New Haven Independent

posted by: Salvatore DeCola on January 25, 2012  11:17am

Good Luck Sue and congratulations.

posted by: anon on January 25, 2012  11:17am

How can we even start talking about social equity in this school district when salaries are so high?

posted by: fearless on January 25, 2012  11:54am

Sue will do a great job…She will help students and link their non-instructional needs with their academic endeavors…I know her and her family..New Haven students will be afforded a continuity of care in support of their educational goals…

Good luck ,Sue

posted by: Curious on January 25, 2012  12:33pm

Just curious how the same person is qualified to lead a $1.5 billion construction effort, then serve as legal counsel, then serve as a school outreach expert. 

Also, how that $133,000 salary is justified.

posted by: Noteworthy on January 25, 2012  12:51pm

Notes:

1. More merry-go-round - lose a job or risk losing one, come to New Haven until something better opens up again.

2. Before Sue starts to work, she should address the $80 million in excessive costs for which the state will not reimburse New Haven. We have paid tens of millions already, and more is slated to be done.

3. She should also address the formulas she used to project school enrollment - figures which are so far out of whack that New Haven taxpayers are in jeopardy for huge clawbacks from the state as more and more schools are audited. If I recall correctly, DeStefano/Mayo were attempting to get a law passed last session or in the upcoming one that would exempt New Haven from meeting enrollment projections and give it a pass on the penalty. 

4. Anon - you are right. The pay for this position is more than that of a senior principal. Are we paying for expertise or because she’s a buddy?

posted by: Jeffrey Kerekes on January 25, 2012  1:30pm

This is disappointing news on a few fronts.  First off, this position could have been filled for far less by a more relevant and specifically competent person such as a masters level social worker.  There are plenty of people with multiple years of doing just this thing and would be happy to take the position for less money and be able to do a better job.

Secondly, she did a terrible job on school construction resulting in $80 MM in egregious over spending that the state billed us for and there are still more school audits to come!  The school construction czar should have been someone who had experience managing school construction - not a friend. There are plenty of construction managers who could have return much value to the city and she wound up costing us millions.

She was a patronage hire that cost us $80+ million once before and she is a patronage hire again, as she is not the best fit for this position.

Perhaps her position should be funded, not by a First Niagara grant but perhaps a “New Haven Partitions” grant! ....

posted by: Least Rock on January 25, 2012  2:06pm

Kerekes for Wraparound Services Czar?  Are you attempting to run another campaign, Jeffrey?  This time for an unelected position.  The first paragraph of your comment sounds like a description of you?

posted by: JimmyJo on January 25, 2012  3:16pm

Jeffery could not have pointed out the truths behind this “hiring” any better.

How is Johnny allowed to keep handing out these 6 figure jobs to not only his friends but also to someone that basically cost the city $80 million and than walked away?

I understand that her salary is funded out of the $3 million from First Niagara, But… how much of that is money left to cover her pay and maybe staff? And when that money soon runs out how does the city plan on paying another low output, $133,000(before benefits and other hidden costs)job that will be on the city payroll?—- end result is cushy desk job, outrageous pay for low results and higher taxes.

posted by: brutus2011 on January 25, 2012  3:41pm

Ms. Weisselberg seems to be an educated and capable person.

I think it is pretty clear that this position could be competently filled by someone with a better skill-set for about half the cost.

This is, no offense to Ms. Weisselberg, an affront to the taxpayers of New Haven.

Cronyism hides in plain sight.

posted by: JohnQP on January 25, 2012  5:50pm

Not that Congressmen do much about schools directly,
This guy Winsley running against Rosa DeLauro sounds like the real deal.
Check out the video.

http://waynewinsleyforcongress.com/

posted by: Curious on January 25, 2012  5:58pm

I would also like to contest the title of this position.  I believe this is being called ““wraparound services czar” in order to keep it from being compared, both in terms of salary and job requirements, to the same job in other towns and cities.

Can this be brought to the attention of the federal department of ed or something?

posted by: LOL on January 25, 2012  9:51pm

Great ... and my struggling school STILL lacks adequate supplies and support staff.

Why would a teacher in a struggling school need supplies and support staff?

Teachers “only” are required to complete weekly data reports and agendas, maintain student portfolios complete with copies of all student artifacts, differentiate class and home work, and administer teacher-created assessments every other week ... on top of being a “parent”, doctor, psychologist and mentor to our kids.

Thanks for NOTHING, first niagara.

posted by: out of town newhavener on January 26, 2012  12:00am

I agree with you, Jeffrey Kerekes. My fully and very qualified friend with degrees, relevant experience and certifications in tow, applied for this very position. My friend was called last Thursday for an interview for the position and accepted the invitation. This article in the Independent is how they are notified that the position has been filled. Today there is a new “czar”?? What in the name of bureaucratic formalities is that about? Of course they had their person in mind but usually they will do the courtesy of wasting your time with the interview that they invite you to. Needless to say there has been no return call to my friend to schedule that interview or to appropriately rescind the offer.

posted by: Fair Haven Resident II on January 26, 2012  12:24am

Johnny uses his same ole tricks…

“Czar” gets you $100,000
“Wrap around services” gets you $33,000

Thanks, First Niagara!

Find a more fitting person(more qualified, less salary) to take the helm, and use the rest of the funds for jobs for youth in New Haven. That would be a BOOST.

posted by: brutus2011 on January 26, 2012  3:38am

It has finally dawned on me.

These administrators are going to do whatever they darn well please.

They know that we citizens can either like it or lump it when it comes to their corrupt executive decisions and actions.

They know that the only action that counts is at the ballot box.

We have proven that we cannot sing:

“We won’t get fooled again!”  (The Who)

And they know it.

posted by: To Brutus on January 26, 2012  1:27pm

There is something we can do: RECALL.

posted by: Fair Haven Resident II on January 26, 2012  1:42pm

RECALL

posted by: Jeffrey Kerekes on January 26, 2012  3:56pm

I see people now and again posting about RECALL. It’s not a complicated process.  If you’re serious you should do something about it.  Posting it here and hoping someone else will do it for you is like posting here and thinking DeStefano will do something different.

Here is the process from the charter.

ARTICLE XXXII. - PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

Sec. 189. - Removals in classified service to conform to charter; power of mayor when unclassified.
Sec. 190. - Grounds, procedure for removal by mayor.
Sec. 191. - Appeal from removal by mayor.
Sec. 192. - Recall of mayor; procedure.
Sec. 193. - Same; form of petition.
Sec. 194. - Same; affidavit of circulator required.
Sec. 195. - Same; filing petition with clerk; number of signatures required.
Sec. 196. - Same; referral, examination of petition by registrars; transmittal to aldermen; service on mayor; when election required.
Sec. 197. - Same; proposition submitted to voters; result of election.
Sec. 198. - Same; filling vacancy.
Sec. 199. - When petitions prohibited.

Sec. 189. - Removals in classified service to conform to charter; power of mayor when unclassified.

Officers and employees of the city in the classified service may only be removed in accordance with the provisions of this charter. Officers of the city not in the classified service may be removed by the mayor for cause.

Sec. 190. - Grounds, procedure for removal by mayor.

Whenever the mayor has reasonable grounds for believing that any officer of the city not in the classified service is corrupt, incompetent or unfaithful to the duties of his office, or that the requirements of the public service demand his removal, he may summon said officer to appear before him at a time and place specified in said summons then and there in a public hearing to show cause why he should not be removed from office. Said summons shall contain a detailed written statement of the charges against the officer, shall be addressed to any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable authorized to serve legal process in the City of New Haven, with a direction to make personal service of the same upon the summoned officer at least ten days before the time affixed for said hearing. If, after a full hearing, the mayor shall find that the officer in question is corrupt, or incompetent, or unfaithful to the duties of his office, or that the requirements of the public service demand his removal he may remove such person from office, and thereupon shall forthwith file a written order of such removal with the city clerk.

Sec. 191. - Appeal from removal by mayor.

Any officer removed from his office by the mayor as herein provided may appeal from the order removing him to the superior court for New Haven County, which appeal shall be made returnable to said court not less than fifteen and not more than thirty days from the date of the order of removal and shall be served upon the mayor at least five days before the return day thereof. Said court upon return of said appeal shall forthwith fix a time for a hearing thereon at which it shall determine whether the mayor has acted arbitrarily, illegally, or so unreasonably as to have abused his discretion, and award costs. No officer removed by the mayor shall exercise any of the duties or powers of his office during the pendency of an appeal from the order removing him.

Sec. 192. - Recall of mayor; procedure.

The mayor of the city may be recalled from office in the following manner.

Any fifty electors of the city may jointly file with the city clerk an affidavit setting forth that they in good faith desire and propose to file a petition for the recall of the mayor, which affidavit shall also contain a detailed statement of the grounds alleged for such recall. Thereupon, the city clerk shall deliver to the electors making such affidavit a reasonable number of copies of petition papers for demanding such recall, printed form of which the clerk shall provide and keep on hand. Each such paper so delivered shall be addressed to the board of aldermen and shall bear the certificate thereon of the city clerk showing the date on which the same was issued and the persons to whom it was issued.

Sec. 193. - Same; form of petition.

The recall petition papers so provided and issued by the city clerk shall be in form substantially as follows:

We, the undersigned electors of the City of New Haven hereby demand that the question of recalling ____________ from the office of mayor of the City of New Haven be submitted to a vote of the electors.

Name   Street and number of last voting list   Date
____________   ____________   ____________
____________   ____________   ____________
Sec. 194. - Same; affidavit of circulator required.

At the bottom of each separate page of the recall petition papers on which occur the signature of any signers thereof shall be an affidavit of the circulator as follows:

State of Connecticut   )  ss. New Haven
County of New Haven   ) 
____________ being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is the circulator of the petition papers of which this page is a part, and that the signatures subscribed on this page were made in his presence and are the genuine signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be.

(Signed) .....
Subscribed and sworn to this ..... day
.....
Notary Public
Sec. 195. - Same; filing petition with clerk; number of signatures required.

A recall petition to be effective must be returned and filed with the city clerk within thirty days after the filing of the affidavit provided for in section 192 of this charter, and to be sufficient must bear the signatures of electors equal in number to at least twenty percentum of those who voted at the last preceding regular city election.

Sec. 196. - Same; referral, examination of petition by registrars; transmittal to aldermen; service on mayor; when election required.

Upon the return of said recall petition the city clerk shall forthwith refer the same to the registrars of voters who within twenty days thereafter shall examine the same and determine whether each name subscribed thereto is that of a duly registered elector in the City of New Haven and on the twenty-first day thereafter return said petition to the city clerk with their findings endorsed thereon. Thereupon the city clerk shall submit the same to the board of aldermen at its next following meeting with his certificate that the prescribed procedures have been complied with and notify the mayor of such action, by causing to be served upon him an attested copy of such petition by an officer authorized to make service of civil process and in the manner required by law for the service of civil process in the city. If the mayor whose recall is sought does not resign within five days after such notice the board of aldermen shall thereupon order and fix a day for holding a recall election. Any such election shall be held not less than thirty nor more than sixty days after the petition has been certified to the board of aldermen, and it may be held at the same time as any other general or special election within such period, but if no other election is to be held within such period the board of aldermen shall call a special recall election to be held within the time aforesaid.

Sec. 197. - Same; proposition submitted to voters; result of election.

At any recall election the electors shall be required to vote yes or no upon this proposition, viz:

Shall (name of mayor) be recalled from the office of mayor of the City of New Haven?

If a majority of the votes cast on this proposition be against the recall of the mayor he shall continue in office for the remainder of his unexpired term but subject to recall as before. If a majority of such votes be for his recall he shall be deemed removed from office. The method of canvassing said votes and certifying the result of same shall be in accordance with the provisions of canvassing and certifying the result of regular elections of city officers.

Sec. 198. - Same; filling vacancy.

If a mayor in regard to whom a sufficient recall petition is submitted to the board of aldermen shall resign before the recall election, or be recalled as a result thereof, the vacancy so caused shall be filled in the manner provided by this charter for filling vacancies in such office.

Sec. 199. - When petitions prohibited.

No recall petition shall be filed against the mayor within three months after he takes office nor, in case he is subject to a recall election and not removed thereby, until at least six months after that election.

posted by: brutus2011 on January 26, 2012  4:01pm

As far as I can tell, recall can only be done in Ct. for those municipal officials elected to a 4 year term, and then in only five municipalities.

New Haven is one of the five, but the elected terms are 2 years.

I guess the thinking is that every two years instead of 4 helps to keep our elected officials in check.

Guess not.

posted by: anon on January 26, 2012  4:24pm

Agree with the above.  This money could create 40 summer youth jobs in Newhallville.

posted by: christopher schaefer on January 26, 2012  9:48pm

to Brutus2011:
Concerning the procedure for recall of Mayor, Mr. Kerekes is quoting from the Charter of the City of New Haven, so the procedure quoted applies specifically to New Haven:
http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientID=14668&stateID=7&statename=Connecticut

posted by: Ken Charles on January 26, 2012  9:54pm

The fact is this is a very talented person.  Research her record.  Grow up [...] and do some work.  Find out who really is wasting taxpayer dollars and go after them.

posted by: Least Rock on January 26, 2012  10:38pm

We had a chance to “recall” the mayor in November.  A majority of the city chose to reelect the mayor.  Let’s move on…

posted by: LOL on January 27, 2012  8:03am

@Ken Charles—

1. Visit any struggling (Tier III) New Haven Public School.  See the violence and disrespect among students toward other students and staff members, see the lack of supplies and see the lack of parental support first hand.

2.  Then, view the vast list of department directors, assistant superintendents and other personnel making THREE-FIGURE salaries at 54 Meadow St.

Maybe then you’d get a clue as to who is wasting money.

posted by: christopher schaefer on January 27, 2012  10:05am

“...see the lack of parental support…”, LOL.
That sums up the most fundamental problem in education today. And turning our schools into parent-substitutes won’t solve the problem. I’m not suggesting we abandon “youth-support” type services. But such interventions are merely a Bandaid that never will replace parental involvment.

posted by: Candidate4CongressCT03 on January 27, 2012  12:03pm

More of the money needs to actually make it to the classroom.
AND
There has to be more positive reinforcement from the ground up.
I speak to hundreds of CT students each year who don’t believe they have a shot at anything, let alone success.
Parents and other people that REALLY care are the only things that can change the basic attitudes of some of our students.
But less money on bloated administrative salaries will help.

posted by: Teachergal on January 27, 2012  12:12pm

LOL….....overcrowded classrooms, poverty, lack of support, poor leadership have nothing to do with the underperforming schools… It’s the teachers, plain and simple. LOL!!!!

Now, take a look at the list of Tier 1,2,3schools and tell me what they have in common. Its like the elephant in the room but no one will say it because we would be so politically incorrect. But I for one don’t care about being politically correct ......the Tier 3 school have more students of color who are poor and lack supports at home and in school, many speak Spanish and are weak in English making learning very difficult, and are being led by principals who lead by fear not example.

Until we change those things you can expect more of the same. Or let’s send the tier 1teachers into the tier 3 schools and have them work their magic since it is our fault that the kids aren’t learning!

posted by: richgetricher on January 28, 2012  8:39pm

I know this position is funded by “extra” money squeezed out of First Niagara. But like the money squeezed out of Yale for “The Promise” it’s funneled into well-paid patronage jobs for the insiders instead of going straight into the classrooms to save teachers or paras or used to reduce taxes. No reflection on the people hired. Doesn’t Dr. Mayo have enough high-paid administrators already?