Category Archives: POSTS, COMMENTS, VIDEO AND AUDIO

Someone sent this post in, and obviously, they are misinformed, maladjusted, or from another planet… 4

by • POSTS, COMMENTS, VIDEO AND AUDIO

Here is the post that was sent in….

If the 7000 series was such a well written document why doesn’t it quote the state statutes directly, instead of vaguely paraphrasing the statutes? What it really seems like is Pat Mechare is more interested in creating one board to rule over all the towns, taking away the independent status of each town. What is in it for her? She knows that the Region One office works directly with each local board and spends and equal amount of time with each. I don’t understand her motivation but I think there is something underhanded going on with her politics.

Here is Region One Report’s reply (point by point)…..

1) If the 7000 series was such a well written document why doesn’t it quote the state statutes directly

Our reply..for brevity’s sake

2) What it really seems like is Pat Mechare is more interested in creating one board to rule over all the towns, taking away the independent status of each town.

Our reply..What an idiotic statement as each town has their OWN LOCAL Board Of Education to independently run their local schools. Nowhere in Pat’s statement is there any thing about abolishing the local boards. So obviously the person who wrote this post is in the dark..or has never voted in a local BOE election, or has never attended a LOCAL BOE meeting.

3) What is in it for her? She knows that the Region One office works directly with each local board and spends and equal amount of time with each. I don’t understand her motivation but I think there is something underhanded going on with her politics

Our reply..Whats in it for Pat and everyone else is correcting the false statements and stances from the administration, some A.B.C members, and some Region One Board members on the real status of the A.B.C. Committee.  The A.B.C is called a committee for a good reason. As a committee, it does not have the authority to spend money, it must request money from the Region One Board. It does not have the authority to implement  any program, hire, pay, without the approval of the Region One Board. The A.B.C. is strictly ADVISORY. Period.

Directly from the 2007 series:

The 7000 Series is a policy shared among the six elementary schools and the high school. The policy says on page 4, under the heading “Governing Body”: “The governing body of the Regional School Services Center [wrongly refered to as “central office”] is the Regional School District Number 1 Board of Education (the “Regional Board”), in accordance with Section 2 of Special Act 405 of the 1959 session of the Connecticut General Assembly. The Regional Board shall receive and may act on the recommendation of the All Board Chairs (ABC) Committee, an advisory committee to the Regional Board, in all matters affecting the Regional School Services Center.” 

It does not get any simpler than that.

Some more “gems” from the Region One A.B.C., the Region One Chair, and the superintendent….Lets hurry up and re-decide what has been law in the Region for over 70 years… 1

by • POSTS, COMMENTS, VIDEO AND AUDIO

Some more “gems” from the Region ion A.B.C., the Region One Chair, and the superintendent….

From this Mornings Republican-American

The All Board Chairmen Committee of Region 1 will get a legal opinion on its roles and re­sponsibilities and how they relate to the Region 1 Board of Education.

When it was suggested a review of the series be put off until a new board is seat­ed after the November elec­tion, Brian D. Bartram, chairman of the Salisbury Central School Board of Ed­ucation, said that no matter what the makeup of the board, an attorney’s opinion should be obtained. (We agree with this, a full, thorough review)

Chamberlain said the issue should be resolved be­fore the election so the duties are clearly spelled out. “I think to wait is frankly foolish.” ( Rush to judgement Pat, how could you ever work with an independent board)

Jonathan Moore of Kent, chairman of the Region 1 board, said he agreed that a legal opinion is necessary “on where we stand now. It is prudent so the boards have something concrete in­stead of just guessing.” He also said he firmly believed the board’s attorney, and not an outside inde­pendent counsel, should be retained for the process. “I wouldn’t have the region’s attorney beholden to an opinion from another attorney.” (this is a STATE STATUTE, we should get an opinion from outside the region reconfirming the statute that applies not only to Region One, BUT ALL REGIONS in the state)

Chamberlain said com­ing to a determination could take months, or even years. “It’s been used as one of the battlegrounds in the budget, which is ridiculous. I think we have to trust our attorney, whatever he says.” ( Trust  “our” attorney”…..I think Pat means “her” attorney ( the “boards” attorney has been Pat’s all along, not representing the board in full, but representing the Central Office)law

Are you kidding me? A.B.C. does a drastic Flip/Flop! WE SAY NO TO BUYOUTS! Unless the A.B.C. has $750,000.00 in a hidden account. Reply

by • POSTS, COMMENTS, VIDEO AND AUDIO

Lets highlight some quotes from the A.B.C. Meeting!!!  From a story in this mornings Republican-American

Buyout talk in Region 1
Board member wants administrative changes considered
BY RUTH EPSTEIN REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

SHARON — Rumblings about the idea of possible buyouts for Region 1 central office administrators have been heard throughout the district as the struggle to pass a budget has gone on unsuccessfully since May. For the first time the concept was voiced publicly during a meeting of the All Board Chairmen Committee Tuesday.

Meeting at Sharon Center School before the result of Tuesday’s vote was known, the committee heard Brian D. Bartram, Salisbury Central School Board of Education, broach the subject at the end of the session. He said if the budget didn’t receive approval, he would like to see the committee pursue the prospect. Saying that while he wasn’t in favor of such a move, he thought the matter should at least be studied as to what costs would be involved, how the process would work and the implementation of a replacement schedule.

The district, which covers Canaan, Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, Salisbury and Sharon, has been in a state of turmoil with the continuous rejection of a 2013-14 spending plan for Housatonic Valley Regional High School, the Pupil Services Department and the central office. This week’s referendum saw a defeat by a vote of 203, with Salisbury the only one of the six towns to vote in favor of the $14.5 million proposal.

One of the sticking points to the budget’s passage has been the awarding of three-year contracts to the superintendent and assistant superintendent along with 2 percent raises for each of those three years.

Bartram said in talking to Business Manager Samuel Herrick, if Assistant Superintendent Diane Goncalves were to be replaced in January, there would have to be an additional $75,000 put into this year’s budget. To replace Superintendent Patricia Chamberlain, the sum of $87,000 would have to be appropriated. If such a procedure were to occur, it could be done either both at the same time or staggered.

“I’m not in favor of this, but on the sixth budget vote, we have to head in that direction,” said Bartram, adding such a step just might turn voters around. “If we have a plan in place, people may be satisfied. I

Our response:
Brian, just have the Superintendent and her assistant cut the last year off their contract (like they did last year) and the budget will FLY THRU.

Chamberlain recommended members work with their attorney because of the complex nature of the negotiations. Chamberlain made no comments on the idea of buyouts or if she would accept any proposal.

Our Response:
Uh, Pat,  A.B.C. is a committee, they have NO authority to spend money, they MUST ASK THE REGION ONE BOARD.

“Maybe we’ll get rid of some anger, which is so pervasive,” said Chairman Dolores Perotti of Canaan.

Our response to Mrs. Perotti:
Again, Mrs. Perotti is out-of-touch with the public. Watch the videos of the board meetings, there is not anger, just outrage that the A.B.C and  three members of the board and the A.B.C. Committee are so disconnected from the public.

Let me state again: NO BUYOUT! Just do what you did last year, ( drop the last year of the new contract) and then let the new board be elected, and take over. This is no time to spend $750,000.00 to buy out contracts of the lead administrators..that money is bestabsurdities spent directly on our students.

Watch this video please and then share and cross-post and then vote NO today so everyone knows what we are dealing with in Region One. 5

by • POSTS, COMMENTS, VIDEO AND AUDIO

Watch this video please and then share and cross-post so everyone knows what we are dealing with in Region One.

At the end of the Sharon Center School Board Of Education Meeting last night, an item was (at the last-minute) added to the agenda about the All Boards Chairmen Meeting that was scheduled for today( Tuesday, September 17). You can see how uncomfortable it is that NO ONE knew about this until it was announced at the table, and then, the superintendent feebly tries to explain how the A,B,C wants to “examine” how to change a state stature on how the region is overseen by the Region One Board Of Education. It’s obvious our superintendent knew all about it as she takes over the meeting and explains what the A.B.C. meeting is about!(just like she probably explained it to the A.B.C members already. It is obvious by this set-up that the superintendent knows the score, and is trying to have the A.B.C. “save her bacon”, at the last-minute by trying to “ram thu” changes to the governance at the last-minute with the A.B.C recommending changes to a Region One board that is controlled by the superintendents “block of three”. Watch this video carefully and you will see that no one, except maybe the Principal of Sharon Center School and the Superintendent knew about this, the video does not lie. Please spread this and cross-post this message with the advice to once again defeat the budget this vote, and send a message to the A.B.C and the administration that we will NEVER allow the process to be subverted at the last possible moment. This is a matter that should be left up to a newly elected Region One Board of education in November, to negotiate with the A.B.C. AFTER the election. We should NEVER let a board with four of six members leaving try to seal the fate of a newly elected Region One Board Of Education in November. That my friends is back room, closed-door, unethical politics at its worst. Please lets show them that we value our vote in November, by defeating this budget again today and protect our vote in November. By the way, the A.B.C. meeting tonight is open to the public but, alas, WITH NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE AGENDA! This board wants to be entrusted with more than advisory power when they won’t even take comments from the public? Please, watch the video, it is unedited and it does not lie, this is the beginning of more huge legal bills, and policies rammed thru that will take your vote in November and render it useless. This is NO WAY TO RUN our school system.