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Daily Digest
Steve Decker cleans up in front of BankNorth on Wednesday.
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More Snow
The Berkshires received several inches of snow this morning, but not enough to close schools, unlike yesterday's sleety mess. Temperatures will drop into the 20s this afternoon. A few more snow showers are expected through the weekend. |
Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. |
| Need to contact iBerkshires? Here's how. |
Like to Write?
 iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more. |
ObituariesRegionWhat's PlayingSales FliersColumnists | Independent Investor
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Other StuffMars Rovers Mark 5 Years
 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
Obama TransitionRelated Stories |
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Lanesborough Not Alone in School Budget BluesBy Barb Hassan and Al Hartheimer - January 27, 2008
LANESBOROUGH - Lanesborough isn't alone in its struggles.
That was message of School Committee Chairman Richard Cohen at the board's meeting on Wednesday, Jan 23.
The Cohen reported on a meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees held Monday in Dalton. School boards across the state are having similar problems, principally shrinking budgets and unfunded mandates, he said. Although Gov. Deval Patrick's recently released budget calls for $368 million more for education, Lanesborough is set to get $64,000 less than this year.
Superintendent of Schools Robert Ballen presented the final version of the list of assurances given to the other towns in the school union in the event that Lanesborough forms a new union with Williamstown. The committee approved that version.
Principal Ellen Boshe reported on the professional development program. There was an all-day workshop with Hancock and Richmond with regards to differential teaching in the "reading" category. She indicated that the staff looked across grade levels and made appropriate changes. Cohen said he was very happy with the work of the staff on the differential learning approach.
Boshe also reported on a workshop with the district attorney's office regarding bullying.
Boshe said the School Council has a plan with seven strategic goals for school improvement. Cohen said it was a very ambitious plan and asked that goals be set to identify at what point each action item was to be accomplished.
Although the Education Reform Act of 1993 required a school council, Cohen said this is the first time one was actually established at Lanesborough School. He express concern that the makeup of the council had more faculty than parents and that the law required an equal balance. The council should be comprised of the principal, parents, teachers and community members, with parent and faculty representatives of equal parity. Two of the community members are retired staff, which brought the number of faculty to five and parents to four.
Boshe said she is very pleased with the dynamics of the group and was very encouraged with the participation. She indicated that she found it very difficult to fill the positions for community members and would certainly encourage anyone from the community to get involved.
Class size was then discussed. Cohen requested a report on class size breakdown from Ballen.
Cohen also expressed concern that he was getting feedback from parents that the more advanced students were not being challenged and that these children might be developing bad habits as a result of their boredom.
Boshe asked for approval to put the pending technology plan project out to bid on infrastructure and for the laptop initiative. The board approved. The principal said she wasn't looking for the board to approve the spending on the project but felt it would be timely to get the bids first.
Ballen then went over the fiscal 2009 budget. A display of past revenues was presented comparing 2004 through 2008 in school choice, grants, preschool revenue and special education funding. The expense budget was also provided.
The School Committee commented that it needed time to digest all the numbers and determine which programs should continue and which programs should not. The School Committee asked for more detailed breakdown of the numbers for review. Ballen agreed to provide the information.
The School Committee is hosting an informal gathering on Monday, Jan. 28, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the school so the community can meet Rose Ellis, superintendent of Williamstown Elementary School.
Ellis is expected to become the superintendent of the Lanesborough School if it joins Williamstown in establishing a new school superintendency union. The committee is urging parents, community members and town officials to attend the gathering.
Information provided by Lanesborough Concerned Citizens Newsletter. To receive the weekly newsletter with more Lanesborough news, e-mail ahartheimer@yahoo.com. |
Lanesborough voters should keep in mind that two school committee seats are up for re-election this cycle.
One Lanesborough resident, BRENDA LEPECIER, has taken out papers for one of these seats. Before voting for Ms. Lepecier, voters should be informed about what, exactly, her positions on important school matter and the platform she endorses. First, she has absolutely no interests other than her own self-serving political interests. In contravention to state statutes she's guided the Lanesborough Parent Teacher Organization into unlawful "executive sessions."
This body goes into executive session to plan and execute Ms. Lepecier's political agenda, which doesn't include the best interest of our school aged children.
I am been a long time neighbor of Ms. Lepicier's and known first hand just how uncaring and insensitive she and her family are to abutters. For example, she allows her minor child and husband to ride recreational vehicles around their house, within ten yards from my front deck, emitting toxic fumes into my immediate yard and house. Second, and most disturbing, she condoned the behavior of her husband (full-time Lanesborough police officer) when I caught him allowing my four-years old to pee into their center driveway drain. Instead of apologizing for his conduct, she was supportive of this aberrant behavior. It seems the adult Lepiciers were in the habit of permitting their minor children to pee (in public view) into this driveway drain.
This I submit is judgment not needed on the school committee! She has proven herself time and time again just how irresponsible and reckless she is to others concerns.
A vote for BRENDA LEPICIER is a vote for regression and stagnation. Her transgressions should be given a public platform to rest upon.
| | from: Brian C. Marquis | on: 03-28-2008 |
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