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Dear Dr. Philip Thornton, Superintendent of Warwick Schools,

I have a great respect for you and I have said so publicly on many occasions verbally and in several writings in the Beacon.

However, you're focused on the court system and Judge Gallo solving your teacher contract problem and I fear you are missing the bigger picture; the Court of Public Opinion. Even if you win in Superior Court, and I honestly don't think you will, the parents of those children will be against you for many years.

Please reconsider. The Warwick Teachers Union and Darlene Netcoh have shown the "public" that they are reasonable. The teachers are willing to sit with you and negotiate. You and the other members of the School Committee are stubbornly refusing. In the Court of Public Opinion you lose, and you lose BIG. Parents of our students have long-term memories. Make the magnanimous gesture to sit with Darlene and the Teachers Union and try to work things out and even if you fail you will effectively have created some damage control. Continue down this path and I truly believe it will not turn out well for you and the SC, and I am sure it will cause harm for the most important of us, our students. They have the longest-term memories of us all.

You still have the ability to fix this Phil. After you walk out of court it will be too late. I'm saying this because I do respect you and I have faith that you will care enough about the students to rethink this.

Thanks for reading this Phil. I knew you would. Now please pick up the phone and call Darlene.

Sincerely,

Richard Corrente

Endorsed Democrat for Mayor