Buffalo, NY: Part 2–City auditors urge an end to school superintendent’s buyout clause

NOTE: The below article, by Brian Myer and Mary Pasciak of the Buffalo News, was posted in the Buffalo News on 6/16/11.  It’s a continuation of the controversy over “waste and mismanagement” by Superintendent Williams in the contract buyout of Folasade Oladele.

ARTICLE: The city’s school superintendent should never again be given the power to negotiate buyouts that differ from terms spelled out in employment contracts, Buffalo’s interim comptroller said Thursday.

City auditors commented on a controversy involving the Board of Education’s decision to pay a full year’s salary of $168,000 plus benefits to its departing deputy school superintendent. Folasade Oladele’s contract entitled her to three months’ pay, or $42,000, if the board bought out her pact prior to its June 2012 expiration.

Interim City Comptroller Darby R. Fishkin was perplexed by the higher payout and decided to investigate, even though city auditors do not have oversight of School Board personnel issues.

Fishkin said auditors were troubled by a clause buried in the contract that allows the superintendent and his deputy to terminate the contract “upon mutually acceptable terms.” The clause, which was the basis for Oladele’s buyout, goes on to read that such an agreement would “supersede any and all terms” of the pact, opening the door to a bigger payout than what is stipulated in a contract.

Lockport, NY: Superintendent vacancy is chance for consolidation

NOTE: The below letter, by Tony Sammarco, was posted in the US&J on 6/10/11.  Tony is a resident of Lockport, NY.

LETTER: Educators and school boards located in the eastern part of Niagara County have a tremendous opportunity: An opportunity to investigate consolidation of school districts, an opportunity to involve residents in charting the future of public education, an opportunity to be creative, with the ultimate goal being to improve the quality of education being provided in the public education system.

The Lockport school district is now confronted with the need to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Perhaps on a parallel track, the Board of Education could investigate consolidation/merging with, for example, the Newfane school district and possibly the Starpoint school district.

Buffalo, NY: Part 1–Wrong-Headed Goodbye

SUBTITLE: School Board should not have given Williams aide a year’s pay to leave

NOTE: The below article, by the Editorial staff of the Buffalo News, was posted in the Buffalo News on 6/10/11. The “waste and mismanagement” herein described is shameful.  The (irresponsible) giving away of $168,000 of taxpayers’ monies, when $42,000 would have sufficed, should not be met with the usual “public yawn”.  Complain “early and often” to the Buffalo School Board and Superintendent Williams, as this “buyout” has all the look of robbery of the school coffers.

ARTICLE: Folasade Oladele may have done a few good things as deputy superintendent for the Buffalo Public School District, but she leaves it as a financial drag on its future after the School Board agreed to pay her a year’s salary to go away.

Why the board of a cash-strapped district would do that is incomprehensible. Maybe it’s the same reason the board is allowing Oladele’s boss, Superintendent James A. Williams, to remain in his post for another 12 months—its priorities are misplaced.

Lockport, NY: Part 2–The Board of Education is Broken!!!

NOTE: This continues my mantra that there needs to be sweeping change at the BOE.

Hello Neighbor:

My name is Paul R. Black, and I’m a candidate for the Board of Education, in the Lockport School District, Lockport, NY. I’m writing to ask for your vote on May 17, 2011.

Let me say this upfront—I’m an outsider. As such, I bring to the table (of “discussion and decision”) a simple prejudice: A good K-12 education is that education which prepares an individual for life-long learning. To me, reading, writing and arithmetic—the three Rs, as they are sometimes called—are the (most) practical value of an education. Add to this an understanding of our history and some science and our children should be capable of a reasonable measure of self-reliance.

As a member of the Board of Education, I intend to use my energies to challenge what I believe is a failed “status quo”. If my interpretation of the (recent) battle over an ill-timed sports complex is accurate, I believe I will be joining a culture that seems to be either unwilling or unable to exercise foresight and good judgment.

Lockport, NY: Teacher questions re-configuration of schools

On 4/14/11 in “public comments”, one teacher in particular caught my attention, as she expressed genuine concern regarding the intended re-configuration of our school district. The proposed scheme will be: K-4, 5-6, 7-8; 9-12 will remain as is. The re-configuration seems to be on-track for September 2011.

This experienced educator:

• Believes that this change needs two years of (preparatory) effort before implementation.
• Is concerned that April to September isn’t sufficient time to bring about a re-configuration.
• Is looking for research that supports 5-6 and 7-8.
• Wants to know purpose and reasons behind re-configuration.
• Wants to know why there has been no teacher input. (To this, Carbone responded that teacher input was had, and the input was favorable.)

Lockport, NY: Part 1–The Board of Education is broken!!!

I don’t know when it happened, or even how it happened, but recent events leads me to believe that there needs to be sweeping change at the BOE—as our present (elected) board seems questionably suited to course the troubled waters of our time.

Hello Neighbor:

My name is Paul Black, and I’m a candidate for the Board of Education, Lockport, NY. I’m a (first time) candidate because I’m greatly troubled by what seems to be “business as usual” in spite of mounting evidence that the Lockport School District’s version of “business as usual” is a failed model.

Buffalo, NY: Flouting the law

NOTE: The below letter was written by the Buffalo News editorial staff for their 4/3/11 Niagara edition.

SUB-TITLE: Buffalo schools working to deny critical information to residents

LETTER: Apparently, top Buffalo School District officials believe they can make their own rules when confronted with a legal request for the release of public information. By doing so, the superintendent and his staff are denying the public’s right to know. That’s intolerable. Not only is that an insult to district residents and taxpayers, it flouts the state’s Freedom of Information Law. The result is a drawn-out process in which even the most basic information is held back until the last minute.

This isn’t new. Problems in getting timely information from the district date back several months. Most recently, a News reporter requested a copy of each non-union administrator’s resume.

Buffalo, NY: School Sup disrespects BOE member

NOTE: The below letter titled “Williams goes overboard” was written by the editorial staff of the Buffalo News for their 3/8/11 edition.  I’ve added it to this blog, as I believe it examples a problem with our school districts—Superintendents who act as though they hold a superior position to that of their respective School Board.

LETTER: Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and even a feckless irritant can occasionally offer a notion worth considering. Buffalo School Superintendent James A. Williams should take this into account. His behavior at a recent public meeting was even worse than that of the ill-tempered local critic whom he let get under his skin.

Williams often talks about the high skill set that must be attained by the chief executives of a public school system. That’s why, he reasons, they command those six-figure salaries. If Williams possesses those skills and smarts, then he should know that he works for the School Board. A board majority hires him and can fire him, or at least not renew his contract. The School Board–elected by the people–bears ultimate responsibility for a school system’s direction.