Schools & Transparency: Mutually Exclusive

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.

Public Documents Re-request

   ARPS $ettlement Agreements (Anons)

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.

   Schools Settlement Agreements 2006-2011

Warrior Week at ARHS

Mark Jackson ARHS Principal,  Maria Geryk Amherst Regional School Superintendent

As part of "Warrior Week" in the Amherst Regional Public Schools, students heard (and presumably discussed) the awful story of a teacher of color who was on the receiving end of threats and racial bigotry last fall.  

So why are we only now hearing her story?

Even the Gazette is starting to wonder

   Racism at ARHS

The Glass Is Half ... Full

 

Pat Kamins landlord, Rob Morra Building Commissioner

While half the 1,570 rental properties that need to register with the town and acquire a permit have done so since the new bylaw went into effect Janurary 1st, that still leaves about 785 who have not complied.

According to Amherst Building Commissioner Rob Morra:

 "All property owners who have not submitted permit applications will receive a letter from me with a deadline of March 31st to respond.  The letter is intended to be the final reminder however will clearly state that without a permit from this office he property is not in compliance with the Bylaw.  I will initiate standard enforcement procedures for all properties in violation after March 31st which will include fines, noncriminal disposition, court action, etc. as needed to gain full compliance with our program."

In order to oversee this critical new program Morra has hired two additional employees: Jennifer Gannett, Management Assistant (started early January) and a new inspector, Terry Avery who will start February 18th.

The two positions cost $88,689 (not including benefits) but will be easily covered by the $157,000 generated in $100 annual permits for the 1,570 rental properties.

Bully For Blogs

 

Amherst School Superintendent Maria Geryk (Lady in a Blue Dress)

Not that anyone noticed -- except perhaps for her dutiful husband Kurt -- Amherst School Superintendent Maria Geryk launched her blog two weeks ago.  Well at least I think it's hers.

She doesn't actually sign it, and the promo that only today appeared on the main school website states, "Superintendent's office launches blogsite," meaning it may very well be ghost written.

But hey, it's a blog.  Sort of.

And I genuinely applaud any public official who works to increase transparency via communication with what Jay Rosen so perfectly described as, "The people formerly known as the audience."

Therein lies problem #1:  no interaction with said audience via comments.  Not overly surprising since the blog was impossible to find until yesterday. But I would not be surprised if it continues to stagnate when it comes to comments because of problem #2:  B-O-R-I-N-G.

Headlines are supposed to attract readers not repel them.  So far we have "Regional Budget 1-28-14" and "Amherst Budget".  ZZZZZ.  Tell us something interesting about each in the headline.  "Regional Budget Hurting" or "Amherst Budget:  Best Ever!"

A good blog post should always include a photo, video or illustration.  So far, nada.  But links are included in the text, so that's good. 

Frequency is also vitally important.   Blogging is like exercise: the more the better but a minimum of 3 times per week.  So far we have only one post per week.

A start anyway.  And a journey of a 1,000 miles starts with the first step.  Even if it's a baby one.

Lots of pre-launch fanfare anyway

Cyberbullies Beware

 APD officers Matt Frydrk (left) Marcus Humber (center)

The Amherst Police Department let it be known to a crowd of perhaps 30 last night at an Amherst Regional High School presentation that they take very seriously the issue of cyberbullying among our youth. 

Problem is of course it's hard to prove when the line between First Amendment run-of-the-mill child bickering crosses over into criminal territory.  Officers did admit that they have over the past five or six years investigated 6 or 7 cases, but they "didn't go anywhere."

But I'm fairly sure that the kid who had a uniformed officer questioning them about inappropriate behavior with a peer probably thought twice about repeating that inappropriate behavior. 

The problem with bullying of the cyber kind is it no longer requires geographic proximity.  The all powerful Internet is always on, and when a child wakes up in the morning that nasty remark is right there in their face.

Officers suggested (although my child seemed to be the only youngster in attendance) that you not engage with the bully because that is exactly what they want.  Take a screen shot or print out the nasty remark, and when it happens three times, that shows a pattern.  Report it to school authorities and/or the police.

In fact, after the terrible tragedy in South Hadley the State passed a law requiring schools to report incidents of bullying to the local police department; and APD will even take those complaints via an online reporting system that goes directly to Detective Dave Foster.

It also helps of course if parents/guardians demonstrate a little oversight on what websites their child visits and how much time they spend on the Internet.

DUI Dishonor Role

 The rate of drunk driving is highest among 21 to 25 year olds (23.4 percent)

Pretty much back to "normal" with Amherst Police arresting three (alleged) drunk drivers over the weekend: Travis A Thomspon, Katherine K Mullane,  and Alexander J McCarthy , all of them age 22.  And two-out-three of them UMass students.

Amherst: Pickup Truck vs Cyclist

 Pickup truck alongside ambulance pointing eastbound towards Amherst center

A pickup truck heading east on Rt 9 collided with a 20-year-old cyclist (UMass student) at the intersection of University Drive and Snell Street around 7:29 this evening.

The victim was transported by AFD to Baystate Critical Care Unit in Springfield by ambulance with 3 first responders on board.  She had serious injuries but is expected to survive.

 Two Hadley cruisers assist Amherst police at Snell/University Dr/Rt9 intersection

At one point six cruisers (Amherst and Hadley) were on the scene with an AFD ambulance and Fire Engine.  Mass State Police accident reconstruction team was called in and were still on the scene at 10:20 PM.

Amherst towing was en route to transport both the pick up truck and crumpled bicycle.

Another cyclist was also at the scene at the time of the accident with the victim, but was not involved or injured. 

Other bike at the scene, but not involved in accident