From: rhonda skinkle
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 11:59 PM
To: editorial@neindependent.com; nkstandardtimes@aol.com; scounty@projo.com
Subject: Parent concerned about children in NK
To the editor,
After attending school committee meetings and volunteering numerous hours for the past few years I have to disagree with the recent comments in the paper. The petition to ask the school committee to remove Dr Halley is not a new request,
it is an ONGOING request. Not by a few parents but MANY parents. There are MANY taxpayers who disagree but never write or speak up and there are those who are too frustrated because nothing ever changes. Then there are those who are optimistic that someday the school committee will actually hear the community.
The roof repairs did put children in harm's way in ALL of the schools that had work done. The letter sent out by the school committee was incorrect-children did get sick! The school committee says parents are overreacting -I want to know what has to happen before they listen to the community? How many petitions have to be signed before they acknowledge that there is a problem?
We elected new members to the school committee with the hope of gaining trust and confidence in the school administration again. Unfortunately that has not happened!
Rhonda & Mark Skinkle
Disgusted Parents & Taxpayers
10 Northbriar Drive
North Kingstown RI
----- Original Message -----
From: Barry and Eleanor Smith
To: nkstandardtimes@aol.com ; scounty@projo.com ; editorial@neindependent.com ; woodstock799@hotmail.com ; BAB33081@aol.com ; mmatteuc@projo.com
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2003 4:56 PM
Subject: North Kingstown Superintendent
Although we have no children currently in the North Kingstown school system, we are NK residents, voters and taxpayers and sent four children through the system not so long ago. We can no longer maintain our silence in the face of what is happening to our school system and to our Town under the supervision of the Superintendent of Schools.
We have witnessed the turmoil created by this one man during the reconfiguration process, which was reported by the local papers. We have witnessed his continuous mismanagement of the schools, as evidenced by many articles and complaints about him. Most importantly, we have witnessed his callous and uncaring response to parents on many occasions. It is time for the School Committee to perform their obligation to the Town. If they are not willing or able, then the Town Council should step in to ensure that the quality of our school system is preserved.
We plan to sign the petition that is circulating to remove the Superintendent. If our elected officials do not act to keep our schools running well and safely, we plan to take our memory of who failed to act into the voting booth.
Sincerely,
Barry and Eleanor Smith
73 Sedgefield Road
North Kingstown
----- Original Message -----
From: Deb Cotham
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 9:39 AM
Letter to the Editor;
I am a parent of a recent graduate of NKHS and a junior who is currently a student there. I have been disgruntled with the way in which our Superintendant has handled many issues the past few years. Like today, as many parents who have expressed horror at the handling of the elementary school roofing projects, I was horrifyed three years ago when my children were sent into the new highschool after OSHA had sited many health hazards and potential problems. They came home telling of passing workmen with power tools in the halls between classes and fumes surrounding them with no ventilation!! This was not a safe environment for our children. I have continued to read about the havoc that Mr. Halley's decisions have wreaked in the town, from dangerous decisions concerning bussing, special education issues, rezoning nightmares, school closures and now the roofing fiasco!! I have seen petitions and overcrowded school committee meetings and parent orginizations being formed to protect the rights that Mr Halley has trampled! The town people have spoken, we do not want Mr. Halley making decisions for us anymore! The town voted a school committee into office specifically on a ticket of being disenchanted with this superintendant, yet today there is only one champion for that cause speaking for the concerns of the constituents who voted him in, the much maligned Bill Mudge!! I have gladly signed the petition that is circulating now to oust this Superintendant, and I urge all concerned taxpayers to do the same!
A frustrated parent,
Deborah Cotham
Deb Cotham
dcotham@earthlink.net
Begin forwarded message:
----- Original Message -----
From: Lmjtr@aol.com
To: NKStandardTimes@aol.com ; editorial@neindependent.com ; scounty@projo.com ; mmatteuc@projo.com
Cc: TRFollansbee@msn.com ; BBR126@aol.com ; joeandlynda@cox.net ; AHaron8710@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 4:25 PM
Subject: Get Halley Out!!!
Letter to the Editor:
Re: Dr. James Halley, School Superintendent
I honestly fear that one of these days his negligence and lack of compassion and concern for our children will manifest itself into a tragedy! Heaven forbid! What do we, as taxpayers and town residents, have to do to get our elected officials to act and replace someone who is a liablity for us all? I know why nothing has happened to date......it's because there is no incentive to begin the search to replace him. That's why! Or maybe they are waiting for something terribe to happen first.......I am sure there are plenty of qualified people who would be able to step in and do a better job than Halley. If only they would begin to look!
In the meantime Halley continues to put the town and our children at risk each and every day! The latest example with the roof and the careless release of our children to our neighborhoods while we are all at work is yet one more example of a long list of indifferent decisions that Halley has made that further undermine our trust and confidence in the school administration he heads up. Someone please help!!!!!
Ernie Ricci
Disgusted Parent-NK
