People think I was thrusted upon them. The announcement comes after months of controversy over Huizenga, who joined the district last year after what teachers says was an unfair hiring process lacking community input. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Morgan, while watching the meeting at home, heard the disgruntled employee comment by Siegrist, and went to the meeting. But DESE, in a statement, said Southbridge Public Schools took many strides toward serving students better the past year under Ms. Huizenga. Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. After failing to reach a compromise during mediation and after several delays, a judge approved an extension and the trial has been set for January 2022. Jessica Huizenga is on Facebook. I want to talk about what programs we have., Carvell had just attended a board meeting on Sunday morning, Dec. 13, calling the situation with the board and Hannons resignation, a nightmare., I personally resigned because I was unhappy there, Carvell said of his member seat on the board. MILFORD, NH A Milford School Board member tendered her resignation after two years on the board amid a misconduct investigation into confidential employee information in the school district being shared with the public. There are people out there whose way of expressing concern is to put things up on telephone poles and harass them that way. She began serving on May 2, 2016, and was placed on paid administrative leave , without . MILFORD - Dr. Jessica Huizenga, an educator who most recently served as a state-appointed receiver for a failing Massachusetts school district has been picked to be Milford's interim superintendent. The board held a nonpublic school board meeting on Aug. 15, "RSA 91-A:3II (a) Personnel," which allows for officials to discuss "the dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.". A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference. The statement cited progress in the Southbridge schools over the past year, including the creation of new curriculum units, the addition of thousands of books to the elementary schools and middle school, and increased staffing for students learning English. Sony Previews 14 Minutes of 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' at CinemaCon "How you wear the mask is what makes you a hero," says Shameik Moore, who voices Miles Morales/Spider-Man. Next week Ill be meeting with DESE for an update, and Im confident that Southbridge is in good hands with Russell Johnston, whos well qualified and has been on the ground since day one, the senator said. That still hasnt happened. I am especially proud of the work I have led with my team in developing and implementing a forward-thinking Strategic Plan, the Districts first in 10 years, Huizenga wrote. A few weeks later, Morgan said she emailed School Superintendent Dr. Jessica Huizenga asking for information on how to file a formal grievance. According to a release, 99 percent [] Morgan said she and others was frustrated by the lack of transparency both by the board and the district to address the concerns of employees in what she called a toxic work environment. Weve spent more time not about education, and education has always been my goal. In doing so, I have sought and received significant input from staff and the community.". Huizenga's original Jan. 8, 2019 contract, . I believe that its imperative that we complete an evaluation and should have prior to making any contractual modifications. A public relations representative for the district, John Guilfoil, returned a call placed to Davis by the Cabinet. Charles D.Baker Jr., as were board chairman Paul Sagan and member Michael Moriarty. Huizenga announced her resignation July 20, according to a memo from Wulfson to the board. An Early 1970s Milford Ranch In Need Of Some Cosmetic Updates, Milford Weekday Events, What's Happening? It wasnt in the best interest of the town., Even after I wasnt the chairman any longer, I took the position after they made a move that was very pre-planned. The recommendation must be by at least a two-thirds vote, and if the secretary declines to appoint the board's chosen candidate, its members then select a new one. Va. NAACP calls for resignation after chief diversity officer says 'DEI Paramedics, EMTs, and Advanced-EMTs with the Manchester Fire Department are now able to serve as substitute school nurses in city schools, under a new agreement between the fire and school officials. It was alleged that Huizenga made drastic changes without input from staff, including reappropriating Title I funds and spending $80,000 on consulting services. Update: Davis Resigns From Milford High School Principal Job And not just with wild, personal attacks., I thought I would be able to support the community of Milford from whatever seat I was in,, Because I dont look as the chair as being the boss of the district. In March, we may have new members on this board, she said. Milford school superintendent Dr. Jessica Huizenga and school board chair Ron Carvell at a Milford school board meeting. Carvell sent an email to the public notifying them of the vacancy. Shared by Jessica Huizenga Come network with friends & colleagues at the October 27th West Michigan Air & Waste Management Association's happy hour, hosted by the WM-AWMA YP I did not disrespect anyone., as long as we disagree with a manner of reasoning. Its just pouring over everywhere.. With that in hand, Jessica is yesterdays news. But here's the thing that the Turtlegram is electing NOT to report - she was driven out of Cambridge in a plagiarism scandal. The superintendent is simply doing her job to help us with the policy changes that we have made after ample discussions at our public meetings.. MILFORD - Embattled Milford superintendent of schools, Dr. Jessica L. Huizenga, has resigned from her position, effective at the end of the school year. Asked Monday, a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokeswoman did not disclose a reason for Huizenga's resignation or leave of absence. Jenni Siegrist resigned Sunday, according to Ron Carvell, the chairman of the Milford School Board. Our initial committee meetings, where we create the leadership profile, will be held in public. View the profiles of people named Jessica Huizinga. MILFORD Embattled Milford superintendent of schools, Dr. Jessica L. Huizenga, has resigned from her position, effective at the end of the school year. Mr. Lazo was part of a School Committee in 2015 that appointed Steven B. Bliss to the superintendency without a traditional search process. Jessica Huizenga, in an email to the SAU 40 district, said she had let the school board know she would be resigning at the end of the current school year "to . We are focused on the future and will be creating a superintendent hiring committee to ensure progress forward. Its very scary because you dont know the feedback that youre going to get. While Siegrist was not a school employee, in the state of New Hampshire, boards and councils often use the personnel waiver to discuss matters related to the conduct of public officials in non-public session. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Ms. Huizenga's resignation Thursday. Our concerns were many: She left her administration job in Cambridge after being caught plagiarizing; She went to 13 conferences in just 12 months during her tenure in Southbridge, paid for by the taxpayers . Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. During her tenure in Concord, she was named in a civil lawsuit after a high school student was sexually assaulted on a school bus in 2017. In a very short amount of time, she gracefully tackled some significant and important items that have long needed attention, positioning MHS to move forward into the future.. The other day we published this blog about disgraced former Southbridge Public Schools superintendent/state receiver Jessica Huizenga, who is a finalist for the superintendent job in Lynn. I think what the community is doing to the school district was horrible. But we need to be demonstrating to our kids that their integrity is more important than winning. At a special meeting at the department's headquarters in Malden, the board is scheduled to discuss the search process for Chester's successor and to hear an update from interim Southbridge receiver Russell Johnston. In May 2019, after 48 staff resignations, Milford school unions took a vote of "no confidence" in Huizenga, asking officials to search for a replacement. The chairman just writes the paperwork and gets authority to sign things and facilitates meetings. Tlapa said that superintendent evaluations should be quarterly or at least bi-annually. Already subscribe? Union officials allege that Huizenga is not the educational leader that Milford deserves, claiming she is not vested in the children or the community, that she fails to recognize staffing issues, demonstrates unprofessional behavior and more. Would you like to receive our daily news? Cabinet file photos Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. MILFORD, NH The Milford School District will begin looking for a new superintendent after its current leader offered her resignation Wednesday. Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Dr. Johnston has been working with staff from the Southbridge Public Schools and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to carry out the district turnaround plan. Its mind boggling the amount of time that people are spending going after her., In Huizengas letter of resignation, she stated that she was grateful to the community for their support and their shared desire to improve our schools.. Dr. Patrick Queenan of Sheehan Phinney, a trial lawyer who has worked on white collar criminal matters as well as civil litigation, was hired to investigate the issue. Would you like to receive our daily news? I'm Jessica Huizenga. In Sept. 2019, speaking to the Milford Cabinet, a newspaper in The Telegraph Publishing Group, Huizenga attempted to clarify the continuous debates that lingered on social media and were ongoing during school board meetings. Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. More turnover as Southbridge schools receiver resigns This is one of the first times that the Milford education unions took a vote of no confidence in our educational leader. That petition requested the resignation of superintendent Jessica Huizenga and board chair Ron Carvell. Jessica Huizenga began a leave of absence. Carvell said he just sat back, having no problem with supporting the school board as a board member. Facebook gives people the. Boston, MA - Latinos for Education announced today that Dr. Jessica Huizenga has joined the organization as a Managing Director in New England. This board is not functioning like that., Carvell disagrees with those who feel that Huizenga wasnt a good fit for the district, calling her, the best superintendent around., We have a superintendent who cares about kids, he said. We believe this is all happening due to the superintendents actions in her short tenure, said the release. Fellow board member Mike Hannon said echoed Tlapas sentiment. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. That petition requested the resignation of superintendent Jessica Huizenga and board chair Ron Carvell. Davis exit comes just days after assistant superintendent Christi Michaud took over as interim superintendent while Dr. Jessica Huizenga begins her departure. Mass. educator picked for Milford school post | News, Sports, Jobs As the school year was just beginning in Sept. 2019, there was still a heated debate over board member conduct, a 99 percent no confidence vote for Huizenga and the resignation of Jennifer Siegrist over a controversial text message debate. Huizenga said she has sought and received significant input from staff and the community throughout this process. My hope is that as we continue to evolve, we will learn to work together more effectively to create cohesive and progressive futures., I know weve been trying to get a meeting together to get the evaluation process going,, Id like to think that next year were putting it on the calendar for a proper review., Its very scary because you dont know the feedback that youre going to get. Jessica's Vision for American Education - Blogger The State Board of Education could be requested to perform an investigation, Fenton said. Cline, she said, never responded to her email, she said. They also blame her for low staff morale and the resignation of 48 staff. Jacqueline Reis, the department's media relations coordinator, said the department staff is searching for a new receiver and "will ensure there is a careful, deliberate search, and there will be an opportunity in the beginning stages for community members to say what qualities the district's next leader should possess. During the superintendents report, Huizenga touted social and emotional learning and reading programs throughout various Milford schools. And she is not looking to sweep things under the rug. Jessica Huizenga - Facebook And I left because of this whole thing that was transpiring. Join Facebook to connect with Jessica Huizenga and others you may know. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Dr. Huizenga's resignation as receiver was announced on July 20, 2017. At the beginning of the 2019 school year, meetings were often heated, due in some part, to the hiring of Dr. Huizenga who many teachers felt should have never been permanently hired as school superintendent and wanted her to resign then. The school board is primarily tasked with protecting our students and our district. The violations, she claimed, were communications between herself and Siegrist during the course of nine months, beginning around October 2018, which included numerous phone and personal conversations, hundreds of text messages, and Facebook messages discussing employees Morgan was working with, contract negotiations, employee resignations, lawsuits, and other information that should not have been shared with the general public. Although we will not include a public comment section, we provide an avenue for input. The new contract, executed on Jan. 22, 2020 and signed by Huizenga and Carvell, the superintendent shall receive severance of a maximum of twenty (20) months or the remainder of her salary left under the term of the contract. Considering her yearly salary is $145,690, that is no paltry sum. The state took over management of Southbridge schools, a district of about 2,200 students, in January 2016, after the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education deemed it a Level 5 chronically underperforming district.