What Mayor Bill Finch had once viewed as a governmental credential in his embrace of charter schools and private management of selected schools has become a potential political liability, at least as it applies to Dunbar school that has faced a host of thorny issues, and many personnel changes as a result of the charter school management group that was hired and then booted. The latest revelation, Marilyn Taylor, the Dunbar principal accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a fundraising account of a school serving a poor population in the East End, has once again raised questions about the vetting process of private management groups and their associates overseeing a public school.
Family Urban Schools of Excellence (FUSE), the charter school management group brought in to turn around Dunbar, one of the state’s lowest performing schools, was canned by the city and state this year after revelations its founder Michael Sharpe lied about his academic background and criminal history. Then it was discovered a school worker also had a criminal past, including his name listed on a sex offender registry (unfairly, according to the worker).
Dunbar principal Marilyn Taylor was brought in to transform Dunbar academically by FUSE. She has been removed from the school and interim school chief Fran Rabinowitz says she will not return.
It’s a messy situation and now a potential political liability for a mayor who supports charter schools that operate independently of traditional public schools but receive public dollars that critics argue drain essential resources from needy districts. Dunbar is part of the state’s Commissioner’s Network that receives extra state support.
As we segue into the 2015 election cycle in Finch’s pursuit of a third four-year term, education could be a front-burner issue. Finch will tout school construction as a major accomplishment. His critics will counter what’s the point of external cosmetics if internal school functions are not leading to progress.
No publicly announced opponent has stepped up to challenge Finch who already has $300K socked away in a campaign account. Former Mayor Joe Ganim is actively working the political system for a potential comeback. Finch’s 2011 Democratic primary opponent Mary-Jane Foster says she will make a decision about another run in a few weeks. A primary would take place in September.
Others may also get into the game. What and when will they say something about education?
I disagree with Steve on this issue completely. Education will be an important issue in the next election. Fairchild Wheeler was on the Capital Plan to be built before Mayor Finch was Mayor, and Roosevelt School was, too. Longfellow was on the Capital Plan for a major renovation and was converted to a completely new school because of the contaminants found on the site.
I believe the DTC endorsements are in June, and a perfect birthday present for me would be to have Kenneth Moales, Hernan Illingworth and Kadisha Coates endorsed onto Mayor Finch’s slate.
I am willing to take a four/six-month leave of absence to work for the right candidate. And I am going to do my very best to articulate how absolutely horrific Mayor Finch has been on true public education in Bridgeport. I do not believe he can win in Thomas Hooker. No promises, just a prediction.
Maria, I do believe Education will be an issue, especially with the latest happening at Dunbar. I will say any candidate Maria P. supports is very lucky, simply because I can relate to her one-man army scenario. She is articulate and passionate. Though I do not necessarily agree with all of her posts, if there were a war, I’d want her on my side.
Maria,
Do you know if there are other employees who were hired by FUSE who are now with the BOE or with the city working in schools?
Bob,
I believe there are a few paraprofessionals who are still working in Dunbar School classrooms but no high-level employees were kept.
Elaine Ficarra was “promoted” to run the Barnum Festival because Mayor Finch has taken a beating on every major education initiative/policy he has tried to shove down our throats. Elaine Ficarra had no real knowledge of national, state or local education issues or policies, therefore she had to be replaced.
Mayor Finch/Adam Wood lost on the illegal BBOE takeover, Paul Vallas, the charter referendum, and his three BBOE candidates were blown out of the water. It is certainly no coincidence the communications director for ConnCAN resigned to go work for Mayor Finch. It also no coincidence the former director of FUSE at Dunbar School was hired by Mayor Finch.
These were calculated and strategic moves to help Mayor Finch get ready for his re-election bid.
Maria and Bob …
There are two special ed paraprofessionals who work with special education/needs students at Dunbar. They are both BBOE employees. The Academic Assistants who work in the classrooms were, I believe, hired by CES, the firm that was hired to oversee Dunbar. The only one who was a holdover from FUSE was Marilyn Taylor. The rest of the staff are BBOE employees.
Thank you for clearing that up, lisawhite.
Bob, suddenly you have become so polite and cordial with me. I am sure this sudden turn of events has absolutely nothing to do with the Special election that will be held to fill Andres Ayala’s vacancy. I am sure it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact Thomas Hooker just happens to be part of that district. You are completely transparent.
I would like to think I have become moved by the holiday spirit. Ho, ho, ho; Merry Christmas!!!
Steve, I thought you have previously stated the BBOE will not be an issue in next year’s election? Thanks for the compliment, but I am definitely not a “one-man army.” I work with a variety of teachers, parents and community members. Let’s just hope you are never in a “war.”
Maria, I meant the actual board was not going to be an issue, but the state of education in Bridgeport will definitely be an issue.
Steve, there are four BBOE seats up next year and the BBOE does govern the BPS system, therefore it is all intertwined.
TYISHA TOMS WOULD MAKE A GREAT CANDIDATE.
It seems a lot of attention is being focused on Mayor Finch’s $300,000 warchest. I believe between his candidate committee and IEs he will spend well over $600/700 thousand. You know what they say, “money doesn’t buy you love.”
Don’t get me wrong, money is important, however it isn’t everything.
In Los Angeles, there were two BOE candidates running against each other.
One backed by charter schools spent $55,000 through his candidate committee and another $1.1 million was spent through independent expenditures totaling $1.65 million.
His challenger defeated him in the primary and only spent $14,798, however neither won a majority so they both moved into the general election.
In the general the candidate backed by charter schools spent $152,000 through his candidate committee and $2 million through independent expenditures totaling $2,352,000.
His challenger spent a total of $52,310 and defeated him.
Like I said, “money doesn’t buy you love.”
And your four/six-month leave of absence won’t buy a victory, either.
Local Eyes, no, my leave of absence won’t “buy” a victory, however I am confident I can be instrumental in helping to defeat Mayor Finch. I donated approximately 1,000 hours to the BBOE campaign and raised more money than all five of our BBOE candidates did combined.
I am 100% committed to defeating Mayor Finch and every single one of his BBOE candidates. There are never any guarantees, however I know I can make positive contributions to an opposition candidate’s campaign.
Your confidence is to be admired. However, I am king of the piranha pool and I think you’re choosing the wrong mission. ><}}*< – – – –
Local Eyes, you may be the “king of the piranha pool” in Trumbull, however you are not the king of this Bridgeport born and raised piranha. 🙂
I’m the king of the piranha pool in Bridgeport, too. Here’s how:
www .CoolestDudeinBridgeport.com
YAAFJ
Andrew C Fardy, stop being selfish and start thinking about Lennie. I’d be surprised if he were able to monetize your five-letter acronym. Besides, your brand of awesomeness needs to be lengthened, not shortened.
YAAFJ x 2.
Steven Auerbach, as I said earlier the issue of Marilyn Taylor starts with Mayor Bill Finch and HIS support of FUSE. You keep saying Mayor Finch is out of the loop involving Ms. Taylor, now that’s what you are, a cheerleader.
Again Ron Mackey, the only thing that is painfully clear is not my cheerleading for Bill Finch, it is your non-comment on Marilyn Taylor. Like she is innocent and Finch is to blame. Honestly Ron Mackey, painfully clear. Is Marilyn Taylor that SCUM thief a friend of yours? Does she get a free pass from you and Donald Day? OMG … could it be because she is black? Or do you just have no regard for the indigent of Dunbar. Passing her theft off to Finch is just ludicrous. Save that criticism for anybody running against him. You probably agree with her idiot attorney saying she didn’t mean to steal. Maybe she can join the club enjoyed by a privileged few, Joe Ganim and Ernie Newton and perhaps you can blame Finch for their ills. BTW, you are not insulting me by calling me a Finch cheerleader. You not condemning Marilyn Taylor is more insulting, no?
Steven Auerbach, you just won’t accept the truth, there would have been no Marilyn Taylor if Mayor Bill Finch was not so tight with FUSE, that’s where everything starts. As for Ms. Taylor the courts will handle her. Oh but you want us to hang Ms. Taylor and then move on without finding how she got her position, who okayed it and why was someone from FUSE still working in the school system and what did Mayor Finch do to correct the problem once he became aware of it, but you don’t want to go that far.
Ron, again you have had the opportunity to post a condemnation of Marilyn Taylor, really? Leave it to the courts? We’d have no Marilyn Taylor without Finch? That thought process is a huge stretch. Stratford Ave. would have been developed and had a grocery store if it weren’t for Ernie Newton. Steelepointe would have started with a different developer if Ganim didn’t have a pay to play with Conroy. If the Jews accepted Jesus would we all be Jewish? If, If, If. Let’s address the actual players. If your parents practiced birth control would you be here on OIB, would you have been a spokesperson for the Firebirds and minority firemen? If, If If. The only facts we have is the principal Marilyn Taylor stole $10,000 from the students at Dunbar and you have not commented on it. Save your Finch bashing on this issue for your inner circle.
On another note, the assistant principal at Dunbar should have been appointed principal years ago. That is another travesty. Alyshia Perrin is outstanding and extremely sharp. Didn’t she alert the police?
Steven Auerbach, these are the FACTS: Family Urban Schools of Excellence (FUSE), the charter school management group brought in to turn around Dunbar, one of the state’s lowest performing schools, was canned by the city and state this year after revelations its founder Michael Sharpe lied about his academic background and criminal history. Then it was discovered a school worker also had a criminal past, including his name listed on a sex offender registry (unfairly, according to the worker).
Dunbar principal Marilyn Taylor was brought in to transform Dunbar academically by FUSE.
Ron Mackey, again you fail to condemn Marilyn Taylor. I just do not understand that at all. Let’s just leave it at that. You are more guilty than your assaults on David Walker. You avoid the questions posed directly to you. You attempt to divert attention away from the issue and project it onto the Mayor. He may in fact have to answer for this, but it was Marilyn Taylor who was arrested and stole from the poor. Does it get any more pathetic than that, Ron?
Steven Auerbach, if this makes you happy, let me list a number of actions that can be taken, no court case, let’s hang her at the school, life in prison, cut and quarter her. Anyone who steals money that is for education of children of one of the lowest performing schools in the state is scum and so are those who placed her there because they “knew” the company Taylor worked for, FUSE, was fired from working in Bridgeport and they bought Taylor here, FUSE and Mayor Bill Finch. Steve, when will you accept Finch’s role?
Thank you Ron, I accept everything you say. I am happy. I also totally accept the role of the Mayor. I am only a cheerleader for positives about our great city. The Mayor does not get a free ride for the $500,000 driveway, the Dunbar fiasco, the upcoming revaluation, Tiago’s $90,000 a year job while running a restaurant, the prolonged sexual harassment lawsuit, and I could go on and on and on and on and would enjoy a mayoral debate. I also acknowledge the great things Mayor Finch has accomplished. I can just as easily focus on that. Time will tell. I loved the holiday card with the President, as the Mayor’s number-one cheerleader who shows up and supports the positives, it must have been a gross oversight I did not receive a card. I can live with that. I must be on his shit list or just invisible and unimportant. I can live with that also. I am not one of those people who need a pat on the head.
Steve,
If you would like, I can give you a pat on the head with a baseball bat. Oops, I forgot. Holiday spirit. Make that a wiffle ball bat.
Thank you, Bob Walsh. You can use a regular bat. I have a hard head.
You got that right, all roads lead back to Finch. His refusal to completely cut ties with this group is appalling. Is it worth the quality of our Educational System to be right? Nauseating. Bass Pro or no Bass Pro.
Political positioning for an election in 2015 may be exciting to many, but don’t you have to continue to advocate for necessary funds to operate the schools? If the minimum number to open the doors is $6 Million more than current year, isn’t that what Finch should be wrestling with? Reminded of? And advocating for? In every mention of public education by Ms. Pereira and all others who argue on behalf of Bridgeport school youth on this blog and in all discussions? Time will tell.
These are the reasons why I’m voting for John Gomes for state senate: He has children in the schools, the parents association will back him and so will the police union, not to mention all the credentials he has from UConn.
BPT REBEL, this is the first I am hearing of John Gomes as a candidate for the state senate vacancy. Hasn’t he expressed interest in running for mayor again, and hasn’t he been participating in the mayoral forums throughout Bridgeport? Why do you state “the parents association will back him?” I serve on the District Parent Advisory Council Executive Board and I just spoke with the president of the DPAC and neither of us has any idea what you are writing about???
He sent a text to OIB but Grimaldi did not answer it, must have been busy I guess. He has told everyone he has talked to about it. I went for lunch at his deli and he told me, he has my vote.
BPT REBEL,
Thank you for sharing a potential route John Gomes may follow in the 2015 electoral sweepstakes. I too am curious about school youth parental support claims, now that you’ve raised the issue.
Does the Parent Advisory Council require you to be a resident of Bridgeport, an adult who has reached their majority, and be a parent of a school-age youth, whether in or out of public or charter schools? Any other requirements? Are members of the community at large allowed membership? Are they eligible for office? When and where do they meet? How do they take a position on a local election or State election candidate?
Someone reading this blog should be able to answer such a set of organizational questions. Time will tell.
He is also on vacation in Cape Verde as of today for two weeks, I think.
Was it wise to say he is gone for two weeks? Bridgeport Police, take notice.
This is what I’d call a short political fuse:
www .businessinsider.com/georgian-parliament-members-brawl-video-2014-12
A brawl erupts halfway around the world–any resemblance to Bridgeport pols is coincidental.
YAAFSJ.
Steve, you love mentioning Joe and myself. We can show new development projects while we were in office. When I left office we had a post office, a bank and we were working on a supermarket! Don, Ed and Baker served that community. What in hell did they do?
GOOD POINT, ERNIE. Maybe we should blame the constituents for not demanding anything. Do we measure ourselves with individuals who do not make an impact, or support together raising the bar and demanding action and results? Personally Ernie, I do not put you and Joe Ganim in the same group. You could have achieved so much more. I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU BROUGHT MONEY BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY. Joe Ganim on the other hand had such great potential. HE PUT A POSITIVE FACE ON THE CITY. He was just a huge disappointment. I believe Joe Ganim could have really become the Governor. He really had it all going on. Granted, I was the biggest supporter of his opponent, but I voted for Ganim more than once. Ernie, you could have done so much more. I could not have cast a vote for you living outside of the district. I am in your district frequently and although the area has been improving, I do not credit you with that as just an evolution and some gentrification. I do respect your desire to serve. I do know many of your neighbors love you. I know you like to see yourself as the Moses of your peeps, but the people are still wandering in the wilderness. They may already be in the promised land but their leader would not get the 40 years to realize it. You talk about a grocery store. Really? Ernie, you accepted crumbs and your peers brought big money back to their communities. Ernie, you have passion and experience. What you need to do is polish your image and demand more. A stronger platform with substance and realize you are part of the largest city in the state, not just your district and a minority. You represent all of us. As for you and Joe Ganim, you are not cut from the same cloth. I would like to think down the road you both will be able to go after your bliss. Ernie, do you believe you represented this city in the best light? Do you believe your constituents are better off for having you in office? I want to thank you for your time and effort and service. I do not want to measure you against your adversaries. I think the constituents of your area deserve so much more and I know you are not responsible for all their ills. Ernie, if you are planning on running for office again, I certainly hope you will be a different candidate. Maybe Joe Ganim could share his public relations guy who will attempt to change Joe’s image and make him electable again. I do believe in second chances. I do believe you have served your time. We are hopefully entering a time of prosperity in Bridgeport as the economy improves. There is a lot at stake. Good luck to all who want to serve.
Ernie, it would have been more appropriate for you to comment on Marilyn Taylor stealing $10,000 from the poorest school in your district. Instead, you stated the current leadership has not done anything great, so therefore you deserve to get back in the band. Ernie, what do you think about the arrest of Marilyn Tailor?
So Ernie,
If you and Joe were not guilty of corruption, life in the East End would be grand. So are you blaming Dom, Ed and Baler for your corruption convictions?
Bob, you and Steve may say what you like. Joe Ganim and myself will always have people who are willing to forgive. Remember Bob, there are two types of people in this world. Those who got caught and those who didn’t. I will never let my situation nor my location obscure my destination. And yes, I’m blaming the people who came after me for doing NOTHING!
Ernie, I forgive you and Joe. Just remember, you and Joe stand alone and are on a separate journey. You don’t hear Joe Ganim saying “me and Ernie” and you will not. Ernie, you are a nice guy and so is Joe Ganim. I think people will always be willing to forgive if you offer them a vision.
What did I miss? At least we got to know what was in Marilyn Taylor’s purse. Taking ‘what’s in your wallet?’ to another level.