Left In Lowell

The Obvious Conclusion to the GLTHS Superintendent Process

by Lynne at 7:50 am.

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

[Filed under Corruption, School Committee] [link]

12 Responses to “The Obvious Conclusion to the GLTHS Superintendent Process”

K-R-S Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 8:22 am
nicely done Paul & Michael!
Prince Charming Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 9:01 am
This action begs the question “Is it all right to hire and fire your daughter’s boss?”.
JC Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 9:24 am
We all saw it coming! We watched and hoped for the best, yet we knew there was nothing to be done - no way to avoid this malodorous outcome.

Cronyism, self-interest, egomania, and petty corruption has won the day! Let the celebrations begin!
RUDY Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 10:13 am
i wonder if Santoros Niece will get
a promotion or raise now that aunty is
the boss. as of now, she does absoulty
nothing .
Paul@01852 Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Can someone explain to me why the link to the (correct) “LOWELL SUN” story is headed “ELPASOTIMES.COM” ??? Lowell Sun you’ve done it again, as Mr Magoo would say!
Lynne Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 11:34 am
You know, I SHUDDER to think what would have happened if Michael had said nothing, or if Paul and Michael had not BEEN there.

We would have had a 5 minute meeting, a 6-1 vote for Santoro, a short report in the Lowell Sun (with nothing to report, Smith would have, primarily, given us a recap of the vote and maybe, probably, some rehashing of the context of this whole debacle, but not much else).

Because Michael stood up, because Paul and Michael were there as witnesses, this did NOT go down without the truth being told, and without a murmur from the public.

I want to thank both of them for being so consistent (on behalf of the blog and MLF) attending these meetings and reporting back for us.
Mike Hayden Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Well I must say how thrilled I am that the vast majority of the Greater Lowell Board saw that the best person by far for the job as Superintendent / Director was Asst. Supt Mary Jo Santoro.

I am so thrilled I am even considering running for the board again but we will see about that later. I just want to say to Mary Jo I know that the school is in great hands with you

On an other note I under stand that Mr. Ready let his anger response get the best of him as I hear he was out of control at the end of the meeting. I would be more than willing to work with him on his anger if he wants all he has to do is call my office Bay State Anger Management 978- 606.3955
Mr. Lynne Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
In know, sheesh. Just because tax dollars and public trust wind up in the clutches of cronyist insiderism?

Why be so angry at that? We should retain our anger for more important things, like fire exit signs in Spanish.
Michael S. Ready Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I think one of the most entertaining and comedic things I have experienced since moving back to Lowell is observing disgraced former Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee member and Lowell’s leading anger management councilor, Mike Hayden, publicly lick his wounds raw for all to see here on Left In Lowell. But then again, you know what they say Mike; drug addicts make the best drug councilors. Nice to see that the puss is still oozing after all this time. Maybe you could arrange for some pro-bono bartering with one of your peers at Bay State and get some much needed help sealing up that wound. Tee, hee, hee.

As far as your promise to run again; please run again Mike Hayden, please, as I would find it even more entertaining to watch a “dead horse” brought back to life, then a publicly outraged anger management councilor.

One last thing Mike; as part of my ongoing research on cronyism and political patronage among the GLTHS Committee members, could you please disclose how many of your relatives work at the school. That would be immediate and extended, please. Thanks Mike!
JC Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
I’d like to read Mr. Ready’s entire prepared statement, the one he attempted to finish at the GLTHS meeting…is it available anywhere? I applaud his effort…speaking truth to power is never easy, and most of us wouldn’t have the balls to stand up there and carry on with the message in the presence of a hostile crowd of committee members, the disapproving candidate, and all their supporters. Well done Mr. Ready!

I also add my thanks to Paul for his report of the meeting. He provides us with the only glimpse of what happened, as seen from the point of view of a concerned party, concerned for good governance and public integrity.

Regarding Mr. Hayden, and his contribution to the discussion, what can one say? Well, perhaps just this:
He is a former public official, now out of the limelight (although not completely forgotten), and there is ample evidence suggesting that he and his family benefitted greatly due to his position as a GLTHS school committee member. Yet, that is not enough…he is not content! And if ever there was a man who should be content, this is the guy! He has gotten away with it; pulled the wool over the public’s eyes; finished the game as a winner! All it cost was public respect (self-respect?..I wonder)…but, who cares? This is not a man to worry about such trivial things.

In his present position, a rational person might just shut up and lay low. But that’s not his way! That’s not his nature! That’s not his character! God bless him, he just can’t help himself!!

He is his own worst enemy. Does he ever worry that perhaps, some day, all his ill-considered taunts and rash statements may just come back to bite him? (NO, not him, not a chance!)

He should be encouraged to keep up the correspondence! His many admiring fans can’t wait to add his next post to the ongoing compilation.
Maggie Says:
May 5th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
The Voke is full of family and friends ( and a couple of ex’s as well) and it is time for some new blood out there. Santoro is not and never will be the answer. She is quite simply a — Oops I am supposed to be lady. The whole committe except for Bahou needs to go, hiring relatives should be banned. There is no imagination, no new directions, no foresight. And the whole bag job will never see the the tv screen so that we, the voters, can see the truth. .
Lynne Says:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:20 am
JC - I talked to Michael and I think I will be posting it soon. So stay tuned.

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May 5, 2010

The Obvious Conclusion to the GLTHS Superintendent Process

12 Responses to “The Obvious Conclusion to the GLTHS Superintendent Process”

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