Ed Board Sides Lawyer Up

When is his current contract up? Any termination prior to the end of his contract will surely mean a six-figure severance payment, monies I would think can be put to better use. There are a lot of good things happening in New Haven, but it seems the leadership often obstructs trashier than promotes them. Heck, forget about the BOE. Even in the mayor's office underlings are undercutting each other as they put their own interests above that of the city or even the mayor.

Looks like we might have a new Superintendent by XMAS!!

It was bad judgment to extend the superintendent's contract before the elected board members came aboard. Half of whatever he gets to go away will be on the Mayor.

But pay the bill and get to the real business of doing the work for the students of the city.

This is beyond embarrassing. How do we, tax paying citizens of this community, put a halt on the board of Ed spending money. Not only are they wasting tax payer dollars, but they are halting thus guy from running the schools and endangering our students. I'm sick and tired of these people with their own agenda ruining this city. Until we have an opportunity to vote them out, how can we prevent them from doing further damage?

Though I always have my opinions about local educational matters, and feel fully vested to express them as a product of the NHPS system, I don't often comment on education based articles. Not really my space. That said, really enjoy sports, especially local sports, and always appreciate a good fight.

Here are profiles of the two gladiators who just entered the ring for or those who are interested. First Mooney: http://www.shipmangoodwin.com/tmooney, then Snead: http://www.hoganlovells.com/maree-sneed . I find the juxtaposition of these two adjudicators backgrounds ironic reflections of their clients underlying interest set.

For those waiting for Empress Harp to point the thumb down, wouldn't hold your breath. Guessing there's about 60% chance or better Harries stays.

For those desiring more certainty, there is a 100% chance the attorney's fee is going to be higher than five-grand.

Many have concluded a while ago
That Garth Harries must go!
About 75% of New Haveners think so.

Anyone who follows the reports of the Independent recognizes that there is chaos, confusion, mismanagement, poor judgment and leadership from this inexperienced superintendent.
The mayor thinks Harries is doing a great job, but like Harries, Harp has no formal training as an educator. Some of her comments in defense of Harries at BOE meetings has made that publicly clear.
harp is Harries' Great Defender. She would be wise to defend the educational interests of the student and parents who actually live and pay taxes in New Haven!
Harp must understand that many residents join the several BOE members who are dissatisfied with Harries' performance. If the mayor continues to dismiss the public and the BOE and fight for Harries she will lose that battle and severely damage her political future.
How is it that numerous highly trained and experienced professional educators on the BOE and in this community concede that Garth Harries is really NOT doing a good job and has so many flaws and blunders that the school system is endangered. Demoralized teachers fleeing in droves, unfilled vacancies, poor communication with the BOE, a botched high school reform effort, a top-heavy administrative bureaucracy, wasteful spending, millions in grant money expended, according to one board member, "with nothing to show for it." The list could go on.
In defense Harp keeps harping about questionable statistics of improved academic performance and graduation rates, but we have seen the pathetic SAT scores!
Harp's response in defense of Garth: New Haven never had good SAT scores! Never? Really, mayor of New Haven?
Most people understand that you can make statistics say almost anything. The real proof is what students learn and know.
I would rather listen to the professional educators than the politician on this issue concerning the future of our schools, and heed their advice and recommendations.

What would happen if I refused to give grades or assess/evaluate students? I'd be fired.

@TAP, "Many have concluded a while ago.That Garth Harries must go! About 75% of New Haveners think so."

Where does this % come from? NHI poll? You are of course aware that anyone with an internet connection can cast a vote, not just New Haveners. Might make that assertion a bit dubious.

Unfortunately as the 0.00075% of New Haveners who matter in this case, i.e. Harp, are on Harries side and it is an appointed position, it might be a while. Besides with new attorney's in the mix, school starting in a couple weeks and Chief Esserman on the ropes there is only so much political bandwidth to process all these asks.

@OTC, see that you are making an analogy between the treatment of children to the treatment of adults... that's about where your logic breaks down. But just so we give it the benefit of the doubt, give that a try and report back on your outcome.

Great that the wheels may be in motion to change course but immense damage has already been done. Administrators are still trained in the AF drone model and are utterly disastrous. Teacher morale is at an all time low. The union is a compliant afterthought and of course everyone serves Eli Broad's great data production machine. Dark days for NHPS right now.

Thomas Alfred Paine,

I would be interested to hear the rest of your list, because most of the items on your list are at best debatable and at worst outright false...

Part 2.

@NewHaven1946

I don't think your last-second defense can save your hero. And to suggest that he has 'numerous' supporters, but not one can show up in his defense... well, we'll let that speak for itself.

And finally, your defense of the administrative failures at Hillhouse is only, "it has always been a trainwreck." That shows your lack of regard of the students and parents of the city.

Don't let the door hit ya....

NewHaven1946,

Boydjones,

It is not my intention to defend Mr. Harries, but to call into question the process by which specious assertions become the facts of the commentariat.

That said, I and many others believe that the tactics the board has chosen to undermine and ultimately remove this superintendent are appalling. If the goal is to fire him, then get on with it rather than undermining schools and risking millions in grant money to make political hay.

@NewHaven1948

Doesn't appear that most believe the way you do.

BoydJones,

You may well be right.

Tmctague,

It is also ironic that Garth employs Sneed as his lawyer because she's a huge supporter of magnet schools, yet Garth wants to destroy magnet schools.

People who comment might do well to ask why the board no longer rubber stamps Harries' recommendations. The school board has to insure that people who are recommended are certified, have been successful in their previous jobs, and have the people skills to make a difference. They also have to trust the superintendent to obey all contractual mandates and state laws governing education matters. If you really want to know, simply ask the board why they rejected the superintendent;s recommendations. This would end speculation. The next question you should ask is what is in this superintendent's professional background and academic preparation that would qualify him to run a large urban, or any school district. The board that selected him shares a great deal of responsibility for his appointment. The mayor that protects him, when the evidence is clear that he is struggling mightily to run the district, bears the lioness share of this current chaos. While we feel compassion for Garth, we should have more for the 22,000 kids and 1800 plus staff members in the school district.

>>> "6. I don't know anything about ERS, but my point was that neither myself, not TAP had data on this. It seems that you don't either."

NHPS paid ERS half a million dollars to create a pseudo-study with half-cocked "data" to support policies the central office already wanted to implement. In addition to the "peer" group listed were two small rural districts down south. It would be like saying the a cat is underweight compared to a lion, a tiger, a cheetah, a leopard, a mouse, and a spider. Utterly meaningless, but they still want to fatten up the cat (i.e., the central bureaucracy).

So you're right: no one knows, but those who make the decisions pretend to.

(https://www.erstrategies.org/districts/new_haven_public_schools)

When is the BOE going to hold Garth and Sherri Davis Googe accountable for the mismanagement of Choice & Enrollment? It is August 17 and All Kids are not placed in schools! That is egregious! I'm sure SDG will find someone to blame because she refuses to see that she has created a mess! New Haven families deserve better for the $125,000 she's being paid.