The School Board's Bully Tactics

By CURT CLARK

Published: Jul 16, 2010 12:00 am

The School Boardâs Bully Tactics

To the Editor:

It is too bad for Newtown that the Board of Education walked away from talks with the [school bus] owner/operators this past spring without so much as a reply to the last offer that was presented that would have saved Newtown $194,000 this year and $207,000 next year.

Superintendent Janet Robinson started on her trend of saying Newtown is paying more for transportation than neighboring communities when the MTM contract was set to expire and went out for a RFP. It was in that timeframe that the owner of another bus company stated at a BOE meeting that he was assured by the administration of the whole contract if he bid. It was also in that timeframe that BOE member David Nanavaty stood on the high school stage during a BOE meeting and tried to bully the owner/operators to open their contract in public and accept massive monetary cuts in order to gain his âyesâ vote for MTM to get their contract. At the end of the controversy, MTM was awarded the contract.

One year later the owner/operators were presented with the same bully tactic of David Nanavaty again where it was put to the owner/operators that unless he received $500,000 reduction in the next year he would terminate all the contracts. This forced the owner/operators to hire an attorney to protect our contracts. (The first time in Newtownâs owner/operator history.)

The contract talks started this past winter when the BOE asked if the owner/operators could save the BOE some money in exchange for adding three years to our current contract. It turned into a bait and switch where the entire contract was changed, not just the pay. For the board chair Lillian Bittman, and David Nanavaty and Richard Gains to now say the BOE cannot award a five-year contract to the owner/operators with only $194,000 in savings is either a play on words or just wrong. The BOE intention from the beginning was to save money (the owner/operators offered over $400,000 in the next two years of our existing contract for the exchange of adding three years to the existing contract). The owner/operators entered this contract talk with the thought of helping our community save money in this collapsed economy and preserving the owner/operator transportation system of local business owners.

Philip Carroll

1 Fieldstone Drive, Newtown Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â July 12, 2010

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Perhaps I can provide some clarity here at least as far as Herbert Hoover's thoughts on Hitler. On pages 73-74 of Herbert Hoover's book entitled The Challenge to Liberty (published in 1934) he states that: "Despite its name, Herr Hitler's party is violently anti-socialistic. It is not only extremely nationalistic, but extends its vision beyond national borders to extreme racialism, from which arises the inhumane persecution of the Jews."

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Yikes, talk about not doing a basic level of research. As my kids would say, "bruh, aren't you embarrassed?" James Buchanan (its not spelled Bucannan, Steve), the guy who put a black family back into slavery was -- wait for it -- A DEMOCRAT. Abraham Lincoln, the fella that ended slavery, was A REPUBLICAN. Herbert Hoover, a Republican, did not unilaterally cause the Great Depression. The stock market crashed within the FIRST year of his presidency. The imposition of his tariffs sought to help American industry, when there was little work to be had. Yes, FDR, a Democrat, led us out of the Great Depression, but with a heavy assist from the war-based economy in the run-up and through World War 2. And yes, Herbert Hoover did meet with Adolph Hitler in 1938 - A FULL 5 YEARS AFTER HE WAS OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE. It was done as a diplomatic courtesy on the 20th anniversary of the end of World War I. Steve, if I were you, I'd ask the Bee to pull this Letter to the Editor.

Your statement: "The EPA is now telling us there is no Climate Change", I believe is incorrect. Can you provide documentation for this? The The fact that there is climate change, I believe is a generally accepted consensus by all sides of the climate debat. What's driving this climate change and it's ultimate impact on society, is where the consensus fractures. I do appreciate your pointing out President Nixon's role in creating the EPA. Nixon is also responsible for signing into law both the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Respectfully, James Swift

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Jeff, thank you for setting the record straight and for focusing on facts over speculation. It’s clear you’re working collaboratively, in the open, and always with Newtown’s best interests at heart. As a First Selectman, you’ve shown that leadership is about results, not partisanship, political slogans, or bashing the other guy. That’s the kind of honorable, steady, experienced, and community-focused leadership this town needs — progress that actually works for everyone, not just a political agenda.

The People Of Newtown Deserve Facts, Not Speculation

Looks like someone is getting the politics 101 course and is leaning heavily on the “status quo” and “stagnation” talking points, the reality is that our current First Selectman is only completing his first term in office. Hardly the entrenched, decades-long politician Bruce suggests. In fact, in just this one term, the current selectman has delivered meaningful progress — addressing core infrastructure, keeping budgets responsible, and ensuring that Newtown remains a strong and vibrant community. That’s not “stagnation.” That’s steady, thoughtful leadership in action. If Bruce were truly ready for a challenge, he would have answered my July questions on how to would handle large-scale protests and rallies at the flagpole? Our current First Selectman put forward an option for positive change, and was met with shouting from the mob. What would Bruce do differently? And just how responsive and open to real change will he be when facing that same kind of pressure, or would it not matter when clearly Bruce wants to play the partisan line?

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The School Board's Bully Tactics

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