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Meeting on the Future of Holbrook Public Schools!!!!

Dear HPS Families and Community Members:

On Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 7:00pm at the Junior-Senior High School Auditorium a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Permanent School Building Committee, Finance Committee, and Capital Improvement Committee will review and discuss the options of the future of Holbrook Public Schools building project, regionalizing Grades 9-12, and tuitioning-out students in Grades 9-12.

It is imperative that the Holbrook community come out for this community forum and discussion. It is the hope of the Permanent School Building Committee who requested this meeting that an honest discussion about the physical plant needs and the impact on teaching and learning be discussed.

Please consider attending.

Joseph F. Baeta
Superintendent
Holbrook Public Schools
781-767-1226

"John Squared"

Yesterday I received a postcard from Bill Marble endorsing John Callahan & John McMahon for the two school committee seats on today's ballot.  I am writing to ask that you  do NOT vote for them. 

 Their postcard said "We need to effectively explore regionalization and obtain balanced credible data on the associated costs."

Well, I have lived in Holbrook for over 20 years.  Regionalization has already been discussed, examined, studied and investigated several times.  This is not a new idea!

The postcard also said,"  Collaboration with other Boards in Holbrook, open forums for residents concerns and effective coordination with potential partners, will be the key to ensuring our decisions about regionalization serve the best interest of the students and taxpayers."

To this I say, THERE HAVE BEEN OPEN FORUMS AND DISCUSSIONS!  The school committee meetings, parent group meetings, the school building committee meetings, etc. are open to the public.  Have John McMahon or John Callahan ever attended any of these meetings?  Have they sent their children to any of the Public Schools?  When is the last time they have been inside or toured the public schools?  Have they met with teachers or administrators to hear from them what's right or wrong with our schools?  Have they attended any plays, concerts, games, graduations, National Honor Society inductions, art shows or anything else recently?

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and my opinion is that they are NOT he right people to serve on our School Committee.

Sincerely,

Karen Santorelli

Last Candidate's Corner before the election

Next Tuesday, you will decide which School Committee candidate to vote for. Barbara Davis is the ONLY candidate with the dedication, commitment, and knowledge to continue the improvement in the Holbrook Public Schools. Davis is the only candidate who believes in public education and submitted candidate’s corners to this paper discussing the issues and facts. She is the one candidate who will form her opinions based on fact and information rather than popular misconceptions and perceptions. She strongly believes that ALL of the children of the Holbrook Public Schools are entitled to a superior educational experience.

“I think it is extremely important to see first-hand the problems and issues affecting the schools in order to make intelligent decisions on choices that will directly affect what occurs in the buildings. Have the other candidates even been in the school buildings? During my tenure, I have always made decisions based on fact and what is in the best interests of the public school students of Holbrook. In the past three years our focus has been providing students with the high quality educational experience aimed at educating the whole child.”

People have had discussions about regionalization. I attended all the meetings. Abington does not want to regionalize with Holbrook. Abington’s reasons: there would be 250 more students in the hallways and in a building that also needs to be renovated.

Tuitioning out of the High School students is also being discussed. Abdication of our rights to educate our students at the expense of taxpayers who would have a new fixed cost of paying the bill is wrong and every other district that has done so is now trying to get out of it.

I will continue to utilize my leadership skills and knowledge of the community and its schools to work collaboratively with other school officials and municipal leaders to map out a plan for success for all students. I am the one candidate who has the dedication, knowledge, and commitment to continue to ensure that the children of Holbrook have access to challenging curriculum, highly qualified teachers and opportunities to realize their maximum potential as learners in preparation for the 21 century.

“I have always been an advocate for ALL the public school students of Holbrook and firmly believe that they are entitled to a high quality education. You will not find a more hard-working, visible elected official supporting the public school students of Holbrook and their families. Ask yourselves why other candidates are running. Do they have the best interests of the public school children at heart? Have they had children in our schools? Why have they not told you in the candidate’s corner section what they will do? Are they running because of an agenda?”

Candidate's Corner - March 25, 2011

Barbara Davis, a candidate for re-election to the School Committee believes that one very important facet of a school committee is to advocate for the public schools and its students. “As a School Committee member and current Chairperson, I have always been an outspoken advocate of public education in Holbrook and the students and their families.”

Here are some comments from some public school parents on this issue:

“We are confident that Barbara has and will continue to make decisions based solely on what is best for the children of Holbrook.” Charles and Patricia Greely

“Barbara is at most if not all school functions. She does her homework and is always well informed. She goes the extra mile to help make the school a better place for our children.” Karen Delrosso

“Barbara Davis has worked tirelessly as a school committee member for years…the passion with which she discusses key issues affecting our schools… Barbara forms her opinions and makes decisions based on fact, rather than popular misperceptions, and she observes and listens with open ears and an open mind.” Robin Grant

And Jodi Kenneally says, “I realize how much she cares for the well-being of our schools and the children in it! She is highly visible at all activities, and often puts her own plans on hold to do what is best for the district. I have also witnessed her hard work in helping to change things up at the high school by working closely with the administrative staff to give the staff what is needed and as a result, the high school is a better place to be. I know that Barbara will get my vote on April 5th so that she can continue to fight for a school that has given so much to my children!”

Good schools mean higher property values and a lower tax rate. Poor and inadequate schools mean lower property values. Good schools mean having all the proper facilities for all the programs necessary to ensure success for all our students. The public school students of Holbrook have a right to a public school system which provides them with all the updated tools and facilities necessary to become productive members of society. Students in small towns like Holbrook deserve the same opportunities as students in more affluent communities. Our children’s quality of life will be affected by their school system. By investing in our schools, we are investing in our community. We, as a town, need to support this investment because it’s the right thing to do.

The public school students of Holbrook deserve someone who will advocate and fight for them. I will continue to ensure our students get the best education possible to allow them to compete successfully in the 21^st century.

Letter to the Editor from the Greely's

Dear Editor,

People don't come to Holbrook to work in a high rise office building. They don't come here to shop in a mall.
You won't see tourists or people seeking "night life" in Holbrook. What you will see in Holbrook is families.
Holbrook exists so you can raise a family. An essential part of raising children is ensuring that they
are properly educated so they can face the challenges that await them in the competitive technological society
they will live in.

Last year Holbrook High School was listed as one of the top ten most improved schools in Massachusetts in MCAS
results. Absenteeism, tardiness and disciplinary problems are all down from prior years. These improvements are not
the result of a "happy accident". We have in place now a proactive school administration that does not consider
the less than stellar results we've historically had "good enough". They are doing something about it. They are
doing this in spite of rising costs, shrinking state aid, and buildings that are not up to par.

During the coming election we have a chance to vote on the direction that we want the schools to take.
Right now, the schools are going in the RIGHT direction. Vote for incumbents Barbara Davis and Christine Ward
for school committee. Vote to continue the progress that's been made towards the quality school system
that Holbrook's children require and deserve.

Sincerely,
Charles and Patricia Greely

Holbrook schools may cut 30 positions-increase class sizes

Posted Mar 26, 2011 @ 06:19 PM

Holbrook —

Holbrook school officials may have to cut 30 staff positions due to a $2.1 million hike in mandated costs as well as to cover the loss of federal grant monies.

During a March 23 public hearing on the proposed 2011-2012 school budget, Superintendent Joseph Baeta said specific cuts would be determined in the coming weeks and that the loss of personnel would drive up class sizes.

“Of the 30 positions we are cutting, there would be 24 teaching positions cut and impact class sizes to 32-plus at the elementary level and 35-plus at the secondary level,” Baeta said. 

 Baeta said 14.7 positions that have been funded by the waning federal grants are to be eliminated.  

“There will be no saving positions in August as we have done in the past because all federal assistance is being cut,” he said. “This is because of the impact of losses of federal grants which this community relies on.”

The superintendent said the district could “live with a $1.2 million (increase) and have limited issues.”

He explained that the majority of the increase is for resources and staffing needs.

Included in the school department’s proposed $13,350,889 spending plan for next year are $175,000 in total salary increases along with hikes in mandated special education costs and student transportation. The district must also cover $13,000 in Medicaid bills.

Other increases in the budget include $12,700 for administration and paraprofessional cost of living salaries, $30,000 for special education materials, $50,000 in various line items for professional development, a 2 percent hike in regular education transportation, and a request for a part-time maintenance worker.

Baeta has previously explained that the district must address an audit report by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that listed a number of issues.

Compounding the budget crisis this year is the loss of federal monies.

The district is losing $527,000 in federal grants that paid for a number of teaching and paraprofessional positions.

This year there is a request of $100,000 to purchase new textbooks and classroom supplies and materials.

Baeta has said the district is in dire need of new textbooks and that many date back to the 1980s and 1990s. He added that the school system has been putting off putting off purchasing new ones.

The superintendent has also noted that there is an increase in the number of English Language Learners in the district and that a fulltime teacher and a part-time teacher have been requested to address that as required by state law.

Administration salary increases range from 0 to $33,000. He has previously explained that for the first time administrators’ pay is based on merit.

The superintendent noted that some administration positions are shared.

For instance, Baeta oversees facilities and he and the business manager share grant writing duties. He said a proposal is being floated to share administrative duties with other districts to save money.

The proposed budget will go before the May 3 Town Meeting.

Read more: Holbrook schools may cut 30 positions - Holbrook, MA - Holbrook Sun http://www.wickedlocal.com/holbrook/archive/x1608497677/Holbrook-schools-may-cut-30-positions#ixzz1HoRj6jUY