New Britain School Superintendent's Contract Extended

I hope Dr. Kurtz woke up and smelled the roses. It takes a lot of nerve to accept $160,000, almost double the mayor's salary. Ask for a freeze on her salary the next 2 years, and use the difference toward the school budget..

Playing the race card. Typical garbage. Someone is critical of Doris, and because of that they're racist. What a bunch of bull. I believe Doris, while a PITA, is doing what she can. However, I do think she is overwhelmed. To be so controlling and have problems communicating with staff shows that she does not have the ability to lead this district. In speaking with teachers in the district, they are not happy with her at all, as they have no idea what she wants them to do. Every few months, she comes back to them with a different initiative she wants them to implement, when they have just begun the last one.

With the expansion of HRA, more students in NB will have the opportunity to attend preschool, and with added jobs in the city, poverty should decrease. I pray that student test performance improves, but for the kids sake, not hers.

The cries of racism disturb me greatly when it is clear the superintendent is using the race card to her advantage. If a white male had her record he would be driven out of town in a heartbeat. She is being held to a lesser standard, which is the ultimate form of racism. If any group wants to rally together to support the superintendent, they should do so in a meaningful way--by tutoring, or mentoring, or raising money for playgrounds and extra-curricular activities. That would truly help make a difference in the lives of our children.

I was totally disgusted with Ron Davis lst night. He doesn't know the first thing about what is happening in the school district.

He claims rasism, well I guess he is actually right. It is a different kind of racism. It is reverse racism.

Mr. Davis get your mind out of the sixties mod. Us modern blacks are a bit more intelligent than you blacks that cry out and want everything for nothing. You hurt the black community by making such stupid statements as you did last night.

Of all people you hurt Jim Sanders who supports those blacks that try and help themselves and , from what I understand, grew up in a poverty ridden black section of town.

The facts are what they are. Kurtz has been in power for 7 years. The children of New Britain can barely read and write, as proven by the low test scores and evaluations. The New Britain educational system clearly needs new leadership, and by extending the Kurtz contract until 2011, it is clear the children will continue to suffer.

It is very sad that the race card was used here to change the focus of the discussion. The discussion should be about the lack of progress for the children who cannot read and write to a discussion about race. Shame on the board for letting the kids down.

I just read the New Britain Herald and Kurtz's answer to the question if she thought anyone on the board of education was a racist. She said
"NO COMMENT" "I'll take the high road."

The question should have been Dr. Kurtz are YOU a racist and then the answer would have been YES I AM.

Arnie wrote:

The facts are what they are. Kurtz has been in power for 7 years. The children of New Britain can barely read and write, as proven by the low test scores and evaluations. The New Britain educational system clearly needs new leadership, and by extending the Kurtz contract until 2011, it is clear the children will continue to suffer.
It is very sad that the race card was used here to change the focus of the discussion. The discussion should be about the lack of progress for the children who cannot read and write to a discussion about race. Shame on the board for letting the kids down.

You are casting the blame on the whole board when the blame should be on those that voted for her contract namely Peter Kochol Fran Wolski,
Sharon Saavedra, Brian Rilet,
Lucretia Holley. The other board members voted NO to the contract.

The BOE members are not racists. Doris Kurtz is a racist. She allows one black administrator to do whatever he wants when everyone knows that he in incompetent. She did nothing to get rid of a Black teacher when she was sleeping through the classes at NBHS.She honored a Guidance Counselor at NBHS when everyone knew that she was the worse one down there. She has two principals who hide in their offices all day. If Tom Reale was Black, he would still be at NBHS! Kurtz wants to take the High Road?? She couldn't even find it.

The Black people who come to support Kurtz and call other people racists, should ask themselves if they would be there if Kurtz was white like her husband. Are they not the racists?

Were snacks seved during the break in the meeting? Did the evaluation mention the downward spiral of the football team? Did little mac
pander to the audience? this article doesn't give a fair and balanced account of what did and did not transpire @ the meeting. i was unable to attend but hope someone used a cellphone cam and posts it to youtube.

I was there nothing special just a typical NB meeting both sides doing the demagog dance of vitriol that everyone seems to enjoy.Nothing special.

One who knows the score wrote:

The BOE members are not racists. Doris Kurtz is a racist. She allows one black administrator to do whatever he wants when everyone knows that he in incompetent. She did nothing to get rid of a Black teacher when she was sleeping through the classes at NBHS.She honored a Guidance Counselor at NBHS when everyone knew that she was the worse one down there. She has two principals who hide in their offices all day. If Tom Reale was Black, he would still be at NBHS! Kurtz wants to take the High Road?? She couldn't even find it.
The Black people who come to support Kurtz and call other people racists, should ask themselves if they would be there if Kurtz was white like her husband. Are they not the racists?

Hi Marilyn

God help us all who work in the district, as well as the children who are suffering under the "reign" of this queen who can do no wrong.
And as far as "We Know Who You Are"...don't call people out. This is the ONLY forum we can freely discuss whats going on in this district without fear of repercussions.

this is the most interesting soap opera available. both sides hit below the belt and have complete and utter contempt for anyone who thinks there might be a middle ground. just like tv wrestling i like it!! i love it!!

are you kidding me? You are actually complaining about a salary of $160,000 to a position that has to put up with board members that can not work together for a common purpose (by the way, NB is not alone in this), make decisions that affect the lives and futures of the most important people, children, and answer to parents that are just miserable so they have to find someone to take it out on.
Please don't misunderstand my posting as supporting Kutz, she sounds absolutely horrible!!! But understand that $160k is not a lot of money when you consider the level of education necessary for this position as well as the responsibility. By the way, an educator can make this kind of money in corporate America by running a small training team. And don't yell, I understand the difference between public service and corporate blah blah blah...I'm just saying....

160K would be enough to repair something in the school system instead of paying for inept and incompetents.

Humpty wrote:

I was totally disgusted with Ron Davis lst night. He doesn't know the first thing about what is happening in the school district.
He claims rasism, well I guess he is actually right. It is a different kind of racism. It is reverse racism.
Mr. Davis get your mind out of the sixties mod. Us modern blacks are a bit more intelligent than you blacks that cry out and want everything for nothing. You hurt the black community by making such stupid statements as you did last night.
Of all people you hurt Jim Sanders who supports those blacks that try and help themselves and , from what I understand, grew up in a poverty ridden black section of town.

DAVIS I am suire you did not read the Cambvridge report!!
Who asked you to show up?
That is all kurtz does is show up for a pay check.
Both of you have no morals and more importantly have NO INTERSET IN THE WELL BEING OF THE BLACK CHILD!!
NOTHING WORSE THAN AN UPITY BLACK MAN TRYING TO DEFEND AN UPITY BLACK WOMAN AS THE BLACK CHILDREN ARE NOT LEARNING TO READ !!!!!
IF YOU BELKIEVE IN GOD ?
BOTH OF YOU WILL HAVE HELL TO PAY!!!!
FOR THE PAY YOU ARE RECEIVING THAT clueless kurtz has not earned!!!!

Sounds like a real wild rumpus. This is the kewlest theater available at the courant forums. Keep up the self rightious postings they are very snarky and add a lot to the already messed up New britain mistique.

my comments on the salary of NB's superintendent were simply to make residents aware that if you are going to get someone that can make the necessary change and allow these kids to go out into the world with the same opportunities as other kids, you will need to pay even more than 160k. NB is stuck with Kurtz because i can't imagine someone with the strength and experience needed to run this school system taking the job for that amount.
NB needs to invest in education. That someone compared the position to the mayor (compared salary), is just plain scary.
by the way, I was educated in NB and while i didn't feel many of the teachers cared (don't yell at me teachers, this was over 25 years ago...most are retired or have passed on), i felt NB gave me the ability to work with people of all colors and cultures...which has allowed me to be very successful in the working world. IT was a great experience...i wish my own son could grow up in such a diverse environment, but wouldn't risk his education on the shenanigans of this school board and administration. That is one of the major reasons NB is struggling so badly.
I hope this can all be resolved and that the kids can get what they need...starting with a great superintendent and administration!!!

It sounds like the New Britain school board is paying for one huge train wreck. At 160K, their paying for the biggest train wreck in the school systems history and if any parents have at least a brain, They would yank their kids out of the New Britain school system and move them to a private school or even out of New Britain.

Kewl,
Why don't you get a life? Don't you have anything better to do than read serious letters about childrens' education and poke fun at the letters? Are you on drugs??