In June at the Tech School Committee meeting Lowell member Erik Gitschier falsely accused Supt. Santoro of “over stepping” her boundaries in dealing with layoffs.

Yet on City Life on Thursday Gitschier stated he called former football coach Coach Kevin Callagy who quit after his feelings hurt and asked him to reconsider and return to coach football.

I don’t believe it is the role of a school committee to get involved with hiring nor is he supposed to get involved in criticising the make-up of the screening committee.

I asked a School Committee member NOT from Greater Lowell Tech if Gitschier’s actions were proper and they responded by saying ” Would it be my practice? Likely not. The law is pretty clear that committee members do not interfere in the day to day operations and have NO say/sway whatsoever over the hiring/firing of any employees in the District.”

Gitschier seemed to concentrate on the AD position rather than the main focus of the job which is the Dept. Head for Phys. Ed and the schools desire to change the focus to an overall health and wellness program that benefits ALL students instead of an athletic/sports focus that many students in High School don’t enjoy.

I thought it was about ALL the kids Erik not just the jocks who you seem to be focused on?

I asked Tech Committee Chairman Victor Olson to respond to some questions regarding other comments that Gitschier made on City life. Mr. G has used this program to attack the Supt. and his fellow committee members on several occasions. In addition to his attack on the Supt. and process he stated that Dunstable should not have a committee person, wonder how Mr. Dave Tulley would feel about that? No wonder he can’t get a motion passed!

Here are the questions and answers from Chairman Victor Olson

1) Has the Supt. been on vacation and does she notify the School Committee when she takes any vacation time?

It is not unusual for any superintendent to take vacation time in July. I as chair was aware she was on vacation. No formal written process is typically followed.

2) Mr. G indicated the Supt. review hs been delayed and last years was delayed and he hasn’t been informed of any process for this years review Is there a formal process?

New Educator Evaluation regulations are required to be implemented by September 2012; part of which includes Superintendent Evaluation. I spoke with “Superintendent Evaluation Sub-Committee Chair” at an early June meeting and found out that for the 2011-2012 evaluation we should follow the formal process in place to advance the process and that the subcommittee should meet to revise the evaluation process to be in line with new pending regulations after vote of school committee to adopt regulations for the next evaluation period. Evaluation forms will be handed out to all School Committee members

3) Mr. Gitschier stated he called former Coach Callgery and asked him to reconsider not applying, is that role a school committee member has?

It is not the role of a school committee member but as an individual as long as indicating not representing the board there is no harm although it can be misinterpreted. No promises should be given to anyone in that position.

4) He stated he emailed the Supt. about the AD/Coach and was told she was on vacation and got his questions answered by the Sun story yesterday…is that correct.?.he did read the Supt. letter to the committee

The committee received an e-mail on the hiring of the Phys Ed/ Athletic Director Hiring and then another e-mail the following day regarding the decision of football coach not to reapply for the position. The e-mail stated “If you have an interest in the facts regarding my conversation with Mr. Callagy please feel free to call me.” Mr. Glitchier probably would have had a quicker response had he called the Superintendent. I called late in the evening and received a return call the next morning.

GN NOTE: I called the Supt. and she told me “The email I sent asked the committee members to call if they had additional questions. Other members called…he did not. He insists on communicating via email even though I have made it quite clear the phone is a better way to reach me.

If he called Callagy himself…why did he need me to answer his questions?? His questions were: “Does every Coach have to re-apply for their Head Coaching Job every year?…and…”Did Coach Callagy give a reason why he did not come back to Greater Lowell?” If he had called me per my email he would not be surprised by anything he reads in the paper. I was going out of town nd clearly stated to call since I wouldn’t have easy email access, Again…HIS CHOICE!! I believe he chooses not to call me so he can continue to support his claim that I do not communicate effectively. Let’s see what my evaluation from him says about “communication”. Any bets??? So predictable…

5) Mr. G questioned the make up of the screening committee questioning why a school nurse,plant manager and Tech. director were involved when they didn’t have any background in Phys ED. Is is a School Committee members job to question the make up involved in hiring?

School Committee is responsible for hiring the Superintendent, treasurer and business manager. School Committee is NOT responsible for hiring any other in-house positions. The principal is responsible for the day to day operations and with the superintendent’s approval the hiring process.

I do believe that the school nurse was on the screening committee she would have knowledge and experience regarding head injuries and concussion policies to protect students. A veteran administrator who is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction and who ran the LPN program in the past was on the screening committee and certainly would have some expertise on the Health and Wellness goals of a physical education program. This process certainly minimizes the political influence. For a school committee member to intervene in this matter would be unethical.

Mr. Glitchier has made it publically clear he does not like the Superintendent and that he can’t do to her what he wants to do to her. I suspect that criticism from this source would come no matter what process was followed.