Video of the
Foxborough School Committee meeting of October 18, 2010 Agenda Item: Superintendent of Schools Status
Video credit: Foxboro Cable Access
The discussion has been divided into three sections. The sections are presented in sequence with the corresponding dialogue presented on the right side.
Ms. Adair: Alright, [unintelligible] move on to the Superintendent of Schools Status. And before I hand it over to the Committee
(Video begins)I just have a brief… statement that I'd like to make. I feel it is my duty and responsibility to respond to recent published reports regarding the School Committee.
First, I would like to disclose that at no time was there a secret deal between the School Committee and Dr. Martes as has been reported. Due to the open meeting law, executive session minutes cannot be discussed until they are approved and released by the School Committee.
In accordance with this law, the School Committee is not able to discuss the executive session minutes of June 21, 2010. The minutes of the June 21 meeting have not yet been approved or released. Since the School Committee meeting on June 21, there has not been an executive session. Tonight, the School Committee is entering into executive session for the purpose of union contract negotiations.
Umm… and before I conclude, I also want to comment on the fact that at no time did Ms. Slattery and I ever go into deliberations regarding Dr. Martes' contract outside the executive session.
Finally, the School Committee's focus has been, and will continue to be, to ensure the educational needs of all our students and the… and our responsibility is to ensure that they are met here in the Foxboro School district.
That being said, I want to open it up to the Committee whoever else would like to make any comments regarding the Superintendent's status.
Ms. Kominsky: Could we hear from Dr. Martes first?
Dr. Martes: I think we were going to hear from Bruce.
Mr. Gardner: I too have prepared a formal statement, which I'll offer. It's not quite as brief as the Chair's, but I will do my best. But, I think we all have a lot of emotion over some things that were reported over the last week.
And, what I am going to try to do is offer a little bit of clarity, which I think will be helpful.
So, I'd like to take a few moments of tonight's meeting to correct the stories that have been published in the past week regarding the Superintendent's contract. I do believe this will clarify some confusion and help restore any faith the public has lost in this committee.
The core issue, as expressed in both the Foxboro Reporter and the Sun Chronicle, appears to be the notion that the Superintendent was secretly allowed to retire, and that he is now acting in the capacity of a consultant Superintendent. Today's Sun Chronicle opinion piece continued on this theme, writing that Dr. Martes was "set up for retirement by the School Board."
Were this truly the case, I would understand and agree with the public concern. It is, however, inaccurate.
The Superintendent's contract was indeed modified for the current school year by this committee in June. While... while the details of our executive meeting have not yet been officially approved or released, the content of the meeting has been shared openly with the Foxboro Reporter by Dr. Martes himself. At the time of the contract renegotiation, Dr. Martes explained the need to reduce the cash portion of his compensation in order to comply with retirement eligibility law. This would result in a $40,000 savings to the Town. There was also some high-level discussion that we might be able to find a way to extend his contract for the 2011-2012 school year. With that understanding, this committee went ahead and secured Dr. Martes for another year at less cost to the Foxboro taxpayers.
It should be noted that the idea that he was now retired, or that he was now a "consultant superintendent," was never discussed in the June meeting. This is why four out of five committee members commented for last week's stories that we do not consider Dr. Martes retired. It is also why we believed his renewal was routine and did not require immediate public notice.
We were aware that his retirement would follow at some point in the future, but no decisions were made or discussed at that time.
Today I contacted Mr. Glenn Koocher, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Mr. Koocher confirmed that nothing Dr. Martes has done is illegal. He is entitled to begin collecting his retirement earnings while still serving as a district Superintendent. In fact, he referenced several other area Superintendents who are doing, or have done, the same. He put Dr. Martes' status with Foxboro very clearly: "the law recognizes Dr. Martes as an active, full time Superintendent."
One element of Dr. Martes' contract that has likely contributed to the misconception that he is a "consultant Superintendent" is the fact that he is allowed several days out of district to share his experience with other school systems. This idea is not a new feature in his contract. It was negotiated in 2 years ago, before my time, before the June meeting in question, and likely when the then committee saw the value in retaining his services and recognized the strong team he had built around him.
So the Foxboro public can rest assured that our June meeting was not about a "secret" retirement strategy, but rather was about retaining a proven leader and favorite son Superintendent full time for another year. In Mr. Koocher's words, it's a difficult time for any town to be looking to replace a high-powered superintendent, and our effort to secure Dr. Martes for another year was "prudent." Mr. Koocher also shared that most negotiations of this type are "negotiated and moved on," that they are "generally not a news item."
Which brings me to a comment about these stories. For the 18 months or so that I've served on this committee, there has been nothing but positive and productive discussion and teamwork, as witnessed by achievements spanning academia, extracurricular, budget, and physical plant. It's disappointing to me how quickly the media can change it's opinion - to the point that it questions the integrity of this committee... of this committee's open communications and it feels the need to use especially strong words - "A Shroud of Secrecy" (one Reporter headline); "reasons to feel abused" from the Sun Chronicle; and "The board's reaction to the exposé borders unbelievable" also from the Sun Chronicle. Perhaps the real story was lost in the excitement and hurry of a bold headline. Rushing to a quick story of such dramatic effect is not in the best interest of our special community.
Finally, it's a shame that all of this caused this accomplished educator to have to force a quick retirement announcement to his staff. I am quite sure that is not how he envisioned it. But this Committee will continue to work effectively with him and his team on behalf of our town. It is my hope we can ALL quickly return to a collective focus on strategic planning, academic achievement, and making the Foxboro Schools the best place they can be.
Ms. Adair: Thank you Bruce.
Ms. Slattery: Thank you Bruce.
Mr. Navedo: Could we have a copy of those statements please?
Ms. Adair: Sure. Yeah. That's fine. Anyone else in the Committee that would like to...
Ms. Slattery: I think I'm very disheartened. I know it said in the paper that I was annoyed and I was annoyed at the way...
Mr. Navedo: Thank you.
Ms. Slattery: ... this all came about.
I don't know how tying the town manager's contract in with the superintendent's contract and how this came to be. I always said the best way to stop a rumor is not to spread it.
It is my understanding that a couple of selectmen have brought this to Frank's attention. If this is true, then I am a little bit unnerved by that. I am unnerved by the way that they probably procured this information. Be it either through Town Hall or whatever. I think sometimes when things come across people's desk, that's where they should stay.
That doesn't mean that we are being secretive, it doesn't mean that we are being private, but if something goes through an employment office, I'm sure not one of us would want our vital statistics exposed in that manner and shared with other people only to bring a certain attention to it.
I take exception to the fact that unfortunately Frank, you asked me if I was... if I had negotiated this contract, and I told you "no." And that I told you that Katie didn't either. And instead you still chose to put it in the paper. You chose to put it in the Attleboro Sun. I would like a retraction and an apology because I did not sit with Kate, Katie and negotiate this contract. And I take exception with the... with your Reporter and the Attleboro Sun putting it in that light.
I think is very telling in this day and age and I... I had said over and over that I'm not buying newspapers but I saw this at my daughter's house. And I think this speaks volumes of what is going on with the media. For us to have "One sweet deal" at the top of The Sun Chronicle. Down below here we have Chile has its miracle rescue. There were 33 people trapped 69 days underground and this story trumped this. The whole world prayed and hoped for the rescue of these people. And this took precedence over this story?
I think it's a very sad scenario of what is going on in the... in our local newspapers. And I for one won't be buying The Sun or The Reporter in the future.
I don't... I don't wish to hear things this way. I find that embarrassing. I really do. And I... and I think we need to take a step back and realize...
You know we've got...
There is a lot that've been said about bullying about harrassment... children learn from us. And I think this has been a very, very poor example of people jumping to conclusions...
What's surprising is not one person has called me about this. Has anybody called you [pointing to Ms. Adair]?
Ms. Adair:No.
Unidentified voice: No.
Ms. Slattery: Beverley has anybody called you?
Ms. Lord: I had one person call me with real questions and once I explained, said "Ohh." Well that' not the [unintelligible]
Ms. Slattery: You know, and what I think that we have to realize... and I take my seat very seriously. You know, for people to say that I should know better, that I should do this I should do that.
You know, I try... I... I... I can read. I cannot comprehend... I understand about Open Meeting Laws. And it is my understanding that until we sign off on minutes and until we sign to release them, if were going to continue to negotiate or whatever, then... then we are protected by the Open Meeting Law under executive session.
I just think this whole thing has been blown out of proportion. And in my heart of hearts, I really would like for people to pick up the phone and call us and question us.
[Unintelligible]
Ms. Slattery: Because the best way to stop a rumor is not to spread it.
So, I... I feel... I'm very very disappointed.
I've lived in this Town my entire life. I spent two years in that audience before I ran for this committee. I've spent 13 years on this side of the table. And I'll tell you something, I am not so sure I want to live in this town anymore.
When I think... when I look at what's going on on the Town side with the search. You've put us in a position on this side that if we were to go out to look for a superintendent at this point, if they look at the media, if they look to what's going on, if they look on people's blog sites...
Let me tell you something, I would be hard pressed to find anybody who would want to come in here and replace this superintendent right now.
So I am thoroughly embarrassed by what has gone on here. And... and the intention... and and I... I'm ashamed to think that people think that of me. You know; if you have a problem with me, pick up the phone.
You'll get a straight answer. So...
Ms. Lord: Would you please read right directly from the law.
Ms. Slattery: What it says is that sessions may be withheld from disclosure to the public in their entirety unless and until such time as litigating, negotiating or bargaining position is no longer jeopardized by such disclosure at which time they shall be disclosed unless the attorney-client privilege or... whatever... exceptions under this clause.
So, I just don't... I don't understand. You know… I can't... somebody told me in the Attleboro Sun, they are going to report us to the attorney general they are going to say that we violated the Open Meeting Law... I don't know if we've ever voted on a contract in open session.
I just... I just don't...
[Unidentified voice]
Ms. Slattery: I don't understand where this is all coming from. But, it's a little bit mean spirited, a little bit disheartening. And... and right at this moment I'm very very upset. As you can tell.
Ms. Adair: Thank you Martha.
Ms. Kominsky: Let me follow. I felt the news article was a slap in the face to our Superintendent. It was a slap in the face to every single member here, colleague on the School Committee. And... and it was not necessary.
I do know that Dr. Martes had said wait until... if you really want a story about the... Kevin Paicos... we gave information... if you really want a story about... this other... why don't you wait?
And, you know what? No one waited to get the facts. Instead they used words... secrecy... secret deal, shroud of secrecy, clandestine arrangements. That is offensive. We all work too hard. But, you know what? We are elected public officials.
What really bothers me is that everything is done... we've done everything in the best interest of the students here. And that was to retain Dr. Martes.
But what was put in the paper, and you're right, I mean, we would... How can you... How can we move forward with a... with the search so that we can continue... our plan was to retain Dr. Martes for this year and the year beyond. We may in fact be... be limited now as a result of that article.
So, yeah Martha, I agree. I am very upset. I... you know what, again, we are elected officials. We'll take it on the chin. But I believe that Dr. Martes is owed an apology by the Foxboro Reporter. Okay?
I also feel the School Committee is. We may or may not ever get it, but I believe Dr. Martes was... was embarrassed and... And shamefully so with all of these... none of these... were... It was not truth. It was innuendo, and... and inflammatory language that made it look as if Dr. Martes or this School Committee did something wrong.
Shame. Shame on The Reporter.
Who usually does a wonderful job supporting the schools. Why would you want to take down the schools after having had a track record of always doing... of always showcasing the schools? I... again Martha I agree, this... this... this is very serious. We are now handicapped in our efforts to retain Dr. Martes beyond this year. We are going to be handicapped now in doing a search on the outside. This was unnecessary and that's why I believe an apology is owed to Dr. Martes and to the School Committee.
When you... The Reporter should have had all the facts, not innuendo and not made inflammatory statements.
We did nothing wrong.
Ms. Slattery: I think in the future, whoever writes editorials for The Foxboro Reporter should have the guts to put their name to it, too. So that we don't have to try to surmise or guess who's writing editorials for the Foxboro Reporter. Because, you know what? If you are going to say something, put your name to it.
We expect it on a blog now, so I expect it from The Reporter. I want to know who's writing the editorials so I know who to call up and who to... who to harangue or harass at that point. ... And see how you like it.
Ms. Lord: I'd like to just, mention a couple of very simple facts. Any high school student can graduate at 18, sign up for services to protect the United States of America. 20 years later, at age 38, that young person male or female can leave with a full military pension. That person will go on and create another whole career for himself and collect a salary.
I think one misnomer is that somehow in all this money stuff going around, not one single Foxborough taxpayer has contributed one single cent, nor ever will, to Dr. Martes' retirement. If anybody wants to take 11 percent of their salary and reach the step on the grid at the retirement when he can or she can retire, they have a right to do so. Dr. Martes' did that. He did the discipline of economizing to do this. He reached the point on the grid where he can no longer move forward. This man is creative, intelligent, his integrity is fine. He chose to move on.
Part of that, we... one of the three responsibilities given the school committee is to hire the best superintendent possible. We did this.
The same quality that he's given us for the past three years will continue throughout this year. He could have walked; he could have gone on to other things. He chose... part of his integrity, he did not want to walk out in the middle of this high school project. He has chosen to stay with us because he loves Foxborough. The quality which he will give us for the rest of the year is going to continue to be, or even better, than the quality that he's given us the past three years. And I am very saddened that when requested The Foxboro Reporter did not extend to us the courtesy of presenting his retirement and his consulting position in a positive manner. It is even more disappointing that now his replacement is perhaps jeopardized and the fact that we could possibly held him another year may be jeopardized.
Ms. Slattery: I don't think anybody on this committee should ever have to apologize for trying to keep one of the most talented superintendents that I've seen within the system in order to continue to move us forward. And he's worked very hard and he is very... he's done tremendous job with the system and, you are right Bev, it will continue. And we still have some options... we are still trying to look at them to understand where we are going. And I think I think it is our job to do this. And I… I think at this point I am very disheartened at what's happened.
Ms. Adair: Dr. Martes...
Dr. Martes: Maybe it's time for me to chime in.
Ms. Adair: Yes, please.
[Unintelligible]
Dr. Martes: Thanks. First of all, thank you, all of you for your support.
And... I did... when I talked to the School Committee about this idea and this notion, I knew when I was going to be pension eligible. Obviously, as Bev mentioned, it's pretty easy to figure out. You put in a certain number of years in public education in Massachusetts and... and you hit a certain age and you get to a point where you are eligible. Knowing that and knowing that I continue to want to stay for a fourth year and even explore a fifth year, and I did say that to you, that I'd explore some ideas and some options for a fifth year, if that was possible. ... I thought the story would be... really wants to continue to work here, reduce the town's appropriation or the... or the school budget. $40,000 so that he could stay certainly can, as you know, just by reading the numbers, I certainly can afford to do that. And I believe we have unfinished work. And this building is a very very good example.
I've mentioned frequently that... one of the achievements that I'll always remember here is... is the overwhelming support in the community of a 20 million dollar renovation to this school that desperately needed it... During a time that we are and continue to be in a difficult economy.
And people said forge ahead. Parents who are here gave me advice. The School Committee gave me advice. Forge ahead, this can be done, this community supports education.
And... and... and so, the other thing that I also knew is that I had structured a contract for a principal in Framingham when I was there. So in 2004 I worked with the Retirement Board and said, I would like to keep this high school principal, and is there a way that I can do that?
And so they said, yes, there is. He can retire, same kind of situation, birthday in August and... and so he stayed.
And then... and then after that, two of my close friends and colleagues in neighboring communities did the same thing.
I talked to John Moretti this morning and he said, Chris, I know you... you know I did this. I think I told you, I think... I think actually I asked you how this can happen?
So, he did it in Mansfield in 2006-7. He is... and... and he said this; you know, no, there was no discussion about it. I worked with the School Committee on this. So that's pretty typical.
And I also talked recently to Claire Jackson who did it in another neighboring community, in Sharon. And she happened to have an August birthday, like I do.
So... so this is not uncommon. Some of you probably remember that Dave Sweeney worked here on a couple of occasions in administrative roles. And... and I think you're right, Bruce, the whole notion of consultant... I think it's... I think it has to do with the fact that I can do some consulting based on my negotiations with you, though a couple of years ago... and I'm able to do that. I'm able to do some work with some other organizations and educa... education related work. And that kind of stretches my thinking and... and... and my ideas. So, I think the message... and obviously I was time bound, just so that everyone knows. I was time bound by the newspaper coming out. I did not want the staff to hear this so... or read this... excuse me, somewhere else and not hear it from me. So, I sent an email and explained in some detail about, you know, what I was trying to do and continued to leave options open for some kind of work at the Committee's discretion, in year five. I... I... probably exhausted a lot of avenues in terms of figuring out how to do that more full time and... and I'm not that optimistic at this point. But still open to maybe learning something, you know, in the next few weeks. I know we are going to be at the School Committee - Superintendent Association conference, and... and... you know, there... there maybe some possibilities.
But I... as I've explored it over the last few months…
The other thing that I know that became somewhat confused in this... and tonight is a really good example, and the last few days have been a great example. I chose not to make this public on the first day of school, as other superintendents have over the years announced that they were retiring at the end of the school year. It's because I felt that we needed to get off to a terrific start.
We had... we had... we were worried whether we were going to open this building on time. And we didn't need that distraction that we are going through that we've gone through the last couple of days.
And because the school year is up and running, this information can go out. I've gotten a number of phone calls, emails and... and face-to-face conversations with people, parents and staff, about one sadness that they think that I may be leaving soon, relatively soon, and that... and that they hope that the work continues. You know, one of the things that we, and as I've mentioned many times, I use that a lot, what we've been able to do is change the culture in the school district.
And so, we wouldn't behave this way. I think that's the message that needs to get out. It wouldn't be acceptable for our staff to come with a story or create a rumor or do anything like that. That's the culture that was here. That's the culture that's not here anymore.
And people have worked real hard to make sure that we're respectful to each other. And that doesn't mean we don't... we don't disagree. We disagree with each other. We have some heated discussions. But it's always in a respectful environment because that, as... as others have said, we are role models here. We... we need to be better than this. And I believe that this community is better than this.
So I think, as good educators, there are lessons to be learned about what... what's happened in the last few days. We are going to move on. And one of the things that we are going to move on about is, what is a superintendent search process look like.
I still think this is a terrific community to work in. And I'll be the biggest advocate for sharing that information with... with my colleagues. This school system has improved over the last few years, and has the opportunity to continue to improve.
But the behavior piece, and how we treat each other is hugely important to how we want our children to behave and how we want our children to treat each other.
So, I... I... I think we can move forward. I think it's important for us to move forward. I think we've explained this in greater detail than in any other of my colleagues have needed to explain this. I don't think was ever hidden. And actually, I think it should... I continue to think it should've been a good news story. He's trying to stay as long as he possibly can. He's certainly financially, can... can accept pension payments because I've contributed to the system for so long. And I've contributed, as Bev mentioned, a healthy amount of money, 11 percent. For a good deal of my... of my career. And as I tell people, and I've said this to the people at the retirement board, if I was disciplined enough at age 22 to know that I could save 11 % of my gross salary for 35 years, I might be in Florida today.
So, this is something that I think became much more than it needed to be. I... I... I certainly agree with the Committee. I agree with a lot of people that I've talked to in the community over the last few days.
But, this is a very good community. And we can move beyond this. Because I think that... because I... because I... because I think most of the people in the community actually believe what I think.
Ms. Adair: Okay.
Ms. Lord: Take turns, take turns.
Ms. Adair: Bruce, please go ahead.
Mr. Gardner: Well, I... I just want to turn the conversation to the positive. You know, we've all had our chance to have our say. Obviously the stories of the last week hit a nerve. I think Dr. Martes has shown extreme professionalism through this. I appreciate the comments he just made.
I think the way that we move forward and do the right thing for the kids in this town, is to make this a blip on the radar.
If this thing spins up for another week, with people who want to spin stories, that's going to be very telling to me.
If this goes away, then it will be last's... it will be yesterday's news and we'll keep going on the good stuff I talked about and that we all talked about in our regular meetings.
So, that's my challenge to our community.
Ms. Adair: Thank you Bruce. Martha.
Ms. Slattery: My... my challenge to the community is for everyone who might be a naysayer or who has all this negative energy, that they thrust around all the time, that if you could just take a pinch and make it positive, it would be incredible what you could accomplish for this system and for this town. And I think it's time for us to take it back, turn it around and make us what we are supposed to be. Good decent human beings and... and right now it's sorely lacking.
So I just ask you, please, turn your negatives into positive and move this forward.
Ms. Adair: Okay... thank you everyone for your comments.
Dr. Martes: And Ka... and Katie just to close, I think at the next meeting... we should begin discussion about the search process.
I know that right after that next meeting, couple days after that next meeting the Massachusetts Association of Schools Committees and Schools Superintendents annual conference comes up with Glenn Koocher and Tom Scott from the Superintendents Association are leading that... that conference. And so that would be a good time to engage them in some conversation about this. But we can start to frame... what a... what a search process looks like. And... and that... having advised other districts when I was the head of the Superintendents Association that can easily be accomplished within a... a good time frame. So... so I'm very confident... I'm very confident about that. But it would be good for all of you to engage in that discussion when... when you're at the conference.
So, does that make sense?
Ms. Adair: Yes. That's a good idea. Then we'll put it formally on the agenda so that we can have an open public discussion about it as well.
Okay, thank you. Thank you very much for everyone's input. And so let's get back to the business here.