Posted by Dennis Herrick on February 04, 2010 at 10:21:52:
Send Superintendent LaSalle a loud message. Vote down the teacher contract this year and next. And no SAU55 wage increases for the educational "elite" either until we start seeing pay raises in the PRIVATE sector and the schools test scores improve. Imagine the nerve of policemen, firemen, teachers and local government hacks and bureaucrats expecting raises in the worst recession anyone can remember. Cut the budget 8% until bullshit like this stops.
Couple of high points for Timberlane this past year:
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School Board decides it's more important to cow-tow to the union and protect this guy's rights rather than look out for our defenseless children. There's no excuse for this.
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From today's Eagle Tribune:
Former teacher seeks copy of computer's hard drive
Former teacher faces charges of possession of child pornography
By Jarret Bencks
jbencks@eagletribune.com
BRENTWOOD — A former Timberlane teacher wants copies of pornographic images federal investigators said they found on his personal computer.
Scott Buatti of Newton is charged with possessing computer images of minors engaged in sexual acts. A lawyer for Buatti, a former middle-school gym teacher and coach, has asked the state for copies of images taken from his computer in January and February 2008.
Attorney Mark Sisti argued that the state failed to give him an opportunity to review and analyze the evidence used to bring charges against Buatti.
"The state has refused to provide him with either a copy of the hard drive or a copy of the state's image of the hard drive, thus depriving Mr. Buatti of his due process right to see the evidence against him," Sisti wrote in a motion filed yesterday.
Sisti wants access to the images so a private investigator can review the evidence, according to court documents.
County prosecutors objected to the request. The evidence is available for review, but only at the Portsmouth police station, according to court papers filed by prosecutor Jerome Blanchard.
In his objection, Blanchard argued it may be more convenient for private investigators to have their own copies of the images, but the hard drive is accessible.
Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Tina Nadeau, who is presiding over the case, has not ruled on the request.
Buatti was first approached by federal agents on Feb. 25, 2008, as part of a two-year probe by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. He was among 5,000 alleged domestic subscribers to child pornography sites that ICE agents tracked down throughout the country.
In February 2008, Buatti, then 43, admitted to ICE investigators that he had saved pornographic images of children to his home computer's hard drive, according to a report by federal investigators.
In March 2008, Timberlane school district officials were notified that Buatti was being investigated for allegedly possessing child pornography. He was placed on administrative leave in April 2009, when he was indicted by a county grand jury.
Buatti faces 10 counts of attempted possession of child pornography and 10 counts of possession of child pornography. He is slated to go on trial in May.
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Timberlane's best and brightest: Here's what you get for almost 15K per child per year. I think I'd be mum too.
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Timberlane community buzzing over scathing, online book
Timberlane Class of '10 trashed; officials mum
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
PLAISTOW — An online book, written under the name of the senior class president at Timberlane Regional High School, has the school community buzzing — and administrators mum.
"SEN10RS The Good, the Bad and the Really Really Bad," which was posted as being written by Joshua Peter Tubbs, was available through an online search yesterday. The online book categorizes the 350-plus members of the Class of 2010, and offers often scathing opinions of them.
Timberlane seniors interviewed yesterday expressed outrage and disgust with the book, particularly what the author had to say about classmates with special needs.
"There were some things said about people that can't really defend themselves that hurt us more," senior Cira Esposito said.
Tubbs could not be reached for comment; repeated calls were made to his home phone number, which rang busy all day long.
Students said school administrators called a senior assembly Thursday morning to address the matter. Although they did not name Tubbs specifically, administrators mentioned the book and said the matter was being investigated, according to the students. "They wanted to calm the situation down," senior Cara Hatfield said.
Hatfield said she was in the school's chapter of the National Honor Society with Tubbs. In addition to being elected class president, Tubbs also was chosen as Mr. Timberlane this fall. Students said yesterday he had been stripped of his title and the parking spot that came with it.
Superintendent Richard La Salle would not comment on the situation yesterday. He released a written statement saying the administration would investigate claims of potential student harassment.
La Salle refused to comment on any consequences the student might face.
Principal Don Woodworth also declined to comment.
"We're looking out for the safety of the students at the school and conducting a thorough investigation," Woodworth said.
In the book's introduction, the author describes himself as "a straight-A student" who has "never ever gotten a single detention or similar punishment."
"I am rather cocky in my intelligence, and I am definitely an intellectual elitist so if the stupider children would like to leave, that would be fine by me," the author wrote.
The first 10 or more pages of the book are devoted to Joshua Tubbs' background, goals — including teaching elementary school — and writing samples. He then lists the 28 categories he assigns to his classmates, ranging from "fake girls" and "druggie" to "gangstah" and "special education."
What follows are more than 70 pages of individual assessments, in alphabetical order, of 349 students. When he gets to Joshua Tubbs, he writes, "No explanation needed, I am just the best thing since canned bread."
The author concludes with the hope the project enlightened people. "I hope that these people realize their faults and build on their strengths, or make some if there is an absence," he wrote.
Some students said they were surprised how they were described in the book, saying they had never spoken with Tubbs.
Caleigh Ouellette said she only had a class with Tubbs for a few days before dropping it for another class. Still, Tubbs described her as frequently acting "stupid" in his book.
"Most of the things he said were opinions and were really stupid," Hatfield said.
Students said Tubbs was not in school yesterday and left at midday on Thursday. Administrators would not confirm whether Tubbs was present in school yesterday.
The book was written after a teacher mentioned last month that November was National Novel Writing Month. To qualify as a novel, the teacher said, a book would have to be at least 50,000 words long, according to students.
In the introduction to the book, the author mentioned the easiest way to write 50,000 words would be to write about his senior class.
"That seems like a good way to get a LOT of words with little work done," he wrote.
While the book may have the school community boiling, it has not risen to the level of a criminal matter.
Plaistow Deputy police Chief Kathleen Jones said she was familiar with the incident, but it had not been referred to them and was not a criminal matter.
Other school administrators either did not return phone calls or referred questions to Woodworth and La Salle. Six members of the Timberlane Regional School Board did not return phone calls for comment.
School Board Chairwoman Elizabeth Kosta referred all questions to school administrators.