Rochester City School District "Leaders" Openly Exhibit Fascist Flirtations

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I am convinced that we have arrived at a low point in recent history of local politics --- in which the Rivera Administration and the Rochester Board of Education are openly exhibiting flirtations with fascism. Is it possible that their correspondence below is an indicator (trial balloon) relative to a future trend?

To The Rochester Community,

I thought you might be interested in knowing that, in my humble opinion, (as clearly indicated by the letter below, which was sent to me and reportedly at least several other taxpaying, Rochester citizens) --- the Rivera Administration of the Rochester City School District, and his mainly ignorant henchmen/women who have the unmitigated gall and audacity to refer to themselves as education leaders --- are openly flirting with and displaying unmistakably, fascist tendencies. I could be wrong. Please read and decide for yourself.

 

Rochester City School District                                                      March 7, 2005

Mr. Howard Eagle

94 Riverferry Way

Rochester, New York 14608

Dear Mr. Eagle:

On Monday, February 28, 2005, a special meeting of the Board of Education was called for the purpose of voting on resolutions involving the District's Managed Choice/Parent Preference Policy and recommendations to close schools and end certain building lease agreements. The Board, as always, affords members of the public the opportunity to speak at the beginning of the meeting (and in prior public hearings).

At this meeting, you and other citizens, parents and District staff left the seating area of the board room approaching the Board dais as a group, engaged in a pattern of shouting which prohibited debate and discussion for a period of time. The intent was clearly to prevent a vote upon the resolution and your refusal to comply with requests of the Board President to respect the rules of the Board, disrupted the meeting to such an extent that we were compelled to call law enforcement authorities for assistance in maintaining order. Such actions by individuals and groups are not only discourteous to the elected representatives, but disrespectful of the process of representative government; and in violation of two district policies of the Board. As a federal appeals court noted last year, the presiding officer of a public body cannot condone the effort of a speaker ".. .to try to hijack the proceedings, or to filibuster them..."

Under Policy 1520 [Public Conduct on School Property] adopted in 1998, ".. .Any action by an individual or group aimed at disrupting, interfering or delaying the educational process, or having such effect, is hereby declared to be in violation of Board policy." The District Code of Conduct, and particularly Section 5300.70 imposes upon all people on District property the duty to ".. .conduct themselves in a respectful and orderly manner. Just as parents, guardians and other visitors expect the administrators, teachers and staff to treat them with dignity and civility, those visitors are expected to extend the same courtesy and cooperation to the District's employees..."


131 West Broad Street • Rochester, New York 14614 • (585) 262-8525 • Fax: (585) 262-8381


 

 

The Code of Conduct expressly prohibits disruption of meetings or other District activities; willful inciting of others to commit acts prohibited by the Code; or language which is abusive or uncivil. The Code expressly prohibits any person from engaging in behavior .. .which violates District rules, particularly with regard to the limited public forum made available by the Board..."

This letter constitutes formal notification pursuant to Board of Education Policy that if conduct which has the intent or effect of disrupting the proceedings of the Board is repeated, we reserve the right to have the individual removed from the building; to restrict or eliminate any individual's privilege of addressing the Board at meetings; and/or to limit an individual's access to District property for a time and in a manner appropriate to the disruptive or uncivil conduct displayed.

Some of the recipients of this letter are also District employees. City School District employees, like any other parent or citizen, have a right to speak at public hearings and Board meetings in accordance with the established procedures. However, City School District employees may be disciplined if they violate these policies.

Accordingly, any future violation of Board Policy and Regulations governing Public Conduct on School Property by a District employee will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal, as provided by established policy.

We ask for all staff and citizens to model important values for our students at all times and to comply with established procedures that enable the Board to conduct important business in an orderly way.

 

Sincerely, 

Darryl W. Porter

President

Rochester Board of Education

                                                                                     Manuel J.Rivera

                                                                                     Superintendent

                                                                                    Rochester City School District

xc: Members of the Board

 
 
March 8, 2005
 
 
Mr. Darryl Porter
Mr. Manuel Rivera
131 West Broad Street
Rochester, New York 14614
 
 
On Tuesday, March 8, 2005, I received your confused, ludicrous, desperate, threatening letter dated March 7, 2005, which I plan to share with the entire Community.  Your letter confirms and reinforces every, single point contained in my correspondence sent to "Parents, Authentic Community, Education Leaders And Activists" (see copy below), which preceded your above referenced ludicrous letter of March 7th.
 
I would like to reiterate that some years ago, a group of thuggish RCSD officials conspired to violate my Civil and Human Rights, and got away with it. Never, Never, Never Again!!!
 
I will provide you with a specific and thorough response to your malicious, ludicrous letter as soon as time permits.
 
 
Sincerely,
Howard J. Eagle
FEARLESS BLACK MAN
PARENT                                                                                  
CITIZEN                                                                               
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST                                                             
POLITICAL ORGANIZER
EDUCATOR
 
xc: The Community  
 
[City Students Must Find New Schools]
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation…want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters…. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." 
 
Frederick Douglass, 1857
 
  
Dear Parents, Authentic Community, Education Leaders And Activists:
 
Our Action at the February 28th so-called "special" Board of Education meeting was a decisive victory in the sense that we sent a clear message to those in Rochester who are supposedly responsible for ensuring that all of our children have equal access to a sound, basic education, i.e. Rochester's seven, so-called Education Commissioners and the highly-paid Superintendent of Schools. Perhaps we sent more than one clear message, but one that was crystal clear is that we are serious, and not fearful or "slavish" in our demand to participate as equal partners in educational decisions that impact our children's lives. Because of our strong commitment and decisive, just, civil disobedience --- we caused a situation that no governmental official ever wants to face, i.e. they lost control of their own meeting (a so-called "special" one at that). We absolutely destroyed their arrogant plan to conduct business as usual. Not only did we force them to deviate from their normal operating procedures, but also influenced dialogue regarding information that they probably would not have mentioned under normal (business as usual) circumstances. In at least two cases, we even caused them to reveal confusion and disorientation relative to their official roles and responsibilities --- not to mention that at least five (5) cops who should have been on the dangerous, violent streets of Rochester fighting real crime --- were instead dispatched to 131 W. Broad Street in an effort to suppress our just demands. See elaboration below.
 
 
Deviation from normal operating procedures: 
It is thoroughly disrespectful, and in fact unbelievable that the Board embraces a philosophy relative to its operating procedures that allows members to routinely vote on decisions without informing the public of matters that are being voted on. In my view,  as citizens and taxpayers, we would be abdicating an important part of our duties and responsibilities if we continue to allow such practices to go unchallenged. On the 28th, we set a concrete example of what needs to occur every time that disrespectful gang-of-seven attempts to shove something down our collective throats.That is, we made them read the entire resolution regarding the closing of school 37. 
 
 
Unexpected dialogue concerning issues that were not on the Board's Agenda, or had absolutely nothing to do with their Agenda:
Out of the clear, blue sky, one Board member started rambling about the fact that in the past, there was a citywide, District-parent organization, and that there have been discussions about reestablishing such an entity. This is a very important issue, but why was it suddenly raised on the 28th? It certainly was not part of the bogus, three-item agenda. You can be absolutely certain about the fact that it was raised, but thoroughly failed, in a desperate attempt to help quell our just demands. The fact that Dr. Manuel Rivera has been Superintendent (the second time around) for two or three years, and has not addressed this critical issue, makes it abundantly clear that apparently, he does not see it as a priority, and nor do the gang-of-seven. 
 
In an attempt to drive a wedge between those of us who demonstrated extraordinary unity on the 28th --- another Board member, whom I have heard many people refer to as being racist, attempted the absolute, oldest, most ancient trick in the book. Namely, he tried the old, weak, tired divide and conquer tactic by making a "grand" announcement that he had had private discussions with one of the people who helped lead our February 28th actions, and that he had decided to endorse the individual as a 2005 School Board candidate. So what!!! This "grand" announcement stuck out in the discussion like ten(10) sore thumbs.
 
 
Desperation, confusion and disorientation regarding official roles and responsibilities:
At one point, apparently the superintendent became confused about the nature of the so-called "special" Board meeting. Apparently, he thought that it was the type of function in which he had authority over RCSD employees as it relates to Civil and Human Rights. He attempted (unsuccessfully) to order me, and I assume other RCSD employees and protesters --- to "return to [our] seats." I had to remind him that  we were not at the Board meeting in the capacity of "damn RCSD employees," but rather as parents and taxpaying citizens (just like him). And yes, I did dare him to attempt to discipline me --- so that I can sue him and the District --- as I should have done years ago when a group of thuggish RCSD officials conspired to violate my Civil and Human rights, and got away with it. Never again! By the way, I have heard that Dr. Rivera has children, and that they don't live in the Rochester Community --- much less attend Rochester schools. If this is true --- what's up with that? It was also during this portion of the meeting when another Board member attempted admonishment by declaring" "discipline yourself." That particular Board member does not have the ethical or moral or any other kind of authority to legitimately admonish anybody! In fact, I have heard many, especially within the African American Community, refer to him as a "sellout."
 
Another Board member (who is in my opinion among the most vicious, arrogant, and ignorant regarding the art and science of teaching and learning) became visibly confused about his role as one of the gang-of-seven. After the gang ran out of the room and called the police, when they returned, the gang's president was attempting to have a discussion with angry protesters. It was at this point that the vicious, arrogant, ignorant gang-member referenced above grabbed the president's gavel; started banging it, and declared that "in the absence of the president, I am reconvening this meeting" (even though the president was standing two or three feet away from the gavel-banging, confused, arrogant ignorant gang-member). After this disgraceful display of unprofessional, ignorance, the president returned to his seat and officially reconvened the meeting. 
 
 
Other interesting and telling points:
Prior to casting her vote against the so-called Managed-Choice, student placement policy, one Board member made a public statement that there were those who suggested that in the process of making their decision about the policy --- the Board should "only listen to those who vote." This is a very serious and bold statement, especially where significantly large portions of the African American and Latino Communities (who do not vote) are concerned. It's also scandalous in the sense that Board members are charged with the duty and responsibility of working in the best interests of all children (whether their parents vote or not). In my view, it is important for us to attempt to find out for certain who made this suggestion. If it is a matter of public record --- we ought to find it and report it to the Community. Some have said that they suspect that the statement was made/supported by the gavel-banger referenced above and perhaps others.
 
It was very telling, and quite frankly, warmed my heart when another Board member was shut down completely as she attempted to provide a rationale regarding her "yes" vote to close School 37. People simply refused to listen and drowned her out with shouting to the point that she had to close her mouth. The reason that this was so heart-warming is because (for years) this particular Board member has been spewing long, rambling, nonsensical theories and so-called explanations regarding critical educational issues. It is becoming clear that parents, authentic leaders and activist are no longer willing to listen to such nonsense. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one who had noticed that most of the time the rambling Board member speaks as if she is living in a totally different reality than that of the vast majority of our students and parents. Now I know for sure that I am not alone in my observations relative to the rambler.
 
    
What to expect:
Some of you will receive (if you haven't already) calls to meet with District officials privately or in little, exclusive groups. Again, I can only advise you that this is the oldest, most tired, ancient strategy in the book. It is known simply as divide and conquer. I hope that none of you will fall victim. Instead, I hope that we will maintain our resolve to stay united in our demand that all of us be respected as equal partners relative to input into the decisions (not only as it relates to school closings, but in all matters) that impact our children's education and lives.
 
Lastly, as for those of you who claimed you were with us in our decision to take action on the 28th, but weren't really with us, in my view, we are living in a very critical historical period relative to taking decisive actions to ensure that our children won't have to ask in 2045 (as we are or should be asking in 2005): Why are we reliving issues of 1965? I believe (as did Malcolm X and many other authentic leaders ) that it is time to step forward, or get back in a corner and be quiet. Talk is cheaper than ever before.
 
Sincerely,
 
Your Brother
In Struggle                      
 
Howard J. Eagle
 
Click on the link below to view a video clip of our actions on February 28th:
 
Education