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EverettsPride
Advanced Member
1140 Posts |
 Posted - 05/14/2007 : 1:29:51 PM
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Does anyone know what would have to be done to take total power over FFF's job from the school committee? I do not think it is right that he has set himself up so that all of his buddies will keep him employed no matter what. Can't our elected officials draw up something to take the power from the puppets? Any ideas? Even in the future when he retires wouldn't the city want some control over such an important position?
Sally
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Edited by - EverettsPride on 05/14/2007 1:32:05 PM |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 1:53:02 PM
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| I don't think there is really anything that can be done, the Ed Reform Act passed by the State pretty much took care of that. |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 1:59:16 PM
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| It may be prudent to push for a mayorally appointed school committee, which is what Boston and a few other communities have done. Charter change!! |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 2:04:16 PM
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| I didn't think of that Court, but if that was the case right now, it would be the same things as FFF hand picking them. Down the road it sounds like something that should be looked into, though. |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 10:16:48 PM
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| How old of a man is he? Shouldn't he be retiring soon? Not that Hanlon took that road as he should have 10 years ago. |
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Middle-Man 1
Senior Member
188 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 11:38:06 PM
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| I'm for charter change. Elimination of the common council for staters, then a school comittee appointed by the mayor. Why the inconsistency? 2 years for the mayor to prove his compentency. Anyone would need more time to implement their vision. You want to keep this outdated bi-cameral system because of fear of consolidated power? Then why a mayoral appointed school comitee? Don't get me wrong, I'll defintinely support a school commitee appointed by the mayor. With it should come a 3 or 4 year term for the mayor and the common council should be no more. You have to see the long term and not just what the current mayor is doing. I am in McGonagle's corner going forward and believe he'll need time and the power to make changes to turn this city around. |
Edited by - Middle-Man 1 on 05/16/2007 11:42:39 PM |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 08:50:58 AM
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I don't see the support for the Council and then a mayorally appointed school committee as mutually exclusive. We're talking about two different dynamics. Two boards keep the power flowing, even if a lamp or two blows out. In terms of electricity - think parallel circuitry. The current configuration of the school committee, while voter elected, is dominated by a man who has no fear or obligation to the taxpayers, and he has made sure that his co-opted school committee is more afraid of him and what he can do to them (fire and or torment the wives, mothers, friends that work for him) than they are of the taxpayer. Think of this as series circuitry. Fred spends a tremendous amount of money to insure that no one really wants to run against his pets (think of those LARGE ads he runs) and he won't hesitate to get ugly (Remember Millie Cardello's 1st race?) A mayorally appointed board means that the mayor (who is far more connected to the power of the voting booth) will appoint people who will align with this thinking on budgeting, out-of-control superintendents, etc. A mayorally appointed school committee will put them in "parallel" with the rest of the elected officials in this city. You have to break the cycle as it curently exists.
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
 Posted - 05/17/2007 : 08:56:56 AM
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| That makes total sense Court! Thanks for showing us the way. Now, as long as this can't take place while Hanlon's in office, where do we start? |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 09:05:19 AM
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| It's all about Charter change. And it will likely have to wait until Hanlon leaves - because who in their right mind would want HIM to have control of the school committee? And he wouldn't want it - because he owes Fred...and Freddy would just say "no." |
Edited by - Court4Fred on 05/17/2007 09:06:26 AM |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 09:05:56 AM
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| Don't worry justme he won't be there much longer... |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 09:18:48 AM
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| I think we might be seeing the Mayor become a voting member of the School Committee in the future. RVC brought it up at the Alderman's meeting and I think we just might see it become an issue. Speaking of RVC, I also hope the Inspector General does appear at the next BOA's meeting. I can't get over Hanlon, on TV, telling Smith to use his State influence to get something done about Freddy. I bet Smith gives it his best shot to get someone from the IG's Office to their next meeting. |
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Masterful1
Senior Member
421 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 3:16:49 PM
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| Do you remember when RVC said he would co-sponsor a motion to make the mayor a voter on the school committee? What happened to that? He seems like all talk and no action. Why did he say that the IG letter was old news anyway? Stat had it right, it is new to us. |
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Joey
Member
39 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 07:19:10 AM
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| I think the letter was old news to RVC, the way he keeps watching Hanlons back, there's no doubt! |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 09:00:05 AM
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| If I remember, what RVC said to Stat was "if you want to sponsor legislation, I'll sponsor it with you." RVC will never go out on a limb on his own. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 09:03:01 AM
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Does it take a charter change or can it just go through city government to make the Mayor a voting member of the School Committee? I am pretty sure it would take a charter change to have the Mayor appoint members to the School Committee.
I can't remember for some reason, is the School Committee voted on city wide or is it by the ward? I am thinking it's city wide. |
Edited by - massdee on 05/18/2007 10:41:26 AM |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 1:09:35 PM
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You're correct on both counts, I believe, massdee. I'm pretty sure that it's written in the charter that the mayor is a non-voting member of the school committee, which means a charter change would be required in order to make him/her a voting member.
School Committee is voted city-wide, same as the Board of Aldermen. |
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The School Committee
