Parent Protest Planned At Bicentennial School

A group of parents are planning to rally outside Bicentennial School Friday morning in support of longtime school secretary Sue Tice, who resigned Aug. 30 after a pitch to Superintendent Mark Conrad for part-time help in the busy school office fell flat, according to one parent.

Marion Hummer said she will be outside the school on East Dunstable Road Friday morning collecting signatures in protest of the inaction of the district, which denied Tice's request for part-time help to manage the daily work load which, until her resignation, was handled by Tice and fellow administrative assistant Kathy Paetzold.

In a letter, circulated to fellow parents last night via the school's Facebook page, Hummer said Bicentennial enrolled more than 225 students so far since June 25, and the two secretaries must not only keep the office running, respond to parent, student and teacher needs, but also have to manage the new security system, installed since the Sandy Hook tragedy, which requires "buzzing in" hundreds of school visitors daily.

"Sue Tice received only a 4-cent per hour raise, which combined with the increase in healthcare contributions amounted to a net reduction of pay'," wrote Hummer.

In the letter, Hummer challenges Conrad to "sit in Sue Tice's chair for one full day," to get perspective on the need for more hands on deck.

Hummer said the lack of support for Tice from Conrad is a "symbol of poor leadership", and "lack of attention" to the needs of the school community.

You can read the full letter at: http:/bit.ly/1eleXnt