Thursday, June 27, 2013

Lou St. John's Speech at the Save Our Schools Rally

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The following is a list of New Bedford Public School employees whose jobs were eliminated.

12 Elementary Special Education Teachers

12 English Teachers

12 Math Teachers

5 Science Teachers

9 Social Studies Teachers

4 World Language Teachers

12 Secondary Special Education Teachers

2 Business Teachers

6 Computer Teachers

4 Health and Physical Education Teachers

2 Librarians

2 Guidance Counselors

5 Crisis Counselors

1 Attendance Officer

6 Fine Arts Teachers

4 IMC Assistants

4 Nurses

10 Administrators

20 Custodians

9 Secretaries

and

51 Paraprofessionals

This list does not include positions that are vacant and are not being filled next school year.
  
Fellow Educators and Friends,
  
$109 Million Dollars is not enough to operate New Bedford Public Schools. If it were, we would not be losing all the positions that I just listed.

We are not here to support one school over another, one department over another, one program over another – We’re here to support our entire school system.

We’re here to ask the mayor, school committee and the City Council to support and properly fund all of our schools.

How can we as a school system, provide our students with the educational services they need and deserve when we are losing so many dedicated educators and support staff?

Minimum Net School Spending is just THAT! It’s the minimum a school system gets to operate.  That isn’t enough.
  
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Our school system needs more financial support from the City.

Educators have been subsidizing our school system’s budget for to long. Educators are spending hundreds, and some, thousands of dollars, of their own money buying supplies and technology for their classrooms.

This should not be the case.

Many or our schools are using outdated books or do not have not enough books, and in some cases, have no books.

This should not be the case.

If it means raising taxes – raise taxes. It’s been years since the City has raised taxes – but each year operating costs have risen.
  
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Recently, two school committee persons and the United Interfaith Political Action Group pushed the Innovation School down our throats.

They said that these schools would be cost neutral.

Yet, they never once asked the innovation school proponents one simple question? How much is this school going to cost?

Cost Neutral, they said. Really? How is having two principals at Gomes School Cost neutral?

Ladies and Gentlemen:

How is it fair that every other school in the district is facing drastic cuts – that people across our district are losing their jobs but the innovation school is hiring?

They will still be offering all the wonderful things they promised at the expense of every other child and teacher in the district.

Bottom line: We shouldn’t be creating new schools when just two days ago we were talking about the possibility closing 3 small schools.
  
Ladies and gentlemen:

Where are the innovation school supporters? Why aren’t they here today to rally to support our schools?

Why are they all of a sudden quiet?

Where is the United Interfaith Political Action Group?

Where is the Education Roundtable?

Why aren’t they writing letters to the Standard Times asking the School Committee and the City Council to properly fund our Schools?

Ladies and gentlemen:

Why are we spending millions of dollars on a Charter School that hasn’t produced any results – but instead siphons our financial resources?

Why is the media ignoring these facts?

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am not here to criticize the City Council. They are right to ask questions. In fact, they would be irresponsible if they did not to ask questions.

They want information. They deserve it.

They want budget transparency. They deserve it.

They have a responsibility to the Citizens of New Bedford.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone of them. They have supported New Bedford Educators in the past and I have no doubt they will continue to support us in the future.

I would like to thank the City Council for restoring the $4 million that had originally been cut and hope that they will provide us with additional financial resources so that our students get the educational services they need.

I would like to thank Mayor Mitchell, Dr. Larry Finnerty, Dr. John Fletcher, Mr. Bruce Oliveira, and Mr. Jack Nobrega, who voted in favor of allowing a committee of the City Council to meet at least quarterly with the School Committee Finance Committee to discuss the School Department budget throughout the year.

This agreement is definitely a step in the right direction. It will give the Council a better sense of the school department and it will make, in my opinion, the budget process more inclusive and transparent.

This move, I believe, will better serve our schools.

I am disappointed however, that Marlene Pollock and Jack Livramento voted against this common sense proposal.

I’m not sure what their agendas are but certainly their votes Tuesday night did not help our children, educators, and New Bedford Public Schools.

I would like to thank you for coming here today to support the children of New Bedford – to support those educators and support personnel who are losing their jobs.

And to ask the Mayor, the School Committee and the City Council to properly fund our schools.


In closing I’d like to say I am proud of our school system and will do everything in my power to support our children and educators.

8 comments:

Joanne Maura said...

Lou, thank you for a very inspiring speech, may I add, very well delivered. Let's hope this recent unfolding turn of events serves as a wakeup call to those whose heads are still in the sand when it comes to "hidden" agendas!

Anonymous said...

Well said. Fight against any raises at PRAB and keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Why are the a handful of arts teachers more important than : 12 Elementary Special Education Teachers

12 English Teachers

12 Math Teachers

5 Science Teachers

9 Social Studies Teachers

4 World Language Teachers

12 Secondary Special Education Teachers

2 Business Teachers

6 Computer Teachers

4 Health and Physical Education Teachers

2 Librarians

2 Guidance Counselors

5 Crisis Counselors

1 Attendance Officer



4 IMC Assistants

4 Nurses

10 Administrators

20 Custodians

9 Secretaries

Anonymous said...

Terrific speech. We are luck to have a great president like you working hard for us. Keep up the good work Lou.

Enjoy, relax, and unwind this summer as you deserve it.

Thank you for all that you do for us.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Lou! You are a rock star!

Anonymous said...

So teachers put on a rally and the Standard Times doesn't even cover the event. That paper sucks.

Anonymous said...

The arts cover all classes from K-high school. They are not more important than any other teacher but they teach the entire school population. My kids need the arts to succeed.

Anonymous said...

Well said.....does anyone know of a list on which educators we are losing?