School Committee Votes To Allow Reorganization On Majority Vote
Chairwoman Anita McGuire-Forcier tells fellow members to "grow up."
Photos
School Committee Vice Chair Vimala D. Phongsavanh said Wednesday she's interested in taking over as chair of the board if Chair Anita McGuire-Forcier is voted out.
After the Woonsocket School Committee voted to allow reorganization at any time on a majority vote during Wednesday's meeting, that seems likely. The Woonsocket Budget Commission was seeking legal advice on whether they had the authority to block the re-organization, but did not take action on the matter this week.
Two votes during the School Committee's next meeting, one to re-organize, another to elect a new chair, are required to name a new chair, said McGuire-Forcier. She said both could happen during the same meeting.
Audio of the meeting can be reviewed at Mywoonsocket.com's "In their own words" page, under the heading: June 27, 2012 School Committee Meeting, #s 20-24.
An amendment suggested by Committee member Chris Roberts to require a super-majority vote for reorganizing the Committee failed with only McGuire-Forcier and Roberts supporting it.
Roberts asked if there was anyone on the board interested in taking McGuire-Forcier's place. Phongsavanh said she would, and Roberts suggested that she recuse herself from a vote on naming a new chair, since it created a conflict of interest in granting her an additional $250 in the stipend for the position. "You will now be voting on a conflict of interest to give yourself additional money." He said that in the event Vimala did not recuse herself, he would send a letter informing the Ethics Commission of the vote.
School Committee Counsel Richard Ackerman said he would look into whether Phongsavanh was allowed to vote for herself.
"It is my firm belief that our chairperson has lost sight of the vision of the School Committee," said Committee member John Donlon, focusing on financial matters instead of the education of the city's children and setting policies for the district.
"We are responsible and entrusted with the proper allocation of all federal, state and local dollars. This is written in our RI general laws, so I don't understand how you can say it's not our job," McGuire-Forcier said, quoting from RI General Law 16-2-9, which gives the School Committee the responsibility for the budget.
"So, it is our job. And we are in such a financial crisis, this needs to be made number one priority," McGuire-Forcier said. She said Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan has said her primary focus is on finance, as have officials at the RI Department of Education.
"So this is a political spin you're trying to put on it, trying to make it look like I'm doing a bad job," she said. "If I'm busy in finance and I'm doing a good job, and I'm attending everything and participating, you don't punish someone for that."
"If you guys want to continue going this way, I would feel better not being chair, because the last thing I'd want is three people constantly playing political games while our city is going down the tubes. And in my opinion, grow up," McGuire-Forcier said.
The motion to alter the bylaws was approved, with McGuire-Forcier and Roberts voting no.
Mike Kind
3:41 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
When the Budget Commission and/or receiver tell us how much we are allowed to spend to educate our students, we'll see the value to concentrating on seeing how far we can make those dollars go. Vimala's mysterious vote against an independent investigation greatly troubles me. This turmoil will do nothing to help our situation.
Still Hope
4:34 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
The Bacon and Egg audit is online. You can read each and every page if you are interested in performing your own free investigation. The sentiment that is clearly stated time and again in that audit is "poor policy for reporting use of fund", essentially too many people coming and going with too little paper trail. How many people in the past 10 years have been accountable for the WED finance? A dozen? More? You can trace the numbers and conclude that there was no thievery, but rather mismanagement of reporting. In plain English: suckas couldn't balance a checkbook.
Do you really need the state police to run an investigation to tell you exactly the same?
la_mouffette
5:13 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Bacon and Edge audit, January of 2011
http://www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us/WED%20Performance%20Audit%20Final.pdf
russell archambault
5:27 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
i wish i could get through peoples head that spending money has nothing to do with educating our dear children. this whole thing has nothing to do with education !!! its about running a proper business effectively. theres so much more that just school teachers, teaching. I have a friend who is (yes an overpaid) teacher. the chaos and waste that goes on in these schools is overwhelming. teachers just do their own little thing, thats ok with me,for now. its everything else that going wrong. what does the school committee do anyway, except talk about teachers and busing and not paying attention to the money. i need to learn so much more. I DO KNOW ONE THING,SPENDING MONEY DOES NOT EQUAL EDUCATION
XBOXONE RULES
6:35 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
$66.9 million
Still Hope
8:22 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Thank you for the link la_m. I was actually thinking of the Braver audit. When you look near the end, it basically says repeatedly "Woonsocket's policies and procedures for accounting and bookkeeping suck." The shitty part is, the auditors keep stating this year after year with little to no fix coming from past OR present officials. Why was everyone surprised at a mystery deficit when Braver told us time and again it would happen? Again, I ask, do you still want to spend the time and $ on a formal investigation or would like to reread the reports for free?
2010
http://www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us/Final%20Audited%20FS%20City%20of%20Woonsocket%206-30-2010.pdf
2011
http://www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us/City%20of%20Woonsocket%20Annual%20Report%20June%2030%202011.pdf
RBeau
4:12 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I will never vote for Vimala again for anything ! I think many people had high hopes for her before, but she has done absolutely nothing since being elected. I thought that she would be a breath of fresh air from the typical politics of the likes of Elly Nadeau, but now Vimala is climbing into bed with those same people only to further her own political career. Making it worse is that she is saying that its "for the children". She should be run out of town with the worthless superintendent as well.
XBOXONE RULES
6:17 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
RBeau really i do beleive Dr.Donoyan is tring extremely hard to fix the problem it's the three stooges on the school committee that won't move past childish behavior.
John
4:20 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Anitia McGuire- Forcier is the hardest working member of the Committee.
She attends Counsel Meetings, Budget Commision meetings, Testifies at the state house for more funding for Woonsocket's Schools and even teaches the children body safety in the schools.
Jon Donlon has done nothing since he was elected. He shows up to the School Committee meetings every other week and collects a check, he's useless.
Eleanor Nadeau should resign. It is my belief she has single handely brought Woonsocket to bankruptcy from her seat on the School Committee.
She was on the Finance sub-committee for 6 years and never knew there was a deficit?
She was on the sub-committee that hired Dr. Macera, Dr. Gerardi, Bob Strom (failed finance director), Stacey Busby (another finance director) and now Dr. Annoyan.
Ellie's 0 for 5. She needs to be out!!!!
Vimala Says she's a visionary but never has a vision. She talks in circles but never has any concrete or actionable ideas.
Vimala says she is sick of talking about finances but the financial house is on fire!! Vimala should grow up. You can't stop talking about it because you don't feel like it anymore!! What are you 5 years old?
John Troll
5:04 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
You speak of everyone on the school committee, what do you have to say about Roberts?
John
6:08 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
@John Troll, Chris Roberts also works hard on the School Committee but in my opinion he's belongs in the State House representing Woonsocket not on the School Committee arguing with the three stooges (Nadeau, Donlon & Vimala).
Norman R Pelland
7:39 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
John, I couldn't agree with you more. Those three stooges should grow up and RESIGN!!!!!
Memere
7:48 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Ms. McGuire-Forcier may be hard-working but she does not have a degree in anything and really does not understand state regulations. Her behavior at the school committee meetings that I have attend as a taxpayer has been sometimes less than professional.
Chuck
8:44 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Bless your hearts.
Frank A
1:18 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
@John, your comments exemplify what is wrong with our governing bodies. Its always about placing blame and bringing attention to others' weaknesses and mistakes. Professionalism is almost completely non-existent. You speak of resigning and "growing up". How about work off of each others' strengths? You can think they are incompetent at many things, but EVERYONE has something to bring to the table. If we can't identify assets in our SC, how are we ever going to do so in our schools? If we fail to understand this, I believe we are doomed. Good luck getting "qualified" people to run for local office. Educated people don't want to stick around Woonsocket, nor do they want to get involved and be exposed to this nonsense. You can't try anything new or different without getting criticized. This is why we need to work with what we got - the people willing to sit in the seat. I commend Chris Roberts for asking great questions, anticipating legal pitfalls and ethics violations. Having someone like that on the team creates balance, however, too many negative anticipations will hinder any positive progression. The SC needs to work together, personal feelings aside, and do everything it takes, finances and beyond, to improve our schools. The damage is done - lets rebuild.
PAC MEMBER
4:39 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Vimala also voted no to have the State come in to help the school department. She is to busy working on forming a colalition in the city. The sad thing about it our city already has one called the Woonsocket Prevention Colalition. Who is next to be burnt. NON-Profit! NON-Profi!!t NON-Profit!!! That's what she cares about!
Frank A
12:44 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Woonsocket has many coalitions, that focus on many issues. WPC is one of many. WPC does not focus on improving education, like the tax payer coalition does not focus on substance abuse prevention.
John
6:14 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Frank A, It is the After School Coalition that works with WED to improve education. Vimala refuses to recognize this organization is already in place?
PAC MEMBER
5:00 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Still Hope (Dr. Donoyan), You ask "How many people in the past 10 years have been accountable for the WED finance". I know of two, Eleanor Nadeau and Marc Dubois. They were both on the Finance Sub-Committee of the School Committee for 6 to 8 years and never knew there was a deficit.
When McGuire- Forcier would ask at school committee meetings if spending was inline with the budget they both told her to mind her own business, it was not her sub-committee to wrry about.
Now we have another incompetent Superintendent that talks in cicles and can't answer anything that she ia asked.
XBOXONE RULES
6:25 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Can you prove that pac member because i don't ever recall the superintendent telling any member of the school committe to maybe mr gerardi or dr macera did but not (Dr.Donoyan) so don't put a false remarks into the conversation
John
6:35 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Robert Lamarre Jr., I didn't say the the super told McGuire-Forcier to mind her own business. Read my post it clearly states Eleanor Nadeau and Marc Dubois told her that. So please don't put false remarks about my comments.
la_mouffette
5:15 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Eugh.
XBOXONE RULES
6:45 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
sorry john my bad
Jerry
5:24 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
"mind your bussiness" was the same response she got from Nadeau last year when she sought information about the "transparent" (remember that word Vimala?) search process that brought in this dope of a superintendent.
Donovan again said the other night she's only been here 10 months. Is she still under warranty? Can we send her and her unicorns and lollipops educational nonsense back to North Providence?
XBOXONE RULES
6:27 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
WOW really she has done more as superintendent than anyother superintendent this city has ever had. Might i remind you she only has to answer to the budget commission and the school committee and thats it
Carole
5:36 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I certainly hope no one in Woonsocket is crazy enough to re-elect Vimala, Ellie, nor Donolan! They are definitely helping to support the case for an appointed School Committe. I encourage all three of them to step down now so qualified candidates can be appointed now to help the school department and the city get through these difficult times. Please take the worthless superintendent with you!
Maguire-Forcier and Roberts are the only two on this Committee that make sense.
Vimala wants to be chair. Ridiculous! She's been on the committee for 3 years and what has she done? I've barely heard her speak until the last meeting!
I wish the Budget Commission could put a stop to this insanity!
David T
12:42 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Carole,
It will depend on the other candidates, right? What bright person, in their right mind, would want to knowingly inherit this mess? Here we are, 7/4/12 and we already know we will not have the 12 million in state aide next April because the state gave it to us now. The only difference between the school year that just ended and the one starting in September is we KNOW there is a deficit. Plus, I hope, we have a better understanding of the budget and it has been completely re-written.
The CITY's elected officials are trying hard to blame someone for the financial mess, other than the CITY. But the city has watched the mess unfold from the beginning. They are not blameless. WED belongs to the CITY.
The school department and SC, not one member, can really say they are blameless. Even Chris and Anita.
If the residents of Woonsocket are fortunate to have new and qualified candidates for any of the SC seats, then there will be a real choice. But after the last few years, ALL elected official from the council all the way to the mayor should be squirming in there seats, and for good reason.
The superintendent question, do we get rid of her or not? Why do people want to vilify her more than any of the other city elected officials, who, most have been around for many years and some served on the SC.
russell archambault
6:09 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
does anybody know what it takes to fire the superintendent. without a court battle. let the woonsocket residents understand and demand and put pressure on the school committee, if we are going to restructure lets do it all at once. then we will start seeing changes.
XBOXONE RULES
6:29 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
"So, it is our job. And we are in such a financial crisis, this needs to be made number one priority," McGuire-Forcier said. She said Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan has said her primary focus is on finance, as have officials at the RI Department of Education.
John
6:17 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I would like to know what it would take to get people to show up at the next School Committee meeting to show support for McGuire-Forcier? The last thing this city needs is the focus taken away from the WED's Finances!
XBOXONE RULES
6:36 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I'll show up
la_mouffette
6:47 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Forget that Dance Party at the bowling alley....
Now THAT is something to promote!
russell archambault
8:07 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
@ john can you let me know what date and place , next school meeting. i have to admit ive never followed before, but its never too late. i really want to be more informed first hand. thanks
David T
1:10 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
CITY of WOONSOCKET
I
Mayor and City Council
I
FIRE POLICE SCHOOL DEPT
I would support anyone in and out of city government who can fix this problem. Many people wouldn't or couldn't stop this tsunami and many were part of the problem, which didn't just start last winter. Anita and the entire team were in way over their heads. The city could only think of one way to fix this, taxes.
John, I've attended many meetings and haven't seen any reason why you would want to support Anita as the leader of this board. I like her but the magnitude of this problem far surpasses her talents. In fact, I don't know if there is anyone who is qualified to take over. Did she do enough, before the deficit, to demand more and get more hard facts? Did the CITY do enough to do the same?
I would like the CITY of WOONSOCKET to be more directly responsible for the CITY of WOONSOCKET EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. It's part of the city, not a separate entity.
And yes, any city's or town's school department should focus on finances, but be capable of focusing on that and other issues. Heck, the City should focus on finances of all it's departments, including the school.
XBOXONE RULES
6:22 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
WOW do any of you read the articles the superintendent and school committe chair are the only ones worried about the fiancials of our school department. But i'm sure once people hear this i'm gonna get the normal feed back so LET'S HEAR IT NEIGHBORS!! POOR IT ON I'M A BIG BOY
Norman R Pelland
6:56 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I plan on attending. We must show mutual support for both Anita McGuire-Forcier and Chris Roberts ... and I agree that the other three, Vimala, Donlon and Nadeau RESIGN or we will VOTE THEM OUT at the next election. I may even consider running against them. Enough with all this political game playing.
Anonymous
8:17 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I'm foggy on educational issues because I truly value it. Here's a question though. What is more important attendance or judgement? Which is valued more?
la_mouffette
8:33 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I'm not sure I understand your question.
Do you mean, attending meetings vs. understanding them?
Or are you talking about the school committee chairperson?
Anonymous
9:47 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
School Comittee Members judgement on issues, or their attendance to the meetings. What's more important in your opinion?
Anything else needed to clarify? Maybe the pool?
la_mouffette
10:19 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I'd say they are equally important.
And yes, please do. I really need a swim after today's heat =)
Frank A
12:24 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I believe judgement on issues is more important than simply attending meetings. You can attend all the meetings you want - but if you don't contribute anything then whats the point?
taxed2death
10:28 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
What you need, mouffette, is to get that frustration out on the dance floor...the Sexy Saturday Dance Party dance floor, that is. Join us!!! We're gonna rave all night! We can discuss all this nonsense while getting our groove on! You comin'?
John
11:35 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I encourage everyone to attend the next school committee meeting to speak in support of Anita McGuire-Forcier during the good & welfare segment of the meeting. Maybe we can change Vimala's mind, she is obviously easily persuaded if Nadeau and Donlon could do it.
I also ask that everyone that cares about our school system and pays taxes in this city call Nadeau, Donlon and Vimala to express their disgust in what they are about to do. Let's make them talk about 10 million reasons why they should discuss the schools finances!!!! Have your friends and family call too!
Here are their phone numbers (as elected officials these are public information):
Eleanor Nadeau 401-636-1347
John Donlon 401-525-1734
Vimala Phongsavanh 401-378-1949
DonQ
6:53 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Proof once again that Phongsavnh, Nadeau and Donlon should be run out of town on a rail. These are the three most incompetent bums ever elected to the School Committee. The morons don't think they should be concerned about finances. That is exactly why the School Department has been so out of control with their spending. Anyone who doesn't think that Donoyon is orchestrating this power play is sadly mistaken. She wants to be able to spend money unabated and Forcier-McGuire is insisting on fiscal responsibility. If Vimala is appointed Chairman, you watch the deficit grow out of sight.
Memere
9:50 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Someone should definitely be run out of town on a rail but it is not the 3 that you mentioned. Someday - hopefully soon - the truth will come out.
It is true that Chris Robert has a degree but it is not in education (finance maybe?) Vimala has a degree but it is not in education. Donlon and Mrs. Nadeau I am not sure about. You did have a person with a masters degree in education on the school committee at one time and all Anita did was argue with everything that she did. It should be a prerequisite that whoever sits on the school committee has at the very least a degree and preferably in education so that they may better understand the rules and regulations put forth by the Dept of Ed. There should also be at least 1 person on the school committee with a degree in finance to better understand the financial aspect. Come on guys, would you hire a chef to rewire your house or would you hire a plumber to perform your surgery? It's only common sense. For this very important job of educating our children and administering the finances for the schools should'nt we have people on the school committee that are qualified to do this? Mrs. Mcguire-Forcier really wants to help our schools but I seriously question her qualifications. And I know many will not agree with this post but this is my opinion.
russell archambault
7:43 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
@L A SWIMMING in woonsocket i dont think so. i think someone pulled the plug at world war two park. they took out the pool years ago on social street. took out the wading pool in fairmount. cass park has water but you cant swim there. harris pond is a nono.
la_mouffette
12:29 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I guess that leaves one of the gyms or...pool hopping, lol?
There was a wading pool in Fairmount? I had no idea..where was it?
John
11:32 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
The next school committee meeting is Wednesday July 18th 7:00pm at the Hamlet Middle School.
We really need to fill that cafeteria with support for Mrs. McGuire-Forcier and Mr. Roberts against the union puppets that have no clue that this city is in a financial crisis!!
Yvette M Ayotte
9:08 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
I think all of this is just BS!!!
Do you really think we care if they get along or not, we care that they concentrate at the matters at hand and stop bickering. Once the finances are established, then and only then will you be able to tell exactly what our children will be getting for an education. Stop stabbing each other in the back, there's way too much of that going on in this city and it's sickening!!!! Concentrate on wlhat your suppose to, get the finances straight!!!!
russell archambault
8:45 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
L A . i have photos of it . it was at the beginning or bottom of the project in the field. L A only thing left is your sprinkler, ill be over in my bathing suit. can i bring along, taxed and the others?
John
4:16 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I just read Vimala's article in The Call. The title is "Actions always speak louder the words". This is ridiculous coming from someone who writes columns every week speaking of visions but has not done anything or accomplished anything on the School Committee in three years! When will we see some results or even an actionable plan from all these visions your having Vimala?
I have a vision too. I see a school system that manages their money properly so the children of Woonsocket can maintain sports, music the arts (not to mention electricity, heat and teachers in front of the classroom) and the things that keep them interested in school.
I challenge Vimala to outline an actionable and measurable plan in her next article instead of fluff, fluff, fluff, unicorns and rainbows and yet more fluff. A quote from Yoda??? Really??
russell archambault
5:43 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
@ john; i also read the article, and i asked the same question, alot of really nice nothing. you can tell that she has no plan. i wish i could write that well !!