Saturday, April 26, 2014

Unit A General Meeting on May 2nd


To all members of the NBEA past and present, concerned parents and students:

At 3:15 on Friday, May 2nd, Unit A members will meet at Keith Middle School to determine if the climate of fear identified in December 2013 has been rectified by the existing school administration, school committee and mayor. If you feel that violence remains prevalent and fear for our students and educators, please show your support by wearing red and uniting outside of the building. This will mean more to existing educators of NPBS as well as those who have voluntarily or "involuntarily" retired or left the system than you can ever know. It will send a message to elected officials that violence and bullying are unacceptable in any of our schools. It will let school officials know that we want better for our children and the New Bedford Public Schools .... 

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can't wait for the meeting on Friday, May 2. We all need to be there as this is only the beginning for Pia's road to destruction. Everyone's job is on the line maybe not this year but perhaps next year.

Vote of No Confidence in Pia, Mayor, and School Committee.

NBEA STAND STRONG AND UNITED.

Anonymous said...

This is a message to Lou St. John... Dr. Durkin has not crafted her message yet so the nb ed association better get on the ball and craft theirs. Start with Teacher, student, and parent profiles spotlighting the GREAT work of NB educators. No negativity only positives! there are so many shining stars with great "data" behind them- Beat her at her own game. she has absolutely no PR skills.
The best way to oust her will be to prove we are great system in dire need of Great leadership.

Anonymous said...

Lou,

I can't begin to express how scary this is for many of our students. Their world is being turned upside down. Everything that is familiar to them is being snatched away. There is no consistency and they and feel unsafe, as well. I recently had a student say that she and her classmates hate their new teacher because he does not understand their needs or have the patience to spend individual learning time with them. This teacher is just a warm body in a classroom of chaos, and one of durkin's new hires.

It takes a very special person to be a teacher. We provide multiple roles because our kids come to us with a lot of baggage. Our students are crying out for help just as the teachers are. These conditions are affecting teaching and learning. Durkin is obviously not the right person for the job. She should save face and throw in the towel. She won't because she wants her pension to reflect her last three years. Durkin has destroyed almost one full year and that time cannot be recovered. This is not a joke.

Again, it takes a special person to be a teacher.

Anonymous said...

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Time to lower the drawbridge, open the gate, and charge into a world brimming with fire-breathing dragons.
Lend me your ears and I will share with you the treachery committed by Mayor Mitchell, School Committee, and Superintendent Durkin. They do not deserve our trust and will betray us before the night is through. Each one is suspect and no one is safe in this mystery of medieval madness.
You will soon figure out that there is a lot more at stake, for teaching in this manner is punishable by death. Whether you are guilty or not, they will be there trying to finger you as the culprit, and only you can defend your innocence.
As a resident of the manor, you are not only invited to be there, but your attendance is required by the request of the NBEA.

Anonymous said...

I hope the press has been told about the meeting and they camp outside. And I hope teachers, not just Lou, step forward and speak the truth about the disastrous job Durkin has done!!!

Anonymous said...

Let's see if the Standard Times sends a real reporter and not just a columnist who has already proven himself to be a Durkin apologist.

Anonymous said...

Can someone post a copy of the superintendent's contract so the entire city can at least try to understand why the mayor and sc are shying from doing the deed necessary to get this district going in the right direction? It has to be a public document. Surely transparency is the best policy. Is her contract a secret?

Anonymous said...

Enhanced hiring and firing?

Weakening seniority?

Having free rein to replace an experienced teacher with a rookie?

And, if you can sell the public that creating a revolving door of young teachers actually will improve the quality of instruction (despite the existence of considerable evidence to the contrary)?

The watch dog said...


To paraphrase Big Papi:

"This is our school system."
We have and will continue to be there for the children. Let's get rid of Pia and the other carpetbaggers. The same goes for Jon "comb over" Mitchell. Before becoming mayor, did he even live in New Bedford?

Anonymous said...

Slay those dragons!

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't count on the standard times for anything!
Let's hope ABC 6 shows up!

Anonymous said...

Why is this advertised on FB as an open meeting when it is Unit A only?

Anonymous said...

Lou - Could you please clarify for the membership what a vote of "No Confidence" would accomplish?

Anonymous said...

Google it Lou can't do all the work all the time...

Anonymous said...

Seriously? Many of us are well aware of what the term means. The question still remains what will it accomplish? Do you see pia stepping down? ?? If the goal is to get the membership to attend and vote then it is our leadership's responsibility to answer questions. Last I knew that leader was Lou. Your snide comment was unnecessary.

Anonymous said...

^ call him and ask him.

Anonymous said...

VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE...WAY PAST DUE!