Ron Mercier was invited onto the show this morning. We wanted to give him an opportunity prior to the start of the election.
It started with a small discussion about the schools, cutbacks (through attrition and a new alternative school program), and then moved into the resignation of the Martins.
He said he had been talking with [...]

 

 Ron Mercier on 980 WCAP [16:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Mary-Gail Martin calls in as well [2:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This Saturday Morning, we’re going to try something new. Throughout the show I will be running a live blog here on the Dracut Forum.
From this blog, readers can listen in on comments and chat that go on during the show, and leave comments on the blog that we will feed into the discussion as time [...]

It seems that our state does not fulfill the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requirements that Special Education appeals board officers and mediators not be employees of the state education agency.
A message from Commissioner Mitchell Chester on the state website indicates that the SPED agency feels that no past appeals were treated unfairly, and all [...]

I do have to commend Gov Patrick on his proposal to improve support for charter schools.
A discussion yesterday indicated that he wanted to separate out the charter school funding from the regular chapter 70 funding, making it easier for towns and city school districts to plan their budgets.
He also planned to allow for more charter [...]

Up at the federal level, we have the government pushing through a “stimulus” bill which is supposed to get the economy going by creating jobs and getting people spending money.
The plan includes tax cuts (really credits) for most of us who work, as well as most who do not. (There’s a real incentive to improve [...]

That’s the question, and Brian picked up on it pretty well over at his Dracut Politics blog:
The question of the day is whether DeLeo will punish those who supported Rodgers like Tom Finneran did in 1996 when the supporters of Richard Voke were banished to the basement and lowly committees. We shall see.
After having been [...]

Now, word has it that I am not on the Martin’s BFF list. Like Tommy Duggan and any other blogger out there, that never bothered me.  I’ve earned quite a list of enemies that actually matter to me, I don’t let the political ones get to me.
But you’ve got to wonder what the relationship has [...]

In addition to his wife Mary-Gail’s resignation that was turned in to the Town Clerk effective today, Brian Martin also tendered his resignation from the Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee as well.
His effective date is February 13th.
I am informed that both seats will now be up for election in the May town election.
Prior to [...]

The Dracut School Committee signed a contract last night with another union.. again with another raise (this while Wilmington just cancelled a negotiated contract deal and went back to the table knowing that major cuts are on their way). Nancy Gagnon was once again the only member voting against the raise.
The “Administrators” union was [...]