Letter: NEARI President Fires Back at NK Superintendent

To the editor,

I am writing in response to North Kingstown Superintendent Phil Auger’s letter last week in the Standard Times criticizing the local education support professional union. My first reaction to it was, is he kidding? He is upset about someone allegedly shining a light in a School Committee member’s face and a few road signs that said “Honk if you have been fired by Phil?” Truth is, more than a few people in town could be honking their horns.

This is nothing but a smokescreen. Let’s look at the facts. Phil and the , a company in Tennessee with questionable labor and hiring practices. The custodians were then told they must take jobs with this company despite the 30 percent pay and benefit cut, or face unemployment with no paycheck; the district would try to block their unemployment insurance. (In fact, only one custodian fought for it, and thus far, he is winning his case.)

Many of these employees had worked in the district for years, live in town, spend their money there, and have sent their children through the schools. Remember, members of this local union are at the bottom of the pay scale in the district.

The business manager said the cuts were necessary despite deep concessions by the union. My question, which is still unanswered, is, “Did the committee ask her and the superintendent – at the top of the salary scale – to lead by example and take the same 30 percent cut?” The answer of course is “no”; in fact, the superintendent received a $2,000 raise or, as he likes to argue, a “bonus.” A bonus for firing people and forcing them to take drastic cuts is not an achievement but it is cause for alarm.

School Committee Member John Boscardin . Committee member Larry Ceresi vocally supported these actions, yet as a member of the Brotherhood of Correctional Officers he is protected and receives benefits and a pension, even while on workers’ compensation. It is hypocritical to take away from others the same benefits you enjoy.

Dr. Auger said that the local needs to accept these firings and move on. And how long should they accept the actions of this committee and administration? Should they wait until others are fired and jobs privatized, should they wait until the local president has been yelled at and harassed by the superintendent again, or should they wait until he, in another outburst, again refuses to meet with her? Dr. Auger and this Committee believe they can do whatever they want without repercussions.

I have been watching and attending school committee meetings for 35 years and seen some good, some bad and many in between. This is the most dysfunctional group I have ever observed. I suggest Dr. Auger look at the behavior of his own committee prior to criticizing others.

The real reason for these actions is the exercise of power: they can do it, so they did. They believe it will help their re-election efforts or bids for town council. I have said it to their faces and will repeat it here: it is disgusting behavior to go after the lowest paid employees and force them to take drastic cuts and lose benefits, especially while all who made this decision enjoy much more.

Additionally, I have heard complaints regarding the overall cleanliness of the schools and lack of cleaning supplies, such as disinfectant, as GCA inevitably cuts back services. Remember, its goal is to make money, not care about the schools. One teacher at the last school committee meeting asked about the recycling club. What happened to recycling – was that another cutback? An official from GCA explained in an email that recycling containers pose “serious life safety issues.”

Dr. Auger, before you are critical of others, I suggest you and the committee look in the mirror. North Kingstown has a great reputation but your actions are damaging it. It is you and the North Kingstown school committee – not the support professionals – who are behaving badly. 

You are the district leader and a professed professional, but your attitude and behavior toward the union president and your employees will not lead to the amicable relationship that you claim to desire. There is never a better time than the present to reverse course and do what is right, or be prepared to hear lots of honking.

Larry Purtill

President, National Education Association Rhode Island