Region 12 disregards voters' wishes
News-Times Staff
Article Last Updated: 05/29/2008 05:04:12 PM EDT
To the Editor:
"Green schools," those constructed as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a green building rating system), are the direction
desired by the Connecticut state Department of Education for new buildings.
It is outstanding that there are "Green School Advocates" in the town of Washington.
The new construction for the Booth and Burnham proposals are both green LEED.
All of the classrooms and the Media/Computer center, where the students spend most of their time, are planned as new.
Unfortunately, Washington's elementary school would be mostly renovation, and "green" LEED construction becomes impossible. That is why a new school was proposed.
The new Washington elementary school --green LEED proposal -- presented to the town of Washington is a good proposal for a local school, except for the following:
1. The location should be at another site, not Shepaug.
2. The inclusion of $2.5 million for the replacement of the Shepaug septic system.
3. The gym should be reduced from 5,850 square feet to 4,300 square feet.
That would bring the net cost down to $12 million, with the site location to be determined.
This is the plan that the Green School Advocates should be concentrating on instead of pursuing consolidation.
I agree to shame on the Region 12 Board:
1. For not respecting the voters of 1967 who
inserted the term -- "Elementary grades K-5 to
remain in their present home town schools"
before approving the Region formation "Plan."
2. For disregarding the voters of March 2006
who overwhelmingly rejected consolidation again
as they did in 1986 -- Bridgewater, 80 percent;
Roxbury, 65 percent; and Washington, 35
percent.
I also agree to shame on the Region 12 Building Committee:
1. For not completing its work on the proposals presented in a timely manner. Shame also on the Washington leadership for not selecting a final
proposal and then endorsing it as a local school plan for the town of Washington.
2. For missing the June 30, 2008 deadline for the state aid grant.
Since the parents, residents and voters of Roxbury and Bridgewater will not allow their local schools to be closed, the six board members who are pushing consolidation better re-evaluate their thinking because they are pushing Region 12 toward de-regionalization.
Jerry Ronan
Bridgewater
Friday, May 30, 2008
De-Regionalization Disturbing
De-regionalization of Region 12 Disturbing,
But May Be A Necessity
It is interesting that Irene Allan, former Chairman of Region 12 BOE, would write a letter calling for reuniting the “Region 12 Community”.
Under her leadership the Board of Education became polarized and relationships with the town officials were seriously damaged. Ms. Allan used questionable tactics to get approval for investing in the Mundy property, first for authorizing the feasibility study and then for the option to purchase the land. Ms. Allan ignored the 2007 building committee recommendation for a thorough study of the consolidated school proposal in order to force a referendum in June 2007.
What Ms. Allan and other BOE reps need to review are the facts:
The “No To Consolidation” votes cast was 80% Bridgewater, 54% in Roxbury and 38% in Washington. This vote was in March of 2006.
The “Yes to Consolidation” votes cast was 15% Bridgewater, 26% Roxbury and 55% Washington.
Roxbury voters in the last BOE election voted by machine vote 2-1 to elect representatives supporting Roxbury’s majority vote of “NO” to Consolidation.
The primary reason to continue local schools is student achievement. There are 20 small town school districts in Connecticut consisting of a total of 31 schools. Comparing the 2006-7 CMT results for all 31 schools, each school was ranked from 1-31 based on the percentage of children achieving the Connecticut goal.
The results:
Burnham 3rd grade ranked 1st in Math, 6th in Reading and 2nd in Writing.
Burnham 4th grade ranked 2nd in Math, 1st in Reading and 1st in Writing.
Booth 3rd grade ranked 4th in Math, 1st in Reading and 3rd in Writing.
Booth 4th grade ranked 1st in Math, 2nd in Reading and 5th in Writing.
Dedicated effective teachers and strong parent involvement are keys to achieving these results. Why would you change anything? Why bus our youngest students farther away from home and their community? It doesn't make sense.
If reuniting the region is really the desire, Ms. Allan and others must honor votes already taken and stop the crusade to close the local schools.
We could then renovate the schools and focus on further improvements to the education process where it is needed.
Sharon Benedict, Ed Wainwright,
Roxbury, Ct. Bridgewater, CT.
But May Be A Necessity
It is interesting that Irene Allan, former Chairman of Region 12 BOE, would write a letter calling for reuniting the “Region 12 Community”.
Under her leadership the Board of Education became polarized and relationships with the town officials were seriously damaged. Ms. Allan used questionable tactics to get approval for investing in the Mundy property, first for authorizing the feasibility study and then for the option to purchase the land. Ms. Allan ignored the 2007 building committee recommendation for a thorough study of the consolidated school proposal in order to force a referendum in June 2007.
What Ms. Allan and other BOE reps need to review are the facts:
The “No To Consolidation” votes cast was 80% Bridgewater, 54% in Roxbury and 38% in Washington. This vote was in March of 2006.
The “Yes to Consolidation” votes cast was 15% Bridgewater, 26% Roxbury and 55% Washington.
Roxbury voters in the last BOE election voted by machine vote 2-1 to elect representatives supporting Roxbury’s majority vote of “NO” to Consolidation.
The primary reason to continue local schools is student achievement. There are 20 small town school districts in Connecticut consisting of a total of 31 schools. Comparing the 2006-7 CMT results for all 31 schools, each school was ranked from 1-31 based on the percentage of children achieving the Connecticut goal.
The results:
Burnham 3rd grade ranked 1st in Math, 6th in Reading and 2nd in Writing.
Burnham 4th grade ranked 2nd in Math, 1st in Reading and 1st in Writing.
Booth 3rd grade ranked 4th in Math, 1st in Reading and 3rd in Writing.
Booth 4th grade ranked 1st in Math, 2nd in Reading and 5th in Writing.
Dedicated effective teachers and strong parent involvement are keys to achieving these results. Why would you change anything? Why bus our youngest students farther away from home and their community? It doesn't make sense.
If reuniting the region is really the desire, Ms. Allan and others must honor votes already taken and stop the crusade to close the local schools.
We could then renovate the schools and focus on further improvements to the education process where it is needed.
Sharon Benedict, Ed Wainwright,
Roxbury, Ct. Bridgewater, CT.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Green School Advocates
'Green' School Advocates - (Consolidators)
To the Editor: Voices May 18, 2008
If you were fortunate to attend last week's presentation on Green Schools, sponsored by the Washington Environmental Council, you saw firsthand what is possible for a new "green" elementary school in Region 12.
The Willow School is a role model, and it can be a reality in Region 12. What will it take to make it happen?
First and foremost, the three towns in Region 12 have to get over their small-town mindset and do what is best for the elementary school kids and the environment.
The Willow School is built on 17 acres, of which one third is wetlands; these wetlands provide a natural habitat that adds to the learning experience for the
kids.
Instead of antiquated buildings stuck in the middle of town, kids and teachers learn in an environment which interacts daily with nature.
"Green" construction costs no more than conventional; buildings are designed to last 100 years, are virtually maintenance-free, with a 70% savings in fuel and other operating costs. Better for the environment, the kids, and the taxpayers, this is a win-win.
Instead, the Region 12 Building Committee is pursuing cheap renovation plans that offer no educational enhancements, no improvements to the learning environment and even higher operating costs.
In an attempt to keep construction costs as low as possible, they are all too willing to compromise the plans.
Shame on the Region 12 Board, the Region 12 Building Committee and the leadership of the three towns for not insisting on a new "green" elementary
school for the 21st century.
The 385 elementary school kids in Region 12 deserve better than what is being proposed.
Frank Adams
Washington CT
To the Editor: Voices May 18, 2008
If you were fortunate to attend last week's presentation on Green Schools, sponsored by the Washington Environmental Council, you saw firsthand what is possible for a new "green" elementary school in Region 12.
The Willow School is a role model, and it can be a reality in Region 12. What will it take to make it happen?
First and foremost, the three towns in Region 12 have to get over their small-town mindset and do what is best for the elementary school kids and the environment.
The Willow School is built on 17 acres, of which one third is wetlands; these wetlands provide a natural habitat that adds to the learning experience for the
kids.
Instead of antiquated buildings stuck in the middle of town, kids and teachers learn in an environment which interacts daily with nature.
"Green" construction costs no more than conventional; buildings are designed to last 100 years, are virtually maintenance-free, with a 70% savings in fuel and other operating costs. Better for the environment, the kids, and the taxpayers, this is a win-win.
Instead, the Region 12 Building Committee is pursuing cheap renovation plans that offer no educational enhancements, no improvements to the learning environment and even higher operating costs.
In an attempt to keep construction costs as low as possible, they are all too willing to compromise the plans.
Shame on the Region 12 Board, the Region 12 Building Committee and the leadership of the three towns for not insisting on a new "green" elementary
school for the 21st century.
The 385 elementary school kids in Region 12 deserve better than what is being proposed.
Frank Adams
Washington CT
Friday, May 16, 2008
Education is more important than buildings
Education is more important than buildings
NewsTimes.com
Article Last Updated: 05/16/2008 09:34:33 AM EDT
To the Editor:
Region 12 has endured countless difficulties as it tries to resolve problems with its elementary facilities.
It's been a great opportunity to be a "life-long learner," something Region 12's students are taught to become.
It's been frustrating, time consuming and corrosive. For those who care deeply about the education of our children, finding a solution to this thorny matter is worth the effort.
Concentrating on excellent education, rather than wetlands and reimbursement, will be a welcome relief.
Bridgewater's Town Meeting recommending exploring de-regionalization is more disturbing than any building issue yet.
School regions form to share resources. Some local autonomy is given up. That's a worthwhile trade for towns as small as ours.
Our daughter started kindergarten 20 years ago, my husband served one term on the Board of Ed from 1991-1995; I'm a board member since 1997.
There have been conundrums, crises and calamities, but many more resounding triumphs. Prior to the buildings' debacle, this three-town school region got along very well.
We solved our differences, then gathered at games and functions and congratulated each other on what great kids we have. We took pride in our schools. What town we lived in didn't much matter. Our kids are the only people left with a grasp on the ideal of teamwork.
The "D-word" is phenomenally time consuming, expensive, and intentionally difficult to achieve by law. The ultimate losers will be our children. Their education is bound to suffer.
How can we consider even partly dissolving what has been a successful district for 40 years over buildings? Cure worse than disease; tail wags dog.
We should convene a forum on how to reunite the Region 12 community. Use our resources to make it better, instead of rip it apart.
Buildings are just buildings. We must save our children's education.
Irene Allan
Washington CT
Blog Editor Notes:
1. The most important "difficulty" the Region 12 board has had is understanding that 80% of Bridgewater, 65% of Roxbury and 35% of Washinton voters said "No"
to consolidation in 2006. This means don't "close" our local schools.
2. Those who "care deeply " about education will review the elementary student achievement on the CMT scores for 2006/07 and find that current progam is excelling.
3. Giving up "some autonomy" does not mean "closing" the local school. If keeping the Burnham school "open" requires de-regionalization, then that will undoubtedly happen.
4. Being a board member since 1997 indicates being in a third term. It is time for the board to set "term limits". The maximum should be two (2) terms or eight (8) years.
NewsTimes.com
Article Last Updated: 05/16/2008 09:34:33 AM EDT
To the Editor:
Region 12 has endured countless difficulties as it tries to resolve problems with its elementary facilities.
It's been a great opportunity to be a "life-long learner," something Region 12's students are taught to become.
It's been frustrating, time consuming and corrosive. For those who care deeply about the education of our children, finding a solution to this thorny matter is worth the effort.
Concentrating on excellent education, rather than wetlands and reimbursement, will be a welcome relief.
Bridgewater's Town Meeting recommending exploring de-regionalization is more disturbing than any building issue yet.
School regions form to share resources. Some local autonomy is given up. That's a worthwhile trade for towns as small as ours.
Our daughter started kindergarten 20 years ago, my husband served one term on the Board of Ed from 1991-1995; I'm a board member since 1997.
There have been conundrums, crises and calamities, but many more resounding triumphs. Prior to the buildings' debacle, this three-town school region got along very well.
We solved our differences, then gathered at games and functions and congratulated each other on what great kids we have. We took pride in our schools. What town we lived in didn't much matter. Our kids are the only people left with a grasp on the ideal of teamwork.
The "D-word" is phenomenally time consuming, expensive, and intentionally difficult to achieve by law. The ultimate losers will be our children. Their education is bound to suffer.
How can we consider even partly dissolving what has been a successful district for 40 years over buildings? Cure worse than disease; tail wags dog.
We should convene a forum on how to reunite the Region 12 community. Use our resources to make it better, instead of rip it apart.
Buildings are just buildings. We must save our children's education.
Irene Allan
Washington CT
Blog Editor Notes:
1. The most important "difficulty" the Region 12 board has had is understanding that 80% of Bridgewater, 65% of Roxbury and 35% of Washinton voters said "No"
to consolidation in 2006. This means don't "close" our local schools.
2. Those who "care deeply " about education will review the elementary student achievement on the CMT scores for 2006/07 and find that current progam is excelling.
3. Giving up "some autonomy" does not mean "closing" the local school. If keeping the Burnham school "open" requires de-regionalization, then that will undoubtedly happen.
4. Being a board member since 1997 indicates being in a third term. It is time for the board to set "term limits". The maximum should be two (2) terms or eight (8) years.
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