April 13, 2010
To the Editor:
It is with a renewed sense of hope for the future that we welcome the appointment of Dr. Mary Louise Francis as our new superintendent. We congratulate the New Bedford School Committee on making such a wise hiring decision. Dr. Francis understands our community, has a track record of accomplishment, and has always put the needs of our students first.
Dr. Francis has worked in the New Bedford school system for 25 years. She is a true professional who has earned the respect of all faculty and staff who have had the pleasure of working with her. She possesses a rare combination of strengths: the ability to listen and collaborate as well as the determination to make hard decisions as a leader. She is dynamic, open and fair.
The members of the New Bedford Educators Association know that we have a lot of challenges ahead of us. We face major budget cuts coupled with new state and federal mandates. We understand that difficult decisions will come before us but we do believe that our voices will be heard as we face the inevitable struggles ahead.
Rather than focus on those struggles today, however, we would like to extend to Dr. Francis our heartfelt congratulations. We, at the NBEA, are looking forward to working with her in a spirit of mutual trust and respect.
Lou St. John, President
New Bedford Educators Association
16 comments:
Happy to see the NBEA link back on the NBPS Homepage!! It sends a positive message......
Lou, you've done a great job. Really.
If Mary Lou proves to be the same caliber of leader to the NBPS as you are to the NBEA, this district is headed for wonderful things.
We're all lucky to have you. You're eloquent and honorable.
To Lou!
Thank you New Bedford School Committee for having the courage to do the right thing.
I've known Dr. Francis for a number of years and in my opinion she is just what New Bedford needs to move our system forward.
Thank you Tom Clark. The teachers support you.
Reading the newspaper is like going through the looking glass. It is scary to note how out of touch and uninformed many commentators and letter writers are. If you bring up race, politics, or conspiracy you need no proof , you can slander at will.
In regards to the last responder: It would be greatly appreciated if, when you make a comment about someone slandering another individual concerning race, politics, etc., you mention just what slanderous material has been stated...and furthermore, if you are talking about written material, I believe the correct term is libel and not slander.
You may believe that, but slander can be written. I find that the broad charge, seen, for example, in the Costa and Dias letters and the quotes from Coward, all in the paper in the past week, charge race bias against the school system but offer not a shred of evidence or even point toward a single, identifiable circumstance of such bias manifesting.
to borrow from John Grisham and his book "A Time To Kill", picture Portia Bonner, superintendent of schools. Picture her autonomous leadership, caustic treatment of any and all who disagreed with her, her failure to communicate with her bosses, the schools and the community at large. Can you see her, sharp in your mind? Now picture her white. Would you ask for her resignation? The only ones who are making it about race, are those who are racist themselves!
Jill Ussach was on the radio today claiming to be a mediator. I thought we elected her to be a school committee person. Unless I'm mistaken, Jill, that means you should be making decisions that benefit our kids. In my opinion all you've done for the last year is support a Superintendent that didn't know what she was doing.
Shame on you. I can't wait to vote you out!
Jill Ussach you supported Bonner inspite of the fact that she was unfair to school department employees and you knew it. Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll never vote for Jill Ussach again.
Me too.
Jill, who you foolin. You lived in her pocket.
I hope Dr. Francis cuts the globe trotting principal that got an extra week of vacation in Cape Verde!
The building runs better without her!
Bonner tried to blackmail the school committee
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