Last week the Revere School Committee opted at this time not to reverse disciplinary actions taken by Revere School Superintendent Dianne Kelly against Whelan School teachers for allegedly incorrectly administering the federal school breakfast program.
The School Committee previously held an executive session hearing earlier this month where the Whelan School teachers and the Revere Teachers Association (RTA) made their case on why the committee should reduce the severity of the discipline for all the teachers that filed grievances.
However, the issue is still ongoing and some hope a resolution that works for all parties can be reached in the near future.
The only School Committee member to release a statement after last week’s meeting was Anthony D’Ambrosio.
“I have been asked by the media, parents, and friends about my view on the Whelan School Teacher dispute that has boiled over into the press,†said D’Ambrosio in his statement. “While I believe that the Superintendent of Schools has a fantastic vision for the Revere Public School System, and I am broadly supportive of many of her policy goals and initiatives, I stand with the working teachers of Revere on the Whelan School issue. Over the course of the past several months, the issue of teacher morale in our schools has been particularly acute. Dozens of parents and teachers have raised their concern to me. As a School Department, we need to do a better job communicating with each other, mediating our differences, and working together for the betterment of the children of Revere.â€
D’Ambrosio said while he believes that the organized dismissal of school policy regarding the breakfast count was misguided, he also believes that the disciplinary action taken by Superintendent Kelly was far too harsh.
“The best path forward for our system requires collaboration, compromise, and enhanced morale,†he said. “In an effort to foster better morale and future collaboration, I side with the teachers of Revere on this matter.â€
