Teacher talks resume with mayor at the table

By John Howell
Posted 1/12/17

By JOHN HOWELL After a hiatus prompted by the fact that there was no sign of progress, mediation between the Warwick Teachers Union and the School Committee has resumed, but with a twist. For the first time in the protracted effort to reach a contract,

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Teacher talks resume with mayor at the table

Posted

After a hiatus prompted by the fact that there was no sign of progress, mediation between the Warwick Teachers Union and the School Committee has resumed, but with a twist. For the first time in the protracted effort to reach a contract, Mayor Scott Avedisian has a seat at the table.

Avedisian and Superintendent Philip Thornton were mum on whether, or if, any progress was made during the session that lasted more than two hours last Wednesday. Both said at the direction of attorney Vincent Ragosta, who is acting as mediator, they would not be talking about developments.

In an email, Ragosta confirmed the mayor’s presence, adding that his “attendance was welcomed by all participants and he [the mayor] has encouraged the parties to continue their hard work to forge compromise.”

Ragosta said additional mediation sessions are scheduled this week and next.

“Mayor Avedisian’s neutral input has been constructive, and I remain hopeful that the mediation process will be productive,” he said.

This is a departure from Ragosta’s take last fall when School Committee Chair Beth Furtado said nothing was being accomplished by mediation other than giving the lawyers billable time. Ragosta, in an email to the committee, said the parties were not prepared to back away from their proposals and that their positions were so divergently different that he saw no reason to continue.

Prior to the election, Avedisian offered to join the talks, which was immediately embraced by the School Committee and administration. The union was less enthusiastic but eventually agreed.

At the time the mayor said he thought he could help get the parties beyond some “sticking points” and with agreement on some of the minor issues – limitations on layoffs and the weighting of students based on their individual education programs to determine class size being the major ones – there would be movement.

Thornton said Friday he is a “half the glass full kind of a guy” and is optimistic an agreement can be reached this academic year. He pointed out that arbitration that has been ongoing for about a year is drawing to a close. He said arbitration sessions scheduled for January 24 and 25 should “wrap it up.” He is hopeful arbitrator Michael Ryan will have his findings by spring.

Among issues brought before arbitration were: the use of electronic grading, teacher evaluations, the basis on which teachers have priority in the job fair, weighting, co-op, salaries, department chair evaluation and layoffs. Thornton described arbitration as “fair and efficient,” although it has taken much longer than he first imagined. Arbitration has no binding power on financial matters.

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    I promised I would applaud this if it came true and I do.

    Congratulations to all parties including Mayor Avedisian, for making this giant step forward. With attorney Ragosta at the helm, progress should be hastened.

    We all know that ultimately, we will have a new agreement. Speed is now what we need. Put in the extra hours, the extra effort, and the extra "whatever-it-takes". Get this done sooner rather than later. The 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab, are watching and they, as well as the teachers, parents, and especially the students, deserve it..

    This is a great start to 2017.

    Happy New Year everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • ThatGuyInRI

    Damn.

    I had thought Corrente would go away once he lost the election. Nope.

    It looks like the election cycle never ends. Has Corrente 2018 begun already? Sigh.

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear ThatGuyInRI,

    How could you possibly object to that comment?

    I do like your suggestion for my new slogan though.

    Corrente 2018.

    Thanks for the tip. Have a Happy New Year.

    Rick

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Hello ThatGuyInRI:

    You rightly point out the loser candidate's continued insistence on pushing his failed campaign message. Did you also, as I did, see the blatant hypocrisy and flat-out lie that he is also pushing?

    Specifically, the loser candidate claims that Warwick has "80,000 taxpayers." Wrong. The city has 80,000 residents [of which some 9,000 are students]. Not all of the remaining residents own a home — including the loser candidate. As has been reported here and elsewhere, his residence was foreclosed on for a tax delinquency. His taxes on two other properties remained level, meaning he is paying nothing more for a vacant lot in Potowomut and a five-unit rental from which he derives income.

    I am sure the losing candidate will reply shortly by repeating his failed campaign message and questioning my screen name, which he has done repeatedly in the past.

    Thank you, ThatGuyInRI, for joining me and the nearly 30,000 voters who rejected his candidacy.

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear CrickeeRaven,

    How do you figure that I said 80,000 taxpayers are 80,000 homeowners? I didn't.

    How do you figure my taxes on my lot are the same as my 4 unit? (by the way it is a 4 unit, not a 5 unit as you say) They're not.

    How do you say my home was lost to a tax sale? Not true. Ongoing suit where I am the plaintiff and my lender is the defendant. Can't say more.

    And I don't question your screen name. I just totally discredit you for not having the courage to stand by the accusations you make by hiding behind a fake name, that's all.

    Oh, one more thing. I earned 13,278 votes and I proudly refused ALL political action committee checks. I wanted to be responsible ONLY to the taxpayers. Avedisian, according to the Board of Elections, accepted 237 checks from Political Action Committees. 237 checks CrickeeRaven! I wonder what the outcome would have been without those donations from PAC's that now want the favor returned. He is now responsible to 237 PAC's. I would have been responsible only to the taxpayers. Which one do you think makes for an honest Mayor CR? (Can I call you "CR"?)

    Happy Spring. 2018 is around the corner.

    Rick Corrente

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Once again Mr. Corrente openly lies and attempts to spin the reality of the loss of his home due to tax default and foreclosure.

    Facts are as follows. Mr. Corrente has been denied each and every appeal that he has put forth. The property has been sold and re-deeded twice as of this date. On 11/16/16 Justice Rubine entered the Judgement against the Defendant Corrente and awarded possession of the premises to Redstick Aquisitions. The judgement reads as follows:

    The Plaintiff/Landlord has a judgement for possession of the premises listed above against Defendant / Tenant , Richard Corrente and the Defendant Richard Corrente, has unjustly withheld from the Plaintiff, possession of the above premises and by consideration of the court, the Plaintiff has recovered the aforesaid judgement and cost of the suit. Therefore, you are hereby ordered to execute this judgement without delay, causing the Plaintiff to have possession of the premises with the privileges and appurtenances belonging thereto, also, that of the goods and chattels and real estate of the Defendant Corrente, within your precinct. You are commanded to be levied and paid to the Plaintiff the aforesaid judgement and costs of suit and satisfaction of your fees.

    Mr. Corrente appealed and filed an emergency motion for temporary restraining order on 11/17/16. Reads as follows:

    The appeal of the eviction came before Justice Rubine on November 17, 2016. Upon information and belief, attorney George Babcock had suffered a mental health issue prior to the scheduled trial in superior court. On the day of the trial, Mr. Babcock failed to appear. Justice Rubine dismissed Plaintiffs appeal due to attorney Babcocks failure to appear and a execution for possession was issued to the defendant. Presently a constable and moving company are at the doorsteps of the plaintiff home.

    On 11/22/16 execution issued as ordered. 12/1/16 Corrente motion for restraining order denied. 12/1/16 premises remanded to the Plaintiff. CASE CLOSED , DEFENDANT GIVEN THE BOOT

    Mr. Corrente doesn't understand that when a case is lost in Superior Court and the judge tells you that you can appeal to district court as the plaintiff, your case has no merit in Superior Court and it's over. Its similar to getting a judgment against you, for example, to return a security deposit, not returning it, appealing the judgment, loosing the appeal, and then paying $25/month for 7 years simply to be a jerk to the tenant that you rightfully owe money to.

    Interestingly enough, when you go to the RI Judiciary site and go to smart search, you find that there are 14 civil cases where Mr. Corrente was the defendant, all of which the plaintiff prevailed. There seems to be a pattern of behavior where bills and judgments are not paid even when ordered by the court. For the readers edification and entertainment, on the RI Judiciary site, you can see the pleadings that were entered in the case however, you cannot read the content. If you go to the 4th floor at the court house and go into the room to the right of the Superior Court clerks office, you can use the computers in that room. When you pull up the cases, all of the pleadings and all of the documents and exhibits can be viewed on the cases both civil and criminal. So lets stop the BS because some of us are not asleep.

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this