Mr.Nick
Wed, 06/14/2006 - 11:21 — GeorgeH
Maybe we shold start our own petition here on MHS.COM!!! Could someone print it out and bring it there????
News
'Appoint Mr. Nick' campaign launched: Backers hope to see him become superintendent
(single page view)
(view as multiple pages)By Jason Tait
Staff Writer
METHUEN ââ¬â Allies of high school Principal Arthur Nicholson hope a powerful wave of public opinion can propel him into the superintendent's job.
City Councilor Kenneth Willette is helping to lead an "Appoint Mr. Nick" petition.
It is a rushed campaign that aims to have the School Committee name Nicholson the School Department boss even though he was not named a finalist by a search committee.
Many in the community were shocked when Nicholson did not make the list of finalists, Willette said. He is convinced thousands of residents support hiring Nicholson, who has worked in city schools for four decades.
The initial strategy rally tomorrow night at Gaythorne Hall on Broadway aims to enlist parents, teachers, students, alumni and elected officials to collect signatures for a petition.
"We're mobilizing the troops," Willette said.
But time is not on Nicholson's side.
The School Committee has interviewed two finalists and have two more interviews planned for Saturday. Whoever is hired will succeed outgoing Superintendent Charles Littlefield. A hiring decision is expected this month.
Ian Gosselin, the School Committee's vice chairman, was a member of the search committee that bypassed Nicholson.
He said the School Committee will make the best decision for the future of the children, regardless of outside pressure.
As for the "Appoint Mr. Nick" group, "maybe they would be better off trying to look into a (city) charter change where a superintendent is elected and not appointed," Gosselin said.
Phil Lahey, another city councilor in favor of hiring Nicholson, urged the School Committee to listen to public opinion prior to picking a chief.
"I get the impression that if Arthur Nicholson was running for the position, he sure as heck would be elected," Lahey said.
The four finalists do not appear to be better than Nicholson, Lahey said.
"It's like we're wasting a human resource by not giving Arthur Nicholson a shot," Lahey said.
Four votes by the seven-member School Committee are needed to make Nicholson a finalist ââ¬â or to hire him outright.
School Committee member Kenneth Henrick has already proposed making Nicholson a finalist. At a meeting Monday, Henrick was able to get immediate support from two other committee members ââ¬â Gary Marcoux and George Kazanjian ââ¬â but not a fourth, he said.
Willette hopes his public opinion campaign will make the one-vote difference.
"We contend that Arthur Nicholson is the most qualified," said Willette, who is starting the campaign with help from Arthur Hutton, who is active in the Exchange Club.
Gosselin wants the School Committee to concentrate on the established search process, which was agreed on several months ago.
He said the issue of making Nicholson a finalist against the wishes of the search committee has been distracting.
"We're supposed to have a budget by July 1 and we don't," he said. "It's a huge issue. ... We have some serious financial issues and no one is focusing on what the district's needs are at this point."
Attempts to reach Nicholson for comment were unsuccessful. Willette said Nicholson is aware of the "Appoint Mr. Nick" petition but is not involved.
Nicholson last week declined a three-year contract offer to remain as principal, a week after being passed over by a search committee. He declined to comment on whether it was a maneuver get him into the race for superintendent.
If you go
What: "Appoint Mr. Nick" strategy session and rally
When: Thursday at 7 p.m.
Where: Gaythorne Hall, 462 Broadway
The four finalists for the job of Methuen school superintendent:
Barbara McGann, assistant superintendent for human resources at Boston public schools
Maryellen Rancourt, curriculum director for Methuen schools, were interviewed last week.
James O'Neill, superintendent of the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District in New Hampshire
Jeanne Whitten, interim superintendent in Melrose
- Login or register to post comments
- 367 reads
- by GeorgeH
Re: Mr.Nick
I'm an Assistant to the Mayor of Methuen, and I've been trying to make inroads with various members of the School Committee, since I myself am a candidate for the School Committee next year in '07. If enough people attend tomorrow's School Committee meeting, he'll get the job. MANY people have to show up and speak for him if we're going to have any sort of strength in numbers. Please attend if you can!
D.J. Beauregard
President, Class of 2007
Re: Mr.Nick
He needs four votes to get the job...and he has them...
George Kazanjian
Gary Marcoux
Joe Cosgrove
Ken Henrick
If the Mayor doesn't support Mr. Nick, he'll be committing political suicide. He's running for re-election in less than a year now and since so many people feel so passionate about Mr. Nick, he would lose 30-40 percent of his base if he went against Mr. Nick...
Re: Mr.Nick
Funny how politics work. He has to like Mr.Nick.....I understand the reason but that is sad :( .
Re: Mr.Nick
From the Eagle Tribune:
METHUEN ââ¬â Mayor William Manzi cast the tie-breaking vote last night offering the job of school superintendent to Jeanne Whitten of Melrose over Methuen High School principal, and hometown favorite, Arthur Nicholson.
The decision brought quiet to the room as Nicholson approached the podium and told the School Committee he was "extremely disappointed."
Minutes later Nicholson, 61, was tearfully hugging his family, teachers and other supporters.
The 4-3 vote for Whitten, who is interim superintendent of Melrose, ends a hiring process that began with a screening committee selecting four finalists for the job, none of whom were Nicholson.
But last Saturday the School Committee decided to place Nicholson in the running, after a campaign by a group called the Appoint Mr. Nick as Superintendent Campaign.
About 150 people, most of them appearing to be Nicholson supporters, jammed the City Hall meeting room last night. Some heading to the door after the vote called Manzi a "one-term mayor" and challenged committee members on their decision to choose Whitten.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourselves, all of you," said Barbara Didio, as the committee ended the one-hour meeting.
David Beauregard Jr., the Methuen High School senior class president, called the decision the "biggest disappointment of my life" and said he will run for School Committee in 2007.
Earlier in the night, Beauregard was one of about a dozen people who addressed the committee in support of Nicholson, bringing applause when he called the principal his hero.
High school math department Chairwoman Marianne Moran told the committee Nicholson's leadership is "quiet, unassuming. He is a listener, but he is not afraid to make tough decisions."
City Councilor Kenneth Willette Jr., who helped organize support for Nicholson, also addressed the committee before the vote.
"It's your decision," Willette said. "We respect the decision of the School Committee. You guys are accountable next year, some of you."
Nicholson appeared in the room only moments before the meeting began, walking in after Manzi. Supporters, including teachers and high school students, gave a standing ovation as Nicholson stood before the crowd, scratched his head and walked to a seat with his wife and two teenage children.
"My style is collaborative, supportive," Nicholson said later, pledging to work with Whitten. He said he was not involved with the campaign in support of him and would not comment on his recent decision to decline a three-year deal to continue as high school principal.
Manzi defined Nicholson's employment as a "year-to-year thing" negotiated with the superintendent, but said he expects Nicholson to stay on as principal.
The mayor defended his vote for Whitten, as well as the nominating process, later in the night.
"I think for me it's the matter of both the interview, the qualifications, and you make the best judgment you can," Manzi said.
Whitten was formerly assistant superintendent in Lincoln, a principal in Watertown and Lowell and an adjunct professor at Lesley University in Cambridge.
Manzi also said he recognizes that many people are angry with him, but would not allow his decision to be swayed.
"Naked political threats against me didn't contribute before tonight, and quite honestly, they won't contribute in the future," Manzi said.
Committee members Joseph Cosgrove, Ian Gosselin, and Martha Welch also voted for Whitten. Cosgrove and Welch stayed after the meeting, hearing from angry Nicholson supporters and explaining their decisions.
Cosgrove called the decisions "a tough call" and would not say who was his favorite of the four nominees.
"I think it's an issue much more that we have a credible, effective superintendent," Cosgrove said.
Welch also would not name her first choice, but said she voted for Whitten because she did not think her favorite nominee for the job would be supported by a majority of the board. She also spoke out before the vote, criticizing the late decision to add Nicholson to the roster of choices.
"It is indeed a shame that somewhere along the way this became a political issue," Welch said. That brought boos from the crowd, which Manzi silenced, calling for "decorum."
Last weekend, Barbara McGann, a former Catholic nun and two-star Navy admiral, withdrew from the race, citing the "controversy surrounding the search" and "promises of lack of community support for the successful candidate."
Voting 'no' to the decision to appoint Whitten were committee members Kenneth Henrick, George Kazanjian and Gary Marcoux.
Whitten was not at last night's meeting, but Manzi left a message for her afterward and expects to speak with her today.
Can anyone say "Political Suicide"?
Re: Mr.Nick
Although I do not share his opinion on his vote you have to give him credit for not being swayed to do so by the voters. He is not a representative. He is an elected official. If he were a representative than he should do as his constituents want. I have to applaud him. ....But I disagree with him.
Re: Mr.Nick
It is interesting that one candidate had already withdrawn herself from consideration b/c of the whole situation... I can imagine the tough time that the new superintendent will have coming into the position when people feel so passionately that Mr. Nick should have been chosen instead.
Could make for an interesting school year in Methuen!
Re: Mr.Nick
I