State of Education Nationally & Locally

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To the Editor:

The following is the first in what I hope will be a series of letters on the state of education nationally, as well as locally.

As students, teachers, and parents experience the return to school, the time seems right to consider what school is really about – educating children.  I am compelled by conscience and a commitment to honesty to share what I have seen as detrimental to our children’s learning and to inspire all those who care about learning to ask questions and to voice concerns. After 28 years of teaching the amazing children of the Old Rochester Regional District families, I retired in June. “Why?” many have asked. I still loved teaching my students; my classroom experiences were still most rewarding for my students, as well as for me; my students and their parents still respected me for my creativity and authenticity in teaching. My response: The current state of education, the dramatic lowering of standards, the detrimental policies bred from data-driven decision-making, the frantic adherence to believing that there was meaning in the test scores, the willingness to pass students and award diplomas when the skills had not truly been acquired were all too damaging to our school and our students for me to stand by and see what was once a glorious public school offering an elite educational experience become each year a weaker and weaker experience for our students.

My hero and standard for action is and always has been Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Among his most meaningful statements for me are: “There comes a time when silence is betrayal”; “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”; and “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

I have thought long and hard about speaking out about the current state of education. I cannot be comfortable and silent. One of my considerations has been the heat I will probably take by inspiring controversy within the district and among parents and students. I have enjoyed many years of respect and admiration from parents and students for my teaching and devotion to education, especially in regard to high standards of performance and behavior, as well as ideals of creativity and imagination. Will the administration choose to attempt to discredit me, perhaps claiming that I am past my prime and reluctant to change? Or will they try to paint me as just a disgruntled employee? Neither of these is true. I have always embraced change; in fact, I have often been at the forefront of change.

Much of what is alarming about the current state of education in our own Old Rochester district is attributable to data-driven decision-making and data-driven policy changes. No Child Left Behind is all about schools’ reaching AYP – Adequate Yearly Progress. This AYP score is not about learning or about what is good for students, but about administrators and measurable school performance – a false measure of progress and learning. Our current administrators and School Committee seem to be obsessed with data and test scores. Administrators make decisions and change policies and curriculum quickly and without much thought to the ultimate effects on the quality of experience and educational culture. The School Committee approves those changes with little knowledge or discussion – approval based solely on promises of increasing test scores and a Curriculum Director who espouses the data-driven environment and has increased the narrow teaching-to-the-test mentality.

In terms of graduation rates, the AYP pressure has created a “diploma at any cost” practice in many high schools, ours included, and hence, fewer skills and less true proficiency. A good AYP score for a school requires that students graduate in four years; students who need extra time – a fifth year, perhaps – are given shortcuts to their diplomas. The school is maintaining its performance score, but the students who are given various ways out of completing requirements are then not developing the skills they need for lifelong learning and for the workplace. An attendance policy remains in place, but, again, in order to meet AYP, and to give students credits to graduate, absences are excused often without legitimate reasons. All of this diminishes the fine academic culture and emphasis on true learning that were once the hallmarks of our district.

Encouraging students to complete courses through computer programs like NovaNet, instead of making up work or retaking a course when the students are failing or have failed courses, or paring down curriculum to some bare minimum requirements deprives students of the skill-building they really need. The academic skills are not the only skills being given a pass, but also and more importantly, the personal growth skills needed to adjust to working with others, to cope with authority, to manage time and to work through tasks that are difficult – all skills needed for success in the workplace and in college and in life.

Learning is what school is about – individual growth and development. Motivation, creativity and authentic engagement are the answers. Currently, the readiness and proficiency levels are worse than they were before the state and federal government invaded education. One measure does not suit each student and every school. Schooling is not business – not about a score and a bottom line.

School administrators are losing sight of our mission, and the School Committee looks only at the data. Decision-making is top-down; not the collaborative effort it once was. I have been proud to be a part of the education and the truly fine experience the Old Rochester District has provided to our children; but each day for the past couple of years, I worried about what had been lost and what was being allowed to stand in its place. Again, from Dr. King, “Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’ But conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’ And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but because conscience tells one it is right.” Please think about what I have said and why I have said it, and find the courage to ask questions and become involved.

More next time,

Teresa R. Dall

Mattapoisett

RCF Thank You

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To the Editor:

The Rochester Historical Society congratulates the Rochester Country Fair Committee for such a successful event this year. All aspects of the Fair were well-planned and well-executed. The Fair proved a very enjoyable and profitable venue for the Historical Society and we look forward to 2013. Thanks for a job well done by the Fair committee and all the volunteers.

Sincerely,

Cecelia Hall, Betty Beaulieu and the Historical Society Fair Committee

North Avenue Solar Project Raises Questions

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The Rochester Planning Board was joined by a standing room-only crowd for their regular meeting on Tuesday, August 28.

Sam Moffett of TRC Environmental, who spoke to the Conservation Commission last week, gave his presentation on the changes to the proposed Little Quittacas solar panel array off North Avenue on land owned by the City of New Bedford. His firm would work in conjunction with Con Ed and the Real Goods Solar company in order to complete the project.

Moffett spoke to the Board as part of the site-plan review process. It was not a formal public hearing.

“We have met with the neighborhood several times and we’ve met with representatives of the various town departments to gather feedback in accordance with your process in order to refine our design and our approach so that what we’re presenting to you conforms to the town requirements,” Moffett said.

The 15,000-panel array would serve to provide electricity for the municipal water systems of New Bedford and is designed to be able to provide enough electricity for the future projected growth of the energy needs of the water department. The city would not sell any of the electricity generated by the array.

The plan has been adjusted since its original proposal, including a reduction in the amount of acreage from 30 to 28.5 acres, as well as different drainage contours so that all the precipitation that falls on the area stays on that land. The plan also includes sand-based firebreaks around the perimeter to prevent a fire from spreading to or from the array.

“One idea was to build a shorter berm with vegetation on top, the other was to build a slightly taller berm,” he said.

Chairman Arnold Johnson said that while the contents of their plans looked satisfactory, their list of applicable waivers was incomplete, including the lack of a traffic study for the area. Moffett didn’t believe it was necessary because the land gets limited vehicle traffic.

“Because the standards of review are kind of extensive, but our standard procedure in the past for these projects was that you guys take our standards for review and go right down the list. The ones you feel don’t apply, you put a reason why you feel it doesn’t apply,” said Johnson.

Moffett said that they would go through the waiver list again in order to provide the most complete picture of the project for the site-review process.

“We want to make sure you have any site lighting or perimeter lighting and erosion control methods,” Johnson said.

The Planning Board had no questions or comments for Moffett following his presentation.

“We’re the people who are going to be most affected by this project. We have no problem with them putting a solar project there. The problem we have is what we’re going to have to look at the rest of our lives,” said Gerald Silva of 12 North Avenue.

He said that the shorter berm planted with trees and shrubs was the preferable design, but was worried about the maintenance of the area, survivability of the trees, and noise pollution that could result from the sound of traffic bouncing off the higher berm design.

“In this particular situation, the land is owned by the City of New Bedford. They have a 20-year lease contract with Con Ed,” Moffett said, adding that it would be Con Ed’s responsibility to maintain the landscaping.

Johnson suggested creating a higher berm but planting native trees in front of it rather than on top. The trees would be more likely to survive because their root systems would extend deeper and the run-off storm water could act as irrigation for the trees.

One worry that was consistent throughout the room was the issue of landscaping and maintenance of the vegetation on or around the berm.  Johnson also said that they could require the landscaping be regularly performed via an order of conditions, but said that long-term maintenance in similar past projects has been tough to enforce and issues have often resulted in litigation.

“I’m concerned that we don’t have a mechanism to enforce the maintenance.  If this is going to be a contract between Con Ed and the city, would we have to sue the city to get the trees replaced if they die?” said Planning Board member Susan Teal.  “We need to figure out what we can legally do.”

“I think we’re all on the same page that you guys are looking out for our best interests and what’s going to work there,” said Malcolm Hathaway of 28 North Avenue.

“It’s all about trying to do something that will address the best of your concerns,” said Johnson.  He encouraged concerned residents to continue providing feedback to the Planning Board and to review the information in the public record at the Town Hall.

The Planning Board’s first public hearing for the solar panel array is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, September 25, 2012, provided Moffett can provide an updated waiver list by Wednesday, August 29.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board will be on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall.

By Eric Tripoli

 

Mosquito Spraying Scheduled for Rochester

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The town of Rochester will undergo a ground spraying in an attempt to control the mosquito situation that has been plaguing the area all summer.  Over the weekend, West Nile Virus was found in a sample of mosquitoes in Rochester according to Health Director Karen Walega.

Walega said mosquitoes will continue to be a problem until the first frost of the season, which will not happen until mid to late October.  She encourages all residents to take necessary precautions while going outdoors during peak mosquito hours from dusk until dawn.

When outside, residents should use a strong repellant and wear long sleeves and pants. Walega said students waiting for the bus in the morning should be wearing some type of repellant because they are still at risk of mosquito bites.

Because tomorrow’s spraying will be on the ground, residents don’t need to worry about closing their windows like they would typically do during an aerial spraying.

So far this summer, West Nile Virus and EEE have been found in 83 and 33 communities, respectively, in nine different counties.

Neighbors Voice Concerns for Grandview Property

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Nearly a dozen concerned residents turned out to Mattapoisett Town Hall to voice their concerns for a housing construction project on Grandview Avenue.  The public hearing was held during the Conservation Commission’s regular meeting on Monday, August 27.

Mattapoisett resident Dean Withrow filed a notice of intent for a request to build a single family home, driveway and well at 25 Grandview Ave.  Withrow was represented by David Davignon of Schneider & Associates, who was at the meeting to update the residents and Commission about the progress of the planning.

Davignon explained that the property has issues that date back to 2007, when the Conservation Commission first approved the construction of a house on the property. However, Davignon explained that halfway through the project, the construction ceased, leaving a mess behind and a flooding problem for abutting properties.

“It looked like a war zone,” said Conservation Commissioner Ken Dawicki of the state of the property in 2007.

Neighboring residents are concerned with flooding problems during rainstorms because the drainage system was never complete on the property, therefore when rain falls, it drains in the neighboring property of the Henderson family, creating a dam effect.

Davignon stated that the new plan includes a retention pool and runoff plan that would minimize flooding to abutting properties.  Still, residents were concerned that the new plan wouldn’t change enough to decrease the flooding potential.

“We certainly don’t want to approve a plan that’s going to create a problem for the neighbors,” said Conservation Commissioner Bob Rogers.

Davignon will continue to work on the plan. The hearing was continued until the Commission’s next meeting on Monday, September 10.

The Commission also continued a hearing at the address of 52 Pico Beach Rd. which requested permission to install two 100-gallon propane tanks on the house’s property.  The notice of intent was filed by Diane D’Orlando, who was also represented by Davignon.

Davignon proposed the two tanks would be installed in order to provide heat for the residence, and would be anchored onto a 3’ x 6’ concrete pad, secured with a helical anchor and surrounded by a 9-foot fence.  The tanks would be situated in the driveway.

The neighboring McGowan family voiced their concerns that the tanks would be too close to their property and that the fence would create too much shade that would affect plants they have growing in their yard.  The McGowan’s claim the tanks would be less than a foot from their yard.

“We just want them to stay in the foot print,” said Peter McGowan.

The Commission voted to continue the hearing until September 10 so Davignon could draft plans for an alternative location for the tanks.

The Commission voted to continue the hearing for the Notice of Intent filed b Daniel and Laurie DaRosa who requested to install coconut fiber envelopes of sand along a Coastal Bank and plant grasses and shrubs in order to protect them from erosion.  The DaRosa’s were also represented by Davignon.

Davignon said that the proposed bank as it stands now is unstable and that the sand would help stabilize it. The address of the property is 1 Goodspeed Island.

The address of the property is 1 Goodspeed Island. The Commissioners were concerned with the maintenance of the sand and asked Davignon to provide a more detailed maintainence plan at the Commission’s meeting on Monday, September 10 at 6:30 pm in Town Hall.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

 

 

 

Energy Management Comm. to meet with Selectmen

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The Marion Energy Management Committee met on Monday, August 27, 2012, for their regular meeting at Music Hall.  At their last meeting, the Committee members received the first results from the energy audit they helped organize, the object of which was to determine how the town of Marion can make its public buildings more energy efficient.

Chairman David Pierce said that the energy audit recommendations were sent to the Board of Selectmen and will be meeting with them on September 4, 2012.

“[Town Administrator] Paul [Dawson] said the numbers looked good and felt that we should move forward,” Pierce said.  “I think what we’re trying to solicit from the Selectmen is an idea of the palatability of this coming before the town at the fall Town Meeting, and what sort of aggressive steps we should take,” he said.

Based on the summary, the Committee recommends three priorities for modifications of town buildings, which they sent in a letter to the Board of Selectmen.

                  •Priority #1: Upgrade the lighting and sensors in all facilities except the Town Hall.  The total cost would be $169,000, after applying utility incentives.  About $113,000 would go to updating the Sippican School.  The town would save $65,000 per year in electricity costs.

                  •Priority #2: Replace insulation and boiler controls in the Fire Department at a cost of $7,000.  The payback period, figured over seven years, would yield a savings of $1,000 a year.

                  •Priority #3:  Replace the boilers in Music Hall and the Library at a cost of $44,000, with a payback period of 10 years, yielding energy savings of $3,000 a year.

In the letter, the Committee recommends excluding the Town Hall from action due to the overall uncertainty of the future of the building.  If all suggested recommendations were implemented, it would cost about $148,000 to upgrade the Town Hall.

The Committee also discussed the progression of the proposed large-scale solar photovoltaic by-law.  Members of the EMC recently met with the Planning Board to review the language of the by-law, but the Board felt that some zoning details of the law were inappropriate.

“I have suggested minor changes to things like the control of the lighting, and also if there is quite a large area of land involved, the set-backs be ratioed [sic] according to the size of the lot,” said Committee member Steve Kokkins.  “I would suggest, first of all, the Planning Board, will have some recommendation for their own changes.”

Chairman David Pierce said that he would prefer the EMC to have a workable draft written in conjunction with the Planning Board for a fall Town Warrant article by October.

In other business, the fall Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 26, 2012, at 7:00 pm at Sippican School.  As a result the Energy Management Committee may reschedule their monthly meeting for November 12.

The next meeting will be a meeting of the Southcoast Alternative Energy Collaborative, on Monday, September 24, 2012, at 7:00 pm at Music Hall.

By Eric Tripoli

Two Arrested for Sexual Assault in Marion

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On Tuesday, August 21, Marion Police Department arrested two subjects involved in the sexual assault of a teenage girl. The incident took place on Tuesday, August 14.  The victim was invited over to the home of one of the suspects, on Whynot Court in Marion, where she was then assaulted by the suspects

Police arrested Andre Ware of Front Street and Xavier Rose of Whynot Court, both 18 years old, on charges of aggravated rape, rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a person over 14. Ware was also charged with an additional count of assault and battery.

Sgt. Jeffrey Tripp, Det. Scott Smith and Officer Alisha Chandler conducted the investigation.  Both subjects were held in custody until arraignment the following day.

6th Annual Waterman Reunion

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The 6th Annual Waterman Reunion will be held on Saturday September 15th at the Rochester Senior Center, 67 Dexter Lane.

The invitation includes anyone who attended any of the Rochester schools. Visiting starts at 11AM with lunch served at noon followed a program at 1PM. Bring memories and photos of anything “Rochester”. Boat Race memories will be featured this year.

For more information or to help with the planning contact Betty Beaulieu at 508-763-2724 or Cindy Underhill at 508-789-1952.

Your check for $20 should be sent to the Rochester Historical Society, PO Box 171, Rochester, MA 02770 by September 1 st .

Welcome Back, Marion Block Party

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The weather was as warm and inviting as the atmosphere at the 2012 Marion Block Party.  The almost annual fest, held in front of the Town Hall, attracted hundreds of people this year to eat some bar-b-Que, kibitz over classic cars, and enjoy summery songs from local musicians.

“It’s what Marion’s all about,” said Jennifer Lagrotteria.  She and her husband had friends visiting from Annapolis this weekend and decided to join the party.  “There’s something for everyone.”

The party, which dates back to the first Marigold Festival in 1887, is held to raise money for community purposes.  One of the first projects that was funded by the party was the Marion Social Club, which was originally located on the Nelson Block.  Over time, different groups sponsored the event, but in recent memory, it has been the local VFW that has taken over organizing it.

They led the sponsorship until 2010,” said Block Party chairman Steve Gonsalves.  “But a lot of members have passed or just gotten older and they weren’t able to carry on the tradition.”

As a result, the party was not held in 2011.  Since then, the Marion Fire Fighters Association and Marion Recreation volunteered to take over in conjunction with the VFW.

“It’s really in their [members of the VFW] honor.  We’re going to continue the tradition, but it’s up to the younger generation to step up to the plate and take charge,” Gonsalves said.

This year, the money raised from the Block Party will go to fund the construction of a new playground in Washburn Park, as well as the purchase of a new thermal imager for the Marion Fire Department.

“It’s an electronic camera that works off heat images.  When you’re going into a fire, your vision is limited.  We use them to help locate victims we can’t see,” said Fire Chief Thomas Joyce.  The new camera will replace the original one that dates back to the early 1990s.

The party ended with a huge bonfire in the field behind the Town Hall, next to Sippican School.  Scrap wood piled 20 feet high blazed loudly as pockets of residents stood around to watch.  Some held hands, some snuck a kiss in the fire light.

“It’s a coming together of the people,” said Sippican Historical Society and Museum curator Pete Smith.  “With any luck, they may see an old friend when they are here.”

By Eric Tripoli

 

Skydiving for the Hungry

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No matter what the reasons, there are more and more hungry people in the United States today.  The Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, is bending under the weight of over 45 million Americans who now rely on it to help feed their families.  And that number is growing.

Hunger on the South Coast may not be obvious, but it is far from invisible.  Even with the wealth of discount grocery stores and farmers markets, our neighbors are having more difficulty than ever feeding themselves and their children.

“Life is not all about one life and what you’re going to do,” said Tabitha Tripp, a Tri-Town resident who has seen the faces of the hungry first hand as a volunteer for Mercy Meals & More, a food kitchen in New Bedford which serves free breakfast to anyone who needs it.

“They are open every morning and they feed breakfast to the homeless and the hungry.  You don’t have to be homeless to get a meal,” she said.

These days, it is often hungry people, not necessarily homeless, that turn out for breakfast at the kitchen.

“What breaks my heart is sometimes I see families come in: moms, dads, and their kids. And they’re one paycheck away from being homeless, so they come in to get a free breakfast so they can put some of that money toward rent,” she said.

Tripp decided that she was going to do something other than serve food in order to help the community.  The church volunteer has organized an event for Mercy Meals where she and five others will jump out of a plane in September to raise money for the kitchen.

“[It’s] exhilarating.  It can be a little scary.  You’re trusting that the parachute’s going to open.  You’re trusting that the instructor who is on your back knows what he is doing.  It’s a little less scary than the people who are living under the bridge and don’t have any food,” she said.

While there seems to be no shortage of people needing food, there is always the problem of food shortages at the kitchen.  Tripp said that there’s no guarantee that they will receive a certain amount of donations regularly, so this fundraiser is to help partially off-set that.

The sky dive was supposed to happen on August 11, but was postponed due to bad weather until September 15.  In that time, two more people joined the jump and they’ve been able to raise more money.

“So far, we have about $3,500,” said Tripp.

Though this is not her first time jumping, it has proven to be a great way to raise awareness.

“You’re going to skydive? It catches people’s attention.  It’s the whole basis for this thing: to open people’s eyes to what’s happening in our country around us, what’s happening in our city.  There are people that are hungry.”

Tripp will be jumping on September 15 from Newport Airport in Middletown, Rhode Island.  For more information, you can visit the South Coast Community Church in Fairhaven or go to www.mercymeals.org.

By Eric Tripoli