LETTERS

Disappointed in actions of School Committee

Posted 9/24/15

To the Editor:

As a parent of two young children in the Warwick School System, I am quite concerned about the attitude of the School Committee. As was reported about the last school committee …

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LETTERS

Disappointed in actions of School Committee

Posted

To the Editor:

As a parent of two young children in the Warwick School System, I am quite concerned about the attitude of the School Committee. As was reported about the last school committee meeting, all but Medeiros (who was absent) and Bachus (who chose to stay and hear responses) opted to walk out during the public forum. What was more upsetting about this action was hearing the first three minutes of the audio from the last school committee meeting, in which the school committee members can be heard joking about “just making it through public comment” and “limiting it to 30 seconds.”

Do they not remember that they are elected officials who were voted in to represent their constituents? If so, why do they not want to hear us out? I have sent two emails to the school committee regarding the actions at the last school committee. I have received responses only from Medeiros, Bachus, Dr. Holland and Nadeau. Nadeau’s response was the most disturbing in which he responded, and I quote “Ms. Shelton, your ‘deplorable’ comments towards us doesn’t deserve a response, let alone, an apology. Please do me a favor and not vote for me during my next election in 2017.”

Neither of my emails was aggressive, insulting or demeaning. I simply asked for an apology and reminded them of their responsibility to the public and asked them to be transparent. As you can imagine, I was quite shocked by Nadeau’s response as I had voted for him last year. At this time, I can only say that I am disappointed that I have to wait two more years to not vote for him again.

It is very disheartening as a parent that our voices are not being heard. The school committee walks out during public forum and uses services such as ConnectEd to present a one sided version of the situation. It does not appear that the School Committee is negotiating in good faith. As a taxpayer and as a parent of students in the school system, I want our schools to succeed. I want our teachers to be respected and I want the school committee to be accountable. Unfortunately, it is responses such as the one received by Eugene Nadeau that make me doubt that this can be accomplished with the current school committee in office.

Stephanie Shelton

Warwick

Comments

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  • maggie123

    Holy crap regarding Nadeau response! The current school committee has been a problem for a along time now....I know I am voting my rep out! I don't even care who runs against her. If no one run's against your current rep I suggest that everyone write in "anyone else" Make sure you write exactly anyone else because each vote will be counted for write ins...It would be a major statement if "anyone else" ended up being the winner!!!

    Friday, September 25, 2015 Report this

  • maggie123

    Nadeau sits in front of the Sewer Committee during every meeting and participates in public comments...he would be livid if the Sew Committee treated him with the disrespect that he has shown the public as a School Committee member!!!

    Friday, September 25, 2015 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Maggie123,

    Rather than focus on the negative, and I admit there is a lot of it in our school dept. I would like to comment on the one person who showed the integrity and leadership that all school committee members "should" show. Walking out of a public forum I agree is cowardly. They are elected officials and need to be there, even when the tone of the meeting gets "heated". One person; only one, Karen Bachus had the strength of character to sit there and field every question, and she refused to leave until everyone had "vented". Let's face it, anyone can listen to praise, but when things get tense only the true leaders tough it out. Bachas is one of those few. She has earned everyones respect.

    Richard Corrente

    Taxpayer

    Friday, September 25, 2015 Report this

  • Reality

    Here goes suck up Richard Corrente again......in case anyone doesn't know Corrente is trying to curry favor with Vella-Wilkinson, Travis, Ladoceur and Usler so he praises Backus......laughable.

    Backus led to charge NOT to have schools closed last year and now the school dept has the problems they have. Richard why don't you tell people the demeanor Backus manifests in school committee meetings. ....deplorable

    So voters in Warwick know that Corrente will do anything to win the backing of Vella-wilkinson, Travis, Ladoseur and Usler in jhis mayoral bid. Where I come from that demonstrates Corrente has no principles.

    Friday, September 25, 2015 Report this

  • maggie123

    Mr. Corrente, My rep didn't even show up for the meeting, and as far as Ms. Backus goes, she did what she was elected to do listen to her constituents nothing about that shows character or leadership. In fact if she had showed leadership skills it would have been over a year ago by standing up to the hysterical Vets parents and closed the school a year ago instead of spending more of my tax dollars on a consultant who came up with the same plan. And as I remember Ms Backus stalled and delayed the process right from the get start with statements like "it will take as long as it takes." Meanwhile I will be paying my quarterly tax bill in a few days which the majority goes to the school department and my 7th grader will continue to go to Gorton for another year in a building which has seen it's day long ago and I didn't get to meet his teachers because they did not attend his open house because there still isn't a contract with the teachers. So you will have to come up with something better than Ms. Backus' leadership qualities for me to focus on because I am tired of this and so should more of the citizens of the city be. "Anyone Else" sounds like the best person to serve on this committee and Warwick Voters need to make a statement which speaks loud and clear. These are not my only issue with this committee lets us not forget the handling of superintendent position or the handling of the Gorton teacher who wrote sexually inappropriate graphics on a 2 student's arms. I am not positive but I think Dr. D ended up being the scapegoat....It always amazes me that someone can be the next best thing since sliced bread one minute and forced into retirement the next but what do I know....not much because this committee tends to leave us in the dark about these matters. Good luck on your up coming election because if elected as Mayor as Mr. Reality has indicated...YOU too will have NO say over the school department or committee.

    Friday, September 25, 2015 Report this

  • Melissa845

    I am confused and shocked. The school committee isn't required to stay during the public comments?? So those speaking could literally be talking to an empty room? How will they know what people have to bring up as issues? How should we communicate with them? I'm seriously asking that, how would they prefer to hear from us?

    Friday, September 25, 2015 Report this

  • maggie123

    Melissa 845 you can also email or call them. Here is a link with the information http://www.warwickschools.org/scomm/sccomm.html. How they would prefer to hear from you is unknown.

    Friday, September 25, 2015 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    The school committee is not part of the public, they are the elite. They only stay for elite content. The rest can eat cake.

    Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Reality,

    I get such a kick out of you! You always make me laugh.You, who for years have never said anything positive about anything or anyone. You're condemning me for giving credit where credit is due. And how does that show "no principles"??? I suggest that it does. You, on the other hand are constantly complaining, criticizing, and condemning. And you have never once; not even once, offered a better idea. It's easy to find fault. Finding a better idea requires effort. If you EVER want to offer a "better plan" I, for one would LOVE to hear it.(and if it makes sense I'll even support it!)

    In the mean time you can continue to call me a suck-up when I happen to agree with someone. It makes me and other readers laugh. Maybe I should make you my campaign manager. Maybe offending everyone is the best way to get elected. Maybe offending the very people I want to serve will make them vote for me. Maybe I should never give credit to anyone, you know, like you do. Maybe I should hide in anonymity too, like you do.

    Then again, maybe not.

    Keep writing though. We'll just consider it "your contribution." Instead of a check...or a kind word...or anything of any real value.

    Take good care,

    Richard Corrente

    Democrat for Mayor 2016

    Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Maggie123,

    I agree that Karen Bachus was elected to listen to her constituents but when things got heated the rest of the school committee walked out, Bachus was the only one that stayed. Bill Belichick says "do your job". Bachus did, and in my view that showed a lot more "character and leadership". I think you and I can agree that, at least she out-shined the rest of the school committee.

    Thank you for your well wishes on my upcoming election. Here's a promise that you can hold me accountable for. I will, as Mayor, have a sincere involvement in the school department and the school committee. I won't our the taxpayers hand over $160,000,000 to ANY department without accountability. I will be as involved as the law allows. I owe that to the 80,000 taxpayers that I will represent as Mayor. And the students of the Warwick Schools WILL come first. By that I mean "They will have Chromebooks!" I won't quit until they do! Check my website, correntemayorwarwick.com. I have met with and spoken to many parents, students, and school dept. people already.The school department has the money already. They have $3,300,000 in a cash reserve fund that has grown every year for 17 years without any withdrawals. We can take $1,000,000 out of that reserve and buy the Chromebooks today! I have the support of "most" of the teachers and school department members already and "all" of the parents, and Maggie123, I promise you; WE WILL HAVE CHROMEBOOKS!

    As far as Mr. Reality indicating that I will have "no say"...that's another topic for another day. He really doesn't know me too well.

    Thanks again Maggie123,

    Richard Corrente

    Democrat for Mayor 2016

    Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Mr. Corrente when you say support of "most" of the teachers and school department members...was that conducted through a poll?

    Saturday, October 3, 2015 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Good question Sca11024,

    I have spoken to about 50 teachers and about 25 school dept. members, so yes, I guess you could call that a small, informal poll. I'm meeting new people every day and if you want me to talk to anyone in particular I would be happy to. I honestly want to hear from all sides and from as many people as possible.

    But based on the responses I have already encountered, i'm afraid that the voters might write-in "anyone else" as Maggie suggests. We have to get the School dept., the union, the Mayor, the City Council, the teachers, and the parents TALKING TO EACH OTHER. (not at each other) for the common good of the students, who are paying the biggest price for all this arguing. When superintendent candidate Dr. Lori McEwen addressed the school committee I was in the audience. She was asked "How do you intend to bring all the sides together she jokingly said "We will have a big covered dish dinner!" We all laughed but I thought there was merit in something like that. What if we had a dinner/lunch; invited all the parties; ask for "solutions only" and respect all the answers. Couldn't hurt. Might even help.

    Richard Corrente

    Democrat for Mayor 2016

    Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Report this