Readers of this blog will remember the stories about the state fire marshall stopping construction on the new kindergarten classrooms. For those who don't remember here are the headlines. The school board(who had responsibility for overseeing and organizing this project) did not bother to get the proper, and legal, safety permits, Bulding, electrical, fire, plumbing, etc. When asked about this at a school board meeting, Chairman William Baldwin, himself a police Lt. in Atkinson, said that the school board did not need to get those permits. When fire chief Murphy told them they needed permts, they blew him off as well. When chief Murphy refused to sign off on work performed due to lack of permits, the SCHOOL BOARD or its assigns called the state fire marshall in an attempt to do an end run around the town. The state fire marshall shut down construction, finding 14 violations onsite.
Then the Board could not find plans and schematics for the electrical and plumbing for the building. So here we are 4 weeks before the start of school and the building is still stopped! The board has submitted plans, finally, why didn't they have plans and schematics BEFORE construction began? Why weren't safety permits important? I mean, it is only OUR KIDS IN THERE!!! What about the 2/3 of the school with no sprinklers?
What about the lack of fire truck access around the back of the building? Volunteers were doing that work for free two years ago, until Jack Sapia ordered them to stop. Now that access road and wall will cost us $138,000. Jack, why don't YOU pony up the cash for this debacle?
And here is another scandal resulting from the school boards mismanagement of this project... There were no RFP's tendered for outfitting the classrooms in all four towns! Typically when a government entity wants to get something done that will cost more a $1000, they, by law, have to request competitive bids from at least three vendors. They do this by putting out a document called a "Request for proposal" or RFP. This document gives all prospective vendors the SPECIFIC specifications for the project, so that they will all be bidding on the same items. For example, RFP would state we want a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, base model, no options, and all vendors would bid on the same item.
That is not how the school board organized this(note: we are picking on the school board because it was THEIR responsibility, no one elses) They put one of the elemtary school principles in charge of getting this done. Bear in mind that one of the bidders is the husband of a Sandown School Administrator, who works in a furniture store, They merely gave the prospective vendors a general list, ie: a teachers chair, a teachers desk, 20 children's desks, etc. NO SPECIFICS!!!
The problem with this corrupt way of doing this is there are no objective standards at work. So lets say that one vendor that does this for a living quotes on a Steelcase Teachers chair, excellent quality, and guaranted for life, but $200, and the employees husband quotes on the chair on clearance at staples for $69.99, The school would go with the $69.99 one, but had they put that in the RFP, the first vendor could have supplied that very same chair for a cost of only $47.62, a savings of $22.37. This is why the law requires competitive bidding, but that was too complicated for our board. Multiply thhese saving by the 10,000 items required to outfit all the classrooms.
This is our tax dollars being wasted by incompetent elected officials too lazy to do this the right way. The fact that this travesty is being perpetrated under the management of School Board Chairman Baldwin, himself a resident and employee of the town is just one more area of concern.
The school Board is looking every bit as competent as our selectmen at this moment!
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
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LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
18 comments:
And know you know why I have voted against the Kindergarden every time it has been on the ballot.
Same here, Timberlane has enough trouble educating kids without trying to figure out how to write bid proposals, and oversee construction projects.
I'm not a fan of Lt. Baldwin, but in this case, let's cut him some slack. The real administrator of the school district is the Superintendent. He's the one who reports to and advises the School Board. The Board follows his recommendations. Therefore, wouldn't it have been the responsibiity of Mr. McDonald to prepare all necessary information and paperwork for the Board's approval? He's the one with prior experience with RFPs and and construction. Where was his advice? Baldwin wouldn't know any of that.
You are exactly right, well partially. We are not critical of Mr. Baldwin so much because we think it was his responsibility to oversee this, remember we are criticizing the ENTIRE school board for not doing their duty in that regard.
No Mr. Baldwin earned his criticism for stating in the Eagle-Tribune and in school board meetings that they didn't need to get safety permits from the town, a town whihc he should have been MORE protective of our kids safety because he is a cop and resident in this town.
The school board, when Dr. MacDonald told them that he was putting the RFP in the hands of a grammar school principle with no experience in these matters, should have question that wisdom, and overruled him. But they NEVER overrule him that is the problem. They act like bobbleheads to the superintendent. He works for them yet they act as if they work for him.
Can you imagine an employee/dept. head like the Chief Consentino coming into a selectmen's meeting and telling them what to do? Well perhaps that is not a good example, but you know what we mean.
These people are not incompetent. They are doing the best they can. All these cost saving measures were forced on the SAU by taxpayers who would only vote for kindergarten if it was FREE. Well, you get what you pay for.
Once the kindergarten is open and people realize how important it is, it will be easier to get public support for the kindergarten our children need.
Instead of criticizing the School Board, Mr. Baldwin, and Peg Ralph -- who have worked tirelessly to make this happen -- criticize the taxpayers who would not support ballot measures that would properly fund public kindergarten.
Did you ever think that maybe the reason the taxpayers were against PUBLIC kindergarten was because they instinctively know that it is merely an open door to an expansion of not only the school districts control over our kids, but their control over our wallet! That the union is actively destroying public education nationwide, and you can see the decline in standards here locally now. That Timberlane, which used to be among the top performing districts in the state, now ranks 16th out of 23 in ROCKINGHAM COUNTY!!!
And besides all of the above, When you are an elected official, you are duty bound to find out how to do your job correctly, while saving the taxpayers as much as possible.
There are rules in place, is it too much to ask for them to be followed? But it takes a certain arrogance to be told what the rules are and then say "we don't have to follow those rules" This is a lack of responsibility!
It is common to hear advocates of this waste and corruption to assault the taxpayers for not giving them enough, When do you expect to be held to acocunt for all that you have been given?
At what point do you expect to have to show some results for the $11,000/student that you extort from us?
I've always supported kindergarten...I had it when I was a kid, and I think it's a good thing. However, some things are necessary. The earlier anon was right. Permits should be necessary, and Lt. Baldwin was not right to say we don't need them. He lives in Atkinson...no big deal to talk with the Fire Chief. (Isn't the Lt. on the FD as well?)
He should have kept his mouth shut.
So someone doesn't think it is fair to criticize the school board?
They rushed the start of construction, without proper permits, plans, and schematics!
When told that they would need them they arrogantly said no we don't, and tried to call the state fire marshall to get around the town.
This plan backfired because they were wrong! Hubris and arrogance!
When the state fire marshall shut down construction, they found they didnt have the necesary schematics to get permits, resulting in a month's delay.
And lets not forget the fire access road that was being built for free, and now is going to cost the taxpayers $138,000.
And nothing is being done for free! It doesn't matter if the money comes from the Feds, state or town, it still comes from us!
And so will the continuing rise in the districts budget, over the coming years.
Timberlane is becoming great at teaching self esteem, but sadly lack in reading writing and arithmetic.
IF this is the best that the school board and administration can do perhaps they should be replaced. Other districts seem to know how to build a building without running into trouble from the state fire marshal.
The board got the money they asked for. There is no indication that more money would have helped with this particularl problem. It seems likely that they would have taken this wonderful short cut even if they had more money.
I have to say it does seem to me, an Atkinson resident, that this blog does have a vendetta against Lt. Baldwin. The reason i say this is, anything that he publicly says is twisted around. I am sure that the safety of our children is very important to The entire school
Board and administration.Thanks
I have been a resident in Atkinson for 44 years and I am sick and tired of hearing everyone who criticizes our chief, selectmen, school board, or our police Lt. as having a vendetta! Couldn't there be some truth to the issues at hand?
The fact is the school board had the responsibility of doing this project and safeguarding our money, they failed!
The fact is that Mr. Baldwin made those comments at a school board meeting. Now in all fairness maybe that is what Dr. MacDonald told him, I don't know, but I do know it was his responibility to either check what he was being told, or after finding out that the permits were needed, not publicly say that the board didn't need them.
It really is that simple. I see no vendetta's here, I see some degree of outrage over a public officials stupid comments. If you can't take a little criticism then you shouldn't be a public official, because even when doing your job you are bound to upset someone.
I have been a resident in Atkinson for 44 years and I am sick and tired of hearing everyone who criticizes our chief, selectmen, school board, or our police Lt. as having a vendetta! Couldn't there be some truth to the issues at hand?
The fact is the school board had the responsibility of doing this project and safeguarding our money, they failed!
The fact is that Mr. Baldwin made those comments at a school board meeting. Now in all fairness maybe that is what Dr. MacDonald told him, I don't know, but I do know it was his responibility to either check what he was being told, or after finding out that the permits were needed, not publicly say that the board didn't need them.
It really is that simple. I see no vendetta's here, I see some degree of outrage over a public officials stupid comments. If you can't take a little criticism then you shouldn't be a public official, because even when doing your job you are bound to upset someone.
Ok well there are some people who seem to get more criticism then others....
There are people who throught their own actions, or lack thereof earn criticism more than others.
Please try to remove the personalities, and look solely at the actions, be objective, and see if there isn't reason for the criticism.
To anon @ 9:23
What cost saving measures?
What are you talking about?
Refusing to get safety permits is not a cost saving measure!
Refusing to follow the law is not a cost saving measure!
We give this school district almost $11,000/kids to educate our kids, are you seriously going to suggest that is not enough to provide a quality education, and that we are getting what we paid for? If so, forgive me but you are an idiot!
There are literally tens of thousands of private schools providng a better quality of education by an order of magnitude, for far less!
Once Again, the SAU administers have sold us a bill of goods. They wanted kindergarten and did what ever they had to do to sell it to the towns voters. They were cutting trees down up at the academy before the vote was even taken. all along they have said there was no room for delay..guess they are eating those words. just like the new contructions and remodles of our school a few years ago...we got screwed..The so called state of the art heating and ventlation system in academy doesn't work. some rooms in the winter are 50 degrees...The high school is already out of room, The academy is pressed for space...so much for planning...they just tell us whatever they can to get what they want...what a Joke.
Curious to know where the $11,000 per student comes from.
Welcome Rob C.
I believe it is the schools budget of $55,700,000 divided by the 4964 students in the district =11,221 per student.
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