Left In Lowell

It’s he-said she-said (well, he-said he-said) with today’s Column, in which Move Lowell Forward member Michael Ready was mentioned regarding the “after meeting party” at the GHTHS Board session wherein they crowned Santoro Superintendent. As a refresher, thus wrote the Column:

After Tuesday night’s vote to hire Mary Jo Santoro as the next superintendent of Greater Lowell Tech., School Committee member George O’Hare of Lowell and local activist Michael Ready got into a loud war of words. Ready proclaimed that Santoro’s hiring was a bag job from the beginning. O’Hare disagreed. School spokesman Michael McGovern jumped into the fray, literally blocking Ready’s access to school officials with his chest and escorting Ready out of the administrative offices.

In that paragraph, it’s obvious their source was on the GOB side of things, possibly “spokesflack” Michael McGovern himself (and again as in comments, I am wondering, what high school has a spokesflack?? I’d like to know). But Paul, who was also there at the meeting and present at this moment, gainsays this in comments to my previous post:

Mr Ready was NOT escorted out of the meeting! He (and I beside him) left of our own free will! The “war of words” was initiated by Mr O’Hare who left the Council table and confronted Mr Ready who only stood his ground. Several people at the meeting did suggest we leave but only because there needed to be an executive session which common mortals are not allowed to attend

So, two very different takes on what happened. Obviously the “initiated by O’Hare” part was not part of the GOB party line. Oops. Too bad there’s eyewitnesses to correct the record, and a blog where they post their point of view.

As an aside, I know of no two individuals as upstanding as Michael and Paul. They are both honest men, willing to take a stand, and I think deserve a whole lot of credit for bringing all of this malarkey to our attention. Taking the time out of their lives as they have on this issue is not easy, nor is being attacked personally for doing so. You have had a chance to read Michael’s statements to the Board, and in no way was he disrespectful. He and Paul take their responsibility as citizens seriously, and I have just a ton of respect for both of them for their work. I just want to say that publicly that I have and will continue to enjoy working with these two gentlemen. I’m sorry this paints them as targets, but I applaud them!