Sippican Prepares for New Leadership

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            The Old Rochester Regional School District needs to find a replacement for Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Brown, who has cited health challenges with her decision to step away, and a new vice principal, as Peter Crisafulli plans to relocate after the school year for family reasons.

            In speaking to the Marion School Committee during its March 14 public meeting, ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson offered public thanks to both Brown and Crisafulli for their impactful leadership at Sippican and expressed support for them in their future. He indicated that the hiring process for the 2024-25 school year is underway.

            ORR Early Childhood Coordinator Doreen Lopes, who is filling in as acting principal for the rest of the 2023-24 school year, called the experience of day-to-day work with Sippican students and teachers “a gift” and thanked the faculty for its support.

            Committee Chairperson April Nye expressed appreciation for Brown, noting that she had worked inside the building with VASE when Brown was new on the job.

            In the FY25 operating budget public hearing held on March 26, ORR administration presented a level-services operating budget of $7,080,780 for FY25, an increase of $414,587 (6.22%) over FY24 ($6,666,193). The budget was unanimously approved.

            Nelson explained that the drivers in the FY25 budget process included tradition ones such as contractually driven aspects dealing with collective bargaining, but the highest departmental increase is a new bus contract with Amaral that will drive up annual costs by 34% in the first year of the new deal. The FY24 figure of $518,500 rises in FY25 to $719,414, an increase of $200,914.

            Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber broke down the budget process for the committee during the March 26 public hearing, identifying approximately $320,000 in budget offsets and then noting how those offsets can be used.

            On March 14 while still engaged in the budget process, Nelson said that while the ORR District is working within “a level-services ideology,” the district continues to advocate for “what Sippican needs” had prohibitive challenges in the process not existed. That would include the addition of full-time special-education and reading teachers and a full-time math interventionist.

            In her March 14 report, Nye recognized the arduous work done by Barber and Nelson during a difficult budget season. Nye also thanked Marion Finance Committee Chairman Shay Assad for recognizing needs at the school. She thanked Town Administrator Geoff Gorman and Finance Director Heather O’Brien for listening well to the school’s needs. Select Board Chairman Toby Burr, in attendance at the meeting, was also recognized for his support.

            The Transportation Contract was approved at the committee’s March 14 meeting, at which Nelson emphasized the rise in busing costs and that contract’s effect on the overall FY25 budgeting process.

            The current, five-year contract with Amaral expires at the end of the 2023-24 school year. It was originally a three-year deal that was extended two additional years on an optional basis. Coming off two extensions at the same cost, Barber characterized the new bid as essentially a three-year increase. At his recommendation, the board voted unanimously to award the new contract to Amaral.

            Barber said the original bidding process was meant to put all four school districts under one contract, but that scenario was not successful. The revised bidding process was based on a town-by-town basis.

            Nelson called the new negotiations “a difficult process.”

            In other business conducted on March 14, the committee voted to accept a $10,000 FY24 Safe and Supportive Schools Continuation Fund (grant) aimed at supporting social, emotional learning curriculum.

            Nelson used his administration’s report for lighter news, saying that Sippican has made progress on $19,000 in funding for a comfort dog for the school. He also discussed the renovation of the gardens outside the music room and the flagpole area near the bus loop, recognizing the efforts of Jody Dickerson at the Marion Department of Public Works.

            Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, ORR’s assistant superintendent of Teaching and Learning, updated the committee on the ongoing literacy program.

            The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, at 6:30 pm at Sippican Elementary School.

Marion School Committee

By Mick Colageo

Waiting, Waiting, and More Waiting

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No one likes to go to the doctor. Usually it is wait, wait, and wait some more past your appointed time. If you made the doctor wait that long, he’d send you a bill for the time he had to wait for you.

            Usually stopping by the office just for bloodwork without seeing the doctor isn’t as bad. I had to do that recently. In my case, they had assigned me an appointment the previous time I was there, months ago, for this day at 11:00 am so they should have expected me. I even received a recorded message the day before to confirm that I would be arriving on the scheduled date and time. The message was longer than the time it takes for them to draw my blood.

            First, they said the whole thing in Spanish … what buttons to push to indicate if you are seeing the doctor, having blood work, paying a bill, asking for medical records, etc. I don’t speak Spanish. Then they repeated the whole thing in English.

            There are a lot of Portuguese-speaking people around these parts; I wonder what a person who speaks no English or Spanish would do. Anyway, I pressed the appropriate button which, of course, was the last one on the list. Confirmed!

            The next day I arrived at the appointed time. Usually, I have to pass a personal identification card under a card reader, whereupon a receptionist places a plastic band around my wrist with my medical information printed on it, and off I go into the inner sanctum, the blood lab. A kind phlebotomist stabs me with a long needle, fills a few vials and off I go.

            Not this time!

            The card reader was broken so I had to wait for the receptionist to shuffle some papers and answer the phone. Finally, she asked, “What’s your name?” “I have an appointment,” I said. “A lot of people have appointments.” she responded. “All at once?” I muttered under my breath. I respectfully gave her my name. “Go sit over there,” she barked as she pointed to the dozen chairs in the empty waiting room.

            My momma always told me to do what I was told so I dutifully sat down and waited and waited.

            After what I thought was a reasonable time … somewhat past my appointment … I approached her again to ask if there was a problem. “What’s your name?” she asked. “I need a wrist band,” I said. “I’ll be with you in a minute, go sit over there,” she directed.

            My blood was beginning to boil. I waited. And waited. And waited.

            At full boil, I approach another woman who had arrived behind the counter. I told her I had an appointment for blood work, and that the other woman hadn’t yet given me a wrist band though I had been waiting a long time. “What’s your name “Dracula,” I offered, “just kidding.” She didn’t laugh.

            Yelling over to the first woman, she restated my tale. “I did give him a band,” the first woman barked back as I stood arms, bare wristed, held up high. “Go sit over there,” the second woman instructed.

            Shortly I was called back to the first woman. “What’s your name?” Finally, I received my wrist band long past my appointed time. Almost immediately I was called into the lab.

            “Where have you been?” the phlebotomist queried. “I’ve been waiting for you since 11:00 am.”

            Editor’s note: Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and retired newspaper columnist whose musings are, after some years, back in The Wanderer under the subtitle “Thoughts on ….” Morgado’s opinions have also appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado

Mattapoisett Road Race College Stipends

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July 4 will be here before we know it and so will the 52nd running of the Mattapoisett Road Race, “4 on the 4th ” Begun in 1971 by Bob and Doris Gardner, 15 runners raced from Point Connett to Shipyard Park. Since then, the route has changed a few times, and now, over 1000 runners start at Shipyard Park, run through the village and around Ned’s Point Lighthouse, and finish at Shipyard Park. Townspeople line the course and cheer on their friends and family. Proceeds from the race are used to fund awards for college-bound senior athletes from Old Rochester Regional High School. Over the years, more than $200,000 has been given to deserving students. The online application can be accessed via a QR code available at the high school guidance office. The application deadline is May 17.

Professor’s Assistance Sought

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At the end of Monday night’s Mattapoisett Conservation Commission meeting, the commissioners heard from Chairman Michael King, who said that the Select Board was conferring with Christine Hatch of the University of Massachusetts in an effort to learn if soil testing is warranted at The Bogs owned by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

            The commission had asked the board to provide guidance on whether or not soil testing for hazardous chemicals at the site was necessary after it was learned that during winter storms soils had transferred off the former cranberry-bog site. The property has been undergoing a massive restoration that plans indicate will allow the manmade, agricultural features to return to a more natural woodlands, with passive recreational opportunities.

            King said the lifting of an Enforcement Order issued to the BBC could not happen if and until a determination is made by the board. He did express, however, that he hopes the matter will be resolved soon.

            Hatch is a UMass extension professor and associated director for academics specializing in hydrogeology, water resources and climate change, ecohydrology, and surface-water and groundwater interactions.

            In business handled earlier in the meeting, a Notice of Intent filed by Christopher and Mary Riley, 3 Goodspeed Island, for restoration of the coastal bank was conditioned. Also conditioned was a NOI filed by Beth and David Oberlander, 1 Angelica Avenue, for the construction of a new single-family home.

            A three-year extension permit filed by Karl and Elizabeth Pothier was granted for property located at 2 Holmes Street.

            Two certificates of compliance were issued to William Fredericks, 30 Holly Woods Road.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

Goldman, Fiano Key Fast Start

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The Old Rochester Regional High School softball team defeated Wareham, 13-6, on April 6, making their record to start the season 2-0. Tara Goldman and Alex Fiano were named the players of the game. The Bulldogs’ next game will be against Fairhaven on Thursday, April 11, at West Bridgewater.

Girls Lacrosse

            ORR beat Falmouth, 10-7, in the Bulldogs’ season opener on April 2. Kelly Quinlan was named the player of the game. ORR was scheduled to play a road game on Wednesday at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech.

Girls Tennis

            ORR’s girls’ tennis team dominated Dartmouth on April 5, winning 5-0. Emily Wyman was named the player of the match. The Bulldogs were scheduled to play on Wednesday at West Bridgewater.

Baseball

            The Bulldogs evened their record at 1-1 with an 11-2 victory over Wareham 11-2 on April 6. Freshman Malcolm Bean was named the player of the game. ORR was scheduled to visit Dartmouth on Wednesday.

Boys Lacrosse

            ORR’s boys’ lacrosse team defeated Dennis-Yarmouth, 16-1, on April 1. Caleb Bousquet was named the player of the game. The Bulldogs were slated to host West Bridgewater on Wednesday.

Boys Tennis

            ORR’s boys’ tennis team played at Dartmouth on April 5 and lost 5-0. The Bulldogs were scheduled to host West Bridgewater on Wednesday.

Sports Roundup

By Aiden Comorosky

Schools Learn about Internet Safety

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Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson has announced that the ORR School District and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55, working in collaboration with the Southcoast Public Health Collaborative (SCPHC), recently hosted keynote speaker Katie Greer for a series of internet-safety talks.

            Throughout the school day on March 25, Greer gave a presentation to students and staff, grades 4-8 at Rochester Memorial School, Sippican Elementary School, Old Rochester Regional Jr. High School and Old Hammondtown Elementary School on internet safety.

            During the evening, Greer gave her presentation “Social Media and Your Child’s Mental Health” to community members and families at the high school. The presentations covered internet trends, privacy and advice for creating a positive online experience, tailoring her discussions based on the age of the students. Greer spoke to families about navigating the digital landscape in a technology-driven society. She provided proactive initiatives to help keep their kids safe while using social media platforms.

            “I was very pleased to work with Katie to set up the presentations at all of the schools,” Rochester Memorial School Assistant Principal Charles West said. “These kinds of discussions foster a welcoming environment for families to talk about internet safety and decision making in regards to social media.”

            The partnership with SCPHC included Marion Public Health Nurse Lori A. Desmarais, RN, BSN, Mattapoisett Public Health Nurse Emily Field, MSN, RN, Rochester Public Health Nurse Connie Dolan, RN, and Olive Wicherski, MPH, Shared Services coordinator for the collaborative.

            The SCPHC utilized funding from the Public Health Excellence Grant to welcome guest speakers such as Greer to the public schools. Hosting keynote speakers is beneficial in helping to inform the community about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.

            “By engaging experts who shed light on the impact of social media on mental health and overall well-being, we take proactive steps to educate and empower students to navigate these digital landscapes responsibly,” said Wicherski. “Through informed discourse and intervention, we strive to foster a healthier digital environment for our youth.”

            “Although social media has afforded so many individuals a means to connect amid the last couple of years of social isolation (due to the pandemic), it has also been a root cause in the decline of mental health among adolescents and adults alike,” said Field. “Anxiety (linked to fear of missing out), depression, and the inability to see in person the potentially harmful effects of shared words and images – these are all ill effects of social media. The public health sector is grateful for dynamic speakers such as Katie Greer who remind each of us to navigate the social media world with caution and, more importantly, to keep dignity and respect at the forefront of our actions.”

            “I’d like to thank the Southcoast Public Health Collaborative for working with us to put this wonderful event on,” Nelson said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to host Katie and provide an opportunity to educate our students and school community on this important topic.”

            “Katie gave engaging and informative presentations that were valuable to families navigating the internet with their children,” said ORR Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Shari Fedorowicz. “We’re grateful to have hosted her and believe that this was a great opportunity to educate the community and answer parents’ questions.”

Poetry Month at the Mattapoisett Library

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Award-winning Providence poets Karen Donovan and Catherine Imbriglio will read from their poetry on Saturday, April 20 at 2 pm, at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library at 7 Barstow Street.

            Karen Donovan’s latest collection of poems, Monad+Monadnock, was published by Wet Cement Press. Her book Planet Parable (Etruscan Press) appears in the innovative multiauthor volume Trio along with complete books by the poets Diane Raptosh and Daneen Wardrop. Her other books of poems are Your Enzymes Are Calling the Ancients (Persea Books), which won the Lexi Rudnitsky / Editor’s Choice Award, and Fugitive Red (University of Massachusetts Press), which won the Juniper Prize. She is also the author of Aard-vark to Axolotl (Etruscan Press), a collection of tiny stories and essays illustrated with engravings from a vintage Webster’s dictionary. She has new work in the 2022 anthology Dreaming Awake: New Contemporary Prose Poetry from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. From 1985 to 2005 she co-edited ¶: A Magazine of Paragraphs, a print journal of very short prose.

            Catherine Imbriglio is the author of two books of poetry, Parts of the Mass (Burning Deck), which received the Norma Farber First Book Award from the Poetry Society of America, and Intimacy (Center for Literary Publishing), which received the Colorado Prize in Poetry. Her poetry and criticism have appeared in After Spicer (John Vincent, ed.), American Letters & Commentary, Aufgabe, A Broken Thing: Poets on the Line, Conjunctions, Contemporary Literature, Denver Quarterly, Epoch, Green Mountains Review, New American Writing, Pleiades, Poetry International, The Pact, West Branch, and elsewhere. A selection of her poetry was anthologized in the Iowa Anthology of New American Poetries, ed. Reginald Shepherd (University of Iowa Press). She is a senior editor in poetry for Tupelo Quarterly.

            Both poets will have poetry books available for purchase and signing following the reading. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited to attend this event celebrating Poetry Month, April.

Cushing Cemetery

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There will be a Biannual Cushing Cemetery meeting at the Mattapoisett Library on April 20 at 10 am. The meeting will be held downstairs and all Board, and Trustee members are encouraged to attend. This meeting is open to the public if you want to attend.

Donna McAuley Kelly

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Donna McAuley Kelly, age 87, of Weston and Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, died peacefully on April 6, 2024, after a valiant three-year battle with several cancers. She was surrounded by her husband of 65 years, Hugh J. Kelly, and her loving family.

            Born on September 4, 1936, and raised in the Bronx by the late Mary (Dolly) Buckley and Harold J. McAuley, Donna was the eldest of eight children, and had the benefit of an Ursuline Education from elementary school through her graduation from The College of New Rochelle in New York. She later attended Boston College working towards her Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Therapy, which enabled her to pursue her passion for working with children as a Speech and Language Pathologist for the Natick Massachusetts School System.

            Donna had a radiant spirit with an insatiable appetite for learning. She was often found investing in the stock market by day and diving into a good book at night. She was a prolific artist who loved nothing more than sculpting in clay and stone or translating a beautiful view to her canvas using oil and watercolor. She enjoyed deep conversations where she shared her vast knowledge and wisdom with others but loved nothing more than enriching the development of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

            Donna was predeceased by her parents and siblings David McAuley, Paula Hollis, Brenda Victoria, and Laura Samuelson; and survived by her siblings Barbara Kelly, Brian McAuley, and Martha Keller.  She is survived by her devoted husband, Hugh J. Kelly, their five children Chris (Shirley), Hugh (Shannon), Brian, Katie Hay (David), Donna Ruhanen (Troy); and 22 grandchildren, Erin Banta, Megan Cochran, Joe, Cat, Clare, and Emma Kelly; Nicho, Aggie, Theo and Temi Kelly; Patrick, Michael, Faith, Julia, Koko and Aedan Kelly; Grace & Keira Hay; Jack, Finn, Elle and Tom Ruhanen. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Jack, Hudson, and Belle Banta; Georgia, James, and Charlie Cochran; and Alice Kelly.

            The Kelly Family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the tireless professional caregivers and nurses who tended to Donna over the last two years as well as the devoted staff of Good Shepherd Hospice Services of Massachusetts.

            A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 am on Saturday, April 20th at St. John The Evangelist Church, 9 Glen Rd, Wellesley Hills, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Donna McAuley Kelly Scholarship Fund at the Academy of Mount Saint Ursula, 330 Bedford Park Boulevard, Bronx, New York, 10458.

            Online guestbook at gfdoherty.com. Arrangements by George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.

Schools Budget Approved

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            The Old Rochester School Committee held its FY25 Budget Public Hearing on March 28 and voted unanimously to approve the budget for recommendation to voters at the three town meetings to be held in of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester all on the same night of Monday, May 13.

            The proposed FY25 operations budget of $21,663,474 represents a $693,178 increase over the FY24 figure of $20,970,216.

            After Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson explained how the budget process begins with an assessment of needs and is then refined by processes that are governed by the state and at the same time beholden to fiscal responsibility to the three member towns, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howard Barber explained the mechanics and part of the budget process.

            Barber gave examples of grants and other special revenues, along with general funds, long-term bonds, short-term bond-anticipation notes and capital stabilization.

            Funding offsets topping $1,000,000 (grants and other special revenues) apply $580,000 to ORR’s Central Office, $281,221 to the high school, $167,934 to the junior high school and $10,000 to facilities. More than half of this revenue ($580,000) is generated by ORR’s status as a School Choice district.

            A major driver in the FY25 budgeting process was a new contract with the Amaral bus company, which won the bid to continue as the transportation company of choice on a town-by-town basis.

            After holding steady with year-by-year extensions of an existing contract, the new deal drastically increases the cost of busing students from $768,000 annually to $893,120, an increase of $125,120 in one year.

            Barber also pointed out in his presentation that Chapter 70 state aid ($3,496,795) only increased by approximately $30,000 over FY24, slightly less than 1%.

            Nelson publicly thanked Barber for his work in laying out the budget in layman’s terms. He also recognized the subcommittees and town government officials for their work in assisting the process.

            Committee Chairperson Michelle Smith said Barber’s work has helped her understand the challenge and the process. Members April Nye, Jim Muse and Joe Pires added their thanks.

            Member Matthew Monteiro said for the public’s benefit that the expenditures do not represent what the committee wants but rather an act of “paying our bills.”

            Pires asked Barber what the town representatives’ feedback has been given their own budget challenges. Barber said all three towns have offered feedback indicating agreement in the ORR budgeting plan and the intent to approve and recommend to town voters at Town Meeting.

            In other business, the committee voted to accept a $1,000 donation from Cape Cod Five for the annual Credit for Life event.

            The committee also voted to recommend the three member towns share $12,000,000 in new debt to participate with ORR’s long-term facility-upgrade goals. Barber explained that debt is coming off the books in February 2025, and now would be the opportune time to begin committing money to capital projects facing the school beginning with a massive upgrade to the HVAC system. The district also lists security in the highest priority; that will take the form of the replacement of 60 exterior doors and a new public-address system that will join the junior and senior high school buildings.

            Nye explained from her subcommittee work that the main committee’s vote would essentially authorize the towns to vote to appropriate ORR funds for these purposes.

            In light of budget challenges in each of the towns, Pires recommended that the committee not vote on the matter.

            Nye read the motion on the table to appropriate the funds as planned. Pires’ was the only dissenting vote.

            The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 pm at the Junior High Media Room and remotely via Zoom.

ORR School Committee

By Mick Colageo