Does the Barrington PTO Have The Right To Break the Law?
There are very specific rules for public entities such as
the state, towns and cities, and schools, on how to advertise and accept
contracts for services. There are also specific rules for how people are hired
by these entities. They must be advertised, the bids evaluated and the jobs are
given to the lowest qualified bidder. Surely you have seen the large official looking
ads in the Projo and even in the Barrington times. For teacher and coaching jobs they are posted
for a minimum of days on the school website, and on school spring which sends
out notices to teachers and others looking for work. This is what happens when
the schools are looking to spend money or start new services. Requests for proposals are for any purchase
over a certain amount, and not very much money.
This is done so that insiders to not get the work without it
being offered to the public at large. So there are no insider back door deals. This is what happened in Central Falls. There
were no advertisements, no competitive bids. They got caught. They are going to
jail.
Last week the ex-mayor of Central Falls was indicted for
betraying the public trust, for as the Providence Journal describes it, “circumventing
competitive bidding rules”. He did this by giving an exclusive contract to his
friend to board up vacant houses. It is
alleged that he also accepted gifts from his friend Michael Boothillete. Both men
are expected to plead guilty and to serve time in jail.
Circumventing competitive bidding rules is what is happening
in Barrington. As sure as fire is hot and snow is cold the PTO’s and Arts
Alive! Conspired to, as the Journal said, “circumventing competitive bidding
rules”. By going through the PTO and not through the schools as it should have,
the intention was to first avoid the rules of posting that the school has to
follow to contract out services and second make more money than the schools
would pay for such work. And believe me doing plays for 100+ children in a
school with revenues over $40,000 for just one school and revenues I estimate
well over $125,000 from being in the schools and growing, Is a significant
contract. How do I know? Because When I
started doing theatre in town I took the same path. Because I have lived
through many of the same things.
I started in 2002 as a volunteer in the schools, just as
Arts Alive people did. I found that there were many students who wanted to work
with me, just as Arts alive people did. I went to the schools to see if I could
start an after school program in the schools, as I am sure that Arts Alive
people did. It is the logical next step. I was told no it would have to be put out for a
competitive bid. I started my own theatre group for kids and applied for a 501-C-3
to be a not for profit, but the schools still wanted to put up any program for
bid and that didn’t fit in my time table. So I rented Bay spring community
center and did our first set of shows.
Then I started an enrichment theatre program at the middle
school in 2003, like what Arts Alive does, where we did Bye Bye Birdie. It was
a smashing success. We made after all salaries $4,000 for the school! It was
almost as much as Arts alive made paid to all 4 schools and we only had 25
students, not over 100 like some of Arts Alive school shows had .There is lots
of profit in big shows. Had we had a 100+ students we would have made S30, 000
for the schools, not $4,000.
I also had a group of PTO parents who wanted to form a board
of directors, just like Arts Alive. Here we parted paths from Arts Alive! I
turned down the idea of a parent board of directors. I have found that some parents mean well, but then there are some I have found wanted to be
on the board to ensure that their children would get to be the lead. To influence
casting. I always tried to cast fairly and even. It has gotten many self -important
parents angry with me here in town. I went
so far as to film auditions to show disappointed parents why I cast what I
cast. We have all met parents like this. These are the same kind of parents who
want their children to only be the quarterback.
At the end of the middle
school show Richard Wheeler wanted to have me back very badly, but I was told
that having me back violated the master agreement with the teachers union. It conflicted
with what the union thought teachers should be doing in the schools.
So then Mike Raffa, then recreation director for the town,
asked me if they could take over our program in the recreation department,
which was looking for non-sports programming at the time. It had to be approved
by the town council with amendments and conditions which it was. And so
Barrington Community theatre was born.
That fall the high school hired me as the theatre director. They
didn’t just hand me the job, they hired me after and only after all current
teachers in all schools turned it down and I competed with 23 other candidates
for the job. It turned out to be the hardest job I ever had and ended up paying
me $4.50 an hour. But it was good art.
Like I said, like me, Arts Alive would have gone to the
schools to see if they could work for the schools. When they found how hard it
would be like me they would look to do it differently. They chose to go to the
PTO’s. It was more profitable and easier.
If the schools themselves did my program or Arts Alive’s
program or anything similar, they would have to by law advertise and many other
organizations besides Arts Alive! Would
be interested in bidding. And all would be willing to pay more than the $1500 pittance
per school that Arts Alive gave to the PTO’s Last year ($6,000 total per Arts
Alive! Website)
If the school were to hire any member of Arts Alive! They
would have to advertise the position, per the rules of the agreement of the
master contract with Barrington NEA internally first, just like they did when I
got the high school job, and as they advertise all coaching positions at all
schools including theatre.
For all coaching
positions, including the middle school theatre position, the pay is clearly
outlined in an appendix of the contract. It is often quite low for the work. When I was the high school theatre director, I
directed 3 plays a year for $5200 ( it is more now with annual 3% raises) but I
figured for the work I was doing I was getting about $4.50 an hour. Arts Alive staff
wouldn’t work for that, after all besides me who would?
So they, Arts Alive and the PTO have circumvented the bidding and hiring rules by using the PTO
as the facilitating agent, not the schools. And with a wink and a nod each of
the 4 elementary principals who had to sign off on the contracts. For clearly,
putting on a school musical, should be a job of the schools and not the job of
the PTO. PTO’s , like the EDC in Providence and 38 studios, should not be in
the position of picking winners and losers, which of course is exactly what
they are doing.
The PTO like the EDC and RIDOT are quasi-public agencies. The
problem is that many of the PTO officers are involved with Arts Alive Board of
directors, related by family connections, fellow PTO members or just friends. And
with no bids they pay the PTO’s very little. Only $1500 per school they put on
a show in.
The Arts Alive board of directors sits on the PTO’s of the
schools Arts Alive got contracts for. I am sure they spoke for and voted for
ARTS Alive to get the contracts. That is a simple conflict of interest. And as
much as the schools would like to say that it doesn’t have to be put out for
bid because it is a PTO program. It is approved by each school principal and
the principals are members of each schools PTO. The school administration is
responsible for what goes on in the schools.
How is all this bad for children? One major fuction of the
PTO is to raise money to benefit the students. If they give a contract to
friends that raises significantly less money then there is less money to benefit
children.
Barrington Community Theatre is now led by Reid Eighme and
not me anymore. I am staying as an advisor in a very diminished capacity until
Peter DeAngelis or Reid Eighme asks me to go. So with them both signing off ,
and after hearing of Arts Alive intention to go into the middle school, I
crunched the numbers and Barrington Community theatre submitted a bid to the
Principal and superintendent for Community theatre to run the same program as
Arts Alive and more. Instead of $1500 for the schools for the right to put on a
show, Barrington Community Theatre guaranteed $8000 per school or 1/3 of all
revenues whichever is greater.
Plus Barrington community theatre would offer any student
who did not have a lead role in the school show to do Barrington Community
Theatre for free to make sure that every child gets a bigger part. Our philosophy
has always been kids learn and benefit from the self-esteem of getting as large
a part as possible, which is why we do 50 shows a year and which in musicals is
not often possible. So for the students who were not the lead, we would give
them for free a chance to shine elsewhere. A part with a name and lines not
just one of a chorus of 100.
If Barrington Community Theatre had the contract that Arts
Alive had then the schools would have received $26,000 more last year and kids
who had one line in the chorus they also would have had a big part in a play. How
much is $26,000 extra for the PTO’s? Well The Rubber Duck Race, BEF’s big fund
raiser of the year raised $10,710 Last week!
What good works could the PTO do with $26,000 extra money? What
supplies for the school could they buy? Whatprograms could they begin to help
children. $26,000 is more than several
fights have been over at the town financial meeting. Money that the PTO’s do
not get and gets diverted to other sources (Like staff for Arts Alive) hurts children.
But as Good as Barrington Community theatre is, And it is a
good program, in an open bidding process we probably would not win. We are not
the best out there. The best is Trinity Rep, which has several outreach
programs for students . They have access to the best staff and the educational
director who heads up the program, Barrington High graduate, Carrie Azano, is
the best I have ever seen. She interned and then worked Barrington community theatre,
for 4 years. 2 years as our program director. Out of loyalty she usually comes
back once a year to guest direct. We really appreciate her. She is the best,
and they have their own growing camp and are interested in reaching into the
communities. I don’t know if they are interested in this but they should have had the
chance to bid.
There is also All
Children’s Theatre /Saint Andrews. They have several programs in many towns.
They are one of the largest advertisers on the Barrington Patch, (just look up
at the top of the page and probably and you will see their banner ad). Why do you
think they are spending so much money advertising in the Barrington Patch? They
are trying to reach Barrington students. The ones that ARTS Alive gets to solicit for
free. What do you suppose ACT would pay to get into the schools which arts Alive
gets for free? They have a good program and significant resources behind them.
RI College, Roger Williams College, Stadium theatre, Park Ave
theatre among others all have programs they would like to expand. But we never
had a bidding process. I am sure there are more programs that would love the
opportunity.
But the revenue generated at the schools is just the tip of
the iceberg. The real money is in access to Barrington students, the ability to
start and maintain an extracurricular theatre program. This is what every arts program drools at.
Barrington kids, unlike Providence and Pawtucket kids, are often the ones who
can pay full rate for after school and summer programs. City kids need grants
and scholarships, and generate less money. Using the connections with the kids they
worked with, Arts Alive started their own summer camp this year, creating more
revenue for the organization. Arts Alive is also currently offering 12 after
school classes a week for fees ranging from $150-$225, 12 classes @200 @10
students is $24,000, a bonus only
possible because they work in the schools.
Don’t tell me that this is just another enrichment program like where
a parent teaches a class in cooking and get $150 for 8-10 classes. This is a
different animal. This is a program that has revenues well over six figures and
growing. And please don’t tell me that they run a good program. Of course they
run a good program. Of course they care about kids and do their best for them
in the program. That is not in dispute and not what this is about. This is about money and open government.
This is about open bidding in government. I can think of a dozen good programs within 20
miles of here who can all do just as good a job. They just are not friends with
the PTO members. Arts Alive is good but they are not that good. They just have
an in that other groups do not have.
If this were a sleazy Central Falls mayor and his friend in
a no bid contract that yielded less money for government , then all parties on
both sides would and in the case of Central Falls are going to jail. But while
many of the underlying facts are similar nothing is going to happen. Seriously
this is a group of well educated, well connected suburban housewives. Can you
see an AG going after this group like the Mayor of Central Falls? No, But they did pretty much the same thing. They got
around bidding rules to get friends work for more pay than it would pay otherwise.
The PTO’s are a quasi-public corporation like the EDC and Ridot. Imagine if a member of the EDC was also on
the board of 38 studios, and then voted on the 38 studios deal? How many of the board members of the board of
Arts Alive are also on the PTO’s that approved this sweetheart deal? But it’s
the PTO so no one will get charged or go to jail. But it is wrong and it should
stop.
I started writing this because we now have a candidate who
wants to get more Art into the schools doing what Arts Alive did. And she is a
board member of Arts Alive. The arts need to be brought into the schools but
not this way. It needs to be done following all the rules, not like it is being
done with Arts Alive.
The schools NEED to stop this behavior. It technically illegal,
unfair to many parties and hiding behind the old “PTO’s can do what they want”
just doesn’t cut it. There is a lot of money out there. They are indeed “circumventing
the completive bidding rules” They are breaking the law, sidestepping it if you
will.
For if this is allowed then why not have a PTO sponsored
Soccer Team? Little league? A PTO sponsored Dance Team. Or a PTO sponsored Jazz
Band, Hockey team, elementary Math Team, a fencing team, a middle school Business man's club ECT.
The sky is the limit! The list of options endless, and there is no shortage of people
who would like work and access to some of the richest students in the state.
We do need more arts in the schools, I have said so for 16
years at meeting after meeting, but we need to do it by the rules. The schools
need to put more arts into the schools, through proper channels and not use the
PTO’s to get around the law.
kelvin
8:43 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Hey Mr. Hellmann, Hadn't thought it through like this. Thanks for bringing this to light - and thanks for your service to our community.
David D.
9:41 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The more arts in schools the better -- how can you argue with that? Even if they're "not that good," which sounds an awful lot like sour grapes, they're still doing the children justice.
It's one thing to talk about government building contracts, road-building contracts EDC Grants, or even the coaching/teaching positions you've described. But when it comes to arts in the schools, its the more the merrier -- not a contest of what group is "better" than the other. Parents in Barrington should count themselves lucky that the argument is over which group runs an after-school arts program, instead of an argument over whether one even exists or not--which is the case in some less fortunate districts.
kelvin
11:37 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Hey David, I agree - it is totally sour grapes. But I think Mr. Hellman has a right to be pissed. Looks like he offered a similar package to our schools and was told to follow the rules. I love the fact that our kids have this great opportunity to experience theater - and in a production done so amaizingly well. $26,000? That's quite a chunk of cash. Something our PTO may want to consider going forward. And to Mr. Hellmann's point, if there are rules in place, we should all play by those rules. Is Mr. Hellmann a bit over dramatic - yes, but such is the life in the theater.
Joel Hellmann
12:12 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
David- I agree in theatre more is merrier. But then why does Arts alive have an exclusive contract with the schools?
DanComment
6:17 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Thank you Mr. Hellmann.
It is indeed sad that it has come to this and sad that other parties, who I'm sure would be a lot more impartial, are not allowed to try. I even heard that one PTO Member had BOTH her kids in leads last year. We just stopped after 2 seasons because it was all about who you knew re. getting parts and it was just a waste of my sons time.
In this day and age where schools desperately need money it would be wonderful if the schools would have the courage to stand up and say NO (just as I hope they will start enforcing the dress code at BMS!) and go with what's good for everyone and not just the PTO and their children/friends.
PK
8:57 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
PTO does not operate with taxpayer dollars. They can hire anyone they want - and they don't have to put out an RFP. The EDC is funded by taxpayer dollars - and they approved the Further allocation of tax dollars. Same in Central Falls.
This blog entry reeks of bullying, misogyny (why is it relevant that the organizers of ARTS ALIVE! are 'suburban housewives'?), and jealousy.
Joel Hellmann
9:28 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
The PTo's have unfettered access to teh schools, and do not pay any of the associated fees or Janitorial. They have access to the entire schools mailing list whicah an outside gtoup cannot do. They advertise through the back pack express, which other groups cannot do and they consist as their title as an organization consisting of parents and teachers for the benifit of the schools. all their activities must be approved by the principal of each school. This is not a stand alone organization.
My blog was not bullying, if anything Arts Alive are the bullies in town. Like the one who last week said I was too hostile to work with children in town because I had the audacity to question the relationship between the PTO's and Arts Alive. Now that is bullying. I have worked with children for 20 years, and I have stood up to the bulling at the high school and I will stand up to it with adults also.
And as for the charge misogyny! ( very creative ) but really, I remember when I was on the executive board of the Nayatt PTO for 2 years. I was one of 2 Males who attended any of the regular meetings. It would be fair to classify the majority of the balance as suburban housewives don't you think. The fact is that more women than men are on The PTO's, do you dispute that? And maybe if it were men it would be easier for the AG to make a case. I just feel as I stated that because this is suburban women, as opposed to the Central Falls mayor they won't prosecute.
Joel Hellmann
9:28 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
As to jealous. I am jealous that all those years of asking the schools just for the right to perform Alice in Wonderland for free in teh schools was rebuffed and yet, for this insider group, the waters would part and they can do what they want. I guess all there is to do is file an official complaint with the AG's office and see what happens.
Joel Hellmann
9:38 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
All blog posts that are made on the ite get sent to me via email. sometimes the system cliches but here is a post that came in yesterday that I got that never got posted. It seems all the ones that hate me get posted so I wanted to make sure that one that agrees with me gets put up. Below is the post in it's entirety.
Joel Hellmann
11:21 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Done, Sorry I did not know.
Joel Hellmann
11:22 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
S. Kostas
It is just that so few people who agree with me are willing to write what they think.
again sorry
Joel Hellmann
11:47 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Thanks I appreciated the blog you had written very much that was why I wanted it up. The thought alone means a lot to me. Thanks.
DanComment
12:31 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
It's scary to think of how the PTO then has instilled fear of venting your feelings in this town.
Maria Cabral
11:51 am on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Joel:
>> These are the same kind of parents who want their children to only be the
>> quarterback.
Many of us here on Patch read your early blog post on the same subject......
http://barrington.patch.com/blog_posts/last-night-pop-warner-talked-me-out-of-signing-my-kid-up
....and we remember you saying:
"they had him playing center so the in crowd kids could run and catch passes"
....and....
"The hard part was explaining to [my son] why the kids, when they certainly knew he was the better runner with the ball, would not give him the ball. The answer was unfortunately, this is Barrington. That is how it is."
Perhaps the coach you hectored in that unfortunate situation will be inspired to film future tryouts so he too can avoid the "kind of parents who want their children to only be the quarterback."
Hello, Mr. Pot. Meet Mr. Kettle.
Joel Hellmann
12:50 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Maria,
The difference is i didn't ONLY want my son to play center. i wanted him to have a chance to play different positions. like running back or end or maybe quarterback. He could play Center just not the whole game. which is what Pop Warner suggested might be the case. He runs track right now a the middle school where they pick the top runners from practice to make varsity. In the last meet between both teams he finished 20 out of over 100 as a sixth grader. next year he will be better. But the pick the best 5 runners and he has a chance to fairly compete. I think next year he may make varsity. But It will be fair.
cont.
Joel Hellmann
12:51 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Maria continued
In Barrington Community Theatre, everyone gets a big part first and then we have a second draft where everyone gets a smaller supportive part. Even the best actor, the star, the theatrical equivilent of the quarterback. i feel that the stars learn as much from supporting less experienced actors. it prepares them for what happens to 99 percent of actors when they get to college programs and get 1 line at best.
No Maria,
I did not want my child to be the quarterback. i wanted him to have a chance, even a small chance to be a running back for a few plays. A chance to audition. If you cannot see the difference, then I truly feel sorry for you. i know the difference, and I know how the difference helps children. and you can call me kettle, or pot, or black or any other insult you think of, whatever you want. The program I started is as fair as it gets. Is yours?
Maria Cabral
11:28 am on Sunday, October 7, 2012
Joel:
You're engaging in a bit of revisionist history, but we're fortunate to be communicating in a medium in which your exact words are preserved. In your reply, you said:
>> The difference is i didn't ONLY want my son to play center. i wanted him to have
>> a chance to play different positions. like running back or end or maybe
>> quarterback.
The problem is, these thoughts do not appear in your original blog.
My reading of your original words was that the coaches put your son in at center and, when you objected, the coaches said he could play safety. That also wasn't to your liking, because you believed safety to be a lesser position.
After the coach recommended that your son play 2 different positions, neither of which were to your liking, I'm guessing you went to the public Q&A session not to get answers, but to create an uncomfortable public situation for the coach. This would allow you to leverage that discomfort to ensure your son played where YOU wanted, regardless of the coach's assessment and decision concerning your son's skills.
In your blog above, you said:
>> I have found that some parents mean well, but then there are some I have
>> found wanted to be on the board to ensure that their children would get to be
>> the lead.To influence casting.
All you were doing at the Q&A meeting was trying to "influence casting." When you object to other parents doing the same thing then, yes, you are the pot, and you're calling the kettle black.
Joel Hellmann
2:29 pm on Sunday, October 7, 2012
No Maria,
I wasn't influence casting i was trying to find out if there was any tryout. Huge difference! Just asking if there is a tryout is not the same as trying to chance the results of a try out.
really you can't see the difference? I have never complained when any of my kids lost out on a tryout or audition! EVER I have had 22 kids and dozens of these events and many went against the kids. I tell them to accept it and do better next time.
BUT NO TRY OUT? Come ON!
I had been told, and I am still told that in Pee Wee football how good you are is often secondary to who you know.
What I said in my blog was that I wanted him a chance to try out and that there were NO try outs That he would just be assigned to a team and the coach might only have room for him at safety. And that IF and I us the word IF he were good enough to play another position he may never get the chance.
Joel Hellmann
2:31 pm on Sunday, October 7, 2012
So Maria
Because as I said, in the original post, this boy runs like the wind and has a nose for the ball and if there were a try out for an honest coach, which I am sure some are, they would really want to use him somewhere. But I have to tell you the people I have talked to since the original blog, even the biggest Pee Wee boosters i know, admit, albeit quietly, that there are some coaches that just play their children and their friends. and since there were no tryouts for him to show what he could do, and he could be assigned to one of those teams, I feel that I certainly made the right call. He loves the Track team and his time keeps moving down and he is beating half the 8th graders while in the sixth grade.
So call me Kettle or Pot. What you are is a typical closed minded Barrington Sports parent. Where the title with pride
Maria Cabral
3:48 pm on Sunday, October 7, 2012
Joel:
And the revisionist history continues...
>> What I said in my blog was that I wanted him a chance to try out and that there
>> were NO try outs
Where exactly did you say this?
Oh. That's right. You didn't. What you said was:
>> I asked what chances a new kid; a foster kid would have of playing much on a
>> team. I wanted to know if the coach stayed with his core players that he was
>> used to playing with or was there a full draft or lottery each year to give new kids
>> an even chance.
You weren't asking about tryouts, you were asking about drafts and lotteries. Apparently the answer was 'no', there are no drafts or lotteries. If you did write that you were "trying to find out if there was any tryout", then please quote the exact words here.
>> After 2 minutes or so of trying to pin down answers which he did not appreciate...
I also wouldn't have appreciated a meddling parent who berated me in a public forum for "2 minutes or so", particularly one who's on record as criticizing other parents who try to meddle.
>> What you are is a typical closed minded Barrington Sports parent. Where the
>> title with pride
My oh my, how broad-minded and inclusive you are, Joel! The sheer number of broad-brush paranoid prejudices that lard your comments should give pause to any parent who might be thinking of entrusting their children to one of your programs.
>> So call me Kettle or Pot.
As you wish. "Where" it with pride, Mr. Kettle.
Joel Hellmann
7:44 pm on Sunday, October 7, 2012
Maria
You were not there i was the question I was trying to pin him down was were there any tryouts. There were not. Since i wrote this no less than 20 People have told me they would not do Pee Wee football. The funny thing is I went to sign my kid Up. I had the money in my pocket. I just wanted to know if there was some fair way to evaluate new kids. There wasn't. What I hear from a comment on my other blog Pee Wee might be in bigger trouble than I can cause. If indeed there is a tape, and i have no way to know the veracity of the comments posted on the Blog i wrote in spring. If there is a tape, and half of what that person wrote is true, I am sure it will get to U-tube and to Pee Wee's national office.
Me, i didn't berate any one for 2 minutes I asnsered an ad that said come down and have your questions on Pee Wee football ansered. I asked if there were tryouts and he wouldn't abswer the question.
But the post about Pee Wee on the other blog is very disturbing. Is it true? Should I ask to see the tape in question? Should I see if I can forward the issue to proper people to look into it? You talk about my prejudice? You are kidding right? You don't know me or what I do or who I am! Many parents appreciate what I did for their kids. I have their letters. Some were great actors and some just found themselves. I guess i will ahve to make Pee Wee my cause. You talked me into Maria congrats.
Maria Cabral
11:07 pm on Sunday, October 7, 2012
>> You were not there i was the question I was trying to pin him down was were
>> there any tryouts.
>> Me, i didn't berate any one for 2 minutes I asnsered an ad that said come down
>> and have your questions on Pee Wee football ansered. I asked if there were
>> tryouts and he wouldn't abswer the question.
Mr. Hellmann:
Please step out of your vehicle.
Thank you.
Now, please say the alphabet, beginning with the letter 'D' and end with the letter 'P'.
Thank you.
Now, close your eyes, tilt your head back, and touch your index finger to your nose.
Ok, thank you.
Now I want you to please walk, heel to toe along this line.
Ok, Mr. Hellmann. Please get in the car. We need to take you to the station.
Why?
I think you know why...
kelvin
6:28 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
Hey guys, thanks for the comments. This is so incredibly entertaining - got to love small town life. Looking forward to the next topic of conversation.
Maria Cabral
7:26 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
Kelvin:
You are of course correct.
The only real point I was trying to make is that while Joel was objecting to parents he thought were meddling in his decisions as a leader of a youth program had himself written about his own meddling in the the decisions of another leader of another youth program.
Mr. Hellmann has tried to rationalize his actions on both counts, and reframe his current and prior comments in ways that reflect favorably on him, but the fact remains that everything is written down and is out there for all to read and form their own opinions.
From what I have read of his words, I believe Mr. Hellmann was acting in a hypocritical manner. Does that change the course of world events? Or course not. Everyone else should read Mr. Hellmann's prior PeeWee blog post (see link above), this blog, and his latest comments and draw their own conclusions.
Good luck further splitting hairs, Joel. Over and out.
kelvin
6:29 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
Happy Columbus Day
Joel Hellmann
10:26 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
Happy Columbus day Kelvin!
DanComment
10:35 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
However, this should not take away from the fact that Mr. Hellmann is completely correct about his assertions re. PTO and how it should be fair game for everyone
Manifold Witness
12:05 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Frustrated suburban househusband
voluntarily mounts the public rostrum
so often the steps are worn &
the wood joins in the groans of protest.
Plays lawyer, judge & jury in a blog.
Alleges opportunity, instead,
went to well-qualified, highly-educated...
women?!
Ad Hoc Tax Committee official
didn't do his duty alleges criminal violations
against so many others- LEA, government, PTO.
Uncited laws.
Interests that conflict
with his own.
Says he started doing theatre as volunteer in the schools,
wanted to “start an after school program in the schools”,
“was told no it would have to be put out for a competitive bid”
“that didn’t fit (his) time table.”
Started enrichment theatre program*.
Rec Dept theatre, approved by the town council.
Was hired as HS Theatre Director-
after all current teachers in all schools turned it down.
Admits of “his” theatre program: “We are not the best”.
And yes- established that LEA doesn’t want to run a theatre program!
“His program”* he thinks legitimate “enrichment”?
But of Arts Alive? He grunts, “Don’t tell me that this is just another enrichment program”.
Likens others to “criminals… caught and are going to jail”?!
Says “all there is to do is file an official complaint with the AG's office”?!
But he doesn’t think the Barrington “suburban housewives” will be going to jail. (Phew!)
PTOs across the nation sigh, continue their work.
DanComment
3:34 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Wow - these comments are getting really nasty!
Joel Hellmann
4:22 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Dan
You get use to it. It is the sign that you are right when they go after you personally
Ryan Andrews
11:22 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Joel,
This is not illegal. It's not "technically illegal." As I understand your argument, you're really saying that the PTO is undermining the competitive bidding requirement because of the relationship between the school and the PTO. The competitive bidding requirement arises due to concern over what happens with tax dollars. The Central Falls mayor accepted bribes for awarding tax-payer funded contracts. The PTO does not operate with tax dollars, and thus, the complaint you drop off with the Attorney General's office will be promptly afforded its due consideration and thrown in the trash (for that and other reasons as well).
But your point, that it would have been fairer, perhaps produced a better product or raised more revenue to have gone through the bidding process seems like a good point.
I don't understand why you would take a fairly interesting argument about something you're familiar with (namely, local organizations and community programs) and make it totally ridiculous by comparing this to criminal corruption. As a general rule, your legal opinions are incorrect.
But like, maybe you're right and the Attorney General will sue the Barrington PTO for not offering you a bid, and then everyone will go to jail just like in Central Falls.
Joel Hellmann
9:31 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Ryan,
The Central Falls case was brought to the AG 3 years ago before there were any bribes known, just the no bid contract. It was through investigating the no bid process that the bribes were found. No bid contracts are the underlying event, the bribes just added to the case, and urged the AG to move forward.
The schools' problem with the position of the PTOs being a sepereate entity falls short since each event of the PTO's has to be approved by the school Principal, involving the administartion in the process. If you are in for a penny you are in for a pound.
I spoke to a retired elementary Principal from Seekonk Friday and told him the story. He said it always would have to be approved by the school committee. He was shocked that it happened in Barrington.
Ryan it is not just the bribes that are illegal it is circumventing the process that is illegal. The bribes are just icing on the cake in Central falls and it was what caused the jail time.
DanComment
11:24 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
So how do we proceed now re. this?
Joel Hellmann
1:26 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Dan,
Regretfully it may turn out that someone has to infomand file a complaint to the AG. I am reluctant to do so, as I am so closely tied in. And also i really don't believe in turning the town or the schools in. i don't like the town having the expense. I have never done it before. with everything I find I bring it both with the town and the school administration in the hopes that they will do the right thing. The schools need to police it themseleves. But if indeed they can't or won't and no one else does I may have to. I got a call an hour ago again confirming that Arts Alive is moving to expand into the middle school. the administration has denied this to me twice. I think about how many times the schools and the town are fined for open meetings violations and release of documents. This is much bigger, more money involved. I would prefer it were someone else, but If I have to do it I will.
Pledgling
11:56 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Thanks for being brutally honest in bringing this to light. Since one Barrington housewife was so much in a hurry that she backed up in front of the middle school when there were kids crossing the front driveway and almost hit my child. Are you talking about these woman? Maybe you should do something about it? Call a lawyer?
DanComment
2:15 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Joel, I disagree: you are the one with all the facts, the background and the know-how re. this issue. I for one, have just felt and seen the injustice but wouldn't know how to present the issue as I have not had all the interaction witih schools etc. as you have. I think if you at least presented this - we would know WHY the schools did what they did and hopefully, that they won't allow this to continue.