Monday, May 11, 2015

Our View: Durkin's budget needs unanimous support

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Add Pacheco and Congdon to the list of principals leaving. I think that makes 9 principals in 1 year. How the school committee can extend Durkin's contract is beyond me.

Anonymous said...

The superintendent will not need as much money as she may think for teacher's payroll next year. A record number of accomplished teachers are applying elsewhere and anywhere, and will jetison in a New York minute if at all possible. Teachers are at the point where the money is secondary.They have seen their quality of life deteriorate to levels that are unhealthy, and are beside themselves even thinking about coming back for another year. PRAB Administration and the SC are in denial about the state of affairs. Keep asking for those surveys!!!! It will get worst long before it ever gets better. Employees are still feeling the sting of the culture and climate coming from the administration and SC that started two years ago. Your teachers remain quiet because they fear for their jobs, and having a job, lets face it, is better than not for most. Your teachers are voting their displeasure on SchoolSpring. Other districts know that a NB teacher brings an incredible amount of content and behavioral experience with them and and feel lucky to have the luxury of an interview. The new teachers coming in won't last and will count the days until they too can leave. New recycled teachers will have to be tossed out in the same manner that brought them here.

Anonymous said...

Our union must demand more than a decent wage to retain our highly competent teachers. The post about the quality of life is not an exaggeration. The working conditions at the elementary level are outrageous with no relief in sight.

Anonymous said...

Just because you get more money means it's alright to be treated like sh........t

Anonymous said...

The union has nothing to do with keeping competent teachers. Competent teachers are stressed out and getting whacked from all sides. Wait till all the new principals are it place across the district and being battered on a regular basis by PRAB. We all know what runs down hill. The teachers are at the bottom. Expect less than favorable reviews, even if you've working crazy hours. There will be no pleasing this group because behavioral problems will still exist in the classroom no matter what. Students will continue to under-perform because they don't care, and they know from experience that they will be moving on. Students and parents get more kudos than the teachers from this group of leaders. Parents, please take the survey, and lets take a couple whacks at the teachers.

Anonymous said...

Those principals should have gone to the kiss ass principals to see what their secrets are to get over on the super.

Anonymous said...

Think about it. The students get free breakfast, free lunch, a watered-down curriculum, padded grades, arbitrarily promoted. and before you know it, free dinner.The only thing that is not supplied are books, activity materials, or other materials that teachers need or request. Instead of putting the dollars in the areas for the biggest bang, overhead jobs continue to get created and filled. I'd be cautious about approving any budget that is being floated.

Anonymous said...

The mayor and the school committee needs to put a end to this request for more money till at least 6 PRAB administrators are let go.


At the salary we are paying the super ,let her do the job of 6 like she expects teachers to do.

Anonymous said...

What is beyond my comprehension is that everyone including New Bedford politicians are aware of the mass turnover of teachers and administrators between last year and the current SY and yet those incumbents keep quiet and seek to reward Durkin for her performance. Shame on the Mayor, City Council and the School Commitee for their lack of leadership! The city of NB will pay dearly in years to come due to their malfeasance.

Anonymous said...

Watch the number of resignations that occur in late July and August when many teachers are on the move and struggling districts are just trying to put "warm" bodies in the classroom. The school districts that are the lesser of two evils win. The hiring criteria gets lower the closer the school year nears. The superintendent does not want the same result she witnessed at NBHS this year, that is not being able to fill vacant positions. So expect difficulties all over the district filling positions with good to great teachers. The sperintendent should have gotten clobbered on that one. Anyone with half a brain does not want to end up in this district no matter how it is spun by the administrators, and believe me it will be spun. The word has long been out, NB is not a good place to build a career. Applicants will apply here because they cannot get a job in other districts. The newbies will try to sell that being part of a turnaround plan is rewarding and their mission. Once hired this vision will last about a month and a half. If I can predict this, why can't our leaders?

Anonymous said...

The mayor is a smart guy, that is why he voted no on the budget. The others, well you can decide. The mayor gets it but he is powerless in the DESE and superintendent's relationship. Won't look good if he undermines the superintendent at this time. The superintendent is a smooth talker, much more polished than the mayor, but don't underestimate his skill as a politician. As the scores decline regardless of the money spent, the mayor will build his political capital, and "welcome to the front row."

Anonymous said...

Leadership. Remember the Titanic had a leader.

Anonymous said...

When the Human Capital Resource Officer was asked if "there was a pattern of concern" with so many resignations and principals leaving the district... her one word answer?

No.

Anonymous said...

The HCRO likes to pay her bills and have spending money. Likely a huge increase over her last job. She is not crazy enough to jeopardize her job and salary and say something that is off-point. Others that have done so have probably met with ugly results. In a world where honesty and integrity matters less and less, do you expect candor? Let's not be that naive. Time also reveals the truth, and whether or not people making the decisions today are around when it all come due and hits the fan is the gamesmanship challenge that people in power play.

Anonymous said...

Now this administration intends to change the start of the school year? Why is everything last minute or worse? Why does the school committee think this disregard for the lives of teachers is good leadership? This type of change should not occur until 2016-2017. Is there a place in Massachusetts that treats their teachers worse than New Bedford? I can't find one.

Anonymous said...

When is the start date?