The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 16, Number 10
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, March 8, 2012
BHS students protest nonrenewal of teachers
One student organizer suspended By Holly Robillard and Melissa Chicker The Berlin Citizen
Spotlight on the schools
Phtot by Holly Robillard
Over 100 students sit in protest of the nonrenewal of four Berlin High School teachers. helping organize the sit in. After initially agreeing to an interview, Andreana later declined to comment. Nontenured teachers, by law, cannot be considered for a nonrenewal contract, said Erwin, and must be notified each spring they may lose their jobs at the end of the school year. This allows them time, said Erwin, to begin a job search if they do not return. To be tenured, a
teacher must have completed four successful years in a school system. “When budgets get passed by the Board of Education,” said Erwin, “They ask for a certain amount of money, if it does not come forth we have less to work with, and we have to come up with list of where cuts need to be See Protest, page 8
Time for a spring blizzard
Joanna Wojtun, left, Jessica Karwowski, and Olivia Kajda, right, enjoy Blizzards when Dairy Queen opened for the season last weekend.
This ongoing series highlights the status of and activities of schools throughout town. Through interviews with administrators, the spotlight gives each of the schools a chance to show what’s new, what’s challenging and what’s great about its people, programs and facility. Look for your school in an upcoming spotlight; this week the focus is on:
McGee Middle School By Karen Brancato Special to The Citizen This week’s spotlight is on Catherine M. McGee Middle School. The school is home to 725 students, grades six through eight. The newest building leadership position was filled in November by Pam Hamad, assistant principal for half of grade seven and grade eight. Hamad is a former teacher and department head of social studies and previously worked at the middle and high school
district levels in Florida, Simsbury, and Berlin. “Working at McGee is like being a member of a large family. Students know we hold high expectations and support them with all they need. That deep sense of caring for one another makes McGee a special place for students and adults,” said Principal Dr. Scott Ratchford. The Citizen recently sat down with Ratchford, to discuss new curriculums See McGee, page 9
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Berlin High School students across all grade levels participated in a sit-in Feb. 28 to protest the nonrenewal of next year’s contracts for four teachers at the school. Nearly 140 students participated in the protest. Students arrived at school wearing handmade t-shirts that read “Save My Teacher” and “Team” followed by the teacher’s name. The sit-in began during second period in the auditorium and ended shortly after period six. Several hundred students also signed petitions expressing why the teachers should not be let go. Superintendent David B. Erwin said he expects there now will be lines of communication between administration and students. “I believe there is a protocol and students should express what’s on their mind and I know the way they did it was an old method, but I wish they had done it in a different way,” Erwin said. One student, Lisa Andreana was suspended for
MONDAY, MARCH 5 Thru FRIDAY, MARCH 9 SEE OUR AD INSIDE FOR THE DETAILS!