The Contentious School Committee Meeting of February 11th!

Observing the Feb 11th school committee meeting on cable certainly leaves one wondering what is going on with the people leading our schools and school committee members making school policy for our school. During the public comment session Mr. Gerry Mroz, an educational activist, summarized his comprehensive analysis of the teacher's contract which was signed back in Sept. 13th and now made public. Following his comments, Ms. Taymore went into a tirade which included unacceptable and unprofessional language in full view of the camera and high school students present.

Prior to the Feb 11th meeting, all members of the school committee were given a comprehensive report by Mr, Gerry Mroz which highlighted significant, serious, and consistent inaccuracies, deficiencies, and  misrepresentations in the teacher’s contract. The evidence he offered to document his opinion is so compelling and grievous that he strongly recommended that the contract be rescinded and that it be corrected to reflect the actual content of the agreement including the true raises given to teachers. The actual raises given to teachers in the first ten years of their employment at Melrose range from 25% to 27% over the 3 years of the contract and not the 1% each year as stated in the Memorandum of Understanding which the school committee originally signed off on in Sept. of 2013. 

During the later part of the meeting, Ms. Taymore then reported that based on current revenue and expense projections, the preliminary school budget indicates a significant deficit! Why should this be so shocking to her given the significant costs incurred by the recently signed teacher's contract when Ms. Taymore admitted she played an important role in this agreement?

Through the irresponsible nature of her actions and those of the school committee, the educational stability and the financial health of the schools is being put into jeopardy!