Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig considers run for NH governor, Two UNH studies to explore nutrition and food insecurity in Latino communities. Huizenga, who had most recently been an assistant superintendent in Cambridge, was named Southbridge receiver on March 22, 2016, and began working in the role on May 2, 2016. She called Morgan "a disgruntled past employee" and said they didn't provide "any accurate representation of any private or confidential communication that I may have had with (her).". Others criticized the unions for their efforts to unseat Huizenga. She resigned a month later. Carvell sent an email to the public notifying them of the vacancy. We must strive to incorporate feedback directly from the superintendent, district employees, administrators, parents, and students, she said. Dr. Johnston has been working with staff from the Southbridge Public Schools and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to carry out the district turnaround plan. NHPR is nonprofit and independent. Join Facebook to connect with Jessica Huizenga and others you may know. Siegrist was confronted during a discussion about board conduct and she read from a prepared statement, calling the statements "libelous poison" that were "purely malicious and intended to be spiteful and harmful." Johnston is the third receiver in Southbridge. From teacher to Superintendent, Dr. Huizenga shares meaningful insight on the instructional core and her first interaction with equity. The way I was appointed is a big problem. Cabinet file photos The unions, however, argue that in less than a year with the district, Huizenga has proposed and is implementing drastic changes to programs at all of the schools, special education services and Title I. MILFORD - Following months of back-and-forth discourse, misinformation, and an effort towards transparency, Milford school superintendent Dr. Jessica Huizenga and board chair Ron Carvell recently shared their thoughts on "Milford Citizen," accountability and the Milford district's effort to maintain a quality education for all students. Morgan said she and others was frustrated by the lack of transparency both by the board and the district to address the concerns of employees in what she called a toxic work environment. In February of this year, the Milford school board discussed Huizengas evaluation amidst a flurry of questions that were raised about a petition warrant that was submitted to the school board did not appear on the ballot for the Mar. The J. This decision comes with a heavy heart as I really have enjoyed being on the board and meeting so many great people in our community. The violations, she claimed, were communications between herself and Siegrist during the course of nine months, beginning around October 2018, which included numerous phone and personal conversations, hundreds of text messages, and Facebook messages discussing employees Morgan was working with, contract negotiations, employee resignations, lawsuits, and other information that should not have been shared with the general public. I want to talk about the kids. Its mind boggling the amount of time that people are spending going after her., I am especially proud of the work I have led with my team in developing and implementing a forward-thinking Strategic Plan, the Districts first in 10 years,, She wants to stay in Milford and do her job,, Thats her passion. That person has no more authority than any other board member., Ill sit here and be very respectful in my last term,, I didnt speak out of turn. Some of the interaction between Morgan and Siegrist was posted online by an anonymous person and became an issue a couple of days later, when the Milford School Board met for its regular meeting. When you have such a high amount of ratchetry concentrated in one . The J. Huizenga said she has sought and received significant input from staff and the community throughout this process. And thats the way the board should function. RICHMOND, Va. The Virginia NAACP has called for the resignation of the state's chief diversity officer after remarks he made during a speech at the Virginia Military Institute. After some back and forth about Siegrist's statement and other issues, including whether Carvell, as chairman of the board, was responsive enough to the request for an investigation about confidentiality issues, Ciardelli-Tlapa said she would like to make a motion to have Siegrist's removed from the board, but knowing that it would fail, chose to move forward with proceedings for removal. MILFORD - Embattled Milford superintendent of schools, Dr. Jessica L. Huizenga, has resigned from her position, effective at the end of the school year. Peak tick season is getting started in NH. I didnt speak out of turn. There are other school boards and individuals in other districts who behave like this, he said. So I think the state has learned something., Noting that Ms. Huizengas beginning salary was $175,000,Mr. Lazo further asserted that, Theyre paying top dollar for inexperienced help that theyre going to train up. The improvements include the creation of dozens of new curriculum units, the addition of thousands of books to the elementary schools and middle school, the creation of an alternative school called Southbridge Academy, increased home visits, a new department of social and emotional learning, increased staffing for students who are English language learners, and infrastructure improvements such as increased Wi-Fi and the addition of Chromebooks for students. Huizenga resigned from her post in early December 2020. Its been an honor to serve in this role, and I now look forward to pursuing new opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children.. Dr. Siegrist later resigned. 2023 www.telegram.com. Today is Public Media Giving Days. Also announced at the meeting, was the departure of board vice chair Kevin Drew, who is retiring from his role on the board after nine years. The specifics of why Siegrist resigned are unknown at press time and Carvell did not return an email seeking comment but it could be due to an ongoing misconduct investigation since June which was prompted by a former Milford High School employee. He went on to say that the school board values Huizengas contributions, just as it values the contributions by school staff. As is usual for a Milford board meeting, during public comments, if an item is not on the evening's agenda, questions pertaining to said issue may not be asked. 10 election. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Send it to Tony Schinella at tony.schinella@patch.com. Hannons letter, in part, read: I was hoping to speak to all of you during non-public as far as my decision, but I have no choice other than to resign my position from the School Board effective immediately., I need to focus my time on my family and my new job which will not allow me the time going forward to attend meetings. "We were looking for new energy and new ideas and we have not been able to work things out. Were not following her contract on that., I agree that we need to implement a thorough review process,, I believe that its imperative that we complete an evaluation and should have prior to making any contractual modifications. By, March 2023 Fund Drive Rules and Regulations, Persons with disabilities who need assistance accessing NHPR's FCC public files, please contact us at publicfile@nhpr.org. Officials say psychiatric unit resident died after fight with guards; officers on leave. During board comments, board member Holleigh Ciardelli Tlapa shared her viewpoints from a prepared statement on the subject of the superintendents contract renegotiations. Huizenga is exceptionally qualified and the best fit for Milford schools, Milford School Board Chairman Ron Carvell said in a press release announcing the appointment. Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. I was brought in as an interim. Your support makes this news available to everyone. At the Board's special meeting on August 15, Dr. Johnston will provide an update on the work in Southbridge. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. In a letter to the public, unions representing teachers, aides, and building-and-grounds staff announced a "no-confidence" vote in Huizenga - a rare move for the unions. The chairman just writes the paperwork and gets authority to sign things and facilitates meetings. According to a release, 99 percent of the union members answered no. We are focused on the future and will be creating a superintendent hiring committee to ensure progress forward. It wasnt in the best interest of the town.. MILFORD After 48 resignations, the local education unions have issued a no confidence vote in the school districts superintendent and are asking school officials to begin a search for her replacement. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. During the course of these interactions, Morgan claimed, she reached out to "multiple people" in the district, "at least 10 documented instances," after she became concerned with the some of the topics Siegrist was discussing with her, but never received a response. State Sen. Ryan C. Fattman, R-Webster, said in a statement: While I am unaware about the circumstances causing the receivers resignation, despite inquiry, I appreciate many of the positive changes she helped to implement. Theyinclude working with his office and state Rep. Peter J. Durant, R-Spencer, and DESE to obtain $2 million in federal grant funding for educational opportunities for Southbridge. During this unprecedented pandemic, when the district transitioned from a regular model of education, into remote, into hybrid, back to remote, and then to full in person, she has led her team with strength and adaptability. That last few months have been difficult with the way theyre doing things and what goals are without thought. Our initial committee meetings, where we create the leadership profile, will be held in public. Fellow board member Mike Hannon said echoed Tlapas sentiment. "I wish her well. But if you do trust them and want to improve your opportunity, because no one gets an A+ on a review, theres always room for improvement.. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. We believe this is all happening due to the superintendents actions in her short tenure, said the release. Kevin has been a solid board member in any role hes played in our educational system.. Even after I wasnt the chairman any longer, I took the position after they made a move that was very pre-planned. MILFORD On the heels of school superintendent Dr. Jessica Huizengas resignation tendered on Dec. 2 (effective July 1, 2021), school board chairman Mike Hannon resigned on Dec. 7, citing his need to focus on health, family and a new job. Were not following her contract on that.. 2 min read. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. When the commissioner's post is vacant, state law charges the board with recommending a candidate to the education secretary. According to a release, 99 percent [] I want to talk about what programs we have., Carvell had just attended a board meeting on Sunday morning, Dec. 13, calling the situation with the board and Hannons resignation, a nightmare., I personally resigned because I was unhappy there, Carvell said of his member seat on the board. Were worse off now than when the state took us over. Would you like to receive our daily news? Under her guidance, Latinos for Education will continue to oversee and manage local leadership and fellowship programs designed to build a pipeline of education leaders that directly impact student outcomes. There has been a buzz about the oval, since a question was largely raised about a petition warrant article that was submitted to the school board but did not make the ballot for the Mar. I did not bark thunder. Huizenga's original Jan. 8, 2019 contract, . This is one of the first times that the Milford education unions took a vote of no confidence in our educational leader. Morgan said she met with him on July 16, and emailed him investigatory materials from the case but didn't know the status of the investigation. Shes engaged and shes committed. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. People think I was thrusted upon them. People think I was thrusted upon them. While Carvell couldnt disclose details of Huizengas leaving, he did call her the best superintendent., She wants to stay in Milford and do her job, Carvell noted. MILFORD - Dr. Jessica Huizenga, an educator who most recently served as a state-appointed receiver for a failing Massachusetts school district has been picked to be Milford's interim superintendent. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Chester was the first, followed by Huizenga. That motion failed by a 2-2 vote. And very quickly after that, the board decided to go ahead and make a permanent decision, without putting together a committee, without bringing in other candidates, without giving the choice to other community members and the union and different constituents and stakeholders to have a say in it. I hope the state learns a lesson on whats good for small communities, are not dictatorships. Sagan is suggesting a 10 percent raise to $184,827.50, effective June 27 until Wulfson concludes his service in the role. Our concerns were many: She left her administration job in Cambridge after being caught plagiarizing; She went to 13 conferences in just 12 months during her tenure in Southbridge, paid for by the taxpayers . They feel like they were promised that.. Patrick Queenan of Sheehan Phinney, a trial lawyer who has worked on white collar criminal matters as well as civil litigation, was hired to investigate the issue. AMHERST LaBelle Winery will host a wedding-planning workshop on Feb. 18, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at LYNDEBOROUGH Saturday, Feb. 4, is National Take Your Child to the Library Day. Free Stuff; Home Design, Milford Restaurants To Take Mom To On Mexican Mothers Day, T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week, Nashua Home Design Center Educational Series presents An Evening of Bathroom Design, Gail Westergren Scholarship Pancake Breakfast, A Fire; A Festival; Fentanyl Facts; Fancy Flats; More: PM Patch NH, Local Jobs: See Who's Hiring In The Milford Area, Milford Weather Forecast For The Week Ahead. Morgan said while Siegrist had resigned, it was disappointing that no one from the school district or board had reached out to her about the entire episode before the announcement was made to the general public about the resignation. They do not know how to build, and they do not know how to turn this district around, he said of the state's intervention. As first reported by the Cabinet on October 3, 2019, Davis spoke to the student body on September 27, 2019, about achieving ones goals. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Ms. Huizengas resignation Thursday. Siegrist did not return a phone call for comment about the matter.