The Republican ReportsThe Gazette has a hilarious article Friday posted on Catherine Sanderson's blog about former Amherst School Superintendent Alberto Rodriguez resurfacing in Florida after his sudden, less-than-amicable departure from the People's Republic up here in the frigid hinterlands.
Turns out the "undisclosed medical condition" that prompted his unannounced trips to Florida last winter was just a--cue the drumroll--hernia. Lucky for him it was repaired Monday, although he may get another one carrying all his ill gotten gains to the bank.
A-Rod is still receiving full pay through the end of May courtesy of Amherst taxpayers--and already has landed another job as principal at Coral Shores High School in Key West. Hired by old pal Joseph Burke, former Springfield School Superintendent pretty much fired by the State Control Board two years ago.
The Springfield School Committee met in secret to extend Burke's contract but the Control Board axed it. For the good of the system, Burke did not file suit and flew south where he obviously landed on his feet.
No big surprise Superintendent Burke would embrace Alberto--after all, Burke was a reference for him when he applied to Amherst. They have concocted a good cover story for his brief tortured tenure in Amherst: the evil School Committee "criticized him about vacation and sick time." Hmm...I thought that was me and the evil blogosphere?!
Plus they cited the women who threatened last summer to burn her tax bill in front of Rodriguez's office to protest his lavish contract. Yeah, gotta watch those women armed with a lighter.
Burke, a white guy, also clumsily plays the race card by pointing out Regional School Committee members who originally hired A-Rod left their positions and were replaced by members who "were not comfortable with him."
I guess from now on whenever the Regional School Committee hires a Superintendent (and apparently that will be a year from now) they should hold a quiet retreat W-A-Y out in the woods of Pelham and, you know, get to like each other. Kumbaya.
7 comments:
Next time someone from Amherst expresses astonishment at the terrible, unfortunate popular cynicism about a perceived "educational establishment" in the United States, this entire episode is Exhibit A.
Rich Morse
Yeah, but remember Mr. Morse, we must "do it for the kids."
And, after all, what is Key West?
Well, it's basically Northampton without the ugly gray January mornings with the melting snow seeping into your shoes.
Perhaps the nickname should be "Alberto the Cat" because he always lands on his feet.
You can't make this stuff up.
Rich Morse
As Mr. Twain would say, "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't."
No more so than in our little town.
From the People's Republic of Amherst to the Conch Republic: no further culturally than moving next door.
Memo to the Doctor: this time bring the Mrs. down the causeway with you.
"this entire episode is Exhibit A."
Entire.
It happened in in ~Amherst~ for a reason.
A-Rod was principal of my school here in Miami-Dade County FL. I can't describe my feelings about him in polite company. Needless to say he is a horrible back stabbing person. He was promoted and demoted so many times it would give a yo-yo motion sickness. We were celebrating in the halls the day he left.
Joe Burke was also an upper level administrator during that same time period. They are like two peas in a pod, so it's not surprising they ended up together.
A-Rod actually thought he would be superintendent of this school system (4th largest in the nation). His plan was to get some experience as superintendent under his belt in some unsuspecting school system and resurface here to vie for the superintendent's position. Looks like the jerk got derailed.
All I can say is God help the citizens of Tavernier with those two clowns running things. Let's drop to our knees and pray for their latest victims. We here in his old school are also going to thank God that he has not returned!
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