« The votes tell story: It's Mayor Caulfield | Main | Lynch's proposal for board turned a few heads »

November 26, 2007

Baehr may go from frying pan into fire

THINK THAT Karla Brooks Baehr will have a political cakewalk if she nabs the state education commissioner post?

Think again.

Baehr would land in the middle of a major battle over MCAS reform and an education department in disarray as Gov. Deval Patrick moves for an overhaul.

Patrick and his recent appointees to the Board of Education have been hinting that other methods should be used, in addition to MCAS, to measure student success. Other board members, many leftover from former Gov. Mitt Romney's tenure, have shrilly opposed any move toward tempering the standards.

In addition to that sticky battle, Baehr might even be at the helm when the ultimate hammer falls in 2014, and all children are expected to be deemed proficient under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

She'll have to answer to the governor, the Legislature and parents statewide if the students don't meet the ever-increasing standards.

But no pressure, Karla.

OF COURSE, that's assuming Baehr gets the job.
Baehr is in for some pretty tough competition, because interest has risen across the nation.

Officials at the National State Boards of Education, the go-to company for all education commissioner searches in America, have said this job has generated more interest than any other in recent history.

In-state names floated include Springfield Superintendent Joseph Burke and Worcester Superintendent James Caradonio.

Baehr could even face Brockton Superintendent Basan Nembirkow, who was the Lowell School Committee's first pick back in 2000.

BAEHR ALREADY has other prospects if she doesn't get the post.

Cambridge Superintendent Thomas Fowler-Finn has a contract until next July, but the sometimes-explosive superintendent has been on thin ice with the Republic of Cambridge's School Committee since 2006. One member publicly called Fowler-Finn "a tyrant."

Some Cambridge members might be willing to beg Baehr, along with offering her a tidy sum, to start at the urban school system. Fowler-Finn makes $185,000, and rumor has it the committee might be willing to go to $200,000.

And if she ever misses the Mill City, Baehr need only look over her shoulder. Lowell resident Robert Healy has worked as city manager in Cambridge since 1981.

NOW BEGINS the fight to select Baehr's successor.

One thing's for certain, a well-placed insider said, Dracut Superintendent of Schools Elaine Espindle -- who will be out of a job at the end of the current school year -- could face some local opposition were she to throw her hat in the ring.

Her most likely ally on the School Committee, Kevin McHugh, who worked in her administration when Espindle headed the Peabody public school system, failed to win re-election on Nov. 6.

McHugh is being replaced by Lowell High School Housemaster Dave Conway.

THE LAST superintendent search in Lowell had longlasting repercussions.

Baehr was not the School Committee's first choice.

That honor went to Nembirkow, who was then superintendent in Greenfield and now heads the Brockton public schools. Nembirkow declined the offer, however, saying committee member Regina Faticanti made him feel unwelcome.

Baehr emerged the victor from the next round of voting, beating out three local candidates: Deputy Superintendent Helen Flanagan, Assistant Superintendent Rosemary LeBlanc-Considine and Lowell High School Headmaster William Samaras.

Former City Manager John Cox resented Baehr from the start, both because he viewed the Newton resident as an outsider and because his father-in-law, former Deputy Superintendent James McMahon, was a Flanagan supporter.

Flanagan retired in 2002.

LeBlanc-Considine left Lowell to become superintendent in Melrose in 2002. She was fired from the Melrose job last year, reportedly because of her unpopular suspension of Principal Thomas Vennochi, who formerly worked in Lowell as well.

Samaras was the only one of Baehr's local rivals for the job who is still on the Lowell School Department payroll.

SO, COULD Baehr have received a new contract had she tried?

"Yes" is the most likely answer, but it wouldn't have come without a fight.

It also may have been a bittersweet victory.

Baehr had been in a struggle of wills with Samaras for control of the high school. Baehr's supporters said she viewed Samaras as protective of teachers and staff who refused to toe her administration's line. Her attempt to force Samaras to retire against his will never sat well with the popular headmaster's many supporters. Baehr never provided a satisfactory explanation for her decision.

Conway's ticket-topping election to the School Committee means she officially lost that fight.

Baehr last week reversed her decision and allowed Samaras' request to stay on through the end of the 2008-09 school year.

She said the move was to save the school district the disruption of searching for both a new high school headmaster and a superintendent at the same time.

It also quiets local criticism as Baehr begins looking for jobs beyond Lowell.

COULD THIS be the week state Rep. Dave Nangle takes the job as Sergeant at Arms?

The Lowell Democrat better take the position soon if he hopes to save his beloved constituents some of their hard-earned tax dollars.

The House voted to set a March 4 special election to replace Reps. Michael Festa, D-Melrose, and Doug Peterson, D-Marblehead. Both left to join Gov. Deval Patrick's administration.

Members also set the primary for those races on Feb. 5, the same date as the presidential primary. If Nangle moves fast enough, his open seat could also land on the Feb. 5 ballot and save Lowell and Chelmsford taxpayers the cost of yet another special election.

LOWELL POLICE Capt. Kevin Staveley had a front-row seat on the stage at the Stoklosa Middle School recently when Kenneth Lavallee was officially sworn in as police superintendent.

Staveley looked great in his dress blues, white gloves, etc.

But Staveley's hurting. He's been out of work for a few months, at least, after getting hurt in a cruiser accident that hardly damaged his car.

But at least Staveley showed up for the historic day.

Deputy Superintendent Dennis Cormier, who has been out injured for nearly a year after twisting his back getting out of his unmarked Crown Victoria in the Police Department garage, was a no-show.

EACH YEAR the Lamp of Liberty award is presented to a member of the Lowell community who has made an outstanding contribution to society by helping newcomers find their way.

As the U.S. representative from the 5th District from 1993-2007, Marty Meehan (now the UMass Lowell chancellor) fought for the rights of new immigrants, ensuring them access to such basic necessities as education, employment, health care and social justice.

That's why the Lowell Community Health Center and the International Institute have chosen Meehan as this year's recipient.

Proceeds from the event, scheduled for Dec. 5 at the Stonehedge Inn in Tyngsboro, will benefit both organizations. Tickets are $85 and the event chair is Niki Tsongas, who replaced Meehan in Congress.

JIM OGONOWSKI considering a Kerry challenge?

A fellow posted on Blue Mass Group the other day that he had just been questioned over the telephone by a pollster who, in the blogger's opinion, was clearly testing a challenge by failed Republican Congressional candidate Ogonowski against John Kerry.

The pollster asked some presidential questions before spending the most time asking about Kerry and Ogo, starting out with favorability opinions, etc.

WEDDING BELLS have rung for two of Meehan's best chums.

Developer/Meehan cohort Dave Trahan last weekend married Lori Loureiro, who served as Meehan's key fundraiser when he was in Congress.

The couple and selected guests celebrated in Nassau, the Bahamas, in a five-star restaurant called Graycliff.

Loureiro now works in the private sector, but she did help unsuccessful 5th District candidate, City Councilor Eileen Donoghue, on the fund-raising front in her strong race for Congress.

Among the locals in attendance were Meehan and spouse, City Councilor-elect Mike Lenzi and spouse and Lowell cop Dennis Moriarty.

Spies tell The Column that 57 of the 62 wedding guests "took the plunge" toward the end of the festivities.

Sounds like a splashing good time.

KUDOS GO to state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, who recently received a Special Recognition Award by the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education.

The award recognizes his long support of Adult Basic Education and for his keeping Adult Basic Education a legislative priority.

According to Fred Abisi, director of Lowell's Adult Education Program, "Steve Panagiotakos has been a friend of Adult Basic Education throughout Massachusetts ever since his days on the Lowell School Committee."

The Award was presented to the senator at MCAE's annual conference, Network 2007, held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlboro last month.

Contributing to The Column this week were City Editor Christopher Scott, City Hall reporter Michael Lafleur and Statehouse Bureau Chief Hillary Chabot.

Posted by Admin at November 26, 2007 4:39 PM