By TYGER ALLEN Thirty-five school administrator contracts went before the School Committee for discussion and action on Tuesday. All but one were approved for two years. That lone contract belongs to Douglas Alexander, the Director of Technology for
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Thirty-five school administrator contracts went before the School Committee for discussion and action on Tuesday. All but one were approved for two years. That lone contract belongs to Douglas Alexander, the Director of Technology for Warwick Public Schools. And while Alexander remains employed, the amendment makes a statement.
Committeeperson David Testa, one of two who opposed the amendment, said that this does not send a good message to current or future administrators. Testa said that around the state, three-year agreements are more common, but Warwick normally does two-year contracts. He credited Alexander with ushering in the school’s one-to-one initiative with Google Chromebooks and said that he is a statewide leader in technology.
Alexander is on both the Rhode Island Society of Technology Educators (RISTE) and Ocean State Higher Education Economic Development and Administrative Network (OSHEAN) boards. Alexander said that he was also invited to be on the Secretary of State’s Cybersecurity Task Force.
Before the vote, Committee Clerk Nathaniel Cornell motioned to amend the docket to make Alexander’s contract one year. Vice Chair Judith Cobden seconded the motion. Joining them in the vote that amended Alexander’s contract was Committeeperson Kyle Adams. Testa and Chairperson Karen Bachus voted against it.
Testa said that he voted against the amendment first because he didn’t believe in it, but also because of the way it was brought to the floor without notifying Alexander beforehand.
“To spring that on an employee without letting that employee know… is not good practice,” Testa said.
Cornell stated a general concern with Alexander, but did not elaborate on why he elected to make his motion.
“There’s just been some attitude problems,” Cornell said of Alexander after Tuesday’s meeting.
Cornell added that if the Committee sees improvement, he could get a longer contract in the future.
On Wednesday, Alexander said he was blindsided by the amendment and he learned about it through colleagues who were at the meeting. As far as Alexander knows, there are no behavioral problems he can think of. He said he could not provide an official statement but said that he doesn’t believe this could be an issue with performance.
Secretary to the Superintendent of Warwick Public Schools Catherine Bonang said that the administration does not have any complaints on file about Alexander.
Bachus said on Wednesday that she was also surprised by the amendment. And as far as she knows, there haven’t been any behavioral issues with Alexander.
Superintendent Philip Thornton said that Alexander is an integral part of the district and that he is a lead thinker when it comes to cybersecurity. Alexander took the role of Warwick’s first director of technology in March of 2016.
“He’s truly outstanding,” Thornton said. “I value him every year.”
Cobden said on Wednesday that it was a personnel issue and could not comment on the vote. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Adams could not be reached for comment. The rest of the contracts were approved for two years in a 5-0 vote from the Committee.
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bendover
The 3 Stooges did what they were told...Bottom line, some toady wants Mr. Alexander's job and doesn't want to wait for a 3 year term to run out...Good job Warwick, you elected these bozos for on the job training with the most expensive part of the budget...
Thursday, March 5, 2020 Report this
Warwick_Resident1998
This is why a still wet behind the ears kid shouldn’t have been elected to this position in the first place.
This is very unfair to that man. I wonder who they want to give his job to?
Thursday, March 5, 2020 Report this
wwkvoter
“There’s just been some attitude problems,” Cornell said of Alexander after Tuesday’s meeting.
DISGUSTING
Thursday, March 5, 2020 Report this
bill123
When you are working for a nefarious organization, you go with the flow if you want to keep your job. You become a stooge. I suspect the “attitude problem” refers to this person’s resistance to participate in questionable schemes. He probably spoke truth to power, and this is the price.
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
TooMuch
Has anyone considered that it may be a performance issue. The much touted Chromebooks have been less than effective in adding to the teaching mission in Warwick schools. Too often students are browsing inappropriate content or using the Chromebooks in ways not intended. They have been a distraction and not the end all be all that they were touted as. The whole rollout of them has been lackluster and the tech support from the IT department while well meaning has been lacking. The WSD email network and servers are hit or miss and certainly frustrating to teachers that rely on them. It's not just do to a lack of funds. Perhaps Mr. Alexander is in over his head in his current role or needs to do a better job of providing the services that teaching professionals require.
Just a thought....
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
patientman
Too much, If it was performance Cornell would have said that. "Attitude problem"? This is such bs. Thank you to all the morons that elected Cornell because he knocked on your door or sent you a letter. Cornell has got to go.
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
PatrickRamsey
I couldn't agree more with Cornell, Doug Alexander has been awful for the Warwick School Department. He has a pretentious attitude towards teachers and never seeks input from professionals in the classroom. People who used to work in his department say he doesn't fully understand the network side of the operation and leaves work early often. The Chromebook 1:1 adoption has had mixed results, and none of his technology decisions are backed up by research.
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
InTheW
Isn't old lady Cobden Bachus's lackey? No was Bachus didn't know this was coming.
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
bill123
I can more easily believe the items listed by “TooMuch” and anyone else are things he was trying to fix, not cause. He was probably told to back off, because the system needs to remain as screwed up as possible. Fixing anything means we don't need table teams and the like. It also means publicly admitting there is a problem, and this exposes those truly responsible.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
bill123
Nefarious organizations engage in coverup by typically mis-labeling these things as a “personnel issue”. Count on them to manufacture a false record.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
thepilgrim
Bill223, I couldn’t agree more. Maybe he even believes in the US Constitution.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
bendover
Where are Mr. Alexander's evaluations or peer reviews? Has he under performed, missed work, misappropriated funds, what? I don't know this guy from Adam. Who approved and paid for the Chromebooks? If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quakes like a duck, its a duck...I've seen things like this happen in this city and State for decades. So, Mr. "wet behind the ears", Show your cards, put up or shut up...This whole thing stinks to high heaven, nothing new in the MO the way things are done around here.
Sunday, March 8, 2020 Report this
Scal1024
Here come all the WTU cronies to defend their hand picked errand boy, Nathan Cornell. It's amazing that performance only seems to matter to these people OUTSIDE the classroom. I don't remember these same teachers demanding accountability for their abysmal attendence records and low performing classrooms. I must've missed all those articles in the paper. Accountability is for everybody else in the Warwick School Dept, I guess. Memo to Warwick voters: The School Committee needs more Dave Testa's and fewer Nathan Cornells and Judy Cobdens. I'm not saying I agree with Dave Testa on everything but at least he gives you an idea why he votes the way he does. We need more accountability, more transparency, not less. Shame on the WTU and shame on Nathan Cornell for misleading students and taxpayers BOTH into thinking he was an advocate for them. He is an advocate for the WTU first and ONLY.
Wake up, Warwick! When ANY person runs for public office and magically has every ounce of union support they could ever dream of, ask yourself why that is? When an 18 year old runs for public office and has every ounce of union support they could ever dream of RUN in the other direction!!! It's not because they're the best candidate or because they have a greater understanding of issues. It's because they know they have a puppet on their string and when they say dance, he'll dance. Maybe I'm old fashioned Mr Cornell, but chronic teacher absenteeism and low performing schools would rank higher on my list than shaming an administrator who was mean to you. I mean thoughts and prayers for dealing with someone's "attitude" in the real world but with all due respect Nate, GROW UP!!!!
Monday, March 9, 2020 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
I always enjoy reading the comments here. It's an entertaing cesspool.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Report this
Gingersnap
Scal 1024 I agree.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Report this
Scal1024
Bill123, it has already started, in my opinion. There is a social media narrative starting to boil where "concerned parents" are beginning to ask about students learning from home and whether the "Chromebooks can sustain this type of work from home event as promised". This narrative is unfair but I believe this fake outrage, likely started by opponents of Mr Alexander, will be used to ignite parents into looking for a scapegoat at a time when fear and anxiety are high.
Thatguyinri, whenever you log on to comment about this "cesspool", you are just as guilty as everyone else. If you explained what/who you took issue with and made a decent point, it would be easy to have a back and forth conversation. Labeling everyone and logging off is just as unproductive. I'm sure you have a lot to say! Why not share your opinion?
Thursday, March 12, 2020 Report this