Parents and School supporters in all precincts:Please consider a write-in campaign

from Holbrook Sun -

Because of a lack of candidates in certain areas, 15 of the 95 Town Meeting members voters will elect less than five weeks from now will be determined by tallying write-in votes.
The deadline to submit nomination papers to the board of registrars for certification was Feb. 15, and there are a sufficient number of candidates for 20 three-year Town Meeting seats in only two of Holbrook’s four precincts. There are 24 candidates in Precinct 1 and 20 in Precinct 2, but only 17 in Precinct 3 and 14 in Precinct 4.
Three are four candidates for three Precinct 2 Town Meeting seats for one year to fill vacancies; only four candidates for six Precinct 3 Town Meeting seats for two years to fill vacancies; one candidate for one Precinct 3 Town Meeting seat for one year to fill a vacancy; only one candidate for four Precinct 4 Town Meeting seats for two years to fill vacancies; and no candidates for one Precinct 4 Town Meeting seat for one year to fill a vacancy.
Voters will also choose 14 town officials in the April 5 election.

Read more: Not enough Town Meeting candidates in Holbrook - Holbrook, MA - Holbrook Sun http://www.wickedlocal.com/holbrook/archive/x855579219/Not-enough-Town-Meeting-candidates-in-Holbrook#ixzz1EstysHWG

 

 

Massachusetts School Building Authority Process Flow Chart

http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/building

Boston Globe Editorial

This past Sunday, there was an editorial by Boston Globe Staff supporting regionalization, and Holbrook was one of the schools mentioned.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2011/02/21/to_promote_regional_schools_state_must_give_stronger_nudge/

CANDIDATES CORNER: Davis: know all facts about regionalization

This weeks Holbrook Sun
Barbara Davis, candidate for re-election to the school committee, said, “Some candidates for the school committee have been promoting the subject of regionalization as if it were a new idea. Since the 1970s, Holbrook has debated the issue of regionalization versus building a new school. It is extremely important to have all the facts before making a decision of that magnitude.

"A committee to investigate the feasibility of setting up a rgional planning board with Abington was set up at the request of the Massachusetts School Building Authority last spring. This committee consisted of the superintendents and business managers of both districts and school committee members from both towns, as well as several other representatives.

“After several months of meetings and the information gathered and discussed in great detail, the committee found the following:  a 9-12 regional district would have increased start-up costs due to legal requirements under Chapter 71, Section 42B for such things as teacher salaries and benefits which would have to be negotiated with the new district and increases in transportation because we do not provide bus transportation at that level. 

“In addition, in a regional school district, if Holbrook is the smaller district, it would have less of a say in the running of the new regional district and in the proposed budget for the new district. As an example of how this would work, just look at the Blue Hills Regional budget when it comes before Town Meeting every year. Once the regional budget is allocated, whatever is left over is what would be available to the K-8 district. Can Holbrook afford another fixed cost? 

“This cost does not include two key issues for Holbrook: the continued issue of a need for a new building and additional staff for Grades 7-8 because of staff shared between the junior high and senior high schools. These costs also do not factor in that Holbrook would lose over $1 million in Chapter 70 education money for these students and that money would go directly to the regional district.

“Without incentives from the state, this seemed too great a burden to place on the taxpayers of Holbrook at this time. It is possible that regionalizing the high school could, in the future, be the best solution for declining enrollments in Holbrook.  The committee did not think the potential benefits outweighed the large initial costs to the taxpayers and voted last Nov. 9 to accept the Joint Abington-Holbrook Regionalization Study Committee report as well as the recommendation to not regionalize at this time.

“I have been the chairperson of the school committee for two years.  In that time, the committee has done more than any board to solve this issue.  As a community, we have discussed this since the 1970s. I will keep all our options open and continue to look at these possibilities with an open mind.

“In the meantime, we need to provide the public school students of Holbrook with a quality education, which means supporting the schools at an appropriate level, as required by law. 

“I want the Holbrook public schools to be moving forward to provide our students with a world-class education. I am the candidate with the qualifications and commitment to do so.

“To find out how you can help, contact Campaign Manager Alex Mann at alexandermann@yahoo.com or myself at barbarapdavis@gmail.com.”

Ain't NO Stoppin' Us Now!

We're on the move!
Apparently we are on the move! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26-AippA-vs Record numbers of parents are running for Town Meeting. Now we need to mobilize a voter registration drive!
Go Parents, Go Kids, Go Holbroook Schools!

The Ballot may be closed, but you can still register ......

......to V O T E !!
We will have voter registration forms at every possible event. You can also stop by Town Hall any time until March 16th (the Day before St. Patrick's Day) ://www.wickedlocal.com/holbrook/topstories/x172499827/Selectmen-Chairman-Moore-seeks-re-election-in-Holbrook  "The final day for residents to register to vote in the election is March 16, when the town clerk’s office will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m"
Let's show themwhat we are made of!!! Let's make our kids proud!

Understanding Your Child's Behavior

Please join us from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM at Holbrook Schools Central Office (245 South Franklin)

Ann Poppenga M.S.Ed., BCBA will present successful strategies to help with your child's behavior at home.

RSVP to: Chris Godino, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, 781-767-1226

School Committee Meeting

The School Committee meets Wed night ( Feb 16th) at  H-Cam studios at 6:30pm
http://holbrookma.gov/Pages/HolbrookMA_MeetingsCal/S01696E72-01696E8B?formid=161

Citizen concerns is a time, at the beginning of the meeting when you can ask questions or make comments that pertain to anything under the purview of the school committe (such as....
Are the mcas effective? Are our lunches healthy? How can I run for school committee? Why does it cost money to participate in sports? Et cetera et cetera et cetera . Please attend if you can. Even just for half an hour.
Also, the School Building Authority meets Thursday night http://holbrookma.gov/Pages/HolbrookMA_MeetingsCal/S01699DF6-01699E29?formid=161

Eloquent

Check this out!
Ann has expressed what so many of us felt at the Fin com!
http://www.wickedlocal.com/holbrook/topstories/x1864250181/COMMENTARY-I-have-this-dream-for-Holbrook

Running for office 101 -From the Holbrook Sun

"... appearing on the ballot will be candidates for 20 three-year Town Meeting seats from each of the town’s four precincts; three Precinct 2 Town Meeting seats for one year to fill vacancies; six Precinct 3 Town Meeting seats for two years to fill vacancies; one Precinct 3 Town Meeting seat for one year to fill a vacancy; four Precinct 4 Town Meeting seats for two years to fill vacancies; and one Precinct 4 Town Meeting seat for one year to fill a vacancy.
     Nomination papers must be submitted to the board of registrars for certification in the town clerk’s office by Feb. 15 at 5 p.m.
     The final day for residents to register to vote in the election will be March 16, when the office will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m."