New Haven Independent

Posted by: meridenite | October 29, 2009 6:00 PM

Mayo stepped in it and now is trying to mend fences.

Posted by: a Green | October 29, 2009 6:13 PM

This sets a great precedent and example for similar disputes.
All mediation requires to succeed is for the parties to be willing to sit at the table, speak, have some one listen and find common ground.
To quote John Lennon, Peace is here if you really want it.

Posted by: streever | October 29, 2009 8:42 PM

I'm ecstatic that Doctor Mayo decided to come to the table.

TOC: please don't blow this! Yes, you will get unlimited re-dos, and can probably safely call him a liar again, have him storm out of a meeting, and fight with him. No doubt. And no doubt he's been in the wrong in the past & when he stepped out of the room.

No doubt that both sides have made mistakes and acted out of passsion in the past.

So put that aside, sit down, and hammer out a contract which is in writing. Don't leave anything up to chance. At the end, if something isn't met, say that it hasn't been done: don't call him a liar or insult anyone. Simply point at your timeline, explain that you had an item on there that wasn't met, and you are unhappy with that.

Posted by: Tom Burns | October 30, 2009 12:01 AM

How's that for being humble----You are the best Doc and we are lucky to have you------I am so proud of being a teacher in New Haven for the past 14 years under your leadership-----Your legacy is already felt by many but with this reform movement, it will be felt by even more---Keep doing what you are doing--Tom

Posted by: mayo not at table | October 30, 2009 12:12 PM

Meridenite, A Green, Streever and Tom Burns,

I was optimistic at first too, but after reading this article a couple times, I am concerned about this part:

He [Mayo] proposed that TOC meet with Mayo's chief of staff, Leida Pacini, as well as Liz Torres, who's the parent representative on the school board.

It looks like Mayo himself is not actually going to be at the table. I don't get it. He's the one who would be making the decisions about district level changes on translation (and who has been featured in these articles getting upset with parents from TOC). It seems like it is REALLY important that he would be at the table in order for this to move forward. Thoughts?

Paul, can we see the letter? Or can you tell us if I'm getting this right? If he's not going to be at the table himself, that is really concerning to me, and I imagine it would change what posters above think too.

Posted by: New and Improved | October 31, 2009 5:39 AM

This nice attitude will last untill after the election. After that there will be no more making nice. This is election theatre by the DeStefano team to illustrate to the city who's really in charge. The only truth in these little outbursts by Mayo is his obvious disdain for New Haven's Hispanic community.

Posted by: Satisfied Parent | October 31, 2009 2:28 PM

The inclusion of Leida Pacini the Chief of Staff and Elizabeth Torres a Board member is entirely appropriate and a reponsible move by Mayo. The point is to review the issues at hand that parents have and to not let the other perceptions cloud the meeting.

TOC should be so wise and allow only the parents to attend as opposed to the non-parents and paid staff.

If TOC parents sit down in good faith they will find that the BOE will work with them to find appropriate solutions to their issues.

Keep the press antics, the ultimatums and the arbitrary timelines at the door and just give adult converation a chance. You might be surprised at what you find.

There are no two better representatives that Ms. Pacini and Ms. Torres to give this the best chance for success.