Talk of the Commonwealth

Former School Committee Mary Mullaney has found herself in the middle of a back-and-forth over Sex Ed and Transparency in Worcester Public Schools. Tony Economou and Gary Rosen of the Economou and Rosen Show sat down with her for an hour to talk about all the recent controversy surrounding her lately; inducing Sex Ed, Racism, School Committee, Discourse, Transparency, and School Resource Officers.

CONTEXT-

1. Bill Shaner of Worcester Magazine wrote an investigative piece about what went on behind the scenes with Sex Ed in Worcester (READ: https://www.worcestermag.com/news/20190404/behind-scenes-of-sex-ed-tussle-in-worcester)

2. Doug Arbetter reacted to Bill's reporting with his own opinion piece on the subject (READ: https://www.worcestermag.com/news/20190411/your-turn-time-draws-nigh-)

3. Worcester School Committee member Molly McCullough called in to give her perspective

Donna Colorio is the head or the Worcester Republican City Committee and a former School Committee Member who is now running for City Council at-large in a crowded field of challengers.

She talked to us about the current controversy around the School Committee, WPS, and Superintendent Binienda. Then we dove into her bid for City Council and her platform. She talked issues with us and laid out a notable 'NO new taxes for 2 years' policy that she is asking all others running for City Council to sign on to.

June marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots (a milestone for LGBT liberation) and this spring Clark University is celebrating the occasion with a free, public exhibit and symposium to celebrate Clark’s own LGBTQ history.

Beginning Monday, April 8, a unique exhibit that catalogues Clark’s long history of LGBTQ life on campus will be on display on the first floor of the Higgins University Center, 950 Main Street, Worcester. “Queering Clark” was spearheaded by Robert Deam Tobin

Howard Fain, one of the founding members of FairVote, joined us in studio to talk about Ranked Choice Voting and their push to create a more fair and democratic voting system in Massachusetts and around the country.

Learn More: www.fairvote.org

Worcester Magazine Editor Walter Bird talks to Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Maureen Binienda for her first interview since a community group called Worcester Coalition for Education Equity called for her ouster citing racial disparity in discipline rates.

Since the call, Superintendent Binienda has released suspension rates for January and February of this year compared with those during the same period last year.

The Mayor addresses the controversy surrounding WPS Superintendent Maureen Binienda and racial disparity in school suspensions.(4/3/19)

Worcester School Committee Member Dianna Biancheria calls in to give her take on recent divisions surrounding WPS operation.

She talks about calls for Superintendent Maureen Binienda and Safety Officer Rob Pezzella to go - She talks about racial equity, unconscious bias, and suspension rates - She talks about divisiveness, solutions, and more

Photo Credit to The Telegram & Gazette

Isabel Gonzalez-Webster, a leader in the newly formed Worcester Coalition for Education Equity and the executive director of Worcester Interfaith, joined us this morning to talk about a number of issues in WPS, including; racial disparity, Superintendent Maureen Binienda, school funding, unconscious bias, collaborative community efforts, and where she would like to see us go from here.

She is calling in to respond to School Committee members who responded to a Clive McFarlane piece in the T&G

School Committee member John Monfredo called into the show this morning to give his take on accusations from fellow SC members of racism in WPS.

We also get his initial reaction to Clive McFarlane's article detailing activist groups that want Superintendent Maureen Binienda gone.

Photo Credit to the Telegram