Monthly Archives: October 2014

Goncalves shown the door (From Todays Republican-American) Reply

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Full story on-line at

http://www.rep-am.com/news/local/839793.txt

 

Goncalves shown the door

Region 1 board agrees to give school official an early out

BY RUTH EPSTEIN Republican-American

FALLS VILLAGE — Today is Region 1 Assistant Superintendent Diane Goncalves’ last day on the job.

The Board of Education agreed to an early retirement and separation agreement following an hourlong executive session Thursday that was attended by members of the All Board Chairmen Committee and Superintendent Patricia Chamberlain.

Reading from a written statement after the vote, board Chairman Andrea L. Downs said, “Unfortunately, over the past few years, events have often competed for the attention of board members and educators that provided a distraction from our primary purpose of ensuring a quality educational experience for all of our students. It is our hope that we can return to this essential work on behalf of our children.”

The motion gave no indication of the financial implications of the package nor who would take on Goncalves’ responsibilities. No public comment was permitted. Downs indicated the financial information would become public once an agreement between Goncalves and the board is signed.

Going…going…..gone…. 1

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The Region 1 Board of Education unanimously approved an early retirement package for Diane Goncalves tonight… no details were released we were told that we would be told the full financial details when the contract is signed. As of right now Diane last day in Region 1 is October 31st. What the plan is going forward after Diane leaves is “still a work in progress” ( how can you let someone retire and NOT have a plan in place already?!).  Kind of interesting that Diane’s last day is HALLOWEEN!

More details tomorrow morning on The Breakfast Club on Robin Hood Radio

All But Done……… 1

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According to sources from within the Region 1 School District a “buyout” of the Assistant Superintendent is all but done. We will probably see a special meeting of the Region 1 Board and or ABC as well to wrap this up, and, we would guess, it will probably be publicly voted on at the Region 1 board meeting a week from today (November 3). Also lots of rumblings on other items going on in the Central Office…could be a very interesting time…..

Shenanigans 2

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Shenanigans: noun, Informal. 1. Usually, shenanigans. mischief; prankishness: Halloween shenanigans. deceit; trickery. 2. a mischievous or deceitful trick, practice, etc

Just sayin’:

Multiple meetings of the A.B.C and Region One boards on a possible expensive buy out of the Assistant Superintendent ( while her contract will be ending next year)

To us (as we said in our run for the school board last year) it would be a colossal waste of money to buy out any of the administrators, just let the contracts run their course, then hire a new Superintendent, eliminate the assistant position and give additional duties to the Director Of Instruction to assist the Superintendent. If the ABC wants their own superintendent for the grammar schools, use the money saved by not having an assistant and hire one (I am sure there would have to be legal items to work out to give the ABC a budget to spend money, but legaleze could be worked out). If that happened then the Director of  Instruction would not need to assist the Region 1 Superintendent as the work load would be far less. But I digress!

Our questions are:

Has either board asked the firm that is representing Gale Toensing their thoughts on a buy-out thus ending a law suit Gale will most likely win?

Aren’t there far more important EDUCATIONAL matters the ABC and board should be concerned with ( declining school population, etc, etc..)?

Far too much time has been spent on this one topic. Multiple meeting of the ABC and Region 1 Board. Please, just let the legal system run its course, and let her contract run its course. If Gale Toensing wins the lawsuit…then the board could consider ending the Assistant Superintendent contract (without a buy out!).

Before the last election for the Region 1 Board Of Education most of our areas First Selectmen urged passage of the budget, urging residents to elect a new board instead of defeating budgets to try and get rid of the two top administrators.. The top two reasons the new members were elected? 1) to change the board leadership. 2) To set in motion the groundwork for a NEW administration AFTER current terms were served.

From this mornings Republican-American: Kent finance board concerned BOE has not been attending crucial meetings 4

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Kent finance board concerned

BOE has not been attending crucial meetings

BY LYNN MELLIS WORTHINGTON

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

KENT — The Board of Finance wants to hear more from the Board of Education and members have gotten tired of waiting for representatives to attend their meetings. Finance board member Edward Epstein has repeatedly expressed concern that no one representing the education board attends the monthly finance meeting.Finance member Mark Sebetic agreed that he’d like to hear from the Board of Education more than just once a year during the budget presentation. “We deserve to hear (from them) at least once a quarter,” Sebetic said. Epstein said he’s specifically concerned about the Region 1 funds this year.
“I think there are going to be implications in the Region 1 system,” he said, noting there has been talk about the assistant superintendent taking a “buy out” and if that happened the money would come from the regional budgets and that could reduce the money returned to the towns.
The Board of Finance agreed to request a copy of the monthly financial report from the Board of Education.

Contact Lynn Mellis Worthington at or on Twitter @ lynnmellw

FULL STORY AVAILABLE AT http://rep-am.com