tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post4316955719043290904..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Amherst School Super $earch: The drama continues...Larry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-10464546673797769502011-01-24T10:22:45.746-05:002011-01-24T10:22:45.746-05:00"If we want to talk about bulliess and bullyi..."If we want to talk about bulliess and bullying....the majority of the members of the current Amherst School Committee are the worst bullies in Amherst today. They are an embarrasment to the community at best and the poorest of role models to the children in our town at worst."<br /><br /><br /><br />LOL <br /><br /><br />Complete nonsense. <br /><br /><br />Don't blame the SC for doing what should've been done all along.<br /><br />Blame the idiots who let things get so out of control in the first place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-43598244028334456682011-01-24T07:57:34.632-05:002011-01-24T07:57:34.632-05:00Anon 7:22
I think you need to back up your claims....Anon 7:22<br />I think you need to back up your claims. In what way do you believe school committee members of been bullies? I truly have no idea what you are talking about. Please explain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-48822347891992855182011-01-24T07:22:36.028-05:002011-01-24T07:22:36.028-05:00If we want to talk about bulliess and bullying.......If we want to talk about bulliess and bullying....the majority of the members of the current Amherst School Committee are the worst bullies in Amherst today. They are an embarrasment to the community at best and the poorest of role models to the children in our town at worst.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-7666445705797480042011-01-24T06:11:38.131-05:002011-01-24T06:11:38.131-05:00"maria geryk has spent the last 25 years payi..."<i>maria geryk has spent the last 25 years paying attention to and trying to help children with disabilities and special needs</i>"<br /><br />As a person with disabilities and special needs, let me state for the record that the VAST MAJORITY of those allegedly willing to "help" me were only willing to help me as long as I was willing to help them advance their own careers.<br /><br />There are the random few who are true educators, but the vast majority are bullies who seek to have power and have it over vulnerable people who can't fight back. SPED is like the porrige in Oliver Twist -- it isn't the lack of money as much as the power over people.<br /><br />I don't know Ms Geryk and am not commenting on her. All I am suggesting is that if we hear allegations that a police officer beat someone up, we need to check it out -- and if we hear allegations that she is playing favorites with SPED resources, we likewise need to check it out....<br /><br />This doesn't mean that we disrespect her any more than IA disrespects the officer -- we check it out...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-32201753079655653452011-01-23T23:42:47.388-05:002011-01-23T23:42:47.388-05:00you can't back up any of that! the gazette ha...you can't back up any of that! the gazette has reported on her "conflicts of interest"? hmm, must have missed those articles. please put a link here to those. and nothing gets "published" on this blog... please. where's the lack of transparency? that is becoming a tired slogan. examples please. profligate spending? again, cite facts and data please.<br /><br />more importantly... examples of "retributive acts against those who publicly oppose her" please.<br /><br />oh please, elucidator of truth, give us the examples to back up your statements.<br /><br />Pat, ranting anonymously on THIS blog, of all blogs, is hardly a public service! i am presently unable to contain my laughter, so post i will...<br /><br />Q: "what have you done to help solve some of our problems?"<br /><br />A: "i am an elucidator of truth. i anonymously reiterate things i've read on this blog."<br /><br />oh my gosh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-40935725105606412292011-01-23T23:06:56.293-05:002011-01-23T23:06:56.293-05:00What have I done ?
Elucidate the truth.
Call ou...What have I done ?<br /><br />Elucidate the truth. <br /><br />Call out Ms. Geryk on profligate spending, lack of transparency, and reiterate public accounts of her conflicts of interest that have been published on this blog and the Gazette.<br /><br />That, my friend, is a public service for taxpayers and especially students.<br /><br />Purely and simply she and her management style is bad for this town.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-81348011331387971042011-01-23T22:46:06.292-05:002011-01-23T22:46:06.292-05:00wow, i hadn't heard about "the retributiv...wow, i hadn't heard about "the retributive acts against those publicly opposing her."<br /><br />please detail them for us! i assume you can back that up? otherwise i would have to classify that statement as malicious, false, and defamatory.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-73670312204762396482011-01-23T22:38:55.788-05:002011-01-23T22:38:55.788-05:00it was less of a defense of maria geryk than it wa...it was less of a defense of maria geryk than it was an indictment of a community member who personifies one of this town's main problems: angry, bitter individuals who do nothing to be part of the solution, who just sit around, making all the people in this town who roll up their sleeves and bust their asses to TRY to make things better, into scapegoats. <br /><br />educators are an easy target.<br /><br />"cronies": other individuals who have devoted the better part of their lives to educating themselves about, and trying to help, children with special needs.<br /><br />what have YOU done to help?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-16810335413913023762011-01-23T22:19:24.673-05:002011-01-23T22:19:24.673-05:00Enough of the defense of M. Geryk.
Her track reco...Enough of the defense of M. Geryk.<br /><br />Her track record at SPED is terrible. See the outside review of the department she created and filled with cronies from earlier this year.<br /><br />Perhaps Ms. Ononibaku like <br />many others, has been subject to retribution for advocating replacing the interim. Many believe that Ms. Geryk's tenure, in addition to being marked by fiscal mismanagement, insider politics and untoward encouragement of employees to campaign for her appointment is rife with ethical lapses (conflicts of interest etc..) and retributive acts against those publicly opposing her.<br /><br />I, for one would like to see her gone, not only from the interim job, but from the District as a whole. Let her earn her stripes somewhere else based on merit rather than politics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-25514057689187451122011-01-23T21:43:33.524-05:002011-01-23T21:43:33.524-05:00furthermore... that pat onanibaku has been bad-mo...furthermore... that pat onanibaku has been bad-mouthing maria geryk for many years is no secret. and it's with that knowledge that catherine sanderson appointed pat to the 10-member superintendent search committee. while her attempts to keep geryk out of the final three failed, the fact that sanderson intentionally sought to create a panel with strong biases against geryk is morally reprehensible. any benefit of the doubt i may have given sanderson has vanished.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-1323825857742820912011-01-23T21:35:15.507-05:002011-01-23T21:35:15.507-05:00maria geryk has spent the last 25 years paying att...maria geryk has spent the last 25 years paying attention to and trying to help children with disabilities and special needs. when did ms. onanibaku become interested in these kid's welfare? when it concerned her specifically. again, the person who puts themself in the middle of the problem becomes an easy target and a convenient scapegoat. Maria has been helping chidren with special needs since she started VOLUNTEERING to do so in her TEENS; this led to her choosing special education as her concentration in undergraduate college. You don't get into the field because there's some big reward there. What did you do to help children with special needs when you were a teenager, pat? Unfortunately, there is no perfect solution to the problem of how we provide all the needed services to every child. But to say, as pat onanibaku has, that maria geryk witholds services from children to save money...<br /><br />onanibaku, aim you're angry, bitter rhetoric, elsewhere, maybe at someone who hasn't even tried to be a part of the solution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-40953452413573374442011-01-23T20:51:23.108-05:002011-01-23T20:51:23.108-05:00Dr. Kohn won a national award from the Superintend...Dr. Kohn won a national award from the Superintendents’ Roundable – a national organization of Superintendents. I requested clarification on the meaning of this award since it is on Dr. Kohn’s resume. <br /><br /><br />From the Executive Director of National Superintendent’s Roundtable.<br /><br />Dear Mr. Aronson:<br /><br />Thank you for your note. Amherst-Pelham RSD is very fortunate to have a candidate of Gerald Kohn’s experience, skill,and national stature under consideration. Jerry is an outstanding educator who is deeply committed to the success of every student. He draws on deep reserves of pedagogical knowledge, leadership skill, and experience as superintendent in several very different communities in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.<br /><br />In 2007, the Roundtable’s steering committee authorized the periodic recognition of superintendents and other educators for “outstanding contributions to American education.” After hearing a presentation about the remarkable achievements at Harrisburg’s SciTech High under Kohn’s leadership (unprecedented graduation and college acceptance rates for a severely distressed inner-city community), the Roundtable steering committee unanimously agreed to make the first award to Gerald Kohn. My assistant Brent Johnson joined me and several steering committee members in making the presentation in Harrisburg in December 2009.<br /><br />I am in the midwest en route back to my office today (Sunday), but will be happy to forward additional information about the award as soon as I get to the office tomorrow.<br /><br />I hope this is helpful.<br /><br />James Harvey<br />Executive Director<br />National Superintendents Roundtable<br /><br />On Jan 22, 2011, at 9:04 AM, Consumer Exports Group wrote:<br /><br />Dear Mr. Harvey,<br /><br />I am quite interested in your award for Superintendent of the Year.<br /><br />One of your members won that award in 2009 – Dr. Gerald Kohn of Harrisburg, PA. He is now applying to the Amherst Pelham Regional School District for a Superintendent’s post.<br />Do you have a statement about the meaning of the Roundtable award that I can share with other parents?<br />Is this achievement based on an assessment of his peers?<br />Roundtable members?<br />Any other public information I can share with those in my community ?<br /><br />Kindly share this information.<br /><br />Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.<br /><br />Michael Aronson<br /><br />Amherst, MassachusettsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-9518087416326135752011-01-23T20:23:10.349-05:002011-01-23T20:23:10.349-05:00Two wrongs don't make a right.Two wrongs don't make a right.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-27667604020572403192011-01-23T20:03:53.285-05:002011-01-23T20:03:53.285-05:00Power dynamic? What a crock of horses***. As a me...Power dynamic? What a crock of horses***. As a member of the search committee she should not be commenting on the candidates while the process is sttill happening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-28247388128833488122011-01-23T19:33:49.095-05:002011-01-23T19:33:49.095-05:00Pat is stating her opinion based on her experience...Pat is stating her opinion based on her experience with the internal and based on seeing both external candidates. Ms. Welborn was trying to send e-mails to parents BEFORE any candidates had even come here. The internal candidate is her boss. Parents may have children in her classes. The power dynamics are completely different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-36440329740701500022011-01-23T19:09:31.633-05:002011-01-23T19:09:31.633-05:00I agree with you, Anon 7pmI agree with you, Anon 7pmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-80117680556525975752011-01-23T19:00:46.069-05:002011-01-23T19:00:46.069-05:00My point is that she shouldn't be talking abou...My point is that she shouldn't be talking about/giving her opinions about the various candidates in the press- period. It's not appropriate and is just as much a subversion of the process as Ms. Wellborn's letter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-25403780933542174862011-01-23T18:13:07.419-05:002011-01-23T18:13:07.419-05:00the SPED program has ALWAYS had parent dissatisfac...the SPED program has ALWAYS had parent dissatisfaction...for many many decades. It's the nature of the beast. In a world where there was unlimited funds for schools there would be 100% satisfaction with the SPED program.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-10872169436375960722011-01-23T17:45:02.392-05:002011-01-23T17:45:02.392-05:00I care what Pat thinks. SPED, Maria's program,...I care what Pat thinks. SPED, Maria's program, has 40% parent dissatisfaction. Many fear retribution if they comment publicly. Luckily Pat is brave enough to do that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-64770215646541456972011-01-23T17:30:33.975-05:002011-01-23T17:30:33.975-05:00Ononibaku has no credibility. She's an angry ...Ononibaku has no credibility. She's an angry woman who go to any lenghts to badmouth Maria Geryk. Who cares what she thinks?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-57511196116205581782011-01-23T16:59:18.323-05:002011-01-23T16:59:18.323-05:00onanibaku has been bad-mouthing maria geryk for ye...onanibaku has been bad-mouthing maria geryk for years. that's the kind of thanks you get in this town for busting your ass at a difficult job. angry people look for a scapegoat, and they always choose the easy target.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-77649831275738066592011-01-23T13:57:20.395-05:002011-01-23T13:57:20.395-05:00So am I the only person who thinks that it is comp...So am I the only person who thinks that it is completely inappropriate for members of the search committee to be commenting in the newspapers on the candidates before the process is complete?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-74118260032247927222011-01-23T13:48:46.698-05:002011-01-23T13:48:46.698-05:00I agree with Michael Jacques' assessment of Ko...I agree with Michael Jacques' assessment of Kohn. Sometimes old people get very tired by the time 6pm rolls around, and so he probably wasn't at this peak for the other night's interview.<br /><br />I just hope, if he's chosen, that he'll be able to hang in there during those many weeks where there's two or three meetings until 10pm or 11pm after a very long day's work.<br /><br />But Michael, tired or not, how did you feel about Kohn's response to the specific question about how he would maintain an arts curriculum during a tough economic time? I mean, he didn't even come up with a semblance of an answer to the question. And that's just ONE example of his not answering the question asked of him AT ALL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-19253566042108735442011-01-23T13:27:40.329-05:002011-01-23T13:27:40.329-05:00Larry, why so much apathy? Point blank.Larry, why so much apathy? Point blank.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-41450667337790855792011-01-23T12:45:42.894-05:002011-01-23T12:45:42.894-05:00The average turnout for local elections--which I f...The average turnout for local elections--which I find far more important to our day to day existence--over the last 30 years is probably around 15% (exception being Override votes or Charter change votes), while Amherst routinely turns out somewhere in the neighborhood of 75% for the Presidential election every four years.<br /><br />So of the 15% who seem to care about 'inside politics' it only requires half of them plus one to rule the town.<br /><br />And THEY (the ruling establishment) are extremely well organized.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.com