Inside Worcester A Journal of Observation & Opinion March 2015 Booneʽdoggle’ Is the North High fiasco the superintendent’s Waterloo? ALSO: ■Phil Palmieri as snow czar? ■ʽReopen the Canal, Mr. Moosey’ ■Bravehearts are armed for 2015 ■The RTA, tarred and feathered? ■Mr. Augustus, on the firing line ■SHOWTIME: Paul Daley on the upcoming St. Pat’s Parade INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 2 COVER STORY Melinda’s misstep By ROD LEE Infrequent encounters with Dr. Melinda J. Boone since she assumed the superinten- dent’s position here in Worcester have shown her to be a woman with not only the skills that are required to head up a large-city school system but also the backbone for the task. She has in almost every instance made all the right moves. Almost. Dr. Boone most recently, for instance, advocated for creation of an exam school for higher-achieving students. She also questioned education cuts contemplated by Gov. Charlie Baker. She demonstrated by these actions that she is both a forward thinker and a defender of the dollars needed to keep charter schools, kindergarten programs and other operations on an even keel. She has even somehow managed to counterpunch like Manny Pacquiao when School In better times. North High students joined middle Committee Member Brian A. O’Connell calls her performance into question as he did schoolers from Burncoat for an educational retreat last by voting against the contract extension to June 2018 that she was awarded last April at Camp Harrington in Boylston. month. Mr. O’Connell and Dianna L. Biancheria were the two dissenting votes in a 5-2 tally, both citing “needs improvement” as the reason for their nays. Although their votes were not explicitly tied to the debacle that engulfed North High staff, faculty, parents and students that same week—the first week of February—Mr. O’Connell and Ms. Biancheria would have been justified in using Dr. Boone’s mishandling of the situation as grounds for giving her a low grade. Her response to the crisis that arose over safety concerns at North was even more curious than comments offered by Leonard Zalauskas in the after- math of a series of troubling incidents. Mr. Z., who is president of the city teachers union, was quoted in the Telegram & Gazette as saying that he thinks “for an urban district, (North) is a very safe place.” The evidence suggests that just the opposite is true, and that the administration has not come down hard enough to develop (as Mr. O’Connell put it) “a culture of mutual respect” and to inflict “adequate punishment” on those who put others at risk. Not only did there appear to be a decided lack of communication between Dr. Boone and Police Chief Gary J. Gemme as the crisis (and that’s what it was) unfolded, Dr. Boone seemed to downplay the extent of the problem presented by bomb threats, fights, absenteeism and threats posted on social media. There is no attempt here to be unfair to Dr. Boone. But it was hard not to contrast the climate at North with that at the Abby Kelley Foster Charter Pub- lic School, as enunciated by Christine Lee (no relation) in an Op-Ed article that appeared in the daily newspaper. In sixteen years, Ms. Lee noted, Abby Kelley Foster has become a Level 1 school with 1,426 students in K-through-12, a high school International Baccalaureate program, a multi-million dollar campus and—most telling of all—a commitment to excellence and high expectations. A “classical liberal arts education” grounded in “the great works of Western civilization” and aiming at academic attainment, musical competence and “character formation.” The secretiveness that Dr. Boone brought to a meeting held at North did her no good. Nor, apparently, did the meeting itself. It left a representative sampling of parents feeling that “our kids are unsafe.” Could this be a crippling blow to her, long-term? Let’s hope not. She has in so many other ways been a tower of strength. INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 3 Snow commissioner? Tree surgeon? Traffic guru? “Tis the winter of…” well you know the rest. A backhoe is used to lift snow into a large dump truck on Faraday St. OUR TOWN/ROD LEE Appoint Mr. Palmieri District, where his popularity ratings leave some- “giant snow throwers” that could be employed to to a new post, thing to be desired. maximum advantage when a parking ban is in Or he could take on overseeing the labors of a effect. An inference on his part that the equip- Mr. Manager couple of men from Martin Bros. Contracting Co. ment the city has now is insufficient for the task. Inc. of Paxton, who we spotted one morning as How this gets paid for when a $4 million snow If any lesson was learned from Worcester they got ready to barrier-proof an awning outside budget has been exhausted is the big question. establishing itself as “the snowiest city in the the Northworks building on Grove St. as a safe- Amid the snow flap Mr. Palmieri also took on all nation” this winter it is that District 2 Councilor guard against damage caused by falling icicles. comers including Mayor Petty, City Manager Philip P. Palmieri should abandon his dream There are no bounds to the reach Mr. Palmieri Augustus, the USDA, the Department of Conser- of winning election as a state rep could exercise as the city’s snow czar, possibly vation and Recreation and the Worcester Tree and instead build a case for being as an understudy to DPW Commissioner Paul Initiative folks in vehemently opposing wholesale named Worcester’s first-ever snow Moosey. eradication of “host” trees for the Asian Long- czar. horned Beetle in Green Hill Park. Like George W. Of course that might not work. Mr. Palmieri and Bush’s “fuzzy math,” he insisted (as did Virginia It would be like a prophecy fulfilled, Mr. Moosey are not exactly on the same page on Ryan) that it is “bad science;” that chemical treat- given Mr. Palmieri’s recent conten- snow, or trees for that matter. tions that the city (and by insinuation Mayor ment makes more sense. The councilor certainly cannot be accused of Petty) hasn’t done enough to keep sidewalks He could be right. having suffered a brain freeze as a result of the in commercial areas clear of snow. The sug- sub-zero temperatures we have witnessed of But maintaining that tractor trailer traffic on I-290 gestion being that by shirking its responsibili- late. On the contrary. He is full of “bright” ideas; above Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Ann Church ties in this regard, the city is putting the very and he has suddenly become more adversarial on Mullberry St. is responsible for structural dam- survival of small businesses—which are so and cantankerous in foisting them on his col- age to the building? Not CSX rigs rumbling past heavily dependent on pedestrian traffic—in leagues than Konstantina B. Lukes, which takes at street level? There is only one way to find out: jeopardy. some doing. give Mr. Palmieri the title of “traffic guru” and let I can picture it now, Mr. Palmieri directing him investigate. For instance. In the heat of the debate about apparatus whose operators are charged with snow Mr. Palmieri proposed that the city acquire He’ll get to the bottom of it. clearing clogged streets in the Canal INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 4 THE “I beg your pardon.” Mr. Arning disa- Armed & dangerous NEIGHBORHOODS Bravehearts tout young pitchers JOLMA RD.—The Worcester Bravehearts may not Can you dig it be fortunate enough to head south for spring train- ing but that doesn’t preclude the organization from planning the defense of its 2014 Futures Collegiate (a Canal), Baseball League (FCBL) title. To that end, Brave- hearts GM Dave Peterson recently released the Mr. Moosey? Water, water, every- first half of the team’s roster for the new season. Of where. Ranger Chuck special note is the inclusion of three young arms Arning says a reopened from Central Massachusetts who will figure in the STAFFORD ST.—Mention to National Park Ser- Blackstone Canal is team’s rotation for 2015. All are in their freshman vice Ranger Chuck Arning that Worcester DPW doable; and advisable. year of college. Luke Brennan was the starting Commissioner Paul Moosey is disparaging the quarterback for Doherty High’s 2013 Super Bowl- idea of a reopened Blackstone Canal on Harding champion football and the ace of the Highlanders’ St. as too expensive a proposition and you will pitching staff. A right-hander, his credentials includ- get a passionate rebuttal. Mr. Moosey recently ed a one-hit shutout of Burncoat High. Joe Caico, a went on record in opposition to Canalers’ dream lefty, is a teammate of Bravehearts Catcher TJ project on the grounds that the expense of digging up the infrastructure to make way for a Riccio at New Haven. Caico was a three-sport water experience is unrealistic. “Cost-prohibitive,” Mr. Moosey said. This determination did athlete at Holy Name. Now at Holy Cross, righty not sit well with the rank and file in the Canal District including John Giangregorio who see Austin Cave will get a chance to familiarize himself the initiative as the final piece in the neighborhood’s dramatic coming of age. As for Mr. with the mound at Hanover Insurance Park before Arning, whose attachment to the Canal District has been solidified by Worcester’s inclusion the Bravehearts’ first home game in June.