Alders Launch Hillhouse Fact-Finding Mission

Thank God!! I truly hope you do not get bamboozled by these incompetent administrators. Look and listen to the teachers and students. You will learn a great deal. We just had a planned fire drill and the absolute chaos that ensued was unbelievable. All one can say is: "HELP!"

This is absurd and disrespectful to the BOE members and their authority. The community is allowed public hearings every other week -- they are called Board of Education meetings. The meetings are at schools within the community and with access to parking (versus the Board of Aldermen's meetings at City Hall) and they are well attended. The Board of Aldermen ought to remind the public that they have no jurisdiction over NHPS other than budget and that if students, parents, and residents want to express their opinion they are free to do so at BOE meetings.

If Aldermen Greenberg and Aldermen Brackeen care so much about the BOE then they should probably first make an attempt to attend BOE meetings on a regular basis or they should have done what Dr. Joyner and Darnell Goldson did and run for the BOE.

Before going to Hillhouse, I suggest this aldermanic committee go to Cross and several other schools and talk to some of the more than 20 former Hillhouse teachers who left Hillhouse last year because they wanted to work in a saner, more logical school structure and environment, hopefully with administrators who would listen to them, collaborate with and not dictate to them, and consider their advice and respect them as seasoned professionals. The Hillhouse faculty in exile will be able to provide important information about the school which led to this historic faculty exodus.
Some current Hillhouse faculty members may feel too intimidated to tell the truth, the whole, truth and nothing but the truth.
Former faculty members generally will not be intimidated. Parents and students need not be. Alumni must get involved.
The truth must be told even though the superintendent does not appear to want to handle the truth.
The Hillhouse community is pleased to hear that an investigation independent of the Board of Education will take place.
It will be very important for parents and students and alumni attend this meeting to help steer Hillhouse in the right direction.
Two Board of Education members, Dr. Joyner and Mr. Goldson, are on record for opposing the current three or four principal leadership and organizational structure of the school.
I also suggest that everyone read the superintendent's letter to the Hillhouse community. He states that the new academic structure and program at Hillhouse has resulted in better grades and improved graduation rates among students, but then states that standardized tests show that most students are graduating not ready for college level work!
It is time for a public investigation of this grand experiment at Hillhouse

Elm city resident , you are wrong the kids and parents spoke before are speaking again. BOE came in and are setting on their hands. Even the new members where elected ask for change and nothing has been done but more cover up and lies. We all have a boss and chain of command, I applaud these group of alder person for stepping up. You need to come threw resident unannounced and see this tragic experiment take place at hard working tax payer money go to waste. You must sit on BOE payroll. They need experience, leadership and wisdom. Not inexperienced, non communicating baffling idiots running that school. That school is the most historic school in the city. Madam mayor, BOE President we don't need a drive by like your last one or a committee to try and fix what's there (500 dollar a day). We need change like yesterday not next month. Emma Ruff is turning over in grave. Mayor your legacy will be judged. The supertindent plan don't work let it go.

The Board of Aldermen are the elected representative legislative body of the people of New Haven. Only two members of the Board of Education are elected.
There is nothing wrong with an BOA inquiry into the practices and policies of the BOE. Many citizens know their alderpersons and address their concerns to them on a regular basis. The aldermen live in their communities and represent the interests of their wards.
The Board of Education allows time for public input, but often the public comments are toward the end of the meetings, late in the evening. Usually the public has a very brief time to make comments. Often they get little or no direct feedback from their comments. There is no real dialogue. Many citizens don't come simply because many feel their commentary is not genuinely welcomed, appreciated and respected by the BOE.
There has been considerable talk in New Haven concerning what has been going on at Hillhouse for the past four years. Many parents, students and faculty members have been frustrated, disgusted and dissatisfied with their experience there.
As the duly elected representatives of the the people, the BOA have the right and the duty to investigate what is going on at Hillhouse and report their finding to the people in the community.
The superintendent and the mayor and the entire school system must cooperate with this aldermanic committee. To do anything less would raise great suspicion.
THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THAT THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT WISELY, RESPONSIBLY AND EFFECTIVELY to educate the youth of Hillhouse.
What is Elm City Resident's fear? There is nothing absurd or disrespectful about the people expressing their concerns on more than one front. People have tried talking directly to the BOE and obviously they have not been satisfied with the response they have received.

I pray for teachers and staff that after visit their is no retaliation toward anyone with evaluations or etc. The fire alarm situation and judgement decision was horrible today. But it's been going on all year. The blame of the fire alarm problem goes deep. How many of the pulleys actually work in school. Paperwork was done ? Will they hand pick who talk to the alder like a couple months ago? Will Joyner and Golston be there? Will it be told how much mold has been found in school ? How many times there was no heat in school ? How one principle (male) has no asst. ? And yes go talk to teachers why they transferred ? I hope there is no gas leak this week. We have our own poison water in a different version.

Folks need to get in the school and talk to staff and students, then talk to Admin and then determine what is the most effective way to proceed. Present staff will apparently need total anonymity as I read it from current staff. The Supt approach doesn't appear to be working and fear cannot rule any workplace. Is his seven point plan any clearer to the staff and students? I have worked for good building leaders and not so good in public high schools. It makes a difference to students and staff when the building leaders know what to do and do it This Supt needs to work fast and his plan needs to work now before the academic yr is over. Adults issues cannot dominate in any school It's always about the students.

@Thomas Alfred Paine: The only thing I'm afraid of is that these two Aldermen have forgotten or don't understand that they have no jurisdiction over the BOE except for budgetary. And, as I said before, if Aldermen Greenberg and Aldermen Brackeen care so much about the BOE then they should probably first make an attempt to attend BOE meetings on a regular basis (e.g. at least one meeting/month) or they should have done what Dr. Joyner and Darnell Goldson did and run for the BOE. In fact, I'd encourage this route (although I personally think that people who have been entrenched in the education field are more qualified than those that have no background or experience).

I just want to inform the Education Committee from the BOA that the Administrators have already selected those who will be "involved" with you on March 07. Please do not just speak to the selected few on the Leadership Teams; you will not get a true picture. You must go through the school and speak with as many teachers as possible. Many are afraid for their jobs; one individual at the school has already been terminated, possibly due to their involvement in trying to get the word out; not a teacher but a part time staffer.
Please, as I said before, do not be misdirected.

Elm city resident you don't need a diploma or be in the education field to understand the foolishness going in hillhouse. You can also be an educate fool. Are you on the BOE payroll ? The teachers are in agreement with the children of Hillhouse so I applaud anybody going in there to straighten things out. A survey should be ask with teachers only, would you let your kid go to Hillhouse, with this administration ?

@ Crazy...I'm sorry but your spelling, grammar and lack of correct word usage makes your statements almost incoherent!! Did u attend New Haven schools??