Parks returns, and relatives are hooked up
Any reasonable description of “interim superintendent of schools” would define that person as being “one who temporarily oversees or directs a school district until a permanent superintendent is hired.”
Good luck selling that notion to ESL Interim Superintendent Lillian Parks. If one judges her on-the-job performance over the past month, Parks’ definition would probably be closer to “one who facilitates the employment of as many family members as possible.”
During her stint as District 189 superintendent (1991-1993), no fewer than 13 of Parks’ relatives were employed within the district. Parks ultimately resigned amid financial turmoil which sent the district into state oversight.
But, while Parks may have been away from ESL Public Schools for 12 years, she hasn’t forgotten a thing about the art of “the hook-up.”
In fact, it would seem that Parks never met a relative that she wouldn’t hire. Just prior to her official start date of July 1, Parks’ son Alvin was, coincidentally, hired as a $60,000 per year assistant business manager – a newly created position, according to district spokesman Douglas Clark.
Recall that Alvin Parks was fired as ESL city manager, just prior to joining the school district.
In July, “Queen Lillian” was on a roll, recommending her nephew Lawrence Tourijigian be promoted to a $72,000-a-year position as a “data specialist.”
Next, her niece was “recommended” for (and received) a promotion to the position of instructional coordinator for the English and Language Arts Program, netting her a $1,200 raise.
All hail to the queen! Only “Her Majesty” knows how many more of the Parks clan will benefit from “Queen Lillian’s” use of District 189 as her personal employment office.
Back in 1986, Parks was quoted as saying (in reference to the potential hiring of her daughter, Lauren) that “I would raise sand (if the board would) turn her down. I would stand up at the microphone and tell them they are being discriminatory … unfair” (Oh yeah, she said it).
Now, mind you, this was at a time when 13 of Parks’ relatives were already employed by District 189.
All of this might be a non-issue if I didn’t encounter so many people (most proud ESL natives, with doctorate and master’s degrees) who complain of never being considered (or even given courtesy interviews) for District 189 positions.
Sure, Dr. Parks will assert that “others” recommended her son or her niece for hire. That’s because “Queen Lillian” assumes that the “little people” of ESL are too stupid to see her hand in all of this.
Maybe I’m just paranoid; but who knows? If the “peasants” of ESL remain silent for the next 5 months then “Her Royal Highness” just might hire the rest of her clan.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.