Tuesday, September 13, 2011

School Committee before the Council

Mullaney before the Council: finding out from the paper about this item "a breech of the professional courtesy that should exist between two co-equal bodies"

cites new schools that have been built during her time on the Committee:
Quinsigamond
Gates Lane
Roosevelt
Norrback
North
Tech
Claremont/Woodland

rehab of Forest Grove
Her point: no new schools on the west side
"yet the leadership of the School Committee made it their business to represent the children in every part of this city"
motion before the School Plant subcommittee about a new North done by Mullaney "has nothing to do with where I live"
implication that if you don't live near children, you don't care about them, you don't represent them
"to pit one neighborhood against another"
"every child in this city...give them the best that they deserve"
many communities that have a bigger school committee have a less effective one
"both Dr. Ogretta McNeil and Shirley Wright...both lived in 01602" as well
"the notion that any of us..not ethnically sensitive and color-blind..can't represent all children in the city of Worcester"
"they were our kids...given 20 years to working for the kids of the city of Worcester"
children who deserve an education..has nothing to do with sidewalks
"not one of us has every looked a child in the face and said 'I don't want to give something to you because I prefer that school over there'"
implication in an election year that some of us don't support children in particular neighborhoods
that you'd deliberate a little bit more on this
a reason why Lukes and Toomey oppose this: they've served on the School Committee (notes that the Mayor did as well)

O'Connell: appreciate the indulgence in addressing you
"a very simple one: $80,000 out of the classroom...to place four more politicians on the city payroll"
"never to solve a problem that does not exist...crucial issues that we need to confront for our schools"
schools built or renovated across the entire city
"been ethically diverse...all" persons of color were elected at large (in both bodies)
"role is different"
"closely focused collegially system"
"all of which are for an entire school system"
"general superintendent's authority...systemwide responsibility...truly needs to share"
will add discordant element to the School Committee
political horsetrading
represented by ward pre-1950: "good politics, poor education"
if it is a goal of this Council to see more neighborhood representation, section 8 of the city charter: up to the Council to set them up: been in the charter since 1987
attempt to function in a collegial fashion with the city council
"runs against courtesy, and it runs against basic elemental decency" for School Committee not to be consulted
thanks Eddy, Toomey, Lukes for not supporting
"what long term is our best interest"

Monfredo: cites his zip code 01606
School Committee members speak for all students
attends site councils, citywide parent groups

My comments are here

Coleman: reminds the Council that they voted down charter change
Boston once had an elected School Board, they then moved to an appointed board
"if your intention is to add diversity to the School Committee..."
"can we revisit this charter and just change this one spot"
cites Sunday's column
have to have people run for office
"think twice on this...I interpret this as a review of the charter"
"this thought needs to be...rethinked"







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