Just another administrative outrage. CT hired Guilfoil (police department spinmaster with former MFP journalist Sacco) without ever going to her boss (the SC) first, as was made clear in Tuesday's School Committee meeting. So while the budget hysteria is getting whipped up by the Dolanites and MEF, another almost 10 grand is committed to spin the facts instead of administrators doing their f-ing jobs and simply telling the truth. Maybe CT should have insisted that the 10K come from the mayor's free gift to MEF of our taxpayer dollars!

CT and her incompetent Biz Mgr think they have the right to charge anything they want to any line item, move funds any which way, and they get away with this because they are being advised by the 2nd floor of city hall and because the community is asleep at the wheel.

Time for all of us to call for this super to be fired, along with those who have brazenly colluded with her and disgraced this community--the asst. super(s), the city solicitor, and any/all on the SC who have conspired to keep the truth from the community.

School Committee Meeting 1.26.16
https://vimeo.com/153189115

oh, and the really rich part was when CT claimed that her team "is not educated in the art of communication"! Really? And for $180,000 we didn't have the right to expect that telling the truth to the press and community would be part of her job?

Let's remember that Margaret Driscoll and her merry band of incompetents, hired this super knowing that she had no prior experience - other than she was a "snappy" dresser and was outspoken - certainly great attributes helping her in Melrose. In other places -we call this style without substance!

Thanks to Carrie Kourkoumelis for pointing out the outrageousness of the Superintendent using budget dollars set aside for educating our children for a $800 per month PR firm to help hide just how bad things are.

Also heard that the biz manager is leaving in April. This is the guy who couldn't explain to Kourkoumelis how over $10,000 in legal invoices for the defense of the superintendent's Civil Rights debacle of her own making were being hidden as "toshiba phones" on the warrant that she was voting on. That's when Dolan jumped in, disparaging Carrie for bringing up such a sensitive topic, although Carrie gave it right back to him.

Anyone notice that Dolan has changed his seat? Not only does he now sit next to O'Connell (and the two were deep in conversation for a good part of the meeting - guess we know how Ed will be voting), but he also doesn't have to sit next to DeSelm. Someone try to convince me there isn't an unstated message there - and yet he either seems totally unaware of it or just doesn't care. Given the current climate, you'd think he's take pains to project otherwise. Astonishing.

If everything is too sensitive to discuss in the meetings - then pray tell - why have a school committee? Maybe the Mayor can answer that question - while he plays musical chairs in the hall - wouldn't be surprised to see him sitting in the public seats next meeting.

Waiting to see how diverse Dolan's appointments to the new women's commission will be. Great article in FP today about the MHRC and Follow Your Art's sponsorship of a MAP showing the city's growing differences.

Just a note to clarify... if you review the minutes from the first meeting in january, I think you'll find it was MD that changed the seating pattern, not RD.

Yes, and thanks to that reporter, Leibowitz, for giving a clearer window into all of this. The Business MisManager has now stated on tv that he is using E-rate monies for a purpose other than what is allowed. Reimbursements for grant money already spent may in some cases technically be used any way the district pleases, but stating publicly that they are being used for a purpose clearly not having anything to do with the legal guidelines is highly questionable at best and perhaps not allowed at all. Will someone please find out?

The central issue around money in Dolan and Taymore's world is that they feel entitled to move taxpayer dollars around any old place they find themselves needing it or wanting it (as in buying votes or trying to keep themselves from being fired when illegal actions are discovered). The budgets they create really mean nothing the way the use them. The BOA is far better at keep tabs on it than the completely dysfunctional and law-breaking school committee and administration; at least they try to go through motions making it appear legitimate when they have votes to transfer funds. The school admin just pretend at this, and then bypass it all when they get tired or just resort to their normal shoddy work process or when they clearly are trying to hide things (as they most obviously are now). This business of "voting the bottom line" is designed to give the pols maximum deniability and the administration (cityside and schools) maximum control, while leaving plenty in their various Slush Funds (and don't kid yourself that they don't have them because they do, in spades!). It's a mess, and it needs to be fixed!

Bad news -our school business manager has now been hired at Northeast Voc School so he can do to them what he did for us - screwed up our financials so no one knows what's going on! Why is bad news for us you ask? Because Melrose pays a portion of the cost for the voc-ed school!

I would like to know what he is going to do when Taymore is not sitting near him to tell him what he needs to do - the guy is totally out-to-lunch!

The Voc-Ed trustees must be like our own school committee to hire this guy!

School Committees are required under the Selected General Laws of Massachusetts. The major reason is to keep adults responsible to kids and keep adults from stealing from kids needs in the budget. When PR firms are hired and lawyers make major money from poor administration, kids lose. Period.