If your head is spinning after reading this article, that is understandable. I will attempt to bring more clarity to the situation later today and/or this weekend.

Good job at back-pedaling Mr. Murphy! So, you voted NOT to give the Superintendent the contract she so desired but you defend your vote (now that it's PUBLIC) by stating that you didn't like the motion and "The final clause was superfluous and legally meaningless". You really should be careful when stating that board members motions are superfluous and meaningless -- did you ever consider that the people making these motions are doing so based on the desires of the voters who put them there to speak for them?! Oh, wait, it doesn't impact you since you don't live here anyway and your children don't go to school here! We finally see the true, 2 sides of Mr. David Murphy!! You have had many fooled but no more. I think it's pretty clear that if the majority of the school board voted "with no additional contract extension or no new contract offered or provided" then they MUST start a search for a Superintendent. Should we be irresponsible and NOT do that? Sure, let's not have a Superientendent!?? How could both sets of notes NOT include the phrase when it was stated that it WAS part of the motion????? That makes no sense!

Yes they are saying they aren't accurate

Mr. Friedman, I see you posted the handwritten notes of the school board's secretary. Can you also post the handwritten notes of the district staff recording secretary?

Are Barbara and Brenda related? Is there a conflict of interest existing here? I'm looking forward to the next installment of "As the ASC turns".

Gotta love the blame game from a bunch of juvenile politician chasers! The TRUTH is laws have been broken and serious ones at that and my mission has been set in motion with PLENTY of documented evidence to bring down everyone involved those who knew and didn't say anything are going to be just as guilty! So breaking any laws during your contract after you've taken an oath to protect....I promise I will make sure your FIRED!!!

Who's getting fired? What are YOU talking about??

Wow...you can't make this stuff up. This is Peyton Place kind of material.

Ok...for the record...I'm a bit concerned about the schools now.

Randers, I posted what I have received. If I can get a copy of the handwritten notes from the recording secretary, I will post them. Janice, the minutes were released because although they were rejected by a majority of the school committee, they are public documents that must be released upon request.

What the heck is Murphy talking about? This guy said "he didn't know what Furtado was talking about" but the minutes seem clear enough.

Durkin was offered a one year and a one year only contract and she will not be offered any further extensions or contracts. Simple!

That means that a superintendent search is needed since Durkin will not be the superintendent in a year. Again this is beyond simple!

What bothers me is that it seems that Murphy and others were trying to hide information from the public. He stated that he didn't want to go out for a search now in response to Furtado's explanation of the motion, so seems he knew what was going on and what the motion meant.

In the end this doesn't matter. The motion is very clear. Durkin will not be offered any more extensions or contracts. The fact that she came out the next day after this was announced and said she's done in a year means that the committee or chairman (whichever told her) explained it well enough. So Durkin says she's done and five of the members of the committee says she's done (and we know there are 4 rubber stampers who would never get rid of her - Murphy, Larson, O'Neil and Zito). So she's done!

Time to move on people! It is time to get the new superintendent search going. where do I sign up? Would love to be on that. Hopefully whoever sets the search committee will not allow the four rubber stampers on it.

@Rob, I'm concerned about D. Murphy's statements. His statement says that the motion did not even mention a superintendent search and he denied after last weeks meeting that no conversation took place regarding a search but the attorney and Mr. Tyler both stated that a superintendent serach was discussed just not specifially part of the motion. It's even mentioned in both sets of minutes so how can he deny it. He could he comment about not agreeing with doing one if it never came up??? He scares me and he seems to use his legal background as a basis to make people think he's truthful.

Minutes for the school committee meetings have been a problem for some time. Back in December 2011, I wrote an editorial in the Sun Chronicle detailing my issues with them not being posted in a timely manner. Here is the link for this editorial:
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/columns/your-turn-board-s-minutes-woefully-tardy/article_65cd404c-1f54-5537-a036-93cf12a15513.html

I even went to an Open Forum to discuss this earlier this year. I have to admit that since that time and with the assurances of Mike Tyler, the minutes for the Monday night meetings have been posted in a more timely manner. However based on this, I am still concerned about the accuracy of what is posted on attleboroschools.com. I hope Patch is able to get the handwritten minutes from the recording secretary in the hopes to clear up this major confusion.

The reality of this situation is that it neither the School Committee nor the Superintendent seems to be focused on what is paramount: the proper and efficient operation of our school system to the betterment of our students and the community with a focus on fiscal responsibility.

It appears that all involved, in some form or another, have personal vendettas and are on the committee solely to push their own agendas. Something has to give. And the easiest solution is to replace the superintendent.

I am not a supporter of the Superintendent, and I am highly disappointed with the actions of the SC. Sadly the community pays little or no regard to the SC and the fact that they “manage” more than HALF the city budget. Ward 1 continues to allow an “Absentee” committee member to be reelected. Though I enjoy Ms. Enegrin, she would be respected and have more “power” if she actually showed up. How can you give any credence to her voice when her eyes and ears are never there?

There is such a clear divide on the SC (pro Pia/Con Pia) perhaps finding a new Superintendent will unify the SC and actually move the system forward instead fostering resentment and hindering the Attleboro Schools “Journey Towards Excellence”.

As the former School Committee Executive Board Secretary I thought I could help shed some light on the recording/minutes proces for those who were interested.

In regular meetings pretty much 100% of the time a Recording Secretary takes the notes. This person is appointed by the School Committee. In Attleboro's case (and in most school committees) the Recording Secretary also serves as the Superintendent's administrative assistant.

In Executive session there are and have historically been two ways to do things. The Recording Secretary can take the notes or she can be given the night off by the Executive Secretary (think elected member voted to be the Secretary by the Committee), who would then take the notes instead. Often even if the Recording Secretary is there the Executive Secretary will keep their own notes since ultimately it is this person's responsibility for the final minutes to be accurate before they are provided to all members for a vote of approval.

So the Recording Secretary writes the minutes from her notes and by policy provides them to the Executive Secretary who then reviews them and edits them as he/she feels is appropriate. Again it is this elected officials responsibility to ensure these minutes are correct. I can say that I more often than not needed to make some form of edit, grammatical and/or otherwise.

When I served we did have a lot of problems with the minutes. Sometimes the draft minutes would not be provided to the Executive Secretary until weeks after the meeting happened, plus we had found that the minutes were being edited and/of affected by outside influences (won't go into further detail) which is what led to us making some changes to the Minutes policy. We tried to put a requirement of no longer than 2 weeks into the minutes but the administration balked at that so we instead put "a reasonable timeframe" in instead.

So the draft minutes are provided to the elected Secretary who then edits then and then provides them back to the Recording Secretary for inclusion within the Friday packet and puts their approval on the agenda for the next meeting. In the case of Executive session minutes the Executive Secretary is supposed to maintain them until the Chairperson of the Committee makes the recommendation to the full Committee that they meet for the purpose of discussing releasing these minutes. By the law the moment that the lawful purpose that the meeting was called for is concluded the minutes should be released. There is also, by policy, a guideline that these minutes are looked at at least annually (for minutes that have been determined can not be released for whatever reason).

So I think it is incorrect to say in the above article "two sets of minutes". There's only one official set of minutes, but there could be, as I explained, two sets of notes.

My perception of this is that there was a misunderstanding among the School Committee members and some of the facts are being toyed with here.

The approved motion as quoted in the first italic batch of the article states that the School Committee was granting the Executive Board permission to extend the contract as approved by the previous School Committee (June, 2011). The vote was to not add any additional extensions or negotiate any changes to the current contract at this time.

Although some Committee members took this to mean that a search committee would be formed (Ms. Furtado, Ms. Craw, and Mr. Parent), it is not mentioned in the motion and, thus, was not been approved by the School Committee. It may have been discussed (which I don't think anyone has denied), but it was not part of the approved motion. That is why the other members considered this interpretation of the motion as inaccurate. This is why the detailed wording of a motion/policy is so important- it has to leave no room for misunderstanding. This is why the City Council’s meeting on the Farmer’s Market took so long- this stuff has to be as close to perfectly worded as possible.

The process of deciding whether or not to extend Dr. Durkin's contract again- and if necessary form a search committee- will not take place until next year when she is evaluated as happened last June. At that point (or if she resigns sooner), then talk of a search committee can really begin.

Here's what I see on this one.

4 members are saying that they believe there was more discusion on the motion. 5 of the members don't recall that being discussed. But this really doesn't matter based on the evidence.

- The motion has specific wording of no further extensions or new contracts.

- There was a statement about informing the superintendent of the committee's intent to go out for a new superintendent search.

- The 4 members that, IMO, are more likely to want to keep the superintendent voted No.

- Mr.Parent, who I know to be of a very high moral caliber, voted to approve the minutes with the added discussion (which makes me feel it happened).

- The opinion from legal council only addressd whether the wording of the motion included a superintendent search, which I don't think anyone could say it did.

- But since Attleboro won't have a superintendent next year the Committee automatically needs to conduct a search, unless they are not planning on having a superintendent or unless they think one will just materialize out of thin air.

- The morning after the superintendent was informed she made a statement to the local media that she will not be the superintendent after this last year. Seems she understood what was voted.

Seems to me this whole mess is happening because of a few words. Was the motion specifically that there will be a new superintdnent search, obviously not. But was there discussion that there will be a search, obviously yes!

Good job Dave. Please keep up the fight for quality education in Attleboro. Thank you for releasing that statement. You are 100% correct. This is a petty attempt to hurt the superintendent. As a ward 4 voting member I will say this loud and clear- we can't vote Brenda out of office quickly enough.

Two school committee members have told me that a table was not slammed and that voices were not raised, as I was outside of the room (since it was a closed session), and could only hear sounds and not specific statements, I will take their word for it. I have removed that line from the story.

@Rob Geddes rob, where are you getting "at this time"? You now are adding words to the motion. It is very clear as I read the motion as patch has reported, that it is that the superintended is finished in June 2013

As the Secrerary of the Attleboro School Committee, I would like to clarify some misconceptions in regards to the minutes and the incorrect statement made by committee member, David Murphy. First, I would like to state that Mr. Murpy was in attendance at the meeting on May 7th and well aware of the lengthy discussion and intent of the motion as can be clearly seen, if you refer to the statement that Mr. Murphy made in the minutes "he did not want to move forward with the search committee at this time". So how can Mr. Murphy deny publicly to the parents and community that he had not recollection of the the intent of the motion to move forward with a Superintendent search? Also, Mr. Tyler, the chairman, stated "the committee could send a letter defining the paramenters and then tell the Superintendent their intent to go out for a full seach for Superintendent." How can Mr. Murphy and Mr. Tyler not approve minutes that quotes them directly commenting on the intent and discussion of moving forward with a Superintendent search. The truth is in the minutes and I as the Secretary will not alter, delete or fabricate any minutes for ANYONE. It is my job to ensure that the public is apprised of what their elected officials are voicing behind closed doors regardless of what they are stating publicy.

continued -
On a personal note, I find it very disturbing that behind closed doors Mr. Murphy can strongly voice his opinnion and debate the intent of the motion but when it is brought forward to the public he pacify's the community and conveniently denies discussing the issue. Mr. Murphy's and Mr. Tyler's statements in the minutes speak for themselves. I can assure my constituents that as an elected official I am doing my job promoting transparency and always having the best interest of the district as my top priority. If anyone has any further questions, please contact me at (508) 222-5120.

I too am a Ward 4 resident and Brenda Furtado stated the obvious. I love how people try to turn this around into an issue to blatant embarrass the Superintendent. I hope Brenda runs again for school committee, I will be voting for her. Mr. Murphy I will not be voting for because he does not care about the schools and he doesn't even live here. Maybe that is why he just doesn't care. The majority of the people in Ward 4 wanted Brenda Furtado to be a voice for us and she has. If people were not happy with her, then Helen Johnson would be in that seat and she isn't. Helen and Murphy come from the same mold. We do not want a Helen in Ward for and we certainly do not want a Murphy. Brenda you have my vote and all of my neighbors. Committee members should not want to lie to the public and keep things hidden. Didn't they learn from the actions of certain committee members on the prior committee (DiCaccio, Johnson, Levinson, Cooke and Zito). Yes, Zito who fall alseep at meetings. People jump on Enegren's back, but at least she does her homework. Ms. Zito isn't at the meeting even though she is there. Too bad Ward 5 has not respresentation. Our schools are now headed in the right direction. We need to do a search for a Superintendent now so we are not starting the school year 2013-2014 with this vacant position. This is a no brainer!!!!

I agree with concernedcitizen and BD. I have watched many school committee meetings and have been appalled at the behavior of Brenda. Her transparent vendetta against Dr. Durkin is not in the best interest of the schools. As a Ward 4 member I am embarrassed to be represented by someone who finds it impossible to act in a professional manner. On a side note, I am also concerned about Ms. Enegrin and her non attendance for crucial votes.

Clearly certain sc members will lie about everything to support the Superintendent. At least Furtado tells the truth. The same people post over and over again here who are defenders of Durkin through and through. Talk about not willing to hear both sides and make a collaborative decision. No matter what the article the same people try to slam only certain committee members and it is always the ones who are doing what they are suppose to do. The sc is the Superintendent's boss, not the other way around. I watch every meeting and I mean every meeting and I see that the Superintendent has put up a wall and will not follow direction by her supervisors nor is she willing to work with them. Constant threats of her attorney is not a sign of willing to work with your supervisors. In any other type of business she would have been fired and this should be the same in her case. I have ready many post regarding the Superintendent over the past few months and when the facts are presented in regards to progress (links to specific data driven reports) the majority of the reports show that Attleboro has not made such great progress under Durkin. The only somewhat favorable report I saw was one by the DESE, that Durkin was able to edit and comment on. This report therefore cannot be held in the same category as the others. The data supports that the school system is better off not renewing her contract.

it is my understanding that Brenda Furtado and Barbara Craw are sisters. Is this true?

If so what does that say about the need for School Committee members to do their own independent thinking and not join one another in a predetermined agenda.

In any case I'm ashamed that Attleboro is caught up in such a squalid fiasco. I voted for Barbara Craw because she came down my street and promised she'd work for the best interest of our children (Ward 3). I would never vote for her again.

Dr Durkin should sue for decimation ! How much more can she take

I am insulted at the ageist putdown of Fran Zito for "falling asleep." Her years of serving Attleboro's children are well known. Her reputation is very high and she is well liked. At the Candidate forum last November, she got a HUGE ovation when she spoke. Don't go insulting elders and making it sound like they are incompetent. You insult her and the voters who support her. M.McKenna needs to withdraw those comments. They are neither germane or kind. They are a smear.

I would suggest the Mayor step in, obviously this group needs some leadership.

Listen this is a mess....Go ahead and ask after my appearance at the SC meeting on 6/18/12 advising the public of issues that were being ignored at school level who contacted since that meeting....2 people....yup the sisters!!!! Surely not the President of the committee...(joke)! @ Steve Fuller....really???...do we need to send him a telegram on a white horse or something??? ughhhh!!!

check out the Sun Chronicle "My Turn" column, 6-28-12: "School board needs reform... or abolition" by Brett Lancaster. I think he brings forward issues of concern here.
They are "Micromanagement, Single issue board members, Special interest interference, Lack of diversity, Infighting and miscommunication." I would add 'second guessing the school superintendent, as in, I could handle this better than her.

Gretchen,
It seems as though you need to subscribe online to read entire column. Hope I can find a paper tomorrow. This is really nothing new to her and I admire her strength and determination. In a report issued last year, a state agency criticized the seated board for many of these same issues. Seems as though nothing has changed.

"the superintendent’s leadership has been compromised by the necessity of spending too much time and too many resources to meet the expectations of the committee, which is often unsupportive of the district’s priorities and the superintendent’s role—for instance by developing policies without consideration of their ramifications for educational services in the district."

I cannot believe that people are ignorant enough to insult Mrs. Zito. She is an extraordinary example of committment and good citizenship. We need more people like her. She has no children in the system, and hasn't for quite some time. In my opinion, that is selfless dedication to something she believes in. Wait....similar to Mr. Murphy who I read a comment on about him having no children, so he should have no interest in serving. I also recall a televised school committee meeting last committee where one committee member called out Mike Levinson for not having children in the system. Seems to me that these are the more impartial members who are not distracted by their own needs/wants for their own children.

The mayor? Seriously? hahaha Sorry, I voted for CHURCHILL! I wish Sarah actually made sense. Can't figure out her comments a bit!!

Let me tell you all a little bit about mrs. Zits. She is a registered nurse since WWII she has kept that. License till this day by taking all required classes to keep her current till this day!!! Also there is not a child that does not know her and love her!!!!! I've seen her in parades with her little red car and the children yelling "mrs. Zit to!!!!! She gives her stipend for pencils, things the teachers need, money upon graduation to the football players cz that her pation and she's never missed a game. Attends all the events not because she has to but, because she loves the kids!!!! She is smart and intelligent has passion and integrity knows what's right for our children. After all she has 2doctors and a navel genius that she raised!!!!so let's get something straight I've seen those mtgs and fall asleep they are boring at times they fight, treat dr. Durkin with disrespect. She's educated.that could be what u see because most lack what mrs.ziito has in her right finger!! I'd vote for her anyway over the power hungry few. Because she there for our kids not the money or the power but, for your kids and mine!!!!!!

M McKenna I'd like to know what "you" believe was done by the last committee??????

It was a suggestion..someone needs to step in and lead these people...the problem seems to be that the people in this community enjoy degrating other people in public and in this forum...I don't understand why people do this..if you want to get your point across it is just as easy to be polite and have facts that back up your opinion.

Mrs Zuto Is a nice lady but honestly has been so far out into left field for far too long.

Talk to her you wouldn't say such left field comments!!

Thank god she will never read any of this baloney she'd tell u a thing or two and be upset for those who said things for her. So I'm done protecting someone stronger than me and for that matter most ppl I know

did some say that terri energren still lives in bo ca raton florida ok thats why she missed the last 35 meetings all this backed mike tyler /brenda the real chair of attleboro school committee

mud slinging is easy to do when you're behind a computer screen. I have worked as a waitress for 20 years and was never a "people person" until I started dealing with the public. I quickly learned the meaning of respect at both ends of the spectrum. It goes both ways. I have 2 kids in the school system and I'm fortunate in that besides one little incident at Wamsutta, which the principal quickly took care of, I've never had to deal with the many issues I'm seeing other parents go through. But if a situation arose where I had to get more than the teacher or principal involved, I wouldn't call for someone's head on a platter which seems to be the norm these days. Raising your voice, trading insults or making threats or demands is not going to get any results except the door slammed in your face, which is probably deserved. Shame on anybody criticizing Mrs. Zito.Every school function I've been to at Thacher, she is right there proudly sitting in the front row minding her own business, but happy to speak to anybody who approaches her. If the whole school committee was made up of someone of Fran Zito's caliber,we would be better off. Mr. Murphy stated he didn't "want to do anything to make Attleboro unattractive". Sorry,it's a little late for that statement.I've known Brenda and Barbara for a long time. It doesn't mean I agree with everything they stand for, but I wouldn't hesitate to stop and show respect with a friendly conversation. A little respect goes along way.

Well said, Christine.

@ Randers....Do you really wish I made sense??? My comments are not put on here to be part of this childish game ya'll have turned this into...My comments are about Durkin and her disregard for what's best for our kids!! She's a coward (yup I said it), and don't even get me going on the SC....really people???...minutes, residency, sisters, married to the brother's uncle's cousin....ugh! This is about doing what is best for our kids and BREAKING THE LAW is not best!!! What's 24hrs around here??? My highlighter just ran out.....phew!

BTW....Here is the link to the highly anticipated piece that will hopefully help make things just that much clearer to the one's that can't read between the lines:
www.schoolsneedchange.com
It's still being mod'ed but should be up and running by the end of the weekend...oh and it can upload documents and policies, like IEP's and No Tattle Tale Policy. I don't appreciate being disrespected and nor do we appreciate it happening to our child...END OF STORY!

I’ve lived in Attleboro for more than 10 years, have 2 kids in the system & I’m very involved in my community. I’m a Ward 1 resident. I don’t personally know anyone on the school committee but I have watched the meetings religiously. I have been reading Patch since it was introduced to our neighborhood and I find it to be good reporting and it is a place for comments and ideas to be exchanged. I read people’s comments carefully and sometimes I am disappointed to read the things I do. I see how the same people will slam and support the same members time and time again. If you read between the lines you can see the same people contributing here under different names. Everyone has a writing style. Someone called out Helen Johnson, a previous at large member because she writes under the name Ty Smith. If you read her posts, she also writes as the new “Fedex”. I think this is very sad. Just be truthful and say who you are. I can’t take seriously some comments because they come from SD, citywatcher, city crier and city whiner! I am very interested in hearing what Sarah Curtis has to share. It’s nice she is using her name! Thank you Rob Geddes, Deb Egan & Jerry Chase for being real. I am not here to defend to defame. I am here to make some comments based on my personal experiences.

I have seen Dr. Durkin as a leader and someone who has brought some improvement to the Attleboro School System. I have also watched her belittle the staff who works for her and that stand in front of our children day-to-day in an attempt to educate them. They are working under difficult conditions at times. I have seen the two sides and that makes me uncomfortable. I wish that when Dr. Durkin was faced with a challenge she wouldn’t inform the committee that she was going to contact her lawyer. I think that is very embarrassing for us as a community. I have seen my concerns as a voter in Ward 1 addressed immediately when I have reached out to my representative. I know there is an issue with attendance and I knew this when I voted. I have been pleased with how I am being represented an want to thank my ward representative for digging in and getting the work done to make sure that we are not giving our money away on the newest bus contract. She made sure that the contractor was no longer using our property and our staff for free. People say that going out to bid cost us more money. Did anyone consider that it cost us more money because the contractor no longer was getting free staff from our school district or a free place to park? Maybe that’s why they bid higher? This came about because the person I voted for represented my neighborhood and made a stink!

Don’t insult the people of South Attleboro, when we voted they knew the deal and weren’t lied to. There was no hiding anything and who said she lives in Boca Raton Florida? I have run into her at Target, Stop & Shop, CVS, if she lives in Boca Raton then why do I see her so often. I’ve seen her on days when there are meetings and then I do not see her when I watch the meeting on television. Maybe she doesn’t go to the meetings because some of the meetings are just so ridiculous? Maybe she is sick of the nonsense and wasting her breath. I stand behind my Ward 1 rep and would vote for her again because she addresses my concerns and the concerns of my neighbors. I also voted for Mr. Murphy, Ms. Craw & Mr. Tyler. I am still not sure how I feel about my at-large votes. I see Mr. Murphy fighting for our kids but then I see what goes on in these closed sessions and I am afraid he may be talking out of both sides of his mouth. As for Ms. Craw, it would be great if she could speak up at the meetings, sometimes she gets drowned out and I’d like to hear what she has to say. I don’t care who she is related to, she shows she cares about our kids and I feel she is working hard, that’s why she got my vote. She didn’t hide the fact that Ms. Furtado was her sister, she is not her sister and I think she is a nice addition to the school committee.

My other at large vote went to Mr. Tyler. I enjoyed him when he was on to board a while back. I think he is great at keeping the meetings moving and is very professional. It was a struggle to watch the meetings over the last two years because they were so off the wall and went in no particular direction. Mr. Tyler has brought organization and professionalism. People say the committee is dysfunctional and unprofessional. Have you seen school committee meetings in other towns where there are a lot of differences in opinion? Have you watched town meetings? Have you been in other political venues? If not, you should. Attleboro is no different; it is because it’s happening in our hometown and more noticeable. I’d rather have this board then the last and I’m especially glad to have this board over the board that sat 5+ years ago where parents and residents had no voice and no representation. I'm done now. I've been holding back my comments for 2 12/ years!

@ Wendy thanks! As a parent, a good parent...all of you are going to want to hear the way my child who let me just add is a child on the spectrum (Autism...for all u uneducated ones) has had his IEP violated multiple times, services flat out not being provided in and ya didn't meet ANY of the projected goals that were written. That's just a couple of the things that are a problem. But Wendy mark my new web page it will be up by the end of this weekend and going National!! www.schoolsneedchange.com
Please support us!!!!

These are facts for sure I also have docs to back up everything I say! I am loud, and an in your face kind of person even when happy but always speaking truth!! Not only services not being followed but punishing him for telling??? I heard there is some policy about that??? And punishing him as a direct result of his disability because they failed to provide him those services...again proof to back my story!! It keeps on going. If u want to know more just keep checking back to our website, we are trying to tie up all the legal loose ends now.

Sarah, I support you, I guess I just don't like the way you write..

@ Steve...Thanks..?...Sorry for that as never claimed to be a superstar in ELA! And with a max character field I feel pressured and bothered!! But I am a very loving, supporting, caring, nurturing and ohhh determined mother to set records STRAIGHT so our son can start 6th grade next yr like he so rightfully is GOING to CORRECTLY!
(period)

@blueskies. The executive board is not a subcommittee. They do not vote on issues. So, they can discuss all they want and not be a quorum. You may want to check Roberts rules of order.

@blueskies, it's my understanding that they are supposed to negotiate parameters with the superintendent and then bring those back to the committee. They do not get to vote as a separate body like subcommittees do.

@randers..you are probably 100% right..like I said I follow them by what is written here...and sometimes that is very confusing...thanks again

Did anyone notice the mis-statements of Mr. Murphy. In this article and in the Sun Chronicle yesterday he was quoted as saying ""This motion did not even mention, never mind trigger, the initiation of a superintendent search committee........" But in the minutes of the closed meeting it states that there was discussion, it just wasn't part of the motion. I feel that I was led to believe that the conversation never took place. It mentions Mr. Tyler's suggestion to split the motion and inform the Superintendent that a search would be formed and Mr. Murphy is noted as being against the search. The conversation did take place it just wasn't a part of the motion. But if you vote to not extend or offer a new contract and only approve a contract that ENDS in 2013 then you have no other choice but to seek out a new superintendent. Otherwise, why would Murphy have voiced his objection if it wasn't part of the discussion? I dont' understand. Also, it was discussed that if the Durkin wanted to stay beyond July 2013 she could reapply.

Blue skies - Please take this respectfully, but you cannot always get the truth on these postings. You should contact committee members and ask questions and then read the attachments that Patch has posted. Many of the posters here are the same people for example - Ty Smith and Fedex are Helen Johnson - who lost to Furtado in the last election, she tried to defame her in the election and is a sore loser and trying to defame her here on Patch. It is also known that Robbie Willehmere (I know I spelled this incorrectly) is posting under and alias. She backed Helen Johnson in the election and also was devasted when she was ousted out of the school committee due to allowing the Superintendent to run the show. There was a conflict of interest because Durkin's husband was either Robbie's boss or her husbands so she would not challenge Durkin because she was afraid of reprecussions. I have read all the minutes from the meeting. Apparently the recording Secretary and the School Committee secretary both show that a discussion was held regarding a superintendent search. Mr. Murphy and Mr. Tyler both acknowledged this. So how can Mr. Murphy state that he did not recollect this. Then try to turn it around to say it was not in the motion. I don't believe anyone denied it not being in the motion. The issues is with him implying that it was never discussed. Blue skies at least this the truth. You cann look up these facts on your own.

I see everyone blaming the school committee again for Dr. Durkin's short commings. The prior committee was blamed and now this new committee. How many committees do we have to go through before the blame is put where it is deserved? on Dr. Durkin. It seems to me she has trouble getting along with most people and unless she has her people on the committee she is not happy. It gets pretty old to keep blaming everyone else for your own faults. The committee is not at fault here only Dr. Durkin and it is right that her time has come to an end. We need to focus on repairing our school system and not on someone who has reached her maximum potential as a superintendent.

They all need to go, rehire, reinspire, and find a group that can come back and work together as a team.

AMEN @ Steve Fuller!!! The whole administration is rotten right down to its core!! I mention my website on here and what I'm going to be doing and just like that 2 actual telephone calls from committee members yesterday....hummmm!!! Problem is parents shouldn't have to feel pressured to go to these lengths to get help..

None of us on Patch was at that executive session so all you critics of one side or another are just recycling arguments about something you didn't see on video or in person. That means we fall into two camps and lob arguments at one another. More and people pile onto one or another bandwagon. How foolish that we make assumptions about what happened depending on our preconceived biases. We need to identify our biases as part of thinking clearly about issues.

I think the SC has been dysfunctional for a long time. Critics of one side or another are failing to use critical thinking skills, and in this way, are not modeling for our children how to work collaboratively to get a job done and how to get the best out of city employees.

Critical thinking is not about being critical or demolishing another person's point of view. It's about critical skills we need to teach children and need to demonstrate ourselves: logic, clarity of thought, not letting your biases or assumptions get in the way of hearing the other person's side of a discussion. It's about second order thinking--thinking at the time and reflecting on your thinking process.
Check this out or google it yourself.
http://www.criticalreading.com/critical_thinking.html
also wikipedia

Perfect Gretchen!

when a well-run meeting ends, everyone knows and agrees on what was accomplished, what was proposed, voted on and what the outcome was.
Sounds like this Executive Committee was meeting sloppily run. It's the responsibility of each member to act in a constructive manner. We can disagree about who was trying to be constructive, but in any case, either you are part of the solution -- or you're part of the problem. If you have a contingent, or even an individual who comes in with a disgruntled attitude, that needs to be addressed.

Maybe they all need a Robert's Rules of Order with them.

Mr presdent made a remark on the merging matter.

Mr. president made a remark on the merging matter.

i feel thrill have such a great chance in joining grammer group.