Just wanted to make it clear that the School Business Administrator is not acting as the Director, because she does not have a Director's license. The School Business Administrator has a Supervisor license, which is not enough for her to LEGALLY take care of a school independently.

The abrupt and unfounded removal of Hola's director has caused a profound impact on staff morale and has caused an ugly divide among educators there. Former director of Hola ran the school with utter perfection - bringing a level of expertise and graciousness that will be impossible to replace. At this time it is unknown if the incoming interim director has the qualifications to run an language immersion school, or is even bilingual for that matter.

The Commissioner of Education of the state should remove this board. The board setting up more than just policy and are breaking the law. Where is the Commissioner?

The "School Business Manager" has neither the certification to be the director or the school business administrator. The key work here is "micromanage" by the Hola board leadership, that holds no educational certifications whatsoever. This is no different than the leadership at the Hoboken Board of Education, they both are the blind leading the sighted.

Pupie Raia probably had more to do with this than he's letting on.

Let the state investigate and get to the bottom of this mess. The illegality of having board members interfere with day-to-day operations is probably why the previous Director stepped down.

Anyone who has followed Raia throughout his career would know that he thrives on this kind of controversy and chaos. Shame on anyone who thought they were dealing with a grownup when they put him on the HoLa board. What you have at Hola now is no different than the micromanagement that kids first employs at the BOE.

Nice try. I know someone who has "followed Raia throughout his career" if you know what I mean, nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more, say no more...

Do not be fooled everyone. Jen Sargent knew very well who Frank Raia was when she asked him to join the board. She has used him for his money and political pull in Hoboken. How else do you think all those classrooms were built so fast?? The rest of the board members have looked the other way with all the illegal building and decisions that have been going on in HoLa. I'm sure this Director wanted no part in these transactions and so they gave her the boot. Shame on Jen Sargent and shame on the other board members. These are children you're responsible for!!!!

It was a nice blend originally of old Hoboken and new. Unfortunately the elitists are showing their true colors getting rid of everyone that helped make Hola great, Raia will be next to go.

The Director of a Charter School is legally called the "lead person" and does not require and administrative license. A certified supervisor must be employed to evaluate teachers however.

Sargent & Co. check this out.....HoLa is a PUBLIC school. If your goal was to open a school you can run that would be considered a PRIVATE school.

Raia can't go. He's holding the purse strings. Lots of sweat and trust was invested in this school and now we're feeling betrayed. Let's keep in mind that this is still a public school and not a private business. When will someone reach out to the Department of Ed and ask them to look into the way the classrooms were financed and built? The way it looks, we may never get answers as to why the dismissal occurred and that lack of transparency makes me uneasy. Face it folks, we knew Raia was involved and we swallowed the bitter pill because we wanted to see the school flourish. Now we're here with no answers and far too many questions about the legitimacy of the operation of the school.

You need a minimum of a principal certificate and a school business administrator certificate. Neither of which are there on a daily basis. Just loaning or renting your certification to a charter school may meet the minimum requirements, but it does not serve the needs of the children on a daily basis. Hola needs trained, experienced educational professionals there EVERY day, not volunteers, parents or non-education trained board members. You have plenty of public money to run a school, do it right!

When are all those "yupies" that rode into Hoboken on their white horses going to realize they don't know everything? How did Hoboken survive without them? Hola will stand as a prime example of the people rising up in protest to the current education system, then getting the chance to do it "their way" and failing miserably because they don't know how to run a school and to hire or keep qualified staff members. It always seems to be the students that suffer. They had a great idea, it's time for the board to learn their job and let the staff do theirs. Good luck and Go bless.

My children are receiving an excellent bilingual education, thanks to HoLa's qualified and dedicated teachers. For that I am grateful. The board and its founders believe strongly in the mission and will do everything possible to protect and execute on it. For this I am thankful. Although this transition time will be challenging, I believe in our teachers who are true professionals, the parents and their unwavering support, and the Board that is dedicated to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone - especially for our students and teachers. We are very fortunate to have a bilingual charter school option in our town and the board deserves much credit for providing this opportunity to our children.

If the Hola board was so good at hiring the best professionals, why do they keep firing teachers and all the administrators?

I remember when Frank Raia made such a big stink about when Paula Ohaus was not given tenure. There were good reasons why she wasn't. It seems like this Maria Acosta really cared about the students. Where is Frank Raia on this one? Normally he is such a blabber mouth in addition to his vote buying votes on elections. Did he vote her out? Apparently what is good for the goose isn't good for the gander on this one. Transparency would help. The parents who took a chance on this school have a right to know why she was let go. It would help clear things up. Why the secrecy?

I feel for the parents on this one. When you put amatuers on the Board like Raia unfortunately this is the result you get. When ego trumps sound educational principles the students are the ones who get hurt.

I here a rumor Shoprite is pulling out because of the flooding. Every time it rains at 9th and Madison its called "On Pupie Pond". Can Frank do anything right besides throw his money around to buy influence and buy elections? Actually if he just did the charitable things he does rather than try to run Hoboken like the mob he would be so much more beneficial to Hoboken. Complex man. Complications at Hola. No such thing as an indespensible employee.

Best of luck sorting it out. Remember, do it for the children or it will be adios Hola!

To hire professionals you need to know something about the job your hiring for. I give the Hola founders all the credit in world for not accepting the status quo in the Hoboken Public Schools and wanting more for the children of Hoboken. Unfortunately the Hola team is falling apart and will soon impload. The real drama and the behind the scenes shinanigans will all come out in time, it always does. If ANY of the allegations posted here are true, they may be visited soon by the folks from Newark (if their not already here).

Wow. I wonder why there is so much venom against HoLa and it's Board? There seems to be a great deal of assumption that an 'abrupt' leave means the Board is doing something wrong. I, for one, assume the Board must have serious reason to believe that the Director was not meeting her obligations and not performing in a manner that was in the best interests of the children, parents, or community. It surely was a difficult decision to place her on leave at this point in the school year knowing full well there will be this kind of whacky noise in the Hoboken political sphere, in addition to the massive replacement challenge.

If, and until, the facts are made public for this action I would suggest that the community hold their tongues. You simply have no idea what she may have done or not done that warranted this. Meanwhile, the name calling and animosity are petty and childish behavior - that serves no positive end.

With that, let's focus on moving forward and wish the school luck in only it's second year. I can only imagine the difficulty in starting up a brand new school and getting everything 100% right from day one was certainly an unlikely possibility.

As a parent of an HoLa student I support the Board and the outstanding teachers there. I know they and the parents will all work together to overcome minor bumps like this as they inevitedably crop up. That's what makes this a school and community I am proud to be a part of.

I guess there is venom against HoLa’s Board, but that’s because there is firsthand knowledge of how a ONE school board (with members that are parents with children in the school themselves) are allowed to manipulate school administrators while using PUBLIC funds for the betterment of a few students at the expense of the whole!
Again, if the board has nothing to hide let the state investigate, but if they have been PULLING STRINGS as is suspected here; then they should disband the board and make an example of its members.

Sean, your a good parent and have good children, unfortuntely you should disclose that you a slightly biased in your opinions since you are personal friends with the board president and her spouse.

I believe that people have a right to communicate and this just happens to be a good forum for that.

Most of the comments that are personal, are towards Frank "Pupie" Raia. Frank is a sad, Zelig type character who likes to insert himself and take credit for anything good and doesn't happen to remember anything bad (even if he did it). Can you honestly say you have had an intelligent educational conversation with Frank?

If they can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen (or Board).

It's pretty laughable that someone should suggest that we hold our tongues until the facts come out. Aren't we the ones who wouldn't use the public schools because we thought they lacked transparency?
Now being secretive is ok? The school has always operated under double standards. One standard for Raia, and one for everyone else. Nobody ever publicly discussed the guy that was being paid last year but who did virtually nothing. I am so fearful that we are on the path toward self destruction. The concept of the school is great, but honestly, as long as Raia is involved we will never be considered a serious educational institution.

I do not find the Pupie comments very nice from some of you. Go ahead and keep making them and in return I will vote no on everything at the next meeting. You zimmerinis are just lost and angry.

Back At Ya Frankie Boy:

http://hoboken.patch.com/articles/boe-votes-down-resolution-to-keep-theatre-director-gifted-program-coordinator

http://hoboken.patch.com/articles/students-pack-boe-meeting-to-protest-alleged-treatment-of-theatre-director-2

I think Sean Sullivan's comments ring true in the minds of most parents in the Hola community. Most of us trust that the board is attempting to make the right decisions, even when they're difficult. Most of us also fully believe that the board has already anticipated negative comments from a section of the population, and believe they understand that their decisions don't go un-noticed. I think the gist of what Scott was saying is there's a possibility that there is something, possibly bigger, going on here. It's worth consideration, before rushing to judgement. Time will tell.

All I'm saying is that since we're finally talking about the business decisions that have been made at the school, perhaps it's time for a third party to take a look at some of them. I have never been comfortable with the construction program and I think now would be a good time to look at that as well as the dismissal of our director. I am not one to second guess our administrators or faculty but I have heard so many stories about how Raia loves to cause controversy and then deny having any role in the plan. This can't be good. Let's not lose sight of the fact that while Raia may have fronted the money for the construction, I'm sure he is getting repaid. Am I wrong assuming that he made a loan to the school and not a grant?

I think we all inherintly want to believe that this or any board has the best interests of the children and/or taxpayers. The shadow that is cast over the Hola Board, was cast by their actions, not our speculation. Without answers to the growing list of questions, we can only speculate. In one short year we've lost all our administrators, the nurse, school pyscologist, food manager, many teachers and 30% of our board. How do we expect our children to bond with the staff when the turnover is so high? Something is wrong here. This should be a place where people want to work and stay. The board has to stick to policy and budget and leave, and I mean leave the management to professional educators. The way it's looking is that some shady stuff has been happening, let's clear it up and move on.

We're actually the guilty parties in the whole situation because we sat by and while we could smell something , we didn't want to ask the hard questions. None of this can be helping the kids. None of it. Let's get some answers. Are there construction loans? Did we have a no show employee? Why did our administrators jump ship or get fired? Who is calling the shots on the board? Answers are required.

Another huge concern here is that an Hola board member gets a "no bid" contract to build classrooms for a "public school"! Now the board will try to cover their tracks and say that this work was done for the Boy's and Girls Club, but these rooms were clearly built to accommodate students at a charter (public) school. What else is going on at this place?

Sorry, but an organization that uses public funds for the public good needs to be checked and balanced by the same or it loses its board and/or loses its charter. Sean, I guess, you feel the board has something to hide here.

The board needs to leave the administration of the school to the administrators and public education laws are quite clear on this point.

If as suspected here that members of this board have exceeded their powers to put undue pressure on administrators and staff an investigation is the only just answer.

A New Jersey Assemblywoman (Mila Jasey- Essex) wants her Senate colleagues to pass two charter school oversight bills she's sponsoring. One of Mila Jasey's bills requires voter approval of new charter schools. The other bill seeks to increase charter's accountability and provide more transparency on their operations. Until and unless that law is passed, NJ charter schools will continue to report to and be accountable to the Commissioner of Education for the State of New Jersey.

Despite what the political hags and naysayers would like to turn this in to, this article is not about Frank Raia, Hoboken yuppies or conspiracies but about an incredible dual language school which,  in a town which is known for the lack of educational choices (I'm sorry but no one moves here for the education, they leave because of it), and in spite the strong opposition by these very same naysayers in previous years, managed to establish itself and provide an exceptional bilingual education for approximately 175 of Hoboken's children. It is not a school full of yuppie's children but a diverse slate of children with varied ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds fortunate enough to be receiving a unique bilingual education.  To be continued...

This is a story about HoLa's  board who has worked tirelessly over the last 5 years, many of its members making personal and professional sacrifices, to establish this school, create it's mission, and continue to to help shape it's future.  It is unfathomable that after all the effort they put forth and investments they made, they would frivolously make a decision that would be detrimental to the school.  

It is a story about a group talented and passionate teachers who have chosen to enter uncharted territories, no doubtedly requiring of them a greater level of creativity and a heavier workload, all the while having to manage the anxieties of some of the parents.  It is about teachers who have come to rely on the supportive and nurturing demeanor of their Director who, from their perspective, had their back and best interests in mind at every turn and now suddenly find themselves, with no explanation offered (as the board can't legally speak about it), without their leader and mentor.   
To be continued....

It is a story of a group of brave parents who elected to send their children to as start up school without any prior record to go on, just the word and the passion it's founding members.  A group of parents who have volunteered their time and energy, through fundraising and school holiday events (last year's Sabor de HoLa and this year's incoming class's school Halloween party rivaled that of any Hoboken function that I've been to) in order to help make an underfunded Charter School a thriving learning institution and cohesive community.   

Most importantly this is a story about 175 children whose parents have put their trust in this institution to provide them with not only a bilingual education but a nurturing and compassionate environment where through experiential learning they will receive an education in all subjects exceeding most standards, and graduate as bilingual, intellectually and culturally curious children, primed to face the challenges of the 21st century that lay ahead of them.  To be continued...

This school is only a year old.  While we are not 100% there yet and have and will continue to hit some bumps along the road, we are most definitely well on our way.  This is the time to put our judgements and differences aside, especially since the parents and teachers cannot possibly purport to know the whole reason behind Maria leaving. Let's work together to make the best of this difficult and trying situation. No man is an island; we all have something to contribute to the success of this school. Let's respect each other's boundaries, respect each other's opinions but collectively continue to put our kids on their road to success.  We are a strong, invigorated community.  No matter what your thoughts of Maria are, no successful institution rests on the back of one person alone.  I am confident that HoLa and it's students will continue to thrive and find the leadership it needs to establish itself as a model for dual language immersion education around the country.

Sorry for being so verbose but I'm tired of all the bickering and antagonism going on when there is so much at stake. Have concerns, issues or suspicions? Go to the board meetings and voice them. Thanks for listening.

An Hola board member got a "no bid" contract to build classrooms for a "public school"!

Why wouldn't the HOLA! board put out the contract for bid? Any sizable contract should have a fair bid process that can be documented later.

Something is not right. Not right at all. No bid contracts are illegal aren't they?

If it comes out that there was something shady regarding the bid process, or lack of, I'm sure someone will produce some backdated proposal for the work showing there was competitive bidding but I believe there should have been public notice posted in the paper.

This stuff should end now. The people who comment on everything on PATCH seem to have found this story now. It won't do our school any good if they start badgering. They'll just make this political (Hobbs) and the kids will suffer.

Thank you for your inspiring manifesto, Ellen A! I am also a proud Hola parent and trust the Hola Board and it's strong teachers for 100% to make the right decisions and keep working hard for our children. In a town as ours were educational choices are sparse, we should cherish every opportunity for great education with much care. Therefor we all have a responsibility practice restraint and to lay of of assumptions and allegations, till we know the full facts.

Is Hola accountable to anything other than vocal parents who are getting their own little private school using Hoboken tax monies?

If they are accountable then how about they address the matter of this no bid contract for Frank Raia who they say is not an issue?

Sounds like a little fiefdom over there more than a public school. Let's see what's what and why people are being bounced out of the place faster than any school in town.

Enough with the distractions, misdirection and platitudes. Hoboken needs answers.

I don't know what happened with HOLA! but I'd be interested in reading a story that interviewed the board and former employees. Claire is this possible?

Anything involved with Pupie needs to scrutinized. Look under every rock.

FAP,
You may have to travel to Texas if Petrossini agrees (which I really doubt) to be interviewed. That opportunistic leach will most likely stay quiet.
There we go again, the rotten BoE makes the news. I was wondering what kind of shenanigans are brewing in the school system.... The zombies of Hoboken (the ' I
don't have a clue but it's all so wonderful and blah blah' type) think it's ok to do illegal deals under the table, as long as they benefit from it.

Parece que el bottomfeeders, hienas y pirañas son todos hacia fuera y la sangre de oler sustancias en el agua. Si hay problemas graves o nociones que no hay problemas de falta de cumplimiento, entonces la gente tendrá que oficialmente en contacto con el Comisionado de Educación del Estado de Nueva Jersey y el lugar de una denuncia, ya que es el agente de la rendición de cuentas. Por supuesto, esto significa que en realidad se necesita tener algo de sustancia a quejarse y no sólo en torno a PATCH trolls buscan incitar a los pozos negros de conflicto se sientan más cómodos en

Passkey: I've always admitted you have a fine resume. My problem is that your job title was made up because you were a childhood friend of Jack's. Your $144,000 salary plus bennies were a disgrace to the Hoboken taxpayer. I hope you at least work full time in Austin. The Texas taxpayers deserve no less.

Mr. Siegel- I have always maintained I never had the opportunity to go to college although I consider myself well read and largely self educated. But, I also grew up with Dr. Petrosino around Jefferson St (where we hung out- we called him "Petro" then) and I am friends with him. You dismiss him when you say he was just a "childhood friend" of Jack's--- do you have any childhood friend's with his background? His resume? His abilities? This story is not about Dr. Petrosino or Jack-- and I don't want to divert attention. Another time, another place. But- the taxpayer's of Hoboken got their money's worth with his expertise. Read the list of what he did--- more proof? After he left Hoboken, the district had to hire at least 4 people to take his place--An Assistant Superintendent, a Curriculum Director, a Math/Science consultant, and a Reading consultant-- and since he and Jack left the district has been literally in a free fall. I understand over 90% of the students in the district attend a school that failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress for 2 years in a row...as opposed to less than 14% when Petro and Jack were around.

What about your made up position? Why did you and Jack shunt aside Mary Tremiditi who everyone respected? Your reign was filled with such patronage. I never doubted your qualifications, just your part time work and a made up job, typical with you and Jack as well as previous non Kids First boards.

I've never been this far down a blog chain before in my life so I have no idea if they are usually this vitriolic. Nevertheless, as a parent at HoLA, I know two of the board members and they are upright citizens who I trust. They may, or may not, have made the right decision in firing Acosta but they didn't do it to further Raia's political career. They care about HoLA. Simultaneously, I'm a teacher in NYC and if parents were always telling me what to do I'd get my back up too and be angry. They need to be respected and protected. And while people should be held accountable for their actions, transparency in this case doesn't need to be instantaneous. I can wait a couple months to get the low-down on Acosta and I hope that the reason warrants a mid-(quarter) year dismissal. Viva HoLA!

I don't really pay attention to what goes on in the public schools, but as I read above, it seems to me that Dr. Petrosino was the Assistant Superintendent in charge of, among other things, curriculum. Now, apparently, he's been replaced by an assistant superintendent and a director of curriculum. Not sure how you can say he had a made up job if he was replaced when he left. All I know is that the Hola board is lucky to have him on the board. I'm not a fan of Raia, but Dr. Petrosino is exactly the kind of person who brings great things to our school. My advice to you, Mr. Siegel, is to throw your mud elsewhere as you have no business sticking your nose into the Hola situation. .

If he was replaced by two people who took over his assignments then I fail to see your point. Regardless, you can sling mud if you want, but we know how talented he is and how lucky we are to have him. I'm going to go silent on this board now because I can see that you are trying to politicize an unfortunate situation. I'm sure you will get the last word, but in the end you're hurting our school.Maybe that's how you get pleasure.

Blowing through some of the smoke here - dismissing a school director in 1 1/2 months into the school year is an extraordinary act that is extremely disruptive to the operation of the school. It can be justified only by serious misconduct on the part of the director. There is no way to know from the outside looking in whether this was an unfortunate but necessary action dictated by the occurrence of a sufficient level of misconduct or an inappropriate action taken by a board pursuing their personal interest in maintaining absolute control over the school,or some combination of these and other factors.

As a mom (though not an HOLA mom), I feel strongly that the most important priority must be minimizing the disruption at the school so the children can be properly served. But both HOLS parents, prospective HOLA parents and the taxpayers who support the school have a right to know what occurred here, to the extent legally permitted, given the extraordinary nature of this action.

I vote for an "inappropriate action taken by a board pursuing their personal interest in maintaining absolute control over the school"

does anyone actually even know why this dismissal happened?

Petro/Jack's reign:
SCHOOL-AUDIT--Student-money-reimbursed-teacher-for-lost-iPod-Board-of-Ed-hears-details-of-negative-audit-and-test-scores--officials-resign
The district was paying stipends for employees without board authorization or documentation that the work was completed, according to the audit.
Additionally, in two schools, student-raised activity funds were used to reimburse teachers for lost articles, like a $400 iPod, according to Board member Theresa Minutillo.
Several purchases, for instance janitorial supplies and equipment reconditioning, should have been awarded in a public bidding process, the audit said.
The audit charged that officials miscatagorized administrative costs as student costs, skewering a metric used by the state to assess the district.
Food service funds were short $244,992, and meal reimbursement records were spotty, according to the audit.
Interim Superintendent Peter Carter said, “We are taking steps to correct each and every one of [the findings] on a daily basis.”
The audit examined the operations of the last school year, when the district was run by ex-Superintendent Jack Raslowsky, who left over the summer for Xavier High School in Manhattan.
Scores diving:
Standardized test scores from grades 3 through 8 dropped again this year, according to numbers released by the district last week.
Scores in language arts dropped from a 78.8 average in 2008 to a 66.2 average in 2009; math scores dropped from 64.1 in 2008 to 52.5 in 2009

More money wasted and taken away from the kids:
Here's another paid position your buddy created and approved:
School board member moves to paid job:
At a special meeting Tuesday night, the Hoboken Board of Education approved two major moves - it accepted the resignation of board member David Anthony so he could take a paid position as board secretary, and appointed Ron Rosenberg to fill his vacated unpaid board position.
The moves were questioned by a number of parents and residents, who have long believed that political patronage has driven up the cost of education and has led Hoboken to have some of the highest administrative costs in the state.
Anthony resigns, then hired:
According the motion that was passed Tuesday, Anthony has been hired for $39,500 to become the board part-time secretary; a job that he says will require about 20 to 25 hours per week. He also works full-time as a manager for the Department of Motor Vehicles in North Bergen....according to the Board of Education's by-laws, a board member is ineligible for appointment to a paid office or position in the district for at least six months after the member's resignation. The rule is in place to ensure that members of the board do not unfairly profit from their elected position.
...In the past, those duties were handled by the board's Business Administrator,as they are now. Why did the position go from unpaid to paid? Is this the same secretary at Hola? If so, is he paid or unpaid?

increase in costs from njdoe website...
general administrative costs went from $1mm (07) to $1.5mm (09) under Raslowski and Pettrosino's tenure. That appears to be a 50% increase.
Also, while 20 teachers were "laid off" the regular education tuition costs (largely weighted by salaries) went from $363k to $678k almost a 50% increase. Now if 20 teachers were let go, where did the high increase in the teacher line come from?

Total Comparative Per Pupil Cost under Petro & Jack:
06/07-$19,128
07/08-$19,465
08/09- $25,280
Why did costs rise so much Passkey/Petro?

I recall that it was around the time that the high school's under-performing students were shipped out to "alternative" schools, first at the Boys and Girls Club, then Demarest, that the high school's scores jumped upwards. I recall that, a few years before that, "at-risk" students were removed from the testing pool and scores jumped from something like a 40% passing rate to 80%. Anytime you see a vast improvement from one year to the next, the scores have been "juked." When Hoboken receives state attention for being "most-improved", the scores have been juked. Just like Hoboken crime rates, which "skyrocketed" during this spring's election. Watch "The Wire" to learn more about this.

I'd say that the best thing about the most recent scores is that they're honest.

Jack Raslowsky hired his best friend Petrossino for a six figure salary and full benefits - this would have been ok, perhaps, if the scumbag lived in Hoboken. BUT HE DIDN'T. How can you claim you helped Hoboken schools improve, when you had a full time job in Texas??? That sounds like stealing money from the TAXPAYERS of Hoboken. The guy (Petrossino) lived in Texas, for crying out loud! What does it matter about his resume/qualifications - he did not perform for Hoboken, he was just stealing our money? If one is proud about his friend's resume, that sounds pretty pathetic to me - makes you a looser.

You're the same person. get off it.

Passkey, explain his Texas job then. How did he do that job? Teleconferencing? Teleportation (I would love to do that, would make it so much easier to visit my relatives across the nation.)? I have one job, 40 some hours a week. I would love to find some way to get paid for another full time job in another state. All in 24 hour day. How did he do it, please share. I could spend my time that wisely I could spend more time with my kid.

Passkey,

If you have ever been mad about attempts to out you, you have not right to try to out other people.

If you think outing a poster is wrong when it is you that is being outed, remember what most mothers say to children. "Don't sink to their level." Also, "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones." comes to mind.

http://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/
Dr. Petrosino's Education Project: How Long Can an Interim ...

0 posts ·
By Dr. Anthony Petrosino ·
Published 2/13/2010

Feb 13, 2010 · How Long Can an Interim ... Dr. Anthony Petrosino takes no ... In 1999 he accepted a Professorship at the University of Texas and received ...
hobokencurriculumproject.blogspot.com/2010/02/​how-long-can-interim...

Notice it says he started in 1999. Yes he was flown back to Texas on the taxpayer dime. Yes he and Passkey, ex Scott Wilk and all his other screen names are a scourge to this town.

Lies? Really? I called Petrossino in Texas while he was earning his 6 figure income as a part-timer in Hoboken, and not once, but numerous times. Call him, he will answer his phone (in Texas). How do you explain his no-show job while getting paid a hefty income from Hoboken schools? I only have two words for it: legalized theft.

Petro/ Passkey's "real" job 2008-9:
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
Walter G. Bumphus, Chair
SZB 348, D5400, 471-7545
URL: http://edadmin.edb.utexas.edu/

http://registrar.utexas.edu/docs/cs/089/ut.cs.08fall.all.pdf
EDC 385G ADV QL RSCH: NARR/ORAL TRADITS
COURSE NUMBER MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT WHEN THE TOPICS VARY. CLASS MEETS AUGUST 29-30, SEPTEMBER 19-20, OCTOBER 17-18, NOVEM-BER 14-15, AND DECEMBER 5-6.
• 09605 F 400 - 700P SZB 316 PETROSINO, A S 900 - 300P SZB 316

spring 09
http://registrar.utexas.edu/docs/cs/092/ut.cs.09spr.all.pdf
UTS 360 PROJECT-BASED INSTRUCTION fee: $126.69
RESTRICTED ENROLLMENT; CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT FOR PERMISSION
TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS. EDC 371 (TOPIC 22) AND UTS 360 MAY NOT
BOTH BE COUNTED. PREREQUISITE: A UT GPA OF AT LEAST 2.5, AND EDC
365D OR UTS 355 WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C. ADDITIONAL FIELDWORK
HOURS TO BE ARRANGED. SAME AS EDC 365E.
• 59485 MWF 1000 - 1100 PAI 4.08 PETROSINO, A
• 59490 MWF 100 - 200P PAI 4.08
UTS 170 STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR fee: $
This is what Frank Raia gives you. A bloated patronage ridden system. The children and parents at Hola deserve better. Someone better be keeping an eye on him.

Has anyone seen the article in www.Hobokenhorse.com? Check it out.

My problem is not with Hola. I wish them success. my problem is with Pupie and the tax payer scam and the patronage. I'm sorry, but the truth hurts.

Scott Siegel said: "Yes he (Petrosino) was flown back to Texas on the taxpayer dime."

-This is just one in a series of deliberate lies. Have you ANY proof of this assertion? A receipt? An approved travel request?

It looks like enough questions have been raised that a closer look at what is happening at HOLA is warranted by people outside their inner circle.

“[The parents] just want to say and make it known that we respect the boards decision,” said Alexandra Black. “We came to this school because of who is on the board. I trust them and whatever they are doing they are doing in the best interest of the children.”

Lets be honest. Everyone that came to this school and any other charter school in Hoboken is because they applied for all the charter schools and got picked for one. Yes I think Hola is a good idea, yes Elysian is good, and yes Hoboken Charter is good. Plain simple, most people want to get into these chater schools because most of the public schools are a joke. It is so sad that the Hoboken HS is a dump (yes it is getting better) but with the taxes we all pay it should be a school that kids/parents want to get into.

Your website says you are an "Asst Professor", not Department of Curriculum and Instruction:
Dr. Anthony J. Petrosino
Assistant Professor
Mathematics and Science Education
office: 512-232-9681
fax: 512-471-8460
Sanchez Building Room 462-A
1912 Speedway
Austin, TX 78712
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/
ajpetrosino@mail.utexas.edu

Passkey: thanx for the update on your job. I stand corrected.

Dr Petro

Please stop peeing on our collective legs in Hoboken and tell us that it is raining. You cannot work two jobs , full time, in two different states as far apart as NJ and Texas and give either job its full attention. You took enough of our tax money, please just go away. Your post was insulting and your continued interference in the Hoboken educational system through HOLA is a direct slap in the face of the taxpayers. You really are not what one thinks of when educational role model comes to mind.

passkey=Dr. Anthony J. Petrosino?

I sincerely hope it wasnt a decision made to keep some parents happy or for any other reason. I hope and pray the reason is justified and would love to know the truth. I still believe in the school, but a little less now without Maria there. I hope im wrong

I am maybe slightly curious about the adminstrator being let go. They receive their money and they administer their school. but, it is a good amount of public tax money, so I am more curious about the comments about contracts and construction. any word on that?

Can someone please give me Scott Siegel's resume.
I am so sick and tired of reading his comments, rambling investigations and just general negative attacks. I am assuming he has no certifications or that he even works in a responsible job. Week after week he writes as though he has some authority over the dealings at the city, board of ed, hospital, police and now charter schools.
He is a nobody with too much time on his hands.
I wish we could give him some responsibility and see how he does, it's not that easy as he'll find out.

Somone needs to contact Fox 5. Mr. Arnold Diaz. They love this stuff.
They are trying to blow the parking scandal out of the water so they would love to come back for something like this.

as public funded school are they under same regs as other public schools? for contracts?

Did you know that Baldur von Schirach, commander of Hitler youth, was hired to fly between schools in Berlin and Munich on a bi-weekly basis to oversee the complete suppression of Jewish contributions to math/science curriculums?
There! Godwins law. We all lose. I’ve never seen a comment thread run so far on pure speculation. People are passionate about their children and often this passion can impair our sense of respect for institutions and their policies/procedures. Its easy to forget we create those controls ourselves, to ensure decision makers can act without encumbrance and accomplish what we have entrusted them to.

looks like now yuppies wants kids bilinguals and they are not prepared for a mixed classroom population, segregation and racism the yuppies wants to run the scool now

thanks yuppie for the tip you are so nice. thats why hola is in trouble in first place.

Now the school is run by a board without the qualifications to run a language school, or is even bilingual. And Hello parents kids are suferring this poison enviroment.

Hum long wait list by any chance that means to get rid of some kids????? Maybe those who really has bilingual background and poor social enviroment ?????? And confused is this a public school????

Hope all ends up nicely like u said for the kids the most they are our future :-)

HR--in case it's not clear to you...when college professors talk about their grant money, that is money they are awarded to sustain some kind of research project. To say Petrossino has three jobs because he earned an NSF grant is incorrect. The NSF grant helps fund the research at UT. When I was in grad school, there was a professor on our faculty who worked two jobs: he taught at Harvard 2.5 days a week and then returned to the school I attended to do his other full time job. Many people in the US work more than one job...just because Petrosino's work is white collar doesn't set him to a different standard than blue-collar work. The higher ed world affords tremendous flexibility to its full-time employees and if you live under the impression that higher ed is run like high schools, then talk to people who work in higher ed. The variety of job descriptions is great and there is much more to their work than classroom instruction. Advising PhD candidates, supervising graduate students in their research, running personal research projects and various university committee work is part of the job. You don't need to be on campus to do all this work, you might be working on weekends or in the evenings on such things. The comments here about higher ed work life are full of misconceptions.

Seems Petrocino is reading this thread. Maybe he elp can clear up questions regarding Hola Board members administering the school and the contracts and loan questions? All those things come before the Hola Board members.

no comments regarding the contracts or loans? Are the agendas and minutes online? As a public school, I would think those things would be online. Any one have link?

Councilman Occhipinti was put on the Boys & Girls Club to give him some cred when Mason, Russo and Raia ran and paid for his campaign as their additional vote on the City Council.

Now he remains mute on the whole Hola mess. I guess he understands his position.

GOT TRANSPARENCY ?

I find it absolutely shocking that there are those of you who actually think Maria's leave came out of the blue. Really? You think the Board of a new, somewhat controversial school, really wants this kind of heat? You think Jen Sargent who has worked tirelessly for 5 years to get this school going, WANTS all the accusations of cronyism, etc. that are being thrown at her? Seriously now. Have none of you ever worked anywhere? Of course there was a file on Maria. She's been aware since last April that she needed to do better. I'm a parent at Hola and I liked Maria personally and initially found her quite attentive, but as the year went on, she became less and less available and this year she had checked out. I grieve for the teachers. It stinks to lose a boss, especially one you really liked, but we've all been there. It happens, and rarely do the worker bees ever know why. I'm so glad that she was a good boss for them, but she was not a good administrator for the school. She dismissed concerns about security, repeatedly. She answered emails10 days late or had them written by her favorite teachers. She didn't return phone calls. She didn't show up to the science fair or the school's Halloween Party or Board meetings. If you cared about your job, wouldn't you do everything you could to save it? (continued)

She didn't produce a curriculum until this year & that was written by the teachers more than anyone. We have a great teaching staff (Maria's good at hiring!) who have guided and instructed our children phenomenally. My child is bilingual after one year of school, and is reading fluently, loves math and science and has many friends. I love Hola. I didn't expect it to be perfect. David, the business administrator from last year left for a job that was more in his field. The nurse was replaced, because she didn't show up to work. In what world do you people live that you have guaranteed jobs for life regardless of performance? We retained all but one teacher from last year. Of course there are parents who over-step. That's true everywhere. Are we an active community and sometimes a little over-zealous? Probably, but that's a product of being at a school that needs money, nourishes volunteerism, and wants a strong community. We are not all yuppies. In fact, the school is more diverse this year than it was last year. The BNRs want to tear down everything. They hated Jack, but he's the only person that ever brought real change to Hoboken schools. The hate Hola, because it's new and different. It's all so provincial and sad. I know there is a lot of history around Frank and all sorts of insider mumbo jumbo that goes along with everything in Hoboken, but none of that has anything to do with what is actually going on inside the walls of Hola.

I'm not saying my view should be taken over the teachers, I'm saying that in situations like this, there are various things to be considered and I'm saying that she wasn't dismissed out of the blue. Do you think it would have been appropriate to keep Maria in charge, just b/c the teachers liked her? I've liked bosses before that were fired. The teachers know different things than the parents, b/c they have a different relationship with the school than the parents. It could be argued that the teachers should have been kept more in the loop, but is that respectful of Maria's privacy or HR standards? Have you known in the past all the ups and down of your boss' tenure? I didn't mean worker bees to be disparaging. The teachers are the heart and soul of our school, but it still needs to be run properly. They have recently hired a wonderful interim director named Elizabeth Willaum, so your concerns about Jen overstepping can be alleviated now. I don't know if she should have been on the premises in the manner that she was for the two weeks the school was without a director. Who else should the email about firing and hiring come from? She's the founder of the school. How did Elysian and Hoboken Charter handle it? She was trying to ease the transition for parents, students and teachers. I can't fault her for that. I assume that with a new school mistakes are going to be made. No one is trying to break laws. Why such vitriol?

I can't speak to the contract issue, b/c I know nothing about it. The Board meetings are open to the community. You are welcome to go and air all of your concerns.

This whole thread is extremely vitriolic and much of it written by people who know little of what they speak. I wasn't referring specifically to you.