You all know the Principal, Tomasz Grabski, is leaving our school, ostensibly to pursue “another career opportunity.” In fact, he was asked to resign by the Department of Education because several parents managed to prove that he is incapable of overseeing the safety of children, a liability, and unfit to be a Principal (see our letter to Eric Nadelstern of May 5th and a detailed list of examples). We thought we proved he could be maliciously deceitful as well, but that one didn’t stick, it seems.

Since he was asked to resign, Tomasz has given out four Unsatisfactory ratings to our teachers, and he is finding ways to make sure all four are not at Muscota next year. One has left for a job at another school (presumably a safer environment). Tomasz fired another (two days after he did a raise-the-roof dance in the office to celebrate her students’ test scores). Any Principal who fires a teacher would be fully aware it effectively ends that teacher’s career in the New York City school system.

• In response we wrote a letter to the DoE. This time they deferred to Martha Madera, District 6 Superintendent and Tomasz’ direct supervisor. Parent leaders had appealed to Ms. Madera regarding numerous issues already in the year and not once did she waver in her support of Tomasz. (See elaboration below).
• But we tried again and appealed to Ms. Madera with 155 of your signatures and a letter begging her to overturn the firing. She sent us a boilerplate letter.
• We staged a rally in front of the school. Here’s the press release.
• The Manhattan Times covered it.
• We barraged Joel Klein, Chancellor, and Veronica Conforme, Deputy Chief Schools Officer, with emails, amazing, heart-felt emails from all kinds of parents. We forwarded these emails to the press and sent a paper version of them, en masse, to Joel Klein’s office.

Veronica Conforme’s replies state that the DoE has “reviewed the documentation,” which means they reread Tomasz’ evaluations, and that “the documentation supports the Superintendent’s decision to deny completion of probation.” That means they believe him and they’re letting him fire her. It doesn’t seem to have occurred to them that he might not be truthful.

We spoke to the press and the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal covered it.

Now, Tomasz has launched legal measures to inflict damage on the other two teachers who received U’s.

As for Ms. Madera, Tomasz’ supervisor, parents met with her seven times over the course of the year. The earliest ones were with only a few parent leaders, and they were aimed at explaining our worries as parents for the safety of our children and the difficulties many of us were having establishing a working relationship with Tomasz. Others were to request her help with specific issues that Tomasz seemed incapable of addressing effectively. Ten parents, some very active, some not, met with Ms. Madera on January 19th. Each one of us told our personal story, our experience, and our conclusions that Tomasz seemed to be failing at his job and posed a liability to the DoE. She took studious notes but never got back to us.

In the aftermath of a child bringing marijuana to school, parents reached out to Ms. Madera again in a letter dated February 1. Ms. Madera prompted Tomasz to call a meeting with the same ten parents to address our concerns. Unfortunately, he checked himself into the hospital and could not make the meeting. Instead Ms. Madera met with more than 35 parents, despite that the meeting had been opened to all parents only the day before. Many of you spoke out at that meeting, telling example after example of ineffective management, bad judgment, and unprofessional behavior toward the teachers. We openly requested that Tomasz be removed. Unfortunately, Ms. Madera insisted she had no authority to do that. In fact, toward the end of the meeting, Ms. Madera actually turned her back on us and raised her hands in exasperation. Most of us were angry when we arrived, but we were more angry when we left.

So we wrote a letter to Eric Nadelstern, Chief Schools Officer. (There were two documents, a cover letter and a detailed list of examples which we gave to the DoE on May 6th.) We had been compiling emails and other documentation for since October. Four days after we delivered the letter to the DoE, they spoke with Shannon, and it was clear they had gone out on a limb for us. They said we would “be happy with the results.” This is DoE-speak. We’ve discovered they never say anything outright. Less than two weeks later, we were informed that Tomasz would resign, and the next day, he did. Our faith in the DoE and “process” was renewed.

Unfortunately, we’re not feeling the faith any more. I am putting all of this online so that you may read it and know the whole story. If you know of someone who you think ought to read it, please let us know.

Tomasz’s vendetta has already done significant damage, and Muscota will look different in September. That’s not even considering budget cuts. I can’t say I understand why Tomasz has chosen to cause so much damage, nor why the DoE allows it, perhaps condones it. But one thing has been continuously clear throughout this whole year: the teachers and parents of Muscota work wonders when we work together.

So here’s to a new beginning!
Kari Steeves

A compilation of the emails sent by Muscota parents in support of our Special Education teacher and requesting the overturn of all Unsatisfactory ratings given by Tomasz Grabski, former Muscota Principal.

This photo was taken by a Muscota parent at the rally to support our Special Education teacher, who was unjustly fired.

The Manhattan Times covered the parent rally to protest the unjust firing of our Special Education teacher.

A press release about a protest rally on June 24th to speak out against the unjust firing of our Special Education teacher.

A letter to Vince Brevetti, June 14, 2010, requesting a review of our Special Education teacher’s Unsatisfactory rating by Mr. Grabski.

The cover letter to Eric Nadelstern, May 5, 2010 requesting the removal of Mr. Grabski as Principal of Muscota New School. Delivered on May 6, 2010.

A list of examples of administrative failures, provided to on May 6, 2010.

ok, hello everyone.  I am still trying to understand this blog thing.  I am posting here the newsletter as a pdf.  you will also be getting this in your child’s mailbox.  it is very important that you send back in the signed version of your child’s goal sheet. thanks and enjoy christopher

There will be two trainings for parent volunteering at the school this Monday, Novemeber 16th and again on Monday, November 23rd.  Learning Leaders will be giving a comprehensive workshop going over the rules and code of conduct.  It is an education no volunteer should miss!   Meet in the cafeteria at 8:40am.

This Friday is our November general meeting for the Parents Association.  6:30pm in the library, 4th floor.

Please come for more updates and news.  And as always- I am there to hear you and see if I can help answer your questions.

Be well,

Shannon

I am in the works at getting a permit to have an evening meeting Wednesday, October 14th at the school at 6:30pm.

It will be for all of us to get organized.

Every committee will be meeting and strategizing.  So get involved!  Come on down to Muscota and join a committee or TWO!

There is:

Health and Safety

Grant Writing

Fund Raising

Muscota Political Action Committee

Communications and Public Relations

Be well,

Shannon

The first one happened last June before school got out.

I came to the school to help out at lunch and saw Bill Telepan in the kitchen and our liaeson for Wellness in the Schools Emily Cohen and her boss, Nancy Easton, the Co-founder of WITS.  I went to see them and was invited to sit for an interview for Edible Manhattan.  The article is fascinating even though they butcher Muscota’s name.  But as I always say, any press is good press!

The second bit of good press we got as a school was the recent article in Manhattan Times.  I do want to clarify that the article was not correct with one detail: there has not been classical music set up for our lunch period.  It would be nice, but it is not true.  However, all in all, the article is positive and we Muscotans should be proud of what can be accomplished in a short amount of time.

Which brings me to you.  Yes, you!  As a parent at Muscota, how do you get involved?  I’ll tell you what I know.  It helps if you jump right in.  Ask what you can do, we will give you a direction and then it is up to you to follow through.

Example: the play yard would not be getting renovated unless Margaret Peeler, K parent last year and V.P. this year, didn’t set out with a clear goal and see it through untill the end.  She picked up on the work already put down by parent Pat Hametz and finished it up by requesting monies from elected officials.  It worked and the yard will be renovated this summer.

Example: Allen Spaulding, father of two, is volunteering at lunch almost everyday, brings food to pot luck fundraisers, holds the door at drop off in the winter, helped drama teacher Dayna empty her old costume closet and shows up whenever a teacher or I ask him to.  He is an amazing help to our school.

Example: Shera Scott Thomas made beautiful BOXTOP cans for every room and helped enormously with the teacher appreciation day last year.

Example: Past parents Elena and Isa (from Christpher and Erin’s classrooms) jumped in and translated flyers and letters for parents into Spanish.  That was a big help!  And we will miss them this year.

Example: Wilma Leon, Katie Soares and Margaret cleaned out and organized the PA locker in the gym.  The custodians built custom shelves for us too!  They volunteered and helped in their own way.

Example: Joanna Hoar Vea came into the school on a Saturday to do the bulletin board with me.

Example: Kate Wilson, Kristen Friedmen and Katherine Labastille all wanted a Daisey troop for their Kindies.  It is in its second year thie year, as are TWO other Girl Scout Troops which were started and followed through by parents who wanted it and just DID IT!

There are COUNTLESS more stories that I witnessed through my years at Muscota.  I have seen amazing charity and inspiring volunteering.  I have seen annonomous sponsorships from parents.  Car rides when needed.  Chaperoning when needed.  Our community is beautiful.  Keep it up.  And I will work right along side you because I believe in our school and how great it is!

Please leave a comment on how YOU have helped the school by volunteering.  EVERY moment you have contributed helps and means so much to our school community.

By giving what you can, it creates change and positive energy, it shows the kids that volunteering is a positive thing that everyone can do in their own way.

See you at the PA meeting this Wednesday evening!  Don’t miss Nancy Easton from Wellnes in the Schools.

Keep in touch.

Shannon Park

PA President

Please feel free to comment, and let me know what you would like to see more of, and I will do my best update it accordingly.

Have a great week,

christopher

Well, you can have those warm and fuzzy feelings by shopping for school supplies!  Look, we all have to go out and buy obscene amounts of classroom supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes, shoes, clothes and tylenol for our achy head and back- so do it but do it through the programs below.  I enrolled at Boxtops tonight and it was easy.  Tomorrow I will mail in my Target charge card application that I downloaded off the website.  Easy Peasy.  Muscota is BROKE, friends, we need to save our school from the inflicted drought the Chancellor has imposed on us.  It is up to us.  We shall write letters and protest!  But first…we must shop.

Target® Take Charge of Education Program
If you already have a Target REDcard, you can select Muscota to receive a percentage of all your purchases.  Go to www.target.com/tcoe and click on the “Enroll Now” link under the “Current REDcard holders” box.  You can also call 800-316-6142 to enroll. Now start shopping!  To date, Muscota has earned nearly $500.00 but for this year alone we have only earned $50.00.   16 REDcard holders have designated Muscota as the recipient for the Take Charge of Education program.  Let’s try to double that!   We get 1% of every purchase. Every purchase counts.

If you do not have a Target REDcard, please consider opening an account the next time you visit Target and then designate Muscota to receive a percentage of all your purchases as outlined above. You will also receive 10% off your bill on the day you open an account.  Also, anyone can designate our school as a recipient of the earnings.  This is a great way for grandparents, friends, and neighbors to support your child’s school through their REDcard.

Box Tops for Education Marketplace™ Program
You can benefit Muscota by shopping at over 70 online stores like Land’s End, Barnes & Noble, Oriental Trading Co., Pottery Barn, mini Boden and Drugstore.com through the Box Tops Marketplace™.  Muscota will earn cash on purchases at no additional cost to you.  To sign up, go to the Box Tops website: www.btfe.com and designate Muscota New School as the recipient.  Once you are enrolled, select one of the 70 store links on the Marketplace page and start shopping.

Box Tops for Education
Find and clip Box Tops coupons on hundreds of products like Cheerios, Ziploc bags, and hundreds of other items.  Each Box Top coupon is worth  10¢ for our school.  A full list of products can be found at www.btfe.com .  Please send box tops to school with your child in an envelope marked Box Tops by September 25.   Our Parent Coordinator Denise Rodriguez will bundle and submit Box Tops twice a year so don’t stop clipping after September!

Sincerely,

Shannon Park

your prez.