BOE "Doing Everything We Can" To Stop Bullying

Much of Tuesday night's regular Board of Education meeting was dominated by the topic of bullying and the larger issue of school climate. I'll give a quick summary of the non-bullying items that were considered, and then I'll go back and cover the bullying issue.

The Board received a written report from the principals involved in the February 4th evacuations of Moody and Bielefield Elementary Schools. Moody was evacuated to Spencer and Bielefield was evacuated to Wesley. The four principals were on hand to answer questions from BOE members about the evacuations and the lessons learned. Moody Principal Yolande Eldridge commented, "We learned how well our practice pays off...it was a tremendous learning experience for our children...they learned to be patient and flexible." Bielefield Principal Renata Lantos told the board that one of her students accidentally activated the fire alarm once everyone had arrived at Wesley School, so those 600 combined students had the additional bonus of a fire drill on top of a whole-school evacuation. BOE members praised the principals and Transportation Mike Milardo for the quick evacuations and overall handling of events.

Director of Grant Services Elizabeth Nocera was asked about two grants: a Community Development Block Grant for Hall House and then an Interdistrict Cooperative Grant for the Youth Mathematics and Technology Academy. The CDB Grant will allow for repairs to be made to Hall House to expand its usage. The Youth Mathematics and Technology Academy is a six district program that promotes academic achievement in math and reduces isolation for the students involved. It was originally developed to respond to Sheff vs. O'Neill requirements, and this year the program ran for 10 Saturdays instead of 15 due to budget cuts. BOE Member Jay Keiser questioned the effectiveness of the program given the mixed academic results from participating students, but Nocera noted that the program did seem to help with CMT results for the involved students.

Budget Committee Chair Jay Keiser spoke to the Board on the financial impact of the Local 466 Contract should it be accepted. Keiser stated that the BOE will have to find an additional $131, 336 to cover wage increases and other costs if the contract is accepted. A breakdown of these costs is available in a memo to the Common Council and Board of Education from BOE Chairman Ted Raczka dated February 28, 2011. (Click on BOE Responses to Local 466 in the "Latest News" section of the District webpage. A similar memo from Superintendent Michael Frechette is also available.)

Policy Committee Chair Sally Boske explained proposed changes to Bylaw #9235 Meeting Conduct and Policy #9325.2 Order of Business. First, the Policy Committee recommends dividing the Public Session into two separate parts of the agenda: where the public normally now has three minutes to address the BOE, this initial Public Session would be used for the public to comment on agenda items only. A second Public Session for non-agenda items would be added to the very end of the agenda (yes, you would have to sit through the whole meeting before you can speak about anything not on the agenda). Boske justified the proposed policy change by saying, "We [the BOE] really need the time to get our work on the agenda done, but we do want to make sure that the public can talk to us about whatever it needs to." The second proposed change to the Order of Business is to add a place under the Report of the Superintendent section of the agenda for school personnel to update the Board as necessary. This was previously done during the Public Session, and the Policy Committee felt this wasn't the place to address these issues.

During the Public Session, five members of Monique McClain's family spoke to the BOE about her bullying case, and six other members of the public not related to Monique spoke on her behalf (author's disclosure: I was one of those six). Monique McClain was present and so was Channel 8 News. Her Grandmother, Alexa McClain, addressed the BOE for the 4th time, listing a series of numbers to remind BOE members of how long Monique has been seeking resolution of her bullying complaints: 180 days since the first written complaint was filed, 132 days since the first verbal request, 49 days since the family asked for an at-home tutor, 41 days since a meeting with Dr. Frechette, 29 days since Alycia McClain (the mother) submitted a written request to the BOE, 49 days at home without school instruction after suffering 133 days of unchecked bullying. Alexa McClain went on to say that her granddaughter was being "psychologically abused by the apathy of the board," and that she could not believe that a tutor could be found to administer the CMT test to Monique at home, but one couldn't be found to help Monique prep for the test or even receive basic school instruction.

Both of Monique's parents spoke to the Board, as did her boxing coach, Johnny Callas (The Lion's Den) and Pastor Mike Wynn. All of the comments (from family members or members of the public at large) urged the BOE to take visible action to resolve this bullying complaint, with Monique's uncle commenting, "If not you, who else is going to help her? We know what happens to children who are bullied....We have the know-how to stop this, so who's going to do it?"

The Board of Ed doesn't respond to public comments directly, but on the agenda for the evening was a presentation from Mindy Otis, the Supervisor of Special Education. Otis handed the BOE a 24 page (double-sided) report on the District's efforts to eliminate bullying in Middletown schools. This report and other materials on bullying are available here on the District's website (click on the Bullying and Harassment link). As a background warm-up, Otis told the BOE that "Research indicates that an improvement in school climate leads to a reduction of "mean" behaviors. Since 2005 the approach to reducing and eliminating bullying has appropriately shifted from specific targeted interventions to a more comprehensive approach aimed at improving school climate." Otis also told the board that while the term "bullying" is most often used, the focus should be on "mean behaviors" instead: "We're trying to teach students how to proactively resolve conflict in a positive manner."

Calling the 2010-2011 school year the "Year of School Climate," Otis highlighted the District Data Team's efforts to improve school climate (Otis is a member of the School Climate Subcommittee). Noting that the District Climate Subcommittee has developed goals that are part of the District Improvement Plan, Otis outlined the following high priority goals that have been selected for next year:

1. Bus time. Teachers, Principals and behavior reports indicate that the time spent on the bus is problematic for mean behaviors. Currently bus report data is being entered into an electronic system and will be analyzed by May 2011.

2. Setting District wide standards for behavior that will be codified into standards based report cards. District representatives will be attending upcoming professional development on National Standards.

3. Infusing Responsive Classroom and Developmental design into daily practice and extending it to high school level (after NEASC re-accreditation).

Otis also commented on recent media coverage: "While focusing on the issue in general is beneficial as it improves awareness, excessive media coverage of individual cases can have detrimental effects on students. Further complicating matters is the (appropriate) restriction of information due to the need for confidentiality. As a result, there is an appearance to the general public that the Middletown Public Schools are not making great efforts to combat bullying." She went on to say that the vast majority of reports of mean behavior are being resolved immediately by teachers with students, and that those students often go on to be best friends and great role models for their classmates. "Some cases might require a bit more attention, but most are taken care of quickly," Otis reported.

Her concluding statement reads:

"In summary, the Middletown Schools continue their efforts to improve school climate, increase prosocial behavior and decrease antisocial behavior. We have made great growth since the December 2005 report to the BOE. The 2010-2011 was dubbed the "Year of school climate" and has showcased renewed efforts in vigor. While bullying and mean behavior may be on the rise in our culture and in the world, the Middletown Public schools have been ever committed to fighting this rising tide. We need to do a better job of communicating to the public about these efforts."

BOE member Corinne Gill asked Otis several questions about how students or parents know what the process is to file a bullying complaint (in the student handbook and online), what response deadlines are specifically outlined (there aren't any), and who keeps track of the number of verified bullying reports in a given year. Otis reported that there were 5 cases in 2007-08, 1 in 2008-09, and 2 in 2009-10. Other BOE members commented positively on the new focus on "mean behaviors" and the effort to concentrate on school climate as a whole.

BOE Chairman Ted Raczka followed with several questions/comments of his own: "We start teaching anti-bullying in pre-K and all the way through high school, right? Is is fair to say that all of our students get this curriculum and all our teachers participate in it?" Otis replied yes, and Raczka continued, "Things are in fact improving?" Otis again replied yes. Raczka went on to say, "Could we do better? We probably could...we're trying to do better. But we live in a world where violence in the home is acceptable and that has a connection to this...I wish I had a magic wand to end this, but we're not going to do it in one day. We're doing as much if not more than other districts, and I just needed to speak so everyone knows that within the bounds of the law, we're doing everything we can."

BOE Member Sheila Daniels added, "We need to ask the community to help us, to impress on our young people that if you can't say something nice, don't speak." Finally, BOE Member Sally Boske asked Mindy Otis if the parent volunteer space on the Climate subcommittee was filled. Otis replied that it was not, and that she would love to see parents volunteer to help improve school climate (apparently the committee has great snacks at their meetings...).

This concluded the BOE's consideration of bullying in Middletown.

COMMENTARY

I had one quick minute to ask Chairman Raczka a few questions before the Board moved into Executive Session. Acknowledging that he could not give me specifics because of privacy issues, I asked him if he could confirm that everything is being done to resolve Monique McClain's case. He replied, "we are following our policies." I replied, "Well, that doesn't seem to be working out so well for her, does it? Raczka replied, "Well, it may not quite work out exactly the way people might want it to be resolved." I pressed further, "The girl's not even in school, so how can you say it's working out?" Raczka replied, "Well, I don't really know the details of the situation..." and then Superintendent Michael Frechette told him to stop talking and Raczka did.

I admit that I did not tape this conversation and that I may not have recalled it exactly as it happened. However, I am positive that I heard BOE Chairman Ted Raczka say that he did not know the details of Monique McClain's case, and I just cannot believe that could be true given the fact that a written appeal was made to the Board of Education on February 8th. Even if this isn't exactly what he said or even what he meant, the hovering presence of the Superintendent and his quick move to cut off what Raczka was trying to say left me with an overwhelming impression that something wasn't right. It seems like there's a firewall between the Superintendent and the BOE, and I can't imagine why that would be.

As frustrating as it seems, I understand the privacy issues and I get that bullying outside of school-sponsored events complicates things. I even understood what was meant by "it might not always get resolved the way some people want it to" (this refers to the victim wanting a resolution that may not be possible). It was lovely to hear the report on how much of our curriculum supports a positive school climate. However, THIS issue for THIS ONE CHILD is not yet resolved (the Superintendent told Channel 8 this himself on the 10 pm news), and we can't just pat ourselves on the back and say that overall, we're doing a great job. If even one child is bullied and the school system can't make it stop, can we really say our program is effective? There has to be a distinction between a general focus on a positive school climate and the specific focus of an individual case. If a wider focus on school climate makes us less effective at handling specific instances of severe bullying, how is that OK?

I will give Chairman Raczka credit for trying to highlight what the District has been doing in the general category of anti-bullying education, but he blew a perfect chance to reach out to the McClain family. I was left with the impression that the bullying presentation was designed to highlight what a great job the District has been doing, and no one had the guts to ask even one semi-difficult question about what happens if the bullying doesn't stop.

In my Public Session comments way at the beginning of the meeting and before the bullying presentation, I asked the Board to give us (the public) a "warm fuzzy" in the pits of our stomachs that they heard the McClain family's distress and that they were in fact doing everything they could. I acknowledged the privacy issue and accounted for a disparity between what the BOE could do and what they could talk about. I also reminded the BOE that they were elected officials and that they were accountable for doing the hard jobs we can't do. Sadly, I didn't walk away with what I was hoping for, and I'm not even the people who have to live with this every day. I am profoundly discouraged and disappointed, especially since Alycia McClain told me that one of Monique's friends was told that "she's next" since Monique isn't in school anymore. How can this be? How can this "mean behavior" continue for even one more minute? Why haven't these children been expelled according to the BOE's policy?

I'm actually not even sure what to say next because I don't know what else I could say that would be helpful. I'll just leave you with a comment offered to the BOE during the public session: "There's no reason you're not jumping out of your seat to protect this kid..."

Union President urges citizens to support Mayor's Budget Thursday

Letter to the Eye:

The Common Council is meeting on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 8:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall to propose and pass their budget for the next fiscal year. I am writing as a City of Middletown employee and member of the Local 466 Executive Board. I realize that I’ve now just opened the door for a slew of venomous posts against city workers and in particular union workers. I also have a last name that ends in a vowel so of course I must have gotten my job by “knowing” someone. Might as well cover that at the start.

My purpose in writing is to urge the people of Middletown to support the Mayor’s budget in that it moves the classified union positions from the Board of Education budget to the City’s budget. These employees are part of the classified system, hired and fired through the Mayor’s office. These employees are paid under the City of Middletown’s federal tax identification number. These employees, both unions 466 and MMPA, are covered by the collective bargaining contracts that are negotiated through the Mayor. The same amount of salary will be paid to the employees whether they are paid by the Board of Education or by the City; it’s set by the union contracts. The benefits are the same whether paid by the BOE or the City. However, when preparing the budget, the City identifies each employee and positions and budgets, as exactly as possible, the amount to be paid to that employee, then puts a certain percentage into a line item called salary reserve. This percentage is used to make up for changes in personnel; for example, should an employee leave or retire, generally their replacement is hired at a lower starting salary. This would leave that line item with a surplus at the end of the year. But perhaps in another department, a position is reclassified and the employee given a salary adjustment, this additional needed by the line item would come out of the salary reserve. The Board of Education does not budget using a salary reserve line; they budget full salary. The Superintendent of Schools has stated that if these positions are moved out of his budget, he will have no other place to go if he needs money. My question is then, is there a surplus of funds in his line item in the budget? If no surplus, then I would assume that he’s going to achieve a surplus of funds in that line item from layoffs?

466, the union representing the majority of the classified employees at the BOE currently has something like 25 open grievances or labor action with the Board of Education that would be unnecessary in the past as they would have been handled with a phone cal or a meeting. However, the lines of communication have deteriorated so much that it is no longer possible to settle these issues at that low a level. We’ve several instances where grievances have been adjudicated and the BOE has refused to make the ruled adjustments whether monetary or not.

By moving the payroll for the classified employees to the City side of the budget, the BOE would then be treated like every other department in the City. The employees working for that department would be supervised and directed by the department head. The union contract would be applied equally and fairly to all members.

At the meeting for the departments to present their budget requests to the Council, the Superintendent of Schools referenced a state statute that basically limits the funding that a council can appropriate to a board of education so that it cannot be less than what was appropriated in 2009. The Mayor asked for a legal opinion from Shipman & Goodwin on this statute and although they cannot guarantee that there would not be a violation (I’ve never seen a doctor, lawyer or teacher for that matter, guarantee anything) they were confident that there would not be a violation of this statute. I’m attaching the opinion.

I’m being told that the budget to be proposed by the Democratic Council members does not support the Mayor’s budget with the positions being paid out of the City’s side but leaves the positions in the BOE’s budget. I am asking that the Council not do this at this time; once those funds are appropriated to the BOE they are no longer under the control of the Council. I am asking that they wait – let us get the necessary rulings from the State Department of Education and the State Department of Labor that we need to assuage their fears of a penalty. As you can see in the opinion, the determination of having shorted the BOE is made at the END of the fiscal year. They can move the positions to the City side and then change their minds and appropriate the funds to the BOE later.

Please urge the Council to do the right thing.

Thank you,

Linda Salafia

Chapter C President

Local 466

AFSCME

It's a Family Affair at the Republican Headquarters Election Night

While I happen to be down at the Republican headquarters on Main Street this evening ( I unfortunately did not make it to the Democrats' headquarters and wish I had), I decided to interview the people who knew a few of the candidates best: their kids.
While dad & B.O.E. candidate Steve Gaarder watched the votes come in get tabulated on the wall at the headquarters I spoke with his children, Nora, 13, and Jascha Gaarder, 8. I asked them what they liked best about election time, and they seemed, as the rest of the folks in the room totally enthralled in what was going on around them. When asked," Would you want to be in politics someday like your dad?", Nora responded with an answer wise beyond her years, "No, too stressful." However brother Jascha replied," Yes- it's very exciting!" Jascha Gaarder's favorite part about the election is seeing his dad's signs up. I asked Nora Gaarder if her dad ever asks her input on decisions, which she replied "No, and I don't want a part of it." I have a feeling however, that when younger brother Jascha gets a little older he will be more than ready to give his opinion! I then asked both siblings what would they like the public to know about their dad that only they know? "[My dad] really likes to play games, fun games," said Jascha. Maybe Jascha is ready for a career in politics already? Just kidding Jascha. Nora wanted everyone to know: "He is just a really good dad."
Joe Fazzino, 17, son of P&Z candidate Nick Fazzino likes to take an active role helping his father in his campaign. "[I] just like the fact we have the same views. I helped him all day today," commented Nick. Being a little older, I asked Nick if any kids at school ever made comments to him about his father's views. Nick answered, "Once in a while someone will say something to me about party affiliation, but that's about it." As for Nick going into politics himself, he appeared to have a pretty clear answer,
"No, I wouldn't be a politician, but I would show my support in politics." I asked him to clarify this, and Nick expressed his passion for the "Pro Life" position. Good to see a young person who won't be hesitating to register to vote.
At right, Jeffrey Daniels,11, follows in his father Jeff Daniels', leader of AFSCME Local 466, footsteps and takes an active union role keeping an eye on things. The younger Jeffrey dons union flare- green hat and shirt- and keeps close watch as vote totals are entered into a spreadsheet. Mayor Giuliano to the far right.
Again, at during the evening I found myself as I often do, at the kids table. But no worries, I started talking to a girl who was writing the votes on wall inside the headquarters. She introduced herself as Franchesca Giuliano, 17, daughter of Mayor Sebastian Giuliano. This confident young lady seemed very at home and relaxed amongst the whole circus going on around us. The confusion between what the Runner's had to report was daunting, and it appeared trying to hear clearly what was being said over cell phones about vote tally's was too with all the noise in the room. I asked how she felt about the whole political scene. "It's exciting. You get to do things a normal teen doesn't get to," expressed Franchesca. " The first year my dad was elected we got to take a family trip to D.C. for a week. We got to see part of the capital not open to the general public. I also got to meet the general manager for the Yankees."
In interviewing Franchesca I asked her "Do other kids at school ever comment to you as to why your dad made this decision or another as far as what he does politically?" Franchesca answered," Yes, all the time, I have gotten used to it." Franchesca also stated that on the negative side of being the mayors' daughter she didn't get to see her father as much as she would like, specifically the council meetings keep him out really late; but she did express her willingness to share him with the town, as she feels he certainly is working for the greater good of Middletown. So will we be seeing Franchesca Giuliano take up politics one day? It seems as of right now, Franchesca is looking at becoming a lawyer, following many politicians' footsteps. Not surprisingly, as she seemed so at ease up at the tabulation board, she answered me confidently with a "Yes, someday,"when asked if she will be involved in politics during her adult life.
And what would the Mayor's most intimate counsel like the public to know about her dad that some of us might not? The mayor has a deep love of history and an infinite memory.
"He has a knack for details, he will read a history book and be able to tell you all the details,"Franchesca stated with a smile, "We joke, we don't know where he stores all that detail."
Of course no one was happier than Franchesca when the results came in.

Common Council Approves 466 Contract

In a special session Tuesday night, the Common Council approved a contract with city union, Local 466. The contract originally came before the Council at it's regular meeting early in the month, but consideration of the contract was rejected by all Democratic members, leaving angry union members to applaud Republicans who supported the contract, and to stalk angrily from Council chambers after the vote was taken.

Tonight's meeting was not without vitriol as union members spoke in favor of the contract, explaining sacrifices that union members made to reach a cooperative agreement. Council members spoke unanimously in favor of the contract which offers union members a two and a quarter per cent increase. Democratic members each defended their delay in the vote, and lauded the fairness of the contract. However, at least one Republican member, Phil Pessina, spoke strongly against a comment by Council member James Streeto who "joked" about politicizing the contract talks. Streeto explained to his colleagues that he was attempting to lighten the session with some humor, and apoloigized for making a comment which he noted was misunderstood, but out of line.

The contract was approved unanimously.

Common Council Refuses to Approve Union Contract

A gallery packed with union members from Local 466 interested in the outcome of their recently ratified contract were disappointed and angry when the Common Council immediately descended into partisan bickering over the timing of the contract approval.

Republicans argued strongly that the Council should take up debate and approval of the contract recently negotiated by Mayor Sebastian Giuliano while Democrats spoke strongly against any contract which includes a pay increase in dire financial times.

Councilman Vincent Loffredo, visibly angry, insisted that the contract should have been reviewed by the personnel committee before it made its way to the Council, and that there was no time pressure to approve the contract immediately.

"I have a fiduciary responsibility as a member of this board," he said. "And I take it very seriously. We need to consider all facts before we move forward."

His sentiments were echoed by nearly all Democrats on the Council.

On the other hand, Republicans expressed the opinion that the contract was fair, offered only a modest increase in pay, and that the union, in accepting a small increase, set an example for other town unions. The union agreed to a 1-2% pay increase. This increase comes after 2-3 years with no cost-of-living increase.

"The mayor stepped up to the plate and got a definitive number," Councilman Phil Pessina said. He explained that having the actual amount of the increase in hand, department directors could present accurate budgets to the mayor and the Council.

"The Board of Education budget relies, on this," Giuliano explained. "The Russell Library budget depends on this. The idea is to have a hard number for the city budget. Given what we're facing, to be able to go in with a real number is not precipitious."

Democrats argued that considering Governor Jodi Rell's speech to the state just prior to the Council meeting, the city would be better off waiting for her budget to determine how the city would fare.

The union members applauded each Republican speech defending the contract, and when the Council finally voted, along party lines, to reject consideration of the contract, union members rose noisily and left the room.

"I wasn't happy with what I saw in there," Union president Jeff Daniels said outside council chambers. "The union negotiated in good faith. The Council members had the numbers, the union stepped up, and now we're told we have to wait for a decision."