUMES WERE SAID IN SILENCE
A moment of silence was offered at the beginning of last week's LSC meeting for retired teacher and former LSC candidate Harrisnon Harley who passed away to much too soon. Harrison and I had our disagreements, He was penchant for self publishing. At first he was a little concerned I dabbled in yellow journalism but he was quickly coming around to my way of thinking when he found out the truth of what I write
Harrison was a good man, I felt at times he overwhelmed us with data. He was not necessarily wrong, it was just hard to wrap your head around what he was trying to say. But say it he did.
Harrison was a good man, I felt at times he overwhelmed us with data. He was not necessarily wrong, it was just hard to wrap your head around what he was trying to say. But say it he did.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
SWEETS FOR THE ....
A vote was taken to approve the acceptance of two large cartons of fine Lindt chocolate from some executive given to Dr. Warry. It's a good thing the acceptance was approved since the gifts were already consumed. No one may declare this bonus on their taxes but the final tally will show up on their waistlines.
Friday, August 19, 2011
WHAT THIS STORY DOESN'T TELL YOU
The Daily Item: Lynn schools awash in building woes
We got problems, no doubt. They are a lot worse than this story would lead you to believe. First there is the "asbestos" problem that was and maybe still is being investigated about LPS contacting with an unlicensed contractor. I haven't heard of any final resolution. Don't forget the LSC last year approved, I think, over $100,000 to "repair" Sisson's two portables.
At the last LSC meeting I listened to ISD Czar MICHEAL DONOVAN testify before the committee that we got new laws or policies dealing with treatment of LEAD in the schools and WE HAVE IT in all but ONE of our schools. This information came to light on the same day JAY HARRISON of THE FOOD PROJECT agreed to test for LEAD in the vegetables in INGALLS garden to insure the produce was CONTAMINATION FREE after soil tests revealed the presence of LEAD in the soil.
Despite all these problems, we have OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS and over a SCORE of administrators with a SIX-FIGURE salary (the superintendent's alone is over $180,000-more than our Mayor makes)
We got problems, no doubt. They are a lot worse than this story would lead you to believe. First there is the "asbestos" problem that was and maybe still is being investigated about LPS contacting with an unlicensed contractor. I haven't heard of any final resolution. Don't forget the LSC last year approved, I think, over $100,000 to "repair" Sisson's two portables.
At the last LSC meeting I listened to ISD Czar MICHEAL DONOVAN testify before the committee that we got new laws or policies dealing with treatment of LEAD in the schools and WE HAVE IT in all but ONE of our schools. This information came to light on the same day JAY HARRISON of THE FOOD PROJECT agreed to test for LEAD in the vegetables in INGALLS garden to insure the produce was CONTAMINATION FREE after soil tests revealed the presence of LEAD in the soil.
Despite all these problems, we have OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS and over a SCORE of administrators with a SIX-FIGURE salary (the superintendent's alone is over $180,000-more than our Mayor makes)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
IS ANYBODY LISTENING?
Geez, I don't know what to do. It seems like one of the major reasons I was ELECTED as the TREASURER of SPED PAC was to help them access the money that exists for them in the LPS BUDGET.
It seems things were a little hazy about where and if the $750 budgeted for them last year was spent. I wasn't around and even if I was I am a poet and not an accountant who has dinner at actuarial tables. I can't send them a letter via e mail buuuutttt MY E MAIL IS BLOCKED. (REALLY)
Since they all of the administration CLAIM not to read my blog I can't expect to communicate our concerns here. What do you expect from a SPED DEPT. that is in DANGER of being TAKEN OVER.
It seems things were a little hazy about where and if the $750 budgeted for them last year was spent. I wasn't around and even if I was I am a poet and not an accountant who has dinner at actuarial tables. I can't send them a letter via e mail buuuutttt MY E MAIL IS BLOCKED. (REALLY)
Since they all of the administration CLAIM not to read my blog I can't expect to communicate our concerns here. What do you expect from a SPED DEPT. that is in DANGER of being TAKEN OVER.
THAT (WO-)MAN'S TRYING TO KEEP US DOWN
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3853282492528197904&postID=6293975947750700107
(copy and paste)
What a coup this was! A Dean at Harvard was going to speak in Lynn and it was going to be at FORD SCHOOL. My fellow HIGHLANDS COALITION members were ecstatic. Yes this was a proud day in our fight for the recognition of the need for community schools.
BUT NOOOOOOOO!
No doubt the rafters at FORD would have been filled like it always is whenever there is a community event at this school. This would have been politically dangerous for the Superintendent and certain LSC members. So it was decided to move this event to Lynn English, that way the turnout could be better controlled and by that I mean WHO turns out. This is important because jobs are on the line. ELECTIONS ARE COMING!
BUT WHAT DO I KNOW? I'm just a poor, disabled poet who has been screaming for a year that the SPECIAL ED. department is in shambles and look what has happened. We are in the precarious position of arguing the degree of just how bad we are.
There is all this talk about how bad parent involvement is but yet when they try to get involved all of these barriers are put in the way. I hear that the reason Dr. Latham gave for moving the venue: THE SCHOOL IS TOO DIRTY.
NICE!
Tell me then, how is it clean enough to provide free breakfast and lunch to neighborhood kids? I guess that's how you keep us poor people in line. A carrot and stick. First you feed us to get us to gather in one place, then us the stick to beat us so we stay in line.
(copy and paste)
What a coup this was! A Dean at Harvard was going to speak in Lynn and it was going to be at FORD SCHOOL. My fellow HIGHLANDS COALITION members were ecstatic. Yes this was a proud day in our fight for the recognition of the need for community schools.
BUT NOOOOOOOO!
No doubt the rafters at FORD would have been filled like it always is whenever there is a community event at this school. This would have been politically dangerous for the Superintendent and certain LSC members. So it was decided to move this event to Lynn English, that way the turnout could be better controlled and by that I mean WHO turns out. This is important because jobs are on the line. ELECTIONS ARE COMING!
BUT WHAT DO I KNOW? I'm just a poor, disabled poet who has been screaming for a year that the SPECIAL ED. department is in shambles and look what has happened. We are in the precarious position of arguing the degree of just how bad we are.
There is all this talk about how bad parent involvement is but yet when they try to get involved all of these barriers are put in the way. I hear that the reason Dr. Latham gave for moving the venue: THE SCHOOL IS TOO DIRTY.
NICE!
Tell me then, how is it clean enough to provide free breakfast and lunch to neighborhood kids? I guess that's how you keep us poor people in line. A carrot and stick. First you feed us to get us to gather in one place, then us the stick to beat us so we stay in line.
NO SURPRISE HERE!
The Daily Item: Lynn super to appeal special ed ruling
It's a good thing my blog has a search box, that way you can tell I've been sounding the alarm for a long time. All of them down at 90 COMMERCIAL STREET should have seen it coming, but oh, I forgot they don't READ my blog.
It's a good thing my blog has a search box, that way you can tell I've been sounding the alarm for a long time. All of them down at 90 COMMERCIAL STREET should have seen it coming, but oh, I forgot they don't READ my blog.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
ITEM TO HAVE SCOOP AND I'M PART OF IT
Here I am, sitting in the food court at Liberty Tree Mall enjoying my cup of McDonald's coffee (did you ever notice I get a lot of epiphanies drinking Mickey D's coffee?) and I get a phone call from Thor (No, not from the Thundercats).
Seems like the ITEM got some info that LPS has some BAD numbers coming and they wanted to get a quote from a parent. I got in a plug for the WATCH three times. He acted like he was unaware of it, He never really said either way but he did say my last name right, even spelling it correctly. NOBODY DOES THAT!
Seems like the ITEM got some info that LPS has some BAD numbers coming and they wanted to get a quote from a parent. I got in a plug for the WATCH three times. He acted like he was unaware of it, He never really said either way but he did say my last name right, even spelling it correctly. NOBODY DOES THAT!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
THE NEW "WHITE" IS GREEN
At the BUDGET HEARING I got a nifty little spreadsheet prepared by JESSE JAEGER, highlighting several variables. All the data was compiled from the LPS FY12 BUDGET posted on-line and the Mass DOE Website.
There was a tremendous dollar differential between the two schools at opposite ends with SHOEMAKER at the top spending $7389 per student whereas FORD at $4,202 was spent per student. Good reasons were given to explain why SHOEMAKER was so needy. Those darn special needs kids just cost so much money.
Okay, that stops the argument or does it? Who is going to argue with the needs of Special Need? Not me, no sir. But when you look a little closer at some parallel numbers, a darker picture is painted.
SHOEMAKER is almost 60% white whereas FORD is only11.3% white. The Student/Staff ratio is5.9 at SHOEMAKER versus 13.1 at FORD. I wonder what justify these differences. I guess we are saying that the SPECIAL NEEDS population is mostly white.
Funny I volunteered in the LIBRARY at Ford last year and it was right next to a SPECIAL NEEDS class and it seemed that most of them were non-white. It was the INFAMOUS COACH K'S class and after he was FIRED, most of the year they had two aides and a teacher. Not to mention after the unpopular termination, a BEHAVIOR "BIG BUCKS" SPECIALIST spent a lot of time in the classroom so that's got to skew the numbers upward and there is still this HUGH discrepancy.
IF WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE COLOR-BLIND, THEN SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK THEIR GLASSES.
Oh yeah, that was the class with a certain aide who had a certain mother that I wasn't supposed to talk about lest I get fired. Wait, I don't even have a volunteer job, they replaced me.
There was a tremendous dollar differential between the two schools at opposite ends with SHOEMAKER at the top spending $7389 per student whereas FORD at $4,202 was spent per student. Good reasons were given to explain why SHOEMAKER was so needy. Those darn special needs kids just cost so much money.
Okay, that stops the argument or does it? Who is going to argue with the needs of Special Need? Not me, no sir. But when you look a little closer at some parallel numbers, a darker picture is painted.
SHOEMAKER is almost 60% white whereas FORD is only11.3% white. The Student/Staff ratio is5.9 at SHOEMAKER versus 13.1 at FORD. I wonder what justify these differences. I guess we are saying that the SPECIAL NEEDS population is mostly white.
Funny I volunteered in the LIBRARY at Ford last year and it was right next to a SPECIAL NEEDS class and it seemed that most of them were non-white. It was the INFAMOUS COACH K'S class and after he was FIRED, most of the year they had two aides and a teacher. Not to mention after the unpopular termination, a BEHAVIOR "BIG BUCKS" SPECIALIST spent a lot of time in the classroom so that's got to skew the numbers upward and there is still this HUGH discrepancy.
IF WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE COLOR-BLIND, THEN SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK THEIR GLASSES.
Oh yeah, that was the class with a certain aide who had a certain mother that I wasn't supposed to talk about lest I get fired. Wait, I don't even have a volunteer job, they replaced me.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
CHEW ON THIS
Despite its heavy weight, LEAD was near the top of the list of discussions Thurs. night at the LSC meeting. JAY HARRISON of THE FOOD PROJECT agreed to pay for testing of the plant tissue for LEAD to insure the SAFETY of the produce produced.
It's good to see someone else attest to the value of science. UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE who would rather spend money elsewhere than have someone overseeing LPS's science curriculum.
It's good to see someone else attest to the value of science. UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE who would rather spend money elsewhere than have someone overseeing LPS's science curriculum.
Friday, August 12, 2011
BAD COP, GOOD COP
Just barely recovered from DR LATHAM'S Tet a tee with me, after the LSC meeting DR WARY of "WARY'S WARRIORS" tried to kill me with kindness. Could it be a little sappy censorship?
She appealed to my sensitive side. Telling me even though SHE DOESN'T READ MY BLOG, a friend does (she must had a hearing problem because she repeated three times that she doesn't READ MY BLOG) and my posts about a certain colleague and her son that was ARRESTED FOR DRUGS while he was working at FORD SCHOOL was hurt by my using it as fodder for my writing. DR WARY assured me that she didn't think it was my intention to personally hurt this person and begged me not to continue.
I wondered why she would bring this up, knowing I would write about it?
She appealed to my sensitive side. Telling me even though SHE DOESN'T READ MY BLOG, a friend does (she must had a hearing problem because she repeated three times that she doesn't READ MY BLOG) and my posts about a certain colleague and her son that was ARRESTED FOR DRUGS while he was working at FORD SCHOOL was hurt by my using it as fodder for my writing. DR WARY assured me that she didn't think it was my intention to personally hurt this person and begged me not to continue.
I wondered why she would bring this up, knowing I would write about it?
THE PERILS OF A POOR POET'S PERCEPTION AND HIS PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY
My wife warned me, "Stay under he radar". Several people have warned me, "Watch Out!". But there was that open mike and it was whispering sweet nothings in my ear, calling me to come forward. Despite my naturally shy persona, I stumbled to the seductively waiting microphone.
I couldn't help myself. I had to say something about the budget. After all, it was a public hearing and I owed it to my "public" to speak. (Okay, my mom would have wanted me to say something) So I pointed out that I've been doing a series of postings in my blog about waste and excess of the proposed budget in my blog in case anybody reads it. I called for more dircet services, like "librarians" (insert unspoken plug).
My pleas elicited an equally passioned response from our superintendent that principles were given the choice of adding one person this year and only one school chose to add a librarian, the rest chose READING TEACHERS. Okay fine, who am I to question the wisdom of all those people?
But it didn't end there. After the public hearing on the budget was closed and during the break before the start of the regular LSC meeting DR LATHAM sought me out. With a firm handshake and blue flames shooting from her eyes (forgive the graphic image, I' a poet remember?) Threatening to plow me into submission with piles of statistics and that dreaded "D" word, DATA, I tried to extricate myself from the situation but was not successful. She just kept coming (I had flashbacks to an ex-wife - SCARY). Finally I walked away, saying "I' not going to convince you and you're not going to convince me. Let's just agree to disagree. (I had to walk away, I can't run, being disabled)
I couldn't help myself. I had to say something about the budget. After all, it was a public hearing and I owed it to my "public" to speak. (Okay, my mom would have wanted me to say something) So I pointed out that I've been doing a series of postings in my blog about waste and excess of the proposed budget in my blog in case anybody reads it. I called for more dircet services, like "librarians" (insert unspoken plug).
My pleas elicited an equally passioned response from our superintendent that principles were given the choice of adding one person this year and only one school chose to add a librarian, the rest chose READING TEACHERS. Okay fine, who am I to question the wisdom of all those people?
But it didn't end there. After the public hearing on the budget was closed and during the break before the start of the regular LSC meeting DR LATHAM sought me out. With a firm handshake and blue flames shooting from her eyes (forgive the graphic image, I' a poet remember?) Threatening to plow me into submission with piles of statistics and that dreaded "D" word, DATA, I tried to extricate myself from the situation but was not successful. She just kept coming (I had flashbacks to an ex-wife - SCARY). Finally I walked away, saying "I' not going to convince you and you're not going to convince me. Let's just agree to disagree. (I had to walk away, I can't run, being disabled)
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
DOLLAR DAZE - LET'S RAISE THE ROOF TO LIFT THE FOG
Yesterday's ITEM article seemed to put a damper on the level of interest about the school budget. MY NUMBERS SAY OTHERWISE. Who you going to believe? Join me at the public hearing tomorrow at 6 pm in the Tiger's Den at Tech.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
DOLLAR DAZE - MOTHER NATURE SHOULD BE ON LPS PAYROLL
I was watching my daughter practicing cheerleading for East Lynn Pop Warner tonight and I got to experience something I had heard of and perhaps even reported in this blog previously. Nothing like getting your feet wet, literally.About an hour into the practice, they had to stop. It rained you know. But what didn't stop were the SPRINKLERS. It's like turning on the furnace in the summertime If we got so much money to waste why don't we HAVE MORE teachers. Quick someone call personnel, I hear MOTHER NATURE works cheap and you don't have to mess with no unions.
CEF FOR SURE!
He is not even in my gerrymandered district yet I am committed to working to insure CEF ROSA'S election as WARD 4 CITY COUNCILMAN.
The primary issue in his campaign is education because he knows our future lies with our children. It is our children who will be tomorrow's leaders, who will make the next new scientific discovery, design the next super-computer chip, and generally make tomorrow brighter.
Having worked closely with CEF in the HIGHLANDS COALITION I personally can attest to his sincere commitment to developing a community environment where everyone can afford the cultural bounty that our diversity provides us. WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH!!
Being a retired MBTA employee, CEF brings an unmatched expertise in TRANSPORTATION ISSUES that would be a significant asset to helping solve some of our "busing" problems but also every businessman knows "TRANSPORTATION IS VITAL TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT!".
CEF'S vast and varied experience with housing matters will help in addressing the 500 or so "HOMELESS" students we have. Everybody needs a place to call home before they can graduate to the pressing on to get a proper education.
These are just some of the reasons I am getting involved in his campaign. I still like you RICH and if you want someone to help you with a STICKER CAMPAIGN for COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE, I'm your man.
The primary issue in his campaign is education because he knows our future lies with our children. It is our children who will be tomorrow's leaders, who will make the next new scientific discovery, design the next super-computer chip, and generally make tomorrow brighter.
Having worked closely with CEF in the HIGHLANDS COALITION I personally can attest to his sincere commitment to developing a community environment where everyone can afford the cultural bounty that our diversity provides us. WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH!!
Being a retired MBTA employee, CEF brings an unmatched expertise in TRANSPORTATION ISSUES that would be a significant asset to helping solve some of our "busing" problems but also every businessman knows "TRANSPORTATION IS VITAL TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT!".
CEF'S vast and varied experience with housing matters will help in addressing the 500 or so "HOMELESS" students we have. Everybody needs a place to call home before they can graduate to the pressing on to get a proper education.
These are just some of the reasons I am getting involved in his campaign. I still like you RICH and if you want someone to help you with a STICKER CAMPAIGN for COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE, I'm your man.
DOLLAR DAZE - LET'S TAKE A TRIP TO THE DEPUTY'S DUMP (MORE SOCIAL CHATTER)
I don't know, these are most likely legitimate expenditures but I just wonder why they have been put on the DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT'S page. It doesn't make sense to me but then again, I'm not too smart and I think like a POET. Here we go!
$15,000 for "Rebinds for Books" - No wonder the DEPUTY is so busy, fixing up old, tattered texts so we can squeeze another year of use. Up $5000 from last year.
$25,000 for "Graduation Expenses" - I didn't know she was in school. Up almost $7000
$10,000 for "Advance Placement Testing" - Hey, she is a smart woman. Up $1000
$50,000 for "Jobs for Baystate" - At least we're keeping it local
$20,973 for "Student Handbook Printing" - I didn't know she oversaw that. That woman is too busy. No wondered LPS BLOCKED my e mails. NO TIME TO DELETE.
$10,000 for "Otherwise Unclassified" - Is this what they call a SLUSH FUND?
Once again, these expense are probably legitimate
$15,000 for "Rebinds for Books" - No wonder the DEPUTY is so busy, fixing up old, tattered texts so we can squeeze another year of use. Up $5000 from last year.
$25,000 for "Graduation Expenses" - I didn't know she was in school. Up almost $7000
$10,000 for "Advance Placement Testing" - Hey, she is a smart woman. Up $1000
$50,000 for "Jobs for Baystate" - At least we're keeping it local
$20,973 for "Student Handbook Printing" - I didn't know she oversaw that. That woman is too busy. No wondered LPS BLOCKED my e mails. NO TIME TO DELETE.
$10,000 for "Otherwise Unclassified" - Is this what they call a SLUSH FUND?
Once again, these expense are probably legitimate
DOLLAR DAZE - ARE YOU SICK OF IT? MORE SOCIAL CHATTER
Next year LPS has budgeted for a SICK LEAVE BUYBACK a hefty $1.105,000 up $55,000. I don't know the details, who gets what and the like. But I would like to. Plenty of people out there are going to blame the unions. That may be so although has anybody ever heard of GOLDEN PARACHUTES?
Monday, August 8, 2011
VoTECH SUMMIT
The Daily Item: Lynn officials take Tech shop debate on the road
I have only good things to say about this trip. The smartest people know what they don't know. Hopefully every one's eyes will open and we can meet in the middle. People learn differently. Some very smart people see with their hands. On this testing thing. I agree it's not fair and doesn't accurately reflect intelligence or future potential.
BUT FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THE MCAS IS THE LAW OF THE LAND!
They say you CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL, but no one said you can't go through a side door.
I have only good things to say about this trip. The smartest people know what they don't know. Hopefully every one's eyes will open and we can meet in the middle. People learn differently. Some very smart people see with their hands. On this testing thing. I agree it's not fair and doesn't accurately reflect intelligence or future potential.
BUT FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THE MCAS IS THE LAW OF THE LAND!
They say you CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL, but no one said you can't go through a side door.
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