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.. For now, vice chairperson Holleigh Tlapa is assuming the position of board chair. Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. Give today. "Mrs. Siegrist served on the Milford School Board tirelessly for the past two years, and her contributions to the continuous improvement of our school system are greatly appreciated," he noted. There have been over 48 resignations thus far this year and it is only May. They were promised certain things. The new contract, executed on Jan. 22, 2020 and signed by Huizenga and Carvell, the superintendent shall receive severance of a maximum of twenty (20) months or the remainder of her salary left under the term of the contract. Considering her yearly salary is $145,690, that is no paltry sum. She is allegedly some sort of school witch doctor who can magically make Southbridge schools great again. The Milford school board announced on Thursday that it will not fulfill a request by the local teachers' union to fire and replace the district's superintendent, Jessica Huizenga. And I left because of this whole thing that was transpiring. We do not take such a vote lightly.. A program at White Mountains Community College and a continuing partnership between Goodwill Northern New England and Southern New Hampshire University are being touted as ways to address the ongoing teacher shortage in the Granite State. As first reported by the Cabinet on October 3, 2019, Davis spoke to the student body on September 27, 2019, about achieving ones goals. I did not bark thunder. Its very scary because you dont know the feedback that youre going to get. Education Secretary James Peyser was appointed by Gov. At a special meeting at the department's headquarters in Malden, the board is scheduled to discuss the search process for Chester's successor and to hear an update from interim Southbridge receiver Russell Johnston. New Hampshire law allows the select board or the school board to create a warrant but also New Hampshire law also allows townspeople to put an article on the warrant as well if the board has chosen to not touch upon that topic. Sony Previews 14 Minutes of 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' at CinemaCon "How you wear the mask is what makes you a hero," says Shameik Moore, who voices Miles Morales/Spider-Man. "I wish her well. Its mind boggling the amount of time that people are spending going after her., In Huizengas letter of resignation, she stated that she was grateful to the community for their support and their shared desire to improve our schools.. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. This board is not functioning like that., We have a superintendent who cares about kids,, Shes engaged and shes committed. But DESE, in a statement, said Southbridge Public Schools took many strides toward serving students better the past year under Ms. Huizenga. Huizenga did not respond to a request for comment about the resignation or investigation. 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.. You have permission to edit this article. 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. My hope is that as we continue to evolve, we will learn to work together more effectively to create cohesive and progressive futures., I know weve been trying to get a meeting together to get the evaluation process going,, Id like to think that next year were putting it on the calendar for a proper review., Its very scary because you dont know the feedback that youre going to get. The state took over management of Southbridge schools, a district of about 2,200 students, in January 2016, after the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education deemed it a Level 5 chronically underperforming district. Davis exit comes just days after assistant superintendent Christi Michaud took over as interim superintendent while Dr. Jessica Huizenga begins her departure. They were promised a process. That chain of events was among factors that played a rolein the states consideration for taking over management of Southbridge schools at the time. A question was raised by Milford resident and educator Brenda Walker regarding the evaluation of Milford superintendent Dr. Jessica Huizenga. Weve spent more time not about education, and education has always been my goal. 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. Its actually teamwork. I was brought in as an interim. 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, Huizenga wrote. 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).". Partly cloudy skies this evening. In a letter issued on Thursday, school board members said the unions allegations against Superintendent Huizenga were false and called for them to end "negative campaigns" against her. Ultimately each border member must vote with their own conscience. 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. During the superintendents report, Huizenga touted social and emotional learning and reading programs throughout various Milford schools. As the school year was just beginning in Sept. 2019, there was still a heated debate over board member conduct, a 99 percent no confidence vote for Huizenga and the resignation of Jennifer Siegrist over a controversial text message debate. The State Board of Education could be requested to perform an investigation, Fenton said. At the beginning of the 2019 school year, meetings were often heated, due in some part, to the hiring of Dr. Huizenga who many teachers felt should have never been permanently hired as school superintendent and wanted her to resign then. They were promised a process. View videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/tonyschinella. Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig considers run for NH governor, Two UNH studies to explore nutrition and food insecurity in Latino communities. Facebook gives people the. Jessica Huizenga, in an email to the SAU 40 district, said she had let the school board know she would be resigning at the end of the current school year "to . We will choose a superintendent that fits a leadership profile designed by our committee, and that best matches the current needs of our district. Chance of rain 40%.. I did not cry foul. "There seems to be no bar low enough for the slanderers to stoop," Siegrist said. GRANDVILLE Protesters gathered outside the Grandville office of U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, Sunday to call for his resignation after Huizenga supported a controversial legal . After receiving no response from the district, Morgan took Fenton's recommendation and circled back to the NH DOE, emailing Commissioner Frank Edelblut, as well as Drew Cline, the chairman of the State Board of Education, in mid-June, making them aware of her accusation against Siegrist, sending them a PDF of text messages compiled by her cellphone company, and asking for help. After she arrived, Holleigh Ciardelli-Tlapa, another board member, asked her to testify about the situation. Huizenga's original Jan. 8, 2019 contract, . Deputy Commissioner Jeff Wulfson has been leading the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education since June 27, a day after the death of longtime Commissioner Mitchell Chester. I was fairly upset coming into the meeting and very distracted as a result of how this has affected my health, time with family and ability to properly manage a new career at my stage in life.. More kerfuffles followed when Davis chose not to share the slideshow and according to an email, when she offered to sit down with a parent to discuss the presentation, she refused to comply with the request. 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. The other day we published this blog about disgraced former Southbridge Public Schools superintendent/state receiver Jessica Huizenga, who is a finalist for the superintendent job in Lynn. When the commissioner's post is vacant, state law charges the board with recommending a candidate to the education secretary. Huizenga said she has sought and received significant input from staff and the community throughout this process. Dr. The chairman just writes the paperwork and gets authority to sign things and facilitates meetings. The purpose of this blog is to share my ideas and experiences with other practitioners in the field of Education for the purposes of collaboration and improvement of the American Education system. While Siegrist was not a school employee, in the state of New Hampshire, boards and councils often use the personnel waiver to discuss matters related to the conduct of public officials in non-public session. 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. The statement cited progress in the Southbridge schools over the past year, including the creation of new curriculum units, the addition of thousands of books to the elementary schools and middle school, and increased staffing for students learning English. When the state placed the district into receivership, state officials cited a high turnover rate among superintendents and principals in the district and continued underperformance as factors. We could disagree, he added, as long as we disagree with a manner of reasoning. Team Time rotates every so often - we could do an 8-10 . MILFORD, NH The Milford School District will begin looking for a new superintendent after its current leader offered her resignation Wednesday. Jenni Siegrist resigned Sunday, according to Ron Carvell, the chairman of the Milford School Board. "This is not about attacking Jenni," she said. Copyright The Nashua Telegraph | https://www.nashuatelegraph.com | 110 Main St, Ste 1, Nashua, NH 03060 | 603-882-2741, Milford school superintendent gives resignation, This is one of the first times that the Milford education unions took a vote of no confidence in our educational leader. Shes engaged and shes committed. Were not following her contract on that.. The board was scheduled to meet Monday but postponed that meeting until Aug. 28, "to provide the board time to determine next steps in accordance with our policy," he added. Scroll down 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. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. I didnt want it to look like we were bossing the district around. So were back to square one. We do not take such a vote lightly, said a release issued jointly by Cheryl Erdody, president of the Milford Teachers Association, Suzanne Schedin, vice-president of MTA, Brenda Walker, president of the Milford Education Support Staff Association and Doug Haggett, president of the Milford Educational Personnel Association. Ms. Davis has served the Milford School District tirelessly for the past two years. She resigned a month later. Siegrist later resigned. According to Erdody, Schedin, Walker and Haggett, the proposed changes will not improve school services and were unilaterally decided upon by the superintendent without input from the education community. People think I was thrusted upon them. 2 min read. Nashua officials say schools will hold classes as scheduled Monday, after the school district was hit by whats being called a sophisticated cyber attack., HAMPTON A group of middle schoolers got a first-hand look at life in the utility industry and some may have even found inspiration for a future career during a recent visit to Unitil as part of a unique University of New Hampshire program that helps put many of the states first-generation. Create a password that only you will remember. Her leadership was particularly evident and greatly admired from her colleagues and to district leadership, as an integral member of our team. The secretary can only appoint someone recommended by the board. First hired in 2018, Jessica Huizenga will serve through the end of June and then, "pursue other opportunities." With that in hand, Jessica is yesterdays news. It wasnt in the best interest of the town.. Copyright The Nashua Telegraph | https://www.nashuatelegraph.com | 110 Main St, Ste 1, Nashua, NH 03060 | 603-882-2741, 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., The Milford School Board welcomes Mr. Steve Martin, and Mr. Kevin St. Onge as interim Board members who will be with us until the next election in March of 2021; when one 3-year Board member will be elected, and one 1-year member will be elected., I was really unhappy with the way the board was operating,, That last few months have been difficult with the way theyre doing things and what goals are without thought. Signup today! I am proud to have served this community, and I value the connections we have made, she continued. But Mr. Lazo, the School Committee member, suggested that the sooner Southbridge is out of receivership, the better off it will be. More than 150 union members were recently asked if they are confident in the ability of Dr. Jessica Huizenga, superintendent for SAU 40, to provide effective leadership for Milford schools. After she was hired this summer people on social . Id like to think that next year were putting it on the calendar for a proper review.. Dr. Huizenga's resignation as receiver was announced on July 20, 2017. The school board is primarily tasked with protecting our students and our district. According to a release, 99 percent of the union members answered no. But we need to be demonstrating to our kids that their integrity is more important than winning. 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. 10 election. The superintendent is simply doing her job to help us with the policy changes that we have made after ample discussions at our public meetings.. I hope the state learns a lesson on whats good for small communities, are not dictatorships. Jessica L. Huizenga resigned from her $175 A former receiver of the Southbridge public schools is a finalist for superintendent in Lynn, an urban district of about 16,000 students north of Boston. Russell Johnston, a senior associate commissioner at DESE, has been serving as the interim receiver since Ms. Huizenga was placed on leave in May. Today is Public Media Giving Days. The announcement . Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. View the profiles of people named Jessica Huizinga. . Jessica Huizenga began a leave of absence. In a joint press release issued by Milford Teachers Association president Cheryl Erdody, MTA vice president Suzanne Schedin, Milford Education Support Staff Association president Brenda Walker and Milford Educational Personnel Association president Doug Haggett, it stated, This is one of the first times that the Milford education unions took a vote of no confidence in our educational leader. On May 31, 2017, I notified the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that Senior Associate Commissioner Russell Johnston would serve as interim receiver for the Southbridge Public Schools, as receiver Jessica Huizenga was on a leave of absence. They were promised certain things. 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. Thats still hasnt happened, Walker said at the time. Its gone awry, he said. Tlapa added that in hindsight, the board should reexamine its initial vote of preventing the warrant article from appearing on next months ballot. I thought I would be able to support the community of Milford from whatever seat I was in, Carvell shared. After failing to reach a compromise during mediation and after several delays, a judge approved an extension and the trial has been set for January 2022. 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. 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. Sarah Gibson joined NHPR's newsroom in 2018. That motion failed by a 2-2 vote. Choose wisely! I think what the community is doing to the school district was horrible. I was really unhappy with the way the board was operating, he said. Would you like to receive our daily news? In March, we may have new members on this board, she said. Officials say psychiatric unit resident died after fight with guards; officers on leave. Thats her passion. 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. 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 believe this is all happening due to the superintendents actions in her short tenure, said the release. In doing so, I have sought and received significant input from staff and the community.". That petition requested the resignation of superintendent Jessica Huizenga and board chair Ron Carvell. ", "I am doing the job that I have been directed to do by the Milford School Board, which has involved a number of changes, that are needed and in the best interest of students. Johnston, the department's senior associate commissioner, stepped in to the Southbridge post on an interim basis when Jessica Huizenga began a leave of absence on May 31. Morgan, while watching the meeting at home, heard the disgruntled employee comment by Siegrist, and went to the meeting. Dr. They also blame her for low staff morale and the resignation of 48 staff. 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. ASU+GSV Summit: Has education tech really changed anything? Milford school board meetings in the last year and half have often become heated, during public comments and sometimes between board members themselves. Union officials allege that Huizenga is not the educational leader that Milford deserves, claiming she is not vested in the children or the community, that she fails to recognize staffing issues, demonstrates unprofessional behavior and more. Huizenga was the Southbridge School District's receiver for one year until she went on paid administrative leave in June of 2017. Huizenga takes the place of Robert Marquis, who retired. In May 2019, after 48 staff resignations, Milford school unions took a vote of no confidence in Huizenga, asking officials to search for a replacement. 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. In our Receivers carry the broad authority of a superintendent and School Committee. 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. There are people out there whose way of expressing concern is to put things up on telephone poles and harass them that way. Prior to taking over management of Southbridge,a district review in October 2015 said Southbridges administrative leadership was unstable, with seven superintendents serving since 2010. During board comments, board member Holleigh Ciardelli Tlapa shared her viewpoints from a prepared statement on the subject of the superintendents contract renegotiations. Ultimately each border member must vote with their own conscience. It wasnt in the best interest of the town., Even after I wasnt the chairman any longer, I took the position after they made a move that was very pre-planned. Were worse off now than when the state took us over. And thats the way the board should function. Southbridge is an impoverished shithole whose teachers don't get paid nearly enough, because their jobs are much harder than teachers in affluent communities. She reports on education and demographics. 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. That still hasnt happened. MILFORD Embattled Milford superintendent of schools, Dr. Jessica L. Huizenga, has resigned from her position, effective at the end of the school year. Siegrist's resignation comes at a tumultuous time for the district and board as it faces questions about the hiring of Huizenga, resignations in the district, and contentious meetings during the past few months. The board is also scheduled to vote Tuesday on Wulfson's salary as acting commissioner. An Early 1970s Milford Ranch In Need Of Some Cosmetic Updates, Milford Weekday Events, What's Happening? 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. 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. She is intelli In May 2019, after 48 staff resignations, Milford school unions took a vote of "no confidence" in Huizenga, asking officials to search for a replacement. The district was placed under state control in January 2016, joining Lawrence and Holyoke in receivership. I did not disrespect anyone.. I believe I have the full support of the school board and will continue to serve them and everyone in Milford, to the best of my ability, she added. I want to note, that on the warrant article that was not placed on the ballot, my vote was based on information at hand, and the manner in which it was presented, she said. We are focused on the future and will be creating a superintendent hiring committee to ensure progress forward. "We were looking for new energy and new ideas and we have not been able to work things out. Copyright The Cabinet Press | https://www.cabinet.com | 167 Elm Street, Milford, NH 03055 | 603-673-3100, I leave with a grateful heart. Cabinet file photos 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. We won't share it with anyone else. Regardless of the makeup at that point, its imperative that we do have a comprehensive understanding of and an agreement with clearly written goals of the superintendent in order to facilitate an effective evaluation process. I'm Jessica Huizenga. We do not take such a vote lightly., Were not following her contract on that., The way I was appointed is a big problem. In Jessicas contract, since were trying to follow the contracts a little better, it says that she will be evaluated no later than Jan. 1 (2020), Walker said. Liked by Jessica Huizenga, Ed.D This is an unprecedented and difficult moment for Houston parents, educators, and students as they wonder about the future of their schools. Fellow board member Mike Hannon said echoed Tlapas sentiment. A right-to-know request was made for the presentation-in-question, but was rejected by the district and the school board. In a very short amount of time, she gracefully tackled some significant and important items that have long needed attention, positioning MHS to move forward into the future.. The committee will be discussed at our upcoming meeting on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, at the Milford High School lecture hall. She claimed that Huizenga told her to send a letter to her. Join Facebook to connect with Jessica Huizenga and others you may know. Your support makes this news available to everyone. Ill sit here and be very respectful in my last term, he said. Hello! We must strive to incorporate feedback directly from the superintendent, district employees, administrators, parents, and students, she said. Thats unfortunate, but thats the world we live in., Weve created our own monster based on what goes on down in D.C.,. And not just with wild, personal attacks., I thought I would be able to support the community of Milford from whatever seat I was in,, Because I dont look as the chair as being the boss of the district. I didnt want it to look like we were bossing the district around. In that April . Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. And thats the way the board should function. Already subscribe? 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. People think I was thrusted upon them. Mr. Bliss was named permanent superintendent on Sept. 22, 2015, but resigned the following month. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
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