Lies, half-truths and utter nonsense
The following letter to the editor of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice by Diocesan publicity director, Bill Genello, is nothing more than a gross compendium of lies, half-truths and utter nonsense. As Mike Milz said when receiving the news of his termination: "anyone who believes in the Diocesan version of this matter also must believe in the tooth fairy."
Milz was not targeted for layoff by diocese
Editor:
In a letter published in your June 20 edition, Jim Maloney suggests that the elimination of Michael Milz’s teaching position at Holy Redeemer High School was unfairly contrived by the Diocese of Scranton to punish Mr. Milz for his activity on behalf of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT).
To support this false accusation, Mr. Maloney says that James Burke, human resources director for the Diocese, “guaranteed” that the hiring of teachers would be based on seniority and certification throughout the Holy Redeemer System in Luzerne County. His implication is that Mr. Milz should have been able to “bump” into a position at an elementary school if he didn’t have enough seniority at the high school.
Mr. Burke began meeting with teacher representatives in November 2006, five days after the preliminary recommendations for the school restructuring were announced. In the ensuing months, the hiring criteria were developed based on input from the teacher representatives, and one of the primary concerns of the elementary teachers was that teachers on the secondary level not be allowed to bump into their positions. The Diocese responded to this concern as the hiring policy was being developed. So while the criteria do apply within systems, they do not apply between the high schools and elementary schools. This was made clear in subsequent meetings with teacher representatives. No guarantees to the contrary were ever made by Mr. Burke or anyone else.
To be clear, this policy was established at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year and was not changed thereafter in order to exclude Mr. Milz. This is the hiring policy that was used for the 2007-08 school year, and it is the same policy that was used to determine staffing for the upcoming 2008-09 school year.
Moreover, even if there were a teaching position open in the social studies department at Holy Redeemer High School, it must be pointed out that there is another teacher with more seniority than Mr. Milz who would be eligible to fill the position.
Mr. Maloney then cites several instances of staffing at Holy Redeemer to support his assertion that the Diocese “protected” some of its friends and “isolated” Mr. Milz so he would eventually be a “target for dismissal.” But none of these examples have any relevance to Mr. Milz’ employment status.
Mr. Maloney points to the Theology Department and the fact that it includes a Chaplain and two Directors of Religious Formation. The Chaplain at each of the four Diocesan high schools is a priest who is responsible for working with the administration to foster the spiritual life of the school.
The Chaplains do not assume teaching positions that otherwise would be filled by someone else.
The role of Director of Religious Formation has been an administrative position within our high schools for over 25 years. Deacon Robert Roman was appointed DRF for Seton Catholic High School in 2002, and James McDermott was appointed DRF for Bishop Hoban High School in 2002. When those two schools were among the four institutions that formed Holy Redeemer in 2007, it was determined that both men could share the duties required of the Director of Religious Formation as well as some teaching responsibilities.The Director of Religious Formation could be a full-time position with little or no teaching responsibilities in a school of over 800 students. If this arrangement was in effect at Holy Redeemer, there would still be a need for someone to teach those six classes in the theology department.
Therefore, if Deacon Roman were not serving as a DRF, he would still be eligible to fill this teaching position according to the criteria that apply to all teachers.Mr. Maloney also charges that Deacon Roman offered to teach an elective course in criminal justice in order to “justify his employment.”As noted above, Deacon Roman would have no need to justify his employment because even if he were not a DRF he would be eligible to teach in the theology department.
Moreover, even if this one elective course was part of the social studies curriculum, it would not necessitate another teaching position there or in any other department.
So, as the diocese has stated repeatedly, Mr. Milz was not “fired” or “targeted for dismissal.”Despite the efforts of some people to perpetuate this false accusation, it is not true.
Given the negative media coverage and public backlash that the Bishop and the diocese have endured over the issue of union recognition, and now over Mr. Milz’ employment status, it would have been easier if the diocese had made some special arrangement to make sure Mr. Milz had a job. But that would have violated the hiring policy and betrayed all of the other teachers who rightfully expect us to abide by it.
The easy way is not necessarily the right way.
William R. Genello
Communications DirectorDiocese of Scranton
Milz was not targeted for layoff by diocese
Editor:
In a letter published in your June 20 edition, Jim Maloney suggests that the elimination of Michael Milz’s teaching position at Holy Redeemer High School was unfairly contrived by the Diocese of Scranton to punish Mr. Milz for his activity on behalf of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT).
To support this false accusation, Mr. Maloney says that James Burke, human resources director for the Diocese, “guaranteed” that the hiring of teachers would be based on seniority and certification throughout the Holy Redeemer System in Luzerne County. His implication is that Mr. Milz should have been able to “bump” into a position at an elementary school if he didn’t have enough seniority at the high school.
Mr. Burke began meeting with teacher representatives in November 2006, five days after the preliminary recommendations for the school restructuring were announced. In the ensuing months, the hiring criteria were developed based on input from the teacher representatives, and one of the primary concerns of the elementary teachers was that teachers on the secondary level not be allowed to bump into their positions. The Diocese responded to this concern as the hiring policy was being developed. So while the criteria do apply within systems, they do not apply between the high schools and elementary schools. This was made clear in subsequent meetings with teacher representatives. No guarantees to the contrary were ever made by Mr. Burke or anyone else.
To be clear, this policy was established at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year and was not changed thereafter in order to exclude Mr. Milz. This is the hiring policy that was used for the 2007-08 school year, and it is the same policy that was used to determine staffing for the upcoming 2008-09 school year.
Moreover, even if there were a teaching position open in the social studies department at Holy Redeemer High School, it must be pointed out that there is another teacher with more seniority than Mr. Milz who would be eligible to fill the position.
Mr. Maloney then cites several instances of staffing at Holy Redeemer to support his assertion that the Diocese “protected” some of its friends and “isolated” Mr. Milz so he would eventually be a “target for dismissal.” But none of these examples have any relevance to Mr. Milz’ employment status.
Mr. Maloney points to the Theology Department and the fact that it includes a Chaplain and two Directors of Religious Formation. The Chaplain at each of the four Diocesan high schools is a priest who is responsible for working with the administration to foster the spiritual life of the school.
The Chaplains do not assume teaching positions that otherwise would be filled by someone else.
The role of Director of Religious Formation has been an administrative position within our high schools for over 25 years. Deacon Robert Roman was appointed DRF for Seton Catholic High School in 2002, and James McDermott was appointed DRF for Bishop Hoban High School in 2002. When those two schools were among the four institutions that formed Holy Redeemer in 2007, it was determined that both men could share the duties required of the Director of Religious Formation as well as some teaching responsibilities.The Director of Religious Formation could be a full-time position with little or no teaching responsibilities in a school of over 800 students. If this arrangement was in effect at Holy Redeemer, there would still be a need for someone to teach those six classes in the theology department.
Therefore, if Deacon Roman were not serving as a DRF, he would still be eligible to fill this teaching position according to the criteria that apply to all teachers.Mr. Maloney also charges that Deacon Roman offered to teach an elective course in criminal justice in order to “justify his employment.”As noted above, Deacon Roman would have no need to justify his employment because even if he were not a DRF he would be eligible to teach in the theology department.
Moreover, even if this one elective course was part of the social studies curriculum, it would not necessitate another teaching position there or in any other department.
So, as the diocese has stated repeatedly, Mr. Milz was not “fired” or “targeted for dismissal.”Despite the efforts of some people to perpetuate this false accusation, it is not true.
Given the negative media coverage and public backlash that the Bishop and the diocese have endured over the issue of union recognition, and now over Mr. Milz’ employment status, it would have been easier if the diocese had made some special arrangement to make sure Mr. Milz had a job. But that would have violated the hiring policy and betrayed all of the other teachers who rightfully expect us to abide by it.
The easy way is not necessarily the right way.
William R. Genello
Communications DirectorDiocese of Scranton
posted by SDACT at
7:04 AM
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