Tempers flare, committee cuts off comment

Matt Bower
Posted 9/10/15

Temperatures may have been heated Tuesday night, but so were tempers inside the Toll Gate High School auditorium, as members of the Warwick Teachers Union (WTU) showed up in force to the School …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Tempers flare, committee cuts off comment

Posted

Temperatures may have been heated Tuesday night, but so were tempers inside the Toll Gate High School auditorium, as members of the Warwick Teachers Union (WTU) showed up in force to the School Committee meeting to voice their displeasure with their current contract situation.

The two sides approved a one-year contract last year when they were unable to reach a longer-term agreement, which gave teachers a 1.18 percent pay increase at each step level while increasing co-share payments on dental and medical insurance premiums for teachers to 20 percent. That contract expired on Aug. 31. Talks have since broken off and the parties will meet in mediation Monday. Attorney Vincent Ragosta is the mediator.

Meanwhile, teachers have adopted a work to rule stance, collectively reporting for school at the required time and leaving schools at the end of classes.

Teachers are not expected to boycott school open houses, the first of which was scheduled for Oakland Beach last night. Nonetheless, the administration is going ahead with the open houses with the assistance of PTO and PTA as “school family nights” where parents will get to meet the principal and each other as well as have their children show them their rooms.

Tuesday’s meeting started shortly after 7 p.m. and in an unprecedented move, the school committee abruptly ended the public comment portion of the meeting just before 8:30, denying many a chance to speak. After it was announced that there would be no more speakers, the committee voted 3-1, with Karen Bachus dissenting, to adjourn the meeting. Terri Medeiros was not present for the meeting.

Following the vote, committee chairwoman Jennifer Ahearn, vice chairman Eugene Nadeau and Bethany Furtado left the stage and exited the auditorium amid shouts of “Do your job!” from the audience.

The next person in line to speak at the microphone after the meeting was adjourned yelled, “I’m the parent of a special needs child and you won’t listen to me?” As people started to leave, angry and disappointed, WTU President George Landrie approached the front of the auditorium, pointed at the stage as committee members filed out and shouted, “Do you see what I’m dealing with?”

After Ahearn, Nadeau, Furtado, interim superintendent William Holland, and schools attorney Andrew Henneous left the stage, Bachus stayed behind, seated at the table, and the audience, the majority of which also remained, continued “public comment” on their own by standing and speaking at the front of the auditorium because the microphones were turned off.

“We’ll continue this as a side show since the rest of the [school] committee decided we’re not worth listening to,” said Ken Genereux, a special education teacher at Warwick Vets High School.

Although tensions were running high, the meeting got off to a relatively smooth start, as Ahearn announced that Lori B. McEwen, currently the chief of instruction, leadership and equity for the Providence School Department, and Philip Thornton, currently the superintendent of schools in Cumberland, are finalists for the superintendent position.

The school committee then sped through a list of agenda items, in which it approved a .5 percent increase in out-of-district tuition costs for students coming to Warwick Public Schools; a $12,500 air conditioning repair at one of the administration buildings, which was not budgeted but was accomplished by Buildings and Grounds Director David LaPlante using a portion of his capital funds budget; approximately $14,000 to pay outside vendors for the removal of fallen or hanging trees at a number of schools following the microburst storm in early August; $21,346 in administrative level step increases for 12 individuals, averaging out to $1,700, or a 1.5 percent increase; software renewals, including $7,135 for School Dude Maintenance Management Program to manage work orders throughout the district, and $19,712 for the Richer Picture Program, which is used with student portfolios; and the addition of a third first grade class at Cedar Hill Elementary.

However, public comment is where everything fell apart. Before anyone spoke, Ahearn attempted to impose a one-minute time limit for those speaking, an uncharacteristic move when considering past practice of two or three minutes per person was used at prior meetings. Furtado, who acted as timekeeper, did allow each person two minutes to speak.

Carolyn Higgins, a junior high science teacher, was the first to speak.

“I’m concerned about the contract changes that are being proposed because if they are approved, the students will get less science education,” she said. “By taking away [class] weighting at the secondary level and cooperative classes with other teachers, students won’t get the attention they need. If I have students with learning deficits that can’t read at grade level, it will be very difficult to teach them science.”

Darlene Netcoh, an English teacher and department head at Toll Gate, said class weighting, in which students with Individualized Education Programs (IEP) may be counted as 1.5 or 2 students in the classroom, is necessary.

“I can remember in the 1990s when I had 27 students, and 22 of them had IEPs, because the teachers didn’t have a contract,” she said. “That’s why we need weighting.”

Jonathan Latieri, a fifth grade teacher at Park, said he was disappointed with the contract offer presented to the WTU by the law firm representing the school committee. According to Ellen Casey, a special education teacher at Toll Gate, the proposal included items such as unlimited layoffs, seven-hour work days, two mandatory 45-minute department nights in which the teacher must remain even if students leave, no department heads, and the ability for anonymous letters to be added to teachers’ personnel files and folders.

“After 30 hours of negotiations, I was insulted with that offer. It shows that you don’t value me as a professional or as an employee of the city,” Lautieri said. “The students will be affected in a negative way. The students will reap the benefits when you show respect for them and for me. They’re worth it.”

Jason Huddon, a teacher and parent with a son with special needs, said it is not only disgraceful to not weight IEP students, but it is illegal.

“You’re using our most vulnerable students as a bargaining chip. You’d never do it because you would be sued by the ACLU,” he said. “Teachers are not the vultures picking the bones off our students.”

Nathan Cornell, an outspoken student at past school committee meetings, said the committee needs to realize everything falls back on the students.

“A lot of clubs aren’t happening right now because the teachers are upset. We need compromise or else this will take months,” he said.

Cornell has been working with City Council members Ed Ladouceur and Kathleen Usler, both of whom were at Tuesday night’s meeting, to establish an Education Reform Committee to facilitate communication and cooperation between the city and schools, but he said the school committee isn’t making things easy.

“Division describes this entire district,” he said. “The school committee is isolating itself from the teachers union and the city. I want to work with you, but you’re not giving me a chance.”

David Testa, a parent and frequent attendee at school committee meetings, touched on a number of topics.

“The notion of administrative step increases at tonight’s meeting displays a level of tone deafness I haven’t seen. There’s a time and a place for that,” he began. “Trying to impose a one-minute time limit is not good optics or governance. It promotes divisiveness that gets in the way of everything.”

Addressing class weighting, he said, “I would hope that reasonable people could come together to solve the weighting issue.”

A concerned parent at Cedar Hill said she has seen declining enrollment at the school due to engaged families leaving because of the school committee.

“People are leaving Warwick due to your inability to work with the city and the teachers. They’re moving to East Greenwich, North Kingstown, and spending $5,000 on private schools,” she said. “The treatment of teachers is unbelievable.”

Bud Andolfo, a Gorton social studies teacher, said even though he knew this would be his last year at Gorton, which will close as part of consolidation following the end of the school year, he approached this year with a positive attitude and wanted to give things a chance.

“I’m tired of the overall negativity permeating the district,” he said. “Did you budget for the hiring of a law firm to negotiate for you? That just shows that you’ve given up on talking to each other before it’s even started. It’s difficult to move forward as a city when you’re not at the meetings to answer questions.”

Bachus said the way in which things were handled Tuesday was unconscionable.

“I was blown away. All you do is infuriate people who are upset and feel disrespected,” she said. “We have a responsibility to listen to our constituents and take what they have in their experience and use it to help us make informed decisions.”

With reports from John Howell

Comments

18 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • Justanidiot

    Either have public comments or don't. Getting huffy and taking your ball home is bad form.

    Thursday, September 10, 2015 Report this

  • Reality

    It is amazing that the Warwick City Council continues to try to interfere with the school committee. Councilpersons Fast Eddie Ladoceur and Usler now want to set up another committee that accomplishes nothing. Usler wouldn't understand anything being discussed anyway. It would be over her head.

    Why doesn't Fast Eddie and Usler set up a committee to investigate excessive fire dept. overtime, runaway city retirement costs etc.

    Don't forget teachers Fast Eddie and Usler voted again this year to level fund the school dept. Ask Usler to explain the school budget if you want to laugh.

    Thursday, September 10, 2015 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    Self-entitled, narcissistic babies who think they DESERVE to feed off the public teat. Teachers' unions should be abolished third, after police & fire. No one ever told you that you were going to get wealthy teaching, but it's "all about the kids", right? More citizens should be a "fly on the wall" sometime and listen to what some "educators" really think of their imagined position in life, your kids, and the taxpayer- bring a picket sign and a pocket tape recorder (ballcap video cameras are expensive; I have one for my line of work) and go to a picket line and get an earful.

    Monday, September 14, 2015 Report this

  • Waprovencal

    Reality still harping on FD OT. Learn about their scheduling and minimum staffing levels and how that they are still short of a full compliment even after putting a new class on.

    RIS, do you have to buy supplies 2 or 3 times a year to be able to do your job? Do you have to bring home your work three times a week, work overtime without getting paid? Do you have to deal with hormonal adolescents, behaviorally challenged children, kids that have attitude problems, parents of the kids with attitudes only to realize that apple did not fall far from the tree? How about parents who call and verbally abuse you because their child is not passing or because you request a conference because their child is being disruptive in class? I have friends that are teachers and take money out of their pockets to buy school supplies, Kleenex, hand sanitizer etc. Yes they became teachers to educate and guide and they knew they were not going to become wealthy. There is much more to teaching than just sitting in a class giving a lesson. What they deserve is a salary commensurate to their experience and duties. What they don't deserve is to be called names by someone who is ignorant to what they do. By the way, you can thank a teacher for being able to write your ridiculous drivel!!

    Monday, September 14, 2015 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    When I was learning to write, my teachers complained to my parents that I needed to "stop using big words so the other children don't laugh".

    My teachers were, on the whole, useless clock-watchers, and when I got to high school, it just got worse- I ended up with tenured nitwits with alcohol and pill problems, mental illness, senility, etc., who should have been retired.

    I thank the majority of my teachers for "day care" while my parents were working.

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • Waprovencal

    RIS, may I ask what you do for work?

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    What difference does it make? What about you?

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • Waprovencal

    Curiosity. I am in law enforcement.

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    Health, Safety & Environmental Specialist in commercial diving, offshore construction in the oil & gas industry and horizontal directional drilling.

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • Waprovencal

    I am sorry your education was such a mind numbing experience. With as intelligent as you claim to be, were you jumped ahead any grades? I am surprised that someone with your intellect can be so ignorant. I should not be surprised because most self indulgent egotists are. Do you put down other people to make yourself feel better?

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • Waprovencal

    RIS, do you hate teachers that much and take joy in their difficulties to get a contract? There is a term for taking joy is others misery.

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    I put in more hours "off the clock" than I care to count and it's part of my job description, just like teaching (and being a police officer). A good portion of my responsibility is training adults in safety and how not to get killed/maimed doing their jobs- try teaching grown men who think they know everything (and I can’t call a School Resource Officer, a vice principal or parents to complain, either). Lawyers and therapists can get away with clocking every minute they work, and that's about it.

    I don't get to go home to my own bed every night, and I don't get every weekend, holiday and vacation day off and get paid for the full year (and neither do you). When my phone rings at 3AM, it isn't some maladjusted or poorly-parented twit crank-calling me, it's someone asking how to proceed with a job safely or someone needing an ambulance or life flight.

    While in the service (military police), I trained troops in skills to keep them alive on the battlefield, and it wasn't indoors in comfort from 8 to 2:30. I know exactly what they do, and I'm tired of listening to adults fuss about how tough they have it. If they're too weak-willed to handle the job, they should find a new one. If they don't want to do the work at home, they can stay at the school to finish it- their choice.

    One thing I didn't learn from teachers is my work ethic.

    Don’t you know that your property value is tied directly to teachers’ salaries? It doesn’t bother you that Warwick values your house higher than what you paid for it, and that was before the slump that knocked $50K off the value? Do you honestly agree that your home is/was valued at (not worth) that much more so that teachers can hold the system hostage for more of your hard-earned money? The real estate market was so inflated before the post-0bama adjustment that things are only now becoming stabilized, and probably not for long.

    You’re a fool if you think that they would switch jobs with you if given the opportunity, so spare me the self-righteous indignation if I believe that they’re over-privileged whiners.

    That being said, just know that your opinion of me means nothing. I'm smarter and have a better job, you insult me; if I pumped gas, you'd say I was jealous. I know the game- things haven't changed much intellectually for you since middle school, have they? Interesting to see how you leap to their defense, though- two peas in a pod.

    Yep, there is a term- I see you taught yourself how to Google, because there was no internet when you graduated from high school.

    You should proofread your own posts, by the way.

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • Norm88

    RISchadenfreude your a sad man at best...."I WILL STRIVE TO MERIT THE RESPECT OF OTHERS; SEEKING NO FAVOR BECAUSE OF POSITION BUT INSTEAD, THE SATISFACTION OF A MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AND A JOB WELL DONE"

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • Waprovencal

    I am sure that you are well compensated for your job so you have no reason to complain about how many hours you do off the clock. I am willing to bet that those 3 am phone calls are not free. Teachers took the job for self fulfillment and a sense that they may help kids toward a better future. I would not say they are weak-willed, they just want fair wages. Would you do your same job for less money?

    Yes I know that my property value is tied to teachers salaries but unfortunately my house is valued less than what I paid for it.

    I am sure that they would not switch jobs with me, (and would bet you would not either), and I would not want their job either.

    You say that things haven't changed much intellectually for me, but your statement ("I'm smarter and have a better job") shows your intelligence has not changed either. If you pumped gas you probably would not be so pompous and I would have more resect for you. How so does my defense of teachers put me in the same pod? Your are right, as I am sure you always are, that there was no internet or spell check when I graduated high school, so yes I google. I prefer to use a dictionary but google has made things easier.

    I was never trying to insult you but giving my opinion of you. Keep puffing your chest and putting down people you think are less worthy than you if that makes you feel better. Bless your heart RISchadenfreude. Keep hiding behind your keyboard and name.

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • TessEckel

    Perhaps a member of the school committee, administrator or member of the community would be willing to stand behind the new teacher contract (that has been offered) by stepping up to the plate and demonstrating that their plan for the students is sound & effective for high achievement? For example, let's have Mrs. Ahearn demonstrate how to teach 34 high school students (30 of the 34 students having IEP's) to achieve high test scores by going to a classroom (let's say mathematics) and perform the simple task with ease. If weighting isn't necessary, should be easy to do by anyone, no college education (or compensation for an educated professional) or cooperating teachers needed. If it's so easy & anyone can do it, let's see a week long demonstration by someone confident in this plan and test the kids at the end of the week. Students test results should be a good reflection of how sound the plan is, right? I'm sure any teacher would love a demonstration from a school committee member, administrator or a tax payer in Warwick on understanding what is misunderstood. If this is a sound plan, that's good for kids, school committee members should feel confident in their ability (since the school committee members make informed decisions that teachers are responsible to carry out) to show taxpayers in warwick that their money is being well spent. School committee members will be able to demonstrate their plan was well thought out, backed up with sound evidence, facts and good for ALL of the students in Warwick. This will prove teachers are unreasonable for "complaining" about the generous offer, presented. If it's so easy, do it. Prove it. Put all of the "complaints" to rest. If the teachers are wrong, let's have a "master" show these stupid, greedy teachers that they are wrong in not agreeing with the new teacher contract. Who is gonna be first to volunteer to demonstrate how to do it "right"?

    Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    WAP, I've learned social media is a good place to have a pseudonym- I've done document and data security and it's far too easy to have personal info compromised.

    I've done your job and was going to do it again when I was blessed to get this one. I loved self-initiated police work, but adults who can't take care of their own problems or cause their own problems (alcohol/drug-induced, not securing their property) turned it into drudgery. I used to say,"I have work to do, but my job keeps getting in the way". It's a shame that many, many adults can't function without adult supervision.

    It was a blessing to change careers in midstream. I didn't want to spend the rest of my career writing reports after the fact; as the saying goes,"When seconds count, the police are just minutes away"- too often it's just about picking up the pieces. Staying engaged with the public is the best part of "The Job", but there's little time for it when you're tending to the oblivious and the "frequent flyers". It got to the point where I'd look back over the shift and didn't see that I'd made any difference. You're probably thinking, "It's a good thing you left police work", and you'd be right.

    Safe Watch and may St. Michael always ride with you.

    And yes, I've pumped gas, too- 35 years ago.

    Thanks, Norm, for the lofty slogan- almost forgot that one; perhaps you can stick to the topic or conversation next time instead of sniping.

    Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Report this

  • Waprovencal

    RIS, thank you.

    Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Report this

  • Scal1024

    "Stop using big words, so the other children won't laugh". This is how you shaped your opinion of the school system? Alcoholics, pill poppers? What proof do you have? Or are you just a verbal bomb thrower like Ms. "Evolving Story " Stacia Huyler. The system will never improve with folks like you constantly beating the teachers down, because you have no desire to see it improved. People like you will only see teachers as $ hungry no matter what they do and you will never change that position. You have taken your perception of teachers and applied to a whole school system which is nothing short of foolish. Atleast people like WAP see the good in this city and its teachers. Atleast he recognizes we get nowhere by just name calling. What would you like to see in a contract RIS? Stop being against everything, lets try being for something. Let's improve this city and not just name call and finger point.

    Sunday, September 20, 2015 Report this