This superintendent needs to go.It is time fire her.
By supporting our school administration crime family (with it's tentacles reaching into the city solicitor's office, mayor's office and school committee chair) we have been prevented from moving this school district forward since 2012. Honestly, what person with any morals would support an administration that habitually obstructs justice by flaunting civil rights laws, open Meeting laws, illegally withholds public documents from the public (even our own elected school committee members!), retaliates against complainants or anyone who criticizes the administration by filing false police reports and false harassment complaints against them, files or threatens to file false child abuse reports with DCF against them...and on an on.. And you really thought Trump was bad?? Look in your own backyard my friend!
It is so hard when you work in the schools and your children attend the Melrose Schools. I can see how the schools are struggling with the changes in students and parents every year. I cant understand the lack of respect the staff show for working in a wonderful place like Melrose. The staff is a huge eye sore and its going to stay this way till someone makes a move for Melrose to succeed. Starting with the superintendent doing interviews for the principals positions. In the long term you will see a school system caring for the children.
The real question.Whats going on at the schools?
Keep on electing these idiots on the school committee and this stuff will only get worse- wake up people - the SC hires the super - the super is incompetent and arrogant to boot! Connect the friggin dots! And angel-hearing, Margaret Driscoll leads the lemmings - what else do you expect?
Respect The Rights Of Others. Treat others as you want to be treated, everyone has a right to live in the same world you live in. If only that was true in the schools in Melrose.
It would of been cheaper to put up a new high school and new administration!
Respect The Rights Of Others. Treat others as you want to be treated, everyone has a right to live in the same world you live in. If only that was true in the Mystic Valley Charter School.
As white parents of five black children, Deanna and Aaron Cook have taught their family to grow thick skin. They’ve endured odd looks at the grocery store in Malden, Mass., and ignored strange comments from Walmart greeters.
But nothing, Aaron Cook told The Washington Post, quite prepared them for the month-long battle they’ve been fighting with the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School over their daughters’ hair.
On April 14, twins Deanna and Mya Cook, 15, told their parents they wanted to have their hair professionally braided. The girls had always braided it themselves or had it chemically straightened, but as teens they were learning more about black culture and wanted to try something new.
Soon after, they went to school with long, braided hair.
The next day, the girls were called to the office for a “uniform infraction.”
Hair extensions are prohibited in the public charter school’s student handbook, alongside nail polish, makeup and dyed hair because it is “distracting.” An administrator told Deanna and Mya that their new braids — which combine artificial hair with their own hair — violated that rule.
The girls were instructed to remove their braids and they refused. The policy, they argued, was discriminatory against African American students and unevenly enforced.
With each day since, punishments from the school have escalated, Aaron Cook said, so much so that he and his wife eventually sought guidance from the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Civil Liberties Union. Deanna, a runner who qualified for the state finals, has been kicked off the school track team. Mya was removed from the softball team and told she couldn’t attend the prom.
Last week, the fourth in turmoil, ended with the girls on the local news and sharp statements of support from the state association of charter schools, the ADL and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice.
“Denying young black women their opportunity to express their cultural identity will not make the school safer, more orderly, or less ‘distracting,’” the committee said in a statement. “It will diminish your students, and diminish your ranks. Doing this to high school students at a time when they are learning about self-expression and self-advocacy is particularly troubling.”
In response, the school’s interim director, Alexander Dan, sent a letter to all Mystic Valley parents defending the policy. The charter school, the letter said, “promotes equity” with dress code policies that reduce “visible gaps between those of different means.”
“The specific prohibition on hair extensions, which are expensive and could serve as a differentiating factor between students from dissimilar socioeconomic backgrounds, is consistent with our desire to create such an educational environment, one that celebrates all that our students have in common and minimizes material differences and distractions,” Dan wrote. “Any suggestion that it is based on anything else is simply wrong.”
Mya and Deanna Cook at Fenway Park in Boston. (Courtesy of the Cook family)
Cook declined to disclose how much the family paid for the professional braiding, but said the actual bag of artificial hair was only $5. According to an analysis by the Boston Globe, hair extensions woven into braids in the greater Boston area can cost between $50 and $200 and last up to three months. That price, Cook told The Post, is no more expensive than the chemical straightening Deanna and Mya had previously done and on par with the price of other hairstyles.
Frustrated students at the school Friday told the Boston Globe that they had experienced racial ignorance at the school, which is located about 10 miles north of Boston.
The student body is fairly diverse, which is part of the reason the Cooks chose it years ago for their five adopted children. Of the 1,500 students there in grades K-12, 43 percent are people of color and within that, 17 percent are black, according to numbers from U.S. News and World Report.
But just one of the 170 teachers and staffers at Mystic Valley is black, reported the Boston Globe, and Cook said there are no African Americans on the school’s board of trustees.
“That has to change,” he told The Post.
Cook added: “The school needs some serious diversity training.”
Other young women of color have worn their hair in braided extensions before, but the Cooks claim there was a crackdown on students after spring break of this year.
Another mother at the school, Annette Namuddu, told the Globe that her daughter was assigned a detention for wearing braids to school. When she refused to remove them, the detention turned into a suspension.
“It’s discrimination,” Namuddu said. “I see white kids with colored hair and you are not supposed to color your hair, and they walk around like it’s nothing.”
Another mother, Kathy Granderson, told the Globe her daughter was among about 20 girls who were called to the office and asked if they wore “fake” hair. Half were assigned detentions.
Colleen Cook with daughters Deanna, left, and Mya. (Courtesy of the Cook family)
The Cook sisters served detention time but then quit going. Now, the punishments for their insubordination are piling up. On Friday, they were sent home with another letter saying they each had to serve six hours of detention to make up for the sessions they missed.
Aaron Cook said he and his wife sent a formal letter to the board of trustees two weeks ago asking for a solution and have yet to get a response. If it were up to him, Cook said, he would pull his kids from the school. But the twins have attended Mystic Valley since kindergarten and want to graduate alongside their friends.
So now, the goal is to change the policy and hold the school accountable, he said.
“In effect, this issue is now bigger than my daughters,” Cook said. “At the end of this, we want a better school for our children.”
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said Tuesday she is looking into claims of discrimination at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden.
"We are looking into it. We've been in contact with the school and administrators, and we are taking information, and I'm going to evaluate and make a decision from there," Healey told MassLive.com.
Students of color at the Malden charter school have allegedly been disciplined for wearing their hair in braids through extensions.
Alexander Dan, the interim school director, told parents in a letter last week that the "specific prohibition on hair extensions" is aimed at creating an educational environment that "celebrates all that our students have in common and minimizes material differences and distractions." He added, "Any suggestion that it is based on anything else is simply wrong."
But groups like the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts say the school's hair and make-up policy is discriminatory and "makes no exceptions for ethnic, religious or cultural practices or medical needs." The ACLU has filed a complaint against the school with the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
ACLU of Massachusetts files complaint about 'discriminatory' hair and makeup policy at Malden charter school
ACLU of Massachusetts files complaint about 'discriminatory' hair and makeup policy at Malden charter school
The ACLU of Massachusetts has filed a complaint against what it calls a "discriminatory hair and makeup policy" after two students at Malden's Mystic Valley Regional Charter School could face suspension for wearing their hair in braids with extensions.
Healey's office has been in touch with parents and the Anti-Defamation League.
"Anytime you see allegations like this, it's concerning, and we want to be able to get the information that we need and be ready to act as quickly as possible, in the interests of the students," Healey said after speaking to business leaders at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast inside the Fairmont Copley Hotel. "That's what this is about."
Healey has a civil rights division within her office that "reviews and responds to civil rights complaints alleging deprivations of, or interference with, civil rights and civil liberties," according to its website.
"The [Attorney General's Office] may bring enforcement action, where appropriate, may mediate disputes, or may refer complainants to other resources," the website adds.
Students wearing braids face detention, suspension at Massachusetts charter school
Students wearing braids face detention, suspension at Massachusetts charter school
After her daughters received multiple detentions and could face suspension for wearing their hair in braids, Colleen Cook - a charter school parent in Massachusetts - is speaking up.
School sparks fury when officials ask black straight-A student to change her natural hair style because it violates dress code to keep look 'neat and organized'
Nicole Orr was asked to change her hair by officials at Montverde Academy
The black teen typically wears her hair in a natural style but was told it violated her private school's dress code
She felt singled out by the rule as 'Caucasian girls are able to wear their natural hair straight' but she wasn't allowed to wear her hair 'the way that it grows'
School said the rule against 'dread-like' hair had been 'in line with that neat and organized look that we're going for'
Montverde, in Florida, has since reversed the decision and removed the rule
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4511466/School-asks-black-teen-change-natural-hair.html#ixzz4hNidynaN
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
What has that got to do with More Staff Leaving the High School?
I agree with a poster a while ago that it's time for this string to die!
The principal and VP at the high school have no comprehension on what is going on in MHS. The students are running the high school with all the gadgets they have. The educators have failed because no one is learning. It is a free for all and its only getting worse.
The real question.Whats going on at the schools?what is going on in MHS.
Thinking before you speak or do something. It's about knowing that every day, the choices we make can and will affect our lives. It's about being accountable for our choices in life. We have the right to make our decisions every day, and every day is a new day.
The Massachusetts Attorney General's office has informed the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School that its hair and makeup policy violates state and federal law and that portions of it "effectively single out students of color."
MVMMS and MHS Beat Bullying.Org this is a major concern in the schools. It will educate the staff and students.
What did you expect? There are more really stupid people in Melrose than anywhere else in the civilzed world.
My parents could only afford the public school so that's my education.
you are talking about yourself because teachers you taught me. Now my children are in the Hoover school and doing fantastic. I am sad to learn as a parent the teachers that are leaving the school sooner than they would of because its failed the Melrose public schools. Next September back to the first year teachers who lack confidence and respect for teachers in the classrooms.
Lesson to be learned: Change the school superintendent . short of this nothing changes.
He voted for this monster, and he would never admit he made a mistake. He's had plenty of opportunities to. Superintendent Cyndi Taymore.just didn't measure up.
Clean the swamp out of the Melrose schools and then the cities reputation will come back.
They have completely forgotten their oath of office.
The school committee members feel they are shielded from responsibility.Not Responsible for anything to do with the superintendent.Melrose pub schools.
MALDEN, MA -- Two days after the state Attorney General's Office ordered Mystic Valley Regional Charter School officials to "immediately cease'' its hair and makeup policy, the school board voted Sunday night to suspend its policy prohibiting hair extensions.
Board members voted unanimously to suspend the policy at least until the end of the year.
Twin 15-year-old sisters Deanna and Mya Scott, and their mother Colleen Cook, went public with their complaint that school officials were punishing the twins for wearing hair extensions, which critics claim was discriminatory against blacks.
The school claimed the girls were in violation of the school's hair and makeup policy.
Since late April, Mystic Valley has refused to allow the sisters to participate in school events and imposed repeated detentions and on the twin sisters, who are biracial and wear hair extensions.
The school’s dress code prohibits extensions — additional hair that is woven in the girls' natural hair — citing them as an example of a style that is “distracting” to other students and can highlight economic differences between students.
But at an emergency meeting on Sunday, the school board voted to to suspend or impose detentions on the girls, and to reinstate them for all school events.
In a letter sent to Mystic Valley Regional Charter School on Friday, state Attorney Genersl Maura Healy's office said it has "significant concerns about, and is investigating, the substance and application of (the school's) Hair/Makeup policy, particularily as it has been applied to prohibit students of color from wearing certain hair styles - and to punish them for doing so,'' NECN reports.
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The AG's Office ordered Mystic Valley officials to "immediately cease enforcing or imposing discipline for violations'' of the school’s hair and makeup policy.
Since late April, Mystic Valley has imposed repeated detentions on the twin sisters, who are biracial, and wear hair extensions. The school’s dress code prohibits extensions — additional hair that is woven in the girls' natural hair — citing them as an example of a style that is “distracting” to other students and can highlight economic differences between students.
When the sisters refused to remove the hair extensions, they were also banned from participating in sports, the Latin Club and they were prohibited from attending other school events, including the prom, according to reports.
The school’s policy also bans hair that is “more than 2 inches in thickness or height,” an apparent reference to “Afros” that are most likely to be worn by male and female black students, according to the attorney general’s office.
A spokesman for the school could not be reached for comment Friday night.
But Alexander J. Dan, Interim School Director, told NECN “We are in receipt of the letter from the attorney general’s office and it will be reviewed by the board of trustees at a meeting that has been called for Sunday night.”
Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts filed a complaint against the charter school with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary School Education, alleging that the school's hair and makeup policy is discriminatory.
The ACLU of Massachusetts wrote in a statement, "The policy discriminates on race, gender, national origin, religion and disability. Our complaint seeks a new policy with an immediate halt to discriminatory actions based on the existing policy.
If all these IEP's are continually being violated has anyone inside the school notified the parents? If these children's rights are being violated and no one is telling anyone that will do anything about it they should! These are the most fragile members of our community.
http://www.mass.gov/dppc/abuse-report/who-are-mandated-reporters.html
If these children are being neglected inside the school and their IEP's are being continually violated the teachers are mandated to report it.
It is time for are superintendents and assist. superintendents be fired.
The end of the year is approaching us soon. September new first year insecure teachers with no experience. So many are going to other districts to be able to teach the children their own way of teaching. Cyndy and Margaret have the teachers teaching like a robot.
Teachers asking students if parents go on Melrose Messages
Good evening to you all, after reading this post I am not surprised that school administrative teachers are asking students, 'do the parents post on the message board?' The truth of the whole thing is, it is none of their business. Apparently the message board is doing the job it's supposed to be doing. That's the freedom of speech. Because when you get down to it, going to a melrose school committee meeting, participating, or speaking at the meeting, if they don't like what you're saying. or talking about you'll never get to talk for five minutes. A real concern here is, why are they asking the students, they play a lot of games here, getting back at students and parents. My message to the school administration and the school committee and our superintendent; if you folks aren't retaliating against other folks that file these complaints, people probably wouldn't go to the message board, but I guess we're at the point, that the message board is having an impact. Because the truth is being spoken, and maybe that is starting to bother the administration folks, our superintendent and probably making our mayor a lot more nervous now. There concern should be, what is the next scandal that is going to happen, if it isn't a scandal, or do we have more corruption coming our way? Maybe the one thing that you should keep in mind is, social media will sure as hell not shut it down. So you need to all grow up, and realize that a lot of the bull that has been going on for sometime now, needs to end. Maybe the best example look at the high turnover of principles. We're almost at the end of the year, how many more teachers are going to leave? Because this isn't about teaching in Melrose, this has to do more with what our superintendent want and some folks on the school committee. Let's add one more thing to this; How many IEP's were on a compliance? Basically in simple language, how many children were missing the services that they deserve and that they should have with their IEP. You folks should be worried about all of us in the community because we're all talking. Not only the folks with children in the school system but also folks with children that are long gone out of the school system. My message to mayor dolan, superintendent; start doing your jobs, teach our children and stop worrying about retaliation against the children and the parents. Sooner or later, someone will take you to court over the possibility of false charges. You all have a great evening, look forward to comments.