And in more local news...
And now, for the rest of the story. Argh, Paul Harvey-ness! Make it stop!
...Anyways, bit of an update from late last week concerning the "high school principal" (since he doesn't have a name in school board meetings, don't you know) situation going on here.
I didn't see the interview, but my mom happened to be entering our neighborhood while the Channel 19 trucks were there causing further incorrect drama. I swear, I know they're a little local news thing, but you'd THINK they'd be able to get SOMETHING right with their 30 second story, you know?
At least SOMEONE'S interviewing the SOS (Save Our Schools) parents, though. The Hub's pretty much ignoring the fact that they exist... School Board must be pushing them...
So, all of this was from an SOS email that got sent around late last week.
Last week Channel 19 came to town and interviewed the community about the upcoming graduation. There was a lot of reaction again, to this interview. Attached is a transcript pulled from the interview, a reactionary letter sent by Marianne to all personnel in the school system and a reaction sent to Marianne by one of the parents interviewed. Here is what transpired:
CHANNEL 19 NEWS REPORT - May 17, 2005
ANCHOR: Back in March, Hudson High School students staged a walkout over the firing of their principal Roger Howard. Now they're talking more trouble at the school's graduation.
Linda Passariello has the story.
REPORTER (LINDA PASSARIELLO): It's much quieter in Hudson these days. No pepper spray, no protests, only an anonymous letter pleading for an uneventful graduation.
PAUL BUKLAD (Senior Parent): There's going to be some situations that present themselves where people are going to be vocal. Graduation is a vocal ceremony, anyway.
REPORTER (LINDA PASSARIELLO): These parents are part of the S.O.S. Coalition, a group supporting embattled principal Roger Howard. They say they are not behind the letter and don't want to see any graduation disruptions. That's why they suggested the school board skip the ceremony.
RAYMOND LEE (Senior Parent): Emotions have been pretty high for the last 60 days and we feel that the less visible or the lower the profile the better.
PAUL BUKLAD (Senior Parent): I don't think they're going to be very well received and that's one of the reasons why we asked them not to come down. We feel that they are polarizing the community and they could be a target.
REPORTER (LINDA PASSARIELLO): The 400-plus graduates can expect strict rules, plenty of security, and a warning to leave the politics at home.
SHERYL SHEATZLEY (Hudson City School Districts Communications): We would like to ask our students and parents to honor how dignified their ceremony is and it really is a celebration of student accomplishments.
REPORTER (LINDA PASSARIELLO): Basically, school officials are telling students, 'Save the drama for theatre class.'
Linda Passariello, 19 News.
And so, obviously, the only logical stand for Maryann Wala-what? to take is to... That's it! Blame the parents who are supporting Mr. Howard and demand she step down for the people (unassociated with them!) who might OR MIGHT NOT cause a scene at graduation! Since, of course, she has done NOTHING wrong and had NO fault in ANY of this!
:wipes sarcasm drips off the screen:
Maryann's letter to the school community
Good Afternoon:
In order to keep you informed of events impacting our district, I have decided to update you on events that occurred yesterday. Channel 19 contacted us about our upcoming graduation for a statement. The Board of Education members, high school administration, teachers working on the graduation ceremony, representative seniors and I have been working through steps to keep graduation dignified, memorable and special for our seniors and their families.
In addition, our Board of Education has agreed to have the high school principal hand out diplomas. Traditionally, the Board president has done this. The Board was recognized for their efforts by parents at the May 16, BOE meeting.
After meeting with our communications manager for a statement, Channel 19 went to the high school, around dismissal time, where two parents were waiting for Channel 19 with a prepared statement. These two parents stated that they did not want the superintendent and Board of Education to come to graduation.
Ignoring the positive information given to them about graduation, Channel 19 aired a sensational story about our upcoming graduation on their nightly news broadcast, once again, presenting our district in negative light.
OK, seriously, cue the "Why'd you lie to me?" music from the Laura Ingram show... And take it away Mr. Lee! (He spoke at the last school board meeting, and, seriously, he was great.)
Ray's letter sent to Maryann
Maryann,
I have been made aware of some misinformation that you have given faculty and staff about the recent broadcast from Channel 19 news.
First of all, I was one of the two parents who were interviewed. We did not have a prepared statement nor were we waiting for the reporter at the school. Like I really have time to hang around stalking a reporter! Channel 19 News called some parents and one of the parents called me and asked if I would speak on camera. I initially declined, but Channel 19 offered to meet us "anywhere and anytime." I later agreed to be on camera and meet at First and Main so it would be convenient for others so Channel 19 would have more of an opportunity to meet with other parents.
The focus on the report was on the letter sent to parents re: graduation last week. I explained that I was not speaking on behalf of any organization, including SOS, and the reporter stated that was fine and she wanted to get my opinion as a concerned parent.
I was interviewed for 5 minutes and discussed a whole range of issues. I stated since Roger Howard was handing out the diplomas, I supported the withdrawal of the petition asking the board and the superintendent not to attend the graduation. I also stated, however, that while I respect the right for the superintendent and the board to attend the graduation, I suggested that the less visible and lower the profile that you and the board take, the better. That was clear in the broadcast.
I did not state for the superintendent and the board not to attend graduation, and quite frankly, Paul Buklad's statement was taken out of context in that he stated the original intention of the petition for the superintendent and the board not to attend the graduation was to avoid any possible confrontation.
While I and many parents and students who are involved in SOS have no intention of disrupting graduation, that does not mean that a significant number of people that are not part of SOS won't. It would be naive for you to think otherwise. Even if we had control of the actions of 2000 people, which would be a stretch, there is 1000 that we do not have control over.
We already have been told by others outside of the group that we were not aggressive enough, and quite frankly, did not join us originally because we were being too soft and they sought their own agenda. We do not control those people. I have not heard of anyone involved with SOS in recent meetings that SOS was going to disrupt graduation, but it would also be naive for us to think nothing will happen.
As to the negative light the district has been put in; don't blame others for what you have created. The misinformation you sent to the faculty and staff about our role in the newscast and how it evolved is another example among many of how you have distorted actual events, as we have heard from other faculty and staff. You have left me no choice to share my rebuttal with others. You would have been better off to let this issue go, but by campaigning and continuing to cast us and others in a negative light, it causes everyone to be more hardened in their positions.
Raymond Lee
And now I'm off to stew about this, the RINOs, and the general screwiness of politics this week while I do yard work. Look out weeds! I am here to rip you out by your roots!
...Anyways, bit of an update from late last week concerning the "high school principal" (since he doesn't have a name in school board meetings, don't you know) situation going on here.
I didn't see the interview, but my mom happened to be entering our neighborhood while the Channel 19 trucks were there causing further incorrect drama. I swear, I know they're a little local news thing, but you'd THINK they'd be able to get SOMETHING right with their 30 second story, you know?
At least SOMEONE'S interviewing the SOS (Save Our Schools) parents, though. The Hub's pretty much ignoring the fact that they exist... School Board must be pushing them...
So, all of this was from an SOS email that got sent around late last week.
Last week Channel 19 came to town and interviewed the community about the upcoming graduation. There was a lot of reaction again, to this interview. Attached is a transcript pulled from the interview, a reactionary letter sent by Marianne to all personnel in the school system and a reaction sent to Marianne by one of the parents interviewed. Here is what transpired:
CHANNEL 19 NEWS REPORT - May 17, 2005
ANCHOR: Back in March, Hudson High School students staged a walkout over the firing of their principal Roger Howard. Now they're talking more trouble at the school's graduation.
Linda Passariello has the story.
REPORTER (LINDA PASSARIELLO): It's much quieter in Hudson these days. No pepper spray, no protests, only an anonymous letter pleading for an uneventful graduation.
PAUL BUKLAD (Senior Parent): There's going to be some situations that present themselves where people are going to be vocal. Graduation is a vocal ceremony, anyway.
REPORTER (LINDA PASSARIELLO): These parents are part of the S.O.S. Coalition, a group supporting embattled principal Roger Howard. They say they are not behind the letter and don't want to see any graduation disruptions. That's why they suggested the school board skip the ceremony.
RAYMOND LEE (Senior Parent): Emotions have been pretty high for the last 60 days and we feel that the less visible or the lower the profile the better.
PAUL BUKLAD (Senior Parent): I don't think they're going to be very well received and that's one of the reasons why we asked them not to come down. We feel that they are polarizing the community and they could be a target.
REPORTER (LINDA PASSARIELLO): The 400-plus graduates can expect strict rules, plenty of security, and a warning to leave the politics at home.
SHERYL SHEATZLEY (Hudson City School Districts Communications): We would like to ask our students and parents to honor how dignified their ceremony is and it really is a celebration of student accomplishments.
REPORTER (LINDA PASSARIELLO): Basically, school officials are telling students, 'Save the drama for theatre class.'
Linda Passariello, 19 News.
And so, obviously, the only logical stand for Maryann Wala-what? to take is to... That's it! Blame the parents who are supporting Mr. Howard and demand she step down for the people (unassociated with them!) who might OR MIGHT NOT cause a scene at graduation! Since, of course, she has done NOTHING wrong and had NO fault in ANY of this!
:wipes sarcasm drips off the screen:
Maryann's letter to the school community
Good Afternoon:
In order to keep you informed of events impacting our district, I have decided to update you on events that occurred yesterday. Channel 19 contacted us about our upcoming graduation for a statement. The Board of Education members, high school administration, teachers working on the graduation ceremony, representative seniors and I have been working through steps to keep graduation dignified, memorable and special for our seniors and their families.
In addition, our Board of Education has agreed to have the high school principal hand out diplomas. Traditionally, the Board president has done this. The Board was recognized for their efforts by parents at the May 16, BOE meeting.
After meeting with our communications manager for a statement, Channel 19 went to the high school, around dismissal time, where two parents were waiting for Channel 19 with a prepared statement. These two parents stated that they did not want the superintendent and Board of Education to come to graduation.
Ignoring the positive information given to them about graduation, Channel 19 aired a sensational story about our upcoming graduation on their nightly news broadcast, once again, presenting our district in negative light.
OK, seriously, cue the "Why'd you lie to me?" music from the Laura Ingram show... And take it away Mr. Lee! (He spoke at the last school board meeting, and, seriously, he was great.)
Ray's letter sent to Maryann
Maryann,
I have been made aware of some misinformation that you have given faculty and staff about the recent broadcast from Channel 19 news.
First of all, I was one of the two parents who were interviewed. We did not have a prepared statement nor were we waiting for the reporter at the school. Like I really have time to hang around stalking a reporter! Channel 19 News called some parents and one of the parents called me and asked if I would speak on camera. I initially declined, but Channel 19 offered to meet us "anywhere and anytime." I later agreed to be on camera and meet at First and Main so it would be convenient for others so Channel 19 would have more of an opportunity to meet with other parents.
The focus on the report was on the letter sent to parents re: graduation last week. I explained that I was not speaking on behalf of any organization, including SOS, and the reporter stated that was fine and she wanted to get my opinion as a concerned parent.
I was interviewed for 5 minutes and discussed a whole range of issues. I stated since Roger Howard was handing out the diplomas, I supported the withdrawal of the petition asking the board and the superintendent not to attend the graduation. I also stated, however, that while I respect the right for the superintendent and the board to attend the graduation, I suggested that the less visible and lower the profile that you and the board take, the better. That was clear in the broadcast.
I did not state for the superintendent and the board not to attend graduation, and quite frankly, Paul Buklad's statement was taken out of context in that he stated the original intention of the petition for the superintendent and the board not to attend the graduation was to avoid any possible confrontation.
While I and many parents and students who are involved in SOS have no intention of disrupting graduation, that does not mean that a significant number of people that are not part of SOS won't. It would be naive for you to think otherwise. Even if we had control of the actions of 2000 people, which would be a stretch, there is 1000 that we do not have control over.
We already have been told by others outside of the group that we were not aggressive enough, and quite frankly, did not join us originally because we were being too soft and they sought their own agenda. We do not control those people. I have not heard of anyone involved with SOS in recent meetings that SOS was going to disrupt graduation, but it would also be naive for us to think nothing will happen.
As to the negative light the district has been put in; don't blame others for what you have created. The misinformation you sent to the faculty and staff about our role in the newscast and how it evolved is another example among many of how you have distorted actual events, as we have heard from other faculty and staff. You have left me no choice to share my rebuttal with others. You would have been better off to let this issue go, but by campaigning and continuing to cast us and others in a negative light, it causes everyone to be more hardened in their positions.
Raymond Lee
And now I'm off to stew about this, the RINOs, and the general screwiness of politics this week while I do yard work. Look out weeds! I am here to rip you out by your roots!
posted by Sebosmile @ 11:56 AM
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