It's time to clean up Board of Education

 
Three years ago, after 23 years of service to the youth of South Buffalo, I found out where I stood with residency violator James Kane and the rest of the entitled members making up the Buffalo Board of Education's administrators. The sound you hear now could possibly be the sound of the chickens coming home to roost.

I saw today that Buffalo developer Carl Paladino is considering a run for the School Board and I was particularly intrigued with these comments he made to the Buffalo News...

Paladino says that if he does run for the board and win, his first step would be to fire the upper-level school district administrators in City Hall.

“When you have people whose performance is lacking, as evidenced by year after year of dysfunction, it means you have to try to get somebody else,” he said. “I’d get rid of that whole staff up there and get some real professional people to do a real professional job, rather than just protect their job all day long.”

I have nothing personal against James Kane. However, I said it then and I'll say it now. The lack of respect I was shown three years ago, because I happened to not be related to any political cronies, is going to come back to haunt him. I said it in the blog then, and I'm saying it now. I plan on corresponding with Paladino with one question. How serious is he about getting rid of these lackluster administrators? 

By now, Kane should be well aware that over 3,000 local residents read this blog each week (which I write in my spare time between  two private sector jobs). If Carl is serious about sending these suits to the unemployment line, he has at least one vote right here. It's time for a complete overhaul in City Hall.
Paladino considers run for School Board*

I'm not trying to be evasive

Get ready to hear this for at least a year (until we run someone against him) from new school board President Lou Petrucci. I've been telling readers of this column for several months now that Petrucci is a known pathological liar. Listen to how evasive he is in this interview, regarding the future of Deputy Superintendent Folasade Oladele.

Petrucci now is acting as if he's with the public when it comes to the ridiculousness of Oladele's controversial buyout, conveniently forgetting/ignoring the fact he was one of six board members who voted for it two weeks ago! If he had any guts, he would have voted against the buyout. People I talk to within Petrucci's district are very upset about this move. Once a scammer, always a scammer...


Does anyone remember the Jon Lovitz character from Saturday Night Live (Tommy Flanagan) who seemingly lied about everything? After Petrucci finishes one of his blatant lies, he might as well just say, "yea, that's the ticket." ...


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Buffalo schools could be state run soon

It looks like some career politicians are calling for the state to take over the Buffalo Public Schools...

Hoyt said Tuesday that he is researching the possibility of a state takeover of the district.

"I am fed up with the leadership in the district and the leadership of the board," Hoyt wrote in an e-mail. "I believe that both the superintendent and the board have shown an inability to seriously address the crisis facing our inner-city youth."

Isn't it nice that a man chasing around 21 year old interns in Albany for 20 years, now fancies himself as an expert on education? Hoyt, who'd be stocking shelves at WalMart had his father not been Assemblyman Bill Hoyt, is clearly in the pocket of the charter school lobby. But if their plan calls for the removal of Superintendent Williams and the entire Board of Education, I have to say I'm all for it.

The Superintendent has been a major disappointment and the Board is too busy looking up pornography on district issued laptops to get anything done. They should all be removed starting with Ralph Pornandez and Pinocchio Petrucci.

State takeover of city schools hinted

www.buffalonews.com

At the end of this clip, Hoyt continues his role as paid spokesperson for the charter schools by saying, "There is strong evidence that the state is finally getting it's act together." It's about time, loser. You've only been in Albany for 20 years. Someone needs to pull the hook on this bozo...

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Parental involvement

Now this is a nice story. It's always great to see parents becoming involved in their kids' education...

Parents to Bflo school officials: you have no right to discipline my child

It's not too often you'll see me defending the Buffalo Public Schools but I will in this case. 2,823 students were suspended during the month of March for poor behavior at school. 30% of the students at Riverside were suspended during March as well. I say good for principal Mike Magovero for trying to regain control of his building. Magovero was a great assistant principal at South Park High School during the 1990s. He was in tune with what's going on in the school and I'll bet these suspensions were warranted.

Watch this channel 4 story where parents(mostly grandparents)show up to a meeting to complain that the schools had the nerve to discipline their kids. I got a better idea. How about thanking them for doing your job for you? Some of the kids were suspended for talking during fire drills. I'm sure they continued talking after repeated efforts for them to comply failed. Now , the parents want to present them as the victims of some sort of "injustice."

I would like to see the Buffalo administration stop enabling these students and start setting higher standards for behavior. This won't happen until the parents support the schools' efforts to control the classrooms. If you want to see why the schools are failing miserably, watch the parents in this clip. Everyone is to blame for their kid's poor behavior (teachers, principals, custodians). Everyone except their kids. Keep up the good work Riverside. Hopefully, others will get their heads out of the sand and follow your lead:

The superintendent who cried wolf

Buffalo schools superintendent James Williams must have a short memory. Doesn't he remember when Western New Yorkers laughed Joel Giambra off the local political stage when he came up with his infamous red budget/green budget? Giambra was full of crap and so is Williams. Williams says the city might have to lay off 700 employees (200 teachers) in his worst case scenerio/I'm completely bluffing proposed budget.

My message to Dr. Williams remains the same. Don't talk about layoffs. Do them! Until then, most people will simply view it as another empty threat by you. Still no response from Dr. Williams on Councilman Kearns' request for a list of administrative salaries at the Buffalo Board of Patronage, err, I mean Education. I wonder what they are trying to hide over there.

These big city superintendents are like bad NFL coaches that keep getting recycled and rewarded for their incompetence. Many teachers are starting to read this site, Big Daddy. If you want to start with layoffs, you might want to consider Buffalo's highest paid residency violator James Kane or Jim Comerford's daughter and the no-show job you created for her. You keep coming with the idle threats and I'll keep exposing them for what they are...
'Worst-case' city school budget would lay off 700 : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Here are some comments under the story:

-Williams has a new Executive Assistant who is paid 73k per year. In addition to hiring a PR person to the tune of 70 or 80k per year. Lets start cutting that fat before we take teachers out of classrooms and aides off buses. What happened to going back to neighborhood schools? That would save the district about 40 million. Not to mention eliminating the problems that arise on the buses. There is no reason to bus students all over the city.

-This fool, Williams, proposes cutting 200 teachers and 500 other employees but only 5 administrators? He needs to be taken back to the woodshed. He is the main problem with the BPS system, not the teachers.

-How about the 4 community superintendents whose salaries total half a million dollars ? What about the 7 salary "cabinet" to the superintendent ?

-They are hiding tons of administrators that are teachers that do not teach any kids. They use to house them off of Babcock street.Keep the teachers in the classrooms. Open more charter schools.

-"Can someone explain to me why teachers have a cosmetic rider?

"High School boys like big boobs.

-Todays parents want public schools to be orphanages. Private schools and porochial schools make it mandatory that parents participate in school/teacher/parent programs, otherwise their kids are kicked out and go to public schools.

Letter to the editor- teacher residency

Last week, Buffalo school boaed member Catherine Nugent Panepinto, no relation to Ted Nugent Panepinto, said the city should do away with residency requirements for teachers. Panepinto said the city should instead "encourage" potential teachers to "want to live in Buffalo".

You might remember the last time Panepinto was in the news. Before her district issued laptop computer was to be checked for abuse violations, she went out and had it professionally "scrubbed". Thus, the public never got the chance to see all the naked midget wrestling websites Panepinto had visited. Panepinto is pandering to former city residents, now living in the suburbs trying to get their kids teaching jobs in the city. There are no shortage of qualified city residents looking to teach in Buffalo. If a person doesn't want to live next door to the poor, why would we hire them to teach the poor? School board president Ralph Pornandez could not be reached to comment on this story.

Don’t make exceptions for city residency rule
April 20, 2010, 12:30 am

In response to School Board Member Catherine Nugent Panepinto’s request to consider using incentives to persuade employees to live in the city, how about this for incentive: You get to keep your job! A rule is a rule. The exceptions are ridiculous. If school employees get an out, so should everyone.

Cindy Becker
Town of Tonawanda

Dr. Williams:Show us the list

Dr Williams, Buffalo schools superintendent, say's the city schools will face a $93 million deficit next year. He says the school system will ask the common council for additional aid this year. Lawmaker Mickey Kearns has publicly called for a list of administrative salaries and positions at the board of education. Williams refuses to disclose them saying the funding for his central staff makes up only 1.5% of overall spending. This all sounds good but then I get emails like this:

They are trying really, really hard to save money. a new position has been created: associate superintendent of humanities. rumor has it is going to be ann magavero botticelli the current director of english and libraries. she's well connected and never taught a minute in buffalo or taught anywhere for that matter. we can bet her position will be filled by 2 people.

Dr. Williams: There are a lot of canaries down by the docks. People are now talking about the excessive jobs you control at the board. If you want the money, show the residents the list of all your employees. If you don't, it implies that you have something to hide.

Councilman Kearns: your supporters want to see this list. We will be in contact with you to stay on this. I used to think Dr.Williams was like Joe Clark, but now I'm starting to think he's more like Joe Piscapo...

Buffalo schools to face $93 million deficit in three years, officials warn : City Hall : The Buffalo News

Residents want to see salaries at the Board of Education

Buffalo's highest paid residency violator-James Kane


In today's paper, Buffalo superintendent James Williams says the Buffalo schools are broke and he's asking for help from the city.

“Never before in my five-year tenure as superintendent have I been faced with a budget situation that I could not handle internally,” Williams said in a letter to Common Council President David A. Franczyk. “However, this year is presenting challenges that the district cannot solve by itself. The board and I are reaching out to the Common Council and the mayor to assist the district in these very trying times.”

Williams previously said that the school system will be forced to lay off 680 staff members — or nearly 10 percent of its work force — if Gov. David A. Paterson’s proposed state aid cuts are enacted.

This is all just talk. I don't believe Williams is serious. It's just a weak attempt to get people all worked up. Don't talk about it Jimmy Boy. Do it! I really like Mickey Kearns' response to Williams' idle threat:

Any increase in city education aid would have to come with some “strings attached,” said South Council Member Michael P. Kearns, chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee.
“We can’t maintain a top-heavy administration in our education system,” Kearns said. “If there’s any increase in city aid, then we need to make sure it goes into the classrooms for teachers — not to high-paid administrators.”
Kearns plans to ask the school system to provide a list of administrative salaries. In prior years, the Council has balked at what lawmakers considered bloated bureaucracy in the school system.

If Williams wants the money so bad, he should be willing to provide residents with the list Kearns is requesting. We have the right to know how many Comerfords are getting paychecks and how much money residency violator James Kane brings to the suburbs each year. The ball is in Williams' court. My prediction is that he doesn't want the council, teachers, or residents to know all the salaries in his administration. I will be in contact with Kearns to make sure he stays on this issue. Enquiring minds want to know...
City is facing $24 million deficit next year : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Shelf life almost up on Sam Hoyt

Assemblyman Blowhard is telling teachers they need to skip pay hikes. Where was Sam Hoyt's conservatism when the Assembly was discussing his pay increases.? This guy makes at least $79,000 a year, which means he's overpaid by $78,000. Here's a guy who's been in Albany since the 1980s. What has he ever accomplished? Nothing. As a part time teacher, I'm currently not for or against pay hikes. I know everyone has to make sacrifices. However, Sam Dolittle should start by looking in the mirror. He's the last guy who should be calling for others to tighten their belts.

I'm predicting defeat this year for daddy's little boy. While Hoyt is in Albany professing his love to 18 year old interns, teachers and other people are actually out performing some sort of job. Sam, don't make suggestions on anything. Your opinion is irrevelent. It's a sad joke that the people in North Buffalo are dumb enough year in and year out to reelect you. Every time you open up your mouth and try to speak, we're all embarrassed for you and them.. Thank God your shelf life is almost up. I think most of Western New York is on to your sorry act.
Assemblymen want teachers to skip pay hikes : Twitter - Buffalo News : The Buffalo News

It's Bring Your Mother to School Day at Seneca Vocational

It's really nice to see parents getting involved in their children's education these days. Nothing says,"I care" like showing up at Seneca Vocational High School and punching another student in the mouth. Can we get a tax refund on the school supplies check this woman was probably awarded last September?

Mother of student sought in assault : Police Blotter : The Buffalo News

Seven Buffalo Schools Earn Distinctive Recognition

Seven Buffalo Public Schools were honored as "persistently lowest achieving" in New York State on Thursday. Bennett, Burgard, MLK, School 45, Riverside, Lafayette, and South Park High School made this exclusive list.

Officials at Grover Cleveland and East High School were said to be outraged at this obvious snub. "I don't understand it. We have all the things these schools have. Low test scores, kids roaming the halls, violence towards teachers, students bringing drugs to school... The whole selection process is unfair. Hopefully we'll lower our standards next year and catch up to these seven other zoos", an official at Grover stated.

Dr. Williams is on to the problem and will solve it the same way he always does, by changing the names of the schools involved. South Park will now be known as the Lynn DeJac School of Excellence. We tried to contact School Board President Ralph Pornandez for comment on this story, but he was too busy downloading filthy movies onto his district issued laptop.

One of the state's reform recommendations is for each of the schools to replace the principals and at least 50% of the current staff. How about replacing 90% of the students? It's not the staff's fault. Riverside's Principal Mike Mogavero, for example, does a terrific job. but his hands are tied. He can't help it that a large percentage of his students come to school with all the problems associated with poverty. Buffalo school officials need to stop dancing around the issues and hire the guy seen in these videos:

7 Buffalo schools on state list face reforms : Home: The Buffalo News

Lafayette High School

Teachers at Lafayette High School say under principal Fatima Morrell, the students are running the school. Lafayette has a four year graduation rate of under 50%. One comment from a recent survey of teachers says the school is "on the edge of despair." Another says, "Students get away with telling teachers off, being disruptive and rude. The students have figured out that they are running the building." Sounds like 70% of the schools in the city.

School Board President Ralph Pornandez recommended that Superintendent Williams send a senior staff member to deal with the teachers' concerns. Let me save you the trouble. Stop making proven failures like Fatima Morrell principals at these tough schools. This lady was removed from school #31 in 2007 after complaints from parents, teachers, and students. (They forgot to mention custodians.)

Put some people in these schools that aren't going to tolerate students acting like thugs at school. Have at least two schools assigned as alternative schools for the kids that act disrespectful or violent in class. Currently, there is only one. They need to be separated from the students that realize the opportunity for an education is a privilege and not a right. Stop trying to save everyone and focus on the kids and parents that value an education.
Lafayette teachers criticize principal : City & Region : The Buffalo News#comment#comment#comment#comment

School Board Meeting Turns Into a Three Ring Circus

If you want to read a funny article, read the following article regarding the Buffalo School District and their application for a $500,000 grant. One of the provisions is that they sign a document in favor of charter school expansion.

James Williams, to his credit, realizes it is a good move for the school district. He told the board, "This board is making a big mistake." You know it's good for the students when school board President Phil Rumore is against it. You can tell by this circus of a meeting who is in Rumore's and the teacher union's pocket. Board members Evans, Cahill, and Kapsiak would not sign it. Catherine Panepinto, Florence Johnson, John Licata, and Lou Petrucci just skipped the meeting. Perhaps Panepinto had more important things to do like scrubbing incriminating evidence from her district laptop.

Maybe the most ridiculous response came from school board President Ralph Pornandez. Pornandez, who vowed to bring an independent voice to the board when he came on a few years ago, refused to sign the grant application, without the full support of all other board members. So much for being an independent voice. Pornandez said, "I understand how demoralizing this must be for him (Dr. Williams). He's going out there pretty much naked." Naked? Bad choice of words from a guy who just recently was caught downloading porn onto his district issued laptop.
Williams denied backing for U. S. aid : Buffalo/Erie County : The Buffalo News

Porn Vs. Board of Education

Keep up the great work Buffalo Public School officials. Half the laptops given out were found to be misused. Online poker, porn, gambling, file sharing, etc. And those were the ones that didn't have their computers scrubbed. Oh yeah, they're also still paying health insurance to deceased workers. Way to be on top of things over there. If stuff like this didn't happen every day with these clowns, it would qualify as news. Channel 7 tried to contact several Buffalo Public School administrators at 2PM today, but they had already left city hall for their plush suburban townhouses...