Up against a deadline

Posted 8/23/16

Renovations to Pilgrim High School and Vets that opens as a junior high school on Aug. 31 are in high gear and, according to school director of buildings and grounds Steve Gothberg, on schedule for completion on Aug. 29 and 30. A

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Up against a deadline

Posted

Renovations to Pilgrim High School and Vets that opens as a junior high school on Aug. 31 are in high gear and, according to school director of buildings and grounds Steve Gothberg, on schedule for completion on Aug. 29 and 30. A visit to Vets on Friday found Laurence Mendes of Lucena Bros. caulking joints to the newly poured concrete entryway; crews installing new school doors; Miguel Nazario of Danielson Glass coordinating work between the two schools while carrying a 2x4 and the handicapped parking lot being removed in preparation to repaving of the school drive. By Monday, seats had been installed in the auditorium and tables (individual desks are out) for the new middle school classroom. 

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  • richardcorrente

    The seats and tables look great and it seems that Steve Gothberg is working around the clock but what about the most important issue? What about the teachers that still aren't any closer to a contract than they were a year ago? The teachers are willing to sit at the negotiating table. The School Committee still, at this late date, will not.

    What harm would come from a meeting? The worst, in my view, would result in a showing of good faith with no concrete results. How could that be bad?

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Report this

  • PaulHuff

    Richard,

    Why would the SC want to sit down with the WTU if the WTU is unwilling to negotiate?

    When all the other unions took no raises and actually gave money back the teachers took 1.5% raises. Now that it's time for the teachers to take their zeros they want raises again.

    So who is the unreasonable one?

    You'd be better off supporting the taxpayers instead of pandering to the teachers union.

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Report this

  • Norm88

    seems like someone's numbers are off I am confused... See article below looks like, FD,PD, and Municipal employees all got increases in there last 3 year contract reached last year...

    http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150611/NEWS/150619786/?Start=1

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Hey PaulHuff:

    Don't expect a reply of any substance from "Carpetbagger" Corrente; he seems happy to just repeat already-discredited talking points and hope they stick. [He doesn't pay taxes on his home, got a zero tax increase on two other properties, including one that generates rent, and runs a business in EG, hence the nickname.]

    In this case, the school committee and union had been in mediation -- meaning, "sitting at the negotiating table," to use his term -- until a "misunderstanding" arose over a request for a 10-percent wage hike from the union president: http://warwickpost.com/teachers-contract-mediation-ends-after-alleged-misunderstanding/

    That was in May. Negotiations have been ongoing since last June, according to that same article -- but again, don't expect facts to get in Carpetbagger's way; he clearly thinks a false attack on the school board is equal to an actual campaign platform and doesn't expect anyone to do even basic research into what he says.

    It's sad, really, how Corrente assumes that people in Warwick are just as uninformed and paranoid as he is. Glad to see I'm not the only one trying to dispel that myth.

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear PaulHuff,

    You ask "Why would the SC want to sit down with the WTU if the WTU is unwilling to negotiate?" You are absolutely right! Except for one glaring mistake. They aren't! I have met with members of the WTU on many occasions, as well as several outspoken teachers and universally, the tell me they would meet with the SC anytime, anywhere. They also universally tell me that the SC refuses.

    As far as your comment about the raises I think "Norm88" has it right. Please read his honest comment below.

    Then you ask "So who is the unreasonable one"? My answer is "The School Committee!" The teachers are willing to meet. The School Committee will NOT! Seems like a clear choice.

    I do agree with your next comment however. You say "You would be better off supporting the taxpayers". My whole campaign is catered to the taxpayers. Please read my website at www.correntemayorwarwick.com. Then you finish with "...instead of pandering to the teachers union." PaulHuff, You're right! I am pandering to the teachers union. I believe that they are very much in the right and the SC is very much in the wrong. Therefore, the WTU deserves to be pandered to. Why don't you join me? LOTS of parents, students, taxpayers and voters already have. ( If the opposite was true I would "pander" to the SC)

    PaulHuff, I honestly do appreciate your comments, I just totally disagree with your findings. Please give me a call at 338-9900, and if you would like to meet, I will buy the coffees.

    Take good care,

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Nice job, Dick. You've again completely failed to acknowledge reality in favor of "meetings" that only you seem to know about. And you're basically calling WTU members liars, since there have been negotiations and mediation going on for more than a year.

    Again, though, you're not one to let facts get in the way of what must sound to you like really good talking points.

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear CrickeeRaven,

    You say that, according to the Warwick Post article dated May 2, 2016, "negotiations have been ongoing since last June according to that same article." That is a total lie. The article was written on may 2nd, 2016. How could it cover any time period AFTER May 2nd? You expect the reader to believe that? The article states that the impartial arbitrator, Attorney Vincent Ragosta and then WTU President George Landrie agreed that both parties SHOULD return to the mediation table but FACTUALLY CrickeeRaven, as of today, August 24th, 2016, the School Committee hasn't and still refuses to!

    Please stop lying.

    Richard Corrente

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Ah, I see I woke you up, Dick.

    You can't just claim the school committee is unwilling to meet when they have been meeting -- for a year -- and are now in arbitration and going to court hearings stemming from the union's appeal of a ruling against them.

    This is what the school committee's lawyer said following the union's recent loss in court on Aug. 18, less than a week ago: “We will continue the arbitration process. It [the ruling] hasn’t changed anything.” http://warwickonline.com/stories/judge-lifts-restriction-on-teacher-layoffs,115491?

    So, the school committee intends to CONTINUE the arbitration process -- which means they DO want to get a new contract settled.

    And look at that -- it's the complete OPPOSITE of what you said!

    Oh, and aren't you adorable, calling someone a liar? Does that make you feel better about your own lies about the taxes you pay [i.e., none on the place where you live and a net zero increase on the other properties you own]?

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Please, Mayer Corrente

    Use all your powers to sit down with both sides and make this contract happen.

    You can do it. For the children's sake.

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear "Justanidiot",

    You have my word.

    I will continue to push the 2 sides together every day as much as the law and the WTU will allow, until they "talk" to each other. After that, what they agree on is their business but, as you so perfectly put it, "for the childrens sake" I will not even slow down until I succeed. If you would like to help, call me at 338-9900. I would appreciate your input and advice.

    Thanks in advance.

    Rick

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    We don't need any more words.

    We need action.

    Use your position as mayer to solve this crises, Now.

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this