"Brockton lays off 480 school teachers; One-third dismissed in budget crunch fallout" by Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff | May 15, 2010
Brockton has delivered pink slips to more than a third of its public school teachers and might close one school, sending shock waves across a school district that has been earning accolades for its rising success.
School officials say the drastic move Thursday to dismiss 480 of 1,200 teachers is necessary because the district faces a budget shortfall of $9.7 million for next year.
Related: Memory Hole: Massachusetts' State Budget
Mass. State Budget: Screwing Cities and Towns
Just reminding you where those raised taxes are (or are not) going, dear fellow citizen.
The cuts are not final: If the state can provide the district more money than anticipated, some teachers could get call-backs in the summer, according to the officials.
Still, the mass firings alarmed parents, who worry about rising class sizes and the impact on morale among students and staff....
Related: School's Out Forever For Some Boston Teachers
Also see: The Boston Globe Dumps All Over Boston's Teachers
Yeah, turns out they just want to get rid of some of you.
Brockton High, the largest public high school in Massachusetts, has seen its MCAS scores soar, earning state recognition as a symbol of urban hope....
Yeah, well, we now know official awards are worthless.
School officials warned that custodial workers, administrators, and paraprofessionals could also face layoffs. In addition, the Raymond Elementary School, which has about 900 students and 30 teachers, might be shut down.
Closing the school could save up to $3 million, officials said. A decision might come within the next two to three weeks, he said....
In a statement yesterday, Superintendent Matthew H. Malone referred to Thursday as “without question, one of the darkest days our school system has ever seen.’’ He said the district has absorbed millions of dollars in cuts in the past five years and lost more than 200 teaching positions through attrition.
At the same time, the district has experienced an increase in students, including 128 survivors of the Haitian earthquake....
Related: Slow Saturday Special: Registry Reflects the State of Massachusetts
All so banks, well-connected corporations, and politicians can get paid.
It is unclear whether the district will have to make additional cuts beyond the teachers, support staff, and the school closing....
After griping, griping, griping for four years and seeing no action I don't care anymore. I'm glad I'm done with school.
I feel sorry for you kids, but hey, the American people don't seem to give a s***, so....
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Yeah, we got WARS BASED on LIES to pay for and Israel to fund.
"Quincy to lay off 75 teachers if budget is approved in vote" by Molly A.K. Connors, Globe Correspondent | June 10, 2010
QUINCY — As the city’s School Committee finalized a budget last night that would lay off about 118 people, including approximately 75 teachers, Mayor Thomas P. Koch said residents could be hit with an incremental tax increase next year....
Yup, MORE for LESS so ELITES can live the GOOD LIFE, taxpayers!
Residents will still see reduced services, and increased class sizes and fees, officials said....
The mayor, who raised taxes in 2008 during his first year in office, has called the rate of growth in city government unsustainable and pledged to not raise property taxes to close a budget gap of roughly $12 million in the overall $230 million budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1.
See: The Massachusetts Model: Municipal Health Mess
Towns to Pay Health Tax For Public Servants
And you guys wonder why you have no money?
However, in an interview after the school board hearing, Koch said such an increase might be inevitable for 2012....
Yeah, KEEP PAYING MORE for LESS and wondering WHERE is ALL the MONEY GOING?
Though she said it was “too little, too late,’’ School Committee member Anne M. Mahoney said she would still welcome a tax increase.
“I’ll take anything I can get,’’ Mahoney said.
These people are scum!
They are NO DIFFERENT than your COMMON THIEF!
The schools, which received about 3.6 percent less from Koch for fiscal 2011 than fiscal 2010, join other city departments making deep cuts, ranging from 3.7 percent in the police and fire departments to nearly 10 percent for the libraries....
Well, we KNOW WHERE we can GET the MONEY!
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And NO WONDER voters are TURNING DOWN tax increases!
"Marblehead rejects Proposition 2 1/2 tax override for new school; Voters defeat 10 measures" by John Laidler, Globe Correspondent | June 17, 2010
In a sweeping rejection of higher taxes, Marblehead voters defeated 10 ballot measures Tuesday to exceed the town’s property tax limits for various capital projects....
The Marblehead rejection follows similar news in Belmont, where residents voted down a $2 million Proposition 2 1/2 override Monday that would have allowed the town to restore police and fire positions and avoid some significant cuts in the schools next year.
Nice taxpayer-funded health and pensions plan you have there!
James E. Nye, chairman of Marblehead’s Board of Selectmen, said he was not surprised by the outcome in his town, attributing it to the economy.
“I work at a bank and I know things are tight,’’ said Nye, who is president of National Grand Bank in Marblehead.
A banker in charge of your town? No wonder it is bankrupt!
If all 10 ballot questions had passed, they would have added $423 to the tax bill of the median home, valued at $512,000 this fiscal year.
WOW! That's a WELL-to-DO COMMUNITY!
The Town Meeting in May authorized funding for the projects contingent on passage of the ballot questions, eight of which were debt exclusions, or temporary tax increases to repay debt, and two of which were capital exclusions, or one-year tax hikes.
Yeah, I noticed BANKS are ALWAYS FIRST in the TAX LOOT LINE!
Marblehead voters in recent years had been supportive of Proposition 2 1/2 ½ tax increases, approving six debt exclusions and an operational override between 2005 and 2009....
As we say here in America, you went to the well once too often.
Patricia Blackmer, School Committee chairwoman, said that the board is disappointed, but that the effort to get the school built will continue:
“We will regroup and do what we need to do to gain support for the project.’’
A residents’ group calling itself “Not Now, We’re in a Recession’’ campaigned to defeat all 10 ballot questions....
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That reminds me of an old greeting here in Massachusetts:
Hey (insert name here), we have a town named after ya here -- it's called Marblehead!
Related:
"Voters turn down $2 million override
Belmont residents rejected a $2 million Proposition 2 1/2 override yesterday that would have allowed the town to restore police and fire positions and avoid some significant cuts in the schools next year. Residents voted 3,431 to 3,043 against the override. About 40 percent of the town’s registered voters turned out. Of the $2 million, $1 million would have gone to the School Department, $400,000 to the town’s operating budget, and $600,000 for capital expenses. Without the override, the School Department will be forced to cut library services in the elementary schools, a school psychologist, a guidance counselor, and freshmen sports.
And the sky will come falling down, did the mention that?
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Also see: No More Games in Mansfield
"School official accused of fraud; US charges Watertown comptroller" by Megan McKee, Globe Correspondent | August 4, 2010
The secretary and comptroller of the Watertown Middle School was indicted yesterday on charges she pocketed money raised by students and cashed paychecks made out to employees who did not actually work.
Sharon Cardarelli, 51, of Watertown, was charged with federal program fraud and subscribing to false federal income tax returns, said US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.
“Ms. Cardarelli’s alleged conduct is an abuse of public trust, particularly given the tough financial times for local school districts,’’ Ortiz said in a statement.
Cardarelli did not return a reporter’s phone call seeking comment last night....
The indictment alleges that she “orchestrated a theft scheme involving the submission of bogus time sheets to the town of Watertown,’’ Ortiz’s office said.
Between 2004 and 2010, two of her relatives worked as substitute teachers....
Getting your money's worth, taxpayers?
Also see: New policy clears way for Pledge of Allegiance in Arlington schools
Related: MSM Monitor Takes the Pledge
Yeah, not to lie and loot like the authorities.
"Teachers warned of possible shake-up; Staff at 5 more schools may have to reapply" by James Vaznis, Globe Staff | July 30, 2010
The Boston Teachers Union has alerted teachers at five underperforming schools that Superintendent Carol R. Johnson intends to ask them to reapply for their jobs, setting off a wave of anxiety among teachers and a war of words between the union and district administrators.
Teachers could be asked to reapply as soon as the end of next week, which union officials say could cause disruption in the weeks leading up to the start of the school year as teachers await news about their employment status.
Am I ever glad I did not listen to the advisers at the college.
Yeah, I'm left here with a worthless history degree but a teaching certificate would have been much worse.
“It’s a harebrained scheme,’’ Richard Stutman, the union president, said in an interview yesterday, after sharing information with union members in an electronic newsletter on Wednesday. “It’s not the kind of thing you do to encourage cohesiveness and team building.’’
But Michael Goar, the School Department’s chief operating officer, said the union was acting prematurely, emphasizing that Johnson has not decided whether she will ask the teachers and classroom aides to reapply for their positions, an action she took at seven other underperforming schools in the spring, sparking outrage among teachers.
“We want to reserve the right to do this,’’ said Goar, who acknowledged it would be difficult to notify staff about reapplying because many might be on vacation. “We’re trying to work out the logistical issues.’’
Goar also knocked the union for criticizing the superintendent for possibly taking action so close to the start of the new school year, saying that the union had obstructed an attempt to have those teachers reapply for their jobs several months ago, an assertion that Stutman denied....
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Related: Teachers, city reach extra-hour agreement
You know, I would not be looking forward to another year of teaching, either:
"Teacher resigns over Facebook posting; Called Cohasset residents snobby" by Sydney Lupkin, Globe Correspondent | August 19, 2010
When the Cohasset School Committee discovered this week that an administrator had posted Facebook comments disparaging residents of the South Shore town as snobby and arrogant, the reaction was swift.
Unhappy parents e-mailed the committee, alerting members to the postings by June Talvitie-Siple, said Alfred Slanetz, vice chairman of the committee. Talvitie-Siple was asked to resign within 24 hours, and she stepped down Tuesday....
Talvitie-Siple was the supervisor for engineering, math, science, and technology at Cohasset High School. She had just received a $4,000 raise, boosting her salary to about $92,000, said School Committee member Linda Snowdale.
This while teachers are being laid off!
Talvitie-Siple’s Facebook profile was no longer publicly available yesterday, but the Patriot-Ledger of Quincy reported Wednesday that Talvitie-Siple wrote she was “so not looking forward to another year at Cohasset Schools,’’ calling residents “so arrogant and snobby.’’
Who can blame any teacher for feeling that way these days?
Who wants to be disrespected, shat on, and blamed for all the of societies ills -- as well as be a babysitter?
In an interview yesterday, Talvitie-Siple said she is worried her actions have ruined her career and said she takes full responsibility.
You should have thought about that before facing off.
She said she posted the comments following tension in the school district that she would not detail, other than to say it involved certain groups that were reluctant “to do something different than what they’re doing now.’’ As a result of the tension, she said, she felt she had been personally attacked by parents, School Committee members, and union members.
Talvitie-Siple said she thought her Facebook profile was set to allow only friends she has approved to view her page.
“You would assume if you have to confirm people as a friend, [other people] can’t see,’’ she said. “I have a lot of background with technology, and yet I still get caught with my pants down.’’
Yeah, SHE is the VICTIM here.
Pffft!
She wanted to make clear that her students are great....
What, the offspring of the arrogant snobs are great kids?
Talvitie-Siple, who teaches biology and chemistry, said she was criticized by community members for teaching only two classes on top of her supervisory duties, which included managing 20 people in two schools and four departments.
Did teach, Globe.
“I can guarantee that janitors kicked me out of the school. . . . I rarely went home before 7, 8, or 9 at night,’’ she said. “Do I take that personally? Yeah. I work really hard.’’
Especially on the Facebook!
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US Education Secretary Arne Duncan warned yesterday that as many as 300,000 teachers nationwide, including 4,000 teachers in Massachusetts, could lose their jobs this year if Congress does not provide additional money to aid struggling states and municipalities.
I thought the nation was in economic recovery?
Wouldn't that mean tax rolls are rising?
WTF?
Duncan, the keynote speaker at Lesley University’s commencement ceremony at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, said he and President Obama are deeply concerned about teacher cutbacks and cited the recent pink slips delivered to 480 teachers in Brockton, more than one-third of the district’s teaching staff, as an example of what could happen elsewhere in the country....
Plenty of money for wars, Wall Street, and Israel.
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Related: Congress set to send billions to aid schools
That is NOT where the LINK goes!
It's missing just like all the money you dump into your schools systems, America -- and for what?
Why are all the kids coming out stoo-pid?
