A MAN OF HIS WORD - AND OTHER NEWS

Don Spencer, Principal of Eddington Elementary School, has sent me the the Fall 2009- Beginning of Grade 3 and Grade 4 NECAP Reading and Math Results. As readers may recall from the posting following the September 27 School Board meeting, Mr. Spencer promised to provide these results. He stated there had been improvement over the 2008-2009 data provided in www.EducationNation.com which this writer had previously posted.

According to the note from Mr. Spencer attached to the data sheets, the test results show Eddington students scored at or above the state average. While I am not disputing Mr. Spencer's statement, I must admit I do not know how to interpret much of the data presented. To address this, I plan to call Mr. Spencer with the objective of scheduling an appointment during which I shall be the student with the objective of learning more about what the numbers and symbols mean. This will be particularly beneficial since the 3rd and 4th grade students are about to venture forth and take the Fall 2010 NECAP Reading and Math exams.

Once I know and can explain what I am seeing, the data will be presented here. Perhaps the other two principals will also be willing to share the data from their schools as well.

****

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING NEWS:

Although Eddington uses the Brewer recycling site for most, if not all, electronic, computer and appliance equipment residents wish to dispose of and/or recycle, there is another convenient site: Best Buy in Bangor.

To learn more, check out: www.BestBuy.com/recycling. Once at that site, there is a place to select the state (Maine) to learn what items are accepted, how many, and what (if any) fees are involved. It is a great option and many electronic items can be turned in, up to three a day, free of charge.

Something to be aware of: Did you know copiers have a "brain" that retains the information contained on documents copied. Information such as social security number, name, date of birth, etc. How many times have you used your personal copier to copy 1099 documents or Income tax forms or a Driver's License? Think about it. And then the copier broke and you decided to simply replace it instead of repair it. So you sent it to the recycling center.

Did you know that many recycling centers do repair copiers and then re-sell them...to foreign countries or to used appliance centers With Your Personal Information Still on the "brain" Hard Drive!

This is particularly disturbing when you think of the number of government, business centers, banks, and even school districts that lease and then turn back copiers - or own and then "recycle" or trade in copiers with the Hard Drives in tact. Imagine the opportunities for theft of personal IDs. Scary isn't it.