tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post3834430647273413599..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Better to reign in HellLarry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-15439508855313200492011-01-18T22:44:09.843-05:002011-01-18T22:44:09.843-05:00On the Rodriguez firing:
Was he "lousy"...On the Rodriguez firing:<br /><br />Was he "lousy" at the job? Absolutely.<br /><br />Was there a LOT more to it?<br />Oh, yes. Some of it mind blowing. Stuff that NO ONE here would try to defend.<br /><br />There is tape of a S.C. meeting that took place soon after he left. At one point Irv starts to talk about the evaluations they received, and he says something like: "When I first read these, I couldn't believe what I was reading..." He is abruptly cut off by Farshid who says "We are not allowed to talk publicly about what is in the evaluations!"<br /><br />Disturbing stuff. Not stuff that has to do with left or right or conservative or liberal or about management styles or a desire to "shake things up." Not "job performance" related, but behavior.<br /><br />Catherine knew that the content of the evaluations, and the content of the final meeting with Rodriguez, was to be kept confidential as part of his agreement to leave. (Remember, it was a unanimous decision that he leave.) C.S. seized upon this, painted it as "the junior administration resists change" and "they are unmanageable" to further her own agenda, and because, hey, no one was allowed to say the real reasons (part of the deal.)<br /><br />She knows what is in those evaluations; indefensible stuff. There was NO QUESTION he had to leave. He's lucky he got out the way he did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-62218462495323655532011-01-11T14:25:42.282-05:002011-01-11T14:25:42.282-05:00YOU started it here, not little old me.
My origin...YOU started it here, not little old me.<br /><br />My original post had to do with the Gateway Project.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-30665771498817129292011-01-11T14:03:40.309-05:002011-01-11T14:03:40.309-05:00She reads your blog quite a bit. Better to keep it...She reads your blog quite a bit. Better to keep it here since it started here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-45931790689283021002011-01-11T09:18:19.174-05:002011-01-11T09:18:19.174-05:00why don't you go over to her blog and ask? Th...why don't you go over to her blog and ask? There's a hotlink over on the right.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-28175781537963956412011-01-11T08:35:30.484-05:002011-01-11T08:35:30.484-05:00"why did Catherine Sanderson make the stateme..."why did Catherine Sanderson make the statements she did in regards to his short tenure being indicative of Amherst's discomfort with outside change agents?"<br /><br /><br />Why don't we ask C.S.?<br /><br /><br />Catherine?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-61889957681447638492011-01-11T00:53:56.751-05:002011-01-11T00:53:56.751-05:00If Rodriguez was going to get a lousy job performa...<i>If Rodriguez was going to get a lousy job performance review, why did Catherine Sanderson make the statements she did in regards to his short tenure being indicative of Amherst's discomfort with outside change agents?</i><br /><br />Could it be that Sanderson is from the South, where there are still such things as manners and she grew up being taught not to hit people when they are down?<br /><br />Could it be that she knew he already was fired and was trying to let him save face?<br /><br />Could it be that, unlike many in this town, she is at heart a basically decent person?<br /><br />Heaven forbid that someone say something nice about a vanquished foe.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-84765379298032655672011-01-09T19:04:12.619-05:002011-01-09T19:04:12.619-05:00"And that's just one example of "you..."And that's just one example of "you're with us or you're against us" mentality I've heard about in the past few years."<br /><br /><br />That's Amherst's schools director of H.R. Kathy Mazur's mantra.<br /><br />Don't forget, it was her idea (as vice chair of the S Hadley school committee) to use the S Hadley police to silence taxpayers critical of the schools handling of the Prince case.<br /><br />Imagine the advice she's been giving Geryk and company.<br /><br /><br />Imagine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-25996975387458592292011-01-09T15:58:04.962-05:002011-01-09T15:58:04.962-05:00So Larry, are you ready to use the C word?
Corru...So Larry, are you ready to use the C word?<br /><br /><br />Corruption?<br /><br /><br />It rolls right off the lips...Rat patrolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-61812790055855792702011-01-09T13:10:04.480-05:002011-01-09T13:10:04.480-05:00Agreed.
That's the main reason I was such a...Agreed. <br /><br />That's the main reason I was such a BIG proponent of dumping the current antiquated Town Meeting form of government that rules our Banana (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone)Republic and replacing it with a more professional, businesslike Mayor/Council.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-58415819796007856092011-01-09T12:40:17.717-05:002011-01-09T12:40:17.717-05:00Yes, but if our Select Board captures hour or more...Yes, but if our Select Board captures hour or more of discussion with two sentences and then redacts one and that is upheld under the "law"....we're in a heap of trouble.<br /><br />If you pay my salary, then you have a right to know my personal/personnel issues that affect my ability to do my job. That's the way it is. Don't want that kind of scrutiny, then don't work for the public sector.<br /><br />If I worked for anyone in private sector and said "I can't work for you anymore for an undisclosed personal reason but you should pay me for a while, say 6 months, the employer would laugh, not offer me 4 months. What is being hidden here?<br /><br />Why aren't the taxpayers as smart as other employers?? This is our money. Not the Select Board, not the School Committee's.<br /><br /> And if our town SB/SC etc are engaging in "payoffs" to keep ex-employees from telling something unfavorable, which is what these things tend to appear then....we need to get rid of these folks. <br /><br /><br />HTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-49589998515755184882011-01-09T08:56:11.948-05:002011-01-09T08:56:11.948-05:00One good reason why we all should thank God (or in...One good reason why we all should thank God (or in this case the Mass Legislature) for the Public Documents and Open Meeting Laws.<br /><br />Now if only they would put some teeth in them.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-62502161847895038902011-01-09T08:46:51.611-05:002011-01-09T08:46:51.611-05:00Teachers don't run the schools; administrators...Teachers don't run the schools; administrators do. Teachers need to work just like anyone else and while it's pc-acceptable to bash teachers in this town ---how many of us in the private sector risk our jobs trying to get the highly paid admins to do theirs? Teachers I've known are busy trying to teach effectively to their students. <br /><br />The folks to hold accountable are the ones that are in charge of hiring: SC, Superintendent, Principals.....<br /><br />Some of the crappola that happens in the schools is amazing in this day and time. Such as the petitions circulated in the schools for teachers to sign etc This maneuver is incredibly obtuse in recognizing that tax funded positions are subject to more scrutiny under Mass ethics laws etc. Somehow to me it's reminiscent of company town mentality. <br /><br />If I taught in a school and somebody brought me a petition to sign in "support" of one of the folks in charge of my school or school system: I'd pursue legal protection for my job. This just isn't acceptable.<br /><br />And that's just one example of "you're with us or you're against us" mentality I've heard about in the past few years. <br /><br /> <br /><br />HTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-72329103202262649632011-01-09T08:20:54.258-05:002011-01-09T08:20:54.258-05:00There is no group more resistant to change than te...There is no group more resistant to change than teachers. None.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-12273559032529613712011-01-09T07:19:14.889-05:002011-01-09T07:19:14.889-05:00Because "the system"--especially the sac...Because "the system"--especially the sacred cow schools--do not like shaking up or being held accountable.<br /><br />Why do you think THEY will be trying to take out Catherine Sanderson at the upcoming election?Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-5856760592980480962011-01-08T19:54:57.880-05:002011-01-08T19:54:57.880-05:00"Others were going to."
Why?"Others were going to."<br /><br /><br />Why?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-30361803258959220972011-01-08T19:35:06.623-05:002011-01-08T19:35:06.623-05:00Catherine Sanderson does not Chair the Regional Sc...Catherine Sanderson does not Chair the Regional School Committee. She probably would not have given him an unsatisfactory review. Others were going to. She would have been outvoted and it would have gone down on his "permanent record". Something career bureaucrats tend to protect--especially when gifted four months pay as a consolation prize.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-87386213591551315682011-01-08T17:36:15.049-05:002011-01-08T17:36:15.049-05:00Exactly.Exactly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-10439090681101383722011-01-08T17:26:48.356-05:002011-01-08T17:26:48.356-05:00If Rodriguez was going to get a lousy job performa...If Rodriguez was going to get a lousy job performance review, why did Catherine Sanderson make the statements she did in regards to his short tenure being indicative of Amherst's discomfort with outside change agents? Which was it that drove him out of town? Internal discomfort with his "outside change agent" status, or "lousy" job performance? Because the statements she has made have really confused me. If he were such a great change agent, wouldn't the School Committee have worked to keep him on board, instead of orchestrating his exit?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-31553222094659555082011-01-08T12:41:16.238-05:002011-01-08T12:41:16.238-05:00"He was about to receive a lousy job performa..."He was about to receive a lousy job performance review at a public meeting so he got out while the getting was good, also taking four months pay for the ride."<br /><br /><br />Lousy job performance?!? <br /><br /><br />Please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-87144231560459998162011-01-08T10:04:38.631-05:002011-01-08T10:04:38.631-05:00Yes. Not much there.
As you may remember things ...Yes. Not much there.<br /><br />As you may remember things starting going downhill for Rodriguez when I published the gratuitous "vacation/sick time" schedule for the year he casually tossed the School Committee, and the fact he did not fill out Family Leave paperwork in advance (as required) for taking extended time off. <br /><br />He was about to receive a lousy job performance review at a public meeting so he got out while the getting was good, also taking four months pay for the ride.<br /><br />My only regret in that case is that "Unemployment Benefits" are exempt from Public Documents Law.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-66909923667687127922011-01-08T08:40:36.654-05:002011-01-08T08:40:36.654-05:00I'm curious, did you ever request the minutes ...I'm curious, did you ever request the minutes related to the executive session that resulted in Alberto Rodriguez "stepping down"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-12088237219805761492011-01-07T23:17:56.963-05:002011-01-07T23:17:56.963-05:00"'Moron.'
Moron."
Moron."'Moron.'<br /><br />Moron."<br /><br />Moron.Moronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-51672050741815240302011-01-07T23:16:09.962-05:002011-01-07T23:16:09.962-05:00"Moron."
Moron."Moron."<br /><br />Moron.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-50304581784234141922011-01-07T16:20:05.022-05:002011-01-07T16:20:05.022-05:00"transparency"
Moron."transparency"<br /><br /><br />Moron.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-14525958020126468922011-01-07T15:53:46.148-05:002011-01-07T15:53:46.148-05:00And you're an idiot.
The state considers Exec...And you're an idiot.<br /><br />The state considers Executive Session an integral part of doing business as a government entity. <br /><br />I get pissed off when government misuses the valuable tool--which they do all too often.<br /><br />And just for the record (as you can clearly see since Amherst Media covered the entire meeting live) we did not go into Executive Session last night, but probably will at our next meeting in two weeks.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.com