Take Back AMSA

Here is the text of the email that was sent to many AMSA and former AMSA parents: Fact check this for yourself. See opt-in at the bottom if you want to receive updates by email.

Take Back AMSA: A Parent Lead Effort to Bring About Long Overdue Change

As parents of current AMSA students and proud parents of recent graduates of AMSA, we are very concerned with the ongoing actions of the AMSA Board of Trustees (“BOT”) and the Administration. We strongly feel the entire AMSA community of parents, guardians and students should be made fully aware of the actions of the BOT led by Chairman Craig Holbrook and senior Administration officials, including John Brucato, AMSA Executive Director, and Jay Sweeney, AMSA Principal. We have tried since August 2011, as have other parents, to discuss issues and concerns with the AMSA Administration and Board of Trustees’. In every case we have either been ignored, insulted, threatened or worse. Rather than address issues AMSA’s Administration targets parents and students.

Headlines and Major Issues: (More below and much more available)

Potential eviction or forced move from Current Building caused by AMSA actions. These actions are taking over $250,000 per year away from Education for legal and other costs.
AMSA Foundation Money Unaccounted For and Not being Used for AMSA or Students as promised.
Violations Continue of Federal and State Laws Impacting Student Records which impact Students’ Futures
BOT is Self-Selected with No Open Selection Process and No Oversight
BOT does not provide required information and is the target of a complaint by MA Attorney General’s Open Government Division
No Open Forum for Parents and No Open Complaint Process
Intentionally understaffing Gym. This decision has resulted in numerous student injuries, along with other shorted areas because of budget diversion to Building fights and other wasteful actions
Unqualified, Inexperienced Leadership on the BOT and in the Administration

Specifically, we are extremely concerned with the following:

1. Likely Eviction from Current Building caused by AMSA and taking over $250,000 per year away from Education

Issues: The potential eviction from or forced relocation from the current AMSA school buildings, along with the spending of $250,000 and more per year fighting a loosing battle against the Landlord. Having to escrow rent and then in addition having to cover AMSA’s maintenance costs.

This pointless spending is your tax money being used for law suits and maintenance and NOT EDUCATION as intended. AMSA’s Board of Trustees (BOT) and Administration chose to violate the lease by not paying rent, broke off negotiations with the landlord and then sued. AMSA has been able to hold off eviction only through more legal action and costs. The BOT and the Administration have refused to provide anything but minimal information about this very serious and costly situation that impacts all AMSA Students, Staff and Parents. At the moment there are only very sketchy plans in place to address an eviction order and/or forced move which could come at any moment by order of the Court hearing the case, Docket # MICV-2011-04440 and MICV-2011-04450, in Middlesex County – Woburn Superior Court.

2. AMSA Foundation Money Unaccounted For and Not Used for AMSA or Students as promised

Issues: AMSA’s BOT created a foundation and raised money that was supposed to support the school and provide scholarships for Graduates. Instead money was used to hire a consultant. Apparently, no money was used for scholarships or to enhance education as stated as the purpose of the foundation. In fact no public accounting or explanation of the use of the funds raised has ever been provided.

The BOT has admitted in open session that the foundation – headed by former BOT members cannot fully account for its spending and the money it raised. Money was raised from Parents, Staff, Students, Foundations and Corporate Donors – all of whom have a right to know where their donations went. The Foundation has a legal obligation to report on its actions. Why is the BOT not acting on this?

Instead of acting immediately to address the Foundation issues the BOT is planning to form another foundation. This action is so the BOT can potentially transfer funds from the first Foundation to the new Foundation which is to be controlled by the BOT and Executive Director (ED). In the meantime the BOT is not addressing the problems of the first Foundation or providing any information to the public, donors or anyone else. The purpose of the new foundation is to look at financing a new building to house the school for the next school year, so they don’t have a lot of time to get this organized.

3. Violations Continue of Federal and State Laws Impacting Student Records which impact Students’ Futures

Issues: The AMSA Administration was cited by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (“DESE”), the governing body in the Commonwealth for public education, concerning student records violations and continues to be non-compliant with MA and Federal laws.

Proper Student Records are vital to your Child’s future and are required to be available for review, discussion, appeal and even a hearing if there is a disagreement as to the content. In addition there are required documents and documents that are not allowed to be in a Students File. Every

public school is required to notify, Students, Parents and Guardians annually about their rights to review, request copies of and dispute items in a Student Record. AMSA has not done this and continues to ignore a clear Federal Requirement.

Improper documents and handling impact every student – if they transfer from AMSA are invited to join the National Honor Society, plan to attend college, apply for scholarships and even when they apply for work. Proper handling of Student Records and the required process are not optional and are a fundamental function of any school. AMSA’s Leadership again has taken action to restrict student’s and parent’s rights to the harm of student’s and to the school. This must stop now.

4. BOT is Self-Selected with No Open Selection Process and No Oversight

Issues: The BOT is openly violating the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law which requires specific communication be made to the public regarding BOT meeting minutes, actions and executive sessions.

The Attorney General’s office has been and is again currently investigating AMSA’s BOT for violations of this law. The BOT to date refuses to provide copies of Executive Session Minutes as required by the Open Meeting Law. Continued non-Compliance could result in significant fines and/or other serious penalties, yet the BOT continues to ignore this and in a recent letter to parents states that the BOT “will strive to communicate in the 2013-14 school year”. AMSA is a PUPLIC SCHOOL funded by your tax dollars and as such - being compliant with the Open Meeting Law is not optional – it is mandatory.

In addition, after a complaint was filed and a BOT investigation was conducted finding that a portion of the School’s Annual Report was false, the information has still not been corrected by the school’s administration, another violation – false reporting in an annual report.

5. No Open Forum for Parents or Open Complaint Process

Issues: The BOT provides no forum for open parental communication or parental involvement regarding most issues and including the appointment of board members. AMSA’s BOT members are self-appointed. The Parent Rep is “approved” by the Executive Director prior to being “nominated” and “elected” by the PTO. No real election or even review of any BOT takes place outside of the BOT itself. This approach removes any Parent or other candidate not already either on the BOT or selected by the BOT. Thus a self-appointed, self-perpetuating group controls all monetary and other decisions that directly impact your child. You have no voice or even a representative that you elected or a chance to learn any information about the BOT. The BOT has no oversight and can do as it pleases. Parents have no say over what is presented to the board either through the parent representative or through the BOT directly. The BOT Chair controls the agenda and can and does limit BOT meetings to “approved” items.

The

United States

was founded on the principal of “No Taxation without Representation”. Why is AMSA allowed to continue to violate this fundamental Principal? AMSA is a Public School and as such is funded by the hard work and tax dollars of us parents.

The AMSA administration (and the BOT) are paid for by us and should report to us, not the other way around. The AMSA Administration and BOT have made it clear in many forums – including the latest communications from the BOT – that communication to Parents is secondary and possibly next school year will bring some level of communication an old song that the BOT and Administration have played for years. Communication is always – “next year”. The Administration and BOT believe and verbalize that they need to Trust Parents and if Parents will not give unequivocal trust to AMSA then AMSA sees no need to provide anything to Parents. Parents’ tax money funds AMSA’s Administration and it is Parents that demonstrate their Trust to AMSA every day they send their children to the School. It is the Administration and BOT that MUST demonstrate to Parents that they are worthy of our trust, via communication and action – not the other way. Parents must in the interest of their children – Trust – but also ask questions and verify that in fact the Administration and BOT deserve and have earned Parent’s trust.

Perhaps most illustrative of the fact that the BOT acts unilaterally and without procedural safeguards, is its stand vis-à-vis the BOT’s own complaint process. Simply put, the BOT will not follow its own procedures. Craig Holbrook – Chair of AMSA’s BOT stated that following AMSA’s own Complaint Policy “would be difficult to do.” and so he decided unilaterally to ignore formal complaints until recently and only under continuous pressure from parents and a few newer BOT members. Even after admitting in an Open BOT meeting that he had not properly followed the BOT and AMSA’s own policies – Craig and the BOT felt it unnecessary to notify anyone, re-open past complaints, sanction Craig or even request that Craig apologize. John Brucato repeatedly talks about confidentiality and uses this to restrict access of students and parents, along with refusing to provide requested information. John has insulted parents in public, if they do not agree with him. He has also openly threatened parents at BOT meetings along with students having stated verbally and in writing “he can no longer guarantee the safety of” a student whose parents disagreed with some of John’s statements and actions.

BOT minutes that are generally made public – illustrate a BOT that ducks all decisions, allows for complete control by the ED and shuts off all public comment.

6. AMSA Under Staffs Physical Education and Special Needs Departments

AMSA’s understaffing of these departments risks student safety. This understaffing has occurred due to use of funds to support legal efforts and the administration’s other pet projects. This situation is very serious and has resulted in critical injuries and/or physical and emotional harm to students. In the last year, at least 6 or more students have suffered serious head and other injuries requiring them to miss significant school time to recover. In at least 2 or more cases students face life altering injuries and have and will continue to live with the impacts for the rest of their lives. These were preventable injuries with proper staffing, class size and Supervision.

AMSA’s BOT and ED response was to laugh at the situation when presented at a BOT meeting because they said it was normal for injuries to occur in gym class as compared to varsity sports. They are correct, in gym class they mix grades and ability levels which are a recipe for predictable results – injured students, just as Mr. Brucato experienced when he was in high school as he laughed about the situation. Injured students are not a laughing matter.

7. The Administration, and Particularly, Executive Director John Brucato and Principal Jay Sweeney Act Arbitrarily, Emotionally and Without Accountability to Parents and Students

For example, last school year Mr. Sweeney spent more time inspecting and reviewing students in regards to their clothing, than in explaining or implementing basic rules regarding hitting other students as is spelled out in the AMSA Student Handbook. This school year, after numerous student injuries due to “horseplay”, neither Mr. Brucato nor Mr. Sweeney took any action until after months of complaints by Staff, students and parents. Further after a year and a half, a DESE citing and other issues - both John and Jay with assistance from Lisa Barooshian, continue to ignore or pay lip service to Federal and State Student Records issues. Actions are taken on emotion and past history, not in the interest of students or in line with regulation.

Moreover, what is particularly troubling is the professional background and hiring of Mr. Brucato by the BOT. Prior to his employment at AMSA, Mr. Brucato did not have his contract as Principal in Milford, Massachusetts High School, renewed after ten years due to admitted insubordination and other problems. By his own account Mr. Brucato was unemployed for over a year and was not interviewed by a single school district or educational institution. Incredibly AMSA’s BOT hired him without addressing any of the many concerns Mr. Brucato himself acknowledged in public forums.

For John Brucato, it is the people closest to him and who know him the longest that describe him best. The following is from the Milford Daily News in comments to an Article by Melanie Graham dated June 30, 2010 – titled “For Milford Principal, the end of the Line”, which concerns the end of John Brucato’s tenure as Principal of Milford High School http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x2071996295/For-Milford-principal-the-end-of-the-line:

“Old news... moving on. Perhaps if John kept his big mouth shut, and didn't go around publicly bad mouthing his boss and making HIMSELF look like a spoiled child who had his toy taken away, other districts might consider hiring him. Blame the economy, say you're too expensive or over-qualified, but when it comes down to it, districts don't want to hire loose canons. Goodbye John, good luck, and let a new era at MHS begin!”

Milford Mom 3 years ago

“...let's face it...in the end, his big mouth cost him his job...and for that, there is no excuse...a top professional does not make his case in the media...it never works at any level...” Deerfield 3 years ago

“talk about old news,talk about beating a dead horse: somewhere along the line JB changed and started believing his own press releases and it became all about him...too bad... but over active egos create problems for all.. especially since the High School is/was supposed to be a team effort” Leo White 3 years ago

“being 'brutally honest' and insubordinate are two different things! i am brutally honest, but i also respect my boss and don't belittle people, that is not 'teaching them to be wusses' either, its called RESPECT. learn the difference.” Milfordgirl 3 years ago

“Having had him as a teacher before he was principal, I was very surprised when he became principal, and I just hoped he was a better principal than he had been a teacher. Don't get me wrong, he's a really nice guy, I just learned absolutely nothing and still got a great grade. We all thought that the only reason he kept his job was that his brother was the head of his department.” me101 3 years ago

“I came across this article and decided to comment. I was a classmate of Tempesta's and a student of Brucato's in the classroom as well as in the athletic program. Most people don't change much from who they are as individuals by the time they graduate high school. I knew Mike Tempesta from grade school on. He was always an honest and compassionate person and I'm sure those traits haven't changed into adulthood and as a teacher. Brucato on the other hand was probably in his late twenties at the time. He was nothing more than an over grown bully in the class room and on the athletic field. He favored and was drawn to students that would idolize his every move. Everyone else was beaten down systematically by his threats of physical superiority and verbal barbs. He was an awful educator at best. Most students despised his tactics of embarrassing those not in the fold in both the class room the athletic field. Ability played a limited role with Brucato, he was full of himself back then bullyiing 13-17 year olds. Most students despised him, but were fearful of his threats. you always wished you could meet up with him again in ten years. It appears nothing has changed all these years later. A punk that called to the mat by HIS superior. Good for MHS. They got a good man in Tempesta.” Dpberke 2 years ago

Conclusion

In summary, our hope in writing this letter is to prompt the AMSA parent population to action. Together we can achieve the following and more:

1. Provide a forum for AMSA parents to openly express their concerns, opinions, requests without fear of reprisal against them or their children, as has been the case for the last four years. It is also our goal to form a functioning Parent Oversight group that is a voice for ALL AMSA parents – not a select few, and whose primary role is to ensure responsiveness – not lip service from AMSA leadership;

2. Hold the AMSA BOT and Administration accountable and responsible to its true constituents – AMSA students and parents;

3. Have an effective communication channel to change AMSA culture from one of the Administration way or the highway to a collaboration that respects and responds to all parties. Put in place a process of open BOT selection along with oversight and review of the Administration. If needed remove some or all current BOT members.

4. Ensure that funds being spent to support legal efforts are stopped and AMSA open negotiations to either remain in the current buildings or move in a reasonable way – not be forced to by court order and incompetence

5. Require the AMSA Foundation to disclose the funds it controls and live up to its requirements and/or report the Foundation and its members to the Attorney General’s office for investigation and possible prosecution

AMSA was founded by a true educational leader, Dr. Julia Sigalovsky, with the clear goal of offering a superlative education to all that choose to attend. None of the current AMSA leadership was part of that effort and their actions have disrespected this admirable goal. Dr. Sigalovsky is recognized internationally for her vision, leadership and educational knowledge and expertise. Dr. Sigalovsky was and is a champion of Charter Schools and in particular Math and Science education. Her PhD is in Chemistry and she has been involved in the founding of science based companies and two Charter Schools. She has conducted chemistry research in her native

Russia

and at MIT and has authored over 50 scientific publications.

Mr. Brucato was a 10 year principal of Milford High School in Milford, MA prior to coming to AMSA – after his contract in Milford was not renewed after numerous public disagreements with the Milford School Committee and Superintendant. Mr. Brucato by his own admission and public statements “went over a year without any response” for any educational position, until AMSA approached him. During Mr. Brucato’s long tenure at Milford High School – graduation rates and standardized test scores hovered at or just below the state average, despite additional funding and support from the School Committee and city. Mr. Brucato taught social studies and physical education and was a football coach. By his own admission he had no charter school experience and no experience with Math and Science. Despite numerous complaints, Mr Brucato’s very public disagreement with the Milford School District, his own admission of being a “hothead” and lack of any related experience AMSA’s BOT chose Mr. Brucato over 15 other candidates. AMSA’s BOT chose to go with the candidate who would be using OJT – on the job training in the hope it would work out. As was stated by the BOT Chair in the prior ED search and again at the time, “if it does not work out we will just look for someone else”.

Since Mr. Brucato’s departure his predecessor with less experience and funding has managed to increase graduation rates and standardized test scores to above the state average in the last two years. This during an economic downturn that has seen Milford like most school districts reduced staff and program funding. Milford has also seen its percentage of students in poverty increase dramatically over the last two years.

Prior to being named Principal at Milford High School – Mr. Brucato was a member of the Social Studies Department which was and still is headed by his brother. Mr. Brucato was also an athletic coach during this time. In short Mr. Brucato although having spent his career in Education, has spent the bulk of it in one school in one city. He was involved in other educational endeavors but had no experience with Charter Schools or Math and Sciences prior to being hired by the AMSA BOT in August 2011.

Mr. Sweeney’s only experience in Educational Administration prior to being named AMSA Principal by Mr. Brucato in August 2011 was as Math Department Co-Chair at AMSA. Mr. Sweeney spent the bulk of his career in industry and then did earn his teaching certificate in mathematics. Mr. Sweeney taught Math at AMSA for five years– joining AMSA in its second year. Mr. Sweeney has no experience as a Principal in any setting and is learning on the job as well. Mr. Sweeney did not have a Principal’s license or any certification at the time Mr. Brucato promoted him. Mr. Sweeney is currently taking the needed steps to attain his Principal’s license and certification, but has only the previous year experience as Principal at any level.

The two top Administrators of AMSA are both on OJT cases. We think that AMSA students, staff and parents deserve and have a right to question these appointments, demand explanations and to demand better.

Yes, test scores are good and the buildings look nice and there are positives, including a very fine teaching staff and incredible students and parents. BUT students increasingly are reporting high levels of stress and other issue, which to date AMSA has generally ignored. Parents and students deserve a responsive BOT and an Experienced and Qualified Administration. Parents and students deserve to know what is going on with their school and should be able to have open communication and forums for discussion without fear of reprisals. It is the students, faculty and parents that define AMSA – not the BOT and not Administration, but it is the BOT and Administration no matter how well intentioned, that can and are damaging AMSA for all.

For AMSA, your children and their futures – please join us in sending a very clear message – AMSA is our school and we want a seat at the table, along with change – NOW.

Please contact us with your concerns, comments, experiences, opinions, suggestions…

We can be reached at takebackAMSA@gmail.com. We have an open forum and a blog –http://takebackamsa.blogspot.com and will look into other communications vehicles, so all viewpoints can be heard. We will relay this to the AMSA BOT and Administration as we receive your responses. If you are happy with AMSA the way it is – let us know, if the information in this document is new to you – let us know, if you have areas of concerns… What ever it is let us know and let the BOT and Administration and other parents and students know as well.

We believe that an open town meeting with the BOT and Administration is not only long overdue but is an urgent requirement. Please let us know your thoughts and ideas regarding this as well. Our children’s futures are too important to allow AMSA’s Leaders to experiment and keep everyone but a select few in the dark. We and others look forward to your responses and involvement. Thank you!

Together we can TAKE AMSA BACK!!

(To Opt In– Email TakeBackAMSA@gmail.com with Opt In in the Subject Line)

Take Back AMSA

Monday, April 29, 2013

Sunday, April 21, 2013