The Mirror originally posted this letter anonymously. The Mirror’s asumption was a misunderstanding. The writer initially requested it to be anonymous, but later said she had no problem your using her name. The Mirror tends to err on the side of those not wishing to have their name in the public forum, and thus made the error of publishing the piece anonymously. After speaking with the author, she has requested that her name be used. That is, she stands by her words. The letter is by former School Board member Nancy Proto.
The coronavirus crisis is just bringing Northampton School Board and Superintendent Eddie Lawrence’s issues to light. Scratch the surface and you will find a world of fear, distrust, and disrespect among teachers and administrators.
Remember this is the superintendent that said our community is “filled with pedophiles and felons” and that our discipline problems are because of “poor instruction” Why doesn’t he tell us how he really feels about the community and our teachers!
I find it curious that very little communication is coming from our superintendent. Lots of emails from the Associate Superintendent and emails going out from building admins (some of whom, by the way, are being very supportive).
Rumors have it that the School Board is going to sneak Lawrence’s contract renewal through. His contract is up at the end of June. It typically takes six months to do a search. Last time it was renewed it was done a year and a half prior. It is curious that they are waiting so long.
Besides Lawrence has been telling people for over a year that he will be here two more years. Clearly, he has nothing to fear from this Board or this community.
There are issues in this district that this School Board simply does not want to acknowledge. There are concerns, but the School Board refuses to survey teachers and administrators–essentially, it is doing nothing to address these concerns.
The lack of leadership, school board governance and accountability is infuriating. The general sense is that the leadership of the School Board is more interested in defending and protecting the superintendent’s retirement than it is in providing effective governance.
About the Author
Teachers were threatened on Monday with docked paychecks if the didn’t log enough time in a Google Doc. Pandemic rule #1 Don’t be a jerk!
WTF is a Google Doc? They should have their pay docked for teaching the Government’s dictated curriculum.
It seems like Proto just wants her name back out in public once again. She appears to act as a bully to try and run the show. I hope the people of Northampton will never let her direct our educational process again. She might be trying to mimicking DeVoss that Trump has in place to direct our nation’s schools.
He had the manors of a Billy Goat when I had him for shop class. I am shocked to see that he has crawled this far up the school system’s food chain.