Submitted by Bernadette Wholey, Oct 31, 2006 10:25

I applaude the DOE for investigating this PTAs finances, after all the school finances under the former principals, Celenia Chevere and Deborah Triconomi, are currently in question. To really understand what is going on here, you have to know the history of this PTA Executive Committee. The Exec Committee has been reconstituted group of the same individuals since NEST was founded. They are insanely loyal to their charismatic leader, Celenia Chevere and now that she is gone, they have lost their way.

Under Celenia's rule, this PTA acted as the eyes and ears for Celenia to target parents that Celenia called "decenters". The children of the decenter parents were then targeted and soon run out of the school. Celenia absolutely ran amock in that school and their is no shortage of parents to share their horror stories. FEAR was the order of the day, fear of not getting your next child into the school and fear of having your child targeted for removal.

Although the PTA would have the community outside of NEST believe they represent the parent body, this PTA has never represented the parent body, in fact, they were Celenia and Deborah's henchmen and the vast majority of parents at NEST are happy to see Celenia and company go.

To the Exec Committee: In the words of Celenia "If you don't like it leave", the only difference is, under this administration, the decision is yours not Celenia's. The tables have turned and the PTA that used to walk around the halls as the elite "in the know" are now just like the rest of us, parents wanting a good education for their children.

This is the real story at NEST, not the one the PTA paid a PR firm to write, using PTA funds.

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