Last Monday we heard that Special Education Director Steve Stone will probably leaving us for a higher paying position in another district.

Now, I’ve heard from a few sources over the last couple weeks.. one from Lowell, others from around town, that Curriculum Director Linda Trouville has taken a position at a school in Lowell and will be leaving our district fairly soon.

No real facts to report.. just heard it from people “in the know” as Mr Bond would put it.  Lets just say that word spreads pretty quickly in our town (and no, Mr Cynic, I didn’t hear it from School Committee members..)

I guess Dr Scott will truly have the opportunity to put together his own team. It looks like he is quickly following through on all the promises he made during his interviews, from what I’ve heard.

Where a full school would have cost about 85 Million dollars, this option to refurbish will only cost about $54 million (only $28 million after state school building funds are applied).

The school upgrade will include a replacement of the Auditorium (great news for those of us who go to town meeting), a 2 story addition, a new gymnasium, and refurbishment of the kitchen and cafeteria. I’ll find out more facts on this later.

The school committee approved the new District Anti-bullying policy, which Atty Kevin Murphy noted aligns very well with the new state laws.

It was noted that Steve Stone, director of Special Education, has been offered a position at another School System and he is considering taking it. Can’t blame him there.. I hear its a good move for good money. We’ll try to keep him, but our new Superintendent may need to fill that position as one of his first major moves.

Speaking of Superintendent Dr Scott (is that how we refer to him?), he spoke to having been settling in very well. They’ve closed down the fiscal year and opened the budget for next year, he’s met with all the principals, visited some of the programs in action over the summer, attended the MASC conference (where he knew most of the presenters), and has been meeting with key community leaders from the region to build the support we need to move ahead.

All in all.. a pretty good July meeting.

(Oh, and over on the other channel, Mr Daigle was questioning the purchase by the US Army Corps of Engineers of a property on Parker Ave.

Reviewing the deeds, it looks like the previous owners are now in Hawaii, and either in the Military or working for the military.

So, its a possibility that their employer paid for their house so they could relocate, and then later unloaded the property at the best price they could find. Lots of employers do a similar thing to get key employees to move to a new location.

Its just an assumption from what I see in the deeds.. but there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong going on here.)

Update: Looks like the Homeowners Assistance Resale Program under the Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acquires single-family homes and other properties, with up to two living units, under the authority of a Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). The HAP is for eligible applicants who are unable to sell their homes, under reasonable terms and conditions, as a result of a base closure or realignment action in certain locations. The properties are then offered for sale to the public. Local real estate agents may show the properties to prospective buyers and submit offers on behalf of the buyer. In addition, local real estate agents will have information such as location of schools, churches, public transportation, and shopping centers.

Here I am posting the contract for the new Superintendent of Schools, Dr Stacy Scott.

There was some discussion during the meeting in June regarding item 6 of the contract, but ultimately the board voted to accept the contract as written.

Destination ImagiNation

Destination ImagiNation Team

First of all, we had the kids from the Dracut High School Destination Imagination report back on their trip to the Global Competition.  The kids took the opportunity to thanks the community and the board for supporting the team. Dr. Mike McNamara once again congratulated the team on such a job well done, and Bonnie Elie made the point that the team made Dracut proud.

We’ll have to watch this team and see what comes of them next year.

Superintendent Items

We heard the last report from Superintendent Espindle. Mostly, she spoke about summer school programs at the Senior and Junior High Schools that are still open for registration, the continued training of teachers on anti-bullying, and a list of end of year programs at the various schools.

The board took one more opportunity to thank her for her coming back to help the district over these four months, and for her help during the upcoming transition.

New Superintendent

As we went into the New Business section of the meeting, we came to the contract for incoming Superintendent Dr. Stacy Scott.

Dr Scott presented some Middie Apparel

Board member Ron Mercier brought up his disagreement with a part of section 6 of the contract:

The Superintendent, with prior approval from teh School Committee Chair, may undertake consultative work, for his personal renumeration, speaking engagements, writing, lecturing, or other professional duties and obligations, provided such activities do not in any manner interfere with the performance of the duties and responsibilities as Superintendent. Such approval shall be given reasonably and in good faith.

Mercier did not like that the Chair of the committee was given the ability to approve such activities, and wanted the entire board to have to vote on such.

Counsel Ed Morris pointed out that a lengthy discussion had been held on this issue during the negotiation meetings (one that Mercier had missed) and in the end the board had decided on this wording.

A considerably uncomfortable argument ensued between Mercier and other members of the board about his bringing this up now. Member Bonnie Elie (back after her recent health scare at town meeting) actually got to the point of saying that “at least I read my informational packets at home to prepare for the meetings, not five minutes before as Mr Mercier does.”

This discussion pointed out, once again, that the board is not in lockstep.. but does argue its issues out in public.

After discussion, the board voted to leave the contract as is; and allowed the Chair to sign it on behalf of the board.

I will get the contract up at a later time, but in summary it is a 3 year term with no rollover provision. The annual rate of pay is $152,500.00 with a possible annual salary adjustment based on a performance evaluation and market forces.

He will get 15 sick days annually, that can only accumulate up to 45 maximum (in case the contract is continued), with a buy-back of only 35% of the unused days.

He will also get 25 vacation days a year, but can only carry forward 5 a year; and once again the vacation “shall be subject to the approval of the Chair of the Committee.” (I guess Mercier didn’t see that one).

In total, the salary is within the range agreed upon before this whole process started, and the sick-time and vacation benefits have been limited so that they cannot become unwieldly costs when he leaves one day.

Dr. Scott has been invited to appear on 980 WCAP’s Saturday Morning Live program this Saturday morning.

Miles presents flowers to Espindle

Espindle Consultancy

A simple consultancy contract was also signed with outgoing Superintendent Elaine Espindle allowing for her to work as an independent consultant at a rate of $100 per hour.

The term of this contract ends at the end of September and is limited to a total of 42 hours spread over that period of time.

At the end of the meeting, Member Mike Miles presented Espindle with flowers, once again thanking her for her efforts.

Golf Tournament

The tournament is on Monday, August 16, 2010 at Hickory Hill in Methuen.  This will be the first fundraiser for the PTO for the upcoming year.  Proceeds go to fund classroom equipment, agnda books, the 7th grade ice cream social, and buses for the end of the year CAnobie Lake trip for the 8th grade.

If you aren’t interested in golfing but would like to volunteer please contact Rebecca Duda at 978-957-3330 ext 110.

We are also looking for sponsors and/or volunteers  for that day (Monday, August 16 at Hickory Hill).

Golf Tournament Flyer

Sponsorship and Donation Form

This was a fascinating description of the current state of the schools, programs and staff, with a good discussion of where we have come from and where we are headed.

Following her report, the present members of the committee took the opportunity to thank her for her efforts. I’ve added that clip as well.

Update: The Superintendent’s Office sent a Superintendent Update transcript for those who prefer to read it.

Jacob Cetaruk

One in particular (besides civics) has always been the issues involving personal finances.

It seems the Dracut High School Teacher Charles Mone has taken it upon himself to work on this issue, and to see what results come of it.

He tells us that across the country, students are failing testing on basic financial literacy. How to reconcile a checkbook, calculate a tip, determine interest.. all are key topics that students should learn. What is a checking account? a savings account? a mortgage?

Those aren’t on the MCAS, but are true life skills that are necessary to succeed.

Dan Enos

After taking on thes topics in his classes, this year his students participated in a National Financial Capability Challenge, developed by the National Department of the Treasury via Tim Geitner, as well as the Department of Education.

Out of the 364 students in Massachusetts who scored in the top 20% of this assessment across the country were nine of Mr Mone’s students.

Anthony Tourville

Those students received certificates for their performance on this test. Three in attendance at the School Committee meeting this week were Dan Enos, Anthony Tourville and Jacob Cetaruk.

Additional recipients were Kaitlin Lessard, Doug Bergeron, Sarah Cardelle, Joe Parisi, Rauly Diaz and Nicholas Derosa.

http://www.challenge.treas.gov/

The chairman of the Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee has told the Lowell Sun that he “doesn’t respond to the press, period.”

In this morning’s Lowell Sun political gossip column:

Were school committee members at the Greater Lowell Technical High School trying to send a message when they elected David Laferriere of Lowell as the chairman of the board?

A Sun reporter recently asked Laferriere for the best way to contact him, and mentioned that The Sun hadn’t been able to reach him during the several months he’s been at the helm.

“And you’re not going to,” said Laferriere.

Laferriere told The Sun he doesn’t return calls to the press, Period.

He did not return a call seeking comment for this Column item.

One of our own representatives, Victor Olson, has been very open with communicating with the press. We haven’t heard from Paul Morin since he ran for office, but have not really tried to reach him yet.

The chairman of the board saying that he refuses to cooperate with the press (who’s job is to report to the community) is an embarrassment to the City of Lowell.

Checking their website, we also see that they have not posted the meeting notice or agenda for the June 10th meeting either as had been done for previous meetings.

I’ve spoken to people in Lowell who say that they intend to run against Laferriere. Maybe its time for them to start putting a campaign committee together.

Salutatorian this year was Taylor Noble, and Valedictorian was George Murphy.

Students applauded by teachers during promenade

I think it was a wonderful statement to get to see Elaine Espindle be able to finish her term as Interim Superintendent by giving her own inspirational remarks to the students at the graduation. She will be missed.

Some information that was provided to me earlier today tells us that after Graduation, 156 students will attend four year colleges, 100 will go on to two year college, and 2 students will attend preparatory schools.

One student is planning on serving the country in the Air Force, one as a Marine, and one will go on to receive training at Annapolis, the United States Naval Academy.

Thirteen students plan on attending trade schools to continue their education and a number of others plan on continuing to work at their present place of employment.

Dan will continue his music studies

The majority of our graduating students going to college will attend the University of Massachusetts at Lowell (43), while 82 plan on attending Middlesex Community College.

For those attending colleges out of state but still in New England 16 will attend schools in New Hampshire, 5 in Maine, 3 in Rhode Island, 1 in Connecticut and 1 in Vermont.

Ten students will attend colleges further across the country in Arizona, New York, Florida, South Carolina and Maryland.

Having chosen approximately fifty different majors, the most popular are Business, Criminal Justice, a health related field, education and engineering.

Elaine Espindle completes her term soon as well

Of the 81 recipients of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship awarded to the top scorers on the state MCAS tests, 43 will take advantage of the scholarship and will have their tuition paid for all four years at the Massachusetts College or University of their choice.

More pictures after the break..

[Show as slideshow]

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