In reply to New York State Launches Investigation into Aramark's Use of Banned Toxic Chemicals in New Rochelle Schools
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New Rochelle School Board needs to listen more and talk less!
While we have seen a turnaround lately with the superintendent and assistant superintendent more needs to be done. Dig deeper and listen to the people that speak. I have been talking about some of the basic practices behind the sceens over and above the physical problems with The City of New Rochelle School District. I spoke of problems at the meetings the last few months but as far back as 2013.
I have a background in sales, safety and operations and was received certified safety training by OSHA when I was a facilities manager and in charge of the safety ratings for a company facility. I have stated this several times at meetings when asking questions so they knew I wasn’t talking from lack of knowledge.
Here is a copy of my comments from a School Board Meeting from September 24, 2013.
School Board Meeting 9/24/13:
Last time I spoke, Mr. Latcher lashed out at Bob Cox about Davis school. First it was unprofessional and the reaction of someone who is guilty or realizes that what was done was wrong. I was not able to respond following this outburst. My point was not about Davis school, it is about the safety procedures in the district and the failure to use, follow and monitor procedures. If they are, what else are The New Rochelle School District and The Board of Education missing? We hope this is a onetime occurrence as Mr. Latcher claims. We have a right to be concerned and not just for something like Davis. What about the everyday cleaning supplies or the other chemicals used by employees, staff and outside contractors. Is training and review done for old and new hires on the procedures if they exist?
In the words of Mary Jane Reddington from her speech the night of 9/11, Change things and continue to change things. The time is now. Time and again people speak and ask questions that aren’t answered. Eventually this will catch up to The New Rochelle School District and The Board of Education. We do have some good people but they and their accomplishments are overshadowed by the actions and misgivings of others. We have seen some of this recently with the schools and some employees. These are people we/you entrust with the responsibility of following and maintaining policies and procedures. We have seen some recently that don’t even follow common sense and we trust them and you with the lives of our children.
We have a custodian at the Isaac E. Young Middle School in New Rochelle is facing disciplinary charges after driving his pick-up truck on the soccer field to chase geese off a field? Poor judgment!
We have a security guard at New Rochelle High School, was arrested last weekend on charges of DWI then goes to work once released? Poor judgment!
We have Labs with chemicals and other hazardous materials, storage rooms of cleaning supplies, classrooms, shops chemical compounds for many things that involve items that most likely require safety procedures and protocols. Are the MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets up to date? Are safety procedures in place? Is there training for current and new employees like custodians, security guards, teachers, principals, faculty, staff in The New Rochelle School District and most important, our children and students? What type of judgment is being used in these situations?
The New York State Plan for Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH), by authority under Section 27(a) of the New York Labor Law, is responsible for promoting the health and safety for more than 2 million State and Local government employees in the State. Do we/ they follow the guide lines set by them?
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/stateprogs/new_york.html
The New York State Plan applies to all public sector employers in the State, including: State, County, Town, and Village governments, as well as Public Authorities, Paid / Volunteer Fire Departments and of course School Districts.
Are reviews being done at all level for evaluation of efficiency and productivity? I believe that the employee attendance system is still manual with no time clock. Teachers and staff still just sign in. Not even a time stamp card clock system. How can we hold people accountable if we can’t keep track of their time on the clock? Are they late or leaving early? Is the head count appropriate for the time of day? What are people’s schedules? For security and safety sake, are they present or absent?
So many question and so few answers. Why haven’t the people that ask questions gotten answers? Why haven’t my questions since last February been answered? What else is hidden under the carpet besides asbestos? You work for the taxpayers and answer to the taxpayers and their children. Not to answer the questions is a failure of your appointed or hired responsibility.
Change things and continue to change things!
Over the years The New Rochelle School Board, School District and “Yes ARAMARK” have been entrusted with millions of taxpayer dollars that have been miss-used and or actually stolen due to crooked contractors, poor management and a total lack of accountability. That is why the vote failed the last time back in December. I don’t believe anyone had a problem with the $50 Million dollar bond; it was the lack of answers to questions and a failure to respond to the taxpayers and parents over the years that was the problem.
Our children’s lives and taxpayer dollars are at stake here. If what they say is true about the systems finances, if we didn’t have all the waste and fraud over the years, they would have even more money available and maybe not need a $50 million dollar bond. This is yet another story because now there would have been a need for $80.6 million to bring the schools to a satisfactory level.
So I say to The New Rochelle School Board and New Rochelle School District, I hope this opened some of your eyes and minds to what the real issues are. Get us answers, use common sense, have a conscience, transparency and accountability before the next vote. As for the City of New Rochelle School Board Members, sometimes you have to reach your lowest point and admit you’re wrong before you can truly change and move forward.
Now is the time, show us what you are made of and move forward with sweeping reviews of all aspects of The City School District of New Rochelle top down!!!