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Here is the scenario regarding suing the city as I see it. At the time, the schools were in a financial situation where the city had cut local funding by $6.2 million. Just prior, the schools implemented the mandatory 20% copay on all employees essentially breaking the contract with the teachers.

The teachers were ready to sue the schools for breach of contract. We had to attempt to get money to pay for the co-pay if the teachers sued. The city raised taxes that year the full amount and gave none of the money to the schools. The lawsuit against the city for funds gave the schools a chance to prove we didn't have any additional funding coming and lead to the schools sitting down with the teachers and negotiating a contract settlement with the teachers. The teachers didn't want us to sue the city and lose in court and have our mandatory implementation of the higher co-pay become a landmark case for all other cities in the state to use as a reason for other cities to implement the same change.

The schools probably would not have won in court verses the city because the general assembly changed a law for that one year period. Suing the city (and losing) would have proven to the teachers and the courts that every effort was made to get the additional funding to pay for the co-pay of the teachers, that we were unsuccessful and if we went to court for the implementing the co-pay it would be found that we couldn't meet our obligation.

Suing the city for the money prevented us from going to court with the teachers. The teachers saw the efforts we expended to get the additional funding and sat down with us in negotiations to secure the co-pay concessions without going to court. Because we secured the concessions with the union we didn't need the additional funding, that is why we dropped the case against the city.

Regarding the accountability of the school committee with financial matters. Since the previous budget officer left several years ago, I have found the new financial officer impressive with giving out financial information. We now have one section of each school committee meeting dedicated to a financial update, something that had never happened before. Regarding the financial settlement, I am sure that can be answered at an upcoming meeting. I am not the spokesperson for the committee. The next School Committee meeting will meet after I am no longer on the committee. Personally, I would not vote for anything unless it financially made sense. I would also never vote to give someone more than they deserved. You keep saying that the School Committee is not transparent. The fact is it is more transparent than ever given the new State accountability system requirements, the creation of the parent communication advisory committee, open meetings laws, connectEd messages and the website updates. I even post on the Beacon Website in the comment section and on my Facebook page when I want to release information. What school committee member past or present continuously comments or releases additional information in this social media manner? None.

The school committee is always releasing information. It is released to the Warwick Beacon as well as the Projo. The School Committee has an excellent working relationship with the reporters at the Providence Journal who are not biased in my opinion when it comes to Warwick Schools. They write it as it is. I can not say the same for the Warwick Beacon. Prior to being elected to the committee, I had a subscription to the Beacon. I cancelled it 3 years ago because I found that it was all written as opinion. The entire paper is an editorial. Russ Moore was an excellent reporter and would dive into a story and search for answers and would ask tough questions. When Russ left, I cancelled my subscription. I also know that some stories are sent to city hall for approval prior to being printed. I know this for a fact because a family member of mine worked there during my time on the committee. When they told me, I lost all faith in the local independent newspaper.

If you had your choice between releasing information to a newspaper that would write the story the way it is or continuously sending information to a paper that would twist a story for their own purpose, who would you talk to when information was to be released? It is not a question of transparency for the School Committee, it is a question of honest reporting by this newspaper. The information is being released within a reasonable timeframe. This newspaper releases the story before they have all the facts. So rather than hold on to the story to write it when it is complete, they release it without certain key points. They will say, someone could not be reached for comment or we withheld information, neither of with is true. I was never even contacted for this story. Eugene Nadeau was contacted and he is not the Chair or Vice Chair of the committee. The Chair is the spokesperson for the committee and Rosemary Healey as legal council could have also answered the question if the question was asked properly. I know for a fact that no attempt was made to even contact the Chair for this story. Not contacting the spokesperson makes it easy to write the story anyway the Beacon wants and gives them the ability to claim no transparency continuously.

Finally, yes, we have one full time staff member to represent the schools legally. This is a full time job, she typically puts in 40-60 hours a week. If we were to go to court we would have to hire someone or several people to either cover for this person while they were out of the office for handling a lawsuit for us or one or more people to handle the lawsuit itself. There is no way this person could continue to do their regular job and take care of the legal requirements and duties involved in a lawsuit.

I hope you find this information helpful. As of January 8th, I will not longer be on the School Committee. I have enjoyed being on the committee and I know the schools are much better off financially and educationally than when I arrived on the committee. It has been my pleasure to serve. Sincerely, Patrick Maloney Jr.

From: Agreement reached, Horoschak retires as superintendent

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