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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Updated: New Interim Sup Appointed, Nurses Frustrated, Race to the Top Approved

At Tuesday night's meeting the BOE announced the appointment of a new interim Superintendent of Schools.The Board has hired Michael E. Nast, a retired school administrator. He will start February 10.

Mr. Nast was the Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools from 1993 to 1999. He has also served as interim Superintendent for the Region 5 (twice) and New Hartford Public Schools. Mr. Nast replaces Bill Papallo who was interim Superintendent since July.

A state law requires retired school administrators not to work longer than six months. Dr. Papallo was able to extend his stay in Norwalk by working part-time and taking furlough days.

Dr. Papallo thanked the Board members, old and new, and said that the Central Office staff is "exceptional."

The Board also announced at the meeting that it is continuing its search for a permanent Superintendent. Thus far, five candidates have been interviewed, but only one is going to be called back for further conversations. The BOE has instructed CABE Search Services, its recruiter, to continue searching for candidates.

"We are continuing to recruit," said Board Chair Glenn Iannacone.

During the public comment section of the meeting, Emily Aguilar, of the PTOC, said that she was "disappointed" to hear at the previous board meeting that only the last candidate would be brought before the community.  "Where does the public weigh in?" she asked.  "Parents and stakeholders should be part of the decision making process."

The Board's update on the Superintendent position was preceded by public comments from four school nurses, who approached the board one after the other,  and expressed their frustration and concern that the Director of Health Services position is still vacant. Leah Turner,  announced that she was going to resign last August and vacated the position in December.  The nurses said that not having a supervisor has been causing difficulties and is putting the district's students at risk.  They highlighted the lack of substitute nursing coverage and inadequate training of newly hired nurses. The nurses urged the Board to expedite hiring for this position.

"Do whatever is necessary," said Jo Ann Malinowski, a nurse at Silvermine Elementary, who also stated that the position was not being advertised broadly enough.  

"The lack of attention on this position shows that school nurses are a low priority in Norwalk," said Sue Chen, a NPS nurse for the past 23 years.

The BOE also voted unanimously to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Department of Education for Race To the Top, the Obama Administration's program for education reform. Previously, the BOE had decided not to sign-on to the State's Race to the Top application. However, the Board reconsidered its position after hearing from parents and meeting with the State Education Commissioner.

Dr. Papallo told the Board that signing the MOU "keeps us in play" and that he was assured by the Commissioner that NPS is only committed to the initiatives in the application when and if the State is awarded funds.

Board Member Migdalia Rivas said that she was "uncomfortable with verbal agreements" and wanted to make sure that the MOU was not a binding document. 

Assistant Superintendent Tony Daddona quoted text from the MOU clarifying that implementation of programs is not obligatory and that funding is conditional on the district's participation in specified programs.

Preceding the vote, during the public comments, Ms. Aguilar said that parents "overwhelmed" the BOE with letters of support for the grant, but were told that they did not understand the bigger picture.

"Paint us that picture, clarify the concerns, show the pros and cons, " she said. 

At the beginning of the meeting, during Spotlight on Schools, Mr. Daddona and Jean Evans, Language Arts Instructional Specialist,  told the Board that NPS was beginning the roll out of Connecticut Benchmark Assessment System (CBAS), a free online assessment testing reading comprehension in grades 3-8.

The Board also voted unanimously to hire Partners in Architecture to conduct the elementary school facility study.
Posted by Moina Noor
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51 comments:

  1. Are we to understand that the search will continue, but that one candidate will remain in the running, to be put with any other finalist(s) the board gets, or is the board considering hiring the one person who has survived the interview process so far?
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  2. I think the article was pretty clear that the search continues and that the individual will be one amongst several candidates.
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  3. As I understand, the search is continuing and more candidates are going to be brought before the board. No finalists yet, just one candidate that got past round one.
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  4. What about the concerns raised over the absence of a Director of Health? Did the board give any answers? I would really like to know.
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  5. Speaking of clarification, did the board not miss the deadline for the first round of the RTTT grant process. So signing the MOU after the fact is moot, is it not, at least for this round, accept to try and calm the really teed off mob, pointless. Good Bye Paps, sure you wish us well as do we for you.
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  6. The director of health reports to Tony Dadonna and Janie Friedlander-- they both don't seem to want to hire any of the great school nurses we have (even the one who I hear has a doctorate). Like a lot of hiring decisions, Papaload and company would rather do favors for friends rather than worry about kids. Does anyone doubt that there is PROBABLY a former Stamford school nurse who was on the verge of being fired or sued who will get the job?
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  7. This has gone from the ridiculous to the absurd! Why is that the BOE can't find someone and hire them? How much longer does our school system have to suffer? Finding a new supt should be the top priority of the BOE. They should put everything else aside until then. Just saying...
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  8. Yes, you get it, 11:26. Now Norwalk will have yet another Stamford refugee as Interim 2. Why don't they just let Joshua Starr run both systems? Oh, I forgot that Stamford has "tracking" and Norwalk doesn't. As a matter of fact, Norwalk doesn't have a lot of things right now, so racing to the top will be more like meandering toward the middle. This search is taking so long that they probably told Papallo to hold onto his car because he may be back next year. Don't laugh-how many out there thought he would be back this second time?
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  9. From what I am hearing and what I see, Tony Daddona has paid very dearly for his loyalty and his willingness to do whatever the board has asked him to do. He stepped in during difficult times and was a very successful high school principal, he has stepped up to the plate to help Corda on numerous occassions and now Papallo. He handled all of the superintendent's hearings incredibly well...Now he is the AS as well as the director of secondary ed and is on call for the interim superintendent. There is much much more I could list that he has done, but as someone before said, this board has thrown Tony under a bus. Tony Daddona, you are a fool if you continue to go above and beyond in the future. Do your own job, come in at 8AM and leave at 4PM. Stop letting this dysfunctional system abuse you! Don't do the work for the next interim either!
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  10. 3:06 - Oh, please. I have nothing else to say.
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  11. A couple of clarifications:

    The State gave Norwalk an extension to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for Race to the Top, so we are part of the Phase 1 application.

    The Board did not respond to the nurses, since they do not respond to public comments. However, Dr. Papallo did say during the meeting that finding a director of health services is a priority for the district.
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  12. 3:06 - It's called doing one's job. You think he (or anyone else) should get a salary and benefits package of nearly $200,000 per year and then work only an 8 hour day? If so, you need reality therapy. Anyone who earns that kind of money in any other line of work is working many hours and most days of the week. He also does whatever work that needs to be done; he doesn't use "that's not in my job description" as an excuse. (I'm not suggesting that Mr. Daddona does this, but your posting suggests that he should.)

    He was a "very successful high school principal"? I think he did the job he was paid to do, which was stabilize NHS until a permanent leader could be hired. Mr. Mecca seems to be a good person.

    T.D. handled superintendent's hearings incredibly well? I have great concern about that comment because no one other than those directly involved in all of the hearings should know anything about them. I surely don't think it appropriate for someone outside the meetings, except those with an organizational right to know, should be privy to any information regarding them. Be that as it may, the term "superintendent's hearing" is a misnomer because the superintendent hasn't done that kind of work since Ralph Sloan. I add that in case you see that as a qualifier for the job.

    I don't know why you think he has been abused by the board, and I don't even care to know how you think he was "thrown under a bus" by them. Again, I wonder how you would know if he feels that way. To give him due credit, I agree that he has worked hard, but if you think that alone is reason to make him superintendent (if that is your motive here), it takes a lot more than that. It takes vision and true leadership qualities. Some people are good managers and some are good superintendent material, and it is a candidate's job to convince the hiring body that he belongs to the latter group.

    You are clearly trying to help someone you regard with admiration, but you are making him look weak and pathetic. Use a different approach.
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  13. Yes, 5:16, I do admire the job Mr. Daddona has done. With reference to your comments:
    No, I don't know specifics about how he handled (or handles) Superintendent hearings, but I have heard him praised by several important folks.
    How in the world could I make him look 'weak and pathetic' with my approach? I don't even know how to reply to a statement that makes no sense.
    I referred to another post when I said that 'the board threw him under a bus.' How on earth did you interpret that to mean I knew that he felt that way?
    Perhaps your approach is weak and pathetic.
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  14. "Some people are good BUILDING PRINCIPALS and some are good DEE material, and it is a candidate's job to convince the hiring body that he belongs to the latter group." Hmmm, kind of has a good ring to it, doesn't it? Sorry, Anon 5:42, but you cannot have it both ways. The same rule will have to apply to both situations unless you are comfortable talking out of both sides of your face. You cannot have your grievance cake and eat it, too.
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  15. 9:25 - I think you are assuming I am someone who is connected to the NASA grievance over the DEE appointment, but I am not. Why wouldn't I agree that the candidates for DEE have the same responsibility to prove themselves to the hiring body? If I believe that it is appropriate for candidates for the superintendency, I believe that it is appropriate for all positions.
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  16. 9:25 AM, you are not making sense. What does the DEE have to do with a grievance or the AS?
    signed: Confused
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  17. Dear 3:06 - what high school was Tony Dadonna very successful at? You can't be talking about Norwalk High School! Under his "leadership" the school went from bad to worse. He was more concerned with changing the color of the athlete's uniforms than improving the school.

    No one can be considered overworked when they make $200,000 a year. Please go ahead and overwork me!
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  18. Thanks for the updated clarification Monia on the MOU. Good work. Thats an important little item that wasnt picked up on. This is a vital focus Moina, stay on top of it. We are making history, together.

    To the Board; take the time, to take the time.

    No excuses!

    We need a rock star, find us one. Starched shirts need not apply. Echo that a little louder to the CABE girls.

    He/she is out there, somewhere. Power words to keep in mind and what qualities we are searching for; fire, passion, foresight and balls, er, thats sexsist, how about backbone will that work for the blog.

    We can do this, lets get it right

    Thank you Dr Papallo for your service.
    A question sir? How did you get Nast to jump in this hornets nest and did you tell him to keep his head down?

    Thanks Paps, please feel inspired to drop in Moinas blog once in awhile, should be worth the read.

    We are not going to put humpty back together.

    Whole new wave coming.

    Ole dogs, can, learn new tricks.

    See ya on the road paps.

    Take care.
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  19. 5:49, there you go again....stop with your agenda of trying to discredit a very fine person.
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  20. 10:59- Why does anyone who is critical of the Papaload Team have an "agenda"?
    Dadonna, who last we checked was the assistant superintendent, has refused to do the right thing and hire a student health coordinator. Obviously, once he knew he couldn't help his friend come out of her one-day retirement to a big bucks deal, having a nursing director wasn't too important.
    Our kids deserve a lot freakin' betterr.
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  21. (Please note that I am not the 5:49 poster.)

    This site isn't intended to be a forum to discredit anyone, but it also shouldn't be one on which people make claims about someone's merits that cannot be substantiated.

    Someone, possibly the same poster, lamented that the board had mistreated Mr. Daddona in some way and so from now on, he should refuse to "help" the superintendent and he should do only "his own" job, working an eight-hour day. Hold on now because his position is one of such stature and his salary is so great that the board of education ought to expect him to do whatever has to be done. If helping the superintendent in any way necessary isn't the job of the ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, then maybe I don't understand the job. Also, I will give anyone my bank account if he/she can show me anything in the assistant superintendent's contract that says he works an 8-hour day.
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  22. Is there anything in any of the NASA contracts that state how many hours a day these people work? Not only that, does it state the hours?
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  23. Perhaps their are no great candidates for the head nurse position. Did those people who are knocking the people in charge ever think of something so simple, or are they out to take down anyone who works at co? Some people make great nurses, some people make good leaders of nurses.
    Really, only the people interviewing would know the difference. So I hope I don't get slammed by the nurses who are looking to fill this position.
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  24. 5:52 - There is nothing in the NASA contract that specifies work hours. The number of work days is defined for the various groups within the bargaining unit. Most administrators work far more than 8 hours per day, and most are working on school business more than 5 days per week.

    Also, the contract doesn't say what time work begins or ends because different schools begin and end at different hours, and the central office has its own business hours, defined largely by the secretaries' work hours.

    I don't know if it is true that the new IT person has a special deal that excuses him from evening meetings or that allows him to work from home if there is bad flying weather, but I surely hope it isn't true. If it is true, however, that may be one of the craziest things the central office has ever agreed to allow.
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  25. 1o:59 - Not looking to discredit anyone, just stating the facts! Did you ever have children in NHS? I did and still do. TD would run from parents when they wanted to discuss issues at the school. Never addressed any problems because in his mind - there weren't any.
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  26. 5:45, there are parents and there are parents. He addressed all of my concerns. Enough said.
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  27. 6:50 - It's not all about you.
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  28. 9:35, well then, logically it is not all about you either.

    As I said, there are parents and there are parents. You are a parent with a gripe...and perhaps more than that.
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  29. 3:33 - If I had to guess, I would guess that you are the same person who suggests an evil plot whenever anyone says anything unflattering about the assistant superintendent. Did you ever consider the possibility that at least some of the complaints might be valid?
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  30. 3:33, you may have all the time in the world to sit at your desk and keep this vendetta going about the AS, I do not wish to do that. I am not the same person. I am not suggesting an evil plot. Your mind runs in that direction, not mine.
    I will not be wasting my time with someone who is obsessed with this topic of the AS. Don't bother to reply.
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  31. For the record, I am not the same person who complained about being ignored as a NHS parent, nor do I have any idea who that is, although I am the person who posted at 9:35 a.m.
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  32. The good news with the appointment of the new interim is that the board bought a lot more time. Although he is restricted to the same 45% rule (i.e., he can earn no more than 45% of the top salary for superintendent before having his pension suspended), that rule goes by the school year. Therefore, he can earn 45% of the salary between now and June 30 (not a problem, since the school year is more than half over anyway), and then the clock starts over again on July 1, and he will be able to earn another 45%. That should afford the board with enough time to do a thorough search.
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  33. Do you really think anyone in their right mind would want to be superintendent in Norwalk? Do you really think anyone wants to take on the unions and the unbelievable nastiness toward anyone in central office? Think again. If Nast does not stop this infighting both from within the system and with parents, no one will want us. Those that will take on a broken system are broken themselves!
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  34. My read on this is there is nowhere to go but up! If I were a superintendent wanting to improve a system and leave a legacy, I would be interested in coming here. Many, many, many superintendents inherited messes that they turned around. Take a look at Baltimore and Washington DC.
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  35. I'm a former NHS parent, and my son graduated the year that Tony D. left to go back to central office. I remember that all of us parents in the audience gave him a standing ovation. That's how much we appreciated what he did for us as principal.
    To the person who said he all he cared about was the color of sports uniforms you are dead wrong. He stopped them from changing our uniforms to black and white. Everyone with any sense of tradition knows that Norwalk High's colors are supposed to be green and white. It wasn't a silly fashion issue as you make it sound like it was. He was helping NHS keep its identity.
    He also put us on the 8 period schedule that rotates. He was not just a seat warmer as our temporary principal.
    We were glad to have him. I appreciate all you keep doing for us Tony. Don't let the negative people get you down. You are a good man and we are lucky you are here with us still.
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  36. Well said, 9:50 AM. I second everything you just stated.
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  37. I'm sure the Asst. Supt. is a great guy-- don't know him. But I do know that I have to keep fighting the special ed director for everything my son needs-- and she reports to him. I know that my oldest boy goes to Norwalk High School where I'm just not convinced that the tanned guy with the nice hair knows how to run a large high school. Then again, the Asst. Supt. is supposed to be supervising him too.
    My point is that, I'm parent who's only had contact with the people this Asst. Super is supposed to be watching and they are each doing lousy jobs. That makes it hard for me to think that he should be promoted to supervise even more people.
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  38. Add to that the job he has done supervising the middle school principal who has been so controversial for years?
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  39. Who says the AS isn't supervising either one of them? Supervising also consists of supporting and letting the building administrator know where their weaknesses lie. The AS does that.
    I agree that the NHS building principal is doing a lousy job, but my understanding is that he was another good friend of Corda's. He was protected by the last superintendent. Now that he has tenure, good luck in getting rid of him! The other building administrator has had tenure a very long time. Folks have to understand that the unions go to any lengths to protect these people. Get it?
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  40. I've noticed a "blame Sal" theme among some postings on this blog. Sometimes a person can't blame him.

    The NHS principal doesn't have tenure in CT because it takes 4 years for someone new to Connecticut's schools, and this is only his 3rd in Connecticut. So you can take that excuse off the table.

    How do you know Corda protected this guy? Even if that is (were?) true, Corda has been gone all of this school year. Have you seen indications of any action taken since his departure?

    As for the middle school principal, if this principal is as big a problem as many claim, "supporting and letting the building administrator know" about weakness isn't enough. At some point -- long ago in this case -- a supervisor should take definitive action. It is appropriate to support for a while, but this has been going on for a long time.
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  41. Corda and the NHS principal were golf buddies. That's how I know.
    As for the middle school principal, Lang was the one to take care of that mess. She did nothing. Before her it was Ramos. He did nothing. Corda should have acted on both. He certainly did nothing. He certainly would not let anyone else take action against his golf buddy. That is a well known fact downtown.
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  42. TD was (and still is) in charge of secondary schools, and so he, not Dr. Lang, was the person responsible.

    As stated in the earlier posting, Corda has been gone for quite a few months, certainly enough for someone to change direction and to initiate needed action. The NHS principal is not tenured. If he is a problem (and I don't know if he is or not), it is much easier to address it now than after his fourth year, when he will be tenured.

    Regardless of who was responsible in previous years, what is the reason for not taking action against the middle school principal or anyone else now?
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  44. B - U - L - L

    How about doing more than talking about accountability? How about modeling it?
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  45. I used to have a rule back in the days of yourct.com that I would not read or contribute to the blog because I thought it was such a source of negativity. I have to admit that I got sucked into responding on the norwalknet.com blog when the union presidents delivered that letter to the BOE a few weeks back. It seemed like a safe place to express the absolute angst I was feeling over that action. Just look at this thread, and you will see how far from safe and how close to toxic a blog with anonymous identities can actually be. I will not be reading or responding to this blog anymore. I hope that many of my colleagues will do the same. This blog is not a news source because the comments by the bloggers have turned this potential news source into a vicious rumor mill where we offer one another up to the public as human sacrifices. We are dishonoring ourselves by participating in this blog. It divides us all more than it could ever potentially bring us together. Here is a call to action to my fellow colleagues: Let's all do ourselves a favor and work collaboratively to solve our problems instead of getting pulled into this dysfunctional forum. We'd be best served by owning our comments and attaching our public identity to our views. It's our best chance of saving our school system and perserving our professional relationships. If some of the parents feel the need for the blog, so they can continue these witch hunts, let them have it. But let us not continue to take part in this very public spectacle. Let's take the high road. That is my wish for all of our well- being. I am going back to my original rule, and that means no more blogging for me. I want to be about the business of finding solutions, not creating problems.
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  46. AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As a former Norwalk parent and a current administrator, I agree.

    I started out reading this blog as a legitimate news source. I actually like Moina's reporting. But this has deteriorated to the level of yourct.com with anonymous name calling, innuendo and mudslinging, and now it feels like we're sending Christians to the lions at the coliseum.

    Let's pull together, everyone, for the sake of our kids and the system. No more.
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  47. Good to see that once the third floor of city hall realizes that the public knows the truth about their lack of direction and leadership, they decide that they will take their ball home and not play any more.
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  48. 6:25 Anon, you don't hear so well do you? Guess that makes you part of the problem not part of the solution. Pearls before swine, buddy. Pearls before swine.
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  49. 5:57, you said it well. Perhaps in fear for our careers and positions, some of us can't sign our names. Then we should all just stay away. I for one will not be reading or participating any more. I am sorry to see how vicious these threads have gotten. People have been pulled apart before they have even gotten a chance. Let's not be part of the problem, let's be part of the solution.
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  50. Anyone who would be foolish enough to be used by a dysfunctional system is dysfunctional himself.

    I have met Daddona and I was not impressed at all. I think he has himself and his cronies far above the needs of ALL children. He is getting played the way he plays the children outside of cronyville.

    He may be a nice person to some, but we need unselfish educators who are not afraid to stand alone and put the children (ALL OF THEM) first.
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  51. More mudslinging, 3:39 PM?

    It is a disgrace that the educational topics that relate to the learning in the schools have so few comments and the mudslinging comments are so plentiful.


    This forum has turned into a poor front for ruining people's careers. Shame on all of you!
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