Pelham News : pelham elementary school

Pelham firefighters and third-graders become pen pals to teach fire safety

Salem Editor — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:20:00 GMT

Working with teachers and educators, Pelham Fire Chief Michael Walker is addressing his new fire safety program to elementary school children by pairing up students and firefighters as pen pals.

With a budget for community outreach that was nearly nonexistent, Walker decided to implement a letter- writing program he had seen work at another fire department before coming to Pelham. During the second week of school, Walker began working with third-grade teachers at Pelham Elementary School and Saint Patrick School. Since then, the students at Saint Patrick’s have gone through two rounds of letters, while the firefighters work on the letters sent by third-graders at Pelham Elementary.

“They can’t wait for the letter to come in, and they can’t wait to get theirs back to them,” said Gael Ouellete, a third-grade teacher at the Saint Patrick School. “They’re so excited when Chief Walker drops off the letters. They’re having a blast.”

Walker and his firefighters use the letters as a chance to connect with the students and pass along fire safety and prevention tips.

While the firefighters will answer questions from the children about their own families, pets and hobbies, they also ask students to create a home evacuation plan with their parents or check the batteries in their smoke detectors.

“Its extraordinary. The kids are great. They’ve learned to write, and they learn and absorb those fire prevention methods,” Walker said. “They get to know us, and the parents get to know us. It’s completely win-win.”

Ouellete said the program had done a great job of bringing a community together by connecting Pelham’s children with the town’s fire department.

“I think its finally giving a name to a face and making them not just the guys who ride on the back of a truck. It’s ‘oh yeah I know you,’ and ‘he’s a nice guy.’ It’s more of a personal touch,” Ouellete said. “Unfortunately, you get a town like this, which is a bedroom community, and (residents) are not as involved as I would like them to be. But now the kids are involved.”

Walker said the department had targeted third-graders after the National Fire Academy identified them as being at the age when they have developed the necessary cognitive and communication skills and can absorb fire prevention information. Firefighters are also participating in a second program that has first-graders competing in a coloring contest.

In the future, Walker said he would like to work with the Pelham schools to create other programs to get his firefighters out into the community, like a tutoring program for students. While Ouellete has made plans to meet with him next month to discuss more collaboration, in the end, he said it comes down to energy and time.

“We don’t have the funding to do a ton of stuff. The things that we’re doing takes the energy and the commitment of the fire department and the personnel. They volunteer to do it,” he said.

Walker has already begun to see a positive reaction from the community as a whole, as visitors stop by the station more often, especially during the days firefighters are out cleaning the machinery and fire apparatus, something he had hoped to encourage.

“It’s important for us to get involved in the community, and citizens need to know what we do and we need to communicate with the community to keep them safe.

(It’s called) community risk induction. If you see firefighters out, you’re more inclined to ask them questions that are on your mind,” Walker said.

“They’re always welcome. It’s great to have the kids here and show them around.”

Pelham wrestles with kindergarten problem

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:52:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

Pelham school officials, faced with a state mandate to provide public kindergarten next year, must submit a long-term implementation plan to the state Department of Education by Dec. 1.

No decisions on how they are going to provide a kindergarten program were made when members met for a strategy session on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The board will discuss the issue again at future meetings, but Assistant Superintendent Roxanne Wilson is going forward with her plans to start a committee to work on curriculum for a program.

The state Legislature has included kindergarten in its definition of an adequate education. Earlier this year, lawmakers extended the kindergarten mandate until next year and are offering financial assistance to Pelham and other communities to begin a program in 2009.

“I think they’ve been very kind to us in terms of what they’re providing for us,” said School Board member Linda Koehler. “I think they’ve really extended themselves for us. I think it’s time for us to look as a community at (kindergarten) as something we need to provide for our children.”

Koehler encouraged her colleagues to come up with a plan and to educate voters about why it’s necessary and the costs to start a program.

Superintendent Frank Bass estimated it would cost $400,000 to $450,000 for teachers for a half-day program to educate more than 200 children. Additional money would be needed for aides and specialists. State aid of $1,200 per child will offset some of that cost, he said.

Where the students would be taught is uncertain, but school officials can take advantage of state aid for both a temporary fix and a permanent solution, according to Bass.

For the first three years, the state would pick up the full cost for modular or portable units, along with furniture and fixtures. The state is also offering to pay 30 percent of land acquisition costs and 75 percent of construction costs.

Pelham is one of approximately nine New Hampshire communities that do not offer public kindergarten. Some residents, however, are not happy with the state’s actions. Board member Linda Mahoney complained the state is stepping on local control.

“I’m not viewing this as a kindergarten issue,” she said. “I’m looking at this issue as a much bigger issue, and I do believe it has to do with our constitutional rights as a community. There are some who might disagree, but in this bill it’s waiving the will of the voters.”

“I think what the state is offering is very generous and I’d love to give the townspeople the opportunity to take advantage of that,” Mahoney said. “But that’s not what the state is doing. The state is saying, ‘This is what we’re going to give you, take it or leave it, you’ve got to do it. And if you don’t want to, you’re going to have to do it anyway.’ That’s where I have an issue.”

Mahoney also raised concerns that other programs in the school district could suffer. She noted that voters didn’t pass funding for paving for the middle school’s parking lot.

“We put in kindergarten, this money is going to have to come from somewhere else,” she said. “That’s where I’m coming from. It’s going to have to come from other programs in the district. Where is all this money going to come from?”

One of the residents who attended the meeting, Bill Scanzani, said the time to fight the state mandate had passed and he warned that the community would put itself in peril if it didn’t follow the law.

“I think instead of debating how we got to where we are, I think we’re better off trying to figure out how we’re going to fund it,” Scanzani said.

School Board member Cindy Kyzer stepped down from the board for its discussion. Her husband, Matt, is the pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church, which offers a kindergarten program.

“I don’t want it to look inappropriate,” by sitting on the board, she said.

Drugs at Pelham High School

Salem Editor — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:13:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

A 16-year-old Pelham High School student was arrested on the second day of school for allegedly bringing narcotics into the school to sell them to other students.

The student’s name is not being released because he is a juvenile. Police are pursuing charges through Salem Family Court for possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute.

Police were called to the high school Thursday, Aug. 28, at 12:35 p.m. Assistant Principal Leland Brennan Jr. said he got an anonymous tip that the student had prescription pills at the school. Brennan could not say whether that source was a student or not, he said.

“We had a confidential source tell us that he was in possession,” said Brennan. “Our process always is, unless there’s a threat to other students, like a weapon or something like that, we always deal with the student first,” he said, in case the tip is misleading or in error.

After questioning the student in private, the student handed 19 pills to Brennan, who in turn called police, Brennan said. Police were able to identify the pills, 14 of which were the narcotic Adderall and the rest Vyvanse. Both prescription medications are used in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit disorder.

The student has been suspended from school, although Brennan said he could not reveal how long that suspension will last.

Brennan said prescription drug use is on the rise among students, but said he and other administrators are making every effort to eliminate all types of drugs from the school.

“I think the prescription drugs are becoming the drug du jour, if you would,” Brennan said, adding they are easily obtained and hidden from view.

Pelham High School has a very stringent medication policy, Brennan said. Students are not supposed to keep any medications on their person throughout the day, and instead have to store them at the nurse’s office. Parents have to give the nurse their written consent to allow their children to have medication at the school.

“We’re trying to monitor it the best we can,” said Brennan, although he added it’s difficult to catch every pill bottle. “If we catch that, it’s confidential, and the parents are notified of our medication policy. I think most of the kids realize that they’re not supposed to have any type of medications on them at school grounds at all.”

The hard part, Brennan said, is sustaining their status as an educational institution without overstepping their bounds by searching the backpacks, purses or pockets of every student who walks through the door.

“We’re trying to keep this as a school instead of becoming invasive,” Brennan said.

Brennan said anonymous tips from students, teachers, faculty and community members are the key to uncovering drug use and sales in the school.

“Students and other people know before we do,” said Brennan. “That bridge, I have found, is the most important part of trying to get a school that is free of drugs.”

The first step in that is getting students to trust that whatever they say will remain completely confidential, Brennan said, which many students are starting to believe.

A large seminar held at the end of the last school year featuring a person who’d been incarcerated for drugs, addiction counselors, police and school administrators talking about drug use among youth was very poorly attended, Brennan said.

“We were kind of upset about the fact that we only got a few parents,” he said.

The climate in the school is swinging in favor of eliminating drugs on school grounds, Brennan said, and more and more people are speaking up when they see suspicious activity that may involve drugs.

“I think the biggest change is people are making the decision to not just say, ‘oh well, I can’t do anything about it.’ They’re deciding to make a stand. They want a drug-free school, and this is their way of handling it, and we’re there to back them up,” he said.

Pelham woman charged with stealing school funds waives arraignment

Salem Editor — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:31:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

A Pelham Elementary School aid accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the school’s “sunshine fund” waived her arraignment in Salem District Court, which was scheduled for Monday, July 14, at 8 a.m.

Lisa Harris, 50, of 50 Windham Road in Pelham, turned herself in to police after a warrant was issued for her arrest on Tuesday, June 17.

The fund, for which Harris was in charge of accounting, was set up by Pelham Elementary teachers. Teachers would contribute money to the fund, which is completely independent of the school district’s budget, to make special purchases such as cards and gifts for special occasions.

Superintendent Frank Bass explained most schools have similar funds which incorporate collections from teachers and staff for such purposes, including weddings and funerals.

“These are monies that teachers put aside. It’s a very normal system. Most schools have sunshine funds of some sort,” said Bass.

Since the donated money in the fund is separate from the school budget, the missing funds will not be reflected back onto taxpayers.

Pelham police allege that Harris, who has since been terminated from her position as an instructional aid at the school after 10 years on the job, transferred $4,600 from the sunshine fund into a Sovereign Bank account. When the account was about to be drawn upon for a purchase, school staff noticed some of the money was missing.

“We became aware of a discrepancy in the account when money was called on for a specific purpose, and then upon investigation we realized the discrepancies were significant, and the investigation went its course,” said Bass.

According to police, the school district reported the missing funds on May 22. Investigators reviewed the financial statements, and found that several transfers had been made out of the fund between May 16, 2007, and May 28, 2008.

Police then reviewed the Sovereign Bank records for the account the money was being transferred into, and found it to be in Harris’ name.

Harris is now facing a felony theft charge for which she could be sentenced to jail time, probation and fines. She is out on bail, and her trial has yet to be scheduled. Bass said the school district administration and staff, as well as Pelham Elementary teachers are shocked at Harris’ behavior, adding she was a well-liked employee by all accounts.

“It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances, and we’re very disappointed in what has occurred,” Bass said.

Pelham teacher’s aide charged with stealing from fund

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:30:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

A Pelham Elementary School instructional aide faces a felony theft charge after she allegedly stole thousands of dollars from the school’s Sunshine Fund.

Lisa Harris, 50, of Pelham turned herself in to police after a warrant for her arrest was issued on Tuesday, June 17.

The fund is a collection of money set aside by Pelham Elementary teachers to purchase cards and gifts for occasions such as funerals and weddings , school Superintendent Frank Bass explained.

“We became aware of a discrepancy in the account when money was called for for a specific purpose, and then upon investigation, we realized the discrepancies were significant, and the investigation went its course,” said Bass, adding Harris is no longer employed with the Pelham School District.

Harris, who worked as an aide for about 10 years, allegedly stole a total of $4,600 from the Sunshine Fund, transferring the money into a Sovereign Bank account.

Harris was in charge of keeping track of the funds, Bass said, which were accrued over time from teacher donations. They were not a part of the school district’s budget, Bass said, and the missing money will not reflect back onto taxpayers.

“These are monies that teachers put aside. It’s a very normal system. Most schools have Sunshine Funds of some sort,” said Bass.

According to police, the Pelham School District reported on May 22 that the money had been taken from the fund. After reviewing the fund’s financial statements, police found that the $4,600 had been transferred out of the fund between May 16, 2007, and May 28, 2008.

Pelham police investigators were able to secure the financial records of the Sovereign Bank account into which the money was deposited, and found it to be in Harris’ name.

Police released Harris on $5,000 personal recognizance bail. She will be arraigned in Salem District Court on Monday, July 14, at 8 a.m.

Bass said the school district administration and staff, as well as Pelham Elementary teachers are shocked at Harris’ behavior.

“It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances, and we’re very disappointed in what has occurred.”

5-minute adjustment for start and end time at Pelham Elementary school

Salem Editor — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:45:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

The official start time for Pelham Elementary is going to be moved up by five minutes this fall to allow for better supervision of students coming into the school prior to the opening bell.

The first bell rings at 8:50 a.m. right now, but students get dropped off at 8:45 a.m. While most teachers are supervising kids in the minutes prior to the first bell, said Principal Alicia LaFrance, school officials wanted to make the language in the policy clearer so that all students would be ensured supervision prior to class starting. Moving the first bell up will also change the school ending time to 3 p.m. instead of 3:05 p.m.

It will also affect the time of the tardy bell, which will be moved from 9 a.m. to 8:55 a.m., an important time change for parents who drop off their kids to remember, LaFrance said.

The teacher contract requires teachers to arrive at Pelham Elementary at 8:40 a.m., five minutes before the busses arrive, leaving a 10-minute interim in which they are not contractually bound to supervise students, although the great majority of teachers are already doing that, she said.

“We actually knew that students in all cases were being supervised very responsibly. What we realized was that our students were getting off the buses at 8:45 and heading right into the building and their classrooms, and there were discrepancies at times teachers assumed responsibility for students,” LaFrance said.

In moving the first bell to 8:45 a.m., LaFrance said, all students will definitely be supervised from the time they walk through the door. The official change is a way to clean up the language of the policy, LaFrance said.

Instruction will now officially start at around 9 a.m. said LaFrance, adding Pelham Elementary teachers agreed to the time adjustment, which has also been approved by the School Board already.

The time change will not affect the bus routes or pick-up schedules at all, said LaFrance, because the students will still arrive at school at the same time they were before.

The buses will arrive five minutes earlier than before to meet the earlier end time, and will hopefully be able to leave the school five minutes earlier than before as well, said LaFrance.