Politics & Government

Board of Ed. Members Cry for Change in Leadership, Say Schools Are Failing

Board members on both sides of the aisle said the board and town schools are failing Windsor students and tax payers.

While last week's municipal election and subsequent recount solidified who will be seated on Windsor's Board of Education for the next two years, two board members called for changes to be made, Saturday.

Republican board member Howard Jubrey sent an e-mail to fellow board members and Windsor Republican Town Committee members, among others, lambasting the overall performance of Windsor Public Schools, administrators and the Board of Education.

Arguing that "over 25 percent of our kids do not graduate" and that "tax payers would demand a refund if Windsor Public Schools were a private institution," Jubrey pointed out several shortcomings of the district and its leadership, and criticized the actions of both republican and democratic board members, particularly those of Board President Milo "Rusty" Peck (D).

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Peck, Jubrey wrote, recently negotiated a contract with the Administrators' Union to raise district administrators' salaries and presented the negotiated amount to the board for approval with no prior discussion with its members, forcing board members to make an immediate decision to avoid binding arbitration (which would have cost the district as much in fees as the salary raises, Jubrey said).

The Board then voted to give $750 raises to elementary school principals, increasing "all steps on salary schedule" by $562, and giving those at the "top step of the salary schedule" a raise of $1,500, accoring to Windsor Public Schools documents.

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Democratic Board member Doreen Richardson corroborated Jubrey's statement, saying, "Mr. Peck went into negotiations with administrators, who, by the way, already make large salaries in this district… and [he] gave away an increase to administrators, and the Board had no opportunity to discuss that issue."

"Rusty Peck has always taken it upon himself to go into those negotiations on his own agenda, not clearing any of it with the Board...

"People have no idea the degree to which the authority of the Board has been usurped by the existing chair," said Richardson Saturday afternoon. "The only way to remedy that is to change the leadership."

Both Richardson and Jubrey detailed several additional instances in which they noted the Board's ineffectiveness or an "inappropriate use of power," as Richardson called it, on behalf of its president, including:

  • According to Jubrey, a motion he made in the Board's September 21 meeting regarding the ineffectiveness of the administration to affect any change in CMT and CAPT scores led to accusations of "playing party politics," and, when suggesting that routinely failing test scores should result in the loss of someone's job, he was told by Peck that Board policy "does not allow us to get involved in these matters."
  • Jubrey challenged the Board's appointment practices with regards to leadership, saying that Peck passed over Doreen Richardson for the position of Board vice president, giving the position to Christopher Watts "who historically has been the lowest vote-getter for the democratic party." Richardson was the second highest vote-getter sitting on the democratic side at the time.
  • According to Richardson, the district improvement plan (a plan required by the state under No Child Left Behind legislation due to Windsor students' under-performance on standardized tests), which was approved by the state in October, was not brought before the board until the third week in September, when it had to be brought to the state by October 1, not allowing for significant discussion on the plan's details.
  • The allocation of positions on the board was noted as an issue of concern by Jubrey and Richardson. Not only what Jubrey saw as inconsistencies with how this positions are allocated, but, Richardson said, those positions have been allocated in violation of the Board's bylaws, which states that the board must vote and elect its president, vice president and secretary. The votes must be placed in writing. But tradition, Jubrey and Richardson argued, has provided that the highest vote getter (Peck over the past few elections) is given the position of president.
  • Regarding the district's search for a new superintendent, Richardson said she fought for, and would like to have seen, the Board discuss the major problems afflicting the school district, and generate a pool of candidates based on their individual ability to address the needs of the district. That conversation never took place, Richardson said, adding that notice for the district's search and need to hire an executive search firm was hand-delivered to seven firms. Richardson also said, that the pool of candidates, which has been narrowed down from 21 to five, was compiled without taking a look at how each candidate can fix problems specific to Windsor, because those problems were never discussed by the Board.

Board President Peck was unable to be reached for comment Sunday morning.

As for whom should sit as chair of the Board, Richardson did not say, stating that the Board has not sat down as a group and had that discussion. Jubrey's e-mail suggested support for a reluctant Paul Panos, minority leader.

Citing support from two unnamed democratic Board members, Jubrey's e-mail suggests that Panos would be a good choice, saying, "Two Democrats who are willing to support a Republican who is too weak-willed to accept a position that would bring unity to the Board. Another republican member is not going to support Mr. Panos because she feels it goes against tradition," in reference to Cristina Santos.

The thought of a republican receiving support from a democratic Board member sent shockwaves through the Democratic Town Committee Saturday afternoon, causing Chair Leo Canty to call for an emergency meeting of town democrats to be held Sunday night.

The meeting was initially called, according to an e-mail sent out by Canty to town democrats, because of word that Richardson may be switching parties — a rumor she denied.

Canty told democrats that "if this turns out to be true I would consider my resignation to be an appropriate result for having failed to put a democratic team in place after all we went through in this election and under the worst case scenario these circumstances present."

While it turned out not to be true, Canty was resolute in convening fellow Windsor Dems as of Saturday, intent on getting down to the heart of what may be the problem.

"During our campaign everyone was hugging and kissing," said Canty. "I don't understand it.

"The meeting will be an opportunity for us to get together and make things work. THis kind of thing is a distraction, and we have a lot of work to do."

Below is the e-mail transcript sent by Howard Jubrey, with "WHY I FIGHT" in the subject line:

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN WINDSOR – YOUR KIDS' AND MY KIDS' FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.

I have been on the Board of Ed. in Windsor for 4 years. I was just elected to another 2 year term, however I believe that at this time I should step down because the of the ineffective leadership of the Board, the weak kneed members of the Republican Party and the lack of concern by citizens of Windsor both black and white, child or no child. You pay taxes in this town for a school system that fails on a regular basis. Over 25% of our kids do not graduate. The administration would like you to think it is more. That means that roughly 50+/- kids in this town do not graduate every year after we paid more than $15,000 a year and more than $200,000 (with inflation) from K-12 to educate a child. If we were a private school you would demand your money back.

Here is an example of the arrogance of board leadership. He negotiated a contract with the Administrator’s Union then came to the members of the Board with an amount that we needed to decide on. No discussion at a meeting with other Board members prior to negotiations, whether executive or public, was held to discuss a stance the board should take. It would have been better if he came to the Board and asked us what our threshold was before going into negotiations. It was so mismanaged that we had to make an immediate decision otherwise it was going to binding arbitration. This would have cost us as much as the raise we were offering. The Board members are there only to do the bidding of leadership.

A member of the administrative office and an educator at the high school committed acts that I consider discriminatory. One showed little interest or support in a program for black kids at risk that showed promise. It is better to handle discipline problems at an earlier age so that it does not result in expulsion of the child deciding to quite later. The other was an administrator who in my opinion improperly handled an act of bullying at the high school between two minority’s and the result was they were both diagnosed as depressed and are now being medicated. These are things they don’t want you to know. Board Leadership and the [Superintendent] were made aware of this and nothing was done. The mother of the child felt that her only choice was to remove her child from the school. At my urgings she remained at the school on a promise by me that things would improve. What would you do if this was your child? There’s more.   

In the September meeting I was accused of playing politics because of a motion I made about the ineffectiveness of the administration to effect any change in direction of CMT and CAPT scores. I was supported by a Democrat, however not one single member of the Republican Party supported me. Chris Watts then went on an attack against me saying that I was playing politics when he should have only been speaking to the motion that I made. This is clearly a violation of Roberts Rules of Order and Mr. Peck, Board President, new that, however he allowed the attack to continue. When I attempted to defend myself I was told I was out of order because I was not speaking to the motion.When I objected, I was told that I could only speak to the motion and not address Mr. Watts comments. I was ruled out of order and the Board was illegally sent into recess by the President without a vote. By the way, the motion that I made was because of discussions the republican members had in a caucus. 9 years of failing test scores should cost someone a job, yet I was told by the President of the Board that our Policy does not allow us to get involved in these matters.

This year 2 members of the Democratic Party recognized that the leadership of the Board is divisive and exclusive.  These are 2 of the most courageous people I have ever met. At the risk of being ousted by their party they stood up for their beliefs.  They are people of character and moral courage.  I am proud to call them my friends. They fought for a change in leadership that clearly was best for the Board. This choice would have given members of both parties a say in what happens in our schools.  Instead the Republican members with the exception of Paul Panos and myself went with another choice. A comment was made by Mrs. Santos that she saw no need for a Black Man to educate our kids.  I would agree that you should never hire a person because of the color of their skin.  However if the color his skin and the quality of his character are the models that we should put before our kids, then that person should get consideration. In my opinion he was the only candidate that was not going to treat the black kids better or different. His response to a question was to challenge and increase the rigor of ALL students, BLACK and WHITE and hold teachers, administrators and students accountable.  In a district that is 70% minority with less then 10% of our staff people of color he would have been a shining example and role model that would show kids of color that you can not use your color as either leverage or an excuse.  If we are going to fix our schools this is the type of person we need. A person that will be fair to both black and white and provide an example of what hard work, integrity and accountability can accomplish. He is what work to be everyday and what I have taught my kids. This has been missing for Black kids. He would have given white kids security that they will not be the NEW MINORITY. It has been working at the school he is at now. Apparently the powers that be in both parties are not sure that they want our kids educated and are willing to risk the education of the white kids by “dumbing down” our schools for the kids at the lower end of academics.

So here we are. 2 Democrats who are willing to support a Republican who is too weak willed to accept a position that would bring unity to the Board. Another republican member is not going to support Mr. Panos because she feels it goes against tradition. I would like to know from Ms Santos if it was against tradition when Mr. Peck came to all of the Republican members of and ask us to support Mr. Watts who historically has been the lowest vote getter for the Democratic Party to be the Vice President of the Board? Of course we all did because of the divisive picture he painted of her. The position should have gone to Doreen Richardson. I feel awful about things that I have said and thought about a woman who has shown extreme courage and true devotion to the kids of Windsor School system.  I can never apologize enough to her.  She is the loan minority in that party that has the courage of her convictions. She should be an example to all of us. She came here from Barbados yet she is more American than most of us that were born here.  Her act is selfless, yet we are all led to believe because of the way she speaks she has nothing to offer. Darleen Klase who is new to the Board shows extreme intelligence in all matters of education and is equal to the Doreen in courage and moral character. I commend these two women who will be great examples for their sons and daughters.

So Mr. Panos has succumbed to the pressure and promises applied by the current President, via another member on the Board, to not run for the President of the Board.  Mr. Peck is a man in my opinion who lacks honor will never intend to keep those promises and will rule the Board by bullying ostracizing people. In other words POLITICS.  If minorities truly understood him and his party they might reconsider their vote.  Mr. Panos who has patiently and quietly worked to improve our school system for 12 years has failed at a test of true courage because the lack of support from a party that has no direction or conviction of their beliefs.  A man that is totally devoted to the advancement of kids of all colors. By far one of the smartest men I know, but because of Mr. Peck and the lack of support from his own party he has succumbed to the wishes of Mr. Peck. WHERE IS THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP? WHERE IS THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT? Of the 4 years I have been on the Board Mr. Peck has made promises to me.  I was told there would be a climate survey and it was never done. I was told that there would be a curriculum committee and that I would be the chair.  Since I don’t play ball with Mr. Peck he opted to give it to Mrs. Santos. When I was elected for the first 2 terms as the minority leader I was never consulted on issues that concerned the board.  He bypassed me and spoke with Mr. Panos for 2 years. When I asked for Black History to be included as part of the regular history courses it was ignored.  I was told that a support program for at risk young black males at the elementary level would get more support and it was never done.  At the risk of taking on the ire of the Asst. Supt of Schools a white administrator at the high school had the courage to put into the state a black history course. We have others at the high school, middle school and the elementary schools that care for the kids in our schools; however the politics as usual will continue to destroy our children and  chase good teachers out of the district.  In 8 years more than 280 out of 430+/- have left Windsor Schools.  Mr. Peck and I were friends for years.  I coached his son on my travel basketball team for years.  Mr. Peck was my son’s instructor who is a graduate of Fairfield University. My son had a great deal of respect for him as an instructor.  Whether you like me or not does not matter but his treatment of blacks in position of authority tend to threaten him.  I have 6 beautiful grand kids that I love dearly and would lay down my life for them.  Their blood lines include Ireland, French-Canadian, Dominican Republican, Portugal and somewhere in the continent of Africa, but they are Americans. As Americans they deserve the best that we can do. I will not fail them even if that means sending to another school district. God gave us these gifts of life to do the best we can and he demands nothing less regardless of their color.  Personal goals should never take place of our responsibility to those who can not defend themselves.  Is there anyone out there with the moral character and strength to do what is best for our kids? They need you.

Howard Jubrey

You should all know that it is not an error that you received this.  It was meant for the leadership of both parties and anyone else who cares.  I care not for your politics.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here