STUDENT CELL PHONES CHALLENGE THE FUTURE

EDITORIAL (OPINION)

Most public school policies in our region state that cell phones are not to be used during normal school hours, and school hours typically include the time when students board busses until they exit.
Cell phone use on school buses, however, is an interesting issue to re-explore, as the Ware School Committee now finds itself exercising. As technology continues to advance, the various uses of cell phones aren’t just limited to talking.
Students now enjoy a multitude of screen options, including text messaging each other, composing prose, posting and sharing photos and artwork, searching and interacting with various Internet engines, blogging, capturing instantaneous video, audio and pictures, airing digital music files and radio stations, and playing endless video games. This just begins to touch the options available now and in the future – all without speaking a word on them.
The big question is where do school bus companies and school policy makers draw the line?
It is relatively easy to concede that young adults talking or using cell phones or any digital device during school classroom hours should be strictly prohibited, unless it is part of a curriculum lesson plan. They are too distracting to the student who is there to learn, and also to their peers and ultimately teachers.
The same argument can be made for school bus drivers. If 20 of the 40 children sitting on a bus are talking on a cell phone, it certainly can mess with a driver’s focus on what’s ahead of them instead of what’s behind. Moreover, at what age do you cutoff any technical use of cell phones? We see grammar school kids carrying them around now texting friends.
The so-called gray area always enters the picture with policy development and revision. Kids will always manipulate loopholes in rules. It is relatively easy to enforce a no-cell-phone use stanza like Ware’s through use of bus video and better parent and driver awareness. The challenge is controlling all of the other uses digital devices present. Snapping and distributing instant pictures of a student riding a bus whose parents have not signed a privacy release waiver form could potentially pose a significant legal and safety issue for a school district and the family.
Likewise, sharing insensitive or disparaging images or music can alarm some. Allowing any cell phone use heightens security concerns of possible theft and then perhaps financial liability for that crime.
A point was made during a recent Ware School Committee meeting that before the advent of cell phone texting, students traded baseball cards around and the like. It is a good point and actually demonstrates how technology continues to evolve. Phone cameras and Internet browsers are like a new form of the flashy color baseball card.
That said, school bus is an extension of school. Kids talking on cell phones does constitute a distraction and area school committees should double check their own stanzas to clearly detail a cell phone use policy as relates to the existing bus company rules.
For Ware, that process begins at its next meeting on Nov. 4. Clearly, kids can’t be allowed to talk on the phone during school hours, which includes school busses.
Here’s the gray area: We don’t think banning personal digital devices will work for other cell uses like texting, and could actually perpetuate the problem, as kids seem to shun bad rules.
It’s like smoking cigarettes in school. Kids will always find a crevice to challenge our rules.

Questions regarding police chief still unanswered

Selectmen listen as David Holdcraft holds forth.

By Ruth M. Lyon
Turley Publications Reporter
rlyon@turley.com

BROOKFIELD – A draft agenda for a Sept. 3 special Selectmen’s meeting sent from the board’s office this week announced a five-item agenda. The fifth and last agend item was listed as “Extension of the medical leave for the Chief of Police.”
At some point, however, the agenda changed from five to seven items, the last being executive session for reason number 3. Selectmen, when questioned as to the reason for the executive session, finally narrowed it down to “strategy regarding negotiations with non-union personnel.” “That,” said chair Rudy Heller,” is as explicit as we will be at this time.” No explanation was given for the change in the agenda.
The chief had been placed on medical leave of absence for a time in January, due to illness, the selectmen said at that time.
On June 12, town officials were notified by the selectmen’s office that Chief Ackerman was on a leave of absence, and that Sgt. Christopher Welsh had been appointed as acting chief until further notice.
Subsequently, the board met at consecutive morning meetings, principally in executive sessions. Reporters’ questions regarding the reason for the chief’s announced absence, at whose request (the chief’s or the board’s) and as to whether the leave was paid or unpaid went unanswered. On Thursday, July 2, the select board issued a brief joint statement, announcing that the chief Ackerman had been placed on a medical leave of absence “in accordance with the recommendation from his doctors….”
That notice continued, noting public speculation as to the nature of the chief’s leave of absence and the need for observing privacy rights of individuals involved, and ending, “at the present time, the length of leave is unknown. Out of respect for chief Ackerman’s privacy, the board will not divulge any further details concerning this leave of absence.”
Since then, until Tuesday’s agenda item, no official mention of the chief or his condition had been made, and Welsh has held, and at press time, still holds the position of acting chief.

IN OTHER MATTERS:

The board of selectmen met Thursday afternoon with William Scanlon, planning consultant, to consider the town’s application for Environmental Protection Agency funding for phase four of brownfields cleanup on town property.
Scanlon explained that the application for EPA funds in the amount of the maximum allowable amount, $200,000, is due by October 16, and offered explanations as to how the grant might be used if received, and differing approaches to the application process.
Matching financing from the town in the amount of 20 percent of federal funds granted, he explained, in this case amounting to $40,000 would be required should the grant be approved. Towns are allowed to pay their portion by either or a combination of three methods; cash, in-kind service, or the provision of necessary materials.
According to Scanlon, a waiver process may also be utilized, in which additional factors such as population and income figures are considered, but he and the board agreed that, due to the time and other factors, that would not be used.
The property, located on Mill Street, is the site of a former paper mill, then box factory, which burned in “about 2000,” the exact date not being at hand. When the property was offered to the town shortly thereafter, it was accepted by town meeting, according to selectmen. Subsequently, the town highway barn was built on a portion of the property, and a sewage system installed. The principal cause of contamination, the selectmen said, is debris from the fire, which was dumped into the cellar hole. “It’s not considered bad, as contamination goes,” said chair Rudy Heller.
Selectmen James Allen commented that “It seems to me that it’s a big dark hole that we keep shoveling money into. But when we accepted it, it became our problem… we have to do something about it whether or not we get the grant.”
In previous actions, the board had determined that cleanup sufficient to allow the greatest variety of uses would cost approximately $1.5 million, so, with the assistance and advice of the EPA, the decision to cap the contaminated property had been reached. Once installed, Scanlon said, the cap cannot be disturbed. Any building would have to be on a slab foundation.
As Scanlon explained, whether or not the project is funded depends upon a number of points, including the future use of the property. After considerable discussion, the board voted to cite the probable future use as economic development.
Scanlon will send a list of required materials to highway department head Herb Chaffee, to
determine what, if any materials the town might be able to provide that could be applied toward the town’s share of the cost.
The next step, as outlined by Scanlon, would be a public hearing, which would require 14 days prior advertising, obviously before the October deadline. Letters of support from the public, including non-profit organizations, town officials and other interested parties would be of value, he said, suggesting that such letters be sent to the selectmen.
At the end of the meeting, a reporter, citing North Brookfield’s experience, asked whether the Mill Street site might be considered for a police station. Board members responded that the subject (police station) would not be considered at this time.
In response to a question, board members said they believe, but are not certain that the Mill Street property is zoned commercial. Allen commented that any use would require a septic system, as previous owners had used the river for such disposition.
That discussion led to consideration of possible changes to town and other property due to possible replacement and relocation of two bridges, the railroad bridge and the bridge over the river on Route 148. Allen also expressed concern for access to some properties by emergency vehicles while the bridge work is being done. He will contact the safety committee, and ask that they confer with state authorities regarding those and other questions.
David Holdcraft, public access TV photographer and political gadfly, had “used my three minutes of democracy” at the beginning of the meeting, complaining about the timing of the meeting, stating that he had conducted a survey, and no other town around holds 1:00 p.m. or morning meetings, and that the board is “limiting democracy” by holding such meetings. He also accused the board of violating the open meeting law, by adjourning, then meeting for another two hours after he and the reporters had left. “ I know because I came back and saw you. You’re trying to subvert the law,” he said. He did not cite a date for that alleged occurrence.
At the end of the meeting, before entering executive session, Allen said with a shake of his head, “I don’t want or intend to get into a long discussion. But I just want to say that I’m doing the best I can. I have no intention or wish to keep anything from the voters, or hide anything. Frankly, I’m tired of the innuendo.”
Heller agree, saying “I don’t think of myself as a henchman.”
The board then entered executive session, “for the purpose of negotiation with a non-union employee.”

Recall fails: Ramsey and Richard retain their seats

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

WARREN – After the dust settled late Wednesday evening, nothing had changed. Both Marc Richard and Bill Ramsey will carry on in their duties as Planning Board member and chairman, respectively.
Neither of the winners could be reached on a short deadline for this special online report. However, Jim Fountain, who began the effort with almost 700 valid voter signatures asking for the recall back in May, was contacted and had this to say.
“We may have lost the battle, but we won the war. Now they know we won’t stand down.” Fountain said, “Not many people have a second chance in life. I hope they take this second chance to change the way they do business.”
He added “No hard feelings, we have to keep going and move forward.” The numbers look like this: 269 for the recall of Ramsey, 329 against; 280 for the recall of Richard, 300 against. According to Town Clerk Nancy Lowell, 19 percent of registered voters cast a ballot. Fountain said, “That’s not very good turnout.”
After all, there were more signatures on the petition in favor of a recall than there were total ballots cast in the election. Fountain said he is disappointed more people don’t turn out for something that’s important for the town. “That’s the way it’s always been.”
Those who did turn out were not always certain what the ballot meant. Votes for the recall of a person were votes ultimately against that person, wording that caused many questions. Lowell confirmed that “there were people who did ask questions” about the ballot wording. She had expressed concerns about the wording before the election and sought advice from attorneys on how to answer questions.
“We had an instructional handout and we explained to people that we could not legally give advice.” Fountain said much of the election was tainted by confusion. “Three quarters of (the result) was that ballot,” he said. It was “very confusing.”
He added that “the whole recall process should be looked at.” Since neither Richard nor Ramsey were recalled and other votes on the ballot became irrelevant, but they were recorded. Richard Czaporowski was on the ballot for Marc Richard’s seat in the event the recall was a success. Czaporowski received 353 votes, and was the overall top vote-getter. Richards name did not appear in running for the seat in the event of his recall.
Cazaporowski was contacted and had this to say about his second try for the Planning Board in three months. “I lost, but the numbers are a bit odd. The sheer fact that I got more votes” than were cast for the recall of Richard, leads him to wonder why voters who wanted him in, would not have voted to remove his opponent. In the spring election, Czaporowski lost by one vote.
“That was hard to take, but this one was completely out of line,” he said. On the other hand, he added his congratulations to both Richard and Ramsey. Running in opposition to Bill Ramsey in the event the recall was successful was Kenneth Piazzo.
The vote tally in Ramsey versus Piazzo went in Ramsey’s favor, 293 to 265. Piazzo also could not be reached on this short deadline. After having lost to David Messier by one vote in the spring election, Czaporowski has now lost twice in a matter of months. Will he vie for a seat next spring when Planning Board member Susan Libby’s term expires? “I don’t know. If it were tomorrow, I don’t think so,” he said. But, he said would think about volunteering for a spot on a casino task force, if the selectmen go ahead and put on together.

Spencer-East Brookfield School Committee chairman named in union lawsuit

By Ruth M. Lyon
rlyon@turley.com

EAST BROOKFIELD – School Committee Chairman Peter Rock has been named in a lawsuit filed with the Massachusetts division of labor relations in a charge of prohibited practice.
The Spencer-East Brookfield Teachers Association/MTA charged in papers served June 23 to school representative James Toomey as follows:
“The present Spencer-East Brookfield teachers’ contract runs from the 2008 school year through the 2010 school year and was duly negotiated by the union and school committee. On June 10, 2009, the chairman of the Spencer/East Brookfield School Committee, Peter Rock, wrote a letter addressed to all members of the teaching staff. The letter addressed the staff and urged the staff to take a pay freeze for fiscal year 2010. One June 11, 2009, Superintendent, Ralph E. Hicks, sent a memo to all Spencer-East Brookfield principals stating the following:
“Attached is a copy of a letter written by school committee chairman Peter Rock. Please post a copy in your teacher’s room. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Some principals made copies of the letter and put them directly in the teachers’ mailboxes. The action of directly communicating with our members is in violation of the collective bargaining law. This was a clear attempt by Mr. Rock to circumvent the duly elected bargaining team of the Spencer-East Brookfield Teachers Association.”
The suit seeks as remedy “an apology and a promise they will never engage in this type of activity again and post it in all schools.”
Rock and Hicks had announced the contents of the letter to the teachers on June 10, and Rock stated then that he had asked that it be posted in teachers’ rooms at the schools. Hicks stated that he had sent the letter, requesting that it be posted in teachers’ rooms, on June 11. On June 17, the teachers’ association President Mark S. James responded, denying the request on behalf of the teachers.
At the East Brookfield town meeting held June 22, East Brookfield selectmen and Rock said teachers had not been permitted to vote on the proposal outlined in Rock’s letter. Following a fiery exchange between Hicks, the selectmen, and FinCom members, the school budget for FY10 as presented at that meeting was rejected.
Rock, in a recent interview, said he didn’t think the charge “would hold water. I asked that it be placed in teachers’ rooms. I’m not the intimidating factor here. Perhaps the union is (intimidating). I’m just a poor country boy trying to help out the school kids and the town.”
No further information was available at press time.

Forum planned May 28 on woods management, conservation

WEST BROOKFIELD – UMass Amherst Forest Resources Specialist Paul Catanzaro will lead a Woods Forum at the West Brookfield Town Hall, located at 2 East Main St. (Route 9) in West Brookfield, on Thursday May 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Woods Forum brings together local woodland owners to share their experiences with woods management and conservation decisions.
“Many of us don’t think about our woods on a day-to-day basis, except to enjoy the privacy, scenery, and the tranquil environment to live in and raise a family,” says Paul Catanzaro. “However, at some point in every landowner’s life, questions arise about what to do with our woods, such as: should I harvest the woods on my land? How much are my woods worth? How do I address ice storm damage in my woodland? It’s important for woodland owners to know they have options and know where to find information.”
After a short presentation by Catanzaro, the Woods Forum will feature a discussion in which landowners can ask questions and get answers from one another about woods management and conservation. Local forestry experts and conservation professionals will supplement the discussion with their experiences.
The Woods Forum will focus on the communities of Brookfield, West Brookfield, East Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brimfield, Palmer, Warren, Ware, New Braintree and Oakham. However, anyone is welcome to attend. Please RSVP by contacting Jay Rasku at 978-248-2118 or info@nqpartnership.org. A light dinner will be provided. The forum is sponsored by the East Quabbin Land Trust, the Opacum Land Trust and the Massachusetts Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Planning Board members asked to resign

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

WARREN – A letter was sent by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night after their regular meeting. It was addressed to Planning Board members William Ramsey and March Richard, asking them to resign their posts in five days or face a special election recall vote.
The letter is part of a process dictated by state law that was launched by Jim Fountain to remove the two members from office. The first step was to collect signatures of registered voters who also support a recall. Fountain needed 615 signatures per ballot. Town Clerk Nancy Lowell verified 698 signatures on the Richard petition, and 685 for Ramsey.
Now that the Board of Selectmen has sent the letter requesting their speedy resignation, the decision by each member to resign or to submit to a special election awaits.
If they resign, the remaining Planning Board members will meet with the Selectmen to appoint replacements, according to Selectman David Delanski. If they do not resign, he said, an election date will be selected at the next regular board meeting.
Delanski added that Ramsey and Richard may run in the election, but must be re-sworn-in if they win.
Fountain, who was a Planning Board member himself for 16 years, has a pending lawsuit against the Planning Board in Worcester Superior Court. Fountain’s complaint says he was improperly denied a special permit regarding a house he rebuilt on Quaboag Street. Fountain wanted to allow an office on one side, but he was issued a permit limiting the office personnel to include two specific people. Fountain said that was not fair because if one person moved out, the whole office would have to move out. Meanwhile, the prospective tenants for the space can no longer wait, said Fountain. He is not the only resident willing to go on record with a complaint.
Vern Keith recently contacted this paper to tell his story. Keith is a disabled Korean War Vet who is mostly confined to a motorized wheelchair. He received a grant from the Veteran’s Administration to add a handicap accessible bathroom to his bedroom in amount of about $60,000. When plans were put together, costs were estimated at about $20,000. The VA told him he could use the rest to pay down his mortgage. But, even though the neighbors supported his design, he said, the Planning Board denied it because it would have been too close to the property line. The new plan cost almost every penny of the grant, leaving Keith without the mortgage payment he’d been expecting. And even then, Keith described a permit process of unnecessary delays.
Now another sort of special permit process has begun – two Planning Board members must receive special permission from voters to remain in office.
With that on the table, the Planning Board is scheduled to join the Selectmen at an information session May 19 to discuss the Warrant Articles with the general public.
What else Richard and Ramsey have in mind is unknown. In an effort to contact them, messages were left at their homes and at the Planning Board office two days before deadline. They did not respond.

House budget cut hits home

Citizen Kane

BOSTON – Baby Chris is working on his language development skills and getting stronger every day while Tim Jr. runs circles around him like other normal kids in our neighborhood.
There was a time when our two baby boys were not so fortunate. When Tim was born, four precious years ago, he had some muscular development issues. He couldn’t walk a step until he was almost two years old and struggled afterwards. This was not just a late bloomer thing. He had serious gross motor skill challenges.
We thought things would be different with our tiny bear, Chris, who will turn two next month. He can walk well now, but he still doesn’t speak a word – not even mommy or daddy. Like Tim, he suffers from a different kind of development delay. But he is making progress as did Junior during his ordeal.
My wife Danielle and I feel very lucky and blessed to have such a healthy family and private home life, so I usually refrain from discussing my personal life in print. However, budget news delivered through my wife yesterday compels me to write today.
The only reason – other than God hearing our prayers – that both boys are making progress is because of a state-funded program, titled “Early Intervention.” The state House Ways and Means Committee recently recommended a 31 percent cut to that program affecting at least 10,000 of the 30,000 enrolled babies and toddlers.
Incredibly talented and dedicated professionals come to our home weekly and work with Chris on language skills. They did the same for Timmy for more than a year. They don’t make much more than entry-level teachers, yet their dedication and professionalism is unsurpassed. This is not a program rife with fiscal abuse and hidden fat.
The sad news is there are thousands of children and parents in Massachusetts desperate for this service, who may not even receive a chance at consultation come July 1, 2009. A 31 percent budget cut to Early Intervention equates to a $10.3 million reduction in programming. The current budget is only $33 million, and, if slashed, would be the lowest funding level in more than 10 years – during a time when special needs children are on a sharp increase and many parents are out of work and cannot afford services on their own. Danielle and I certainly could not have funded Early Intervention on our salary and we are considered a modest middle class.
The other Early Intervention point to consider, other than to help our most delicate and needy baby citizens enjoy life later on, is it absolutely prevents children from entering public school special needs programs. If fewer children receive specialized help as babies and toddlers, SPED ranks will swell later on, only exacerbating public education costs, given how much SPED costs each school district in services and transportation.
One state senator recently told me, “we have no money” after I suggested a local tourism idea. Find the money senators and representatives, not for tourism, but for the sake of our children in need. The only way “we the people” can fight this devastating cut is by writing and emailing our local state representatives, and appeal to our state senators to not make the same mistake in their budget version.
There are scared parents – just like Danielle and I were – now feeling helpless that their children will not obtain critical intervention services so their babies have the same chance at healthy lives that we all did. The program is a miracle. Our two baby boys are a testament to that fact.

Tim Kane is executive editor of Turley Publications, publisher of 15 weekly newspapers reaching 120,000 readers in more than 65 Central Mass and Pioneer Valley towns.

2 Spencer children test clean for Swine Flu

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

SPENCER – As the speed of global information struggles to catch up with the speed of a global contagion, reports of two students in Spencer being tested for Mexican swine flu have been confirmed.
According to published reports after press time Wednesday evening, the two children did not test positive for Swine Flu.
When Spencer/East Brookfield Superintendent Ralph Hicks was reached by telephone Wednesday morning, he was asked if it is true that a pair of students from the Lake Street School became ill after returning from a trip to Mexico and are now being tested for swine flu. Hicks indicated those are the facts. “You can confirm what every other reporter has confirmed. I’ve had more reporters and cameras pointed at me,” he said.
Does he think the attention is overblown?
“I think we’re taking precautions,” he answered. “We don’t know if they have the swine flu. We’re being proactive.”
In public health agencies, the emphasis is on active. According to the Center for Disease Control’s Web site (cdc.gov), the federal agency “has activated its emergency operations center to coordinate the agency’s emergency response.” One of the actions taken by the operations center is a “travel warning” against any non-essential trips to Mexico. Going further than that, the Center released “one quarter” of the national stockpile of “anti-viral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protective devises to help states respond to the outbreak.”
That response has been accelerated in pursuit of a virus that has now taken its first life on American soil. According to CNN, a child in Texas is the first known fatality due to the flu outbreak. In Mexico at this point, there have been fewer than 10. But worldwide, more than 100 cases have been confirmed at a time of year that normally sees very little in the way of the flu bug.
According to international reports, the swine flu, named so because of its swine flu genetic component, also bears characteristics of the bird flu as well a human strain of flu. It has also been confirmed by officials that this new worrisome flu does pass from human to human.
“This is a rapidly evolving situation,” according to the CDC web site, but, as of mid-day Wednesday the Center listed a total of 64 cases in the United States. New York city has by far the most with 45.
It may take a few extra days for it to be known if Spencer is to be added to the list. According to Hicks, the CDC lab is “backed up.” He was originally expecting test results by Friday, but now it seems highly doubtful that will happen.
Meanwhile, the school remains open after all places suspected of possible contamination have been disinfected, including classrooms and the bus, according to reports.
According to Hicks, “We’re doing everything we can to keep things safe.”

Measures sought to provide ‘responsible development’

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

WARREN – Planning Board members are preparing to speak to the voters at the upcoming Town Meeting regarding the board’s proposal to adopt a Site Plan Review process.
“This is for new construction,” emphasized Planning Board Chairman William Ramsey. “This is what you’ve asked for in your Master Plan. This is for you.”
The board has more time to prepare, now that the annual meeting has been postponed by the Selectmen to Tuesday, June 9.
“[This town] has a large land base,” Town Planner Bill Scanlon said. “There’s a capacity for a great deal of additional development. The town is nowhere near being built out. On a normal application, the Planning Board does not have a way to obtain clear information.”
But what is normal for this town is not normal for most where a Site Plan Review is already in place, namely Brookfield, Sturbridge, West Brookfield, Palmer and North Brookfield, among many others.
“As the town grows, it’s important to oversee new development to ensure it deals a positive benefit to the town,” Scanlon said.
Dealing is the operative concept behind this plan, since the most likely and soonest form of development is expected to come from a possible casino here or nearby. A casino in this town would have obvious consequences. On the other hand, a casino in Palmer, for instance, would also likely impact growth in this town because it may lure a developer to build a major project for the large number of workers who will immigrate for jobs.
“If a casino goes in Palmer, the gentleman that bought Wright’s is talking about redeveloping not only the Wright’s mill, but talking about putting housing on the hillside – a lot of housing,” said Planning Board member Peter Krawczyk. “Those are the kind of concerns that need to be addressed. This gives the neighborhood a chance to come in. The special permit [already in place] covers some of it, but this really lays everything on the table. If there’s a concern, now the developer is going to be responsible for paying for the engineer to fix the problem. Right now the town would have pick up the tab for this.”
A Site Plan Review “creates a process for local oversight of large developments to identify and mitigate impacts on the town,” Scanlon said. “It addresses things like the layout, scale, appearance and safety of traffic. Where it applies, applicants will submit a site plan to the planning board for approval before applying for a building permit.”
The purpose isn’t only to protect the town, but to protect the developer, as well, according to Scanlon.
“And to provide certainly to developers that they can proceed with the project with the town’s approval,” he said.
Scanlon notes that “in almost all cases the board will approve an application with conditions” that protect the town.
Krawczyk likes the fact that the review process includes other town boards and offices in order to draw on, for example, the expertise of the fire department concerning safety issues.
“When we do a review, it will be going to several boards in the town,” he said. “They’ll have a time period to review it. If they see something that we didn’t see, it gives them a chance to point out issues before it happens.”
Currently, the board does invite other town offices to give their input, according to Ramsey, but not as many developments currently require the board to utilize a review process.
According to Ramsey, approval of the process doesn’t make any of the details permanent.
“You have to be flexible to adjust things as you go along,” he said.
For example, other towns have a requirement that a grade of eight degrees on a residential property triggers the site plan review process. But, given the hilly nature of this town, the board is proposing allowing a grade of 30 degrees before the review process needs to be followed.
There are many details that could not be included in one newspaper story, but a fact sheet on the proposal is available at the Planning Board office. Board member Steven Moorhouse says the aim of the proposal amounts to nothing more than “responsible development.”
A public hearing on the matter will be held Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m.

After three years at the helm, Simanksi moving on

WEST BROOKFIELD – Elementary school principal Jennifer Simanski is leaving her post, as of June 30.
“I will be pursuing other things,” she said, but would not elaborate, except to admit that she does “desperately” miss the time she spent in the classroom as a teacher for Spencer’s elementary school before coming on here as principal July 1, 2006.
She submitted her resignation March 27.
Unlike former Quabaog Principal Michael Rooney, who left his post in 2008 citing too much time writing testing reports and not enough time as a student educator, Simanski said she does spend significant time with the kids “doing walk-throughs” and greeting them in the mornings, among other daily activities as principal. Nor is it the many struggles she’s faced with a school building that has caused her to make the decision to leave. Simanski has constantly advocated for the school district to do something to address the cranky heating system that leaves some teachers with no choice but to open windows for relief from excess heat while some classrooms remain chilly. The boilers in the school date back more than 60 years with no plan to update the system. Furthermore, even after the entire building received a brand new roof, her years have been plagued by chronic leaks. Yet, despite all these challenges and a booming student population, Simanski said only that her decision for leaving is “within me.”
Qubaoag School District has been a revolving door for administrators in recent years, including Rooney’s short stint as middle/high school principal, followed by interim principal David Driscoll, recently replaced by Greg Myers. At the Warren elementary, Principal Ted Brown has fewer than five years on the job. At the superintendent post, Carol Jacobs left in 2007, after ousting a popular principal in the district. She was replaced by interim Ted Malvey who was replaced by first-time Superintendent Brett Kustigian early this year.
Kustigian had little to say regarding the loss of another principal.
“I think principal Simanski has done a terrific job and I wish her well,” he said.
As for the troubled roof, Simanski said it has not leaked since the snow melted. That, plus the discovery of faulty flashing above the flat roof where it meets walls, leaves her to believe that the snow got so high that it managed to melt under the flashing causing widespread severe leaking. She said the roofing company will be in during April vacation to replace all of the flashing. Apparently, she said, the caulk was not applied properly.
Students are now taking the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) tests. Simanski said that students are being provided with healthy snacks such as apples, oranges and granola bars as well as sugarless chewing gum to aid in their performance. She said that studies show chewing gum can help children relax and concentrate.
“Anything to make it less stressful on the kids,” she said. Nevertheless, she said, kids are reminded how important it is to do their best all the time.”