In the days leading up to last night’s Hartford Board of Education meeting, Chair Matt Poland lamented on social media that there was “too much noise” in the debates over public education, especially in Hartford where “pundits, unions, and those comfortable with a broken system” choked out parents and students. It was clear last night that parents and students were more than willing to oblige Poland with the “noise.”
An over-capacity crowd packed in to the Sarah J. Rawson auditorium for the public comment portion of the Board meeting. The main event was Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s proposal to hand SAND Elementary School over to the newly formed private management company Capital Preparatory Schools Inc. SAND would become the first property of administrator Steve Perry’s plan to replicate the model used in his Capital Preparatory magnet school.
Just days after the John C. Clark School had been targeted for an Achievement First charter school take over, SAND was now targeted for private takeover. The evening began with a surreal speech by Poland. The speech, wavering between combative and sentimental, was wholly narcissistic. The narrative? Everyone is out to get me and I’m the real champion of public education…and you are all lying liars. As Poland eagerly put on his mantle of the victim, scores of neighborhood activists passed out stickers against the SAND proposal and attacks on public schools.
The political theater continued as Kishimoto and Poland called upon the Clark School leaders, specifically Millie Soto, to stand and be recognized for outstanding leadership. The crowd cheered at this, although Kishimoto and Poland then laid out a new narrative where they had been on the Clark School’s and Soto’s side all along, but “outsiders” had gotten in the way.
Once Kishimoto and Poland had finished attempting to rewrite recent history, the push back against the Board and its leadership began, and didn’t stop, with legendary neighborhood activist Hyacinth Yennie. She railed against school reform and “choice” as it created conditions that pitted parents against parents. Yennie reminded the crowd that Dwight School was a Blue Ribbon school, but was shuttered by the Board regardless; the label of “failing” is a ruse. Her thundering demand to “put a leash on Perry” set the crowd ablaze and it didn’t stop there. Speaker after speaker put not just the SAND proposal on trial, but the entire “reform” agenda of the Hartford Board.
The Capital Preparatory contingent featured the uniformed students giving prepared remarks that all eerily presented the same message: replicate our school. The privatization plan for SAND was not the only topic featuring angry parents. Parents from elite, “successful” schools such as Annie Fisher Montessori and Renzulli Academy all brought the same complaint as the SAND community: the Board talks a good game when it comes to transparency, but it is all talk. Again and again the Board and its leadership was called out for its secret dealings, backroom politicking, and its lack of communication.
This culminated following Hartford Federation of Teachers President Andrea Johnson’s scathing remarks. Johnson condemned the leadership for violating state law, numerous times, with its attempts to circumvent and exclude the city’s School Governance Councils. She also called Poland and Kishimoto out for attempting to vote on the privatization plan for SAND in executive session, far from the public and behind closed doors. Poland lashed out at these charges and called critics “liars” for spreading misinformation, although all of it was clearly stated in the prepared agenda.
Following the public comment period, the crowds streamed out as it was clear the meeting was in fact going into executive session. Eventually, the Board returned and in a 5-3 vote rejected every component of the Sheff v. O’Neil settlement plan, including the handover of SAND to Perry’s private management firm.
It is clear that Hartford parents, from those in “successful” schools to those in labeled “failing” schools” are not content with Hartford reform efforts. Although the outcome of the evening’s vote may seem like a victory, it is vital to recognize that the systemic conditions that led to the attacks on Clark and SAND still exist: a majority appointed board, marginalized and ignored School Governance Councils, and diffused parent outrage. Until these conditions are ameliorated, it will take constant and vigilant direct action to keep the Board and its intermediaries in check. Hopefully, this includes as much noise as necessary.
Linda Hall
Time for Mayor Segarra to replace Poland.
After viewing the Clark Rising youtube video he tweeted: Thanks AFT.
No such response for Achievement First when Toll orchestrated their event.
So, HPS parents: Citizen movements are only “grassroots” if you’re NOT a traditional neighborhood public school.
Matt O'Connor
Great piece – it gives a real feel for the emotion on display of the many parents, students, teachers, and activists who spoke so passionately for their elected representatives to show some respect for their concerns.
Gratified that the BOE recognized the injustice of handing control of another neighborhood school to a private operator without any community dialogue. Hopefully their vote demonstrates that they finally understand a hostile takeover is not a process for improving our struggling schools.
Luis
The answer shouldn’t be “Let’s replace Poland” Matt Poland is a committed public servant who has a proven record of working towards positive change in our community.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, his public statements are tinged with an elitism and privilege that is consistent amongst those who support this not so recent reform movement. One where the belief is that poor communities of color are so damaged by “the system” that they can’t possibly know what’s good for them. So damaged that any combined message from them contrary to what “I/we” believe HAS to be manufactured by outside agitators.
This thinking exists and is very prevalent amongst communities of privilege where the monster that is Education Reform was birthed.
This dynamic should not create an us v them mentality. Because, as cliché as it is, we are all, in fact, working together to get the best possible outcome for “the youth.”
At the very least, Matt puts his cards on the table. We know where he’s coming from. Same as we know where someone like Robert Cotto is coming from. Question is, who would you rather trust when it comes to education policy? Someone who’s last 30 years have been in the private sector with a heavy concentration on management or someone who has been in the business of education for over a decade?
This question is one you should ask yourself when it comes to making your choice in the ballot booth (elections). It’s also a question you ask yourself when choosing 5 members if you are the Mayor of Hartford.
That is really what the issue is here.
Unfortunately, the only two mayors in office who have had the opportunity to choose members of the board have chosen, overwhelmingly, people with heavy private sector backgrounds as opposed to education backgrounds…this is contrary to the spirit of Mayoral selection. The one exception I can think of would be Jose Colon Rivas who was an administrator for many years within the HPS system.
The real test for Hartford will be how can the community come together and infuse themselves in the very important selection of the next Superintendent.
Kerri Provost
He has a proven record of working toward positive change? Are you serious? Did you catch wind of what happened a few months ago or what happens whenever someone disagrees with him?
http://www.realhartford.org/2013/09/03/hartford-board-of-ed-out-of-order/
Bruce Rubenstein
Hi Luis, before you praise Mr Poland too much, some honest disclosure by you that your sister works for him at the Library would have been nice and should have been in your post here.
Chris Brown
Did everyone say that Poland was being reasonable? Did everyone praise his BOE leadership? If that happened, I would wholeheartedly agree with his charge that they were misrepresenting him.
For the good of the city, Poland should resign from the board and focus his energy on furthering the great progress the Hartford Public Library has made over the past decade.
Bruce Rubenstein
Privitizing schools will never work and are a wrong societal policy.This Mayor and his 5 appointees are big believers in privitizing schools and it is only because of valient folks that this attempt was stopped.