Moderator, could you please post this.
Webmaster says -
Dear Atkinson Residents. Late this afternoon I received an EMAIL from the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. This EMAIL can be read at
www.just-goaway.com/puc_testimony.htm. This EMAIL is 17 pages long, but the short version is, the PUC is granting HAWC's request for a low interest, $1,100,885 loan to construct a pipeline along Rt. 121 (Main St.) to interconnect HAWC's Atkinson and Hampstead water systems.
The letter mentions all the testimony given by our Town Administrator, Carol Grant, Bill Bennett and John Wolters and the ordinances Atkinson (overwhelming) passed that prohibits such an interconnection. The letter also questions the accuracy of the massive water loss the Atkinson system has.
My take - The DES and PUC have thumbed their noses at the wishes of Atkinson's residents to protect our valuable aquifer against exploitation. Now, I'm not going to get into a discussion regarding whether our ordinances are legal or not. I will not respond to any comments on that issue. It has all been discussed before. Let’s leave it at this: The ordinances reflect the desires and wishes of an overwhelming majority of Atkinson's citizens.
The good news, this is not the end of the story and HAWC does not get a check in the mail tomorrow. This loan must still be approved by the Executive Council and the Governor. We have two things in our favor, 1) The state's fiscal situation, and 2) we have the support of our area's representative to the Executive Council, Beverly Hollingworth.
If you feel that the PUC's decision is wrong, please EMAIL Gov. Lynch at www4.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp and copy Beverly at bhollingworth@nh.gov . If you are so inclined, I would like a copy of your EMAIL so I can archive them. Please be assured, your name will not be disclosed. I have no affiliation with any aspect of Atkinson's government or HAWC. My interests lie solely with the water issue. My EMAIL is webmaster@just-goaway.com. You might want to include a mention of the state's fiscal crisis, that the pipeline is not needed, and the money can better spent elsewhere, or not spent at all. Thank you.
Side note - The EMAIL address for Gov. Lynch is a web based form. This means you cannot directly copy Ms. Hollingworth and that you do not retain a copy. It's a hassle so you could mention this to the Governor. So, use the web form to EMAIL the Governor, and regular EMAIL for Ms. Hollingworth and please mention that you sent the same message to the Governor.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Atkinson hosts benefit snowshoe races
From the Eagle Tribune;
Atkinson hosts benefit snowshoe races
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — When Michael Holland helps guide people around the snowshoe course Sunday at Atkinson Country Club, he'll be thinking of his younger brother.
That's because his brother is one of about 100 New Hampshire residents who live with cystic fibrosis, a disease whose research foundation will benefit from the event.
Frosty's Dash for A Cure is in its fourth year.
Holland recruited the 24 members of his Central Catholic High School hockey team to help run the 5K race. The hockey players know his brother pretty well and are happy to help organize the half-mile kids race, give directions to runners and help set up the course.
"Everyone is always ready to step up and help out a friend," said Holland, 17.
Holland's mother, Amy, said she began organizing the race with girlfriends and it has grown a lot over the years. Last year, the race raised about $26,000 through sponsors, raffles, auctions and registration fees.
"It's really turned into a community event," she said.
Volunteer Deborah Fudge said the race should draw a couple hundred people to participate in the 5K and the half-mile kids race.
"Some people bring their own shoes and take it pretty serious," Michael said.
But snowshoes are provided for those who don't bring their own. And the race will go on even if the snow doesn't stick around. Participants should be prepared to run or walk both courses if the snow melts before kickoff.
There also is a silent auction and raffle, including items like autographed jerseys from several NHL teams and gift cards from local businesses. Refreshments will be available.
Registration for the race goes from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
The children's race starts at 10:30 a.m., the 5K at 11:15 a.m.
The kids race costs $5, the 5K $20, with a $45 family maximum.
Entry forms are available at www.frostydash.org.
Atkinson hosts benefit snowshoe races
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — When Michael Holland helps guide people around the snowshoe course Sunday at Atkinson Country Club, he'll be thinking of his younger brother.
That's because his brother is one of about 100 New Hampshire residents who live with cystic fibrosis, a disease whose research foundation will benefit from the event.
Frosty's Dash for A Cure is in its fourth year.
Holland recruited the 24 members of his Central Catholic High School hockey team to help run the 5K race. The hockey players know his brother pretty well and are happy to help organize the half-mile kids race, give directions to runners and help set up the course.
"Everyone is always ready to step up and help out a friend," said Holland, 17.
Holland's mother, Amy, said she began organizing the race with girlfriends and it has grown a lot over the years. Last year, the race raised about $26,000 through sponsors, raffles, auctions and registration fees.
"It's really turned into a community event," she said.
Volunteer Deborah Fudge said the race should draw a couple hundred people to participate in the 5K and the half-mile kids race.
"Some people bring their own shoes and take it pretty serious," Michael said.
But snowshoes are provided for those who don't bring their own. And the race will go on even if the snow doesn't stick around. Participants should be prepared to run or walk both courses if the snow melts before kickoff.
There also is a silent auction and raffle, including items like autographed jerseys from several NHL teams and gift cards from local businesses. Refreshments will be available.
Registration for the race goes from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
The children's race starts at 10:30 a.m., the 5K at 11:15 a.m.
The kids race costs $5, the 5K $20, with a $45 family maximum.
Entry forms are available at www.frostydash.org.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Hey Frank, Learn the Law before you lecture us!
From the NH Insider;
Hey Frank, Where You Going With That Brown On Your Nose?
Well I went to the Atkinson Deliberative session on Saturday to behold the spectacle of democracy at its worst – I was not disappointed.
Here is how it works:
The police chief has a following built with taxpayer dollars in the form of a nifty little program called “Atkinson Elderly Affairs.” The chief uses town resources to “help” people and in return is allowed certain privileges such as bullying anyone he dislikes.
The chief has a long record of suits filed against him and the town of Atkinson regularly pays for damages and defends thuggish behavior. It is an undisputable matter of public record not worth debating with his loyal clan of sycophants.
But try as he might, the chief can not stop the last few good people who are standing up to him, there are only a handful that show up in person at meetings so he seems to have it in for anyone who would sign a citizens petitioned warrant article for this small band of warrior/taxpayers. This would pull the rug out from under their ability to put something on a ballot for the larger vote on Election day in March.
As luck would have it, chief thuggo’s second attempt at intimidating petition signers in the last eight years has lead to a lawsuit based on the petitioners civil rights. The Town will lose this suit in court and with public opinion this time because it will get statewide publicity. The local press will not be able to save the chief this time and I think some of Atkinson’s power elite can smell it in the air.
This Saturday it looked like there was a bit of a muzzle on the chief and it was the job of two former selectmen to show the obstinate minority who was boss one last time.
No sooner had local taxpayer Gary Brownfield (trouble maker) quietly taken a handful of pictures with his professional camera than the Atkinson Moderator Frank Polito told him to stop – exercising his right to privacy as a private individual. Polito was quickly reminded by taxpayer Leon Artus that as moderator he was not a private citizen and he could simply hand the gavel over to anyone else and leave if he did not want his picture taken in a public meeting.
This lead to a unique rendition of RSA 91-A, where under Moderator Frank Polito’s learned interpretation the Right to Know law allowed FILMING and TAPE RECORDING of public meetings but no right to take pictures with a camera.
Polito even went to his police department sycophant power base for support and called for a vote of his decision to stop Mr. Brownfield. This is called: putting a cherry on the butterscotch sundae, all in the name of ego.
Later, Polito had the members vote to allow the Lawrence Eagle Tribune photographer to take pictures – jimmies on the cherry. And after that, one of the cookie ladies in the back of the room cranked out a camera just like Brownfield’s and took some pictures without a vote or comment by anyone – sprinkles on the jimmies.
But the crowning/clowning glory of the Atkinson Deliberative session was his “in-your-faceness,” Frank I-Forget-His-Name, who would leap to the microphone at the slightest opportunity to comment on his own comments, after amending his comments. Sad, sad, sad. Frank even sat as far from the microphone he so dearly covets so he could enjoy the walk to it every three minutes – ALL DAY LONG!
Atkinson should have an ordinance against abuse of the municipal limelight to slow the two Franks down a bit but they are too busy trying to crush every single vestige of opposition to kissing the thug of a police chief’s posterior. Let’s hope they don’t crack their heads if the chief snaps his fingers.
One other personal observation: I spotted the reporter for the Tribune, who was sitting in front of me in the Visitor section, clapping at the appropriate brown-noser opportunities the “moderator” allowed.
Posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 04:20PM by Registered CommenterEd Naile |
For the Record, the person Mr. Naile refers to as the second "Frank", was none other than our own former Selectman, current code of ethics member Jack Sapia!
Hey Frank, Where You Going With That Brown On Your Nose?
Well I went to the Atkinson Deliberative session on Saturday to behold the spectacle of democracy at its worst – I was not disappointed.
Here is how it works:
The police chief has a following built with taxpayer dollars in the form of a nifty little program called “Atkinson Elderly Affairs.” The chief uses town resources to “help” people and in return is allowed certain privileges such as bullying anyone he dislikes.
The chief has a long record of suits filed against him and the town of Atkinson regularly pays for damages and defends thuggish behavior. It is an undisputable matter of public record not worth debating with his loyal clan of sycophants.
But try as he might, the chief can not stop the last few good people who are standing up to him, there are only a handful that show up in person at meetings so he seems to have it in for anyone who would sign a citizens petitioned warrant article for this small band of warrior/taxpayers. This would pull the rug out from under their ability to put something on a ballot for the larger vote on Election day in March.
As luck would have it, chief thuggo’s second attempt at intimidating petition signers in the last eight years has lead to a lawsuit based on the petitioners civil rights. The Town will lose this suit in court and with public opinion this time because it will get statewide publicity. The local press will not be able to save the chief this time and I think some of Atkinson’s power elite can smell it in the air.
This Saturday it looked like there was a bit of a muzzle on the chief and it was the job of two former selectmen to show the obstinate minority who was boss one last time.
No sooner had local taxpayer Gary Brownfield (trouble maker) quietly taken a handful of pictures with his professional camera than the Atkinson Moderator Frank Polito told him to stop – exercising his right to privacy as a private individual. Polito was quickly reminded by taxpayer Leon Artus that as moderator he was not a private citizen and he could simply hand the gavel over to anyone else and leave if he did not want his picture taken in a public meeting.
This lead to a unique rendition of RSA 91-A, where under Moderator Frank Polito’s learned interpretation the Right to Know law allowed FILMING and TAPE RECORDING of public meetings but no right to take pictures with a camera.
Polito even went to his police department sycophant power base for support and called for a vote of his decision to stop Mr. Brownfield. This is called: putting a cherry on the butterscotch sundae, all in the name of ego.
Later, Polito had the members vote to allow the Lawrence Eagle Tribune photographer to take pictures – jimmies on the cherry. And after that, one of the cookie ladies in the back of the room cranked out a camera just like Brownfield’s and took some pictures without a vote or comment by anyone – sprinkles on the jimmies.
But the crowning/clowning glory of the Atkinson Deliberative session was his “in-your-faceness,” Frank I-Forget-His-Name, who would leap to the microphone at the slightest opportunity to comment on his own comments, after amending his comments. Sad, sad, sad. Frank even sat as far from the microphone he so dearly covets so he could enjoy the walk to it every three minutes – ALL DAY LONG!
Atkinson should have an ordinance against abuse of the municipal limelight to slow the two Franks down a bit but they are too busy trying to crush every single vestige of opposition to kissing the thug of a police chief’s posterior. Let’s hope they don’t crack their heads if the chief snaps his fingers.
One other personal observation: I spotted the reporter for the Tribune, who was sitting in front of me in the Visitor section, clapping at the appropriate brown-noser opportunities the “moderator” allowed.
Posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 04:20PM by Registered CommenterEd Naile |
For the Record, the person Mr. Naile refers to as the second "Frank", was none other than our own former Selectman, current code of ethics member Jack Sapia!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Atkinson police chief: Bully or a target?
From the Union Leader;
Atkinson police chief: Bully or a target?
By DERRICK PERKINS
Union Leader Correspondent
7 hours, 19 minutes ago
ATKINSON – Two residents who claim police Chief Philip V. Consentino bullied people into removing their names from a warrant article petition are preparing to sue the chief and the board of selectmen.
In a notice sent to the town by attorney Charles Douglas, residents Leon Artus and Gary Brownfield claim Consentino, 68, harassed and intimidated residents into removing their names from a petition that would have changed the chief position from part time to full time and raised the job's minimum qualifications.
Artus and Brownfield collected signatures for the petition.
During Saturday's deliberative session, voters overwhelmingly supported an amendment to the warrant article that restored Consentino's hold on the position.
Had the warrant article passed in its original form, the town would have been required to hire a chief with at least a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and 15 years of experience in law enforcement.
Consentino, who has been chief for 40 years, said neither he nor his second-in-command could meet those requirements and that he was specifically targeted by people trying to get rid of him.
Douglas, however, claims Consentino is responsible for a pattern of civil rights violations made even more serious by the chief's position in town.
"He's got a gun, a badge, a cruiser and a bunch of armed men working for him called the police department," Douglas said. "It's not like he's the town librarian."
Douglas said his clients are seeking monetary damages and an injunction against any further intimidation.
He said he planned to formally file the lawsuit by the end of this week. The lawsuit will also name the current board of selectmen and former selectmen Jack Sapia and Francis Polito, Douglas said.
Neither Artus nor Brownfield would comment on the lawsuit.
Sumner Kalman, the town's attorney, did not return messages yesterday.
YOUR COMMENTS
Sounds like a bunch of residents that have chips on their shoulders. Is the Chief doing a good job? If yes, then leave him alone. If no, then deal with him in a fair manner.
- Mike Hockhirtz, Atkinson
chief for 40 years, high school diploma and a smile like that, its time to go chief,,
its 2009 not 1969, the town has to catch up with the times
- mike, meredith
The day of allowing a Police Chief to retire from a Town as the FULL time Chief in order to collect his State Pension then returning the very first day after this Retirement in the very same job but now called PART time chief is so morally wrong it needs to stop NOW. The only reason a Town does this is to allow the Chief to "double dip"; to retire and collect his pension but NOT leave the EXACT job, just now call him the part time Chief and allow him to work LESS for MORE pay.
There are two other Town in NH that are doing this under the guise of saving enormous money with NOT a difference what so ever in performance of the Police Department. However, the second this annointed Part time Chief retires the second time the Selectmen will immediately make the position full time, get it recertified quickly with the NH retirement board and do so only because their next pick is not not ready or able to retire and needs a full time job so he can one day "double dip" also if he lasts that long as Police Chief.
This is what is happening in Atkinson, Hopkington and Henniker NH. All 3 Chiefs now earn six figures doing the very same job they did for far less money and now do it for working less hours. Of course these Chiefs will act as they wish in Town; they are already collecting their pension and the worst that could happen is that they retire for real a second time from their part time job as Chief and continue to laugh all the way to the bank to enjoy the TAX money that made him one of the highest paid Police Chiefs in NH.
And the State wonders why their Retirement System is broke???
- George P, Salem NH
Why don't the few people that are making these accusations about Chief Consentino, crawl back under the rock they came from and stop complaining, these accusations have been in the paper for the last couple of years. He must be doing a good job, as he keeps getting elected. It is always the same poople that have no life, why don't they spend more time trying to help out with Elderly program, that Chief Consentino coordinates. or better yet, why don't they just move out of Atkinson
- keith, Chester,NH
This is just another indication that the days of having a Part time or elected Police Chief are over. Regardless of the reason for the petition, todays policing requires that the head of policing agency have the qualifications and education to fill such a position. The good old boy syndrome is over and it is time to ensure that the people we trust to enforce the laws of this state and protect our families have the ability to conduct themselves as professionals. That they have a understanding of the change in how law is being enforced and be able to change with it. That person has to be able to follow the qualifications that are set by Police Standards and Training as well enforce those standards with the people in thier agency. This type of hold on a position is not good for the community or law enforcement in general.
- Dan, Portsmouth
Atkinson police chief: Bully or a target?
By DERRICK PERKINS
Union Leader Correspondent
7 hours, 19 minutes ago
ATKINSON – Two residents who claim police Chief Philip V. Consentino bullied people into removing their names from a warrant article petition are preparing to sue the chief and the board of selectmen.
In a notice sent to the town by attorney Charles Douglas, residents Leon Artus and Gary Brownfield claim Consentino, 68, harassed and intimidated residents into removing their names from a petition that would have changed the chief position from part time to full time and raised the job's minimum qualifications.
Artus and Brownfield collected signatures for the petition.
During Saturday's deliberative session, voters overwhelmingly supported an amendment to the warrant article that restored Consentino's hold on the position.
Had the warrant article passed in its original form, the town would have been required to hire a chief with at least a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and 15 years of experience in law enforcement.
Consentino, who has been chief for 40 years, said neither he nor his second-in-command could meet those requirements and that he was specifically targeted by people trying to get rid of him.
Douglas, however, claims Consentino is responsible for a pattern of civil rights violations made even more serious by the chief's position in town.
"He's got a gun, a badge, a cruiser and a bunch of armed men working for him called the police department," Douglas said. "It's not like he's the town librarian."
Douglas said his clients are seeking monetary damages and an injunction against any further intimidation.
He said he planned to formally file the lawsuit by the end of this week. The lawsuit will also name the current board of selectmen and former selectmen Jack Sapia and Francis Polito, Douglas said.
Neither Artus nor Brownfield would comment on the lawsuit.
Sumner Kalman, the town's attorney, did not return messages yesterday.
YOUR COMMENTS
Sounds like a bunch of residents that have chips on their shoulders. Is the Chief doing a good job? If yes, then leave him alone. If no, then deal with him in a fair manner.
- Mike Hockhirtz, Atkinson
chief for 40 years, high school diploma and a smile like that, its time to go chief,,
its 2009 not 1969, the town has to catch up with the times
- mike, meredith
The day of allowing a Police Chief to retire from a Town as the FULL time Chief in order to collect his State Pension then returning the very first day after this Retirement in the very same job but now called PART time chief is so morally wrong it needs to stop NOW. The only reason a Town does this is to allow the Chief to "double dip"; to retire and collect his pension but NOT leave the EXACT job, just now call him the part time Chief and allow him to work LESS for MORE pay.
There are two other Town in NH that are doing this under the guise of saving enormous money with NOT a difference what so ever in performance of the Police Department. However, the second this annointed Part time Chief retires the second time the Selectmen will immediately make the position full time, get it recertified quickly with the NH retirement board and do so only because their next pick is not not ready or able to retire and needs a full time job so he can one day "double dip" also if he lasts that long as Police Chief.
This is what is happening in Atkinson, Hopkington and Henniker NH. All 3 Chiefs now earn six figures doing the very same job they did for far less money and now do it for working less hours. Of course these Chiefs will act as they wish in Town; they are already collecting their pension and the worst that could happen is that they retire for real a second time from their part time job as Chief and continue to laugh all the way to the bank to enjoy the TAX money that made him one of the highest paid Police Chiefs in NH.
And the State wonders why their Retirement System is broke???
- George P, Salem NH
Why don't the few people that are making these accusations about Chief Consentino, crawl back under the rock they came from and stop complaining, these accusations have been in the paper for the last couple of years. He must be doing a good job, as he keeps getting elected. It is always the same poople that have no life, why don't they spend more time trying to help out with Elderly program, that Chief Consentino coordinates. or better yet, why don't they just move out of Atkinson
- keith, Chester,NH
This is just another indication that the days of having a Part time or elected Police Chief are over. Regardless of the reason for the petition, todays policing requires that the head of policing agency have the qualifications and education to fill such a position. The good old boy syndrome is over and it is time to ensure that the people we trust to enforce the laws of this state and protect our families have the ability to conduct themselves as professionals. That they have a understanding of the change in how law is being enforced and be able to change with it. That person has to be able to follow the qualifications that are set by Police Standards and Training as well enforce those standards with the people in thier agency. This type of hold on a position is not good for the community or law enforcement in general.
- Dan, Portsmouth
Another Civil Rights Lawsuit, Another $100,000 or so down the drain! Thanks Frank!
From the Eagle Tribune;
Resident barred from taking pictures at meeting
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Residents have rights at public meetings, but that can all come to an end when they cause a disturbance.
Resident Gary Brownfield was taking photographs at the town's deliberative session Saturday, but was told almost immediately that he had to stop.
Moderator Frank Polito stopped discussion and asked Brownfield to stop taking photographs, saying he was causing a disturbance. Polito went so far as to put the question to voters, asking the audience whether Brownfield's photography should be banned, and they overwhelmingly agreed.
New Hampshire's public meeting law states specifically that cameras are permitted at meetings. But the law also gives the moderator broad discretion to determine what constitutes a disturbance, according to Deputy Secretary of State Dave Scanlan.
But Brownfield, a frequent critic of town officials, says the ruling wasn't fair.
He said he was sitting in his seat, taking photographs of Polito and other officials, and was not causing a disturbance. Brownfield said yesterday he was hired by the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers to take photographs and was not causing any trouble.
"I was acting as a paid professional," Brownfield said.
But Scanlan said if a moderator believes something is disrupting the meeting, he or she can have it stopped or have the offender removed. Residents can always overrule the moderator so putting the issue to a vote of the people was perfectly reasonable, the deputy secretary of state said.
"He wanted the people to be the ones to decide and not just him," Scanlan said.
Polito said Saturday that Brownfield disturbed the meeting because he was distracting and intimidating other residents who didn't know where the pictures would end up. Brownfield was told multiple times that if he photographed the event or disturbed the meeting, he would be thrown out.
"I believe you are creating a disorder in the room because you are taking pictures," Polito said at the meeting.
Polito asked Brownfield to delete any pictures he had taken of him.
Brownfield said the rule was unfair since it was not in the moderator's rules that were distributed at the meeting and a newspaper photographer was allowed to take photographs.
After Brownfield was banned from taking pictures, a newspaper photographer arrived at the meeting and was allowed to photograph the event. The photographer was asked to identify herself and was given permission by Polito and the audience to photograph the meeting.
Brownfield said he has given his attorney a videotape of the meeting and he may pursue legal action against Polito and the town.
Resident barred from taking pictures at meeting
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Residents have rights at public meetings, but that can all come to an end when they cause a disturbance.
Resident Gary Brownfield was taking photographs at the town's deliberative session Saturday, but was told almost immediately that he had to stop.
Moderator Frank Polito stopped discussion and asked Brownfield to stop taking photographs, saying he was causing a disturbance. Polito went so far as to put the question to voters, asking the audience whether Brownfield's photography should be banned, and they overwhelmingly agreed.
New Hampshire's public meeting law states specifically that cameras are permitted at meetings. But the law also gives the moderator broad discretion to determine what constitutes a disturbance, according to Deputy Secretary of State Dave Scanlan.
But Brownfield, a frequent critic of town officials, says the ruling wasn't fair.
He said he was sitting in his seat, taking photographs of Polito and other officials, and was not causing a disturbance. Brownfield said yesterday he was hired by the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers to take photographs and was not causing any trouble.
"I was acting as a paid professional," Brownfield said.
But Scanlan said if a moderator believes something is disrupting the meeting, he or she can have it stopped or have the offender removed. Residents can always overrule the moderator so putting the issue to a vote of the people was perfectly reasonable, the deputy secretary of state said.
"He wanted the people to be the ones to decide and not just him," Scanlan said.
Polito said Saturday that Brownfield disturbed the meeting because he was distracting and intimidating other residents who didn't know where the pictures would end up. Brownfield was told multiple times that if he photographed the event or disturbed the meeting, he would be thrown out.
"I believe you are creating a disorder in the room because you are taking pictures," Polito said at the meeting.
Polito asked Brownfield to delete any pictures he had taken of him.
Brownfield said the rule was unfair since it was not in the moderator's rules that were distributed at the meeting and a newspaper photographer was allowed to take photographs.
After Brownfield was banned from taking pictures, a newspaper photographer arrived at the meeting and was allowed to photograph the event. The photographer was asked to identify herself and was given permission by Polito and the audience to photograph the meeting.
Brownfield said he has given his attorney a videotape of the meeting and he may pursue legal action against Polito and the town.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Timberlane is on an academic slide......
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 doors 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. It is a telling fact that on International tests where America once reigned supreme, we now finish below third world countries, while the one area in which we excel is self esteem! The failing students felt really good about their performance!
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 over $12,000/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 LaSalle 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. LaSalle, 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 $12,000/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?
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 doors 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. It is a telling fact that on International tests where America once reigned supreme, we now finish below third world countries, while the one area in which we excel is self esteem! The failing students felt really good about their performance!
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 over $12,000/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 LaSalle 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. LaSalle, 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 $12,000/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?
Why are Atkinson's Town officials afraid of public debate?
On Saturday, as we all know, there were a number of citizen petitioned warrant articles on the warrant. Three of these were controversial; The Full Time Chief article, the Expansion of Elderly Affairs Article, and the Restriction of Legal Fees issue. We will address each of these in turn;
PETITION TO EXPAND ELDERLY AFFAIRS;
The interesting thing here was that Jack Sapia, immediately upon return from lunch, and after extended conversation during lunch with the chief, and Frank Polito, made a motion to pull this article and the Full Time chief article ahead for immediate consideration. As extraordinary as that was, what happened next was even more so, Elderly Affairs driver, Bill Anderson, immediately popped up to call the question, even before the moderator had recognized the question.
So, we wonder what is so threatening about this article that sought only to expand, and codify elderly services? Why couldn't it be debated on town floor? Well lets look at the article;
1.)The director would have to post information on outside programs available to seniors.
Thats not scary, unless you have a current stranglehold on information that is disseminated to your single largest voting block.
2.) The director would have to provide services to anyone over the age of 60.
Thats not scary unless you are not already doing that. Although the chief claims everyone over the age of 55 is eligible, we heard from Mrs. Goodrich about how SHE was unable to obtain a ride to the doctor. And there have been other stories of a similar nature over the years. But again, if, as the chief says, he is already doing this, where is the threat?
3.)The director would have to post information on available services in a conspicuous place in the town hall.
Thats not scary, again, unless you want to be the sole contact point for any elderly person to obtain services. God forbid, people could get services without you, then they might not need you anymore.
FULL TIME CHIEF WARRANT ARTICLE:
This article has been discussed since 1993! In 1993, NH Police Standards and Training Council did a survey in town, and determined that when the town got big enough to warrant a 5th full time officer that full time officer should be a full time chief. In 2000, Steven Lewis filed a citizen petition warrant article very similar to the one presented this year. This article has been talked about for years. So Why couldn't the people debate it?
Could it be because the town was served with notice of an impending federal civil rights suit tow days prior, and it appeared in the paper the day before, and God knows someone in the room couldn't have THOSE allegation talked about on town floor!
RESTRICTING LEGAL FEES:
This is an article that should have appealed to every taxpayer in town. But to the TOWN OFFICIALS and TOWN EMPLOYEES WHO AMMENDED IT AWAY TO NOTHING, It mattered greatly that this not go to the ballot, because then they would not have FREE Taxpayer paid for legal counsel whenever they do something wrong.
No matter how you slice Saturday's meeting, the people should have been able to have an open debate about the issues. If, after debate, the majority of the people wanted to destroy the articles, then fine, but to close off debate, shows a cowardice, and fear of the subjects at hand, and the ensuing debate, that should make every resident think about who they have voted for in our town.
PETITION TO EXPAND ELDERLY AFFAIRS;
The interesting thing here was that Jack Sapia, immediately upon return from lunch, and after extended conversation during lunch with the chief, and Frank Polito, made a motion to pull this article and the Full Time chief article ahead for immediate consideration. As extraordinary as that was, what happened next was even more so, Elderly Affairs driver, Bill Anderson, immediately popped up to call the question, even before the moderator had recognized the question.
So, we wonder what is so threatening about this article that sought only to expand, and codify elderly services? Why couldn't it be debated on town floor? Well lets look at the article;
1.)The director would have to post information on outside programs available to seniors.
Thats not scary, unless you have a current stranglehold on information that is disseminated to your single largest voting block.
2.) The director would have to provide services to anyone over the age of 60.
Thats not scary unless you are not already doing that. Although the chief claims everyone over the age of 55 is eligible, we heard from Mrs. Goodrich about how SHE was unable to obtain a ride to the doctor. And there have been other stories of a similar nature over the years. But again, if, as the chief says, he is already doing this, where is the threat?
3.)The director would have to post information on available services in a conspicuous place in the town hall.
Thats not scary, again, unless you want to be the sole contact point for any elderly person to obtain services. God forbid, people could get services without you, then they might not need you anymore.
FULL TIME CHIEF WARRANT ARTICLE:
This article has been discussed since 1993! In 1993, NH Police Standards and Training Council did a survey in town, and determined that when the town got big enough to warrant a 5th full time officer that full time officer should be a full time chief. In 2000, Steven Lewis filed a citizen petition warrant article very similar to the one presented this year. This article has been talked about for years. So Why couldn't the people debate it?
Could it be because the town was served with notice of an impending federal civil rights suit tow days prior, and it appeared in the paper the day before, and God knows someone in the room couldn't have THOSE allegation talked about on town floor!
RESTRICTING LEGAL FEES:
This is an article that should have appealed to every taxpayer in town. But to the TOWN OFFICIALS and TOWN EMPLOYEES WHO AMMENDED IT AWAY TO NOTHING, It mattered greatly that this not go to the ballot, because then they would not have FREE Taxpayer paid for legal counsel whenever they do something wrong.
No matter how you slice Saturday's meeting, the people should have been able to have an open debate about the issues. If, after debate, the majority of the people wanted to destroy the articles, then fine, but to close off debate, shows a cowardice, and fear of the subjects at hand, and the ensuing debate, that should make every resident think about who they have voted for in our town.
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