Hopkinton News : School board

Teacher, support staff contract voted down in Hopkinton

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:26:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Hopkinton residents voted down raises for the district’s educators and support staff before approving a budget lowered by the School Board during the annual School District Meeting.

After seeing voters deny two collective bargaining agreements that would have resulted in a total of about $330,000 in increases, board members decided to back the Budget Committee’s proposed operating budget during the Saturday, March 7, meeting.

Despite a motion to trim the budget even more, residents approved the Budget Committee and School Board’s recommendation of about $15.6 million by a 371-106 vote.

In total, the meeting lasted about five hours, with the majority of the discussion centering on the teacher and support staff contracts.

Resident Ian Tewksbury said during the debate that he does not believe voting down the contracts was in the school’s best interest.

“If we don’t support this contract, I won’t be surprised if we lose some teachers. There’s nothing to stop them from going to other districts if we do,” said Tewksbury.

“I’m very disappointed in the Budget Committee.”

Alan Bloomquist was against the articles because of the current level of pay for educators and the state of the economy.

“I just think this is the time to say, ‘Hey, if you’re a teacher, be happy you’re employed because your neighbors are losing their jobs,’” Bloomquist said. “Let’s just try to take a breather here.”

School Board Chairman David Luneau told residents that the contract was a key part in continuing the highquality education that Hopkinton provides.

“As we pay our teachers, we’re investing in our teachers,” said Luneau. “We need the contract to attract the best teachers to Hopkinton, and also to keep them here.”

Voters did approve a new contract for the custodial staff that will result in a 1.94 percent increase in salary and benefits during a five-year contract.

Hopkinton educators are currently paid at an above-average rate, board members said during the meeting, with 59 percent making more than $60,000 and 19 percent coming in above $70,000.

When it came time to discuss the operating budget, Luneau said the board was willing to support the Budget Committee’s suggested increase of $98,691, an increase of less than 1 percent over last year’s figure.

“We have seen today that voters are not in favor of increase, so we are willing to move ahead with the Budget Committee’s figure,” said Luneau.

Hopkinton Superintendent resigns

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:21:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

While the Hopkinton School Board and administration crunch numbers during this busy time of Town and School District Meetings, one more task has been added to their agenda – finding a new superintendent.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Blake has resigned from his post, effective at the end of the school year, June 30. The School Board officially accepted his resignation Jan. 20.

“The Hopkinton School Board is looking forward to working with the educational leaders and members of the community as we work to find our next superintendent,” said School Board Chairman David Luneau. “At the moment, we are meeting with internal candidates. Depending on what we find, we’ll either make a selection or open the process to outside candidates.

Blake is currently making $101,000 per year.

“We’re interested in getting a candidate that fits with the educational priorities we have in Hopkinton, and we want to pay that candidate a competitive salary,” said Luneau.

Blake was not available for comment as of press time.

Hopkinton grads will need more classes

Bow Editor — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:24:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Hopkinton school officials approved a plan to increase the high school’s graduation requirements, putting the policy into effect beginning with next year’s incoming freshmen class.

Board members had a final read-through of the policy, which has been in the works for about a year, at their Tuesday, Oct. 7, meeting.

Residents had a chance to hear about the plan recently, as officials held a public hearing to discuss the changes with community members.

Previously, students were required to complete 20 credits at the high school, a number that will now increase to 24.

Principal Steve Chamberlin said most students already complete more than the required 20 credits, so adding four more will not cause stress to the students’ schedules.

“We think all students should have an opportunity to experience these things before they leave high school,” Chamberlin said. “The increase in requirements is really going to have these kids in good shape when they leave school.”

Science requirements will increase from two to three credits, social studies from 2.5 to three credits, career awareness from one-fourth to one-half credit, and students will also be required to finish the second level of a world language class.

The board’s approval is pending change in the policy’s wording from “year” to “level” of a world language class.

In addition, two new programs will be brought to the school, as students will now need to finish a half-credit practical art course, and take part an experiential learning program.

The practical art course will give students a choice between wood technology, family and consumer science, business education or Project Lead the Way.

With the experiential learning requirement, students will need to take part in an adventure education course, do a senior project, complete an internship or do a service learning project.

Superintendent of Schools Brian Blake said the requirements will keep students up to date with educational needs.

“We saw a need to make sure we’re providing kids with 21st-century skills,” said Blake. “In the future, social studies and science, in particular, are becoming all the more important with the global economy.”

School test scores fall short in Bow and Hopkinton

Bow Editor — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:27:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Bow and Hopkinton school districts both had blemishes on their adequate yearly progress reports recently released by the state.

Bow Elementary School did not meet the state’s criteria in the reading category, while in Hopkinton both Harold Martin and Maple Street schools fell short in reading.

Students across the state in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 were given the NECAP test in fall 2007. Students’ progress at the school and district level is measured based on the results and students are broken into different subgroups, including special education and economically disadvantage, for analyzing the performance of particular groups of students.

If one of those subgroups fails to meet the bar in a particular subject area, the entire school is considered not having made adequate yearly progress. If a school fails to meet those standards for two years in a row, it earns a “school in need of improvement” designation. Such a school needs to make adequate yearly progress for two years in a row to exit that status.

High school students across the state were not tested last year to allow a transition from spring to fall testing, but high schools retained whatever status they earned from the prior year’s adequate yearly progress results.

In most cases, school officials say, the special education subgroup caused the school to miss the mark, which was the case in Bow and Hopkinton.

“We were disappointed that the elementary school didn’t pass AYP. We’re not panic-stricken yet,” said Bow Superintendent of Schools Dean Cascadden. “We have a number of initiatives we’ve been putting on. In the budget this year, we put an additional special education teacher, so we’ve had our eye on this area. It’s an area we’re going to pay attention to and have a response plan we’re ready to put into place.”

Hopkinton Superintendent of Schools Brian Blake said the district will analyze the results, but is cautious not to overreact.

“Overall, I don’t place a ton of weight in the results. That’s one assessment of several that students take,” said Blake. “We’re looking at the results, and looking to further help the students who didn’t do as well as we had hoped.”

Blake said there are several areas the school looks at to assess student performance.

“We look at not only the NECAP, but student grades in the courses they’re taken, the assessments given by students’ reading inventory,” he said. “We look at all of the data in terms of how we can help our students learn the information better.”

None of the schools are designated as a “school in need of improvement” because it was the first time coming up short on the test for each.

Cascadden said he is pleased to see Bow Elementary students improved in math over last year’s results.

“This year, their math scores were a definite increase. You have an issue, you look at it, and, hopefully, you get a good response. Our score increased significantly because we’re paying attention to it,” said Cascadden.

“No one wants to not make AYP, but if it’s an area we need to work on we’ll put a plan together, pay attention to it and we’ll be tested again this October.”

Hopkinton town and school office winners

Bow Editor — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:35:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Hopkinton’s three contested town and school races were decided in the voting booth, as residents chose two new selectmen, two School Board members and a new school treasurer.

The School Board race was a log jam, with seven candidates vying for only two spots. Elizabeth Durant and Peter Yunich were victorious, as Durant earned the most votes with 460, while Yunich garnered 353 on Election Day, Tuesday, March 11, to join the board.

While Durant won the first spot easily, Yunich narrowly defeated third-place finisher Karen Irwin for the second seat on the board, as Irwin finished only seven votes behind.

Durant said her first step as a board member is to work on the transition into her seat.

“My goal is to go in initially and become familiar with the dynamics of the board members and get to know them better,” she said. “I want to see where my skills and experience and knowledge can come in and be compliment with those already on the board.”

Yunich was not available for comment on his election victory.

Christopher Lawless and James O’Brien won the seats on the Board of Selectmen vacated by veteran selectmen Peter Russell and Don Lane, both of whom chose not to seek re-election after several years on the board.

O’Brien won his seat with 736 votes, while Lawless earned 694 votes to join a board that will have two new faces during Hopkinton’s Monday evening meetings.

“There isn’t a lot of longevity right now, losing two veteran members, so in some sense it’s a new board. From the people I have talked to already, we’re off to a good start,” said O’Brien. “It’s expected of me to come in right away, so I’ll come in Saturday to Town Meeting and get a feel for the voters and what their expectations are.”

George Langwasser, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said he is eager to begin working with his new members.

“I look forward to them joining the board and fitting in. We’re losing two experienced selectmen who have each served over six years,” said Langwasser. “With that comes a lot of knowledge and experience. I hope the new members will come up to speed quickly and do their best to learn how the town functions.”

Lawless was unavailable for comment on his election to the board.

In the final contested race in Hopkinton, residents elected Allan Bloomquist as the new school district treasurer. Bloomquist, who got 520 votes to defeat opponent Kevin Chittim’s 461, will be replacing Arnold Coda, who chose not to run again after nine years in the position.

Coda voiced his support for Bloomquist in the weeks leading up to Election Day, something Bloomquist said made a difference in the voting booths.

“That (support from Coda) means everything in the world. I’m fairly certain if he hadn’t backed me so enthusiastically that I wouldn’t have won the election,” said Bloomquist. “I have always respected him, so for him to think I have some talent and ability was very flattering.”

Nine of the 12 races on the ballot were uncontested, as Cameron Ford and Marion Paxton will join the Budget Committee; Nancy Miner was elected cemetery trustee; Donna Dunlop and Christine Hamm won seats as library trustees; Sharon Baker, supervisor of checklist; Gary Richardson, town moderator; Bonita Cressy, town treasurer; Carolyn Hackwell, trustee of trust funds; Sue Batchelder, school clerk; and Charles Dibble school moderator.

Costs, creationism focus of Hopkinton debate

Bow Editor — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:40:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Hopkinton School Board candidates voiced their opinions on everything from rising education costs to intelligent design – a theory that seeks to fundamentally redefine science to accept supernatural explanations being taught in some schools – at a recent forum.

On Sunday, March 2 more than 50 residents showed up at the Slusser Senior Center to hear six of the seven candidates make their case for election and answer questions from the crowd. Candidate Seth Shortlidge was not present at the forum.

All six candidates – Sam Delgado, Liz Durant, Karen Irwin, Kathy Trantham, David White and Peter Yunich – said they were impressed with Hopkinton’s school system, and most cited that as their reason for moving to town. All, however, also agreed schools can be improved and rising costs have hindered that improvement.

All candidates also agreed the budget needs to be more accessible to the public, offering ideas ranging from public forums to creating an annotated school budget.

“The school budget is the white elephant of our budget here in Hopkinton,” said Delgado.

Delgado, who served on other school boards and as a business administrator, said he has the experience necessary, even though he’s only lived in town since July 2007.

White, a 16-year Hopkinton resident, has two children, ages 14 and 10, in the town’s schools. Having served on other boards, White said there needs to be less importance placed on how much items cost and more on what students are getting out of their education.

Irwin, who is currently serving on the town’s Budget Committee, said her experience working with school budgets and finance will aid the School Board in getting the most value for taxpayer dollars.

Trantham, who has been living in town since 1996, said her job as an information technology professional at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord made her privy to the knowledge students may or may not have upon entering college. She also stressed character development in the schools as a way to teach kids about life.

“There’s a lot more to it than just ABCs and 123s,” said Trantham.

Durant has served on school boards in several districts prior to moving to Hopkinton with her family a year and a half ago. She stressed the need to better explain the budget to the community.

“We need to help the community to understand the bigger picture, why the budget is the way it is,” said Durant.

Yunich said quarterly forums with the School Board to make information more accessible to the public would be a good way to institute a better two-way dialogue with the community.

Questions from the audience focused on keeping taxes low, technology in the schools, the importance of arts and music programs, the state of the current facilities and whether students athletes should pay to play their respective sports.

Arguably the most interesting question centered on how the candidates felt about having sexual education and intelligent design taught in the schools.

Yunich, Trantham and Durant agreed students should have the opportunity to learn about all points of views on creation, including intelligent design, but no one idea should be pushed on them.

Irwin said she would like to get more input from the community before taking a stance on whether intelligent design has a place in schools.

“To me, Intelligent Design is a religious doctrine. I don’t feel it has a place in a public school,” said White, with Delgado agreeing.

Five out of the six candidates agreed that sexual education should be dealt with in school, but agreed parents bear the brunt of responsibility in that area.

“That is ... something I can honestly say I’m not comfortable with,” said Trantham about sex education in school, adding her conservative background would prompt her to teach abstinence.

Delgado mentioned that high school sexual education is appropriate, but the topic may be over the heads of elementary and middle school students.

Yunich, a retired publisher in his 60s, drew chuckles from the crowd upon being asked about sexual education.

“I’m trying to remember,” he said, feigning deep thought. He also pushed parental responsibility in the matter, but said the change in culture from his youth suggests a need to teach kids about sex.

All candidates agreed on the need for a long-term plan for the programming and funding for Hopkinton schools, as well as the role arts and music play in the development of students.

On Tuesday, March 11, Hopkinton voters will choose which of the seven candidates will fill two three-year seats on the School Board.

Voting takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Hopkinton High School.

Candidates vie for town, school posts

Bow Editor — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:33:00 GMT

By MATT SCHOOLEY

Candidate running for Hopkinton town and school offices will be vying for open seats on Election Day 2008.

Hopkinton voters going to the polls on Tuesday, March 11, will decide who will tend to town and school district matters on residents’ behalf. Voting takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Hopkinton High School.

Here’s who’s running:

Town seats:

Selectman, two three-year terms – Christopher Lawless, James J. O’Brien and Albert Wait. Selectmen Peter Russell and Don Lane, whose terms expire in March, have decided not to run for re-election.

Treasurer, one three-year term – incumbent Bonita A. Cressy.

Trustee of Trust Funds, one three-year term – incumbent Carolyn Hackwell.

Cemetery Board of Trustees, one three-year term – Nancy E. Miner.

Library trustees, two three-year terms – incumbents Donna Dunlop and Christine Hamm.

Budget Committee, two three-year terms – Cameron Ford and Marion L. Paxton.

Town moderator – One two-year term – incumbent Gary B. Richardson.

Supervisor of Checklist, one six-year term – incumbent Sharon C. Baker.

School seats:

School Board, two three-year terms – Samuel J. Delgado, Elizabeth Durant, Karen Irwin, Seth Shortlidge, Kathleen Trantham, David A. White and Peter B. Yunich. Members Marshal Rowe and Joy Bloomfield have decided not to run for re-election.

School treasurer, one one-year term – Allan Bloomquist and Kevin Chittim.

School moderator, one one-year term – incumbent Charles Dibble.

School clerk – One one-year term – Sue Batchelder.

Meetings

In addition to voting on Election Day, residents are urged to attend the following meetings:

The Hopkinton School District Meeting is Saturday, March 8, at 9 a.m., at Hopkinton High School.

The Hopkinton Town Meeting is Saturday, March 15, at 9 a.m. at Hopkinton High School.

Sidewalk planned for safety at Hopkinton's Harold Martin Elementary School

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:41:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Walking to school will soon be a safer option for children attending Hopkinton’s Harold Martin Elementary School.

The school has been awarded a $31,000 grant from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation that the Hopkinton School District will be able to put toward improvements for student safety.

School officials worked with community members to apply for the “Safe Routes to School” grant before finding out in December they had been awarded the money.

Although much of the grant includes lessons and studies on safety, the biggest aspect of it includes a sidewalk that will be built from Main Street to Harold Martin School.

“The driveway in and out of Harold Martin has long been a safety concern. Last year, we began looking at ways to correct that, but we pulled it out of the budget because it wasn’t necessarily supported by the community,” said Hopkinton Superintendent of Schools Brian Blake.

Blake also said the sidewalk will be help after school hours as well.

“When we have large activities at night and cars are on Main Street, pedestrians will have a safe way to walk into the school,” he said. “Having a safe way in and out will encourage parents to walk or ride bikes to school with their children.”

In addition to building the blacktop sidewalk, the grant will also fund bicycle safety courses at all three schools in town. Also, the school will be able to do safe route studies at each level as well.

“The studies involve analysis of travel patterns and safety concerns,” said Blake. “By doing the things involved in this phase of the grant, we’ll have the opportunity to apply for additional grant money based on the studies we’ll be doing.”

Selectman Don Lane said he is in full support of the grant and the projects involved.

“I think it’s a no-brainer. I don’t see any opposition. It’ll help, especially with those kids walking to school, and there are certainly some,” he said. “They’ll be able to do it more safely, and maybe the parents can drop them off at the end of the road so the kids can get out and walk.”

Lane also said there are more benefits than just safety.

“Anything you can do to get the kids up and walking makes sense,” he said.

Time to file for town, school district seats

Bow Editor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:13:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

While Hopkinton residents will cast votes for town and school officials as well as budgets in March, Bow voters will wait until May to make their choices. Bow School District Meeting, however, continues to take place at its traditional time of the year, on March 14.

Hopkinton
Those interested in running for office in Hopkinton must file between Wednesday, Jan. 23, and Friday, Feb. 1.

Town
Open seats and filing information include the following: Two selectmen seats for three-year terms each. Seats currently held by Selectmen Don Lane and Peter Russell are open.

One supervisor of checklist for a six-year term.

Two Budget Committee seats for three-year terms each. These seats are currently held by Jane Bradstreet and Barbara Unger.

Two library trustees for three-year terms.

One cemetery trustee for a three-year term.

One trustee of the trust fund for a three-year term.

One treasurer for three-year term. The currrent treasurer is Bonnie Cressy.

Moderator for a two-year term. This post is currently held by Gary Richardson.

To file to serve on an open town seat, contact Town Clerk Sue Strickford at 846 Main St., Hopkinton.

Hopkinton voters will cast ballots on Tuesday, March 11, at Hopkinton High School, from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hopkinton Town Meeting is Saturday, March 15, at 9 a.m., at Hopkinton High School.

School district
There are two three-year open seats on the School Board, currently held by Marshall Rowe and Joy Bloomfield.

Treasurer, one-year seat. This post is currently held by Arnold Coda.

Moderator for one year, currently held by Charles Dibble.

To file for school offices, see the Hopkinton town clerk.

The Hopkinton School District Meeting is Saturday, March 8, at 9 a.m., at Hopkinton High School.

Bow
The Bow School District Meeting is Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m., at Bow High School, when residents will vote on the 2008 budget.

Voters will then go to the polls on May 13 for town and school district elections.

School district:
There are two open seats on the Bow School Board, with each carrying a three-year term. Deb McCann and Ann Baier currently hold these seats.

Moderator for a three-year term. Jim Hatem is the current school district moderator.

School district clerk for a three-year term. Louise Knee currently holds this post. Treasurer for a three-year term. The seat is currently held by Mark Lavalle.

Town:
Because Election Day in Bow is May 13, open seats on the town side are not yet available.

Residents and incumbents interested in filing to serve on open town and school district seats must file between Wednesday, March 26, and Tuesday, March 31, at the Town Clerk’s office, 10 Grandview Road, Bow.