Monday, March 7, 2011

The Lottery and Waitlist ……Powerball Anyone?

It seems that certain staff members (or any with children who are interested in sending them to MVRCS) and/or friends should play Powerball as they seem to have incredible luck!
We’ve blogged before about the issues relating to the handling of the lottery and waitlist at MVRCS but feel the need to do so again. In November the school held its annual lottery for incoming Kindergarten students. We didn’t give it much focus as we wanted to gather information and review the information before jumping to any conclusions. We were fortunate to have several different individuals in the audience who either manually recorded or (secretly) voice recorded the drawing. It’s taken us a while to put it all together and find the discrepancies but we found some. We had seriously hoped that the school had handled it with integrity and ethics this year but found otherwise. It seems that regardless that the school has an outside CPA handle the drawing itself, the school officials have somehow managed to continue manipulating the list to ensure certain individuals gain entry. We have heard from some reliable sources that not only has the Department of Education taken possession of the school’s waitlist, it is also now being managed by an outside source as a result of a change in the law and (we would imagine) wrongdoing on the part of the school.
We’ve compiled a comparative list of the numbers that were called and the final list that the school has published (located @ http://www.mvrcs.com/files/Lottery_Results_11_23_10.pdf). We see a number of differences and will be forwarding the data to the DOE for their review and (in)action, along with the names of the individuals who we believe will have benefited. It seems that being friends with Danielle Ferrara in the office is one way of ensuring entry into the school. We have also heard that parents also have the option of bribing their way into the school but have been unable to confirm the specifics. We’re also not sure if Ferrara is the person to bribe or if she is just the one doing the dirty work at the lottery drawings and/or working of the waitlist (either on own accord or at the instructions of someone else)..
As a side note, we have noticed that staff members of the school have unbelievable luck gaining entry into the school. We’ve mentioned before the high number of Kinnon’s and Finn’s and that they were all unbelievable fortunate to gain entry, never mind all the relatives of Henry Gennetti. Also worth mentioning is that relatives of both Finn and Gennetti who were so fortunate to gain admission not just once but twice! Somehow at least two families chose to leave the school and then somehow managed to be at the front of the waitlist when other children left (how that can happen is beyond us). We did hear that the school has some kind of allowance for this in their By-laws although how this can be is again beyond us as it is not permissible per the Department of Education (but then again, the rules that apply to all other charter schools don’t seem to apply to MVRCS). We have been unable to locate the school by-laws to confirm this but are continuing to work on it.
We have noticed that with a few exceptions, any staff member who places their child in the lottery or on the waitlist seems to gain entry. We’d heard about past teachers who somehow managed to gain access to MVRCS for their children after beginning to work there. Two good examples would be Dr. Biegler and Ms. Herrera. More disturbing is that it appears as though Ms. Herrera’s children got in ‘from the waitlist’ which we seriously question if they were ever on. We’ve come across other examples as well which leads us to believe that this was not an isolated incident.
Bringing the focus to current practices, it amazes us how many staff and faculty members have been fortunate enough to gain entry through the lottery and/or waitlist. Yes, we know that some staff members began working there after their children were admitted but it doesn’t seem as though many who work there and have children DO NOT GAIN ENTRY. Funny enough it doesn’t seem to just be limited to staff member’s children but also includes staff member’s relatives and friends. Isn’t it amazing that Gina McKinnon and Jen Mullen were both fortunate enough to have their children selected? Amazing, what luck they have. We did hear that Jen Mullen was not originally selected but did have a low number on the waitlist and made sure her child managed to get in (probably one of those non-english speaking kids that were systematically eliminated or encouraged not to enroll). Then again, it appears as though being a friend to Danielle Ferrara (or is she the person to bribe?) is one way of ensuring entry as a few of her friends that work at a popular Melrose seafood restaurant have managed to gain entry (one of which doesn’t even live in one of the sending districts). Who knows, we could be wrong but... It seems Val Doherty and Peter Connolly were fortunate enough to gain entry into the school for their nephews. This was in the year that a number of other staff members also were fortunate enough to have their children admitted. The current first grade class has a number of employee’s children sprinkled among it. It amazes us that out of only 125 spots that so many staff members, friends of Danielle Ferrara (not to mention Neil Kinnon) and relatives were selected from the lottery YET individuals who have been included in numerous lotteries have NEVER been selected. Isn’t it amazing? That is why we think the these staff members, family members, and friends should play Powerball – the odds are in their favor. Although the Powerball lottery isn’t fixed, is it? 

NOTE: We'd like to clarify that when we 'verify' our information, we aren't speaking to other parents but individuals who are either currently or have been employed by the school, a number of which have been there for numerous years. Through these individuals and our own resources (such as class lists and year books), we are able to confirm our information.

31 comments:

  1. Don't the DiGiovanni's live in Saugus and haven't they always? So, not only did they take a spot away from a child from the sending districts in the Kindergarten lottery but then they get re-admitted when they don't even live in any of the sending districts. What is even more unbelievable is that the DOE doesn't give enough of a hoot to even do anything about it. Disgusting.

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  2. How about stop calling people out by name, if you are too coward to use your own name, then do NOT use other innocent people's name. How would you like lies written about you and your family? I am going to guess you wouldn't like it. Just because you write on a blog you think you are above everyone else. I don't think so. You really need to grow up and think about the families are you are writing about. I don't want a remark from you with more lies and your made up statistics. Enough already.

    Put more time into your own family and taking care of their school needs. Slandering people you don't even know, awful, just plain awful.

    You are nothing but a bully! I hope that makes you feel good about yourself.

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  3. How about calling a spade a spade. The individuals we call out are typically NOT innocent. Are people who cheat the system, use their connections (or Kinnections) to gain entry into MV, abuse their power or position, or take a money for a job not done ("working" at the school while doing little beyond collect a paycheck and take money away from educating our kids) to be considered innocent?
    We honestly try not to write any information that we have not either verified and/or have heard from several individuals. Unlike others, we DON'T think we are above others but rather are trying to stand up for everyone.
    Speaking of bullies, we think that both Neil and Kathy Kinnon fall into that category much better than we do. Both use their position to bully the staff and parents of MVRCS.
    We are taking care of our families and many others in attempting to right the many wrongs that are currently going on at MVRCS.
    While we may feel good about what we are doing it is only as a result of necessity as the shananigans that have been allowed to happen at MVRCS. We find it more unfortunate and deplorable that the events (such as we have discussed in this posting) are allowed to occur.

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  4. Ok, I asked you not to respond and you do, such a good listener, but then again probably why you have so many lies on here, because you make up things and don't listen. Yes you did lie about people you wrote about today and I call that slander!! All your response says is what you said already in blog!! Unbelievable.

    Again just throw names around. How about throw your own name around? Oh right your a coward. I say you are a coward so it must be true!! I don't lie!

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  5. First of all.....Peter Connolly's (now spelled correctly, you would have known had you "checked your facts")nephews were in BEFORE he even worked there. Secondly Chris Finn's kids are STILL on the waitlist, and lastly the lottery is and always has been honest and fair. They pay an outside company to come and do it. You definately do not check your facts, or maybe you do, you just suck at it...either way you would also know that kids can get in after the 5th grade when their siblings get in. Anyone that listens to these lies needs to take their kids out. You are not supporting the school, your listening to whatever this loser says and we dont want you there. Can I get an AMEN??

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  6. Chris Finn's kids may be on the waitlist but Chris Finn has NO interest in sending his kids there. They could have gotten in years ago when the but he lives in Lynnfield AND sports are incredibly important to him - he wouldn't put his kids in a school without (at the time) a worthy sports program.
    The lottery is anything but honest and fair - we know of at least 10 kids who have gotten in through a 'Kinnection'. Also, really? With almost all of the employees kids getting in? We think not - not all of the teachers can be THAT lucky. Nice try though...

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  7. you always have a response.....you just say the same things over and over and over and over and over and over again. Sick of it yet...thats what you sound like. I think a Kinnon or Finn was not very nice to you...awww poor baby. Sucks to be on their bad side huh?? haha.

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  8. "We honestly try not to write any information that we have not either verified and/or have heard from several individuals" <<< we would love to know how you can say that in good conscience. Newspapers would not publish something that they "have heard from several people", nor would any court of law permit it as evidence. If you claim to be a factual resource, then you cannot include hearsay in what you write. It is "beyond us" (to use your words) how you can throw names out and under the bus and not have any factual evidence to back it up. It seems to us that you are not getting anywhere with your other foolishness about everything else, so you need to resort to this to get any responses on your blog. We personally know one of the families that you felt the need to trash here and can tell you are dead wrong about any kind of fix for the children getting in. You had better NEVER reveal your identities because if you do, you are going to have a ton of libel suits against you. As has been said before, if you don't like the school, then get out. And don't come back with your standard, "we are fighting for those who can't" line. You mission is clearly personal against members of the board and administration and it is time to come clean with your real motive: to see the school closed so that your sending district will get the numbers and revenue back.

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  9. This is from the DESE website....It would seems as though siblings are not permitted to enter the school after 5th grade. We will check with the DOE personally but the law reads:
    (d) Charter schools shall place names of students not selected in an enrollment lottery on a waiting list in the order the names were drawn. In conformance with M.G.L. c. 71, § 89, charter schools shall, when a student stops attending for any reason, attempt to fill vacant seats up to February 15th, excluding seats in the last half of the grades offered and in grades ten, 11, and 12. A vacancy not filled after February 15th moves into the subsequent grade, to be filled the following September if such grade is not in the last half of the grades offered and is not grades ten, 11, or 12.

    AND

    No student entering an enrollment process may be admitted ahead of other eligible students who were previously placed on a waiting list during a prior enrollment process.

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  10. Now you know what Chris thinks...good one. All of the empoyees that I know that work there got in AFTER their kids were there. Have nothing to say about Connolly's nephews,,,thats what I thought people...see Fraud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  11. They are allowed to get in, I know several that have LEGALLY....STOP, ENOUGH. I AM GOING TO TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS NOW THAT I WASTED A HALF HOUR. BUT YOU KEEP RESPONDING TO EVERYONE THAT COMES ON..THE ALMIGHTY ANONYMOUS WRITER.....YOU ARE A JOKE, AS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE YOU.

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  12. You POS blog hosters are out of control! I for one have had enough of your slander and am contacting the local and state authorities as you have slandered a good person (Ms. Ferrara) and your baseless and factless accusations will now be dealt with! Thank you for finally giving us the information we needed to prosecute you and we are looking forward to serving you the papers. You too have had your information tracked and recorded.

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  13. its funny how some of my posts do not get on...very interesting.

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  14. Lets see if this makes it up or you are really into just defaming people. The school was at the Malden cap for years. Check it out just got raised this past year. Therefore people from Melrose, Everett etc had very high odds of getting in since way fewer. Check waitlist huge Malden. So think about what you are saying about certain staff members and correct the wrong you are doing. Lets see you print this so people know the truth. How about some integrity.

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  15. One more thing the Department of Education has taken possession of all the lists from every Charter School it was written into law last year thank God. That way people like you won't be able to continue to slander all these people. Of course you will now say the Dept of Ed is corrupt to when your false allegations dont come true.

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  16. There have been many siblings not just employees admitted after grade five. Throwing out that a person may be accepting bribes without confirming or having substantial evidence and using a persons name is off base.

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  17. @Anonymous@7:40PM - Amen, brutha! Enough already!

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  18. To March 7 @ 7:40 PM

    My AMEN if for this blog for bringing out the truth about how this school is NOT living up to their charter. Integrity is a core value that the administration expects/demands of the students yet is lacking in themselves.

    Keep up the good work UnOfficial MVRCS.

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  19. Your AMEN, Anonymous @ 7:40 pm is you believe someone that you don't even know. Someone that is too cowardly to print HIS name. Someone that makes up lies about people. That is sad. What if it was your family they were right lies about, I am sure you wouldn't be giving your virtual high fives. Although for all we know it is the person righting this blog pretending to be someone else, who knows.

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  20. "NOTE: We'd like to clarify that when we 'verify' our information, we aren't speaking to other parents but individuals who are either currently or have been employed by the school, a number of which have been there for numerous years."

    That still doesn't it mean that it is accurate. Some of it may be, some of it may not be. How do you know what is and isn't? You have no right throwing people's names out there if you cannot unequivocally state that what you are saying is true.

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  21. AMEN to the SLANDER on this blog. Your fact checking is less than stellar, and I hope you are ready to prove your information and we will see where the truth lies. So GUTSY with this anonymous blog.

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  22. Well, we think we might have hit a nerve as all the big guns are coming out of the woodwork!

    As for the bribe issue, we have personally met an individual (that we trust) who was told by a parent (who did get in), how to get their child in as that was how they had gotten their child in. We are not saying that it was in fact Danielle Ferrara (let us not forget that the business office @ MVRCS has an individual there who has a less than stellar background) we are just sharing what was told to us. We are not a professional news operation that could do an undercover piece to verify it any further.

    We do know that the school has had issues in the past regarding the handling of the lottery and waitlist and that it has come under scrutiny.

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  23. So you are now saying that Ms. Ferrara didn't take the bribe, yet the original post says she did. You heard from someone who heard it from someone, really? Sounds very suspicious to me! Of course you are not a professional news operation. Therfore you should realize that you shouldn't write anything about someone you don't know. What about poor Mrs. Doherty. She is a wonderful school nurse and you say such things about her. This blog is nothing but lies, lies, lies!! I don't know how you sleep at night!! You are righting about someone's Mom or Dad or Aunt or Uncle and lies nonetheless. I hope their children don't read this!! Just awful!

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  24. The only nerve that you have hit is the one that rubs against common decency. This post was ridiculous and totally hurtful. Are we seriously supposed to believe information that you have received second or third hand? And you are right ... you are NOT "a professional news operation that could do an undercover piece", so stop pretending that you are. Unless it is the Enquirer that you are hoping to write for!

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  25. To all of the people attacking the writers of this blog: Let's not forget that when they first wrote about Chris Finns' relatives being re-admitted, the reactions were similar. I must admit that I too thought that they were full of bs. Since then I have asked around and found out that it was the truth even though a slew of readers claimed otherwise. I now consider the possibility of what is being written are and come to my own conclusions. Based on my own experiences and conversations, I can imagine any of the above being true.

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  26. I worked there for several years and can tell everyone ranting on here that with the exception of the bribe portion (which I have heard only rumors of but have never met a parent willing to admit it to me), this is all well known information among the staff. Just more of the same so I'm not sure why people on here are surprised or outraged.

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  27. It's sad that the parent's had to resort to this blog because the school was/is unwilling to follow the law. The bloggers are not cowards. They are protecting their children from the retaliation the school so generously dishes out. This I know firsthand.

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  28. To all the threats of libel and slander charges against the creators of this blog, just remember the Ferrara (or anyone else) would have the burden of proof to prove that the allegations are false AND that it was done with malicious intent. It would also open up access to many files and much information that the school may NOT want released. It's a nice threat but only viable IF the school is absolutely sure they have done nothing wrong. It seems as though the school has a very long list of people willing to state otherwise.

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  29. As someone who taught at MVRCS for 5+ years, I'll be the first to say that everyone knows how shady things are done at MVRCS. Teachers told not to unionize or the school would close down. No guidance counselors because the school didn't want to get involved with students' emotional issues, despite the fact that teenagers have more emotional issues than most.
    I certainly do not miss the place.

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  30. I find it interesting that you would work in an environment that you describe as "shady" for 5+ years! This post tells much more about your standard of ethics than it does about the schools. I guess it's too difficult to stand up for whats right when your paycheck depends on it. You and your friend Tenaka also left out a critical piece of information from your posts...why exactly did you leave the school? My guess would be the greener pastures of the public teachers union. No one could blame you of course. Twice the pay for half the work. Now you can overlook the shadiness until you retire!

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  31. I love andrew! He always says exactly what I am thinking. Its funny..we don't miss you either!!!!

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