PTO Change Rewards Dishonesty

by Rich Girard Published in the Union Leader on February 27, 2022 THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD recently removed Paid Time Off (PTO), a major and beneficial change made to how sick and personal time was handled, from the contract with its principals union. PTO replaced...

Dumbfounded by Teachers Union Ability to be Their Own Worst Enemy

by Rich Girard Published in the Union Leader on November 21, 2021 AS SOMEONE who served on the Manchester Board of School Committee, I’m often dumfounded by the singular ability of teachers unions to be their own worst enemy. The most recent example is the uproar...

Who Wants Fake Residents Voting in Our Elections?

by Rich Girard Published in the Union Leader on July 9, 2021 HAVING READ our supreme court’s decision on SB 3, a bill I strenuously opposed from my radio show, I have to say that I agree with the decision. Since June 2, 1784, Part I, Article 11 of our state...

Manchester Needs New Leaders Not New Schools

by Rich Girard Published in the Union Leader on May 28, 2021 BACKED BY Mayor Joyce Craig, Manchester school Superintendent Dr. John Goldhardt has “gone big” in an attempt to “restart high school” in the Queen City. To be sure, Manchester’s schools are struggling but...

Recovery v. Neighborhoods: A False Choice

by Rich Girard Published in the Union Leader on April 13, 2021 MANCHESTER need not choose between helping those needing recovery and protecting its neighborhoods. A March 21, 2021 article in the Union Leader revisited the issue of “sober homes” that are illegally...

Discriminating to Stop Discrimination

by Rich Girard Published in the Union Leader on February 19, 2021 ON JAN. 25, 2021, the Manchester Board of School Committee adopted a policy regarding “transgendered and gender non-conforming” students. On Feb. 8, 2021, it defeated Committeeman Arthur Beaudry’s...