March 28, 2008
Technical schools provide well-rounded education
By Judith L. Klimkiewicz
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the inception of vocational education in Massachusetts -- a century of ensuring that students who choose a vocational-technical education are prepared either to continue their education at a two- or four-year college, or to enter the work force immediately and become productive members of society.
While 100 years is an impressive milestone, it is important to look at the changes vocational education has undergone in that century and the ever-changing nature of technical education, which will ensure that vocational-technical high schools will continue the tradition of educating students to become valuable citizens.
Of course, vocational-technical high schools, such as Nashoba Valley Technical High School in Westford, will continue to provide a comprehensive education to those students who wish to enter the service fields of carpentry, electrical, auto repair, cosmetology, and plumbing and heating, with opportunities to work in their chosen fields while still students at NVTHS through the cooperative education program.
However, vocational-technical schools that hope to survive for another 100 years and beyond are those that realize that the world and its needs are ever-evolving, and that the schools themselves must be willing and able to evolve to meet those needs, while at the same time, providing an academic curriculum that will produce well-rounded citizens. Vocational-technical
schools must provide a solid foundation for students who also wish to become professionals in the health, information-technology, business, engineering and entertainment industries, as well.
At Nashoba Valley Technical High School, we strive to offer our students the most viable college and career pathways. Toward that end, we have added, eliminated and enhanced programs to best meet the needs of the 21st century workplace.
Since the turn of the 21st century alone, NVTHS has:
* Graduated a student who now works for the Goddard Space Flight Center, the agency within NASA responsible for satellites and the Hubble Space Telescope.
* Graduated another student who is a mechanical engineering major at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as several students who are studying in the five-year engineering program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
* Added a TV and media production program that, for the unprecedented second consecutive year, won first place in The Associated Press' contest for best high-school news program.
* Instituted an engineering technology program to satisfy an ongoing need for engineers, architects and geological experts.
* Completed a $25 million-plus renovation/expansion that saw every classroom and technical program brought up-to-date, as well as the addition of a science and technology wing and a 500-seat performing arts center.
* Added a theater arts component that recently put on a successful production of Damn Yankees and is planning another musical this spring.
* Partnered with the Weston Observatory, a research laboratory of the department of geology and geophysics at Boston College, which has a working seismograph at Nashoba Tech that can detect earthquakes across the planet.
* Opened a branch of the Jeanne d'Arc Credit Union that has become a valuable business partner for the school's banking/marketing/retail technical program.
* Formed a business partnership with Avid Technology, the Tewksbury-based, Academy Award-winning world leader in video and audio film production.
* Saw its culinary arts program win numerous awards in the Taste of Greater Lowell contest, a feat that students in the program duplicated in this year's Taste of Nashoba competition at Lawrence Academy, and produce its own cooking show for local cable TV.
* Forged a partnership with Little Sprouts Early Education Centers that allows Early Childhood Education students within the health assisting program a chance to gain valuable hands-on experience in Early Childhood Education.
* Expanded its educational opportunities to postgraduate students within the district, allowing them to continue their education in their chosen field at no cost.
And that's just to name a few of the exciting happenings at NVTHS.
Yes, a century is a remarkable milestone. However, we have no intention of resting on our laurels. As NVTHS approaches a landmark of its own -- 40 years of providing a strong vocational-technical education to students in the Nashoba Valley -- we know our best years lie ahead, and we look forward to continuing to provide the type of education that will produce the work force of the 21st century.
Judith L. Klimkiewicz is superintendent of the Nashoba Valley Technical School District.
Posted by Admin at 10:42 AM
March 26, 2008
Chelmsford town, school leaders support override
On April 1, the voters of Chelmsford will be given the opportunity to vote on the operational override. The Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and School Committee all have voted to support this issue. Paul Cohen, our town manager, and Donald Yeoman, our superintendent, have stood side by side describing our financial situation and the impacts to our services should the override fail. Our fire chief and police chief have been clear: A failed override will directly affect response time. This is an unprecedented and unique support from our town boards and leaders.
In 2002 the state slashed aid to Chelmsford, and since that time our leadership has worked diligently to address our financial situation. Together we have advocated for more state aid, implemented cuts in services, streamlined and improved efficiencies, consolidated functions, and addressed medical costs by increasing employees' co-pays. All of this has been accomplished because of hard work, and cooperation among our boards.
In the last three years the communication between boards has steadily improved, beginning with the formation of the Cost Savings and Revenue Generating committees and most importantly with establishing leadership meetings. These leadership meetings include two members from each board, the town manager, the superintendent, the town treasurer and the school business manager. Meeting consistently, including over the summer months, has facilitated an open exchange of ideas, a comprehensive analysis of the financial challenges facing Chelmsford, and fostered excellent communication.
The culmination of this work resulted in the unanimous decision by the Board of Selectmen to place an operational override on the April 1 ballot. The Finance Committee, a board appointed to objectively review our town budget, has voted to support the override. The School Committee, mandated by state law as responsible for its budget, has unanimously voted in support of the override. The town manager, superintendent, police chief and the fire chief have all stated a failed override will result in a significant reduction of services provided. When making your decision April 1, please take into consideration these strong messages of support from both our elected and appointed officials.
KATHY DUFFETT
School Committee chairman
Chelmsford
Posted by Admin at 3:21 PM | Comments (1)
March 24, 2008
Outsider a good bet to land school job
ODDS ARE the next Lowell school superintendent, who may be selected tomorrow night, won't be either of the two local candidates.
Wendy Jack, director of curriculum and instruction at the high school, appears to have support from two School Committee members, Regina Faticanti and David Conway. The other local finalist, Paul Schlictman, district coordinator for research, testing and assessment, earned respect but isn't expected to challenge.
That leaves the other finalists, Chris Augusta Scott, superintendent in Norfolk, and Portia Selene Bonner, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in Hamden, Conn.
Here's how the rest of the committee shapes up:
* Mayor Edward "Bud" Caulfield, initially viewed as a Jack supporter, is talking up Scott.
* Jim Leary said he's leaning toward an "outside" candidate.
* Jackie Doherty said she's leaning toward one candidate. She won't say who, but considering the raw politics between herself, Conway and Faticanti lately, it's pretty easy to conclude it's not toward Jack.
* Connie Martin has said very little. She is widely viewed as someone who would prefer an outsider.
* John Leahy isn't overly impressed with any of the candidates, and said he'll vote "present." He's thinking about starting a new search to find a replacement for Karla Brooks Baehr.
Leahy is openly talking about Jean Franco, deputy superintendent for curriculum and instruction, serving in the interim.
So if an outside candidate is chosen, it certainly won't be unanimously.
EVEN IF Bonner or Scott gets the necessary four votes, they might receive a better, or at least more united, offer on the same night.
It will be the Mill City vs. the Whaling City, because the New Bedford School Committees also picks a new superintendent on Monday with Scott and Bonner among three finalists.
According to the New Bedford Standard-Times, both candidates are working hard to ingratiate themselves to the citizens of New Bedford. Bonner hosted a "meet-and-greet" reception at the city's downtown library, while Scott ran in the New Bedford Half Marathon.
Scott may be difficult to reach when the decision is made. She is flying back from an Easter weekend visit to her native Nova Scotia, and expects to be at high altitude until about 7:30 p.m.
CITY MANAGER Bernie Lynch hired a new treasurer last week, but is taking it on the chin from former and current pols who pushed for a Lowell candidate.
David McGurl, town treasurer in Winchester, brings municipal accounting and treasury experience to the $82,000-per-year job.
McGurl got the job over Lowell resident John Linnehan, an accountant who has no municipal experience but plenty of political connections.
Linnehan's father, James Linnehan, is a lawyer and accountant who's close to many of the city's top elected Democrats. The Linnehans have operated a successful family business for decades.
Lynch landed in a no-win situation. If he hired Linnehan and treasury operations went south, he'd be criticized. If he hired outside, he'd still face the heat.
For the record, McGurl's hiring is Lynch's fourth in which he went outside Lowell to fill a management post.
CITY COUNCILOR Mike Lenzi has kept a low profile since his election. That changed last week when Lenzi filed his first motion, and it was a humdinger.
Lenzi wants the City Council to meet twice a month, as opposed to four times. The idea was referred to the Rules Subcommittee, and appears solidly on the track toward approval.
Councilors have talked about it privately over the years, but only one, Peter Richards, ever put it on the agenda for discussion. It was defeated.
Lenzi keeps busy, with his catering business and his position on the Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee. He said his motion is unrelated.
"This was not a selfish motion at all," Lenzi said. "I really believe it was quite the opposite. Seeing people scramble to prepare for Tuesday night meetings each and every week was concerning to me. I didn't even consult anyone before bringing the motion forward. If we want to run the city like a business, we have to treat it like a business. This was a motion based on enhancing the productivity of the people in City Hall."
Lynch also supports Lenzi's motion for similar reasons.
THE TYNGSBORO School Committee is none too happy with recent scrutiny and criticism of its superintendent search process. And members used props to show it.
Last Tuesday, Martina Witts and Diana Keohane displayed two 8-by-10 framed pictures of a hand giving the thumbs-up sign in front of where they were sitting.
The pictures were in response to a Sun editorial, which gave Witts and Keohane "thumbs down" for saying they would vote with the majority pick for school chief, instead of selecting either Darrell Lockwood or Christine Tyrie on their own. (Lockwood locked up the job.)
Witts and Keohane said the pictures were from a resident.
Chairman William Downing later lambasted The Sun for reporting on March 15 that the Middlesex District Attorney's office cited a screening committee for repeatedly violating the Open Meeting Law. The DA's office agreed with The Sun and ruled that the board did not post its meetings and did not hold any part of any meetings in public, both requirements of the law.
Downing was upset by the story, saying articles that accuse local boards of holding secret meetings discourage people from seeking office.
Downing, in fact, is now seeking a seat on the Board of Selectmen, having thrown his hat into the ring at the last moment. Evidently, the violations didn't stop him. Let take a guess: He's running on a platform promoting open government.
THEY WERE formed to give direction on an issue that divided residents and Chelmsford town officials. Now the Ambulance Study Committee is at odds with each other.
A majority of members have voted to recommend selectmen reject Town Manager Paul Cohen's proposal to replace private contractor Trinity Ambulance with ambulance service run by the Chelmsford Fire Department. But committee members Deirdre Connolly and James Sullivan are filing a minority report opposing that stance.
Committee Chairman John Thibault has been keeping the group's findings under wraps since the March 12 vote, and it's no surprise that the final decision caused tension.
The group was off to a rocky start in November, disagreeing about several issues including why it was formed in the first place.
In December, Trinity attorney John Gallant asked selectmen to remove committee member Sullivan, alleging that Sullivan was biased against Trinity.
Sullivan previously owned Care Ambulance of Lowell. In the early 1990s, Trinity owners John Chemaly and Gary Sepe, who both worked at Care, left the company to establish Trinity. When Chemaly and Sepe left, there were several legal disputes between the two men and Sullivan, Gallant said.
Selectmen Chairman Sam Chase said he did not know the history between the parties when casting his vote to appoint Sullivan. Selectmen, who unanimously appointed the nine committee members, refused to remove Sullivan.
Thibault and members John Stansfield, Daniel Burke, Steven Normandin, John Demers and Thomas Fleming were the six who rejected Cohen's plan.
According to the meeting minutes, Thibault has no objections to the Fire Department running an ambulance service, but believes strongly the proposed model as presented will not work.
"The strategy of a hybrid system will create an ongoing financial burden on the town," he said.
Sullivan wanted to wait and see what impact the override would have on the proposal before casting a vote. Connolly disagreed with how overtime, backfill, and other positions were charged into the committee's report. She said core revenues and expenses do show a return.
Committee member Shaun Dean did not vote or participate in the discussion.
Selectmen will begin considering the issue tomorrow night.
LOWELL CITY Councilor Alan Kazanjian last week again pressed his case for local, local, local.
This time the issue was the Hamilton Canal District project.
Kazanjian suggested creating a review committee comprised of local architects, builders and others familiar with the Lowell development scene to examine any proposals by Trinity Financial -- the Boston-based firm city officials have selected to carry out their ambitious plans for the project -- before the City Council votes.
He said he wasn't sure if he could support the signing of a formal agreement between Trinity and the city without review by such a body.
Kazanjian, a real-estate developer specifically mentioned Lowell-based architects Jack Sullivan and Jeff Cook.
Sullivan was Kazanjian's architect on his Mill View Estates project on Middlesex Street, at the Chelmsford-Lowell line, a townhouse subdivision, as well as the councilor's Kaitlin Estates subdivision off Clark Road in the city's Belvidere section.
Kazanjian's fellow councilors didn't jump at the idea, but none disagreed, either. Kazanjian has yet to file an actual motion.
Review committee members arguably could be prohibited from doing any of the early stage work in the canal district project, which city officials expect to represent up to a $500 million investment in the local economy in the next 10 to 20 years.
That would be quite a sacrifice.
KAZANJIAN SUBSEQUENTLY said he hasn't decided whether he would oppose a development agreement with Trinity without the review committee. He also said he has yet to speak to either Sullivan or Cook.
He said his idea was to create a body "just go over this plan with them and see if they can make it work. It's just an idea I'm throwing out there, and I'm sure a lot of these individuals would get involved," he said.
"Who knows," Kazanjian said, "maybe the plan is perfect, but we'll only be able to go over this plan for about an hour (at a council meeting). That's not enough time for us to decide whether it's good or not."
Trinity already has organized a painstaking public review process, which has involved three public meetings at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Two more such meetings are scheduled in May and July.
Staff in the city Division of Planning and Development have been reviewing the plan throughout, and council subcommittees will get their crack at examining the complicated framework eventually.
Incidentally, Jonathan Lane, a principal with ICON architecture, was involved with creating the master plan for the Lowell National Historical Park in the 1970s, as were several other members of his firm.
NORMALLY JOINED at the hip, a crack developed this week between Lowell's delegation to the House of Representatives and Sen. Steven Panagiotakos' office.
The fearsome foursome rarely act on Beacon Hill without coordinating first, which made it all the more interesting when Panagiotakos offered a competing plan to secure new money for UMass Lowell's Emerging Technology and Innovation Center in the governor's $1 billion life-science bill.
Reps. Thomas Golden, Kevin Murphy and David Nangle secured an authorization to borrow an additional $10 million last month for the nanotechnology project.
Panagiotakos' office was not notified that the bond money would be inserted in the bill. He apparently was less than impressed, given the unlikely chance that Gov. Deval Patrick's administration would actually borrow more than the $35 million already committed.
Instead, on Thursday Panagiotakos put $5 million in cash in the Senate's version of the bill that will be guaranteed if UMass Lowell can raise $5 million privately.
The House delegation was not told about the senator's plan.
The bill now goes to conference committee, but for those wondering who's plan will win out, the safest bet is with Panagiotakos.
WHILE SOME Billerica pols were tossing a few back at the Irish American Club on St. Patrick's Day, about 100 residents were hanging out with the Planning Board (unfortunately sans spirits), in the hot and humid sauna that doubles as the Town Hall Auditorium, for yet another lengthy hearing on the proposed $20 million revitalization of the Billerica Mall.
The developer's attorney, Steve Lentine, began his presentation by thanking everyone, including the board for coming out on a "quasi-holiday."
"I know the holiday is particularly important to two members of the board," he said, jokingly referring to Chairman Paul Marasco and member Richard Tortola.
"Tonight we are all Irish, Steve," replied Marasco, who continued by pointing out that Lentine is also Italian.
But, Lentine explained, his wife is Irish.
Suggestion to the Planning Board: Next time serve shots of Jameson Irish whiskey. The night will go much more smoothly.
LEAVE IT to no-nonsense Billerica Planning Board member Ed McLaughlin to get a laugh at last week's never-ending meeting.
Planning Board member Bob Casey, who has not hidden his opposition to the proposal to bring Home Depot to the center of town, bemoaned that no one has studied the economic impact. He called out former Town Manager Rocco Longo and Chief Assessor (and current acting interim town manager) Rich Scanlon for not responding to the board's invitation to attend a meeting to provide that information.
Casey asked Town Planner Peter Kennedy to ask the "town administration" to respond, stating that "maybe they'll listen to you."
"We don't have one (administrator)," deadpanned McLaughlin. "He left with a $5,000 check."
McLaughlin was referring to the $5,000 kiss Longo was given by the town for 10 days of unused vacation. Under the terms of his signed employment contract, Longo's benefit should have been dead in the water because he only gave the selectmen 35 days' notice, not the required 90.
LITTLETON REPUBLICAN Paul Avella has scheduled his campaign kickoff event for next Saturday at the Nabnasset Country Club in Westford to officially launch his bid to unseat Westford state Rep. Geoffrey Hall, a Democrat.
Avella, vice chairman of the Littleton School Committee, is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who has been awarded a Bronze Star for his military service, according to a campaign statement. He currently works as an executive in Raytheon's satellite communications division.
BIG NEWS IS ON the horizon for Middlesex Community College. Word is the college will soon gain control of the Rialto Building on Central Street for a students' performing arts center.
The Rialto is owned by the Lowell National Historic Park Service. The local park service recently won federal approval to transfer the building to MCC. Lowell Park Service Superintendent Michael Creasey has been the driving force behind the plan with MCC President Carole Cowan.
The Rialto has sat dormant for several decades, although the federal government has pumped millions of dollars into restoring the facade and improving structural defects. But the Rialto has no practical government purpose, and needs major internal construction work. MCC will take over the job of raising money to turn it into a first-class arts center.
This week's Column was written by Sun Editor Jim Campanini and City Editor Christopher Scott, with contributions from Michael Lafleur at Lowell City Hall, Jennifer Myers in the Lowell School Department and Billerica, Chris Camire in Tyngsboro, Rita Savard in Chelmsford and Matt Murphy at the Statehouse.
Posted by Admin at 1:09 PM
March 19, 2008
Save ONE Lowell's anti-truancy program
Since its inception in 2001, ONE Lowell has helped tens of hundreds of immigrants get settled, learn English and begin job training while launching the newcomers on a path toward becoming U.S. citizens.
The group's mission is to make immigrants feel a part of their new community, quickly, so that they can become self-sufficient and productive.
Over the years, the advocacy group has taught immigrants the value of participating in local events and the governmental process. More than 1,000 have become citizens and are registered to vote.
For several years now, ONE Lowell has expanded its services to work with the city's School Department on an anti-truancy program in the immigrant-minority community. That program recently came under fire from two members of the Lowell School Committee who felt ONE Lowell wasn't doing enough to document its caseload and results. Two school board members even suggested that the program be suspended. That would be a big mistake.
ONE Lowell provides a nonprofit service that would be extremely hard to duplicate in the public sector because of a lack of funding. As it is, ONE Lowell relies on $218,000 in state and federal funds, plus private donations, to operate its anti-truancy program.
According to Victoria Fahlberg, the group's executive director, ONE Lowell works closely with school principals to keep them informed of progress being made with individual students and their non-English speaking parents. Last year, the group worked with 218 students/families to get the kids back on track and attending school regularly. Data show the efforts were successful in the 60 percent to 70 percent range on a month-to-month basis.
So far this year, ONE Lowell has worked with 130 students/families, although the overall caseload varies as students are added or eliminated as improvements are made. As of Jan. 31, 71 percent of students had improved their attendance performance, a marked increase over the prior year.
Fahlberg said ONE Lowell is required to deliver comprehensive annual reports to both state and federal agencies to meet funding obligations. She said she'd gladly oblige the School Committee with regular reports if that is the members' desire.
We don't want this to become a turf fight in which a nonprofit agency with limited resources is forced to create unnecessary paperwork just to satisfy its existence. That said, accountability is important, and we urge the School Committee and ONE Lowell to develop a reasonable reporting method that won't reduce the program's effectiveness.
The anti-truancy program has received high praise from middle-school principals who have witnessed improved attendance. It should continue.
Posted by Admin at 11:24 AM
March 17, 2008
Is there a school leader in the house?
Should the Lowell School Committee select a new superintendent of public schools if a majority of members don't believe they have the best candidate available?
I would hope not.
If a strong consensus doesn't emerge for a single candidate, members should have the courage to renew the search. They have an overwhelming obligation to do what is in the best interest of the city and its 14,000 students, not their electoral constituency of 6,000 voters.
Lowell needs a strong, dynamic change agent who can hit the ground running, not a learn-as-you-go-leader.
The School Department is a $134 million education-business enterprise. It should be commanded by an executive who respects best management practices and value-added results both in the classroom and on financial ledgers.
Elected officials shouldn't settle for a superintendent-lite when a superintendent-more is what's needed.
There's too much at stake for our children and the city's future prosperity.
Even though I don't have children in Lowell's public schools, I regard each of the city's students as “my” children. I must care for them to succeed. If they do, the city's fortunes — and my family's quality of life — will assuredly improve. Yours will, too. But if the students and schools fail, we'll all bear the burden in increased unemployment, crime and social ills.
Selecting the next superintendent is very critical. It will define the School Committee's legacy. More so, it will set the direction of Lowell's 22 public schools — 18 of which are classified as underperforming — for the next five to 10 years.
The next school leader will have to convince people who don't have children in the public schools to take a stake in the lives of nameless others for the sake of the city's future.
Just 17 to 20 percent of the city's 103,000 residents have a connection to the school system as either a student, parent or grandparent.
The next superintendent must find a way to win over a sizable share of that 80 percent outside the circle and make them care about education and all it entails. This includes rallying business and civic groups to partner with schools on a mission of excellence.
This mission is as vitally important as closing student-achievement gaps. The community at large and the schools must connect, must engage, and must be willing to share resources and ideas.
Karla Brooks Baehr, for all her educational accomplishments during her eight years here, never closed the connection gap between the people using the system and those separated from it. Granted, she faced her own hurdles just getting parents involved in the lives of their schoolchildren. But there can be no excuses going forward. Funding issues will mandate that the next superintendent mount a determined campaign to bring a majority of Lowellians into the fold to save our kids and schools.
Is that dynamic leader present among the finalists — Lowell school system insiders Paul Schlichtman and Wendy Jack and outsiders Chris Augusta-Scott of Norfolk and Portia Selene Bonner of Hamden, Conn.?
Of the four, only Augusta-Scott has experience as a superintendent, leading the 1,100-student Norfolk public school system. Schlichtman and Jack play major roles in the Lowell system as data assessment director and curriculum coordinator, respectively. Bonner is Hamden's assistant superintendent.
Baehr had been superintendent in two school systems, Lexington and Wellesley, before being selected here (she wasn't Lowell's first choice, either).
Certainly, the finalists have potential or they wouldn't be here. It will be up to the School Committee to determine whether that potential is big enough to fit Lowell's oversized challenges.
However, Lowell is beyond being an experimental enterprise for a novice superintendent. It demands a wise, perceptive, accomplished leader who can build new alliances and create a community-wide mission statement that is accepted and implemented. More important, the next superintendent must not only inspire the minds of students and staff to succeed but also be able to move them to action.
Jim Campanini is The Sun's editor. Send comments to jcampanini@lowellsun.com.
Posted by Admin at 5:00 PM
March 12, 2008
Override would fund needed services
"Let The Children Guard What The Sires Have Won." The town of Chelmsford motto is proudly worn on the uniform of every Chelmsford police officer.
The Chelmsford Police Department has the huge responsibility of safeguarding the people of Chelmsford. It's a task that all my officers take seriously, and I see their commitment daily. With their dedication to duty, Chelmsford continues to be an extremely safe community in which to live, raise a family or work. The Police Department's core mission of protecting life and property remains our primary duty.
Beginning in 2002, the financial constraints facing the town -- including the Police Department -- have proved to be more and more challenging. Since 2002, the Police Department has been forced to reduce the sworn complement of officers from 61 to 53. The loss of these eight positions has resulted in fewer officers assigned to shifts and less police visibility throughout the town.
These losses have had a noticeable effect on our department's operations, specifically in the areas of traffic enforcement and community policing. Fewer officers assigned on the shifts results in officers' spending more time in handling calls for service and less time conducting specialized enforcement in problem areas. This is less than ideal, since it forces us to be reactive in our response, rather than being proactive.
According to national studies, Chelmsford is already understaffed when it comes to police coverage. The Department of Justice reports cities and towns with populations between 25,000 and 50,000 residents have 1.8 police officers per 1,000 people. Using these standards, 34,000 residents of Chelmsford need a force with 61 sworn officers instead of the current 53 officers (about 1.5 officers per 1,000 residents). If the override does not pass April 1, the Police Department's staffing levels will be reduced by the elimination of two police officers, one clerical-support position and one part-time maintenance position. The loss of these personnel will result in:
* Two fewer officers assigned to uniformed patrol.
* Traffic Unit officers pulled from assignment to cover patrol shifts.
* Scaled-back criminal and drug-related investigations.
* Reduced training and development classes.
* Reduced clerical support to assist officers and the public.
Over the years, we've looked at our organization and have worked hard to provide the same level of service with fewer personnel. There comes a time, however, when you can't always continue to do more with less. Calls continue to increase, complaints continue to come in, and it's the Police Department's duty to respond to these calls in an effective and efficient manner.
The cuts required should an override fail will, in my opinion, result in a woefully inadequate level of police services for a town the size of Chelmsford. I would respectfully request that the people of Chelmsford vote "Yes" on the override on April 1.
I would like to thank and recognize the town manager, selectmen and Finance Committee for their diligent work over the last year in the budget process. While we are not the only community facing a deficit, the cooperation exhibited by all officials in working together and identifying the problem early on has resulted in a "One Town, One Team" solution. Just like our forefathers, the dedication shown by our current officials will ensure that Chelmsford remains a top-notch community.
JAMES F. MURPHY
police chief
Chelmsford
Posted by Admin at 1:56 PM | Comments (2)
March 11, 2008
Jack may have edge for top school job
THE LOWELL School Committee has four finalists in hand to succeed Superintendent of Schools Karla Brooks Baehr, who opted not to seek a contract extension after nearly eight years.
Right now, the finalist who appears to have the inside track is 56-year-old Wendy Jack, the director of curriculum and instruction at Lowell High School.
No one is talking publicly, but Jack could already have three of four votes she'd need. Her likely supporters are Mayor Edward "Bud" Caulfield and School Committee members Dave Conway (a former LHS housemaster and Jack's colleague last year) and Regina Faticanti.
But getting that fourth vote could prove difficult.
Jack might ultimately get hurt by fallout from the power struggle between Baehr and LHS Headmaster William Samaras.
Samaras won that fight -- keeping his job for an extra year despite Baehr's desire to force him out at the end of the current school year -- and likely influenced Baehr's decision to leave town. Hard feelings remain, however.
Jack is considered to be Samaras' candidate for the superintendent's job, which might force Baehr's supporters on the School Committee, Jackie Doherty and John Leahy, to look elsewhere. Both Doherty and Leahy have had little battles with Samaras, who might end up seeking yet another extension to stay on at the high school if Jack becomes his boss.
Jack will need support from committee members Jim Leary and/or Connie Martin.
Right now, neither is a sure bet to be in her corner.
All the interviews will be conducted this week. The dates and times will be determined by the School Committee tomorrow night.
IF JACK is the top candidate, Portia Selene Bonner, 41, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in Hamden, Conn., and Chris Augusta Scott, 42, superintendent of schools in Norfolk, occupy the next tier.
Bonner did reasonably well in her interview before the Superintendent Screening Committee last week. However, she lives the farthest away, at a time when there appears to be strong preference for local candidates.
Scott had a strong interview, but her district is puny compared to the Mill City.
Though 55-year-old Paul Schlichtman, the Lowell School Department's coordinator for research testing and assessment, is a local candidate, he also has no significant district supervisory experience. That would seem to make him the least likely to get the job right now.
TWENTY-ONE people applied for the job, and word on the street is that the screening committee had no trouble narrowing the list to eight semifinalists. (The Column has learned that several applications were just plain laughable.)
Then three candidates dropped out, shrinking the pool of semifinalists to five.
Now there could be even more shrinkage, and there's nothing the School Committee can do about it.
On Tuesday, Scott will interview with the New Bedford School Committee, where she also is a finalist for the superintendent's job. Bonner follows on Wednesday.
Unlike the advertisement for the Lowell job that carried no salary range, the New Bedford job was advertised at about $155,000, about what Baehr made.
Scott and Bonner could take the New Bedford job -- if it's offered -- before they're even interviewed in Lowell.
Schlichtman is also pursuing the superintendent's job in the Berlin-Boylston Regional School District.
Jack is the only candidate who's not interviewing for a job elsewhere.
JUST HOW thin was the applicant pool? Think about it: Not one finalist has been a superintendent in a district even one-quarter the size of Lowell.
At least one School Committee member is floating the idea of asking Baehr to stay on one more year as an interim superintendent, to allow the district to conduct another search. The Column has learned Baehr would not accept that job even if it was offered.
Meanwhile, Baehr, with 17 years of experience running school districts in Lowell, Wellesley and Lexington, is essentially a shoo-in for any open superintendent's job in which she's interested.
Baehr, however, said last week she has yet to decide what she will do next.
If for some reason the School Committee can't agree on a candidate, there's always Elaine Espindle in Dracut.
IF THE finalists' interviews are scheduled sooner than Thursday, School Committee member Jim Leary will not be in the house -- but for a good reason.
He and his wife Kyra flew to Guatemala Thursday morning and will be returning to Lowell on Wednesday with an addition to their family -- 9-month-old Lorenzo.
Immigration officials will officially make young Lorenzo an American citizen at the airport in Charlotte, N.C. His arrival marks the end of wading through red tape and jumping through hoops for the Learys.
Leary promises he will be back on the job Thursday night, prepared to interview the finalists. After a week in Central America, he may be asking questions in Spanish.
CITY COUNCILOR Alan Kazanjian's motion last week prompted councilors to name the new Middlesex Street Garage after former councilor and Mayor Edward J. Early Jr.
Other than being a regular at the Kazanjian-owned SAC Club, Early has been out of the public limelight for years. He didn't even attend the City Council inauguration in January, to which former mayors are invited.
Heck, Councilor Armand Mercier, another SAC club regular, had to convince the shy Early to have his mayoral portrait hung at City Hall in 2005, decades after his mayoral term in the late 1960s.
Kazanjian's motion was unanimously approved. No councilor could vote against it, even if they disagreed, without looking like a jerk.
WHEN STATE Rep. Dave Nangle heard City Manager Bernie Lynch was proposing to appoint former Mayor Eileen Donoghue to the Arena Commission, one Nangle buddy said he was "in a panic."
Apparently, the friend said, Nangle feared that the seat would provide a bully pulpit for Donoghue if she chooses to run against him in a Democratic primary. Another Nangle pal said the rep wasn't in a panic, but "apoplectic."
Neither is true, said Nangle.
"I really don't care," he said. "I'm gearing up for re-election, whether I have an opponent or not." If re-elected, it would be his sixth term.
Donoghue said she's undecided about running against Nangle. She has to decide by April 29, when nomination papers are due.
Some folks, like Nangle, are wondering whether Lynch even posted the position, and whether he received any interest from anyone else. The Column is wondering, too. Lynch couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
THE TYNGSBORO School Committee took a peculiar approach before offering its superintendent job to Darrell Lockwood last week.
Each committee member spoke about the qualifications of both finalists, Lockwood and Christine Tyrie. But other than Barry Dick, not one explained why they picked Lockwood.
Three members -- Diana Keohane, Martina Witts and Collin Manzo -- even said they couldn't decide which candidate to vote for, so they would go along with the majority. Committee members Burt Buchman, Bill Downing and Jeff Hunt simply picked Lockwood without further comment.
When it came time to vote, the audience still had no clue who any of the committee members, other than Dick, favored for the job.
After the meeting ended, Downing and Buchman were asked their reasons for choosing Lockwood. They gladly explained why. Witts, Manzo and Keohane said they came to the conclusion that both would be equally good choices.
WHY AREN'T they running? Littleton has many open seats up for re-election in May, but neither incumbents nor challengers have stepped up to the plate.
Selectmen Incumbents Reed Augliere and Ivan Pagacik haven't said whether they'll run for re-election, while resident Ken Smith is the only challenger so far.
"Board of Selectmen is a pretty important position, and right now we only have one person running for two openings," said Town Clerk Diane Crory. "It's a pretty sad state we're in right now."
Other uncontested races include School Committee, Planning Board, Moderator, Cemetery Commission, Library Trustee, and Park and Recreation Commission.
Neither incumbents nor challengers have pulled papers for the Board of Assessors, Light and Water Commissioner, and Commissioner of Trust Funds.
Papers must be picked up at the Town Clerk's office by March 20, and are due back on March 24.
ALONG WITH serious statistics about domestic violence and unequal pay for women, last Monday's Lowell Women's Week opening breakfast had light moments, too.
State Sen. Steven Panagiotakos compared life at home with his wife and two daughters to living in a Greek sorority house. He also elicited laughs when he recalled a discussion on breaking the glass ceiling he'd had with his girls. "I told them they'd have to break a little glass to get ahead," he said, adding one took him literally and broke the garage window.
Middlesex County Sheriff James DiPaola, another father of daughters, recalled coaching the first female major-league Little League player in Malden, then turning the team over to his sister, making her the first female coach in the city's history.
City Councilor Rita Mercier, always good for a laugh, brought chuckles when she told the men they looked "mahvelous," but that it was the women who made them look good.
Perhaps the most laughs -- and gasps -- came from keynote speaker Diane Patrick, wife of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who read from a gem of a booklet she'd found somewhere: The 1943 Guide to Hiring Women -- 11 Tips on More Efficiency. Among them?
"Hire young married women, since they won't be as flirtatious" and "It's a good idea to give every girl an adequate number of rest periods, since they like time to apply lipstick and fix their hair."
We've come a long way, but we still have a long way to go," said first lady Patrick.
To which the audience loudly applauded.
FORMER LOWELL Building Commissioner Joe Guthrie is up on his feet and ready to get "dancin' again," he says, after suffering a minor stroke a month ago at his Westford home.
Guthrie has been recuperating at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, where he's been receiving a steady stream of friends, causing nurses to demand he observe the closing curfew or else.
"What are they going to do, throw me out?" he joked last week. Guthrie is due home in a week
The Column wishes him a solid recovery.
LIKEWISE, BEST wishes go out to Dennis Ready, a former Chelmsford selectman and town official, radio talker and good guy. Ready will go under the knife tomorrow morning at New England Medical Center for quadruple bypass surgery.
LOIS FRANKENBERGER, the amiable public relations specialist at the American Textile History Museum for 10 years, received a heartfelt send-off Tuesday from museum staff. Frankenberger moves to New York this week to be near family and pursue other interests. At the party, she told museum director Jim Coleman "both the museum and I are on the verge of exciting new adventures."
But, she added, "the 10 years I spent here were so rewarding. I've learned more about textiles and seen people come and go. It's a sweet sadness I feel."
The museum gave her with a coverlet, woven in the museum's weave room. She presented the museum with a book on the history of nylon, which she'd received when she worked in publicity for Dupont.
The museum expects to hire Marcia Cassidy, formerly with Lowell General Hospital and The Sun, to handle public relations.
DRACUT SELECTMAN George Malliaros can always be counted upon for a few good quotes.
Selectman James O'Loughlin suggested the town could get Lowell developer Kazanjian to reduce his price further for a 14-acre parcel the town wishes to buy.
Malliaros replied, "There's an old saying: 'You can get milk from cows and eggs from chickens but a pig always get slaughtered.'"
Later, "I think it was Mark Twain who said, 'Land is so valuable because they're not making any more of it.'"
Malliaros also said the $1.02 million price tag was a good deal because, "Dracut taxpayers are only paying half. The state is paying the other half."
The board agreed the price for the land is steep, but Malliaros pointed out that the United States "lost a stealth bomber a couple of weeks ago worth $2 billion. What are we quibbling about?"
ATTORNEY HAROLD Greenspan, who is representing newly hired Dracut School Superintendent W. Spencer Mullin in contract negotiations, was running late for a scheduled meeting with the School Committee.
Seems there was a minor accident and he was trying to call the committee's attorney, Ed Morris, to tell him about his tardiness. Just so happens, Morris was involved in the minor fender-bender.
"I volunteered my services," joked Greenspan.
"I took him up on it," said Morris.
This week's Column was written by Sun Editor Jim Campanini, Assistant Managing Editor Kristopher Pisarik, City Editor Christopher Scott, City Hall reporter Michael Lafleur, Littleton reporter Bridget Scrimenti, Tyngsboro reporter Chris Camire; Dracut reporter Dennis Shaughnessey and Lifestyle reporter Nancye Tuttle.
Posted by Admin at 8:41 AM
March 7, 2008
Billerica Watchers Group encourages others to join its fight against power plant
I am writing this to all who have genuine concern for the future of the Merrimack Valley. If you're not concerned about your health or your home value, you don't need to read any further.
After standing in a doorway at a recent Billerica selectmen's meeting while hearing and watching the DG Clean Power Limited Liability Corp. speak, I thought, imagine if the Billerica Watchers had the financial bandwidth to challenge, in a court, the Board of Selectmen's decision not to allow any rebuttal. While many of Billerica's concerned citizens stood in the aisles and hall, with many of them being elderly and some with disabilities, non-residents sat sleeping or half asleep in their rightful seats. DG Clean Power LLC proceeded to attempt to discredit their valid concerns, as well as contradicting their own previous statements. If allowed to respond, BWG would have been able to address the accusations and misinformation which was put forth for the unaware public to digest. The constitutional rights of the average American citizens, who generally do not have an abundance of wealth, have been clearly violated.
Here are example of some of the mistruths:
One: Under sworn testimony the proponents stated this power plant was not a "reliability plant." Monday, it was called a "reliability plant."
Two: Full-page ads in the newspapers claimed this plant would not require water from the Concord River nor harm it. Monday stated on record DG meant no "direct withdrawal or
discharge to the river," water will still be coming from the river and displaced.
Three: Stated was, the five-year flow of the river data was hidden in the submission filed with the state. The five years of data submission was not provided to BWG, so who did they provide this to? Yet another part of this fable, or perhaps this is yet another research effort that DG Clean Power LLC will force BWG to create yet another motion to obtain the information.
Four: Stated was the project has been 16 acres for over a year and a half now. The original filing was for 13.8 acres.
Five: Selectman Marc Lombardo held up a DG propaganda flier that stated, "We will not see it, hear it or smell it," yet the supervising engineer finally admitted that it will be seen and it will be heard. Noise was claimed to be mitigated, but DG failed to mention its would need a waiver from the DEP for noise levels. A false impression was left that if any violation of standards was to occur the plant would be shut down. It would take months to do; read the laws!
The best performance was on air quality. The claim that the BWG experts were being overly conservative with their air modeling and taking layers of pollutants and toxins into consideration is a no-brainer. The BWG would like to state: This is "our valley" and the "conservative toxins" referred to are in "our air" for every man, woman, and child to breathe. Why shouldn't we take all these toxins into consideration? We speak of reality, not of financial influence or laws based on "BACT" Best Affordable Control Technology. Why wouldn't the citizens of "our valley" want to ensure that every worst-case scenario on air, safety, the environment, and the health of ourselves and future generations to come, be analyzed?
All statements can be validated on record, because truth is plainer than fiction. Speak up; we all have the right to a voice. Become informed and join in with the BWG, to prevent this manipulation of facts and suppression of our freedom of speech. Together as one indivisible group of concerned citizens, we can save "our valley" from fiction supported by finances.
ED CAMPLESE
Posted by Admin at 3:06 PM | Comments (2)
March 6, 2008
Power company is committed to plant safety
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With that being said, we respect and understand the concerns of the residents in Chelmsford and their elected officials. We have developed three other power plants in the state, and they have operated with a solid safety record. I have written to the officials in these communities reiterating our commitment to the safety of the plant and our willingness to have an open and honest discussion with them about our contingency plans as we have already done in Billerica. Finally, long before plant construction commences these plans will be detailed in our final environmental impact statement and reviewed by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the state fire marshal.
Our plant will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by personnel at our Lowell plant, which is less than 10 minutes from the site as stated in the site security and emergency response plans. We will have secured Internet connection with police, fire and our plant. Additionally, sensors and cameras will be monitoring the site and will have the ability to shut down all key equipment remotely. In fact, our primary response with any alarm will be to shut the plant down immediately and then consult with safety officials.
We also have agreed to the recommendations of the Billerica Fire Department to fully enclose our ammonia tank. This will result in a condition of no hazard off the site during an ammonia tank release. We reiterate that that this is an aqueous ammonia system with 81 percent water content comparable to certain household products and not the type of ammonia (anhydrous) found in refrigeration and water treatment plants. Operating personnel will be on-site during all operating periods and for all deliveries, and we will make arrangements for police details when our personnel are not at the site.
On Sept. 11, 2001, and the days thereafter, I spent countless hours with power plant operators around the country, police and homeland security watching over these critical power plants. Safety is in the culture of the electric power industry, and the results speak for themselves. We commit to the same culture with our neighbors in and around Billerica.
JOSEPH FITZPATRICK
DG Clean Power, CEO
Posted by Admin at 12:55 PM
March 4, 2008
Get accurate facts before voting in Chelmsford
I'd like rebut recent letters in The Sun so Chelmsford voters can understand how the rampant misinformation many people in town have distorts the truth and will prevent residents from making the best-informed decision as the override vote approaches on April 1.
I find the frequent comments that town leaders are using "scare tactics" to be disturbing. If anything, officials have gone to great strides to present only facts so people can understand both sides of the issue and learn how the results of the override vote will affect them. I don't consider this a "hard sell."
Another thing I hear is the schools are top-heavy with administrators. However, the facts show that Chelmsford spends 20.5 percent less per pupil in administrative costs than the state average. Another comparison shows that Chelmsford spends less than half the state average in instructional leadership costs. This doesn't sound to me like a top-heavy school system to me.
Then there is the belief that the town must "cut the fat" from the system. I agree that any excess should be eliminated first. Both town and school officials during the past several years have done just that in an open process, doing such things as not filling open positions, searching for ways to streamline operations that reduce costs, and using innovative ways to find new revenues.
There's a lot of misinformation out there, such as Mr. Davidson's incorrect assertion in his Feb. 29 letter that money for the Performing
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Arts Center could have been used to increase test scores and reduce class size.
State law dictates that money such as this can only be used for building projects, but this type of misunderstanding is all too typical coming from people who mean well but are basing their opinion on incorrect information.
So research the issue yourself. Go to the town and school Web sites, or contact the Selectmen and School Committee members. The worst thing you can do is make a decision without having all the correct facts. And that's exactly what the opposition is hoping you do.
JOHN SHAW
Chelmsford
Posted by Admin at 3:02 PM | Comments (2)
March 3, 2008
Mercier hiring item was cheap gossip
Mercier hiring item was cheap gossip
The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 03/02/2008 06:37:31 AM EST
The Sun recently published a Sunday Column item questioning the hiring of Ron Mercier as an operator in training at the Lowell Water Department. The article seemed to suggest that his hiring was influenced by his grandfather, City Councilor Armand Mercier, a charge that is denied by both Merciers, Executive Director Dan Lahiff and City Manager Bernie Lynch. The article is also quite misleading. Its first sentence states: "Another nationwide search ends in a Merrimack Valley community's backyard."
Unlike a school superintendent, police chief or city manager, this is a relatively low-paying position. The job requires working overnight on the weekends. It is unlikely that anyone outside of driving distance to Lowell would relocate for an entry-level position, which makes the first sentence seem needlessly inflammatory.
The article also references "dark rumors" that a back-room deal was made between Councilor Mercier and City Manager Lynch, involving the proposed Division of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. In the same paragraph, however, the writer says Mercier had always supported the measure.
The most interesting aspect of the situation is the editorial in The Sun the next day, which excoriates The New York Times for running an "innuendo-laced" article about John McCain and his "supposed" relationship with a lobbyist. The editorial also notes the Times "journalistic ethical breach" in printing the article even though "not a single fact was published
backing up the allegation." That sounds awfully similar to a certain article in The Sun, which referenced "dark rumors" as its only apparent evidence of wrongdoing. Unless The Sun has evidence showing that a more qualified candidate was passed over for Ron Mercier, the article is nothing more than cheap gossip, which casts aspersions on the character of everyone involved.
The Sun is right to criticize the Times for running glorified gossip as news, they should be careful not to sink to the same level.
BENJAMIN CHAPUT
Lowell
Editor's note: The Sun published both sides of the Mercier story so readers can draw their own conclusions, but the underlying message as to whether this hiring was a quid pro quo remains relevant in light of its timing of the hiring and a key council vote. Mr Chaput makes a valid point, however. The Sun should have checked to see how many Lowellians were passed over for the $31,000 a year job in favor of a Dracut resident who is the grandson of a city councilor.
Posted by Admin at 12:01 PM
