BRUNSWICK, Maine — Superintendent of Schools Paul Perzanoski issued a public apology Tuesday for using his welcome letter to staff as the medium to criticize Gov. Paul LePage’s education policy.
But he also said he stands by his opinion.
“I will sincerely apologize for using the ‘Back to School’ format, to the Brunswick community and the governor, yet I will continue to stand behind the message of my letter and interview,” Perzanoski said in a prepared statement.
School Board Chairman James Grant said that while it’s not clear whether the board will discuss the superintendent’s letter at its Sept. 12 meeting, the School Department’s law firm found that Perzanoski didn’t violate any school policies.
“There’s been no policy violation as we can determine,” Grant said, referring to the findings by Drummond Woodsum, the law firm that represents the department.
Corinne Perreault, vice chairwoman of the board, said she doesn’t know how the board will address the issue, or if it will, until she and Grant create the meeting’s agenda next Wednesday with Perzanoski.
“I will certainly listen to what they have to say,” Perzanoski said Wednesday.
The superintendent’s welcome letter, which was sent to School Department staff on Aug. 17, created controversy because of the tone used to criticize LePage’s education policy.
“Our illustrious Governor has been in the news again, singing the praises of public education,” Perzanoski wrote sarcastically. “The legislators passed new laws on bullying this spring but they failed to include the Blaine House. Remediation is on the governor’s mind and I agree, he needs remediation in civility, public speaking, telling the truth, diplomacy and following the law. I think we should challenge him to take the SAT and then make the results public.”
Perzanoski’s letter criticized the governor’s efforts to allow public funding of private and religious schools — an effort that most recently failed in the Legislature. But the superintendent also offered a deal to “equal the playing field.”
“It may be time to stop fighting and give them what they want under the following conditions: every school must hire certified, high quality teachers; every school must accept all students who register; every student must be part of the statewide assessment; every school must follow state and federal mandates,” Perzanoski wrote.
Adrienne Bennett, the governor’s spokeswoman, called Perzanoski’s comments “wildly inappropriate” and “defamatory.”
“A welcome back to school letter to employees should focus on what’s best for students and teachers, and how to provide a quality education,” Bennett said in a press release. “Instead, this superintendent decided that taxpayer dollars were best used to personally attack the Governor.”
Perzanoski on Wednesday said the letter didn’t “happen in a vacuum,” adding that he received support from educators who are facing similar problems in other states.
Earlier in February, the Department of Education announced Brunswick would receive $1.2 million less for its annual state education subsidy than last year — a reduction that was, in part, caused by declining enrollment due to the closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station.
The superintendent said the state and federal governments haven’t followed through with promises they made to public schools.
For example, Perzanoski said, when the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed in 1975, Congress “promised to pay” for 40 percent of the costs associated with students who have disabilities. But the federal government has never paid close to what it originally promised, he said.
“I just want them to fulfill their promises,” Perzanoski said.
At least two School board members agreed with the substance of the superintendent’s letter.
“I think it was about time that an educator spoke out against the unwarranted abuse the governor has heaped on Maine’s educational system,” Michelle Small, a board member at large, wrote in an email. “Because socioeconomic status is the greatest determinant of success in school, I think that the best thing the governor could do for the schools is to bring a halt to his war on the poor.”
Brenda Clough, a school board representative from the town’s 2nd District, said Perzanoski’s letter was not political and instead focused on the reality of the state education system.
“The purpose of the letter was to be a welcome back to school letter. He wasn’t making any political statements. He was stating the reality: here’s what’s happening at the state level,” Clough said.
Matt Corey, who represents the 3rd District on the board, said that while he understands Perzanoski’s frustration with LePage, “the tone and tenor could have been better.”
However, Corey said, there are more important things for the School Department to do.
“The reality is we have a lot of bigger issues to face in Brunswick,” he said.
For instance, plans for major renovations at Coffin School and Brunswick Junior High School will go to referendum next year, and the elementary schools will use a new math program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Despite the reaction to his statement last week, Perzanoski said he hopes his letter will have some positive consequences for the schools.
“No one likes to live with this much attention, but sometimes it’s necessary for a short amount of time,” the superintendent said. “I’m not going to lose my voice for public education and the people that work for it.”
Just a typical, leftist educational system hack. Yawn.
Glad I got out before the the profession got totally corrupted.
He spoke the truth! Perhaps he should have thought about what he was to say, BUT that should also go for our governor. This governor never misses a chance to attack teachers and the educational system in this state. If freedom of speech is still allowed only on one side, then we’re all in trouble.
You , sir, don’t know what this man’s politics are. He may even be a republican that is defending his occupation.
yues, so true….when an educational system spends 1.9 BILLION dollars of Maines hard earned tax dollars and they get an 80% graduation rate or 49% of those who DID NOT go onto college are unemployed….yes, the superintendent is right to defend his teachers…..meanwhile maine taxpayers get hosed with nothing to show for it…but an angry bitter substitute quality teacher who somehow made it to superintendent….
I’m glad you got out, too.
Keep editing.
The fact that he was comfortable as a school superintendent writing and sending out a letter like this shows how far our educational system has sunk, he should reimburse the state/city for the cost of the printing.
Brenda Clough, a school board representative from the town’s 2nd District, said Perzanoski’s letter was not political and instead focused on the reality of the state education system.
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How are these charges, in Mr. Perzanoski’s position as Superintendent, just a focus on the reality of the state education system? “Remediation is on the governor’s mind and I agree, he needs remediation in civility, public speaking, telling the truth, diplomacy and following the law. I think we should challenge him to take the SAT and then make the results public.”
The Superintendent was brash in his allegations that the Governor is uncivilized, has clumsy public speaking skills, is a liar, and a lawbreaker. I’m still trying to figure how the Governor broke the law. These charges are personal attacks on Governor Lepage’s personhood. The Superintendent resorted to a mockery of the Governor’s intelligence when he challenged him to an SAT test and be forced to reveal the results publicly.
This Brunswick school board (2 years ago) stripped the Chair of his position because he wrote an inappropriate remark in an e-mail to the Speaker of the House while, he too was representing himself as the Chairman of the Brunswick School Board. They did this stripping at a public school board meeting, without warning to this Chairman and was described as ambushing him publicly.
What are the chances these school board members will express concern over Superintendent Perzanoski’s leadership ability in light of his personal and disparaging remarks to Governor LePage, which he intentionally chose to include in his welcome back letter to staff. (And still stands by his personal attack on Paul LePage !)
Ok lets reverse it your boss belittles an the workers were you work including you how would you feel, knowing you an the other were doing there very best with what you have to work with ?
Does anybody see the Governor’s point after reading wollydevil’s comment?
um…”they” (maine teachers) and this baby of a superintendent..have 1.9 BILLION dollars of our taxpayer money…..”best with what you have to work with”?…..that kind of investment and Maine gets an 80% graduation rate….
Still can’t see the problem?…sorry, LePage can be more polite to a complete mindless incompetent supt who is hell bent on status quo…..i.e….things staying the same…. in case you didn’t know….
Totally inappropriate to air his personal views in a letter to those who report to him. He’s using his position to influence those who work for him – isn’t that a form of bullying? Suspend him without pay for a month of two – maybe he’ll learn to do his job instead of spending the district’s money politicing.
Plutocracy does not permit servants to rebuke their master.
For the master to bully, it is merely an exercise of his autocratic authority and should never be questioned. Tea Party standard bearer Le Page could threaten to cut off school funding again.
How quiet the critics lay, whilst their master has his say. But should others show their scorn, they’ll live to regret the day they were born.
LMAO, I too would like to see the results of Paul Le Page’s SAT tests. Of course they should be taken in his native language, French Talibanese.
You do realize you have revealed your bigotry toward French people. Perhaps you might consider reviewing the results of an SAT that you would take.
They wouldn’t be SAT’s in Le Grenouille’s case. They’d be ECS’s or Examens de Capacité Scolaire. Either way, I’m not sure he’d do too well. Je cherche encore son certificat de naissance.
State governors do not need to be natural- born citizens.
No, but they do need to be citizens. Not sure if Le Gouverneur passes the sniff test on that one.
LOL…in other words, you are requesting Paul LePage show you a “State ID?” I’ll go along with that…….
A lot of what he’s doing with respect to Quebec speaks to a deep-seated resentment and hostility to the English-speaking world. He wants reparations from when the French were routed by the British on this continent in 1763. Each subsequent French military defeat and humiliation since then has added insult to injury for him. Le Page is just expressing that ancient tribal anger against the citizens of Maine, which he was taught as a child to regard as La Nouvelle France. LePage needs to get over it and learn to “parle blanc” like the rest of us.
You tea-bag twits don’t like it much when the shoe is on the other foot, do you?
I didn’t know reparations are on Paul Lepage’s agenda. That’s a new one for me. But now that you’ve brought it up, you do realize reparations is a major goal for Barack Obama. That’s the one and only reason Barack Obama refuses to enforce Federal laws along our southern border as well as hog-tying the hands of the border patrols and the law to enforce the laws already on the books concerning illegals pouring into our S. Western states. Let them pour in across our borders and be free of any legal consequences from their actions! Obama believes the Mexicans should be handed over the territories won by America in the Mexican/American War.
Obama is of the persuasion that the “white man” stole everything from their previous owners, along with large tracts of land in our wars. He and AG Holder (and Napolitano) are all of one mind to make the descendents of those evil white people pay for the sins of their ancestors. In the self-righteous and smug minds of Obama and his ilk, the time has come for us “white people” to pay for our history of conquering Native Americans, the scourge of slavery and wresting land from Mexico. Barack Obama believes himself to be “the chosen man” to get it done. That’s just one reason why Eric Holder refuses to prosecute “his people” for crimes they commit.
As far as a shoe on the other foot, there is nothing about that remark that applies here.
Here we go – the wingnut left have become birthers…
If Perzanoski stands behind his vitrol and personal attack on Governor LePage in his welcome back letter, his apology is out of place. No apology necessary.
In the provincial conclave of Brunswick and its school board, I can now assume the illustrious Perzanoski has now catapulted himself to Icon status. Perhaps the Board should seriously consider adding the Perzanoski technique of addressing a Governor you don’t like to the curriculum. They could add it to classes that teach “leadership.” The additional section would have the heading…Perzanoski Modus Operandi
If Baldacci had done this they would be praise him on high.
Baldacci’s educational reforms were bad. LePage’s educational iniatives are far worse.
So we should expect a less than 80% graduation rate at the end of his tenure?
My word.
Through education one should be more tolerant and respectful. We rightly promote non bullying policies and training for our educators to become a better citizentry.
I find it difficult to read this article. Sad for the Brunswick folks…
I agree with you on respectful. I thought the Superintendent’s comments about the SAT’s were beyond the pale. But it is hard to defend someone such as LePage who should also show some respect, not because of his degree(s), but because of the office he holds.
But I disagree that educated people should be more tolerant. At least in the context of this situation. That is like saying, they are educated so should be smart enough to just bend on over and take it, when things are being said about them, and their profession, some of which is false.
Its just amazing the gov. can talk bad about anything,call students slow,bully people,hold private meetings at brew pubs,hire relatives and a host of others and when someone speaks up about how it is.They are rabble rousers,malcontents and filling the people with lies.Unbeliveable
Fact: Governor LePage has mercilessly and recurrently attacked our school system and our teachers. To not expect our hard working and devoted public sector employees to fight back is counterintuitive.
Although I may disagree with the tone of Mr. Perzanoski’s letter, I have to accept that in todays political environment it is rather tame.
Take a look at the scores the kids are putting up on all these tests their taking each year. They not very good. If their notvery good, who do we blame? The students alone? I think not. Teachers have to be held accountable, Principles, Superintendents, and School Committees too. Cant just keep patting them on the back for a good job they are not doing.
Apparently you could use a grammar refresher – “their” is a possive pronoun someone has or owns something.”They’re” is the contraction of “they are” that you should be using.Go back to school and this time pay attention.
Well there you go. Its been happening longer than we realized. You must be a teacher who has the summer off to catch that one.
I’m not a teacher and I don’t have the summer off – but your grammar jumped right out. And not in a good way.
I think Engineers Point is…80% graduation rate is almost criminal, if not plain negligent…and 49% of those kids who do not graduate and are also NOT in the work force…. Clearly the last 15 years of some twisted wasteful, aimless spending priorities is not working…..
Just to clarify….you do know Maine spends $1.9…gulp…BILLION on its education…..average per pupil per year$9,600…now for comparision, say a private school..say Bangor Christian in Bangor…..yearly tuition..$4K….99% graduation rate, 95% go on to SOME form of post high school education..whether its a trade school, EMMC or Harvard…
THIS is why Maine wants school choice not to destroy some status quo of barely mediocrity…but to succeed or at least have a crack at it….
To add to that point alot of these folks were passed along in lower grades when some folks had failing grades. Because of teachers in most cases felt sorry for these kids due to them possibly being intimidated by parents. The public school system needs major competition from every option that is available. Most citizen’s shouldn’t have their kids bound to a failing district due to some districts not allowing choice etc.. That is what folks like this superintendent is worried about having a system like charter schools, religious schools, home schooling, private academies all provide a better education than what public school districts are giving Mainers as of now.
citizens, not citizen’s.
Hey look at teachers pay for Bangor High and look at the drop out rate for Bangor High . Then Dr. Webb makes a statement how important it is for theses kids to get and education. Funny all the fund risers for a $7 million dollar football field when schools with no football and lower teacher pay have much better graduation rates.
IT’S
You can add the incorrect use of principle/principal to the list of errors as well as notverygood and the unnecessary capitalization.
You may know how to spell . For us who can not it always amazes me that that great spellers can get a 4.0 in Calculus and need a calculator to know if an 8’by16′ buidling is bigger than a 12′ by 12′ . So funny when my dad spent 4 years in sixth grade reads at second grade level is smarter than some of the teachers lol. Some people know numbers but that is not rewarded as much by society.
What about the kids an parents being held accountable ?
If you read it one more time you will see that I did mention the students. And yes parents need to share the blame as well.
So do you blame your parents for your multiple grammatical errors in your one comment up there?
Or are you just blaming the teachers? Or do you take the majority of that blame; and if you do take that blame, would it have helped if the teachers were better, or if you were a better student?
It was a great letter. The man spoke the truth!
The Supt. was perfectly justified in expressing his dismay at Gov. LePage’s relentless attack on public education, on teachers, and on allegedly inferior Maine public school graduates. This has nothing to do with the man’s alleged “leftist” views and everything to do with a Governor who bullies, distorts, and embarrasses his fellow Mainers save for the minority who relish such rhetorical excesses. Like NJ Gov. Christie two nights ago, Gov. LePage fully enjoys the perks of his office but has contempt for ordinary public employees.
Professionally, his political views had no business being in a letter to open the school year. He crossed a line. One needs to question his mental stability to make such a move.
In a world where compromise and decent debate have been utterly rejected by a virulent and bullying GOP, Perzanoski is a brave man.
Typical left wing rhetoric
yours is a typical right wing reply——–
Thank you.
Apology?
Yeah. Right. Like anyone from the Left could be contrite.
0909
Not using taxpayers money and time doing so. It’s a violation of people’s trust, tax dollars and the office this person holds. If this gentleman wants to be a liberal activist he can go protest and hold a rally doing so on his personal time and money like anyone else does.
LePage sucks.
The Supt. spoke his mind. He clearly shined in his rude and negative remarks about our Governor. The Supt. was exercising his right to speak. In doing so, he was plain rude. Typical liberal.
Well, I’ll be damned. Rude talk is a liberal thing? Guess LePage needs to turn in his Conservative/Tea-Party card, huh?
That is your opinion and I have my opinion.
Sure, but you aren’t allowed your own facts.
Rudeness isn’t a partisan trait.
Rudeness is a favorite trait with the parties. Liberals are famous for rude remarks. It is a wee bit obvious that many in Maine do not like our governor as so many comments here and in the News, indicate.
Again, you aren’t allowed your own facts. You can pretend that only Liberals are “famous” for being rude, but that isn’t factual. But you aren’t about facts, now, are you?
As for “many” not liking the Gov, he kind of brings that on himself, now, doesn’t he?
As for “many” not liking the Gov, he kind of brings that on himself, now, doesn’t he?
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It all depends on which side of the gravy train you are on? If you’re a passenger on the gravy train, then LePage is your worst enemy. If you’re a member of the working class and paying for all the “tickets to ride” on that gravy train, Paul LePage is singing their song.
I have been working and paying my fair share of taxes for over 25 years with no time between jobs, and as far as I am concerned LePage can’t even carry a tune.
But thanks for the over generalization.
Only in your view about the gov. not being liked. Most everyone I know believes he is doing a great job and does like him. Facts can speak for themselves. It hurts when cutbacks are made and cutbacks have been needed and everyone was told that it would happen. This is true in every state in this country. After listening to Rachel Maddow and Rev. Al last night and today hearing the Ed Schultz remarks, glad I had my hip boots on and sorry I forgot the puke bag. Rude was clearly the theme.
And the governor is not rude!!!!!! In this state, it is the Republican governor who has set the standard in rudeness and Perzanoski does not even hold a candle to LePage in this category.
Too little too late Super P. You set a great example for all the students under your guidance. Maybe they will rant in letters to their teachers. Classless (so to speaak).
Lepage is a vile and discusting man who thretens to harm Maine children and the elderly. Anyone who still defends Lepage after all his sadistic acts should be ashamed.
Looks like he got leaned on and threatened,maybe loss of funding.Hardly a surprise from this administration. He was right all along.
What an absolutely idiotic statement.
Lepage is an idiot…………..I don’t think anyone should have to apologize for stating the obvious…DUH.
Your comment is so substantive and profound. You’re a genius and possess a very fiery intellect.
Polish putz-
I hope this leader of educators exhibits a little more discretion in the future.
We have come to expect:
* In your face truth telling from our governor,
*Stupid statements from our VP,
*Lack of economics from our Congressional leaders,
But when a “Superintendent of Schools” injects his own political comments into a professional letter- well then, you might want to start asking what is being taught to our children.
.
Mainers should applaud this superintendent for stating his case, and then standing firmly behind what he said.
Adrienne Bennett’s usual antidote, or mosquito swatting for bad quotes by Le Page, failed to measure up on this. Her boss has, since taking the oath uttered outrageous and ridiculous accusations. Her apologies and his mumbled incoherent couldn’t care less attitude calls for more action from everyone.
We should all send e-mails to Le Page the feudal lord, and let him know we support Paul the superintendent.
Pile ’em on his desk while he vacations in Florida. Maine holds little or no attraction for him. He’s just playing guv for the Koch Tea Party.
I don’t applaud what he did I think this man what he did was inexcusable. He is being a liberal activist on our tax dollars and to send out letters attacking the Governor because he doesn’t like his agenda. This gentleman like all big spending liberals need to realize that Maine Government and the taxpayers are no longer going to spend money on a failed education system.
If liberals don’t think so then they need to take a good look at all of the towns & districts that are voting down their school budgets. They are rejecting huge tax increases for a system that doesn’t work. A system that is more concerned about blowing money on increased salaries, out of control sports programs, bureaucracy, giving jobs to friends of the board etc..
Mainers are starting to look at their wallets and their wallets are saying NO More.
Why even have a consolidation law if they aren’t going to even consolidate what is the point of the law. It’s just like 95% of the ” Liberal Laws” in Maine we pay for them and they don’t enforce them.
And of course LePage’s use of state funds, ie. taxpayer money, to publish his ego trip booklet about his “accomplishments” during his first 500 days in office is accceptable to you ultra-righties. Double standard much?
Hard to understand how you and others support Le Page and his intolerable and boring utterances, but firmly reject a citizen for speaking out against the man. Free speech for one – the Plutocrat. None for the Liberal – a servant.
With some revisions the education system can be righted. Le Page is a big spending tea party man. In line with the Koch mandate, schools should be controlled – Privatized. Public schools should be abolished. In accordance with the tea party ideology, all government should be privatized – imagine? Think about it? No elections needed. Just a corporate power.
Le Page quickly endorses $350,000 for a time worn study of a ridiculous and archaic East-West Highway, then threatens to close the schools. That is, unless the Legislature approves his chopping of the DHHS budget. His tax breaks for the rich are in line with the Koch policies for a Plutocracy, as adhered to by Romney and Ryan.
The system that you allege hands down jobs to friends of the board, avoids the Le Page nepotism of handing a $46,000 annual salaried job to his daughter, and yet another high salaried position to his brother in law.
The superintendent stood tall. Le Page doesn’t. On this, or any other of the myriad topics that a good governor would tackle sensibly. The super’ plans to supervise for a few more years. Le Page is only here to do the job Koch money paid for, and then return to Florida, where he belongs. He is not a republican. He is a tea party item. Bought and paid for by Koch brothers, who created the tea party.
I see why Mitt Romney says we are a divided nation. It seems people expect perfection out of our local, state and federal officials, especially if we don’t agree with their political idealogy. How is Paul Perzonski and Paul LePage that different? Do they always make the right judgement calls? Imperfect people who get upset once-in-awhile and commentors who are usually in a dither until the next imperfect person does the next imperfect thing and it goes on and on. Have a nice Labor Day Weekend folks!