Instead of Red Sox Nation’s old, “Wait ’til next year!,” we have, “Can’t wait ’til next year!”

What YourArlington initially reported about the reason for the hearing delay is what Bok told me. Miller later clarified what Bok had reported.

Bob Sprague
Publisher

If you go back and read what he said in the blog entry, which is an exact quote (I recorded the conversation, with his permission of course), you’ll know what he meant by “accelerate.”

I could do research on the typical time of year for the superintendent negotiations in other communities…we will see what we can do..though I don’t think there’s a set time for these communities, as each year has different circumstances that could influence the timing of the negotiations.

Though I am not saying I agree or disagree on the timing, there are some people who thought negotiating in September and October after the events of the summer (which, though you say this was almost done in the spring, many things happened after that which changes the face of this issue) was quickening the pace. They wanted the full amount of time provided to them before the deadline in Nate Levenson’s contract. We’re not saying they are right or wrong–but that was what individuals believed. Three members of the School Committee voted against the motion to enter into negotiations, and one of them specifically said that people needed to take their time and wait until December. Another wanted an amendment on the negotiations until the School Committee met with an attorney about pending litigation. There are people who felt that negotiating now is a bad decision.

I understand where you are coming from, but it was a paraphrase of the opinions of those against the negotiations–not the opinion of the Advocate…and we can’t exclude their perspectives because someone does not agree with their view.

I agree about the blog page, I will try and get someone to work on that.

And I can understand why some people have that view, and agree with your assessment of what the phrase means to them (i.e. that this decision could contractually wait until December).

Also I can’t find Ron Spangler use of the phrase on any of his posted statements. Maybe it was something he only said. In his posted remarks from the Sept 24th meeting he states ” I know it can look like we are rushing into this” which implies he doesn’t think this is being rushed. Also I assume your reference above does not mean to imply that you think Ron Spangler believes we are, and should, “accelerate the process”? He also, I interpret, was referring to what some in the community might think.

I think you would find that each of the those who voted for the motion think it was actually a deliberatively slow process that would have normally taken place last spring.

As I said in my first statement if you have the resources to do some investigative work it might be interesting to inform the public how much time before the last contractual minute most communities start their negotiations with their superintendents.

Also imagine if they did wait till December. Then they would be just starting negotiations while Levenson could have been searching for other positions all fall. He would be able to negotiate very tough terms because he would know Arlington would be up the creek trying to start looking for a new superintendent in January or February.

For the reasons above I just don’t think we should continue to use and repeat the language “accelerating the process” to describe this unless we very specifically state it is the opinion of some faction.

Also, BTW, this blog page is not clearly linked from the main blog page. Instead of having the link just be a couple words in the text under “Alewife to the Heights” you should make the hot link something more bold and obvious.

The word accelerated to describe the decision making process also did not originally come from the Advocate previous to this blog. It came from Ron Spangler.

What people mean by “accelerating” or “acting too soon” or “why now” is because there is a contractual requirement that the Committee notify Mr. Levenson of the intent to renew, or not renew, by December. Some people considered any earlier than December too early given the circumstances (as you’ll see in ,my eventual story). Others did not. The Advocate is not saying the committee is doing so–others did. If you read in the description, “fears about dividing the community further by accelerating the process were expressed.”

That’s paraphrasing what other people were saying, before, and during, the meeting.