Municipal Election coming soon: let's talk about the School Committee

[Dick Stuart]

I wonder how many city residents, especially parents of school age children that attend Attleboro Public Schools, know that current School Committee chair, Robbie Wiullimere [sorry about the spelling here], in her day job, works for a man by the name of "Durkin"?

Yup, it's the husband of Attleboro Public Schools Superintendent, Pia Durkin. Now, try to convince me that this is NOT a conflict-of-interest!

BTW, does the current Superintendent recognize that she works for the representative body for the parents and guardians of the local public school enrollees, the School Committee - - - AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND??? Is there ANY evidence that she does? Who does she think that she reports to, anyway? Or does she think that the entire world reports to her?

Okay, maybe that's a bit strong. But, she surely is wrong if she thinks that she reports to the mayor.

I dunno; does anybody care? I know that Brenda Furtado does.

[Diognes the Cynic]

What were four new candidates for the school committee doing meeting with the current and former presidents of the Attleboro Teachers' Association in Morin's Diner on Saturday? Were the candidates getting a little extra help from the union?

[Anniegirl]

As far as I investigated, it stated on the letter from the AEA, that if anyone had any questions, to call the sender of the questionnaire. If this meeting was so clandestine, why did these candidates and members of the AEA, sit in the front window of Morin's Diner on a busy Saturday morning when all of Attleboro would notice them? Are the incumbents so paranoid of not being re-elected, that they have to start rumors? Seems to me, they are running scared.

[Diognes the Cynic]

Did your Pulitzer Prize award investigatory skills reveal why the teacher union officials met only with candidates critical of the superintendent?

[Veronica Lodge]

Get serious about the AEA’s questionnaire! Just more excuses from the incumbents NOT to participate and answer questions that were posed “do you believe”. I guess they just don’t want the voters to know what their beliefs are!

[Diognes the Cynic]

At the very least, AEA officials demonstrated very questionable judgment on their part by meeting with only candidates opposed to the superintendent. It can also be seen as compromising the impartiality entire questionnaire process and possibly an attempt by the AEA to undercut the superintendent.

The current school committee members have displayed their beliefs during the numerous public meetings during their terms.

I spent many years carrying my lamp around the ancient world looking for an honest man. Each time that I hold it up to the "gang of four", the flame is almost extinguished. Basically, they sling unsubstantiated mud and hope that some of will stick. In a remarkable display of hubris, one of the candidates with no accomplishments to her name believes that she has earned the right to use only her first name on her posters.

[The Watcher]

Are you referring to the alleged open meeting violation when you say unsubstantiated mud? If so, I have to agree with you. I want to see the proof.

Ms. first name said 6 members, 4 of whom were there last night. Who are they and how do we know it's true?

[sunshinesonfire]

Annie girl - I agree with Robbie here - this isn't paranoia, sadly enough, this is the way our school committee currently operates. If you question something, it is slander - you will get threatened with a lawsuit. If you disagree with a policy or procedure - shut up, because your opinion and thoughts are worthless to this school committee. They would rather threaten you to shut you up than consider your question and deliver a professional explanation. I wonder where this behavior was learned?

Robbie - your answer is fabulous! You just PROVED the point of all the other candidates. A completely unreceptive school committee currently holds office, and needs to GO!

P.S. If you can't take public criticism or answer difficult questions tactfully without threatening legal action, you do not belong in a public office. And for the record: I have never ONCE seen our mayor threaten someone with slander, nor heard murmurings of such. You need thick skin to hold a public office, if you don't have it, you should get out.

[sunshinesonfire]

You are a public figure, your personal life, especially the fact that you work for/with/in conjunction with the husband of the person your board resides over is MOST DEFINITELY fair game. Ask Sarah Palin. She isn't running for anything anymore, and she is STILL being attacked.

Did it ever occur to you that maybe I am a made up name because I don't want my children to experience the wrath of their mother's actions at school? Call it paranoid if you wish, your opinion means as much to me as mine does to you.

[The Watcher]

I think that Diognes sounds like a candidate for School Committee. But which one?

[Diognes the Cynic]

Wrong! May Zeus strike me dead and Charon deny me the use of his ferry to Hades across the river Styx if I am.

[The Watcher]

Hey Diognes, I beleive that I heard that anyone could have contacted the AEA. Shame on those that didn;t.

[Diognes the Cynic]

The sad thing about this campaign is that decent people working hard and using their best judgment to provide the children of Attleborough with better educations were subjected to unfounded personal attacks. Questioning their judgment in a civil manner is the essence of the type of democracy that Jefferson, Franklin and our other founding fathers thought that they were creating.

Calling people arrogant, crooks and liars and spreading rumors about job histories all without a scintilla of corroborating facts is the basest form of behavior. Most of those who did so probably went to their houses of worship on Sunday, listened to their shamans, prayed and left deceiving themselves by thinking how good, charitable and decent they were. Such is the behavior of mindless, self absorbed slugs.

Whatever the result of the election, the people that were the targets of the slugs will continue to work for the common good of our children to the best of their ability to in a decent, honest manner; and the slugs will still be slugs.

She without a surname and Frank D'Agostino lied in their last mailing to ward 4B voters. They did not create or write the snack policy. To their credit, No name and others raised it as a legitimate concern at a school committee meeting, the matter was referred to the policy committee which drafted the policy. D'Agostino is not a member of that committee. This is a matter of public record. It is my corroborating fact.