Left In Lowell

An event from the Progressive Dems of MA:

On Wednesday, May 12th, the Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts (PDM) will host a State Budget workshop where we’ll learn about the policy choices (and trade-offs) ahead and how we can make our voices heard. Everyone, regardless of political affiliation, is invited to attend this free event.

There will be a speaker from the Mass Budget and Policy Center (www.massbudget.org) , a non-partisan group that conducts independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies in Massachusetts.

After the presentation, there will be a short training and activity to help people make their thoughts known to their legislators.

What: State Budget Workshop
When: Wednesday, May 12th, 7:00 PM
Where: Chelmsford Police Station, 2 Olde North Rd
Contact: Mike, 978-677-6688
More info: http://www.progressivedemsofmass.org/events

Light refreshments will be served.

From the Donoghue campaign, get ready to work it!

Volunteer Kickoff
Saturday, May 8, 10 AM - 2 PM
Bring your family, friends and neighbors to Shedd Park to kick off our volunteer efforts for State Senate! We’ll have morning refreshments, an afternoon barbecue and begin our door knocking efforts to get the message out about our campaign!
Join us for: Morning Refreshments, An Afternoon Barbecue, Door Knocking in the area at Shedd Park, Route 38, Lowell.

Please RSVP by Thursday, May 6th to donoghueforsenate@gmail.com, or 978-452-0522
Campaign Materials will be available!

Remember in November (2011) folks. This was a disgusting display of insiderism, and made all the more ugly because of the two other highly qualified who, in many people’s opinions, interviewed much better than Santoro. I have a report from Paul@01852, a frequent commenter and a fellow member of Move Lowell Forward, who was at the meeting. Which, by the way, was not televised. Perhaps, as Erin Smith reminds about in her article, they should have done what defeated incumbent Michael Hayden wanted, and scrapped the whole search to begin with, if they were so in the bag for a candidate (who, so far as I can tell, has no real ambition, thinks everything is peachy and plans no new initiatives to improve the school, and who is so tight with the cronies that we basically have a Cassin all over again).

Smith writes a pretty good article, by the way. Check that out too (no idea why the Sun’s site sends you to that weird link).

I am thoroughly disgusted and I want these incumbents out. Lenzi and Laferriere are up in 2011, folks, we need people willing to run and kick their crony butts out of there.

From Paul:
Bag Job! Mary Jo Santoro New GLTHS Superintendent

I attended the special GLTHS School Committee meeting tonight. Michael Ready of MoveLowellForward PAC was also in attendance. (Disclosure: I am also a member of MoveLowellForward.) After much lobbying of the current chairman, the former chairman and the school’s legal counsel by Mr Ready, it was decided that the public would be allowed to speak for 5 minutes each. Michael was the only speaker to sign up.

Mr Ready gave an impassioned speech requesting that the search for a superintendent be re-opened based on the fact that the current process was tainted by premature decisions and statements by SC members indicating prejudice in favor a particular candidate, namely Mary Jo Santoro. Published comments by search subcommittee chair O’Hare, Chairman LaFerriere, subcommittee member Lenzi and former SC member Michael Hayden indicating that Ms Santoro was the best candidate. Mr Hayden’s comment indicated that there was no need for a search at all!

Mr Ready was gaveled to a halt after 4 minutes but refused to stop, saying that he had only been speaking for *four* minutes and that he had a very accurate watch. He was allowed to continue. After approximately 30 seconds Chairman LaFerriere once again made a motion to gavel Mr Ready to a stop but was interrupted by current Supt. Cassin who requested that Mr Ready be allowed to go on. Finally as Mr Ready was nearly finished he was gaveled down again but raised his voice over the gavel and finished the last sentence or two of his statement.

A motion was made that a vote be taken with members stating the name of the candidate they preferred for the next superintendent. The motion passed 8-0. A vote was then taken with Mary Jo Santoro receiving 7 votes and Jane Cornell 1 vote (from SC member Fred Bahou). The meeting was then adjourned. It was extremely curious that Ms Santoro did not even receive the proverbial “one hand clapping” of congratulations never mind a warm round of applause! She certainly seemed to have her cheering section in attendance; maybe they all left their pompoms at home!

Following adjournment Mr Ready had a heated conversation with subcommittee chair Mr O’Hare.

It was obvious from the body language and facial expressions that Mr Ready’s statement was not appreciated. Ms Santoro had a disdainful expression throughout his statement and Chair LaFerriere was obviously angry as his face got redder and redder as Mr Ready continued. Other committee members hung their heads (in shame maybe?) or showed scorn.

I am sure there will be a much more detailed account of this meeting in tomorrow’s Lowell Sun as both reporter Erin Smith and a staff photographer were there. One interesting item of note was that this meeting was not televised nor will there be a taped rebroadcast since there were no video cameras or recording devices present! I have to wonder why. Something as momentous as the hiring of a new superintendent does not merit public broadcasting? I wonder who made the decision not to record the meeting. I have to wonder if someone decided there was something to hide. Or something to be ashamed of.

The GLTHS SC needs more exposure! The City of Lowell has had to lay off many many teachers while GLTHS has not had to lay of a single one as Mr Ready stated. Taxpayers of Lowell are told what they have to pay with no input into the process. We have now had a superintendent “shoved down our collective throats” without any citizen input since the majority of the so-called search was done in executive session by a hand-picked subcommittee consisting solely of SC members.

For a while I had hopes that with public scrutiny of this board by MoveLowellForward that some of the activities that appeared to be cronyism were just that GLTHS SC was “under the radar.” MLF made several request of the board for more public exposure of the meeting schedule and agendas which to my surprise was readily granted and in a very timely manner. However, the entire search process completely disillusioned me of this idea. When presented with a choice of only 3 candidates, 2 of whom were insiders, the board chose not the best candidate but the most “connected” and the obviously pre-ordained Ms Santoro which, if reports I have read are correct, was the worst of the three!

Paul@01852