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January 30th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
After reading that puff-piece I felt like I’d been kissed by a slobbering St Bernard. I’m still wringing out my shirt. This is a done deal, folks.
January 30th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Conway is probably the one most in the tank for his GOB. He was simply the only one smooth enough not to let on.
January 30th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Mimi, the screening committee’s names will be released next week when they begin their review of the Headmaster candidates. I am not certain of the specific people that make up the committee, other then Union President Paul Georges, but do know that it will include current LHS teachers, LHS administrators, a LHS custodian, a LHS clerk, parent representatives from the Friends of Lowell High School, City Wide Parent Council, Parent Special Educational Advisory Committee, a current LHS student, a member from the Lowell Plan, UMass Lowell, Middlesex Community College and chaired by Deputy Super Jean Franco who will not be a voteing member.
I am glad you are optimistic and you should know that this committee, much like the Superintendent search committees, involves much, much more public representation then did any city manager selection…
January 30th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Lowell High School is the second largest High School in Massachusetts, second only to Brockton High School.
The 4,000 plus students need a headmaster that is qualified.
This is not an entry level school administrators job!
January 30th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Martin, Brian J., Docket No. 597
[Link shortened and fixed - Lynne]
January 30th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Jim,
Hopefully the Greater Lowell Tech Committee see’s the effort the Lowell School Committee puts into getting the public involved and follows the lead. All candidates should be given the chance to be interviewed even if they are former officials and having such a differce group as you listed insures a fair treatment for all.
January 31st, 2010 at 12:17 am
Jim,
Thank you for taking the time to provide information.
January 31st, 2010 at 9:52 am
Will this be like the time the search committee didn’t come up with the “right” finalist (for E-Housemaster) and had their reccommendations rejected? That’s how we ended up with Kevin Murphy’s sister. Incidentally, she’s the only housemaster who does anything, but that’s somewhat besides the point.
January 31st, 2010 at 10:15 am
Thanks SC Leary for the information. Interesting comments in today’s The Column as to why there are no other local applicants.
January 31st, 2010 at 11:21 am
Mimi,the column left out a lot of other qualified local folks that apparently did not apply, such as LHS department heads, LHS housemasters, Lowell middle school principals etc. Some of the aforementioned have young children and because the Headmaster position is very time demanding is a likely reason why some of them chose not to apply. And, some of the aforementioned are near the end of their careers and making the move to Headmaster does not make alot of sense to them. They are all still performing very important jobs for our schools and I appreciate their efforts. I wish more of them did apply becasue they are very talented.
It is also the second most challenging position within the school department - one where you do give up a lot of your own life in order to accomplish successfully. It is a high pressure and high profile position where you make decisions everyday that do not always please everyone. It is not for everybody and most of us, including me, cannot do it.
I did get a kick out of the column statements pertaining to the SC picking on the current Headmaster as one of the reason why some did not apply. SC members do ask alot of questions, which he may not like answering, but he is hardly picked on. For the record, I think he does a pretty good job. I am looking forward to the selection committee interviews.
January 31st, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Why do members of the School Committee continue to blog and make public statements both on the selection process and on the potential suitability of certain candidates? Why do they try to offer justifications for why there are so few local applicants for this open position?
I find ANY such public statements by any elected School Committee member to be inappropriate. It is impossible for them to make such statements without affecting public perception of the process. Why don’t they get that?
This is not supposed to be a matter within the purview of the School Committee. The only way to maintain the integrity of the process is for committee members to make NO statements at all. The motives of any such public statements MUST be questioned.
Please, let the media do their job. Let the screening committee do its job. Then let’s allow Chris Scott to do her job.
The School Committee is not naive. The public is not naive. Everyone can read the tea leaves.
Whoever is eventually selected, we would all like to suppose that the decision will be reached with regard only to what is in the best interest of LHS and its teachers, administrators and students.
Public pronouncements by school committee members now, will make that supposition impossible.
January 31st, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Amen to #11
February 1st, 2010 at 8:22 am
Why should a person be muzzled because they are an elected official? I may rant against what they say but why should they not have the same freedom of speech as any other person?
When a school committee person /councelor/state rep etc. reads blantant slander or rumors or a biased statement or misinformation so often found on BLOGS isn’t it better they have the convictions of their belief to step forward, set the record straight and defend themselves less people read these blogs and beleives a post that is total misinformation?
Victor Olson from Dracut and Jim Leary from Lowell both responeded to reports that were written with an angle that they perceived as incorrect or misinformed. I applaud any Elected official willing to put in writing thier position and they should be applauded not critized.
On the one hand people bitch about GOB or Business as usual and when an elected officiall attemtps to present their side they get critizied for that. No wonder people think ill of blog and bloggers you don’t want to hear a response that may conflict with what you perceive as the story.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:33 am
Gerry, if you go around accusing people of slander, you better damn well have something to back it up. Enough said.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:36 am
Also, you did NOT address the concerns of the person posting, who has a very valid point on public statements regarding a hiring process not yet complete.
You can’t just say whatever comes into your head when you are a public official, so stop pretending this is a first amendment issue.
Now, as to whether or not this situation warrants such a muzzle it’s borderline, and certainly, elected officials CAN defend themselves without jeopardizing the delicate hiring or negotiating process, but that’s not what JC is concerned about.
Gerry, calm down or you’re going to give yourself a heart attack. Are you just always on outrage mode?
February 1st, 2010 at 10:33 am
Main Entry: 1li·bel
Pronunciation: \ˈlī-bəl\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, written declaration, from Anglo-French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book
Date: 14th century
1 a : a written statement in which a plaintiff in certain courts sets forth the cause of action or the relief sought b archaic : a handbill especially attacking or defaming someone
2 a : a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression b (1) : a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt (2) : defamation of a person by written or representational means (3) : the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures (4) : the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel
February 1st, 2010 at 11:30 am
LOL You’re the one getting excited because I used the word slander…did I touch I nerve? I did not accuse anyone just speaking in generality and I’m calm.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:44 pm
OMG. Seriously, Gerry? You start throwing around words like slander and me calling you out on it is equivalent of spazzing out? Gerry, you really do need to read what you write.
First you accused us of not covering stuff, that we have covered. Then you accused blogs and bloggers of slanderous comments (however grammatically incorrect you might actually be). Seems to me, you just love to accuse people, with no basis. Now, words like slander and libel actually MEAN something, and they should not be used lightly. But, more to the point, is anyone going to take you seriously when all you do is attack people with no basis in fact? I certainly have stopped taking you seriously, and since sometimes you actually do have a point to make, however lathered up you are when making them, that’s a total shame.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:30 pm
I don’t care what Gerry says I’m going back to my real persona. Looks like we have to be prepared for the Greasing of the Skids from the local rag. Today’s paper had a story about how it’s becoming very difficult for cities and towns to find qualified applicants for high level managerial positions in the schools. I got the impression that they were trying to tell us that it’s OK to hire the unqualified. Medicine time, Mr. Mc Murphy.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:32 pm
PC, we missed the true You.
I do hope your prognosticating is wrong though.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Why would Martin want to get the Cassin treatment? Like The GOPers won’t flail him just to smear Niki?
It makes no sense for him to step in this pile.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:19 pm
It does when you’re about 55 and looking for your average highest 3 years upon which your pension is based.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Jack… it’s all about the pension.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I’ve got no particular opinion on Martin but I think it’s hysterical that Dave Conway questions his qualifications to be headmaster.
I’d love to see how many of Mr. Conways former students feel he was qualified for his position. We know he has good reading comprehension since he spent all of his time in the classroom reading the paper. Am I the only one who remembers that?
February 1st, 2010 at 5:56 pm
So Niki is just gonna let Martin open her campaign up to charges of hackery and patronage? Or does Martin’s own political gravitasse trump Tsongas’? The spin favors GOPers.
Let’s not forget, Meehan has a Senate race in mind. These things do not bode well, post-Brown.
Did not the voters of Lowell send a message in Nov.2009? A mandate for “professional city gov’t?”
Time to work the ground game. If this all goes to shit, let’s not forget, there are ways to hold folks accountable!
February 1st, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Wow, ouch, Mill Girl, LOL
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:29 pm
kids and teachers say that A House is the only office that never had any students waiting… the housemaster sent problems back to the teachers so he could close the door and fraternize with his buddies
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Martin did not get the job. Last night he didn’t make it to the nxt round.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Too much baggage and not enough quals, ya think?
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:33 pm
Jean Franco is a class act - certainly not a GOB.
From the Lowell Sun
Meeting behind closed doors Monday night, a 17-member screening committee, chaired by Deputy Superintendent Jean Franco, evaluated 13 candidates for the job, which will pay between $120,000 and $130,000. Each member submitted the names of four candidates they felt offered the most, besides having the proper credentials. Four semifinalists emerged. However, one has already accepted another job so the screening committee is now considering three candidates to succeed the current headmaster, William Samaras, who is retiring June 30 after nearly two decades at the helm.
The candidates are:
* Martha Bedrosian: a resident of Carlisle, Bedrosian is the current science curriculum director in the Marblehead Public School System.
* Robert Fitzgerald: a resident of Methuen, Fitzgerald is the assistant headmaster at Monument Public High School in South Boston. Fitzgerald was a Spanish instructor in Lowell public schools in 2003-2005.
* Bernard Nangle: a resident of Haverhill, Nangle is the current headmaster of Haverhill High School.
All three candidates, who have doctorate degrees, meet the three state-mandated requirements for the job of overseeing the second-largest high school in the state with 3,300 students. They are: a master’s degree at minimum; a teaching license; and a license to be a principal/vice principal.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:09 am
I have just come back from a trip into the future, and have found this article in the Lowell Sun of March 8, 2010:
By Christopher Scott
Sun Staff
LOWELL — Brian Martin, a former city manager, mayor and current district director for Cong. Niki Tsongas, is back in the hunt for the job of Headmaster at Lowell High School
Although left off list of semi-finalists back in January because he lacked the needed principal/vice principal license, Martin was added to the semi-finalist pool last night after Governor Deval Patrick signed a home rule petition proposed by the city council and sponsored by the Lowell legislative delegation to overturn a state education department ruling issued February 27th that Martin was not eligible for the license.
“We have corrected a grave injustice,” the members of the delegation said in a written, but unsigned, statement. “Brian was city manager and doing budgets for Ashes and Waste is not that far removed from curriculum development.”
Meanwhile, the Sun has learned that at least two members of the delegation have applied to become the new $115,000 per year district director for Tsongas, four city councilors have started raising money to run for whatever legislative seat opens up, and Sun chairman Kenny Wallace has been on the phone with his chums to select a new councilor for any vacancy that develops during the current term.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Please tell me Nangle has no relation. You know. To the other one.
And I have to appreciate the hard work that went into that snark, herewegoagain!
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Have not been on in a while
Glad to see some had Martin getting the job
Loretta Says:
January 30th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
After reading that puff-piece I felt like I’d been kissed by a slobbering St Bernard. I’m still wringing out my shirt. This is a done deal, folks.
Great political insight !!!!
Hey Lynne I agree with a post of yours #14 + — mark it down
Oh and its nice to see Gerry Nutt has his own blog —
pls gerry spend more time writing on it so i don’t have to read your thoughts — ahhh random accusations ahhh whatever you call it
p.s. do you think he knows?
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Anybody care to guess who Nangle’s been sharing homemade cookies with??
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Nangle is the first cousin of state Rep. David Nangle
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Lacks the needed qualifications - kind of says all. I wonder what Martin will do if Nikki doesn’t get reelected.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Maggie - If Martin is good at anything, it’s reading the tea leaves. Don’t be surprised if we lose a seat in Congress after the census. Don’t be surprised if that seat belongs to the newbie, Mrs. Tsongas. The other thing Martin is good at is self-preservation.