ATKINSON, N.H. — The family of a 20-year-old woman who was fatally shot at a home in Sandown Thursday night is mourning the loss of the 2006 Timberlane Regional High School graduate.
Deidre Budzyna of Atkinson was inside a sport utility vehicle with three friends in the driveway at 9 Morrison Lane in Sandown when she was shot in the back and later died at Parkland Medical Center in Derry, said James Boffetti, an assistant state attorney general.
Investigators have classified Budzyna's death as a homicide because it was the result of a gunshot wound inflicted by another person. But that doesn't necessarily mean criminal charges will be forthcoming, Boffetti said. The gun may have been discharged accidentally, he said. An investigation will unravel how the shooting happened and determine whether anyone will be charged, he said.
Budzyna's friends and relatives gathered yesterday at the home of her parents, Walter and Gail Budzyna, 15 Hemlock Heights Road in Atkinson. Near Big Island Pond, the house is where Budzyna grew up and where she was still living.
While family members declined to discuss any details of her untimely death, they said Budzyna was a wonderful, caring person who always thought of everyone else before herself and treated her friends like members of her family. She loved Jet Skiing on Big Island Pond and was working full time as a nanny for a family with three young children, they said.
"I love my daughter," her father said. "She was the best thing in my life. I'll always love her. She loved life. She loved people."
Her older sister, Nicole, 23, said, "I lost my baby sister and my best friend. She was always helping other people — always looking out for others before herself."
As they talked, family members cried and wiped away tears.
Her aunt, Irene Chenard, of Dracut, Mass., said there was a very close bond between Deidre, her sister and their parents.
"There was a special closeness between Nicole and Deidre," Chenard said. "It was special how they supported one another and cared for each other."
In fact, their father was planning to bring both daughters with him and their mother, Gail, on a trip to Hawaii next year to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
The shooting that claimed Budzyna's life happened at the home of Gloria Caron, 9 Morrison Lane.
Neighbors said they were shocked by the news.
"It's horrible; it's a tragedy," said next-door neighbor Randy Cawthron, 7 Morrison Lane. "It's hard to believe someone was killed next door."
Cawthron's son, Ryan, 17, who was home at the time of the shooting, said he didn't hear a gunshot.
"I just heard the normal commotion whenever they have a party next door, just talking," he said.
His father said a lot of young people "hang out" at the residence because there's a swimming pool there.
When a reporter called the Caron residence, an unidentified woman who answered the phone said, "We're all set. We're not talking."
Boffetti said Budzyna was still alive when rescue workers arrived. They administered medical treatment at the scene and took her to Parkland Medical Center in Derry where she was pronounced dead.
Saturday, June 28
Friday, June 27
Schools not properly preparing kids
From www.Townhall.com
http://townhall.com/news/us/2008/06/27/poll_schools_not_properly_preparing_kids
It's not much of a report card.
Half of Americans say U.S. schools are doing only a fair to poor job preparing kids for college and the work force. Even more feel that way about the skills kids need to survive as adults, an Associated Press poll released Friday finds.
"A lot of kids, when they get out school, are kind of lost," said Jamie Norton, a firefighter in Gridley, Calif. "When you get out of high school, what are you educated to do?"
The views of the general population echo concerns from business and college leaders, who say they have to spend a lot of time and money on remedial education for people who completed high school but don't have the skills to succeed at work or in higher education.
Education ranks behind the economy and gas prices as a top issue for Americans, the survey said. However, nearly all those polled said the quality of a country's education system has a big impact on a country's overall economic prosperity.
Education was generally viewed to be as important as health care and slightly ahead of the Iraq war. Among minority parents, education is just as important an issue as the economy.
Minorities and whites rate schools differently. Fifty-nine percent of whites rate their local school as good or excellent, compared with 42 percent of minorities.
Minority parents are more likely to think their children are getting a better education than they received as children. Overall, the majority of those surveyed said the quality of U.S. schools has declined over the past 20 years.
Three-fourths of those surveyed believe schools place too much emphasis on the wrong subjects. Asked what subjects should be given more time in school, more than a third said math. English was a distant second, at 21 percent. A tiny fraction picked art, music and the sciences, such as biology and chemistry.
Parents may want more math in school because they feel unprepared to help at home, said Janine Remillard, who teaches math-related courses at the University of Pennsylvania's education school.
"Math is the subject that parents are often intimidated by," she said. "We've allowed a lot of kids to just say, 'I'm not good at math,' .... and those kids become parents."
Most think the United States is just keeping up or falling behind the rest of the world in education. On some recent international tests, U.S. students have posted flat scores and landed in the middle to bottom of the pack when compared with other nation's children.
Americans have mixed views about standardized tests, which have grown in importance. The 2002 federal No Child Left Behind law judges schools based on math and reading tests taken by their students. Schools face increasingly tough consequences for scores that miss the mark.
About half of those polled said standardized tests measure the quality of education offered by schools well, while the rest disagree.
The vast majority think classroom work and homework _ not standardized tests _ are the best ways to measure how well students are doing.
Larry Michalec, a computer programmer in San Deigo, called the testing a waste of time. "They're standardized and people aren't standardized," he said. "Children get taught to the test. They get taught to take the test. They don't get taught to learn." Continued...
http://townhall.com/news/us/2008/06/27/poll_schools_not_properly_preparing_kids
It's not much of a report card.
Half of Americans say U.S. schools are doing only a fair to poor job preparing kids for college and the work force. Even more feel that way about the skills kids need to survive as adults, an Associated Press poll released Friday finds.
"A lot of kids, when they get out school, are kind of lost," said Jamie Norton, a firefighter in Gridley, Calif. "When you get out of high school, what are you educated to do?"
The views of the general population echo concerns from business and college leaders, who say they have to spend a lot of time and money on remedial education for people who completed high school but don't have the skills to succeed at work or in higher education.
Education ranks behind the economy and gas prices as a top issue for Americans, the survey said. However, nearly all those polled said the quality of a country's education system has a big impact on a country's overall economic prosperity.
Education was generally viewed to be as important as health care and slightly ahead of the Iraq war. Among minority parents, education is just as important an issue as the economy.
Minorities and whites rate schools differently. Fifty-nine percent of whites rate their local school as good or excellent, compared with 42 percent of minorities.
Minority parents are more likely to think their children are getting a better education than they received as children. Overall, the majority of those surveyed said the quality of U.S. schools has declined over the past 20 years.
Three-fourths of those surveyed believe schools place too much emphasis on the wrong subjects. Asked what subjects should be given more time in school, more than a third said math. English was a distant second, at 21 percent. A tiny fraction picked art, music and the sciences, such as biology and chemistry.
Parents may want more math in school because they feel unprepared to help at home, said Janine Remillard, who teaches math-related courses at the University of Pennsylvania's education school.
"Math is the subject that parents are often intimidated by," she said. "We've allowed a lot of kids to just say, 'I'm not good at math,' .... and those kids become parents."
Most think the United States is just keeping up or falling behind the rest of the world in education. On some recent international tests, U.S. students have posted flat scores and landed in the middle to bottom of the pack when compared with other nation's children.
Americans have mixed views about standardized tests, which have grown in importance. The 2002 federal No Child Left Behind law judges schools based on math and reading tests taken by their students. Schools face increasingly tough consequences for scores that miss the mark.
About half of those polled said standardized tests measure the quality of education offered by schools well, while the rest disagree.
The vast majority think classroom work and homework _ not standardized tests _ are the best ways to measure how well students are doing.
Larry Michalec, a computer programmer in San Deigo, called the testing a waste of time. "They're standardized and people aren't standardized," he said. "Children get taught to the test. They get taught to take the test. They don't get taught to learn." Continued...
Wednesday, June 25
Intimidation of Bloggers attempted again...
Carol Grant said...
Publius,
Please accept as a separate article. Thank you.
Carol Grant
INTIMIDATION ATTEMPTS CONTINUE AGAINST ATKINSON BLOG AND BLOGGERS
This past spring, re-printed on the blog was a copy of an accusatory and threatening letter sent by Phil Consentino to Mark Acciard, threatening legal action against Acciard because Consentino did not like an Anonymous blog submission critical of himself. There was no proof or reason to think that Acciard wrote the blog submission, but Consentino blamed and accused him anyway.
Mr. Acciard bought Consentino’s letter to the attention of the selectmen as part of a complaint against Consentino. The selectmen stated that they had DEFINITLY NOT authorized the letter although it was written as official town correspondence on official Atkinson Police Dept. Stationery, with Consentino’s signature appearing over the title Chief of Police.
I reference that most recent past anti-blog, anti-blogger letter only because, to our great surprise, my husband and I also recently received one of those type of letters. It was written by Atty. Garry Lane who was hired by the town’s insurance company to represent four town officials in my recently settled law suit against them.
it seems that at least one of the defendants, possibly/probably in a snitty-fit because of having paid me a settlement, went whining to Lane about the fact that an Anonymous resident recently dared to exercise his/her right of free speech and free expression to express on the blog an opinion about how “It’s time to take these corrupt selectmen out of office and sue them personally.” That particular blog submission also said “It’s time to put a stop to... people running our town. People like Polito, Childs, Sapia, ...Police Chief, Town Administrator, and any other political hack that wants to participate.”
Lane referred to the blog posting as a “potentially very serious matter.” I personally think that the only “potentially very serious matter” is the fact that Lane and one or more of his defendant clients feel that they can get away with unsubstantiated false accusations against Ken or I for something we didn’t do.
When I submit something to the blog, it’s never personal. It always concerns a ballot or public issue, like the Vietnam Honor Roll or protecting our water resources---and I sign my name to what I submit. If Lane or his un-named whiner client feel that either Ken or I are going to tolerate the garbage of false accusations from EITHER of them, he/they better think twice.
You would think that town officials who just went through a defamation suit would have learned that false accusations and disparaging innocent people have serious consequences. Obviously, instead of counseling his un-learning client about the lesson the lawsuit should have taught him, Atty. Lane decided to pander to him.
In my response letter to Lane, I strongly pointed out the hypocrisy of his making false accusations on behalf of clients recently filed against for defamations and disparagements.
In speaking about public officials, Thomas Jefferson stated that “When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.”
That’s very true. As long as blog postings are not recklessly, deliberately or knowingly slanderous, Atkinsonians have a constitutional freedom and right to post and express their own opinions and criticisms of elected or appointed public officials. Certain officials wouldn’t have such a bad reputation in town if they hadn’t worked so hard at earning it by their misconduct.
Since the start of the blog, Atkinson residents have strongly criticized certain Atkinson officials for actions which residents see as misconduct and immoral and unethical behavior. It is and will continue to be the right of residents to criticize.
Criticized public officials could have cleaned up their act at any time but arrogantly chose not to, considering themselves above accountability to the residents of Atkinson. They bring public criticism on themselves by their repeated mis-conduct. Hopefully, critical postings will encourage public officials to clean up their act.
If there are more critical postings to come in the future from angry or disgusted Atkinson residents, so be it!
Bloggers shouldn’t ever allow themselves to be intimidated by insulting letters such as was sent by Atty. Lane.
In conclusion, it is repugnant to free speech that any resident should ever receive a letter sent in an attempt to intimidate or restrain anyone in the exercise of their free speech rights.
Carol Grant
Publius,
Please accept as a separate article. Thank you.
Carol Grant
INTIMIDATION ATTEMPTS CONTINUE AGAINST ATKINSON BLOG AND BLOGGERS
This past spring, re-printed on the blog was a copy of an accusatory and threatening letter sent by Phil Consentino to Mark Acciard, threatening legal action against Acciard because Consentino did not like an Anonymous blog submission critical of himself. There was no proof or reason to think that Acciard wrote the blog submission, but Consentino blamed and accused him anyway.
Mr. Acciard bought Consentino’s letter to the attention of the selectmen as part of a complaint against Consentino. The selectmen stated that they had DEFINITLY NOT authorized the letter although it was written as official town correspondence on official Atkinson Police Dept. Stationery, with Consentino’s signature appearing over the title Chief of Police.
I reference that most recent past anti-blog, anti-blogger letter only because, to our great surprise, my husband and I also recently received one of those type of letters. It was written by Atty. Garry Lane who was hired by the town’s insurance company to represent four town officials in my recently settled law suit against them.
it seems that at least one of the defendants, possibly/probably in a snitty-fit because of having paid me a settlement, went whining to Lane about the fact that an Anonymous resident recently dared to exercise his/her right of free speech and free expression to express on the blog an opinion about how “It’s time to take these corrupt selectmen out of office and sue them personally.” That particular blog submission also said “It’s time to put a stop to... people running our town. People like Polito, Childs, Sapia, ...Police Chief, Town Administrator, and any other political hack that wants to participate.”
Lane referred to the blog posting as a “potentially very serious matter.” I personally think that the only “potentially very serious matter” is the fact that Lane and one or more of his defendant clients feel that they can get away with unsubstantiated false accusations against Ken or I for something we didn’t do.
When I submit something to the blog, it’s never personal. It always concerns a ballot or public issue, like the Vietnam Honor Roll or protecting our water resources---and I sign my name to what I submit. If Lane or his un-named whiner client feel that either Ken or I are going to tolerate the garbage of false accusations from EITHER of them, he/they better think twice.
You would think that town officials who just went through a defamation suit would have learned that false accusations and disparaging innocent people have serious consequences. Obviously, instead of counseling his un-learning client about the lesson the lawsuit should have taught him, Atty. Lane decided to pander to him.
In my response letter to Lane, I strongly pointed out the hypocrisy of his making false accusations on behalf of clients recently filed against for defamations and disparagements.
In speaking about public officials, Thomas Jefferson stated that “When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.”
That’s very true. As long as blog postings are not recklessly, deliberately or knowingly slanderous, Atkinsonians have a constitutional freedom and right to post and express their own opinions and criticisms of elected or appointed public officials. Certain officials wouldn’t have such a bad reputation in town if they hadn’t worked so hard at earning it by their misconduct.
Since the start of the blog, Atkinson residents have strongly criticized certain Atkinson officials for actions which residents see as misconduct and immoral and unethical behavior. It is and will continue to be the right of residents to criticize.
Criticized public officials could have cleaned up their act at any time but arrogantly chose not to, considering themselves above accountability to the residents of Atkinson. They bring public criticism on themselves by their repeated mis-conduct. Hopefully, critical postings will encourage public officials to clean up their act.
If there are more critical postings to come in the future from angry or disgusted Atkinson residents, so be it!
Bloggers shouldn’t ever allow themselves to be intimidated by insulting letters such as was sent by Atty. Lane.
In conclusion, it is repugnant to free speech that any resident should ever receive a letter sent in an attempt to intimidate or restrain anyone in the exercise of their free speech rights.
Carol Grant
Town Administrator trying for Plaistow job!
From the Eagle Tribune;
One candidate, two towns Kleman interviews for jobs in Plaistow, Atkinson
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
Atkinson selectmen thought they had their man, but he's looking elsewhere.
Selectman Fred Childs said last week the board planned to offer a permanent position to interim Town Administrator Craig Kleman. They have been searching for a new administrator since winter, after the departure of Russell McAllister.
Plaistow selectmen also have been searching for a town manager since winter and, more recently, for an interim town administrator.
The parallel searches just became even more similar. Kleman met with Plaistow officials in nonpublic session Monday night. He confirmed yesterday that he was interviewing for the interim position in that town, too, but said he didn't want to comment beyond that.
Kleman has worked as interim administrator in Atkinson since mid-April. He was a candidate for the full-time job when he took the interim position. Selectmen liked the idea of a candidate "test drive," according to minutes from the selectmen's meeting March 31.
Childs said yesterday he heard Kleman probably was looking elsewhere — and he wasn't surprised. He said that's why it's tough to keep a town administrator for long — they're always looking. But he's confident Atkinson is Kleman's first choice.
"He wants the job," Childs said. "I know that."
Just last week, Childs said the selectmen planned to offer Kleman the full-time job, but they haven't yet. At the next meeting, scheduled for Monday, the selectmen and Kleman are expected to sign a 30-day extension to his interim contract, Childs said yesterday.
"I don't think he's too happy with that," Childs said. "I think he'd like to get it settled right away, and I can't blame him. There's other opportunities out there."
The other opportunity Kleman is trying for pays a lot more.
In Plaistow, he would likely make more than the $700 a week Atkinson is paying him in the interim job. Plaistow interim Town Administrator Jason Hoch is making $1,395 a week. He started as a full-time town manager and transitioned to an interim town administrator two months after giving his notice.
Hoch's last day is Saturday, and Plaistow selectmen are trying to get someone to take over right away. After Kleman's interview Monday, the selectmen said they were done interviewing candidates. Selectman Dan Poliquin said yesterday the town has made an offer for the interim position and will announce it Friday.
If Kleman is trying for the permanent position in Plaistow, too, he stands to make more money than he would in Atkinson.
Plaistow selectmen advertised a salary range of $84,000 to $95,000 for the town manager position. Atkinson didn't put a salary range in its advertisement because each administrator wants something different, Childs said. He would not say what range the selectmen are considering now that they have a candidate in mind. McAllister made about $62,000 a year.
Atkinson selectmen plan to hire a permanent administrator in the next month. Plaistow doesn't plan to have a town manager onboard until October.
One candidate, two towns Kleman interviews for jobs in Plaistow, Atkinson
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
Atkinson selectmen thought they had their man, but he's looking elsewhere.
Selectman Fred Childs said last week the board planned to offer a permanent position to interim Town Administrator Craig Kleman. They have been searching for a new administrator since winter, after the departure of Russell McAllister.
Plaistow selectmen also have been searching for a town manager since winter and, more recently, for an interim town administrator.
The parallel searches just became even more similar. Kleman met with Plaistow officials in nonpublic session Monday night. He confirmed yesterday that he was interviewing for the interim position in that town, too, but said he didn't want to comment beyond that.
Kleman has worked as interim administrator in Atkinson since mid-April. He was a candidate for the full-time job when he took the interim position. Selectmen liked the idea of a candidate "test drive," according to minutes from the selectmen's meeting March 31.
Childs said yesterday he heard Kleman probably was looking elsewhere — and he wasn't surprised. He said that's why it's tough to keep a town administrator for long — they're always looking. But he's confident Atkinson is Kleman's first choice.
"He wants the job," Childs said. "I know that."
Just last week, Childs said the selectmen planned to offer Kleman the full-time job, but they haven't yet. At the next meeting, scheduled for Monday, the selectmen and Kleman are expected to sign a 30-day extension to his interim contract, Childs said yesterday.
"I don't think he's too happy with that," Childs said. "I think he'd like to get it settled right away, and I can't blame him. There's other opportunities out there."
The other opportunity Kleman is trying for pays a lot more.
In Plaistow, he would likely make more than the $700 a week Atkinson is paying him in the interim job. Plaistow interim Town Administrator Jason Hoch is making $1,395 a week. He started as a full-time town manager and transitioned to an interim town administrator two months after giving his notice.
Hoch's last day is Saturday, and Plaistow selectmen are trying to get someone to take over right away. After Kleman's interview Monday, the selectmen said they were done interviewing candidates. Selectman Dan Poliquin said yesterday the town has made an offer for the interim position and will announce it Friday.
If Kleman is trying for the permanent position in Plaistow, too, he stands to make more money than he would in Atkinson.
Plaistow selectmen advertised a salary range of $84,000 to $95,000 for the town manager position. Atkinson didn't put a salary range in its advertisement because each administrator wants something different, Childs said. He would not say what range the selectmen are considering now that they have a candidate in mind. McAllister made about $62,000 a year.
Atkinson selectmen plan to hire a permanent administrator in the next month. Plaistow doesn't plan to have a town manager onboard until October.
Sunday, June 22
Coffee shop proposed in Atkinson
Coffee shop proposed in Atkinson
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — Residents may soon have a place to grab a morning coffee and to chat.
Lincoln Jackson has applied for Planning Board approval to build a 9,000-square-foot restaurant and office at 117 Main St. The local resident said he plans to use the space for a coffee shop, according to Shirley Galvin, the Planning Department's administrative assistant.
There are a few tables outside the Village Store and restaurant dining at the Atkinson Country Club but really no coffee shop in town, Galvin said.
The Safety Committee and Planning Board both reviewed the plans at their meetings this week. The Planning Board continued the site plan hearing to its next meeting July 23, Chairwoman Sue Killam said yesterday.
The continuation will give the town's engineer time to examine the most recently submitted plans, she said. The board accepted the initial plan in April.
Killam said she expects the proposal to go forward.
The plans are available for review in the planning office at Town Hall, she said.
James Lavelle Associates presented the plan to the town, but the company could not be reached yesterday for comment.
The vacant Main Street property is for sale for $299,000 through Coldwell Banker. Jackson, the potential owner, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — Residents may soon have a place to grab a morning coffee and to chat.
Lincoln Jackson has applied for Planning Board approval to build a 9,000-square-foot restaurant and office at 117 Main St. The local resident said he plans to use the space for a coffee shop, according to Shirley Galvin, the Planning Department's administrative assistant.
There are a few tables outside the Village Store and restaurant dining at the Atkinson Country Club but really no coffee shop in town, Galvin said.
The Safety Committee and Planning Board both reviewed the plans at their meetings this week. The Planning Board continued the site plan hearing to its next meeting July 23, Chairwoman Sue Killam said yesterday.
The continuation will give the town's engineer time to examine the most recently submitted plans, she said. The board accepted the initial plan in April.
Killam said she expects the proposal to go forward.
The plans are available for review in the planning office at Town Hall, she said.
James Lavelle Associates presented the plan to the town, but the company could not be reached yesterday for comment.
The vacant Main Street property is for sale for $299,000 through Coldwell Banker. Jackson, the potential owner, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Saturday, June 21
Monday, June 16
Proposal could affect water supply in 2 towns
From the Eagle-Tribune today!
Proposal could affect water supply in 2 towns
By Rebecca Correa
Staff writer
NEWTON — The water supply for more than 150 families in Plaistow and Newton could be affected by a plan to build pump houses in the town's largest aquifer.
The Hampstead Area Water Co. has proposed a 742-acre water franchise, or pump houses, on land that abuts Plaistow. The proposal is meant to serve Sargent Woods, a senior housing project with 80 units, now under construction in Newton.
But Plaistow and Newton officials said the water franchise could affect those who already live in town — and they're hoping residents attend an informational meeting about the topic tonight.
Newton Planning Board member James Doggett said in the worst-case scenario, the proposal could limit the water supply for every house along Smith Corner Road, Peaslee Crossing Road and part of Route 108.
And it won't just be Newton's private wells that are affected.
"There are houses in Plaistow that sit on the aquifer that could potentially be looking at water problems because HAWC petitioned (to withdraw) 30,000 gallons a day," Doggett said.
Plaistow plans to send representatives to the meeting tonight for exactly that reason.
Specifically, the proposal would hurt residents of Sweet Hill Road and Greenfield Drive, according to Leigh Komornick, Plaistow's planning coordinator.
Residents in the Sweet Hill Road neighborhood are already experiencing water pressure problems and drawing more water out of the same aquifer would only make their problems worse, Komornick said.
"From what I understand, they (are) concerned about the adequacy of water now," she said. "I don't know if it's the amount or the pressure, but they are already having problems."
Komornick said a third housing development has been approved on the Newton border, but construction hasn't started yet. Houses there could be affected, too, she said.
"I think there's going to be significant withdrawal going on," Komornick said.
The withdrawal does not require town approval and the state would have given the water company the OK. But Newton selectmen intervened at the request of the Planning Board.
Doggett said the intervention allows for the public meeting tonight. At the very least, he said, it will give residents a chance to be informed and stall the installation of more than a dozen pump houses.
"What selectmen can do to try to affect the (state) Public Utilities Commission decision is limited," he said. "But if 600 people showed up to the meeting tonight and said they don't want this, the Public Utilities Commission, one assumes would actually listen to this."
The Hampstead Area Water Co. is based in Atkinson and has been in business for about 30 years. It is the third-largest private water provider in the state and serves at least 10 communities.
A phone call to the general manager of the company was not returned.
Doggett said he doesn't like the lack of local control that comes with the proposal. If the pump houses are put in, he said, the opportunities for the company are endless. For starters, if the town ever wanted municipal water, the Hampstead Area Water Co. would have the rights or could require the town buy them out.
"They can actually petition the rights to bottle water right here in town, too," he said. "The franchise is sort of like telling residents you can only shop at that car dealership or shop on a store on your street. Individual homeowners have certain rights and no company should be able to petition the state and take away your right to make a decision."
Doggett said Planning Board members are also unhappy the company didn't compromise with them and build a smaller franchise.
"It seems way in excess of what they need," he said. "They also offered to reduce the size of their franchise request and they rescinded that offer just two weeks later."
But most residents in both towns don't know enough about the proposal to make up their minds one way or another.
Newton town office manager Mary Winglass said the meeting is a prime time for people, herself included, to find out exactly what the positive and negative impacts of the proposal would be.
"What we're trying to do at this meeting is, first of all, get answers to questions about it," she said. "We want to find out what kind of rights does it give the homeowners. Will water taken be off the property and can we manage this?"
Doggett said he's sure most people in town don't know about the water franchise, but everyone should become informed and attend the meeting tonight to voice their opinions. The Public Utilities Commission will also hold an informational meeting at a later date this summer.
"Nine out of 10 people who have no idea what's going on will assume the Planning Board blessed this, and we don't," he said. "We've struggled hard and long to make sure the town is well served and when the townspeople don't pay attention, there's only so much we can do."
Staff writer Meghan Carey contributed to this report.
Water Worries
Who: Residents of Newton and Plaistow
What: Informational meeting about proposed water franchise
When: Today at 7 p.m.
Where: Sanborn Middle School gymnasium, 31A West Main St.
Why: Discuss a water franchise scheduled to be built on the Newton/Plaistow line
WOW!! Did you read THAT???
THE NEWTON SELECTMEN INTERVENED IN THE PROCESS ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN AT THE REQUEST OF THE PLANNING BOARD!
This is what the citizens of Atkinson asked our esteemed leaders, Selectman Sapia, Childs, and Sullivan to do on our behalf, and they told us;
Sorry, it's the States problem, not ours!
GUYS, It is YOUR problem to do what the voters ask you to do, NO MATTER WHAT!!!
Our planning board, and selectmen, were only too happy to ignore this potential problem.
And they wonder why they get so much criticism....
Proposal could affect water supply in 2 towns
By Rebecca Correa
Staff writer
NEWTON — The water supply for more than 150 families in Plaistow and Newton could be affected by a plan to build pump houses in the town's largest aquifer.
The Hampstead Area Water Co. has proposed a 742-acre water franchise, or pump houses, on land that abuts Plaistow. The proposal is meant to serve Sargent Woods, a senior housing project with 80 units, now under construction in Newton.
But Plaistow and Newton officials said the water franchise could affect those who already live in town — and they're hoping residents attend an informational meeting about the topic tonight.
Newton Planning Board member James Doggett said in the worst-case scenario, the proposal could limit the water supply for every house along Smith Corner Road, Peaslee Crossing Road and part of Route 108.
And it won't just be Newton's private wells that are affected.
"There are houses in Plaistow that sit on the aquifer that could potentially be looking at water problems because HAWC petitioned (to withdraw) 30,000 gallons a day," Doggett said.
Plaistow plans to send representatives to the meeting tonight for exactly that reason.
Specifically, the proposal would hurt residents of Sweet Hill Road and Greenfield Drive, according to Leigh Komornick, Plaistow's planning coordinator.
Residents in the Sweet Hill Road neighborhood are already experiencing water pressure problems and drawing more water out of the same aquifer would only make their problems worse, Komornick said.
"From what I understand, they (are) concerned about the adequacy of water now," she said. "I don't know if it's the amount or the pressure, but they are already having problems."
Komornick said a third housing development has been approved on the Newton border, but construction hasn't started yet. Houses there could be affected, too, she said.
"I think there's going to be significant withdrawal going on," Komornick said.
The withdrawal does not require town approval and the state would have given the water company the OK. But Newton selectmen intervened at the request of the Planning Board.
Doggett said the intervention allows for the public meeting tonight. At the very least, he said, it will give residents a chance to be informed and stall the installation of more than a dozen pump houses.
"What selectmen can do to try to affect the (state) Public Utilities Commission decision is limited," he said. "But if 600 people showed up to the meeting tonight and said they don't want this, the Public Utilities Commission, one assumes would actually listen to this."
The Hampstead Area Water Co. is based in Atkinson and has been in business for about 30 years. It is the third-largest private water provider in the state and serves at least 10 communities.
A phone call to the general manager of the company was not returned.
Doggett said he doesn't like the lack of local control that comes with the proposal. If the pump houses are put in, he said, the opportunities for the company are endless. For starters, if the town ever wanted municipal water, the Hampstead Area Water Co. would have the rights or could require the town buy them out.
"They can actually petition the rights to bottle water right here in town, too," he said. "The franchise is sort of like telling residents you can only shop at that car dealership or shop on a store on your street. Individual homeowners have certain rights and no company should be able to petition the state and take away your right to make a decision."
Doggett said Planning Board members are also unhappy the company didn't compromise with them and build a smaller franchise.
"It seems way in excess of what they need," he said. "They also offered to reduce the size of their franchise request and they rescinded that offer just two weeks later."
But most residents in both towns don't know enough about the proposal to make up their minds one way or another.
Newton town office manager Mary Winglass said the meeting is a prime time for people, herself included, to find out exactly what the positive and negative impacts of the proposal would be.
"What we're trying to do at this meeting is, first of all, get answers to questions about it," she said. "We want to find out what kind of rights does it give the homeowners. Will water taken be off the property and can we manage this?"
Doggett said he's sure most people in town don't know about the water franchise, but everyone should become informed and attend the meeting tonight to voice their opinions. The Public Utilities Commission will also hold an informational meeting at a later date this summer.
"Nine out of 10 people who have no idea what's going on will assume the Planning Board blessed this, and we don't," he said. "We've struggled hard and long to make sure the town is well served and when the townspeople don't pay attention, there's only so much we can do."
Staff writer Meghan Carey contributed to this report.
Water Worries
Who: Residents of Newton and Plaistow
What: Informational meeting about proposed water franchise
When: Today at 7 p.m.
Where: Sanborn Middle School gymnasium, 31A West Main St.
Why: Discuss a water franchise scheduled to be built on the Newton/Plaistow line
WOW!! Did you read THAT???
THE NEWTON SELECTMEN INTERVENED IN THE PROCESS ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN AT THE REQUEST OF THE PLANNING BOARD!
This is what the citizens of Atkinson asked our esteemed leaders, Selectman Sapia, Childs, and Sullivan to do on our behalf, and they told us;
Sorry, it's the States problem, not ours!
GUYS, It is YOUR problem to do what the voters ask you to do, NO MATTER WHAT!!!
Our planning board, and selectmen, were only too happy to ignore this potential problem.
And they wonder why they get so much criticism....
Timberlane community wants academic improvement
From Today's Eagle Tribune;
Timberlane community wants academic improvement
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
PLAISTOW — Extracurricular activities are stronger than academics at Timberlane Regional High School, according to some parents.
The voices of 43 parents who recently participated in an e-mail survey speak louder than their sum. Some 44 percent of responding parents said the quality of a Timberlane education has declined in the last three to five years, and 70 percent said academics are what need improvement at the high school. Approximately 1,600 students from Atkinson, Danville, Plaistow and Sandown students attend Timberlane High.
Those parents aren't alone. Local bloggers and discussion board members are echoing the sentiments online. Four local blogs and online forums have had a flurry of postings in the last two weeks under threads labeled "Timberlane has lost its way" and "Timberlane is going down the tubes."
While the posters allege the school administration doesn't see what's going on, Superintendent Richard La Salle said last week he knows improvements are needed at each school.
"I think that there's always a problem with quality," he said.
Administrators have targeted reading and writing at the elementary and middle-school levels as the areas that need immediate attention, La Salle said. At the high school, the superintendent said he has a problem that just 70 percent of graduates go on to some form of college. The statewide average is 75 percent.
"In this day and age, I think the minimum standard is some form of post-secondary education," La Salle said. "We have to get that number up."
At the elementary and middle schools, a new reading program is already in place. Teachers use six steps to help them identify students who are struggling with reading before their grades start to reflect it, La Salle said. His hope is that will prevent students from falling too far behind now, especially since reading is a basis for all subjects.
Anne Isenberg, a mother of two from Atkinson, was recruited this spring to work on the Strategic Planning Committee. She said there's a discrepancy between the community's opinions of the school district and what the district is doing.
When she and her family moved to the area in 1995, she started talking to people about the schools. What Isenberg found was a community distrust in the schools — and she says that hasn't gone away. A lesson in public relations would help the situation, she said.
"They have been very quiet," Isenberg said of school administrators. "They have to realize that without any communication, the rumor mill fills in."
Improvements in communication can go both ways, according to School Board member Stephen Brown.
There's a time at every meeting for parents and taxpayers to make comments about the district, but that time is rarely used. Brown said it's a much more appropriate forum than posting on blogs.
"We listen, we discuss and reply to those comments," Brown said. "We are constantly striving to make the school district better."
The Strategic Planning Committee, which is made up of parents, administrators, teachers and a School Board member, is striving to do the same.
Isenberg and Kate Delfino of Atkinson, two of the parent representatives on the committee, are taking their roles seriously — starting with conducting the parent e-mail survey.
Isenberg said she didn't have every parents' e-mail address, but tried to get the survey to as many people as possible. The results are not scientific and from a narrow segment of the population, but both women said they are still indicative of parents' general opinions.
"It's one piece in a very large puzzle that we are putting together," Delfino said. "It's really just to be able to quantify some of the thoughts and concerns that are on some parents' minds."
Thirty-five percent of those parents said the quality of a Timberlane Regional High School education has stayed the same. Just 12 percent of those surveyed said it had improved over the last three to five years. Forty-four percent said quality has declined.
When asked what the strengths of the high school were, most parents said performing arts and athletics. Safety and security, clubs and special interests tied for third.
Academics didn't make the list.
Whether community sentiment changes in the future, the plan is to change the education provided to the students over the next 10 years, La Salle said.
The Strategic Planning Committee is collecting data from another parent study, state assessment testing, SAT and ACT scores, and the NHEIAP — a state Department of Educational improvement and assessment program — report, the La Salle said.
When the data is turned into a 10-year plan this fall, La Salle said it will be used as a planner during the coming budgeting process and for the years to come.
Timberlane community wants academic improvement
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
PLAISTOW — Extracurricular activities are stronger than academics at Timberlane Regional High School, according to some parents.
The voices of 43 parents who recently participated in an e-mail survey speak louder than their sum. Some 44 percent of responding parents said the quality of a Timberlane education has declined in the last three to five years, and 70 percent said academics are what need improvement at the high school. Approximately 1,600 students from Atkinson, Danville, Plaistow and Sandown students attend Timberlane High.
Those parents aren't alone. Local bloggers and discussion board members are echoing the sentiments online. Four local blogs and online forums have had a flurry of postings in the last two weeks under threads labeled "Timberlane has lost its way" and "Timberlane is going down the tubes."
While the posters allege the school administration doesn't see what's going on, Superintendent Richard La Salle said last week he knows improvements are needed at each school.
"I think that there's always a problem with quality," he said.
Administrators have targeted reading and writing at the elementary and middle-school levels as the areas that need immediate attention, La Salle said. At the high school, the superintendent said he has a problem that just 70 percent of graduates go on to some form of college. The statewide average is 75 percent.
"In this day and age, I think the minimum standard is some form of post-secondary education," La Salle said. "We have to get that number up."
At the elementary and middle schools, a new reading program is already in place. Teachers use six steps to help them identify students who are struggling with reading before their grades start to reflect it, La Salle said. His hope is that will prevent students from falling too far behind now, especially since reading is a basis for all subjects.
Anne Isenberg, a mother of two from Atkinson, was recruited this spring to work on the Strategic Planning Committee. She said there's a discrepancy between the community's opinions of the school district and what the district is doing.
When she and her family moved to the area in 1995, she started talking to people about the schools. What Isenberg found was a community distrust in the schools — and she says that hasn't gone away. A lesson in public relations would help the situation, she said.
"They have been very quiet," Isenberg said of school administrators. "They have to realize that without any communication, the rumor mill fills in."
Improvements in communication can go both ways, according to School Board member Stephen Brown.
There's a time at every meeting for parents and taxpayers to make comments about the district, but that time is rarely used. Brown said it's a much more appropriate forum than posting on blogs.
"We listen, we discuss and reply to those comments," Brown said. "We are constantly striving to make the school district better."
The Strategic Planning Committee, which is made up of parents, administrators, teachers and a School Board member, is striving to do the same.
Isenberg and Kate Delfino of Atkinson, two of the parent representatives on the committee, are taking their roles seriously — starting with conducting the parent e-mail survey.
Isenberg said she didn't have every parents' e-mail address, but tried to get the survey to as many people as possible. The results are not scientific and from a narrow segment of the population, but both women said they are still indicative of parents' general opinions.
"It's one piece in a very large puzzle that we are putting together," Delfino said. "It's really just to be able to quantify some of the thoughts and concerns that are on some parents' minds."
Thirty-five percent of those parents said the quality of a Timberlane Regional High School education has stayed the same. Just 12 percent of those surveyed said it had improved over the last three to five years. Forty-four percent said quality has declined.
When asked what the strengths of the high school were, most parents said performing arts and athletics. Safety and security, clubs and special interests tied for third.
Academics didn't make the list.
Whether community sentiment changes in the future, the plan is to change the education provided to the students over the next 10 years, La Salle said.
The Strategic Planning Committee is collecting data from another parent study, state assessment testing, SAT and ACT scores, and the NHEIAP — a state Department of Educational improvement and assessment program — report, the La Salle said.
When the data is turned into a 10-year plan this fall, La Salle said it will be used as a planner during the coming budgeting process and for the years to come.
Friday, June 13
In honor of Father's day.....
Publius, please accept this as an article submission.
In honor of Father's day......
I would like to take this opportunity to look at two aspects of Father's Day. First our Town Father's; our board of selectmen...
This blog has been roundly criticized among the elected officials in town for casting the light of public scrutiny upon their actions. And with measured success. This blog has served as a forum for public discussion that because of the documented actions of some of our public officials, can not take place in public. This and other sites like the Atkinson Taxpayers.org site, with their repository of public documents, has been invaluable in showing th people of Atkinson just how corrupt our town government was. For all of our predjudice against builders and developers, it has been town employees and their willing accomplices serving as elected officials who have given this town it's problems.
And what about our current board? It is my observation that Mr. Sullivan's heart is in the right place, he is evidently an honorable man trying to do the right thing, while not inconveniencing the execution of town government. Mr. Friel, to my observation, has been reasonable, well informed, eminently prepared, and has not been one to make a hasty decision, without the appropriate research. All in all, in my humble opinion he has tried to do the right thing, and has largely succeeded. He has been a welcome change in a board that has had more than it's share of problems in recent years.
And my second issue;
Have you ever noticed how father's are portrayed in the media?
The last HONORABLE TV Dad, was Bill Cosby! Most Dad's are portrayed as incompetent, ineffectual, invisible, or just plain not in the picture. This does a disservice to the Men that choose to be Dad's.
Anyone can be a Father, that can happen by accident, but it takes effort to be a Dad! You can not be an accidental Dad. A Dad is far more important than a Father. And it is a position of honor, that the media, by ans large, does not recognize. It is my opinion that these popular images of Father's rather than Dads harm society as a whole.
Dads, you perform a societally necessary job. Keep doing it, and keep doing it superlatively. Happy Father's Day!
In honor of Father's day......
I would like to take this opportunity to look at two aspects of Father's Day. First our Town Father's; our board of selectmen...
This blog has been roundly criticized among the elected officials in town for casting the light of public scrutiny upon their actions. And with measured success. This blog has served as a forum for public discussion that because of the documented actions of some of our public officials, can not take place in public. This and other sites like the Atkinson Taxpayers.org site, with their repository of public documents, has been invaluable in showing th people of Atkinson just how corrupt our town government was. For all of our predjudice against builders and developers, it has been town employees and their willing accomplices serving as elected officials who have given this town it's problems.
And what about our current board? It is my observation that Mr. Sullivan's heart is in the right place, he is evidently an honorable man trying to do the right thing, while not inconveniencing the execution of town government. Mr. Friel, to my observation, has been reasonable, well informed, eminently prepared, and has not been one to make a hasty decision, without the appropriate research. All in all, in my humble opinion he has tried to do the right thing, and has largely succeeded. He has been a welcome change in a board that has had more than it's share of problems in recent years.
And my second issue;
Have you ever noticed how father's are portrayed in the media?
The last HONORABLE TV Dad, was Bill Cosby! Most Dad's are portrayed as incompetent, ineffectual, invisible, or just plain not in the picture. This does a disservice to the Men that choose to be Dad's.
Anyone can be a Father, that can happen by accident, but it takes effort to be a Dad! You can not be an accidental Dad. A Dad is far more important than a Father. And it is a position of honor, that the media, by ans large, does not recognize. It is my opinion that these popular images of Father's rather than Dads harm society as a whole.
Dads, you perform a societally necessary job. Keep doing it, and keep doing it superlatively. Happy Father's Day!
Monday, June 9
Timberlane has lost it's way
Publius, please accept this as an article submission.
ARTICLE SUBMISSION
Timberlane is going down the tubes, when will the school board stop it?
In 1975 the Timberlane Junior High School opened to much fanfare. I was in the eighth grade at the time. We had been attending double sessions at the high school for three years, while construction was going on. It, like the high school when it opened, was a model school, in layout, curriculum, and achievement. In the 70's Timberlane, believe it or not, was one of the highest academically rated school districts in NH. At a time when schools were something both much greater, and much less than they are today.
It was not a "middle school". There was no "Team Teaching". There was an English dept., a social studies dept., a science dept., a math dept., and so on. There was no "peer mediation", "grade inflation", "mandatory promotion", "SAC", "in-school suspension", or any of the other namby-pamby, wishy-washy, feel good, new age crap, that is currently choking this once fine institution.
I say it was one something more, because it was once a place where learning happened. Where Learning was EXPECTED to happen. Where Students were EXPECTED to do their work, maintain discipline, and accomplish a body of work in order to graduate on to the High School.
I say it was also much less than it is today because it was, at that time, more focused on the children learning than making the parents feel good about their child's performance, or lack thereof, as it is today. It didn't perform social work, as it does today. It didn't make excuses about children's laziness in failing to do homework as it does today. Contrary to the opinions of principal Hogan a child's natural laziness is not that child "doing their best" or "working at their pace" and the latter is never "ok"!
I am writing this because I recently had confirmation of something I had only heard about, and had not believed. I know of a child who graduated the eighth grade this year, and is going into the high school in the fall. A normal occurrence, I know, except that this child's graduated with 3 "F"'s and 1 "D-" all in core subjects. Unfortunately, the one subject that this child passed, with a "C", was language arts, and this child has not the ability to coherently write a report. No sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, spelling skills commensurate with an eighth grade education.
When the parent spoke to Mr. Hogan about this atrocity, the parent was told that their child had not graduated but had merely gotten a "promotion certificate". When the parent asked if the child had to go to summer school, Mr. Hogan replied that the child should. The parent, picking up on the "should", asked if the child's "promotion" was contingent upon successfully completing summer school? Mr. Hogan then replied that summer school was not mandatory, but should be attended by this child. The parent then asked "if the child was not sent to summer school, would the child still go into the ninth grade in the fall? Mr. Hogan said YES! He went on that "studies have shown that it would hurt(the child) developmentally more for (the child) to stay back than to go on" He said "(the child) would catch up in high school"! THIS FROM A PRINCIPAL!!!
Mr. Hogan then explained that High school is a credit based institution and some kids will get their 20 credits in 3.5 years, some will get them in 4 years, and some will have to take that extra class, or semester to graduate, and that's ok. Well, I say, NO that is not ok! This is the attitude that has created the situation where 21% of high schoolers can not read or write well enough to fill out their own job application. This is why 74% of College freshman have to take remedial math or English, their parents effectively paying college rates to teach their kids what should have been taught in high school. Education is the single greatest defining attribute of life. People are judged by how they speak and what they know. Professional door will open or close based upon a person's education, and we are leaving it in the hands of those who are more concerned with the children's self esteem than what they actually know.
Here are some facts for the parents reading this, that they may be unaware of. Students are allowed to take re-tests. If a student wishes to bring up their grade, regardless of that grade they may take the same test again, and take the average of the two grades. When they have to write a report, they are given a list of websites from which to gather their info., in most cases they merely cut and paste from those websites to form the report. They learn nothing! I know of four eighth grade girls who had to do reports on historical figures, Vincent Van Gogh, Harriet Tubman, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and the reports they handed in were cut and pasted from websites. No original content! I thought they would learn a lesson from this and said nothing. They did learn a valuable lesson, they got "B"'s!
There is so much more to learn than there was when we went to school, and the district, particularly the middle school is doing a horrible job of teaching it., The curriculum is weak. And even that is not taught to full effectiveness. There seems to be little if any oversight.
Now here is my question to the school board;
What are you going to do to bring this school district back to its glory days?
We, as parents pay Timberlane $12,553/student per year! Timberlane has a $59Million budget and roughly 4700 kids district wide.
The Timberlane district currently boasts a 58% Proficiency level in grade 10 math.
The Timberlane district currently boasts a 76% Proficiency level in grade 10 reading.
This is what we consider acceptable? In 25 years this district which was 1st in the county, and 6th in the state, now places 15th in the COUNTY in reading, and 18th in the COUNTY in math!
We only have 8 more slots to fall before WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM!!! AND NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!
I ask the school board these questions because they are not supposed to sit there and act as bobble-heads whenever superintendent McDonald says something. The school board is SUPPOSED to be running the district! They are the people we elected to look into these things, and see that we are getting the most for our money. We are not!
Does the school board look into, and question curriculum and practices? Do they discuss educational philosophy with Dr. McDonald, and inform him of the direction the district is to take in bringing up test scores and achievement?
This is the basic problem with public education, it is not responsive to the needs of its customers. It gets its money no matter what, whereas in the private sector, if a school had the deplorable standards of TRMS, it would go out of business, because its customers, the parents, would not pay $11,702/yr. for their kids to be shuffled along whether they did the work or not.
It doesn't work this way in the real world. When you have a job(in the private sector, this doesn't hold true for a government job) you have to perform to a certain level. You have to accomplish certain tasks, or you will be fired. Schools rarely make these demands anymore.
I want my school board to answer one question for me;
Why cant Timberlane have the academic achievement of Phillips Academy in Exeter, or even Boston Latin in Roxbury( a public school with significant minority enrollment), or even Central Catholic in Lawrence?
Or how about this question;
Why is it that I can pay $8,000 tuition to send my kid to Pinkerton, one of the best schools in the state, or $3,500 to St. Joes and Timberlane costs almost $13,000 to do an inferior job?
signed,
Mark R. Acciard
ARTICLE SUBMISSION
Timberlane is going down the tubes, when will the school board stop it?
In 1975 the Timberlane Junior High School opened to much fanfare. I was in the eighth grade at the time. We had been attending double sessions at the high school for three years, while construction was going on. It, like the high school when it opened, was a model school, in layout, curriculum, and achievement. In the 70's Timberlane, believe it or not, was one of the highest academically rated school districts in NH. At a time when schools were something both much greater, and much less than they are today.
It was not a "middle school". There was no "Team Teaching". There was an English dept., a social studies dept., a science dept., a math dept., and so on. There was no "peer mediation", "grade inflation", "mandatory promotion", "SAC", "in-school suspension", or any of the other namby-pamby, wishy-washy, feel good, new age crap, that is currently choking this once fine institution.
I say it was one something more, because it was once a place where learning happened. Where Learning was EXPECTED to happen. Where Students were EXPECTED to do their work, maintain discipline, and accomplish a body of work in order to graduate on to the High School.
I say it was also much less than it is today because it was, at that time, more focused on the children learning than making the parents feel good about their child's performance, or lack thereof, as it is today. It didn't perform social work, as it does today. It didn't make excuses about children's laziness in failing to do homework as it does today. Contrary to the opinions of principal Hogan a child's natural laziness is not that child "doing their best" or "working at their pace" and the latter is never "ok"!
I am writing this because I recently had confirmation of something I had only heard about, and had not believed. I know of a child who graduated the eighth grade this year, and is going into the high school in the fall. A normal occurrence, I know, except that this child's graduated with 3 "F"'s and 1 "D-" all in core subjects. Unfortunately, the one subject that this child passed, with a "C", was language arts, and this child has not the ability to coherently write a report. No sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, spelling skills commensurate with an eighth grade education.
When the parent spoke to Mr. Hogan about this atrocity, the parent was told that their child had not graduated but had merely gotten a "promotion certificate". When the parent asked if the child had to go to summer school, Mr. Hogan replied that the child should. The parent, picking up on the "should", asked if the child's "promotion" was contingent upon successfully completing summer school? Mr. Hogan then replied that summer school was not mandatory, but should be attended by this child. The parent then asked "if the child was not sent to summer school, would the child still go into the ninth grade in the fall? Mr. Hogan said YES! He went on that "studies have shown that it would hurt(the child) developmentally more for (the child) to stay back than to go on" He said "(the child) would catch up in high school"! THIS FROM A PRINCIPAL!!!
Mr. Hogan then explained that High school is a credit based institution and some kids will get their 20 credits in 3.5 years, some will get them in 4 years, and some will have to take that extra class, or semester to graduate, and that's ok. Well, I say, NO that is not ok! This is the attitude that has created the situation where 21% of high schoolers can not read or write well enough to fill out their own job application. This is why 74% of College freshman have to take remedial math or English, their parents effectively paying college rates to teach their kids what should have been taught in high school. Education is the single greatest defining attribute of life. People are judged by how they speak and what they know. Professional door will open or close based upon a person's education, and we are leaving it in the hands of those who are more concerned with the children's self esteem than what they actually know.
Here are some facts for the parents reading this, that they may be unaware of. Students are allowed to take re-tests. If a student wishes to bring up their grade, regardless of that grade they may take the same test again, and take the average of the two grades. When they have to write a report, they are given a list of websites from which to gather their info., in most cases they merely cut and paste from those websites to form the report. They learn nothing! I know of four eighth grade girls who had to do reports on historical figures, Vincent Van Gogh, Harriet Tubman, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and the reports they handed in were cut and pasted from websites. No original content! I thought they would learn a lesson from this and said nothing. They did learn a valuable lesson, they got "B"'s!
There is so much more to learn than there was when we went to school, and the district, particularly the middle school is doing a horrible job of teaching it., The curriculum is weak. And even that is not taught to full effectiveness. There seems to be little if any oversight.
Now here is my question to the school board;
What are you going to do to bring this school district back to its glory days?
We, as parents pay Timberlane $12,553/student per year! Timberlane has a $59Million budget and roughly 4700 kids district wide.
The Timberlane district currently boasts a 58% Proficiency level in grade 10 math.
The Timberlane district currently boasts a 76% Proficiency level in grade 10 reading.
This is what we consider acceptable? In 25 years this district which was 1st in the county, and 6th in the state, now places 15th in the COUNTY in reading, and 18th in the COUNTY in math!
We only have 8 more slots to fall before WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM!!! AND NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!
I ask the school board these questions because they are not supposed to sit there and act as bobble-heads whenever superintendent McDonald says something. The school board is SUPPOSED to be running the district! They are the people we elected to look into these things, and see that we are getting the most for our money. We are not!
Does the school board look into, and question curriculum and practices? Do they discuss educational philosophy with Dr. McDonald, and inform him of the direction the district is to take in bringing up test scores and achievement?
This is the basic problem with public education, it is not responsive to the needs of its customers. It gets its money no matter what, whereas in the private sector, if a school had the deplorable standards of TRMS, it would go out of business, because its customers, the parents, would not pay $11,702/yr. for their kids to be shuffled along whether they did the work or not.
It doesn't work this way in the real world. When you have a job(in the private sector, this doesn't hold true for a government job) you have to perform to a certain level. You have to accomplish certain tasks, or you will be fired. Schools rarely make these demands anymore.
I want my school board to answer one question for me;
Why cant Timberlane have the academic achievement of Phillips Academy in Exeter, or even Boston Latin in Roxbury( a public school with significant minority enrollment), or even Central Catholic in Lawrence?
Or how about this question;
Why is it that I can pay $8,000 tuition to send my kid to Pinkerton, one of the best schools in the state, or $3,500 to St. Joes and Timberlane costs almost $13,000 to do an inferior job?
signed,
Mark R. Acciard
Friday, June 6
Atkinson police officer loses battle with cancer
Atkinson police officer loses battle with cancer
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — He is described as both a fighter and a family man, but only cancer could take police Cpl. John Lapham away from the people he loved.
Lapham, 39, of Chester lost his 6-month battle with acute leukemia yesterday afternoon.
"He fought to the last minute, that's for sure," said his best friend, Kevin Donnelly. "That's what everyone who came after the passing said."
Donnelly was at his bedside along with Lapham's wife, Amy, parents, sister and another close friend when he died at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Lapham was diagnosed with the disease in December. He received a bone marrow transplant two months ago, but later endured complications from drug reactions and recently developed pneumonia.
Lapham's father, Stan, said throughout his son's illness that he was fighting as hard as he could to stay alive so he could be there for his wife and two young sons, Matthew and Justin. No family members were available for comment last night.
Lapham was a police officer in Hampstead before taking over the midnight shift at the Atkinson Police Department eight years ago.
The shift, according to Donnelly, was Lapham's choice.
"He was a father before he was a cop," Donnelly said. "His goal every day was to be home to eat dinner with his family, and he was successful with that about 99.98 percent of the time."
Donnelly said he hopes all the support people have provided Lapham over the last six months will now be given to his family.
"His poor wife has to go home to his 4- and 6-year-old and break them the news," he said. "We have to keep remembering the family."
Lapham was a favorite of many youngsters at Atkinson Academy, where he was the Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer. Last night, the Atkinson youth baseball league held a moment of silence for Lapham before the evening's first pitches were thrown. It was the first time many of the children heard the news.
"He's going to be sadly missed and the good thing I want people to remember him for is the pivotal impact he had on the school, Atkinson Academy," Lt. William Baldwin said. "He had a huge impact on the students there in the DARE program. They all liked him."
Baldwin said the loss of Lapham is another devastating blow to the Police Department. Sgt. Diane Kinney, who served the town for 35 years, and secretarial volunteer Rose Ann Masello both died of cancer just over a month ago.
"I can't put it into words," Baldwin said.
Lapham's peers at the Police Department were so optimistic he would return that they hired a part-time officer to fill his shift for a year with the hope of having a spot available when he was well again.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be made at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home in Plaistow today.
Lapham's family still needs help
Anyone interested in donating to the Laphams can make a deposit at any Banknorth location, or send a check to: Cpl. John Lapham Fund, c/o TD Banknorth, N.A., 47 Plaistow Road, PO Box 368, Plaistow, NH 03824.
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — He is described as both a fighter and a family man, but only cancer could take police Cpl. John Lapham away from the people he loved.
Lapham, 39, of Chester lost his 6-month battle with acute leukemia yesterday afternoon.
"He fought to the last minute, that's for sure," said his best friend, Kevin Donnelly. "That's what everyone who came after the passing said."
Donnelly was at his bedside along with Lapham's wife, Amy, parents, sister and another close friend when he died at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Lapham was diagnosed with the disease in December. He received a bone marrow transplant two months ago, but later endured complications from drug reactions and recently developed pneumonia.
Lapham's father, Stan, said throughout his son's illness that he was fighting as hard as he could to stay alive so he could be there for his wife and two young sons, Matthew and Justin. No family members were available for comment last night.
Lapham was a police officer in Hampstead before taking over the midnight shift at the Atkinson Police Department eight years ago.
The shift, according to Donnelly, was Lapham's choice.
"He was a father before he was a cop," Donnelly said. "His goal every day was to be home to eat dinner with his family, and he was successful with that about 99.98 percent of the time."
Donnelly said he hopes all the support people have provided Lapham over the last six months will now be given to his family.
"His poor wife has to go home to his 4- and 6-year-old and break them the news," he said. "We have to keep remembering the family."
Lapham was a favorite of many youngsters at Atkinson Academy, where he was the Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer. Last night, the Atkinson youth baseball league held a moment of silence for Lapham before the evening's first pitches were thrown. It was the first time many of the children heard the news.
"He's going to be sadly missed and the good thing I want people to remember him for is the pivotal impact he had on the school, Atkinson Academy," Lt. William Baldwin said. "He had a huge impact on the students there in the DARE program. They all liked him."
Baldwin said the loss of Lapham is another devastating blow to the Police Department. Sgt. Diane Kinney, who served the town for 35 years, and secretarial volunteer Rose Ann Masello both died of cancer just over a month ago.
"I can't put it into words," Baldwin said.
Lapham's peers at the Police Department were so optimistic he would return that they hired a part-time officer to fill his shift for a year with the hope of having a spot available when he was well again.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be made at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home in Plaistow today.
Lapham's family still needs help
Anyone interested in donating to the Laphams can make a deposit at any Banknorth location, or send a check to: Cpl. John Lapham Fund, c/o TD Banknorth, N.A., 47 Plaistow Road, PO Box 368, Plaistow, NH 03824.
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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
