Arthur was educated in New Bedford Public Schools and even played football for NBHS -he went to UMASS then the University of Michigan - he obtained his Master's and CAGS from Bridgewater State - he has worked for NBPS for 42 years - he taught bilingual education and sixth grade at the Cook School (original Carney Academy) with Dr. Herb Waters and then 6th grade at Hannigan - he became a school supervisor for Dr. Florence Mahon - then he became a principal at 31 years old at Hannigan School - he is now 67 yrs old - he has worked for 8 superintendents and for Mayors Lawler, Tierney, Rogers, Kalisz, Bullard and Lang - he has not had any negative evaluations…only praise - he has never had any incident of complaint from parents or staff - he is one of the only principals that has for the past 42 years paid union dues because he believes in the positive power of contractual discussion - Arthur is also certified as a teacher, a supervisor, a principal, a director, a superintendent, a counselor, and an Adult Education teacher and principal - on the side....I heard that she just wanted him out to make room for some one else as he has "old and able to retire".
Since Dr. Portia Bonner has been superintendent - she has never visited his building to observe him or his teachers - in fact, at principals meetings - she would not even acknowledge him or say hello - she has belittled the Sea Lab Program and has criticized our curricula which is praised internationally and nationally -
This past year, Dr. Bonner told the principals at a principals meeting that Mr. Dutra and 3 other principal would share their strategies and best practices that he had followed with the teachers of the Hannigan School in order to achieved AYP status - in fact, Hannigan's scores in the MCAS place it among the highest in NB - she never asked him personally, just said that he would do it - no thank you or praise for his work
Arthur's 3 year contract was over this year - so New Bedford's present School Superintendent, Dr. Portia Bonner was suppose to evaluate him - she changed the date and time twice - on the third time, she met with him - he was told to bring his evidence of Dr. Bonner's 12 points of evaluation - she reviewed his work and actually took some for dissemination - during his evaluation - she never indicated that he would not be returning or that she would not renew his contract -
His evaluation was always good and if anyone wants to read it - They are welcome to.
For Arthur to bring legal ramifications against the superintendent - it would leave him in litigation for a long period of time - and, since he is battling cancer - he needs medical insurance - and some type of pay- so he isn't going to fight her decision, which is so cruel and disheartening
Arhtur doesn't need to be denied the choice of leaving when he wants to - he has brought nothing but praise for NBPS and he deserves respect not humiliation
If Dr. Portia Bonner had spoken with him not to him in a patronizing and dismissive manner, he probably would have stayed for another year and then retired.
This is a sad time for NBPS - there have been two principals non-renewed (Arthur and the principal of Ashley school)- 3 or 4 principals moved from their schools to another school - we have no Deputy Supt (Dr. Souza retiring), no Curriculum Supt. (Dr. Winn retiring), New Bedford High School principal, gone, no Lincoln School principal, two department heads retiring, Steve Lamarche and John Gomes retiring - We've lost the principal of Gomes School) and Joanne Mello-Hodgson (Lincoln) - and, now Arthur - what a mess!
We are in a state of turmoil, anger, anxiety, and everyone is suspicious of each other.
Why is the school committee allowing her to turn NBPS inside out? - "buy her out" - I can think of 3 positions which are totally unnecessary and would fund her buy out.
Arthur has been a loyal employee and has brought nothing but pride to NBPS - he should be allowed to finish his career on his own terms - the decision to not renew his contract should be revoked - he is heart broken - but such a gentleman, that he would never say or do anything to dishonor the New Bedford School Department
Sent By Eddie L. Johnson
18 comments:
I have known Mr. Dutra for a number of years and not only is he a great person but he is also a great principal.
It saddens me that the school committee is allowing this to happen.
Arthur is not the only principal that Portia Bonner has hurt. The principal of Lincoln School has been mistreated by Portia from day one. Why, because she can.
I have a feeling that things are only going to get worse. I bet most of the principals (not the suck ups) are trembling.
Is this her way of getting even with the school committee?
The word is that, with the exception of Jill Ussach, she depises the mayor and the school committee.
In my opinion, Jill has done a nice job of blindly supporting Portia. Say it ain't so, Jill.
In my 20+ years, I've never seen the school department in such a mess.
What about the children? Has the committee forgotten about them?
Let's start with this, the simple fact that Principal Arthur Dutra's contract has not been renewed is in one word "ludicrous". There are so many other appropriate adjectives that I will not begin to list them, nor waste your time.
Arthur Dutra, along with Simone Bourgeois have for so many years taken on all of the responsibilities of reviewing student applications, testing, interviews, and acceptance for each new summer program. In truth, it will take four times the number of people to do the same amount of work that this team of two have done for all the years SeaLab has been operating.A few years ago, when inquiries about overhauling the application process to allow more minority access to SeaLab, one of the conditions that concerned us all was the added work that would be put on Arthur and Simone. To which they both responded, "We do this work because we love too, it is not a concern". Replace that attitude? I think not!
At the same time Arthur has been Principal of the Hannigan School, working in a building that was crumbling around him. Where despite being told of conditions unacceptable, the school department choose to ignore those conditions until the building began to come apart. At which time the decision was made to shift the largest part of those students to the SeaLab building. This made running two different and divergent programs from one building. When SeaLab is done for the summer packing up of one school begins, and the rollout of another commences. The opposite happens when June rolls around, and it's time to begin another summer of SeaLab. But that doesn't include administering both programs simultaneously to make a successful and seamless transition happen. Now add to that the reality of building the new Hannigan over the existing shell of SeaLab, and one can see the importance of Arthur Dutra's connection to all this.
In the years that I have known, and worked with Arthur at Sea Lab, no one has done more to advance that program, brought both national and international recognition for what our children are taught. Institutions of higher learning have connected and become part of both the curriculum and the staff.
Where else can children from New Bedford be taught by incredibly gifted scientists and researchers in the Marine Science Field? To be blunt, nowhere!
I have spoken to people involved with Marine and other sciences from around the country. Many of those people have heard of, and some have witnessed SeaLab in New Bedford, MA. Others, when I speak about the program, the connections, the ability and capability of SeaLab express the wish that such a program existed for their children, and in their school system.
Arthur Dutra is that program.
In closing, we all knew that one day Mr. Dutra would choose to end his work at SeaLab and in the New Bedford School system, but that was always a time we hoped would be long in coming, and moreover done at Arthur's choice. In Eddie's letter it spoke of health concerns, and the ramifications that govern Arthur's choice to "go quietly".
We as parents of students, as administrators of this school system, as School Committee members, and as lovers of educating children like no other program can, need not go quietly, and I hope will not.
Dave Babcock, parent of two graduates of Sea Lab.
New Bedford
Typical Eddie Johnson smears. Lots of bluster and rumors that " I have heard." Arthur is a gentleman who deserves the greatest respect. However, to claim his medical ins is at risk is outrageous. To claim that all regular retirements mentioned are part of turmoil is also outrageous. And, finally, many recognize that certain Sea Lab folks have long considered themselves untouchables. They do not own the darn place.
Sea Lab began in 1969. Since then, the program has moved four times. The staff has used their cars, trucks to pack and move furniture, supplies, laboratory equipment. The last move was supposed to be in 2005 to a permanent Sea Lab site built on New Bedford taxpayers' money. The building was turned over to the school department when it was completed. It was built for the purpose of marine education and as a science center. As the parent of two Sea Lab students, I think the building is a wonderful complement to NBPS and the staff does take ownership in it as they have worked 40+ years to have a permanent site. The staff is polite, welcoming, and complementary. My children did exceptionally well in science in regular school due to the Sea Lab progrm and the staff who run it.
Eddie is right. Who will she target next?
Isnt Eddie the one who claimed Sea Lab was racist?
No one can deny Arthur Dutra is a gentleman. He is also a fine administrator of SeaLab. One cannot say, however, that he devotes the same energy and attention to the Hannigan School. Just as Bonner has not visited his school, the same can be said about Arthur Dutra. He never enters a classroom, cannot name 1/20 of his students, could not identify his highest achieving students, and wouldn't have an educated clue about what to do with the struggling students. . Hannigan has always taken a back seat to Sea Lab and it is time the Hannigan school gets a principal who loves his school year school as much as he loves his summer school. From what I understand he wasn't let go from Sea Lab, he was let go from Hannigan. That in itself should tell something. Perception is everything Eddie, and until you spend time as a Hannigan student, you are only able to see one side of the man you wrote about.
As a John Hannigan School teacher located at Sea Lab, I greatly resent the insinuation made that Mr. Dutra takes no interest in the John Hannigan School. That is a lie stated by some person who apparently has never worked at the Hannigan School or even knows Mr. Dutra. Every morning, Mr. Dutra is at school at 7:15 AM - he greets every bus and every child individually with a "good morning" or a pleasant comment - he also does the same for his teachers as they begin the school day. The same ritual is done at the completion of the school day. To debate the issue of Hannigan or Sea Lab is ludicrous - as the Hannigan teachers and students are at Sea Lab from September to June whereas the Sea Lab is only a six-week summer program. The winter Sea Lab program has no interaction with Mr. Dutra. The person who indicated that to be a Hanngan student is missing out does not know and insults the principal and the teaching staff of the Hannigan School. Shame on you for maligning a fine principal who cares about his Hannigan students and his Sea Lab students in a fair and equitable manner.One forgets that the subject of this blog is unfair treatment to Mr. Dutra.
To the previous post. I agree with everything you said.
I heard Eddie on the radio Monday night talking about the way Dr. Bonner has treated Arthur Dutra.
How can Dr. Bonner be so cruel?
I had the priviledge to work for Mr. Dutra in mine earlier tenure with NBPS. By far one of the greatest administrators to grace the school system. He has truly dedicated his life to the NB community. He truly loves his students and CAN name his students... even decades back! I think this is a great loss to the system, as well as a slap in the face to first class person. For someone who has been so committed to the students in New Bedford, he should be given the opportunity to leave on his terms, when he's ready. School Committee check his personnel file, all glowing evaluations, comendations for his work, and national recognition for a stellar program in Sea Lab. Please right this wrong!
? How does Eddie know so much?
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