If We Are to Focus on Education- Baran, Lustila and Shipman Must Go
Update: January legal billing added below. Might be a new monthly record.
The saga of incompetence and deception by our K-8 school administration continues. Below you will find the WBOE legal bills for the period October 15, 2009 through December 31, 2009. Just some of the lowlights:
• Complaint concerning teacher and resulting investigation.
• Pending sexual harassment/assault/expulsion matter.
• Conferring with attorneys regarding authority of administration to override teacher’s grading.
• Conferring with attorneys regarding PAC contributions.
• The SPED department continues to be under fire from many directions despite Frank Baran’s assertion in the last meeting that there were no legal matters pending other than our Circuit Court appeal- the bills show otherwise. He has now admitted “systemic problems” in Woodstock SPED -duh.
The billing doesn’t include the on-going suit over the bus accident either. Link -HERE-
The billing also shows a two hour meeting with new board chairman Anthony Walker which is completely understandable as he tries to get his arms around this mess that he inherited from Lindsay Paul and the crusaders. My only problem with that is any advice from this firm going forward is highly suspect considering their history of involvement in the crusades and what continues to appear to be a billing bonanza.
Soon we will take a look at how Lindsay Paul and the crusaders continue to try to undermine and prevent the new board leadership from bringing control to the administrative chaos- stay tuned.
BOE Legal Bills October – December 2009 (PDF)
January 2010 Legal Bills (PDF)
Relevant Articles:
It’s Still Broken
Academics and Athletics or Attorneys?
Why do we pay our administrators so much money if they have to constantly ask for legal advice on how to perform their job and how to deal with daily issues? Why do they need to receive strategy advice from the attorneys on so many of the issues? Don't they know the right thing to do?
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A very good point Margie, and a question more citizens and parents should be asking, in my opinion.
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I think Margaret's question is a good one as well. In many ways I don't blame our BOE and Superintendent for seeking legal consult. We not only live in a litigious society, but the rules that govern it have become increasingly complex. I don't think anyone can keep current with all of its laws. However, that being said, if local boards and administrators lose their efficacy and strength as a result, then perhaps there is no reason to continue with the same structure. Perhaps regionalization of local offices and administrators should be considered-not only as a matter of practicality, but also as a matter of cost savings. If an administrator's role has become merely one of a legal go-between, then we need to ask ourselves if they are they really worth their salary. For instance, perhaps there should be one Superintendent of schools for all the Academy sending towns.
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Tax,
I don't disagree with all you have said; however, I have to ask myself what would be the reason that the adminstration would ask what their authority is to override a teacher's grade? Is there a problem with the teacher? Were they trying to appease parents? There doesn't seem to be a good answer. Moreover, why would Frank be asking about PAC contributions? It would appear that he was asking on behalf of the 'Attack PAC'- this is public money we are talking about and I don't care if it's a nickel- IT IS WRONG! Just a couple of small examples, but goes to the core of the issue which is there is something systemically very wrong with our school system and it starts at the top.
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People do not sue at the drop of a hat. People sue when they are frustrated to the maximum. Every time anything comes up, he calls the lawyers- every day.
An example of such is calling the lawyer rather than a parent that was not going to allow their child to be detained after school. Shouldn't the first call be made to the parent to engage in a dialog? Other times when it comes to SPED and IEP's and PPT's where the parents are supposed to be equal in the process on educational decisions be made for their child, you see in the legal bills that each "strategy" is being scripted by Shipman. If the parents are equal partners then no one needs an attorney much less using one that the parents do not know about.
Why do you think he is taking legal strategy on the bus drivers , the teachers, the custodians...He is not a people person and he has a real problem when it comes to speaking the truth.
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Shipman and Goodwin announce the opening of an office in the Northeast Corner of CT due to their business growth in this area and the cost of gasoline and the ability to find open phone circuit between Hartford and Woodstock. Work will begin immediately on the conversion of the Administrative conference room next to Frank's office. The carbon foot print reduction resulting from this move will rival the production of the methane plant to be constructed at the Miller Farm.
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HA! That's hilarious.
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