May stay mainly in the plain - but it looks as though, around here, it's going to stay mainly in this part of the state this entire week. Only the northwestern part is expected to see any predictable sun. And summer started yesterday, at least according to the calendar (along with the Summer Solstice - the longest day, which was pretty gloomy for all of its 15 1/2 hours). Now the daily daylight clock will start to wind down minute by minute. Bummer.
There have been increasing numbers of yellow finches at the bird feeder this past week, although every once in a while there's a rosy red one. I spotted a pretty persistent one at the bird feed at the garden feeder at Clewley Farm Restaurant last week along with a few yellow finches, but I have entire squadrons swooping down on my feeder. They seem to enjoy hanging on the brackets of the flowering brackets suspended along the back porch nearby. Of course, if the feeder is too occupied, the birds have no problem dropping in to share the chipmunks' seeds in the three dishes spread out along the bench. Share and share alike as long as the marauding band of gray squirrels don't decide to take over. That's when I need to asset the arm of the law because those squirrels do not take a gentle "Shoo."
It appears I've had a deer traveling across the front lawn in the last week or so by the tracks in the seeded loam. Now if we just had some days for the loam to dry out. The grass is doing well -but the purpose was to fill in the holes created by digging out some boulders - not to create smaller holes created by hoof tracks. :-)
Speaking of holes - there has been a very large hole in the woods at the back of my home. I discovered it over the past year while cleaning up dead wood and dropped branches from winter weather. So while spending a weekend chipping the results of a Spring clean-up (I don't burn), it was my intention to fill the hole. Lo and behold, it appears there is a porcupine living down there in a section of the hole. What a dilemma.
I don't want to hurt/kill the porcupine - certainly don't want to rile him up - or, if it's a her, I don't want to disturb any babies. I certainly don't want it to decide to relocate under my porch. But that hole could trip up a person walking up through the woods or any of the herd of deer that use it during the Fall and Winter months. Anyone have any ideas?
I do remember that porcupines and skunks have the "Right of Way." As a child, when my family lived here at the Pond during the summers and into early Fall, we had a camp - not a year-round home. No in-door plumbing. There was a Ben Franklin wood stove in the main room and an ice box in the kitchen. And there was the "Cathedral" - the name for the outhouse, which my dad liberally sprinkled every day with the cold ashes from the wood stove. Last thing at night before going to bed, my brothers and I made that trip to the Cathedral, usually with a flashlight, hoping we were ahead of Mrs. Skunk and Mrs. Porcupine taking their children on a nightly stroll because those strolls always went directly across our beaten path to the Cathedral. No matter how desperate our need, Mrs. Skunk and Mrs. Porcupine had the right-of-way. And if they were too slow - or they had their children, we had to divert our trips into the woods. That was the way of the "camping experience" in those days - more than 55 years ago. I suppose one could consider it early composting.
And then there was the summer Mrs. Skunk decided to build her nest under the camp. You can be sure we were all especially carefully not to jump up and down and rough house in the main room that year.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
RESEARCH, THOUGHTS & SCHOOL BOARD POLITICS
It took some digging through the SAD63 website to find out when the Board took the action to extend the Interim Superintendent's contract past it's original expiration date of 6/30/09 - as announced by the current Board Chairman, Don Varnum, at the June 4th Public Vote conducted at the Holbrook Middle School. Although Mr. Varnum has made comment that the action took pace this past February (2009) it doesn't show up until the April 2009 minutes. The Motion was made by Board member Sylvia Ellis, rep from Holden, and was Seconded by Karen Clark, rep from Eddington. When questioned, Mrs. Clark said she didn't remember the Motion or having seconded it - but there it is on the website.
Question: With no RSU Committee meetings having been scheduled (much less conducted) since the "NO" vote at the end of 2008, doesn't it seem strange for the Board to have taken such an action at that point? And with Mr. Hart, the Interim Superintendent, so firm in his belief that the statewide voters will affirm the requirement to consolidate, why hasn't the Board or the current Chairman at least started some kind of dialogue with the parents of the current students in our schools and the taxpayers as to what kind of consolidation we would support?
While we're on the topic of research, it was most interesting to discover how many years Mr. Varnum has been Chairman - or how consistent the position has been held by a representative from the town of Holden. I can see one reason for the Chair to be held by a Holden rep - Holden has 4 seats on the Board, Eddington has 3, and Clifton has 1 seat. Since the Chair cannot vote, that leaves an equal number of votes for Holden and Eddington - and then there's Clifton's vote. The Chair cannot vote unless there is a tie vote (and that can't happen if everyone shows up for the meeting and/or no one abstains, such as for reasons for Conflict of Interest).
It certainly wouldn't be equitable to have both the Chair AND Vice-Chair come from the same town. But maybe it would be good to have fresh ideas and opinions rotate through those seats periodically
Don Varnum has been the Chair ever since taking over the position when Pat Sirios resigned her seat on the Board, during which she was the elected Chair. (Pat reportedly resigned from stress associated from the on-going lawsuit. Mr. Varnum was appointed by Holden's Board of Selectmen to fill her position.) Pat was elected Chair when Robert Kiah beat out Don in an election for a seat on the Board - but then the Holden Selectmen sent him right back.
(Several people have told me there were two other candidates who put there names forward for the appointment, both of whom had been Board reps but that Don has close association with members of the Holden Selectmen. But Don had voted against terminating the former Superintendent, the one with whom the Board is now in litigation, so one might have considered the possibility of a possible Conflict of Interest in his selection.)
Prior to Don losing to Rob Kiah, Don was Chairman of the Board during his term. I can't be sure if he was Chair throughout his entire term but the only other name other name I could find, was a Doug Bosse, also a rep from Holden. So I can certainly understand when I hear people in Eddington say that Holden "runs" the school board.
In most organizations, a person sits in a "practice" seat such as a Vice-Chair or Vice-President for a certain period and then moves up. Apparently that doesn't happen in local politics (Selectmen or School Boards).
Maybe some kind of rotation of Board position would be good - healthy. After all, the Chair position is supposed to be one of objectivity, knowledge, an unbiased position. The current Vice Chair, Karen Clark, has been in that position for some time. So maybe some rotation would be good there, too. But who else on the Board has attended as many (or any) of the seminars and conferences on school law the way Karen has. Who else has shown the involvement in school board committees or has the history in union negotiations and consolidation that she has. It takes more than thinking such and such a rule or policy applies and then quoting the wrong one. It takes more than brushing aside employee contacts being changed (at the expense of the taxpayers) and letting them go unchecked by the Board for years at a time. It takes more than having another employee waive aside a School Board member's request for verification that appropriate taxes have been paid out of bonuses given to employees even if the Board didn't know about said bonuses at the time.
Being a leader means being knowledgeable - or at least open-minded enough to reach out and ask - to be inclusive to those who really do know the business and then be willing to do what needs to be done regardless of personal relationships AND in touch with the taxpayers as well as the teachers and families involved in our schools.
Perhaps some kind of criteria should be set for candidates for the position, such as having been the Chair of an ACTIVE committee for at least two years (active = having met at least five times during each of the two qualifying years.). Being Chair of an inactive committee would not qualify (inactive = meeting dates To Be Determined for months on end.) AND having been a committee member of at least one other ACTIVE committee for no less than one year. This would at least ensure that candidates for the Chair position would be knowledgeable about and committed to the workings of the Board in some areas.
Or - absent such criteria, perhaps the Chair should be someone who has no reputation (or public perception) of siding with or against individuals employed by the district or with/against groups (cliques?) on the Board. Perhaps in that way the Board could have a spokesperson who actively solicits input from ALL Board members and citizen advisory groups and thus forms a focused objective that will meet the needs of the district while being accountable to school families as well as the taxpayers (because the taxpayers are the ones who have to pay the bills after all).
If consolidation for SAD63 is to happen there need to be some changes in the current Board politics. As it is right now, there are serious issues that any other district will discover should the subject of consolidation come to the table, the least of which is the current lawsuit. The current Board's leadership knows what they are and has been preventing those issues from being addressed.
Question: With no RSU Committee meetings having been scheduled (much less conducted) since the "NO" vote at the end of 2008, doesn't it seem strange for the Board to have taken such an action at that point? And with Mr. Hart, the Interim Superintendent, so firm in his belief that the statewide voters will affirm the requirement to consolidate, why hasn't the Board or the current Chairman at least started some kind of dialogue with the parents of the current students in our schools and the taxpayers as to what kind of consolidation we would support?
While we're on the topic of research, it was most interesting to discover how many years Mr. Varnum has been Chairman - or how consistent the position has been held by a representative from the town of Holden. I can see one reason for the Chair to be held by a Holden rep - Holden has 4 seats on the Board, Eddington has 3, and Clifton has 1 seat. Since the Chair cannot vote, that leaves an equal number of votes for Holden and Eddington - and then there's Clifton's vote. The Chair cannot vote unless there is a tie vote (and that can't happen if everyone shows up for the meeting and/or no one abstains, such as for reasons for Conflict of Interest).
It certainly wouldn't be equitable to have both the Chair AND Vice-Chair come from the same town. But maybe it would be good to have fresh ideas and opinions rotate through those seats periodically
Don Varnum has been the Chair ever since taking over the position when Pat Sirios resigned her seat on the Board, during which she was the elected Chair. (Pat reportedly resigned from stress associated from the on-going lawsuit. Mr. Varnum was appointed by Holden's Board of Selectmen to fill her position.) Pat was elected Chair when Robert Kiah beat out Don in an election for a seat on the Board - but then the Holden Selectmen sent him right back.
(Several people have told me there were two other candidates who put there names forward for the appointment, both of whom had been Board reps but that Don has close association with members of the Holden Selectmen. But Don had voted against terminating the former Superintendent, the one with whom the Board is now in litigation, so one might have considered the possibility of a possible Conflict of Interest in his selection.)
Prior to Don losing to Rob Kiah, Don was Chairman of the Board during his term. I can't be sure if he was Chair throughout his entire term but the only other name other name I could find, was a Doug Bosse, also a rep from Holden. So I can certainly understand when I hear people in Eddington say that Holden "runs" the school board.
In most organizations, a person sits in a "practice" seat such as a Vice-Chair or Vice-President for a certain period and then moves up. Apparently that doesn't happen in local politics (Selectmen or School Boards).
Maybe some kind of rotation of Board position would be good - healthy. After all, the Chair position is supposed to be one of objectivity, knowledge, an unbiased position. The current Vice Chair, Karen Clark, has been in that position for some time. So maybe some rotation would be good there, too. But who else on the Board has attended as many (or any) of the seminars and conferences on school law the way Karen has. Who else has shown the involvement in school board committees or has the history in union negotiations and consolidation that she has. It takes more than thinking such and such a rule or policy applies and then quoting the wrong one. It takes more than brushing aside employee contacts being changed (at the expense of the taxpayers) and letting them go unchecked by the Board for years at a time. It takes more than having another employee waive aside a School Board member's request for verification that appropriate taxes have been paid out of bonuses given to employees even if the Board didn't know about said bonuses at the time.
Being a leader means being knowledgeable - or at least open-minded enough to reach out and ask - to be inclusive to those who really do know the business and then be willing to do what needs to be done regardless of personal relationships AND in touch with the taxpayers as well as the teachers and families involved in our schools.
Perhaps some kind of criteria should be set for candidates for the position, such as having been the Chair of an ACTIVE committee for at least two years (active = having met at least five times during each of the two qualifying years.). Being Chair of an inactive committee would not qualify (inactive = meeting dates To Be Determined for months on end.) AND having been a committee member of at least one other ACTIVE committee for no less than one year. This would at least ensure that candidates for the Chair position would be knowledgeable about and committed to the workings of the Board in some areas.
Or - absent such criteria, perhaps the Chair should be someone who has no reputation (or public perception) of siding with or against individuals employed by the district or with/against groups (cliques?) on the Board. Perhaps in that way the Board could have a spokesperson who actively solicits input from ALL Board members and citizen advisory groups and thus forms a focused objective that will meet the needs of the district while being accountable to school families as well as the taxpayers (because the taxpayers are the ones who have to pay the bills after all).
If consolidation for SAD63 is to happen there need to be some changes in the current Board politics. As it is right now, there are serious issues that any other district will discover should the subject of consolidation come to the table, the least of which is the current lawsuit. The current Board's leadership knows what they are and has been preventing those issues from being addressed.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
"HAPPENINGS" IN THE AREA
EDDINGTON SELECTMEN'S MEETING - Tuesday, the 16th -
The next School Board meeting will be this coming Monday night, the 22nd, at 6:30pm, which will be held at the Holden School. The agenda will include the election of the Chair and Vice Chair of the School Board. The Board Chair expressed appreciation on behalf of the full Board for the work Karen does as a School Board member on behalf of the town and her on-going involvement with the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Charles Baker said he would try to attend the next School Board meeting.
NOTE: With Mario Tiesl, rep from Holden, on leave until August 15, there will only be seven School Board members in attendance.
The Eddington Farmers' Market will have its Opening Day, Sunday, July 5 - from 10AM to 1PM. It will be held in the Parking Lot of the Eddington Town Office. The Market will be open on Sundays only from July 5 through September 27 with a possible extension into October depending on the weather and the amount of market attendance.
The By-Laws and Site map (for the vendors and parking) have been received. All official documents will be signed next Tuesday, the 23rd, at a short meeting of the Selectmen. Fliers for the Farmers' Market were delivered to the SAD63 schools for the children to take home this past Monday or Tuesday to alert families.
The developing Town Website is moving right along. The name has been registered as www.Eddingtonmaine.gov Gretchen and Craig are working on the design and development. Hopefully it will be up and running before mid-summer.
It was also noted that Craig graduated this past may with a B.A. in Fire Sciences. Craig will be working at the Eddington Fire Department this summer for 40 hours a week. Sounds like he's going to be busy (not to mention a great asset to the town).
The first edition of the new Eddington Newsletter should be in the mail within the next week and a half. Karen Clark reported that she had obtained various price quotes for the printing 1,000 copies. Her daughter will do the folding. Fliers for the Farmers Market will also be included. People will have the option of signing up for future editions to be "delivered" via the website or their email addresses, both of which will reduce postage costs. The newsletter will include articles about the functions of the Planning Board, the Fire Department, the Board of Selectmen, and profiles of the individuals who serve our community and why they have chosen to serve. Special articles will be included in future editions as the town seeks to expand communication between the various groups that are active in Eddington and our residents.
Richard Bowden, President of the Eddington Historical Society, made a presentation to the Board of Selectmen regarding the activities of the Society. He talked about the many artifacts and pieces of historical equipment that have been collected over the years and a need for a place to store and exhibit them. An extensive discussion took place at the end of the official agenda (during the Public Access portion) regarding possible sources for grants which might be sought for an Historical Museum - perhaps in conjunction with an Eddington Public Library.
Praise was given for the on-going notices on the Town Office sign including the notice of the Selectmen's Meeting. There is LIFE IN EDDINGTON!
******
You're sure to want to drop by Comins Hall this Saturday and Sunday, the 20th and 21st, for the Grand Yard Sale that will be going on. Who knows what treasures you'll find for mere pennies on the dollar. And if you have something you want to sell (or practically give away), what better chance than this one?
******
Plan to attend the "Mad Hatter's Tea" at the Clifton Library next Wednesday, the 24th, from 2PM - 4PM. (I just gave it the name - Mad Hatter's :-) because I think it's cute, and because I love the idea of wearing a fancy or creative hat - anything to get out of these garden grubbies). But I'm told you don't need to wear a hat, just come and enjoy the library and the people and have a cup of lovely tea. You don't even need to be a resident of Clifton which is pretty neighborly, I think.
If you've never been to the Clifton Library, it's located in the Clifton Town Office on Route 9 about 1 mile or so past Tradewinds on the right hand side. The Librarian is Caroline Baker, mother of Chuck Baker who is an Eddington Selectman. Caroline knows just about everything about each book in the library and loves a good book.
Karen Clark gave the School Board report which included the Town-by-Town voting results of the School Budget referendum (see my earlier blog). She also reported that UTC has offered to conduct energy efficiency tests at the schools free of charge during the coming school year.
The next School Board meeting will be this coming Monday night, the 22nd, at 6:30pm, which will be held at the Holden School. The agenda will include the election of the Chair and Vice Chair of the School Board. The Board Chair expressed appreciation on behalf of the full Board for the work Karen does as a School Board member on behalf of the town and her on-going involvement with the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Charles Baker said he would try to attend the next School Board meeting.
NOTE: With Mario Tiesl, rep from Holden, on leave until August 15, there will only be seven School Board members in attendance.
The Eddington Farmers' Market will have its Opening Day, Sunday, July 5 - from 10AM to 1PM. It will be held in the Parking Lot of the Eddington Town Office. The Market will be open on Sundays only from July 5 through September 27 with a possible extension into October depending on the weather and the amount of market attendance.
The By-Laws and Site map (for the vendors and parking) have been received. All official documents will be signed next Tuesday, the 23rd, at a short meeting of the Selectmen. Fliers for the Farmers' Market were delivered to the SAD63 schools for the children to take home this past Monday or Tuesday to alert families.
The developing Town Website is moving right along. The name has been registered as www.Eddingtonmaine.gov Gretchen and Craig are working on the design and development. Hopefully it will be up and running before mid-summer.
It was also noted that Craig graduated this past may with a B.A. in Fire Sciences. Craig will be working at the Eddington Fire Department this summer for 40 hours a week. Sounds like he's going to be busy (not to mention a great asset to the town).
The first edition of the new Eddington Newsletter should be in the mail within the next week and a half. Karen Clark reported that she had obtained various price quotes for the printing 1,000 copies. Her daughter will do the folding. Fliers for the Farmers Market will also be included. People will have the option of signing up for future editions to be "delivered" via the website or their email addresses, both of which will reduce postage costs. The newsletter will include articles about the functions of the Planning Board, the Fire Department, the Board of Selectmen, and profiles of the individuals who serve our community and why they have chosen to serve. Special articles will be included in future editions as the town seeks to expand communication between the various groups that are active in Eddington and our residents.
Richard Bowden, President of the Eddington Historical Society, made a presentation to the Board of Selectmen regarding the activities of the Society. He talked about the many artifacts and pieces of historical equipment that have been collected over the years and a need for a place to store and exhibit them. An extensive discussion took place at the end of the official agenda (during the Public Access portion) regarding possible sources for grants which might be sought for an Historical Museum - perhaps in conjunction with an Eddington Public Library.
Praise was given for the on-going notices on the Town Office sign including the notice of the Selectmen's Meeting. There is LIFE IN EDDINGTON!
******
You're sure to want to drop by Comins Hall this Saturday and Sunday, the 20th and 21st, for the Grand Yard Sale that will be going on. Who knows what treasures you'll find for mere pennies on the dollar. And if you have something you want to sell (or practically give away), what better chance than this one?
******
Plan to attend the "Mad Hatter's Tea" at the Clifton Library next Wednesday, the 24th, from 2PM - 4PM. (I just gave it the name - Mad Hatter's :-) because I think it's cute, and because I love the idea of wearing a fancy or creative hat - anything to get out of these garden grubbies). But I'm told you don't need to wear a hat, just come and enjoy the library and the people and have a cup of lovely tea. You don't even need to be a resident of Clifton which is pretty neighborly, I think.
If you've never been to the Clifton Library, it's located in the Clifton Town Office on Route 9 about 1 mile or so past Tradewinds on the right hand side. The Librarian is Caroline Baker, mother of Chuck Baker who is an Eddington Selectman. Caroline knows just about everything about each book in the library and loves a good book.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Can We Clone Penny Peasley, PLEASE
The town of Clifton is more than well served by Selectwoman Penny Peasley. Not only is she wise to the ways of fiscal management, but she is attentive to her duties and responsibilities as an elected representative of the people. As she said at the Citizens Advisory Committee meeting for the SAD63 Budget and Finance Committee (when each town was asked to send a Selectman/woman to attend - are you listening, Eddington, from which no one attends), Penny said, "When they tell me to be there, I'm there."
So she was there last Wednesday night at 6pm at the Holbrook Middle School, along with Jackie Smallwood and Richard Orovitz from Holden. Why? Because the School Board had scheduled a meeting to be there at that time to validate the results of the three towns' votes on the School Budget June 4 & 9 AND to hold a Budget and Finance committee meeting.
Of course, it would have been nice (polite, courteous, civilized even) if the School Board Chair, Don Varnum from Holden - or the Interim Superintendent, Ray Hart, had notified the principal at Holbrook that the School Board group would be there. The principal could have set up the School Board group in the school's Conference Room (perfectly capable of accommodating them) and thereby not upsetting the planned meeting of the Fifth Grade parents who will be Sixth Grade parents next year (many of whom were already in the large lunch room which had been set up for the parents meeting). Nor would it have been necessary for Mr. Hart to be rude to school staff (do I hear the clicking of heels, AGAIN!). What an example for the parents to have observed, Mr. Hart. Shame on you.
And then there were the comments of Mr. Varnum who didn't think it was necessary for the Budget and Finance Committee to meet - even though there were citizens there who clearly remembered that such a meeting had been planned and calendared. Perhaps such a meeting was inconvenient to the private agendas Mr. Varnum and Mr. Hart seem to have going amongst themselves - i.e., Mr. Varnum's announcement (pronouncement) that the School Board had voted to have Mr. Hart extend his Interim Superintendent contract extended past its 6/30/09 expiration date. On what date of which School Board meeting did that take place? - not any meeting in the last three months - nor in any of the Executive Meetings. Even though Therese Anderson, representative from Eddington may say that the topic has been "discussed" - a discussion does not take the place of an official motion, second and vote for the record. And yet, Mr. Varnum felt perfectly free to announce such an action (for himself, apparently) to the public on June 4 as though the Board had taken such an action. The explanation given by Mr. Hart was understandable. There wasn't even the need to point out that Mr. Hart is now serving as Superintendent for CSD8. But Orrington's Superintendent is certainly NOT going to be interested in being Supintendent of an RSU that includes SAD63 and Dedham (even through Mr. hart keeps pushing that consolidation idea).
But, back to Don Varnum - This is not this first (nor, I fear, the last) time Mr. Varnum will consider it his prerogative to make unilateral decisions in the name of the Board of Directors which is sliding perilously close to another legal action for which the taxpayers will have to pay the piper.
Now - Mr. Varnum thinks it is HIS prerogative to give the Clifton School Board rep "another chance" to continue to sit on the Board. The Clifton rep. was appointed to the position by the Clifton Selectmen/women. He was NOT elected by the people.
The Clifton rep did NOT attend the May 13 Public Hearing to review the proposed school budget. Nor did the Clifton rep attend the June 4 Public Meeting for the vote on the School Budget. There are two of the most critical meetings for a School Board representative to attend for the public.
The Clifton rep misses as many School Board meetings as he attends. One of the duties and responsibilities of a School Board rep is to serve on at least two School Board Committees. The Clifton rep serves on NONE. The Clifton rep chose to telephone several individuals in Clifton loudly chastising them for opposing the proposed school budget and admonishing those citizens for not showing confidence in the SAD63 School Board. (Question: Since the Clifton rep failed to show up to the May 13 meeting - how did he have the slightest idea or understanding of the proposed budget?)
Frankly, the people of Clifton have no reason to trust the SAD63 School Board. Not with the School Board lack of representation they have (not) been receiving. No wonder Mr. Varnum supports such an individual. Mr. Varnum receive no opposition from a rep who doesn't show up - who doesn't know what's going on and who can't correct Mr. Varnum when he speaks out of turn or MIS-speaks.
Which is why we need more Penny Peasleys. Selectwoman Peasley pointed out the following at the Budget and Finance Committee meeting that was held (brief as it was) last Wednesday night:
1. There need to be more Citizen Advisory Committee meetings and certainly more frequently than just a few weeks before the Business Manager's Proposed Budget is being submitted for a vote.
2. Finance Reports need to be provided by the Business Manager monthly (not every three or four months as has been the recent history).
(NOTE: When the Business Manager finally arrived with the report Wednesday, the three members of the Advisory Committee who were there had to make a point of asking for copies instead of automatically being provided them.)
3. Finance Reports (and proposed budgets) need to be provided in the same formats that are compatible with actuals (meaning what was budgeted per line item, what has been spent (a) month to date and (b) year to date per line item and then compare that data to what is being projected for the next year's budget - per line item... actual to actual. If certain line items have to be budgeted for 12 months such as teachers' salaries and benefits, then those items need to be shown in projected twelve month projections). And no more of one format for the Finance Reports and an Excel format for the projected budget as the Business Manager did this year, especially since the district's computer is capable of doing all of this - PLUS PAYROLL.
4. The Audit Report for 2007-2008 needs to be made available immediately. The report should have been ready at least six months ago.
NOTE: The Audit is a Public Document and there is no excuse for it not to be available now. (The Business Manager has been trying to say the current lawsuit against the former Superintendent is the reason why it has not been available and that excuse just does not hold water - my statement, not Ms. Peasley's. The Business Manager gave some kind of comment regarding the Auditor's "letter" being ready or nearly ready - and that doesn't hold water, either. Having worked in the financial industry at one point, I know that an auditor's "letter" is used as the cover document stating the process used in the audit and the auditor's "general findings". Like Ms. Peasley reportedly stated, I, too, think the delay is because there is a "problem" in the auditors findings [or somebody is trying to hide something.]. Remember, one of the reasons the Business Manager was hired was because she supposedly has a CPA certification. So, if there is a "problem" noted in the "letter", maybe there are some negotiations going on to try to minimize the wording of the "problem." Frankly, I think it's time to bring in the State Attorney General to look into all of the questionable goings on that Mr. Varnum, Mr. Hart, and Ms. Mitchell seem to want to keep away from the eyes of the public/taxpayers. And remember - all three of them are friends and supporters of the former Superintendent, Louise Regan. If you don't think THAT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, then you, too, may have a fox guarding the henhouse.
Penny Peasley is a lot smarter than any of those three would like to acknowledge. She's a lot smoother, nicer, more tactful that I am or ever will be. I admit it. Because I will come right out and say I don't trust any of them. Thank goodness Karen Clark is around to try (I say TRY) to keep Mr. Varnum from doing something clearly illegal. It's clear he doesn't know any of the policies or perhaps he'd prefer to ignore them. But Karen, as Policy Committee Chair not only knows them, she's keeping them up to date and current with the law (and cleaning them up from what the previous Superintendent "changed" without any School Board approval).
Mr. Varnum should be removed from the position of Chair - even though he has stated he will not step down - because he seems to have a problem with memory, with facts, and is willing to totally disregard his responsibilities as an elected representative of the people of Holden. But all three towns' taxpayers will end up paying for any legal problem he creates as Chair of SAD63. And even though Mr. Hart is advocating SAD63 consolidate with Dedham and Orrington, when did the School Board authorize either Mr. Varnum or Mr. Hart to initiate any discussion with those two communities re: consolidation? Seems to me, this whole lawsuit with the previous Superintendent all started because she initiated communication with communities re: consolidation before she had official Board authorization to do so. Is this de ja vu? What's wrong with taking a survey of Clifton, Eddington and Holden to see how families here would feel about consolidating with Dedham and Orrington?
So, back to my original premise. Let's clone Penny Peasley. We need people like Penny on the School Board. We need people like Penny in the Central Office and Administration of SAD63. We need Penny to attend the School Board meeting next Monday night to stand up and tell those members who DO attend that it's time to stop their little cliques and get down to the business of the business of quality education at an accountable price.
Who from the School Board will be on the negotiating team for the new teachers contract? It can't be Therese Anderson, Pam Dorr or Mario Tesel because they're all teachers. That's a conflict of interest - plain and simple. It certainly can't be the so-called rep from Clifton because he hasn't been at enough meetings to know anything about how the Board operates or the workings of SAD63. It certainly can't be Mr. Varnum. He can't be trusted to remember what is the truth and what he thinks should be the truth - other than what he and Mr. Hart concoct in the backroom. It sure as heck can't be Ms. Mitchell (for more reasons that I want to list.) So that leaves Sylvia Ellis (who'll do whatever Hart or Varnum tell her to do); Kevin Mills, the new rep from Holden; and Karen Clark, the rep from Eddington who's been on the negotiation team for several negotiations so she at least knows some history of the process.
Maybe the School Board should consider appointing someone from the Citizens Advisory Board to sit on the negotiating team. How about Ralph Russell from Eddington. Or PENNY. At least we could get some objective and fresh ideas. Sure would be better for the taxpayers.
So she was there last Wednesday night at 6pm at the Holbrook Middle School, along with Jackie Smallwood and Richard Orovitz from Holden. Why? Because the School Board had scheduled a meeting to be there at that time to validate the results of the three towns' votes on the School Budget June 4 & 9 AND to hold a Budget and Finance committee meeting.
Of course, it would have been nice (polite, courteous, civilized even) if the School Board Chair, Don Varnum from Holden - or the Interim Superintendent, Ray Hart, had notified the principal at Holbrook that the School Board group would be there. The principal could have set up the School Board group in the school's Conference Room (perfectly capable of accommodating them) and thereby not upsetting the planned meeting of the Fifth Grade parents who will be Sixth Grade parents next year (many of whom were already in the large lunch room which had been set up for the parents meeting). Nor would it have been necessary for Mr. Hart to be rude to school staff (do I hear the clicking of heels, AGAIN!). What an example for the parents to have observed, Mr. Hart. Shame on you.
And then there were the comments of Mr. Varnum who didn't think it was necessary for the Budget and Finance Committee to meet - even though there were citizens there who clearly remembered that such a meeting had been planned and calendared. Perhaps such a meeting was inconvenient to the private agendas Mr. Varnum and Mr. Hart seem to have going amongst themselves - i.e., Mr. Varnum's announcement (pronouncement) that the School Board had voted to have Mr. Hart extend his Interim Superintendent contract extended past its 6/30/09 expiration date. On what date of which School Board meeting did that take place? - not any meeting in the last three months - nor in any of the Executive Meetings. Even though Therese Anderson, representative from Eddington may say that the topic has been "discussed" - a discussion does not take the place of an official motion, second and vote for the record. And yet, Mr. Varnum felt perfectly free to announce such an action (for himself, apparently) to the public on June 4 as though the Board had taken such an action. The explanation given by Mr. Hart was understandable. There wasn't even the need to point out that Mr. Hart is now serving as Superintendent for CSD8. But Orrington's Superintendent is certainly NOT going to be interested in being Supintendent of an RSU that includes SAD63 and Dedham (even through Mr. hart keeps pushing that consolidation idea).
But, back to Don Varnum - This is not this first (nor, I fear, the last) time Mr. Varnum will consider it his prerogative to make unilateral decisions in the name of the Board of Directors which is sliding perilously close to another legal action for which the taxpayers will have to pay the piper.
Now - Mr. Varnum thinks it is HIS prerogative to give the Clifton School Board rep "another chance" to continue to sit on the Board. The Clifton rep. was appointed to the position by the Clifton Selectmen/women. He was NOT elected by the people.
The Clifton rep did NOT attend the May 13 Public Hearing to review the proposed school budget. Nor did the Clifton rep attend the June 4 Public Meeting for the vote on the School Budget. There are two of the most critical meetings for a School Board representative to attend for the public.
The Clifton rep misses as many School Board meetings as he attends. One of the duties and responsibilities of a School Board rep is to serve on at least two School Board Committees. The Clifton rep serves on NONE. The Clifton rep chose to telephone several individuals in Clifton loudly chastising them for opposing the proposed school budget and admonishing those citizens for not showing confidence in the SAD63 School Board. (Question: Since the Clifton rep failed to show up to the May 13 meeting - how did he have the slightest idea or understanding of the proposed budget?)
Frankly, the people of Clifton have no reason to trust the SAD63 School Board. Not with the School Board lack of representation they have (not) been receiving. No wonder Mr. Varnum supports such an individual. Mr. Varnum receive no opposition from a rep who doesn't show up - who doesn't know what's going on and who can't correct Mr. Varnum when he speaks out of turn or MIS-speaks.
Which is why we need more Penny Peasleys. Selectwoman Peasley pointed out the following at the Budget and Finance Committee meeting that was held (brief as it was) last Wednesday night:
1. There need to be more Citizen Advisory Committee meetings and certainly more frequently than just a few weeks before the Business Manager's Proposed Budget is being submitted for a vote.
2. Finance Reports need to be provided by the Business Manager monthly (not every three or four months as has been the recent history).
(NOTE: When the Business Manager finally arrived with the report Wednesday, the three members of the Advisory Committee who were there had to make a point of asking for copies instead of automatically being provided them.)
3. Finance Reports (and proposed budgets) need to be provided in the same formats that are compatible with actuals (meaning what was budgeted per line item, what has been spent (a) month to date and (b) year to date per line item and then compare that data to what is being projected for the next year's budget - per line item... actual to actual. If certain line items have to be budgeted for 12 months such as teachers' salaries and benefits, then those items need to be shown in projected twelve month projections). And no more of one format for the Finance Reports and an Excel format for the projected budget as the Business Manager did this year, especially since the district's computer is capable of doing all of this - PLUS PAYROLL.
4. The Audit Report for 2007-2008 needs to be made available immediately. The report should have been ready at least six months ago.
NOTE: The Audit is a Public Document and there is no excuse for it not to be available now. (The Business Manager has been trying to say the current lawsuit against the former Superintendent is the reason why it has not been available and that excuse just does not hold water - my statement, not Ms. Peasley's. The Business Manager gave some kind of comment regarding the Auditor's "letter" being ready or nearly ready - and that doesn't hold water, either. Having worked in the financial industry at one point, I know that an auditor's "letter" is used as the cover document stating the process used in the audit and the auditor's "general findings". Like Ms. Peasley reportedly stated, I, too, think the delay is because there is a "problem" in the auditors findings [or somebody is trying to hide something.]. Remember, one of the reasons the Business Manager was hired was because she supposedly has a CPA certification. So, if there is a "problem" noted in the "letter", maybe there are some negotiations going on to try to minimize the wording of the "problem." Frankly, I think it's time to bring in the State Attorney General to look into all of the questionable goings on that Mr. Varnum, Mr. Hart, and Ms. Mitchell seem to want to keep away from the eyes of the public/taxpayers. And remember - all three of them are friends and supporters of the former Superintendent, Louise Regan. If you don't think THAT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, then you, too, may have a fox guarding the henhouse.
Penny Peasley is a lot smarter than any of those three would like to acknowledge. She's a lot smoother, nicer, more tactful that I am or ever will be. I admit it. Because I will come right out and say I don't trust any of them. Thank goodness Karen Clark is around to try (I say TRY) to keep Mr. Varnum from doing something clearly illegal. It's clear he doesn't know any of the policies or perhaps he'd prefer to ignore them. But Karen, as Policy Committee Chair not only knows them, she's keeping them up to date and current with the law (and cleaning them up from what the previous Superintendent "changed" without any School Board approval).
Mr. Varnum should be removed from the position of Chair - even though he has stated he will not step down - because he seems to have a problem with memory, with facts, and is willing to totally disregard his responsibilities as an elected representative of the people of Holden. But all three towns' taxpayers will end up paying for any legal problem he creates as Chair of SAD63. And even though Mr. Hart is advocating SAD63 consolidate with Dedham and Orrington, when did the School Board authorize either Mr. Varnum or Mr. Hart to initiate any discussion with those two communities re: consolidation? Seems to me, this whole lawsuit with the previous Superintendent all started because she initiated communication with communities re: consolidation before she had official Board authorization to do so. Is this de ja vu? What's wrong with taking a survey of Clifton, Eddington and Holden to see how families here would feel about consolidating with Dedham and Orrington?
So, back to my original premise. Let's clone Penny Peasley. We need people like Penny on the School Board. We need people like Penny in the Central Office and Administration of SAD63. We need Penny to attend the School Board meeting next Monday night to stand up and tell those members who DO attend that it's time to stop their little cliques and get down to the business of the business of quality education at an accountable price.
Who from the School Board will be on the negotiating team for the new teachers contract? It can't be Therese Anderson, Pam Dorr or Mario Tesel because they're all teachers. That's a conflict of interest - plain and simple. It certainly can't be the so-called rep from Clifton because he hasn't been at enough meetings to know anything about how the Board operates or the workings of SAD63. It certainly can't be Mr. Varnum. He can't be trusted to remember what is the truth and what he thinks should be the truth - other than what he and Mr. Hart concoct in the backroom. It sure as heck can't be Ms. Mitchell (for more reasons that I want to list.) So that leaves Sylvia Ellis (who'll do whatever Hart or Varnum tell her to do); Kevin Mills, the new rep from Holden; and Karen Clark, the rep from Eddington who's been on the negotiation team for several negotiations so she at least knows some history of the process.
Maybe the School Board should consider appointing someone from the Citizens Advisory Board to sit on the negotiating team. How about Ralph Russell from Eddington. Or PENNY. At least we could get some objective and fresh ideas. Sure would be better for the taxpayers.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Can you spot the typo?
There is a typo is the "Crystal Ball" blog I entered yesterday. Can you spot it?
*****
We will be trying to get fliers re: the Farmers Market distributed next Tuesday via the school children attending the Eddington, Holbrook and Holden schools. Check with your neighbors who have children in those schools - or your children's take-home papers if you have children attending those schools.
There will also be information posted here weekly on Fridays. The Market will be held on Sundays only - at the Eddington Town Office - Route 9.
*****
We will be trying to get fliers re: the Farmers Market distributed next Tuesday via the school children attending the Eddington, Holbrook and Holden schools. Check with your neighbors who have children in those schools - or your children's take-home papers if you have children attending those schools.
There will also be information posted here weekly on Fridays. The Market will be held on Sundays only - at the Eddington Town Office - Route 9.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A Crystal Ball for SAD63 School Board Members
Tewksbury, Mass. (approximately the size of Bangor) finally had to face a major fiscal shortfall in its school budget. Seems that School Board has a better sense of reality than the SAD63 Board. Tewksbury's situation finally came home to roost. This is what SAD63 may be facing in 2010-1011 because it refused to be responsible this year and because voters continue to be apathetic to irresponsible district administration.
TEWKSBURY -- Despite passionate pleas from teachers and parents for leniency, the School Committee voted unanimously last night to temporarily roll back the workday -- and thus the salaries -- of all school employees by 10 percent come July 1. But the committee also left the door open for other suggestions, noting that it could not delay the controversial vote because of a contractual June 15 layoff deadline that the teachers union declined to waive. "We're not close-minded," Chairman Richard O'Neill said after the vote. "Closing a school is off the table and we're not going to just flat lay off 40 people, but anything else we're willing to entertain. "In the meantime, though, all school employees will receive pink slips. Recall notices with a reduced, 90 percent workload will then follow. Those employees who agree to be rehired will essentially accept a temporary 10 percent pay cut and shorter work week. How long the workload reduction remains in effect will depend on how much the school district will have to cut once the state budget is finalized.
Officials with the Tewksbury Teachers Association (TTA) last night vowed to fight the measure, saying it violates their contract. "We'll battle them, no matter what it takes," TTA official Tony Blandini said. "All budgets are tight, but this is no way to solve the problem -- by demoralizing the entire school system. You can't expect teachers to constantly subsidize this budget."
Although the state's fiscal numbers remain in flux, school officials said last night that they expect to face a deficit of about $1.3 million in fiscal 2010, which starts July 1. "If state revenues continue to fall, this may not be the worst scenario," School Business Manager Jack Quinn said. "There's a lot going on right now. It's very, very difficult to get a grasp on where we're going to be a month or two down the road. But the lack of revenues is starting to find its way down to the cities and towns."
Assuming the shortfall will amount to $1.3 million, O'Neill argued that the only other way to bridge such a deficit would be through the layoff of 35 to 38 school employees. That would be on top of the 58 positions the Tewksbury School Department has already shed over the last five years, 38.5 of which were teaching jobs. "We can't do that and still call ourselves a school district. You know that and we know that," he told the 100 parents and school workers squeezed into the Wynn Middle School library last night. Dozens more were kept in a hallway outside by fire officials concerned about the room's capacity. A police detail was also on hand to help control the at times feisty crowd. Many teachers wore pink ribbons to represent their fight against pink slips. As the audience completed the pledge of allegiance, commonly held at the start of School Committee meetings, some couldn't resist echoing the "justice for all" part. Dozens had also flooded School Committee members with phone calls and e-mails after a June 5 Sun story on the workload reduction plan, sharing worries about how the salary cut would, for instance, hinder mortgage payments. Some teachers walked out of the meeting in tears last night. One kindergarten staff member wondered if she would still be getting a paycheck once her $12,000 annual salary absorbs health-insurance increases and the 10 percent pay cut.
"No one person I talked to over the weekend didn't have a compelling story," O'Neill noted. "But collectively, they also said let somebody else have it. That has to end."
"In my mind, it is absolutely immoral to send 30 of your colleagues to the wolves, having them worry about how to pay their mortgage, so you can keep your job and get your raises," School Committee member Michael Kelley added.
But some residents and teachers questioned whether every avenue had truly been explored. "Why can't we come up with a better solution with the TTA? There has to be (one)," former teacher and Bridle Path resident Kristen Polimeno said. "There has to be a better way of doing right by our teachers and our kids as well."
Some, like teacher and Sharon Street resident Jean Chan, said they would rather see the pain be shared more broadly through the implementation of bus fees, trash fees or tax increases. But O'Neill was quick to note that the School Committee would not have jurisdiction over the latter two options.
"You have to talk to selectmen about that," he said."We have been fiscally mismanaged for so many years," Chan shot back, met by thunderous applause. "It shouldn't continue to be on the backs of the School Department." http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_12568018
TEWKSBURY -- Despite passionate pleas from teachers and parents for leniency, the School Committee voted unanimously last night to temporarily roll back the workday -- and thus the salaries -- of all school employees by 10 percent come July 1. But the committee also left the door open for other suggestions, noting that it could not delay the controversial vote because of a contractual June 15 layoff deadline that the teachers union declined to waive. "We're not close-minded," Chairman Richard O'Neill said after the vote. "Closing a school is off the table and we're not going to just flat lay off 40 people, but anything else we're willing to entertain. "In the meantime, though, all school employees will receive pink slips. Recall notices with a reduced, 90 percent workload will then follow. Those employees who agree to be rehired will essentially accept a temporary 10 percent pay cut and shorter work week. How long the workload reduction remains in effect will depend on how much the school district will have to cut once the state budget is finalized.
Officials with the Tewksbury Teachers Association (TTA) last night vowed to fight the measure, saying it violates their contract. "We'll battle them, no matter what it takes," TTA official Tony Blandini said. "All budgets are tight, but this is no way to solve the problem -- by demoralizing the entire school system. You can't expect teachers to constantly subsidize this budget."
Although the state's fiscal numbers remain in flux, school officials said last night that they expect to face a deficit of about $1.3 million in fiscal 2010, which starts July 1. "If state revenues continue to fall, this may not be the worst scenario," School Business Manager Jack Quinn said. "There's a lot going on right now. It's very, very difficult to get a grasp on where we're going to be a month or two down the road. But the lack of revenues is starting to find its way down to the cities and towns."
Assuming the shortfall will amount to $1.3 million, O'Neill argued that the only other way to bridge such a deficit would be through the layoff of 35 to 38 school employees. That would be on top of the 58 positions the Tewksbury School Department has already shed over the last five years, 38.5 of which were teaching jobs. "We can't do that and still call ourselves a school district. You know that and we know that," he told the 100 parents and school workers squeezed into the Wynn Middle School library last night. Dozens more were kept in a hallway outside by fire officials concerned about the room's capacity. A police detail was also on hand to help control the at times feisty crowd. Many teachers wore pink ribbons to represent their fight against pink slips. As the audience completed the pledge of allegiance, commonly held at the start of School Committee meetings, some couldn't resist echoing the "justice for all" part. Dozens had also flooded School Committee members with phone calls and e-mails after a June 5 Sun story on the workload reduction plan, sharing worries about how the salary cut would, for instance, hinder mortgage payments. Some teachers walked out of the meeting in tears last night. One kindergarten staff member wondered if she would still be getting a paycheck once her $12,000 annual salary absorbs health-insurance increases and the 10 percent pay cut.
"No one person I talked to over the weekend didn't have a compelling story," O'Neill noted. "But collectively, they also said let somebody else have it. That has to end."
"In my mind, it is absolutely immoral to send 30 of your colleagues to the wolves, having them worry about how to pay their mortgage, so you can keep your job and get your raises," School Committee member Michael Kelley added.
But some residents and teachers questioned whether every avenue had truly been explored. "Why can't we come up with a better solution with the TTA? There has to be (one)," former teacher and Bridle Path resident Kristen Polimeno said. "There has to be a better way of doing right by our teachers and our kids as well."
Some, like teacher and Sharon Street resident Jean Chan, said they would rather see the pain be shared more broadly through the implementation of bus fees, trash fees or tax increases. But O'Neill was quick to note that the School Committee would not have jurisdiction over the latter two options.
"You have to talk to selectmen about that," he said."We have been fiscally mismanaged for so many years," Chan shot back, met by thunderous applause. "It shouldn't continue to be on the backs of the School Department." http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_12568018
Woody Woodman at Clewley's Saturday Night
There will be good sounds at the restaurant Saturday night. And I hear the menu has added roast pork. Better get there early if you want any of that!
The band plays on the first floor in the area usually used for the salad bar or the buffet for the Sunday brunch. It's a good group and includes a keyboard, drums, sax, singer and I don't know what else. Sounds like a full dance band - which probably accounts for the couples who dance all over the place. (And don't forget to leave room for the outstanding ice cream!) The full bar is upstairs on the second floor.
******
I've been amazed (and entertained) by the yellow finches, red-headed woodpeckers, chipmunks, and hummingbirds - not to mention new birds I've never seen before all gathering around the bird feeder on the back porch and hanging flowers. Now, if we could just get some decent weather and send the mosquitoes on their way! BUT - if you've seen those TV commercials for that product you can clip on your waist that has the little fan and sends mosquitoes away... they really work!!!
I bought some at Hannafords last week for working in the yard. They have two batteries (included) - AA, I think, that generate the fan and there's a scent that you insert (instructions included in the original packet - refills available). There's an on/off switch the wearer can push so you only use the batteries/scent when you want to. And the thing really does work as far as mosquitoes are concerned. But black flies are impervious to the thing. Darn!
I don't remember the cost but I think it was somewhere around $5.00 per. I don't remember the cost of the refills (there are two per packet though). Caution: If you clip it on your waist, be sure not to have clothing cover the thing. You need the whole thing exposed to the air to send the mosquitoes somewhere else. :-)
*****
If you didn't read yesterday's blog re: the voting results on the School Budget - Clifton passed the budget by only 3 votes (of a total 61 votes cast) - and Eddington passed it by only 14 (of a total 116 votes cast). Of course there are 1600 registered voters in Eddington so you should have some idea how disgusted I am about the poor citizenship in this town. One has to wonder what our schools are teaching regarding citizenship. Not much apparently.
The band plays on the first floor in the area usually used for the salad bar or the buffet for the Sunday brunch. It's a good group and includes a keyboard, drums, sax, singer and I don't know what else. Sounds like a full dance band - which probably accounts for the couples who dance all over the place. (And don't forget to leave room for the outstanding ice cream!) The full bar is upstairs on the second floor.
******
I've been amazed (and entertained) by the yellow finches, red-headed woodpeckers, chipmunks, and hummingbirds - not to mention new birds I've never seen before all gathering around the bird feeder on the back porch and hanging flowers. Now, if we could just get some decent weather and send the mosquitoes on their way! BUT - if you've seen those TV commercials for that product you can clip on your waist that has the little fan and sends mosquitoes away... they really work!!!
I bought some at Hannafords last week for working in the yard. They have two batteries (included) - AA, I think, that generate the fan and there's a scent that you insert (instructions included in the original packet - refills available). There's an on/off switch the wearer can push so you only use the batteries/scent when you want to. And the thing really does work as far as mosquitoes are concerned. But black flies are impervious to the thing. Darn!
I don't remember the cost but I think it was somewhere around $5.00 per. I don't remember the cost of the refills (there are two per packet though). Caution: If you clip it on your waist, be sure not to have clothing cover the thing. You need the whole thing exposed to the air to send the mosquitoes somewhere else. :-)
*****
If you didn't read yesterday's blog re: the voting results on the School Budget - Clifton passed the budget by only 3 votes (of a total 61 votes cast) - and Eddington passed it by only 14 (of a total 116 votes cast). Of course there are 1600 registered voters in Eddington so you should have some idea how disgusted I am about the poor citizenship in this town. One has to wonder what our schools are teaching regarding citizenship. Not much apparently.
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