Martinez’ arrest forces Nutrition Program to adjust
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January 18, 2010 • Lee Hollman
Filed under Local, News
In the wake of the arrest and forced leave of Nutrition Director Armando Martinez, the question has arisen whether the change of leadership in that department will induce changes throughout the Nutrition Program.
With veteran staffer Dianne Carrothers taking the helm of the Nutrition Program, it continues to run at a steady pace, without much change at all. Both the Nutrition Program and School Board look forward to seeing the results of the new leadership of the program.
Even though the future of the Nutrition Program is uncertain, production is still moving at the same pace, with little to no change at all.
“[Production] really hasn’t been affected since Armando left,” Carrothers said. “The day to day stuff is still running as usual,” Carrothers said.
The current condition of the Nutrition Program is still up to the standard of the school board and Superintendent of Schools Fitzpatrick.
“We would expect the lunch program in all buildings will continue to run as normal,” Fitzpatrick said.
With a temporary replacement for Martinez, both staffers and the school board are looking towards the future. Even with a temporary director in place, the future of the Nutrition Program is still up in the air.
“I’m not really sure what’s going to happen, things are still very uncertain,” Carrothers said.
When asked specifically how the arrest of Martinez would affect the direction of the nutrition program, Fitzpatrick refused to give any comment other that to guarantee that the quality of the program will be upheld.
“At this time, I am not at liberty to comment about the future direction of the food and nutrition program other than to assure students and parents that we will continue to serve nutritious meals at a reasonable cost,” Fitzpatrick said.
With such a sudden change, Carrothers has begun acclimating to her new responsibilities as director.
“It’s just a lot more daily paperwork,” Carrothers said.
Both Fitzpatrick and the rest of the School Board continue to wait things out. The school board is waiting for the court’s decision about Martinez before making any drastic changes.
“We’re waiting on the courts to see what our next step is,” School Board Vice-President Carrie Chisholm said.
As for a permanent replacement for Martinez, the School Board has a backup plan to remedy any problems.
“We have a former Nutrition Program Administrator who is able to step in at any time,” Chisholm said.
As the waiting game continues, the Nutrition Program will continue to proceed as usual, serving the students of FAHS. If Carrothers continues to guide the program in the right direction, the Nutrition program has the oppurtunity to continue running as if Armando Martinez had never left.
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I read the article about this in the paper. I cried so hard!!
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It’s nice that everyone is backing up “Martinez”. This is the same man that has made everything easier to do. If Dianne Carrothers is such an asset to the program then why wasn’t she hired in the first place? Education perhaps? Armando Martinez has won many awards and has years of experience. Your article is a reflection of pure ignorance. One is INNOCENT until proven guilty not the other way around.
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Okay, I’m not quite sure what the cost of meals has to do with the issues at hand. It’s pretty obvious that whomever wrote this article is trying to call attention to Martinez when 1. He hasn’t been tried in court 2. They don’t know all the facts of the case. and 3. Does the “Signal” really have to inform the student about this?
What exactly does the future of the Nutrition Program have to do with him. It was a job, it still is a job and someone else has temporarily filled that position. That tells me that this program can be run without him, and if it can not run efficiently without him, that should say something about his work ethic. I understand the charges against him are unfathomable, but we have heard it over and over, the media has made him out to be a monster, the stories around the school have grown out of control, and who is suffering due to all of this?? His family. What ever happened to “innocent until proven guilty” He has been indicted, but not found guilty. If he is found guilty, and the Nutrition Program fails, will be accused of that also? I’m not saying what he is being charged with isn’t absolutely the worst thing a person could possibly do to a child…it is and if he did do these things, he should be charged. But at this point I think their grasping when they say “the program is running with little or no change at all” and ““We’re waiting on the courts to see what our next step is,” School Board Vice-President Carrie Chisholm said.
As for a permanent replacement for Martinez, the School Board has a backup plan to remedy any problems.
“We have a former Nutrition Program Administrator who is able to step in at any time,” Chisholm said.
As the waiting game continues, the Nutrition Program will continue to proceed as usual, serving the students of FAHS. If Carrothers continues to guide the program in the right direction, the Nutrition program has the oppurtunity to continue running as if Armando Martinez had never left.
Has he not already lost his job??? He can not be charge again for the same crime…so why wait? Fill the position and move on!!
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What was the purpose of this article? To notify students that the lunch program can be run by just about anyone? Or to announce that Diane Carrothers is now the new director of the lunch program? Or maybe even that the school board really doesn’t know how to handle this situation so they are waiting for the courts to handle it? Because this article really clouds up an already cloudy situation. As a parent it does not make me feel better that Martinez isn’t missed. He was the director, the boss and staff hasn’t missed his assistance at all? Is this just the school board’s way of smoothing things over with parents? Granted if Martinez is found guilty he shouldn’t be anywhere near children. Let alone in our schools. BUT he has not be convicted of any crime as of today. Let alone when this article was written. Reading between the lines it sounds like he will be replaced no matter what. So the school board has already convicted him. They are just waiting for the guilty verdict. So when he’s found NOT guilty what then? We will have an innocent man who was accused of a horrible crime wanting his job back. We will also have a “new” director who has been doing a so-so job in his absence. Hmmmm.. decisions decisions…. what then? Martinez becomes once again an easy target. Carrothers has been in the district for a long time. I remember her when I went to elementry school. Why wasn’t she considered in 2006 for the position? Is she also just an easy replacement? Watch out Diane becomes what come around goes around! Soon you too will be replaced!
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SHAME ON U SIGNAL!!! One of the first history’s lessons we learned is ‘you are innocent until proven guilty” in this article you and the school board have already convicted this man, fired him, and have replaced him all in less than two months. I understand the need to put this in the local paper. It’s necessary that parents know what is going on in our schools. But I doubt that this issue was preventing any students from getting a good night’s sleep. So if he’s found innocent he’s guilty just for being accused? When is the last time the school board actually ate hot lunch at one of the school’s? Again shame on u what lesson are you trying to teach us?
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Umm…. unless I am mistaken, when I wrote the article, I tried to make it as clear as possible that Carrothers was a “temporary replacement” for Martinez. Unless my editors made some drastic changes to my story, I believe that I attempted to remain unbiased throughout the article. I never wrote that Armando was guilty, or that Carrothers was a good replacement. All I tried to convey in this article was that the lunch program was running smoothly in Armando’s Abscence.
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