Uncommon Tolerance: Déjà vu and The Everett School Committee

The School Committee has shown uncommon tolerance for scandal when it comes to Superintendent of Schools Frederick F. Forestiere. The Superintendent has enjoyed unparalleled loyalty, despite scandal, beginning in 1992, and many are asking, “What’s it going to take” to get the School Committee to act responsibly and appropriately in their management of the Superintendent’s employment and legal challenges?

From the State Ethics Web Site:

In the Matters of John Shay and Frederick Foresteire (July 7, 1992) The Ethics Commission fined Everett School Committee member John Shay and Everett School Superintendent Frederick Foresteire for violating the Massachusetts Conflict of Interest law when Foresteire arranged for a "free" paint job for Shay’s apartment done by a school department painter. In separate Disposition Agreements reached with the Ethics Commission, both Shay and Foresteire admitted that their actions violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict law, and agreed to pay the fines.

Imagine if the School Committee had taken appropriate action in 1992? Perhaps none of this would be happening now.

Today’s Boston Herald (Monday, November 15, 2004) reported yet another scandal at the troubled school administration office. Previously sealed court documents revealed that the Superintendent had work done on his home for free by a subcontractor for Everett Public Schools. Additionally, the Boston Herald also reported that this same subcontractor, Thomas Eldredge, now a government witness, delivered an air conditioner “to the superintendent’s back stairs.” It was also reported that Gino Grande, the superintendent’s former brother-in-law, told Mr. Eldredge of the bid-rigging arrangement. Mr. Grande is also reported to have told Mr. Eldredge that the superintendent was “connected” and that “no one could touch Foresteire because he has powerful friends.”

Déjà vu - it is.

The Superintendent continues to deny any wrongdoing and even made a statement at this evening’s School Committee meeting about the Herald story, claiming that the “the story is false. It is a lie.” The Superintendent went on to allege that Mayor Ragucci is responsible for planting a series of stories in the Herald, claiming that the Mayor’s upcoming re-election campaign will be a campaign against the School Department in an effort to deflect attention away from “the shortcomings of his administration.” Tonight’s statements by the Superintendent, however, could also be seen as a desperate attempt to divert attention away from himself and his ongoing legal troubles.

It remains to be seen how legitimate the charges against the Superintendent and his co-indicted associates turn out to be, and the legal supposition of innocent until proven guilty should certainly be applied to this as it would to any other case. That is not the question right now. The question is the affect that this cloud of suspicion has on the reputation of the school system and the City of Everett in general, not to mention the ability of Mr. Foresteire to conduct business for the school system while under such intense pressure and scrutiny. In speaking with two human resources professionals, the Mirror found them to be of one opinion – it would be in the best interest of the “company” – that is, the City of Everett – for Mr. Foresteire and Mrs. DeFeo to be placed on administrative leave until such time as their legal problems are resolved.

In other words -- it’s time for the School Committee to step up to the plate and do the right thing.