Even after Suffolk Superior Court Judge Thomas Connors clearly ruled that names of public sector employees who receive a going away settlement financed by taxpayer dollars are not protected under the cloak of "privacy," the Amherst Schools continue to listen to $225/hour attorney Giny Tate and obstinately refuse to release those names.
Interestingly here's the same response from two years ago. Thus showing that since then, just in the last two years under the reign of Superintendent Maria Geryk, the Schools have paid out an additional $179,718 to six former employees.
Almost as much as they did ($187,709) over the five years between 2006 and 2011.
Almost as much as they did ($187,709) over the five years between 2006 and 2011.
Maria Geryk is a horrible superintendent. That the parents of Amherst allow such an atrocity that is the school administration to drive the system into the dirt is really sad. The answer they profess is to give it time and that the school has a multi-year plan and we should wait. This is not a football team. It is children lives and every year wasted is ten years lost. What a joke.
ReplyDeleteLarry,
ReplyDeleteDo you think they could at least give you the year of each settlement. Certainly this may narrow it down to who has left but a settlement does not always happen the year a person leaves. So the inappropriate removal of the name is still intact from their end. It would help the tax payers to know if we are seeing accelerated payouts. The data you are getting is great but they are still cover up to much.
Maria Geryk is mediocre at best. The spending is out of control. A revolving door of upper level people. Curriculum changes done like the flavor of the month. No accountability. Special program start every year that will change everything, but end in secrecy to be replace the following year by another doomed program.
ReplyDeleteMaria Geryk did not start it but she does not have the experience to slow it down and correct it. Her vision seems to be based on collaboration with businesses and the university but without any real impact.
To be fair there are few Superintendents who could turn the district around but the teachers & administrators run them out of town or out of the interview process because they know that the changes they make will be job threatening. The collective protects itself well and the kids suffer for it.
The schools will slowly slip into mediocrity. It seems the fate of most public schools. Since Amherst started better than most or certainly with a better reputation they will be viewed for years as superior to those who don't look behind the curtain.
"To be fair there are few Superintendents who could turn the district around but the teachers & administrators run them out of town or out of the interview process because they know that the changes they make will be job threatening. The collective protects itself well and the kids suffer for it."
ReplyDeleteExcellent point. Anyone that wanted to make a difference and could was sent out of town on a rail. Shame on Amherst government and shame on anyone in the system that puts themselves first over the future of the children.
Larry, chase down that sick leave figure. You may get lucky like Alana did - or not but it is still worth doing. That's an abnormality, that's the loose thread that unravels the rest.
ReplyDeleteAnd as an aside -- Enku Gelaye is even worse on this sort of stuff than Maria G -- Enku has told me to my face that certain documents do not exist and then bragged to others about having lied to me. That, boys 'n; girls, is the issue I have with her and it ain't going away.
I think maybe you should send this story to a prominent paper? Always a slow news month.
ReplyDeleteSupposed "bad data" in the marijuana applications ended up on the Globe front page. Controversial pay in a notable region you'd get some attention pretty quickly.
Walter,
ReplyDeleteI want a list of specifics. Your emails are filled words like atrocity and horrible, but you present not one piece of evidence. Give me a list or pipe down.
I was told recently by a reporter at the Gazette that the paper is downsizing its permanent staff and hiring freelancers for most of the "reporting", which is why nobody in the local MSM is carrying the story.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Larry for keeping it real
One specific that comes to mind is the high number of buyouts. That is unusual,.
ReplyDeleteCriminal, especially when other departments in the town (DPW, FD, PD) are in need and repeatedly shunned by town officials when they ask for help. Here there is criminal activity and no one in the town hall cares...sad. Larry, keep with this story, it will be interesting to see where it leads..
ReplyDelete"criminal activity"
ReplyDeletePlease cite examples. Criminal activity refers crimes. Exactly what crimes are being committed?
It is most unfortunate to read these subjective assessments of the superintendent and the schools. Please use data to support your conclusions so they will hold more weigh. In terms of payouts, there must be reasons behind them and I, for one, hope they are based upon what is in the best interest of our schools and our children. Without knowing the true personnel reason as to why, it is grossly unfair to make any type of assessment. Guess if you really want to know, get your license and apply for a job within the schools.
ReplyDeleteGuess if you really want to know, get your license and apply for a job within the schools.
ReplyDeleteNo thank you. I've got my license -- actually several "endorsements" but you couldn't pay me enough to work there. I know better...
Guess if you really want to know, get your license and apply for a job within the schools.
ReplyDeleteNo thank you. I've got my license -- actually several "endorsements" but you couldn't pay me enough to work there. I know better...
"One specific that comes to mind is the high number of buyouts. That is unusual"
ReplyDeleteReally? How do you know that the previous number was not unusually low? How many buyouts did Northampton or Springfield have? What is the average for a school system this size?
Please deal with facts.
Anon 1:16 is right that these numbers scream out for context, which is probably beyond what is humanly possible for our reporter. We'd all like to know what happens in similar school systems, like Northampton or Longmeadow or Wilbraham.
ReplyDeleteBut, hey, it does look like we're spending a lot of money here.
If you think you can do a better job, feel free.
ReplyDeleteTis better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
You're the reporter. You are putting these numbers out there because you think they are atypical for a school system of this size. Do you have any evidence of that?
ReplyDeleteSo far the most interesting part of this story is the lengths the Schools will go to defy the direct order of the State's top Public Documents official. And a court Judge who agreed.
ReplyDeleteOf course once I get all the names the story could get far more interesting.
Hey this site is just like that kid's anonymous facebook page except that Larry Kelly makes money off it. Will Larry Kelly disclose how much he makes from the ads on this site?
ReplyDeleteNot enough. Not nearly enough.
ReplyDeleteReally? How do you know that the previous number was not unusually low? How many buyouts did Northampton or Springfield have? What is the average for a school system this size?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that buyouts are like Nulle Prosques in criminal law -- not very common. Almost inevitably, it's where you know you are going to loose a lawsuit because you Effed up.
Larry,
ReplyDeleteWas a court order issued to release the names or an opinion rendered by the judge?
Not yet.
ReplyDeleteI patterned my request on the one the Boston Globe used and a Judge did recently find in favor of the Globe and issued an order for state agencies to release the names as well as amounts.
I will bring this particular case to Hampshire Superior Court, and I hope I get Judge Mary Lou Rup who already decided another case identical to this one (payout to Phoebe Prince family that South Hadley was trying to keep buried).
Only thing that has been holding me back is there's a $240 filing fee, but now I'm pissed.
Why doesn't the district just follow the law? How hard is that? Or wait, maybe that's why there are so many payouts.
ReplyDeleteLarry,
ReplyDeleteIf you are willing to do the leg work and need some donations to get the thing filed just say so. I'm willing to pitch in. I'll send you an email if you say yes.
Yes. There is a donation button over on the right of the main page, but I should probably make it a lot bigger.
ReplyDeleteNever knew someone got paid for this blog. I was beginning to wonder why this blog is supported with such negative fuel but if someone is profiting, then I guess that is self explanatory. Uhm...
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that the majority of those payouts are for accumulated vacation, personal, and comp time. I do not know why public employees would get severance pay unless it is in a contract.
ReplyDeleteAnd, btw, I cannot believe Larry is making any money. Look at the gas he uses getting us those nifty pictures.
I imagine that perhaps an option (the only option?) for the district to "get rid of" poor teachers that have tenure is to offer them a payoff to leave 'voluntarily'. I can't imagine that (many) tenured teachers would just leave behind their vested years (senority) in the district to start all over again from zero in another district without being offered an incentive.
ReplyDelete