I threw up in my mouth after reading this!

parking a perk? (0.00 / 0)

 Reserved parking for the School Committee, surely you jest madam.Leave early and get your own dam parking space. What a nerve.  

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by: brightonborn @ Sun May 31, 2009 at 14:32:43 PM CDT

Other Options . . . (0.00 / 0)

1- get someone to drop you off
2- park a distance away and walk over
3- ride a bike

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by: kei-o-lei @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 08:44:16 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I also could not believe what i read (0.00 / 0)

I was hoping that i read it incorrectly, that Margaret Connolly thought that she was more deserving of a parking spot than the graduating students, their parents,or elderly grandparents. I find it hard to believe that a High School graduation parking spot is the only perk that school committee gets???  Is she there as a parent of a student or as a dutiful school committee member? I actually would be embarrassed for her if she did make the comment "forced to compete with parents,graduates,and other attendees" If the reason is the latter then stay at home watch it on the cable channel and give your spot to a deserving graduate!!!  thats my vote  

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by: manor @ Sun May 31, 2009 at 15:56:38 PM CDT

Not a direct quote (0.00 / 0)

There are no quotation marks around those words in the original, so they are not a direct quote.  Meetings can go on for hours, and to get them down into a summary of several hundred words requires paraphrasing, inferring, and getting the gist of what was said.  

myDedham.org - a community since 1636 and online since 2007!

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by: Brian @ Sun May 31, 2009 at 16:10:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I just shook my head (0.00 / 0)

and thought that it is a real shame that someone with such a bad attitude toward students and their families is making important decisions about our schools.  

If it's such a burden for you (Margaret) to be on the school committee we won't expect to see your name on the next ballot... deal?  You also can stay home on June 3rd and leave a parking space open for someone who really wants to be there, OK?

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by: DYNAYH @ Sun May 31, 2009 at 21:03:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

manor (0.00 / 0)

No one answered your question so I thought I would, she is not there as a parent of a graduating student, her
daughter graduated from Ursuline this year.
Why don't they just park in the gym parking lot, they have  access to cut through the school, that would solve everything. Easy spot, short distance, and most parents wont know or cant park in the gym parking lot and this results in more in the front. Give them a spot somewhere.  

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by: dedham2008 @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 01:05:39 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

So Brian that is not (0.00 / 0)

a direct quote from Margaret Connolly.  Watch the School Committee Meeting.

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by: JM @ Sun May 31, 2009 at 21:21:06 PM CDT

Yes and no (0.00 / 0)

If it is in quotation marks, it is a direct quote.  If it's not in quotation marks then I am summarizing what was said.

myDedham.org - a community since 1636 and online since 2007!

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by: Brian @ Sun May 31, 2009 at 21:51:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

So everyone is upset (0.00 / 0)

about summarization of what you believe she said.

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by: JM @ Sun May 31, 2009 at 21:57:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

i think it's clear (0.00 / 0)

What Brian wrote is pretty clear.  She asked for someone to make sure that parking spots were set aside for School Committee members.  Brian's summation of what happened last year was,

Last year, she said, they were promised dedicated spots but were forced to compete with parents, graduates, and other attendees for any available space.

 There are no quotes around any of that, so she didn't say those words.  She did say,

"It's the only perk I get," Connolly said as she pounded the desk.  "This way I don't have to go an hour and a half early.  That's the idea."

I personally don't think that the way Brian wrote it misleads anyone to think she actally spoke words that she didn't.  I think "everyone is upset" about her perceived arrogance and entitlement.

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by: interest @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 07:06:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Is It Possible... (0.00 / 0)

... that when she "pounded the desk" she was laughing and being a bit goofy?  

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by: stebivule @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 10:17:36 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree (0.00 / 0)

Didn't see this meeting but have seen many before and seen her style....I don't believe she feels any "entitlement" and was joking around a bit...I'll watch the meeting at some future point and if I feel she was "out of line" I'll retract my statement....

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by: sp2000 @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 10:39:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sounds like goofing around to me (0.00 / 0)

"Pounded the desk" was the thing that jumped out at me too.  It sounds like she was kidding.  Either that, or she is a cartoon villain who probably also twirls her mustache and wears coats made of puppy fur like Cruella de Vil.

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by: Easting @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 10:56:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

goofing around (0.00 / 0)

I agree that she probably pounded the desk and made the comment about the only perk she gets in jest....as we have all seen people in a joking fashion make a statement but all the while hoping the point gets across and their request is met. I guess we'll see at graduation, where will Margaret park?????  Although i am glad to see that Brian stated she DID NOT say "she was forced to compete with graduates & parents"  that makes it a little easier to swallow

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by: manor @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 11:09:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Don't Blame the Blog (0.00 / 0)

People are upset about Connolly wanting special treatment.

If we watch the meeting on cable, will we find out that Connolly was NOT asking for special treatment?

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by: kei-o-lei @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 09:18:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I guess you need (0.00 / 0)

to see how it was handled at the meeting.  Was she joking, maybe, what was the rest of the banter with the committee.

I know the Chairman needs some reserved parking, he is hobbling around after knee surgery.

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by: JM @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 11:02:39 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I was at the meeting (0.00 / 0)

I can assure you that she was serious about her request.  She first asked that Brian Lynch, the schools facilities manager, set aside spaces for them.  She was then informed that parking was up to Jake Santamaria, the principal.  She replied that she had spoken to the high school's office, and they told her to go through Brian.  That doesn't sound like a joke to me.

myDedham.org - a community since 1636 and online since 2007!

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by: Brian @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 11:12:25 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I thought (0.00 / 0)

you were calling a truce with the School Dept.

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by: JM @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 11:15:29 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't understand.... (0.00 / 0)

Does 'calling a truce' mean that he suspends all discussion and reporting and bloggin about school dept. events/issues?

I would expect that it means he will try and amicably work through the issues he is having with the acquisition of information without bringing in outside(of Dedham) intervention...not that he will turn a blind eye and a deaf ear towards them.

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by: dj @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 11:21:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Seriousness (0.00 / 0)

I'm sure she would like a space, and sure that she has made a few phone calls to secure one.

I think the question here is whether she is angrily demanding one or requesting one in a self-deprecating, joking manner.

I also think that she could simultaneously express frustration with the the town's circular bureaucracy (ask him - ask her - ask them - did you ask the first guy - begin again) while still maintaining her perspective on the relative importance of receiving a reserved parking space.  

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by: stebivule @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 11:19:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Are you kidding (0.00 / 0)

Walk Ms. Margaret..  Go Green! we could all use a little bit of exercise

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by: Lila @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 12:27:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

seriously? (0.00 / 0)

I am sure she was joking.  Did you pick up a muck-raking stick when you put down the torch and pitchfork?  Try and find some real news or see if there are any openings at The Enquirer.  I think there were some UFO's sighted hovering over Legacy place last Friday.  Or maybe you could do an expose on the chlorine level in the JuJu pool.  If you want journalistic respect, then earn it.

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by: my1984 @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 14:05:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

joking? (0.00 / 0)

Hey, I just called Dedham cable about airings of the last SC meeting . ..  check it out at 10 am Tuesday or 7 pm Wednesday . . . my1984 saw what transpired, so we will be able to understand two things at once: 1) was Connolly serious or not; 2) is my1984 full of it or not.

Kei -

P.S. Am I the only one that finds my1984's handle to be a  tad ironic (e.g., freedom is slavery, UFOs = what happened at the School Commmittee) Happy Viewing!!!!!

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by: kei-o-lei @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 15:49:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

SC Meetings (0.00 / 0)

Anyone know why Dedham Cable airs meetings with no Audio?

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by: pete briquette @ Fri Jun 05, 2009 at 18:02:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not sure but... (0.00 / 0)

I have the same problem.  No audio on channel 39 but it is there on channel 40.  Hope it helps!

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by: Pink Princess @ Fri Jun 05, 2009 at 19:06:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

SC Meetings (0.00 / 0)

Thank You, Pink Princess.

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by: pete briquette @ Mon Jun 08, 2009 at 18:02:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

A good train wreck (0.00 / 0)

I haven't posted in some time but I do look at the blog from time to time, like any good train wreck it's hard to turn away. And this headline begs the question, after you threw up in your mouth did you spit or. . . swallow? I'm not sure when I'll be back but have fun at my expense.

Seamus

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by: Seamus @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 22:52:15 PM CDT