Search This Blog

Thursday, February 28, 2019

LESLIE: IT IS TIME TO COME OUT OF YOUR BUNKER AND FACE THE MUSIC

At the beginning of this week, I probably would have said things can't possibly be as bad as I am being told in the Hartford Schools. No adult that claims they care about children would allow it.

Then the barrage of phone calls, e-mails and text messages kept coming in all day Tuesday and Wednesday and they haven't stopped yet.

Here is one example below:


" I teach at a school in Hartford. The behaviors we are dealing with on a daily basis are insanely disrespectful and disruptive. I am sworn at daily. I feel like a verbal punching bag. One student has verbally threatened me twice and just the other day he stepped close to my face & flinched his shoulders as if he was going to hit me.  (I wrote him up but there was no consequence). I write the same 5 kids up daily as they sabotage my lessons daily. The superintendent will not allow any out of school suspensions unless they are approved by her office. This is a way to doctor her @attendance matters” data! 

This superintendent has got to go! Why the district hired someone with no classroom experience is disturbing. How can you decide what is best for your schools, teachers and students if you haven’t worked in one! "


And that e-mail above was tame.

Then I got a call regarding the suspension of Jose Colon -Rivas, the COO for the Hartford Schools. It sounded very similar to the removal of Joanne Laiscell, the Financial executive who was also removed recently. And eventually you have to start asking , is there really a problem or is this just a way of discrediting people in the Central Office who are getting too close to the truth.


Superintendent Torres-Rodriguez refuses to answer questions despite numerous requests from the Internal Audit Commission and e-mails sent below.

The problem is that Leslie Rodriguez-Torres has pretty much gone into hiding to avoid any scrutiny or to explain her actions hiding behind FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) a Federal Law governing educational  information, or the usual "its a personnel matter". Even Hartford's Internal Auditors who are tasked with getting answers to financial questions are hitting a stone wall with Torres-Rodriguez. as detailed in the e-mail below obtained through an FOI request

Subject: FW: IAC meeting request
Good afternoon Leslie;
 
Per the email chain below, we’ve been trying to obtain a response from you about attending our Internal Audit Commission (IAC) meeting.  To date, we have not been able to confirm your acceptance of our request.  We initially emailed you on Jan 17th @9:09AM and you responded that you couldn’t make our Feb 13th Internal Audit Commission meeting and preferred a phone call instead.  The requesting IAC member prefers that you attend an IAC meeting rather than a phone conference call.  We then reached back out to you on Jan 22 @10:19AM and then again on Feb 4th @7:45AM to attend our March 20th or April 17th meeting; however, we have yet to receive a response back from you.  I have been asked by a member of the IAC to send a 4th invite in hope that you can attend our next meeting on March 20th set for 2:00PM in Room 304 of City Hall.  Please let the Chief Auditor, Craig Trujillo, know if you could attend the March 20th IAC meeting or not.  Thank you and we hope you can attend the IAC meeting.
 
Thanks,
 
Joseph Caruso, CPA
Deputy Chief Auditor

The problem is that Leslie Rodriguez-Torres has pretty much gone into hiding to avoid any scrutiny or to explain her actions hiding behind FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) a Federal Law governing educational  information, or the usual "its a personnel matter". Even Hartford's Internal Auditors who are tasked with getting answers to financial questions are hitting a stone wall with Torres-Rodriguez

Hearing about a teacher who was attacked in her classroom at Noah Webster School was troubling. No investigation to figure out how the parent was buzzed in and was able to enter a building where many parents most likely feel their kids are secure. The parent, Cassandra Decosta was eventually arrested a few months after her attack and actually appeared in court yesterday. What would have happened if she had a weapon? According to staff members at the school that I spoke with, they stated they have 2 great security Officers in the school, but the number of guards was reduced down to two for budget cuts and it is almost nearly impossible to secure a school that size with just two Security Officers.

Even more troubling is the conditions described to me at Hartford High, where one teacher referred to Hartford High as a "powder keg ready to explode any second" This was  confirmed for me by police officers who are also very concerned going into Hartford High alone. Apparently a Hartford High Security Officer was assaulted at the school late last year and I am told he hasn't returned yet. That School Security Officer is also a retired Hartford Police Officer who was capable of handling himself as a Police Officer on the streets of Hartford until he was attacked by a group of "students" at Hartford High. In an ironic twist, one of the same students who was arrested for the assault on the SSO at Hartford High was again arrested yesterday for assaulting another student.yesterday, Feb 27th...the same juvenile that assaulted Security Officer Dufault...was arrested for another assault at one of the schools...

Here is an e-mail from another staff member:

"I was physically assaulted by a student several years ago years ago at HPHS. The damage I received affects me to this day, and I have been fighting a Workers Comp case ever since. I have never received so much as any word of concern from the Superintendent or the Board of Education. I have gone from having an average of 2 days of absence per year before the attack to over 40 days of absence per year afterwards.

Luke Cage asked above about Officer DuFault. He was attacked at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, taken down by a riot of students, kicked and stomped horribly, and was taken out by ambulance. He has not been back since.

According to the press release, the Superintendent stated only that, "No student was harmed." She did not mention Officer Dufault.

In the interim between the assault on me and DuFault, teachers throughout HPHS have been regularly assaulted, several have had bones broken in student assaults, many have had their lives threatened repeatedly.

Students have claimed their hallway hangouts in which mobs of students loiter in the halls, cussing out and verbally threatening and insulting any teacher who dares to pass. Nothing is ever done. Most teachers are afraid of coming to work. Administration always blames us and criticizes us when we make any attempt to intervene to get students back to class.

Our school, HPHS, is unsafe! "


And just as a sidenote, the teacher assaulted at Noah Webster Shool never even received as much as a courtesy call from the Superintendent or any member of the BOE. You don't treat people like this, especially if they are valued employees.

And to all of the members of the Hartford Board of Education who are upset when I call them "puppets", let me just ask, when was the last time you went to Hartford High , unannounced and walked through the halls to observe the conditions there, or has Leslie ordered you not to?



35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bye bye Leslie you are all done! Tim Sullivan would never let this chaos ensue.

Anonymous said...

Check out Joe Brummer. This is the guy the district is consulting with to reform discipline. His belief is no detentions, suspensions, etc. under any circumstances, no matter how violent or inappropriate the behavior. Restorative tactics like student courts and mediation circles are to be used instead. All schools in the district are now being compelled to adopt this model.

RB said...

I heard on the radio today, (Though I only caught the very end of the program),that the Dems on Capitol Ave are considering 2 Bills to force Regionalization of Public Schools.

Any Info on this? I'll have to check the 11PM news.

Anonymous said...

Guess Joe Know Nothing Bummer didn't get the memo that this type of game plan didn't works so well in Oakland Florida at Stoneman Douglas High ..Another over paid moron without a clue ....

Anonymous said...

Speaking again as the teacher who was assaulted in the hallways at HPHS several years ago, my wife and I have decided that I have to retire early because of the very real concerns for our safety. I know that some students regularly bring guns and/ or knives to school. In fact, some of the good students have been caught with such weapons, stating that it is the only way to protect themselves from the gangs and thugs. It's only a matter of time before there is a shooting here. And the district keeps marching on with its collective head buried deep in the sand. To paraphrase Christ, there are none so blind as they who will not see.

Anonymous said...

I encountered a group of boys loitering in their corner in the hallways yesterday at HPHS. Upon asking them to go to class, I was pointedly told to go "f . . ." myself. I then asked two security guards to please get these boys to class. Security informed me that they had taken their names and "put them on the radio," but were unable to do anything else. The students were allowed to hang out as a mob, they were enabled by Security to continue their behaviors, and Security was prevented by higher authority from doing their jobs.

Therefore, we at HPHS are not protected. Students gather in mobs and gangs, loiter at their chosen hallway intersections, intimidate teachers who try to take charge, and practice acts of violence to whomever they wish. There are Federal and State Laws mandating that employers provide safe working environments for their employees. HPS fails to do so.

Anonymous said...

At the same school in Noah Webster, my co-workers daughter was violently attacked (jumped) by another girl as she stood right next to the Principal. Then the attacker once she was finished assaulting her classmate she proceeded to also attack the Principal and the security guard. I hear the attacker was back in school after a week. This is insane! how can the Mayor let these things go on in his own district.

Anonymous said...

Mayor Luke Bronin could absolutely care less 9:50 AM. He’s well aware of the danger in Hartford public schools and this is exactly why his kids DO NOT go to Hartford Schools. When rich snobs from Fairfield County like him have money, they can send their kids to private schools to protect them. Unfortunately, most Hartford residents aren’t afforded that same luxury. I can guarantee you if Luke’s kids went to Hartford public schools he would do something. Election time is coming. Hartford needs big change. Start with Luke.

Anonymous said...

Check the rosters at Kingswood word is they are enrolling superintendent's heirs as well.. Incidentally HPS has a discipline policy and violence and assault are against the law teachers are able to call the police even if administration turns a blind eye and these disorderly and violent students should be arrested as that is the only deterrent and by not doing it these kids are set up for failure on the streets of the real world if they think they will get away with this behavior. Teachers should be taking names and reporting any collective management effort to not hold individuals accountable for physical fighting in schools or any violent behavior for that matter to DCF as well since those adults are part of the problem.

Anonymous said...

Kevin,
keep it up, keep the pressure on. Central Office people are at Hartford High today, unannounced to see what is going on. Too bad a blog has to get these $100,000 a year plus salaries to start doing their jobs

Anonymous said...

Yeah if people from central office showed up then expect the teachers to be blamed
remember they are leslie's crownies....not your friends

Chris Lyons said...

The mutts that attacked Security Officer David Dufault are examples of the worst
in Hartford schools. Dave was not publicly supported by the larger creeps in the
BOE. The attackers should be thrown in jail and all security officers working
Hartford schools should be able to defend themselves from attacks by “students”
whose only higher education will be in prison where they are headed.

Get well Dave

Anonymous said...

Yesterday three fights code yellow called email send advising code yellow called because unsafe hall conditions. These are facts... administration later made announcement code yellow was a drill. This appears to be BS and an effort to hide the facts

KEVIN BROOKMAN said...

Chris,

I am told that his attacker was again arrested yesterday for another assault in a School

KEVIN BROOKMAN said...

5:44PM

Keep the information coming, that is the only way we will hear the reality of what is going on in Hartford's Schools because the Superintendent definitely does not want the information to get out

Anonymous said...

Another sad point is that if a staff member defends themself,physically, against An assault.from a student, that teacher would be investigated by DCF and put on leave. Even though DCF would clear them,human resources would not. This is a situation that teachers and other school staff members face every day. If a staff member was injured due to an assault from a student that staff member would be placed on Workmen’s Compensation and would lose money, with respect of their salary, because of it. It’s a no-win situation for anyone who works with kids in the Herford school system . The only ones who are immune are the overpaid central office administrators who work at central office. These people couldn’t last a day working in the classroom.

KEVIN BROOKMAN said...

6:58pm
It definitely sounds like the problem kids know they are running the Schools, not the Superintendent. I have to ask , where is your Union? How do they allow such unsafe conditions in the schools?Isn't that why Union's were started , to protect employees from unsafe working conditions, Isn't that why you pay dues or is that just to fund the expense accounts and stipends for Union leadership?

Anonymous said...

So Hartford High is pretty much a correctional facility for kids ???

KEVIN BROOKMAN said...

7:28PM

A correctional facility is probably safer and more orderly (probably better food also)

Anonymous said...

Union is WEAK..look at how they caved to the high deductible HSA the super's team was pushing to keep their big money jobs funded...union cast their membership to the wolves..while the 150K+ club gets richer and richer..Hear they are now deep cutting teachers too what a joke.. FOI the contracts and perks for all at CO and administration include bennies and all the trips this year and who went where and why and how much and compare it to what is actually paid to pub ed classrooms teachers and support services staff and supplies for the kids.. they are not required to be accountable for the money poured into management of the schools so rob the classrooms teachers and kids blind..Have the audit group tally all numbers and show it to the public show exactly how much this cabinet has squandered ..

Anonymous said...

Our union is not representing us. Teachers are getting DCF reports filed against them like crazy and our union leadership lets us get picked off one by one. They sit in on the discipline meetings and that's it. Where's the call to action? Where are the charges being filed against those who are making so many bogus DCF reports? Making a false DCF report is a criminal act and there are many criminal acts being perpetrated against teachers throughout the district. Where is the call to make a collective push, for teachers to charge administrators with the same DCF violations that teachers are being reported for? We all are mandated reporters. Where is the fight?! We are under attack and the union is silent. Some teachers at my school are seeking outside council because of unsafe working conditions that the union is not protecting us from. What the hell do we pay union dues for? Maybe it's time to take a good look at replacing the AFT with the CEA.

Anonymous said...

We have the right to join CEA and pay concurrent dues. What we should be doing is creating a teacher led movement to replace AFT with CEA. AFT is not a teacher's union. They are a healthcare, higher education and public service union. I know what I'll be doing come Monday. http://www.cea.org/join/

Anonymous said...

Concur time for grassroots to acknowledge aft not working in our best interest. I will vote for crazy if given a chance

Anonymous said...

Leslie has created a culture in the schools of teachers reporting on teachers and administrators reporting on teachers for things that do not rise to the level of concern. The reporting is being done because downtown had a pervert in their midst they were protecting for years so...as always the shift was made on the teachers. Now the culture has been formed by this useless superintendent. We need to stick together to oust this punitive regime that has put more teachers on leave for no reason than I can ever remember . It is sucking the life out of the good teachers of hartford and the BOE enjoys the show. I believe the tide might be turning though and as hard as they try to avoid an outside audit its game over for an administration that doesn't value its people and assumes they are all bad teachers.
It's been obvious to me.

Anonymous said...

Not only schools unsafe. What appears to be unprovoked student assaulted on bus a few days ago. Many students talking about it and watching a posted video. Yet no TV, paper, or school acknowledgement to public that I know of. Horrific video out there.

Anonymous said...

As usual Mr. Brookman's blog is the only source exposing all the incompetence in the Hartford public school system. The Hartford Courant died about three years ago. Sad. Mayor Bronin is very quiet on all this I guess he is willing to sacrifice lots of kids education to be Politically correct and play the game. The problem sounds like layers of administrators gaming the metrics to look good. When will they buy out LTR?

Unknown said...

Kevin,
6:58 here

Out of the three detached position union officers only one seems to be trying to protect the teachers. The other two who make well into the six figures are not held accountable for their attendance ( or lack there of) at the HFT office . One apparently spending most of his time as a state legislature at the legislative building. In all fairness the unions hands are really tied because they are bound by the contract, which is not very strong at all, and actually have to fight a battle against central office administrators of which central office administrators control the decision making. Let’s not forget that because of a very long cover-up for a real predator that was finally exposed a few years ago the teachers have now become the targets to make up for the cover-up. The students are picking up on that and falsely accusing teachers and school staff members of abuse whether it be verbal or physical. They are using this to get back at a teacher who may have failed them or discipline them as a way of retaliation. There are also some administrators within the schools who use absolutely no discretion when it comes to reporting a staff member to DCF upon a mere allegation or accusation by a student. Teachers are becoming less trusting of the president and vice president considering the politics behind what is happening . Both are tied into the politics of the school system and the city . For the last decade the HFT has become somewhat of a useless entity that is certainly not worthy of the dues the members are paying. But let’s not shift the focus on the HFT let’s keep the focus on where it belongs in that is the corruption that exists at the G fox building . Keep digging for the information because exposing the truth does have an effect and everything that’s going on that stinks .

Chris Lyons said...

Not surprising that Officer Dufaults attacker was arrested again for another
assault. That’s regular behavior for that person. Violent offenders respond
to only one thing in their lives. That is more force and the fear of getting hit
back. Counseling, kindness, attempts to change their behavior through
positive methods are viewed as weakness. Officer Dufaults assailant should
be locked away. He won’t be finished until he harms or kills someone else.

Let security officers defend themselves. Get them arrest powers in school.
Get them the training they need to do the job and set a safe tone in school.

Anonymous said...

Jay is the only union official with any ethic who uses his voice. He is unable to wield any power though in the current climate and the contract of now is a joke. The second they caved on that HSA and agreed to "salary increases" that do not even allow its membership to break even after a 3 years freeze the union demonstrated how very weak it is and AFT was zero help more interested in pushing go nowhere for teachers and schools political agendas than helping teachers and schools. Unions are striking all over the country for their teachers and Hartford's capitulated! This was no doubt in return to keep the union office open. The second keeping the union became part of the deal there was a conflict of interest with regard to representation. But hey it is after all Hartford so teachers end up swallowing it all no matter the ugly.

Anonymous said...

Teachers vote 95% of the time for democrats. They hate republicans. They chose to work in Hartford public schools because.....get a load of this......they believe they could make a difference. What is the average age of a parent of...say....a Hartford student who is a junior or senior? Kids having kids. I don't feel sorry for teachers in this school system. They keep telling their non-teacher friends at gatherings phrases like "They just need a chance to learn." They hate republicans because they might slash and burn non-essential positions. They fail to realize, however, that republicans will actually...drum-roll please....make administrators more accountable insofar as student behavior goes. Hey teachers- trying teaching a new concept- conservatism might actually make your workplace safer!

Anonymous said...

Under the former leadership of Hartford Board of Education President Richard Wearing he caused a bigger mess. He was always asking for more money for his children. Not sure what his goal was. However, Wearing the believer signed off on Superintendent Torres. He agreed on a huge salary, benefits, vacation time and more.
Torres had no credential for the position. The rest is Hartford Public Schools history. Suggestion Torres should be fire immediately.

Anonymous said...

I wish us Teachers could just do a vote of no confidence on our useless Super who just hides in her office while Teachers get kicked, hit, assaulted by these unruling kids!

Anonymous said...

What's stopping you..

Anonymous said...

More nonsense from HPS..Failing to provide FOI request for superintendent's compensation package and top 10 highest paid non school employees at central office.. It is very telling that there is constant attempts to hide the gross over expenditures meanwhile the teachers get slapped down with lousy benefits and low level pay and the kids and classrooms are underfunded with go nowhere curriculum choices wait for it next on the list is when the poorly planned middle schools are operable and the district goes back to the old chaos and nightmares which is why they closed the middle schools in the first place.. Still hiding and getting over in Hartford ..and it all just rolls on...
https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/New-Haven-Hartford-schools-fail-to-comply-with-13696598.php

Anonymous said...

Never taught an instructional period, multiple courses per day or designed a unit or assessments but she's the boss? Fantastic plan for leadership! Keep blaming the teachers. Some of of us taught you and look how smart you think you are.