UPDATE: 10/4/06
Read the article the today’s Milford Daily News Here
Upton's crowd of crybabies were out in force last night. They want what they want, when they want it and screw anyone who has a different opinion. They will dismantle the school district over $180,000. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.
Wahhhh. Get a life.
Who raised this entitlement generation anyway?
They want a joint town meeting so they can get Mendon residents in a room and insult them and then FORCE them to pay for their dream school. Will the school committee cave in to this suicidal request? There are only a few thick skins on that committee. All it will take is one weak member from Mendon and we will have our own version of the Hatfields and McCoys. Stay tuned.
The new Super Duper isn’t helping much. He panders to the spoiled brat parents and gets them all worked up. They actually believe that their children are forced to use 30-year-old textbooks. This Fernandes guy is going to be a huge problem.
Hats off to Jay Byer and Judy Leonelli for attempting to point out the obvious but it probably fell on deaf ears. They WANT WHAT THEY WANT> Whaaaaaa.
28 comments:
Since the override passed in Upton with little problem, and they are determined to get the funding, perhaps they should schedule another vote to see if the taxpayers will pony up the additional $180,000.00 to fulfill the wish list for this year.
I heard that there were 3 parents from Upton at the meeting. I don't think 3 people from Upton really lives up to the "Out in Force" billing. As for the separating the district It would be a huge mistake. Way too costly. Imagine duplicating all the services, i.e. Special Ed, Administration etc. I know it make a "sexy" news story but it is not a very productive story. As for Fernandes, the guy has been on the job for 2 months. He has reached out to many including the Mendon Fin Com and I personally think you should back off and see what he can do. If in fact you support education give the guy a shot and save your herding of scapegoats for later, if neccessary. One thing that is for certain when you read the blogs it seems very clear that some "cry babies" including Mr. Gardens, will never be happy.
No crying from this corner. We are very pleased with much of what goes on in Mendon including the quality of our shared school system.
Mr. Fernandes needs to learn a few basics. He should be learning in a low profile mode in these early months. His immediate championing of the original override in his first 2 weeks on the job sent up a red flag that his mind set might be: “Just give us your money because we are smarter than you”
Mr. Fernandes absurd public statement about the Jimmy Carter textbooks and subsequent failure to correct that statement indicates that the first red flag may be correct and that Mr. Fernandes is not above lying to get what he wants. We consider that a huge problem.
HG
I think to override should die but....I don't think you need to insult the new Super just because he backed a request for an override to the budget that began before he even arrived. He had to rely on the existing admin that this override was warranted. Lets see what he does next year before bashing him. He might have overstated the textbook age, but my son has a book that is 10 years old for history, I think some important things have happened in the last 10 years.
Gee, Mr. Fernandes didn't respond to you blathering? I wonder why? If you really want to know, go to him and ask. I would guess he doesn't have time for the blogs.
Hey HG, I think you are a tad over the top with your criticism of Mr. Fernandes. Yes he did come in and carry the party line for his people with regard the override but put yourself in his position.
He became the CEO of a $24 million dollar public entity with a funding request already in progress. A good CEO relies on his people to inform and advise. My guess is that he was told this was necessary and a slam-dunk and supported it on that basis. What would you do if your obligation is to provide the best possible education product for 2 towns? My guess is you would do the same.
Although I disagree with bringing back a lesser amount for the second vote he probably felt he had no choice at that point. It was a public relations mistake that fed the ambient negative feelings about public funding of any kind. Live and learn.
The posters who are asking you to give him a chance to get a handle on all the controls are right. It’s not an easy task. Anytime your job is defined by students, parents, unions, taxpayers and their conflicting demands you have your hands full. I think a year is a reasonable amount of time to allow him before you can begin to assess how well he is doing.
And the Jimmy Carter textbook thing is a non-starter. I can tell you about making statements that get blown out of proportion. My daughter is using an English composition textbook that was published in 1981. If memory serves, Jimmy Carter was President until January 20th 1981.
Dale Pleau
I need to point out that English grammar should not have changed in the past 25 years. The usage of the English/American language has changed, but grammar and its correct usage should remain constant.
I agree that English composition is a constant and I am sure that students will not suffer using a 25-year-old textbook for that subject. The first copyright on the book was 1965.
My point was that students are still using textbooks that were written in the Carter era and I think Mr. Fernandes point was the same. The way he phrased it and the way the press picked it up made it seem like and absurd statement. No one gets to Mr. Fernandes’ position by making absurd statements. I am willing to give the man a pass and reserve my judgment for a year. How about you?
Dale Pleau
Fernandes lives in town. It is not like he didn't know what atmosphere he was stepping into. He knew what he was doing when he signed on the dotted line for more money than what Daigle was making. That extra money (16.5k) would have paid for the 8th grade basketball program (8k with 1/2 self-supporting)and paid for some new text books.
It looks like the public is more "educated" on the subject then HG and realize that Fernandes inherited an override request and did what his position is supposed to do, support it. I think everyone realizes you can't condemn him in the first couple of months, not sure why HG doesn't understand that.
Secondly...looks like the Carter era book has surfaced thanks to Dale, time for an apology again HG. How many false accusations have you made now in the past year??? I guess living in Mendon, you are accustomed to making false charges against those in the public eye.
RIFF RAFF - I believe they hired the best person that was available for the salary they thought was fair, Fernandes does not sign his own check so blame the school committee. Middle school Basketball should pay it's own way like every other sport at that age level. I don't know why we are even discussing that?
Riff, I never implied that he didn't know what the atmosphere was in Mendon.
You got in your dig about his salary and made my point about ambient negative feelings with regard to public funding.
Dale Pleau
I am not blaming Fernandes for getting more money. I was simply trying to point out that when you pay more somewhere you have to make cuts other places.
This is why basketball for the younger high school students is being cut and why their is less money for the textbooks.
Riff Raff
Riff: Don't you think you oversimplify when you trade on item for another. I would think it is more of a cumulative effect. Such as we may have gotten a Literacy specialist or a part time teacher in exchange for the increased salary. I think the bottom line was you don't get a good superintendent for less than what we are paying. Paul was doing us a favor and as I recall reading somewhere Mr. Fernandes is making less than he was in Dedham so he actually took a cut in pay. Let's move on.
Last comments on this.
Yes,it is a little over simplified.
However, if you spend more for something you need to take from somewhere else, get more money, or cut something. I chose to bring up what is being cut and was categorized as "criminal".
Dedham is a larger school system.
Riff: Acording to MA DOE you are wrong:
Dedham: 2897
Mendon-Upton 2809
The systems are about the same.
Wow, I quess we really do have more kids to deal with.
Isn't 2897 actually larger then 2809?
To Anon 4:34 You are right but that is not what I meant. All I wanted to say is that the districts are essentially the same in size and require the same kind of executive at the top. The "more kids" was about more kids in our district than we have had in the past....way more than when I was in school not that long ago. The district is changing rapidly and we should change with it.
Side by Side comparison:
Dedham / Mendon Upton:
Students: 2897 / 2809
Teachers: 254 / 184
Public Schools:7 / 4
2004 Day Program Expenditures:
28.3 million / 17.5 million
This info was also on the Mass DOE site. They are close, but not as close as the student body count would lead you to believe.
wait a minute... You mean to tell me that Jimmy Carter is NOT the president?
Love those baby pictures! And let's not forget that the Patriots play Denver tomorrow night - a little retribution is in order.
What's with the irrelevant sports references on these threads. I know we all find it hard to stay on point as it is, but really.....
Lighten up!
They are distracting. Please find a sports blog. We can bring back comment moderation but hope you will respect the request.
HG
It looks like the public is more "educated" on the subject then HG and realize that Fernandes inherited an override request and did what his position is supposed to do, support it. I think everyone realizes you can't condemn him in the first couple of months, not sure why HG doesn't understand that.
Secondly...looks like the Carter era book has surfaced thanks to Dale, time for an apology again HG. How many false accusations have you made now in the past year??? I guess living in Mendon, you are accustomed to making false charges against those in the public eye.
Still waiting for an answer HG or are you going to keep ignoring it because you are wrong again! You can dish it out, but can YOU take it!
I don't want HG to take it....I would rather see him temper is "opinion" with a little reality. Anybody notice our mcas scores? We are getting the deal of a lifetime on our schools, They are absolutely doing more with less. We should give them a big wet kiss and maybe a little more money.
You can end this HG, just apologize. You demanded proof about old books and when it surfaced you are no where to be found. Save what little credability you have and admit you were wrong!!!
We feel given the context and timing of Mr. Fernandes statement about the Jimmy Carter textbook that his intent was to shock the voters and the selectmen with regard to the override.
However, the book apparently exists and is in use even if it is a grammar textbook. Mr. Fernandes was technically correct. His statement would have had more impact and sounded less farcical if he had just said: “We have students using textbooks that were written 25 years ago”.
All that said this is in no way intended as an apology. We have been tough on the new Super and some of the points made on this thread about our treatment of him are valid.
We will defer to those of you who feel he needs more time and reserve our comments. That does not mean we will be silent about the schools and his performance but we will join those of you who feel his first report card should wait until next year.
HG
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