Letter: A 'no' vote is common sense

[Guest guest]

Letter: A 'no' vote is common sense

Thursday, March 23, 2006

http://www2.townonline.com/concord/opinion/view.bg?articleid=456251

To the editor:

Concord,MA

Before you vote on March 28, please consider the following:

We have a brand new Alcott elementary school. Sure, it is

pretty, but it is riddled with problems, costly mistakes and yes,

even mold. The roof has over 12 leaks which have contributed to the

new mold problems. The heat in the second floor classrooms is

stifling. Now, two years after its completion, we are being asked

for more funds to retro fit the building for air conditioning. The

cafeteria is too small so lunches begin at 10:30 a.m.

In our haste we have spent over $5 million dollars on

architectural designs for our K-8 schools, the majority of which

have been shelved. Now we are being asked to spend almost $2 million

more. We own those designs.

A " no " vote on Question 1 is not a vote against, it is a vote

for common sense.

By spreading out the rebuilding of the schools we accomplish

many things. One, we give ourselves the opportunity to learn from

the buildings we just built or are building.

Two, we spread the capital debt out so it is not upon us all at

once, which also means years from now when repairs, renovations or

more rebuilding is necessary it won't be on three buildings of the

same age, at the same time.

Three, we allow the state time to write the reimbursement

formula, which is due this summer. This would allow us to reduce the

property tax burden which will help our citizens who need it.

Fourth, school enrollment is decreasing, therefore the space crunch

is alleviated. Finally, waiting to build the last school means the

last building to be done will be the newest for many, many years to

come. It is bound to be the prettiest, the most efficient and most

technologically advanced.

As a previous writer explained, there was a Facilities Planning

Committee comprised of two selectmen, two School Committee members,

two former School Committee members, several architects and

engineers. The committee met and studied all the town-owned

facilities and interviewed maintenance staff. After 18 months of in-

depth examinations and considerations the recommendation, for the

good of the town, was to pace our capital debt.Please vote for

common sense and fiscal responsibility, vote no on Question 1.

Tony D'Ambrosio

Barretts Mill Road

[Guest guest]

Letter: Beware of 'diversions'

Beverly,MA

Thursday, March 23, 2006

http://www2.townonline.com/saugus/opinion/view.bg?

articleid=455638 & format= & page=1

To the editor:

During the late nineties and early years of the new millennium,

Saugus parents and teachers watched as conditions rapidly

deteriorated within the schools. The School Committee continually

allowed the school budget to be under-funded by the town. The mold

situation was allowed to fester within the middle school, and the

School Committee did not act. These conditions, and the below

average professional compensations caused many teachers to leave

Saugus. The School Committee was, and apparently still is, in denial

as to those conditions of the schools.

What changed in the early years of this decade was teachers and

parents demanded that conditions change. Teachers and parents forced

the mold situation to be improved by meeting directly with the

selectmen. Teachers and parents have continually asked and supported

efforts for the desperately needed increased funding. Last June, the

teachers sent notices to parents asking them to attend town meeting

to support increased funding. More recently, teachers and parents

attended the last town meeting to support articles increasing school

funds. With the exception of Serino, no other member of the

School Committee even went to the meeting. The teachers and parents

have advocated for more funds for the schools with, and often

without, the School Committee.

In the March 16 letter to the editor from a Saugus parent, there

were cries concerning the dissension surrounding the schools. Here

is the answer to that dissension. The teachers cannot and will not

be quiet as the conditions of the " bad old days " are being forced

upon us once again. Being quiet was too destructive in the past and

will only reinstate bad past practices. Whenever I speak to parents

of fifth graders about Merrowvista and describe the conditions at

the schools in the past, and I ask whether they would rather return

to those days of bright flight of teachers, parents, and students.

Their answer is very clear; they do not wish to return to the " bad

old days. "

The School Committee was just criticized loudly at its last meeting

about its inaction and inability to make decisions. Perhaps if the

School Committee spent less time in creating a " frenzy " about the

trip to Merrowvista (which is going to take place) it could do as

the same letter to the editor suggests, and negotiate in good faith.

Canceling and delaying negotiation sessions seem to be the things

the School Committee can decide upon. That is why negotiations have

been ongoing for over a year and dissension is increasing.

That same letter to the editor suggests two other points worth

reiterating. First, " Quality education can do nothing but improve

the lives of all concerned. It develops children (intellectually)

and prepares them for more of what they will face in life, it makes

the town a better place to live and it ensures property values....

Who wants to live in a town with declining education, falling

property values and a population that does not care? " Many parents

have already answered that question with moving vans and private

school's tuition payments.

The author's second point is " our teachers deserve no less than

any of the surrounding towns' compensation packages for their

educators. " The SEA has done extensive research as to the

surrounding towns. We have reviewed over 75 contracts, used

information from over 90 surrounding school districts from the DOE,

and maintained an account of all contracts being settled. All

information points to Saugus last year finally reaching " average. "

Last year was the first time Saugus teachers reached average in

recent memory. Our goal is to remain financially " average " because

the teachers, parents and students know all too well what below

average means.

There are many diversions around this contract settlement. The

SEA will not dignify those diversions. The town and the School

Committee can and must maintain its professional staffs. The town

and the School Committee can and must maintain and enhance its

school programs and buildings. The town and the School Committee

cannot continue to shortchange its children as it has by living in

denial and creating diversions.

Barry DeNofrio

President

Saugus Educators' Association