Validity of Superintendent Evaluations Questioned

An email between Attleboro Superintendent Pia Durkin and Attleboro School Committee Member Melissa Cook called into question whether or not Cook sought out Durkin’s input when she assembled her summary of the evaluations.

The emails where brought to the meeting by School Committee Member Teri Enegren, who asked for clarification from Cook. “Was this to be a collaboration between the point person (Cook) and the superintendent?”

The part of the email from Durkin that raised the most concerns to Enegren read as follows:

“It is really important, really important that we get a chance for you to share it with me before you actually report on it," Durkin wrote in her email. "I have to be prepared- it is the only thing that has gotten me through the awful 178E meetings. I would be willing to meet with you at your work (any time – I will try my best to get it into my schedule) to give me a half-hour as to what I can expect.”

Enegren felt that it implied that Cook would be giving Durkin the committee’s evaluations ahead of time to receive her input as to how to write the evaluation summaries.

Additionally, Durkin says in her email “I anticipate that there will be very negative and “low” scores from some members simply because they can do that – I am asking again for balance – not at all meant to “cook the books” – but to frame the information given to with that perspective – that there were very differing opinions that ranged from very high to very low."

“It definitely seems to imply something,” School Committee Member Jim Stors said. 

Cook repeatedly stated that that was not the case. “This email has nothing to do with the summary document,” Cook said. “I did not meet with the superintendent regarding the consensus document”

Following the meeting Enegren said she was reasonably satisfied with Cook’s answers, however she still wanted to check dates and see if the emails where sent prior to Cook even having the evaluations from the members.

“I don’t disbelieve Melissa, I don’t have any reason to,” Enegren said.

Prior to the discussion of the actual matter the committee had some heated discussions over whether or not this should have been brought up and whether or not chairman Ray DiCiaccio was justified in not putting the item on the agenda.

Enegren believed DiCiaccio was attempting to censor the agenda and claimed all she wanted was an explanation.

“It’s the typical back-door politics that has gone on for the past 20 months,” Enegren said.

DiCiaccio said that he didn’t think it was fair to bring this up without Cook being prepared for it. “We are to operate under no surprises,” DiCiaccio said. 

DiCiaccio said that it was something that should have been handled person to person, with Enegren contacting Cook directly, rather than voicing her concerns at a meeting.

Cook concurred saying “I would have preferred you to pick up the phone to call me.”

The situation is reminiscent of an incident from October 2010 when DiCiaccio removed an agenda item regarding emails and that questioned Durkin’s involvement with the Bi-County Collaborative contract at the Finberg School.

“It doesn’t take a brain surgeon in Attleboro to know that 178E has been an awful atmosphere,” said DiCiaccio of Durkin’s comments describing the school committee meetings as “awful.”

“This could have been handled more professionally,” said DiCiaccio of the situation.

Meeting Notes:

• Approved the labor agreements with the Attleboro Education Association, the Attleboro Paraprofessional Association, the Attleboro Public School Administrators Association, and the Association of Educational Clerical Personnel. According to business manager Marc Furtardo, the concessions, which include the elimination of cost of living adjustment raises for each year of the contracts, helped close a $1 million budget gap.
• Voted to require a plan regarding the financial and other implications of implementing full day kindergarten for all students for 2012-2013 from the superintendent for the November 21 meeting.
• Accepted a donation of $69.99 from Modell’s to Attleboro High School
• Accepted the donation of $2,231 from Cumberland Farms Company to
• Accepted the donation of $225 from the Education Development Center, Inc. to Hill-Roberts Elementary
• Accepted the donation of $300 to each of Hyman Fine Elementary, Studley Elementary, and Willett Elementary from the Education Development Center, Inc.
• Accepted two donations of $1,500 from Melissa Cook to Cand to be used in their music programs