Dozens protest as Paulo Freire charter school axes half its teachers
Unionized staff from the Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School and their allies picket in front of the Chicopee school on Wednesday. The union has alleged that the school’s administration is union-busting by refusing to renew the contracts of more than half of the school’s teachers. School leaders, meanwhile, say the move is in the best interests of students. DUSTY CHRISTENSEN
Unionized staff from the Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School and their allies picket in front of the Chicopee school on Wednesday. The union has alleged that the school’s administration is union-busting by refusing to renew the contracts of more than half of the school’s teachers. School leaders, meanwhile, say the move is in the best interests of students. STAFF PHOTO/DUSTY CHRISTENSEN
‘Little Statehouse’ not big enough: Springfield Councilor Sean Curran wants a state agency headquarters downtown to aid post-COVID recovery
Updated 4:32 PM;
Today 4:32 PM
City Councilor Sean Curran wants a state agency headquartered in downtown Springfield. (Hoang Leon Nguyen / The Republican file photo)
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SPRINGFIELD Saying it would be a “historic” economic development opportunity, City Councilor at Large Sean Curran has urged Gov. Charlie Baker to locate a state agency in downtown Springfield.
The proposal drew immediate praise from Springfield legislators, who said it would help to bring equity, investment and jobs to the region.
Curran’s request was emailed to Baker on Wednesday. It follows news that the Baker administration has hired McKinsey & Co. for a “future of work” study. The study will examine the shift to remote and hybrid workforce models once the coronavirus pandemic is over, and what it could mean for state policy decisions.
When he was interviewing in 2015 for a job with Pittsfieldâs Building Maintenance Department, James Esoldi learned, to his delight, that he would be able to commute to work in a city-owned vehicle.
That long had been city policy, because as a project supervisor, Esoldi could get called to duty at any time from his home in North Adams. It saved Esoldi about $40 a week in commuting costs. In fact, being able to use the pickup truck played into his decision to take the job.
When the city abruptly halted Esoldiâs use of the pickup to commute in fall 2019, during a pitched mayoral election battle, it raised political questions. And it prompted Esoldi, a member of the Pittsfield Supervisory and Professional Employees Association, to seek relief through the state Department of Labor Relations.
LANESBOROUGH â A town cop is fighting to get his former sergeantâs duties back, saying he unfairly was stripped of responsibilities last spring by the police chief.
Brad Lepicierâs case is pending before the state Department of Labor Relations, with a resolution many months off. As often is the case with workplace grievances headed for arbitration, the issue of who did what, and when, is murky.
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â Lanesborough Police Chief Timothy Sorrell
While Lepicier is asking that his rank be restored, Police Chief Timothy Sorrell says that already has happened, and puts it this way: âSgt. Lepicier is Sgt. Lepicier.â
Amherst school committees instruct superintendent to plan in-person learning
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AMHERST Students throughout the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools should have an opportunity to attend school in person starting in April.
The three school committees voted unanimously on March 3 to instruct Superintendent Michael Morris to develop a plan in which “all students who want it” will be able to finish the school year with instruction at the elementary schools, the middle school and the high school.
Just two days later, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved emergency regulations Friday giving Commissioner Jeff Riley the authority to decide when full and partial remote schooling will no longer count toward student learning time requirements. The following Tuesday, DESE decreed that all public elementary schools in Massachusetts will be required to open for full-time, in-person learning by April 5, while middle schools will be required