Maureen Marshalling to Stay – If Price is Right

While I formally retire in August, I will pursue part-time consulting, administrative, and/or teaching opportunities.

Dr. Maureen Marshall November 29, 2011

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Hint: simultaneously - Recall THIS PAST THURDAY, 10 MAY 2012 – TRIFILO, FINCOMM, ETC

District wants retiring supt. to stay for year - Skills, experience cited as factors

• (A geographical unit for the local administration of schools i.e. Ms. Maureen Marshall, *LDS. and her *Sup-pets Marshalling More Money)

- Skills, experience cited as factors

• (i.e. puppet, puppeteer, puppeteering)

By James F. Russell CORRESPONDENT

BARRE —  Although Maureen M. Marshall officially retires in August (after the end of present fiscal year to insure more retirement dollars) (keep in mind she was never really leaving) as the dual-serving superintendent (dual-finanical and educational failures to both said districts) of the Quabbin Regional and North Middlesex Regional school districts, discussions have been ongoing to keep her  (keep in mind she was never really leaving) at the Quabbin post (note: North Middlesex Learned a Valuable Lesson by ‘letting her go’ out to pasture) at least until next year, and possibly longer (As a Global Citizen Educational Consultant for IBO), the *school board chairman (*Sup-pet) confirmed in an interview.

• Quabbin Regional School Committee Chairman Edward F. Leonard said Mrs. Marshall’s skills, experience and understanding of the community are a major factor.  (keep in mind she was never really leaving)

• “We are anxious (Experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. to insite fear) to secure (Marshalling More Money) the services of Dr. Marshall  (keep in mind she was never really leaving)  for as long as we can have them,” Mr. Leonard* said.

• As school chief in two districts covering eight towns, Mrs. Marshall is paid about $200,000, which the two organizations split. Barre, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree and Oakham make up the Quabbin district. North Middlesex includes Ashby, Pepperell and Townsend.  (dual-finanical and educational failures to both said districts self serving its author)

• Wakefield school Superintendent Joan Landers becomes the North Middlesex school chief on Aug. 1. Ms. Landers will be paid $160,000 per year. Data on the school’s website show $99,298 was budgeted for the position this year under the shared arrangement. The school board’s fiscal 2013 budget shows $250,000 allocated for the superintendent’s position.(Wakefield is NOT BARRE NOR NEW BRAINTREE, ETC)

• Mrs. Marshall (again, what’s with the Mrs. all of a sudden) became the North Middlesex superintendent (1 PTE or 0.5 FTE) with a starting salary of $157,000 in 2007 — after resigning from the Quabbin position. But she returned to Quabbin in 2009 when she began as the school chief of both districts.

Mrs. Marshall’s Quabbin career began as high school biology and chemistry instructor in 1972. She was promoted to science department head in 1975, then to junior high school associate principal in 1980.

• The following year, the West Boylston school district hired her as the associate high school principal. Mrs. Marshall rejoined Quabbin in 1985 as high school principal. She was promoted to superintendent in 1986. (And YOU taxpayer’s have been ridden hard and long for all of her, her Sup-pets, and Sub-Sup-pets toys).

by Barrien Menuier

Here are some additional facts that Russell the Reporter apparently overlooked or deemed insignificant so as to provide a balanced story:

• North Middlesex formally announced Marshall’s “retirement” on November 29, 2011.  The fix was already in to have her return to Quabbin as foreshadowed by her comment: “While I formally retire in August, I will pursue part-time consulting, administrative, and/or teaching opportunities” (back in Wonderland).  The Quabbin School Committee never formed a search committee for her replacement.  Why not? (rhetorical).
• Rather, the QRSD Committee’s minutes on November 11, 2011 reflect a sense of status quo with a new and improved evaluation form for Marshall.
• On December 8, 2011 the QRSD School Committee makes public Marshall’s plans to “retire” and the Central Office Subcommittee, led by Chairman Leonard and Barreites Mark Brophy and Lee Wolanin “will meet again to discuss how to proceed“.  (Quietly and not in public – for starters. )
• On February 16, 2012  after receiving a glowing review from the School Committee, Marshall “indicated that she is willing to work” for Quabbin – and not retire so long has it doesn’t negatively impact her pension.  And what about Marshall “notifying the Committee” that NMRSD extended her contract to August 30, 2012??  Wasn’t that already public news three months earlier?!! What theatre!!  And so the School Committee unanimously voted to allow Edward “the sycophant” Leonard, to (quietly) begin negotiating a new contract for ’12′-’13 (kinda like when he quietly negotiated the entire shared superintendency deal years earlier).
• March 8, 2012 the Quabbin Solar connection is revealed.  The District will be entertaining proposals from Dean Trifilo-Iandoli and other unnamed interested parties. Hmmm… Then it’s revealed on April 12th that the Central Office Subcommittee held a meeting on the 5th how the District will put together an RFP for a solar project with the assistance of the Hampshire Council of Governments.  No other details of the RFP have since been made public.  (see: Catherine Trifilo’s public appearance last week at the QRSD budget hearing.  My dear Russell the Reporter, either you were played or you are playing along.  Which is it??)
• It’s also revealed on April 12th how the Central Office Subcommittee, ruled by Leonard, will “decide on the process for the superintendent search” (this secret will remain such for another 8-10 months at which time a national search will be launched to only discover: 1. There’s no one better than Marshall, or 2. Marshall’s lieutenant Cheryl Duval is the “right fit”.)

You see Wonderland, the QRSD School Committee and the Doc are no different than Barre Inc.  They see one color: GREEN.  It’s what makes the world go ’round.  Energy credits here.  Eight percent salary hikes there.  There’s no way these swindlers will stop.  They can’t.  They don’t know how to say “no”.  It’s in their DNA.

I assure you that this was a very difficult decision to make. I deeply care about the students and the staff of this district. In many ways I would love to be the superintendent who with the Committee’s help and guidance would continue not only to improve programs, but also the infrastructure of our schools. Yet, there are issues that encourage me to consider retirement…

Dr. Maureen Marshall November 29, 2011

I’m truly moved.

Wonderland you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.  This warped magical mystery ride is about to reach new heights of monetary madness…

PS: 6′ x 8′

David H. Tuttle.

     Worcester County Deputy Sheriff.

             Barre Finance Committee Chairman.

Tuttle has been a member of FinCom since 2005 when he was appointed by Town Moderator Paul Cranston to join Claire Adomaitis, Brian Inman, Robert Leroux, Mark Staiti, Richard Stevens, and Peter Trifilo.  He has been the Chairman since 2008.

Wonderland has been the target of a forensic audit which reportedly is going back to 2005.  It’s now almost FIVE months old.  With no end in sight.

Yet not a peep.  From town officials.  From the media – near or far.

Millions unaccounted for.

So what could Tuttle be so happy about?

What could possibly be coming to an end that would bring “us” tranquility.

Be careful what you wish for…

In the words of  comedian George Burns, “I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.”

Message Menagerie: Wonderland’s Hidden Secrets

Department of Revenue.  An email to Marilyn H. Browne, the Bureau Chief of Land Assessment:

A follow-up to Ms. Browne (including Sen. Stephen Brewer):

Silence.

******

T&G reporter Shaun Sutner, an investigative journalist, reached out to this muckraker last year seeking information on one of Barre Inc.’s finest.  Sutner also expressed interest in 140 Union St.  Nothing ever materialized.  However he did choose to follow me on Twitter until I told him it’s easy to “follow”, how ’bout lead.  He’s now gone astray…

******

Barre Town Treasurer could not locate the letter that former Treasurer Rebecca Tuttle sent to Health Agent Stephanie Bacon concerning the amended 5 year contract with Waste Management back in 2009 (http://barrenews.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/barre-inc-s-deal-with-the-devil-waste-managements-power-play/).

Of course software and hardware changes have taken place in the Treasure/Collector Offices in recent years – all approved by the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen.

Makes one wonder what other records have “vanished”.

Earl Sample can you hear me? …

An Educational Wasteland: The Mad Doctor’s Exit Strategy

I am not asking for anyone to give me their firstborn

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Budget meeting leaves Quabbin parents stifled

By James F. Russell CORRESPONDENT

1 comment

BARRE —  Among the myriad problems Quabbin Regional School District now grapples with as it searches for ways to convince the towns to approve massive proposition 2-1/2 overrides to fund a $1.8 million budget increase is the prospect of losing children to private schools, faculty to other institutions and program elimination should the levy increase requests fail.

The “reporter ” never backs up this claim with facts.  Rather, this irresponsible lead serves to play into the hands of Supt. Marshall and her doomsday threats.

More than 50 parents and town officials came to Thursday’s school committee meeting wanting to know the details but those remain unknown. The administration is seeking overrides totaling $1.4 million to be shared by the five district towns.School officials said they expect to have information showing the consequences of a budget with and without the override money within weeks.

The reporter never questions Marshall or members of the School Board why such important information will remain withheld until days before the various town meetings.  This tactic is reprehensible.  The journalist’s failure to get any school official on record is unprofessional.

They said exact layoff numbers, the programs cut and the impact on Quabbin’s educational mission would be available in time for the first of the five town meetings that begin next month. Barre, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree and Oakham comprise the regional school district.

The school committee is holding another budget meeting with parents and town officials at 6 p.m. May 17 at the school administration building on South Street in Barre.

After the meeting, parents said they came to the meeting expecting to find out what is on the chopping block, and did not obtain that information. The parents said they will attend the upcoming meeting.

“There have been a lot of rumors” about the Quabbin school budget, said lifelong Barre resident Catherine T. Trifilo. “I wanted to hear from the source what was happening.”

The reporter only interviews one parent out of the 50 present?!  And coincidentally he picks one of the most affluent families in this Title 1 District that is financing two 2 MW solar projects (one is known to cost ~$7 million).

She and husband Dean Iandoli are raising three children that attend preschool, kindergarten and Grade 5 in the Quabbin system. The couple is contemplating removing their children from the district and placing them in private schools should negative changes occur related to the budget, Ms. Trifilo said.

Ms. Trifilo, a practicing attorney with an office in Boston, said she did not learn anything new about the budget but plans to attend the May 17 meeting in hopes of finding out more information.

“I don’t want to see art or music cut, or sports, and I do understand a lot of people in town are having trouble making ends meet,” Ms. Trifilo said. The possibility of a proposition 2-1/2 override “is a decision not to be taken lightly.”

Barre just last year approved a $1.4 million debt exclusion for the Common Improvement Project.

Since 2008, Chapter 70 state aid to the Quabbin district — as a proportion of the total operating budget — has declined 17 percent. The school budget totaled $32.76 million in 2008. The school board is seeking $32.03 for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The assessment hikes to the towns, averaging 15 percent, explain why the override would be needed to fund the budget.

“I am not asking for anyone to give me their firstborn (but instead) the opportunity for the voters to decide the overrides in the five towns,” Superintendent Maureen M. Marshall said.

The reporter never addresses one of the most compelling questions surrounding this region’s largest employer:  WHY hasn’t the School Committee launched a search to replace its esteemed leader?  Why will Marshall remain on as a “consultant” for another year?

Conclusion: This is a half-baked story that offers no real information.

Vacuous.  Just the way the School Committee and Marshall wanted it…

The above table represents figures from 2009-2010.

• The District has 3,012 students (enrollment continues to decline) and 488 are defined as “special needs”; or 16% of the total population
• 10 District Administrators
• 204 full-time teachers; the state average is 177 – QRSD needs the extra 27 to fulfill its mission?

The above table is from 2008 – 2009.

• Administration salaries represent 9%  of the $40 million dollar operating budget

The following is an email this muckraker recently received:

you need to get salary line items for 2012 and proposed ones for 2013. the difference will amaze you. I was told 1.7 million (in raises????)

It’s time to sacrifice the golden calf.  The sense of entitlement must end.  If not the towns which comprise the Quabbin Regional School District will fade away into financial oblivion.

Just wondering, has the Great Doctor peered down from her hallow sanctuary and checked the local news lately?  School districts across the region are cutting their budgets.  Barre reportedly will be losing its $500k annual tipping fee and her home town is in the midst of a forensic audit due to (sur)real financial malfeasance that’ll likely result in a wide range of indictments.

PS Why did North Middlesex not renew Marshall’s contract?  Just wondering.

In the Company’s Own Words…

The following excerpts were taken from yesterday’s Barre Gazette:

“The grant would be used to reduce energy costs in town owned buildings like … the Woods Memorial Library”.

All in favor of using a state grant to improve a private building?

Staiti and Trifilo-Iandoli met with Selectmen “to clarify that the town was still in the process of coming up with a contract for energy credits”??  Wouldn’t the Selectmen already know this?  Who’s running the Town?  The Trifilos – still??

And Attorney Baird “sought and received clarification from Quabbin Solar’s attorney on some terms of the contract”.  How ’bout seeking guidance from the state or an  energy consultant who specializes in such deals?

Would said attorney be Iandoli’s wife, Catherine Trifilo?

This sounds like the Memorandum of Understanding of 1997 all over again.  Baird.  Trifilos. Backroom talks. Credits/abatement…

 ”He has not been sworn in to date”.  But neither was Chairman Inman for a whole year…

So many secrets.  How do they keep track? …

Burying the Truth and Money

Where did the Barre Wool lien go?  Apparently it’s buried somewhere down this dark rabbit hole because former Treasurer Rebecca Tuttle, her husband David, the Finance Committee Chair, and the Trifilo family are not talking.  In fact, nobody’s talking about more than $250k that’s missing!

Recall, it was back 1982 that Tax Collector Alice Heyes issued the Instrument of Taking against Morton Darman’s Ivy Enterprises for more than $216k in unpaid taxes dating from 1977 – 1981.

The Worcester Registry of Deeds assigned the following Book/Page number: 7562/253.

By 1988 Darman sold the Barre Wool property (and with it the pre-exisiting lien) to Matthew Trifilo’s Phoenix Plaza Corp. Then came the infamous Memorandum of Understanding of 1997 which forgave more than $650k in interest while still requiring Trifilo to repay more than $225k in principal over the next 12 years.

Treasurer Rebecca Tuttle would quietly issue an Instrument of Redemption in 2005 – four years ahead of schedule.

The legal document which she signed is full of errors.  For instance it cited Ivy’s nonpayment of taxes for 1977 only.  The IoR also references the wrong Instrument of Taking (BK 7562, PG 360).

The IoR also references how Wildwood Development, then owned by Ruth Trifilo, was the entity redeeming the lien.  Yet, the Worcester Registry of Deeds does not include this reference.  In fact, if one was casually searching for confirmation of repayment then it would only be found under Ivy Enterprises – yet this company ceased to exist as of 1999.

The Registry uses the same erroneous document as recorded by Tuttle – BK 7562/PG 360.  Presumably she provided the information.

In fact, the correct citation is BK 7562/PG 353.

So the odds of locating the correct Instrument of Taking is not good given all these “mistakes”.

Then there’s the fact the Town has no record of repayment.  Nothing.

Yet David Tuttle remains as Chairman of the Finance Committee and town officials remain silent.

Meantime, the forensic audit continues…

Wonderland’s White Lines: Follow the Trail

On September 5, 2011 Dominic J. Franciose died at the age of 89.  According to his obituary he was born in Barre one of ten children of John and Nicolette (Mirabile) Franciose.

A thoughtful, compelling obituary that kindly honored one man’s life…

One February 16, 2012 I posted the following on the RuralRocks Facebook page:

No sooner did I hit send then an anonymous poster had this to say:

Brook Galloway had several names though he always preferred to hide in the Shadows.  Nonetheless, he one day suddenly disappeared down the dark rabbit hole after unleashing a few emotional rants. I suspect the Company silenced him.

Also on the 16th an anonymous  letter was sent to yours truly.

The “Barre Boy” being referenced is Laurence.  The media knew him as Larry.

This certainly is one intriguing connection to a former  international drug lord.

In 1983, Manuel Noriega unified the armed forces into the Panamanian Defense Forces, promoted himself to the rank of general and became de facto leader of Panama. In 1989, Noriega canceled the presidential elections and attempted to rule through a puppet government. After a military coup against Noriega failed, the United States invaded Panama, and Noriega finally surrendered In January 1990.

© 2012 A+E Networks

Although the relationship did not become contractual until 1967, Noriega worked with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from the late 1950s until the 1980s In 1988 grand juries in Tampa and Miami indicted him on U.S. federal drug charges.

The 1988 Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics and International Operations concluded that “The saga of Panama’s General Manuel Antonio Noriega represents one of the most serious foreign policy failures for the United States. Throughout the 1970s and the 1980s, Noriega was able to manipulate U.S. policy toward his country, while skillfully accumulating near-absolute power in Panama. It is clear that each U.S. government agency which had a relationship with Noriega turned a blind eye to his corruption and drug dealing, even as he was emerging as a key player on behalf of the Medellín Cartel (a member of which was notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar).” Noriega was allowed to establish “the hemisphere’s first ‘narcokleptocracy‘”.

© 2012 wikipedia.org

How many businesses were financed with this money?  Now that’s a good question.  Let’s just say – more than a few.   That’s why I found it rather brazen when this muckraker was “advised” by a member of Barre Inc. to “not upset” Wonderland’s narcokleptocratic purveyors.

You see, the old guard is still hooked on quick cash.  It’s their drug of choice.  And as for those ties to organized crime …

Drug money built Barre.  And to this day it remains a thriving economy.

This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.