Sun on Regina

In an Editorial in today's Lowell Sun the writer called for School Committee member Regina Faticanti to resign.  The Editorial is "Time for Regina Faticanti to step down."♠

The Sun is not determining guilt or innocence in this matter; that is for a court of law to decide.  But we do believe that the allegations of bullying behavior and the resultant criminal charges are an unnecessary distraction for the School Department and an embarrassment for Lowell as a whole.

Additionally, the city of Lowell could be held financially liable for Faticanti's alleged actions.  With the city and state in financial crisis, this is no time for Lowell to be hit with a civil lawsuit regarding the alleged actions of an elected official.  We hope such a lawsuit is never filed, but we are concerned that if Faticanti remains on the School Committee, one may be.

At this point, in the interest of full disclosure, I note that I know Regina Fatacanti and have known her, in her work at WCAP, for some time.  That is to say, I have been in the WCAP Studio with her and from time to time I have sent along government reports and academic papers on terrorism and counterterrorism, as they come my way.  Those are subjects that are part of the area she is studying in her graduate work.  In that time she has never threatened to rip my head off or otherwise abused me.

That said, one wonders if School Superintendent Chris Scott had not heard any stories about Ms Faticanti's (apparently well known♥) method of addressing issues.  Did she take the job knowing this or was she blindsided (or, third option, did she think that she would be exempt)?

On the other hand, something I would like to know—did The Lowell Sun, in the past, ever endorse Ms Faticanti for election to the School Committee.  If they did, was it in ignorance of Ms Faticanti's management proclivities?

This whole imbroglio is a most unfortunate turn of events for the City.  That said, to attempt to truncate it before it has fully played out may also be unfortunate.  However this plays out it will set the tone for management of our schools for years to come—and maybe for the City as a whole.

The Sun did not venture to guess about Ms Faticanti's guilt or innocence.  Although I am not a lawyer, I will try.  I am expecting the verdict to be "Unladylike conduct, but no criminal offense."♦

Then there is the whole question of the hostile work environment, raised by Ms Scott's lawyer.  That is as much political as it is legal.  I am thinking it could break either way.  Either way, it will impact the relationships between the "professionals" and their elected supervisors for years to come.  And, if it gets that far, it will cost the city some money.

What I worry about with the hostile work environment question is that it will set back, indirectly, any effort to have a more professional,♣ long term City Manager.  The appointed School Superintendent will gain in power vis-a-via the School Committee, but that may, in the long run, create a backlash, which will then make the School Committee so powerful that the next School Superintendent will not be able to do his or her job properly.  And, there will be a knock-on effect for the City Council.

In the end, I think everyone deserves his or her day in court, if they want it.

And, for Ms Faticanti, while resignation might end the election question, there will still remain the criminal case, the possible hearing on workplace harassment and then, perhaps, a civil suit.  Unless, of course, someone has cut a backroom deal.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Note that since this is a link to an article in The Lowell Sun, it will likely expire in 30 days.  I will not be updating the link at that point unless I am shut in with the Swine Flu.
♥  No, I was not aware of this as an issue.
♦  Sort of like the Scottish verdict of Not Proven.
♣  By "professional" I mean someone who is going to be dedicated to being our City Manager and not just using it to put a bullet on his or her resume.  As Warren Shaw pointed out this AM on his WCAP program, increased professionalization will require a culture shift in Lowell.  A little culture shift would be just fine.