School District Closes Schools for March 16-20 Week

on

            Dear Tri-Town Communities,

            We have been working over the past few weeks to deal with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and its impact on our community and appreciate your patience as we continue to manage this rapidly changing situation. It is with an abundance of caution that we share the following information relative to school closure in an effort to mitigate the heightened regional risk of cross-contamination from outside the community.

            This action, as part of a regional strategy, will be most effective with the help and cooperation of the community. Rather than focusing on swiftly and solely closing our schools – and having our student population in the community without isolation strategies and coordination with other partners – we have been working collectively with other towns and regions to develop a more comprehensive strategy to bring a faster result in keeping more people safe.

School Closure

            After managing what the Department of Public Health identified as a low-risk environment in our community over the past weeks, in partnership with the Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester Board of Health and the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester (and as part of a tri-town-wide risk-mitigation strategy) we have made the decision to close all schools in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester for at least a week – starting Monday, March 16th through Friday, March 20th.

            This closure includes all student activities. School days will be made up, in the same fashion as snow days, in late June. However, make-up days will not exceed our 185th day of school. Our last day of school will fall on June 24, 2020.

            A status update relative to next steps will be distributed to our tri-town communities on Friday, March 20, 2020.

            Please know that we have provided guidance below for residents, families, students and families to help in practicing social isolating, monitoring symptoms and avoiding typical student events and large gatherings during this period of closure. This is a tri-town-wide, public-health strategy to reduce community illness; we know you will take our requests seriously.

            Previously Scheduled Activities: While we know it is disappointing that activities are not occurring and key activities are postponed while community health is being prioritized. We are working to rescheduled things wherever possible in the coming weeks. We understand that there will be questions about AP classes, college application deadlines and many other special events but we cannot yet answer this at this time.

            The MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) has moved spring sports start to the earliest March 30, 2020.

            School Employee Information: It is expected that all staff will check work email during this closure to remain informed.

            During this closure, the school will be cleaned and disinfected using deeper disinfection equipment.

            Custodial staff will be asked to report to the school to handle these activities.

            In the interest of business continuity, Old Rochester Regional/MA Supt. Union #55 Central Office will be open and the following essential personnel may be called to work during the closure: Principals, Assistant Principals, School Business Administrator, Facilities Director, Receptionist, Accounts Payable Clerk, Payroll Clerk, Human Resources Director, Admn. Asst. to the Superintendent, Admn. Asst. to the Asst. Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent.

            Community Health & Prevention: When a new illness is circulating, it’s natural for people to ask what they can do to protect themselves and their families. For our community health actions to be effective, we need all community members to do their part by staying at home as much as possible during the school closure. Our best prevention guidance is:

      ● Practice social isolation- only leaving home as necessary.

      ● Avoid large social gatherings.

      ● Cover coughs/sneezes with tissues, or cough/sneeze into the inner elbow.

      ● Practice good handwashing with soap and water as often as possible.

      ● Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers ONLY if soap and water are not available.

            What We Know About COVID-19: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a strain that is part of a family of coronaviruses which usually cause mild respiratory illnesses, such as the “common cold”. Some coronaviruses have caused more severe illness, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

            COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus that was not previously identified in humans before December 2019.

            Quarantine and Isolation: Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It can take between 2 to 14 days after a person gets the virus in their body to become (outwardly) ill.

            If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately. Your healthcare provider can assess whether a test for COVID-19 is required. Depending on your contact and/or travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you had contact with a positive or presumptive positive person.

            During the isolation period, you should not have visitors in the location where you are isolating. If you must share living quarters with another person, then that person will be subject to quarantine as well.

            As noted above, we are asking students not to congregate and to remain as isolated as possible within their families as they can, this will assist in slowing the spread of the virus.

            Follow-up and Next Steps: This is an unprecedented public health situation that is rapidly changing. Our hope is that if we all work together, we can reduce the spread of this virus, protect our most vulnerable residents and resume normal activities in a week or two.

            A status update regarding school closures will be distributed to families and staff on Friday, March 20, 2020.

            We will keep you informed as this rapidly evolving public health situation continues.

            Thank you for your continued support and patience.

            Sincerely,

            Douglas R. White, Jr., Superintendent of Schools

More information can be found at:

https://sites.google.com/oldrochester.org/coronavirus-covid-19-info/home

Marion Plans to Establish a Foodbank

on

            According to Town Administrator Jay McGrail, Marion will be releasing funds from its reserve account to develop a foodbank. He told an Emergency Preparedness Meeting on March 13 that by the end of the day he hoped plans will be fully developed.

            The emergency preparedness team meeting on Friday morning included Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Doug White, public health officials including Public Health Nurse Kathleen Downie, Board of Health members including Vice Chairperson Edward P. Hoffer, MD, representatives from the Fire and Police departments, Board of Selectmen member Norman Hills and Assistant Town Administrator Judy Mooney, 

            Hoffer, a practicing physician, was told not to travel to Boston so he has made himself available to the Board of Health and was nominated Friday morning as chief coordinator for Marion’s emergency-preparedness effort.

            Downie continues to remind people that if people think they are sick or think they have the coronavirus, they need to call their own doctor first and not to go to the emergency room without calling ahead. “We don’t want anyone going to the doctor without calling first,” she told the meeting.

            Old Rochester Regional High School did not suspend school as of March 13, but is at the present time conducting classroom work only. White told the meeting that the “education that will now be provided is essential education.”

            There are no authorized group activities and no field trips, according to White. If a school must close, all will close and there will be no online alternative from home. Effectively, public education will be suspended.

            Asked by the Wanderer, “What about seniors?” White answered, “Fill in the blanks.”

            The subject of students on reduced or free lunch programs was also discussed.

            “We are at the very beginning of this. We have a long way to go to get to the top of the curve,” said Downie, noting that, while cancelations are a stop-gap measure, a school closure will not no quickly. “I would be surprised if it’s over in two months.”

            Tabor Academy is currently closed per its academic calendar. McGrail reported having asked the Tabor administration to provide a written plan before the students return. 

            Hoffer wondered aloud if the plans Tabor brings forward in response to McGrail’s request are considered inadequate, can Marion overrule the prep school. McGrail answered, “Yes.”

            Tabor has many students returning from outside the country, including one from an Asian country.

            The town will arrange for transportation through the Council on Aging for seniors for doctor appointments but not for grocery shopping.

            Effective March 13, the town is also looking to expand restrictions on the Meals of Wheels program.

            On March 12, Governor Charlie Baker issued an executive order loosening the restrictions of the open-meeting law so that towns can wave the rule requiring members of boards and committees to be in the same room and also the necessity of a quorum.

Emergency Preparedness Meeting

By Marilou Newell

Cancellations and Changes

on

Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School

            The Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School will close for at least the next week, it was announced today by Aaron L. Polansky, superintendent-director at Old Colony.

            The week missed Monday-Friday, March 16-20, includes all extracurricular activities and will be subject to the same protocol as snow days and will be made up, according to the press release issued by Old Colony. Polansky noted, however, that the make-up days will not exceed the 185th school day. June 19 will be Old Colony’s last day of school.

            Old Colony will issue an update on Friday, March 20.

Old Rochester Regional School District

           All schools in the TriTown are closed from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20.

           More information can be found at: https://sites.google.com/oldrochester.org/coronavirus-covid-19-info/home

Superintendent meets with Marion officials

            On Friday morning, ORR Superintendent of Schools Doug White told an emergency-preparedness meeting in Marion that the “education that will now be provided is essential education. At the present time, that translates into classroom work only with no group activities and no trips. 

            If the schools have to close, White told the meeting that all schools will close and there will be no online alternative such as colleges employ. The state had announced earlier this week that all public schools’ academic years are to end by June 30.

            The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) has already delayed the start of practices two weeks to Monday, March 30. Captains’ practices are not school-authorized activities, but those will also not be held.

Mattapoisett Council on Aging

            As per the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen, the town’s Council on Aging has been asked to cancel all programs and activities at the COA until the end of March. At that time the situation will be reevaluated and Mattapoisett COA will issue an update.

            The Mattapoisett COA will remain open to the public during regular hours for questions, one-on-one services including outreach, and medical-equipment loans. Transportation services are still available to medical appointments.

            Please continue to check the COA’s Facebook page or call 508-758-4110 with any questions.

Mattapoisett Fincom

            The Mattapoisett Finance Committee voted unanimously on Thursday night to transfer $14,000 from the town’s reserve fund to pay for an increase in sanitary services in the wake of COVID-19, and these moneys will be used for the sanitation of the library and the town hall and other municipal spaces to be announced.

Rochester Council on Aging

            The Rochester Council on Aging has suspended all programs until April 1. Staff will be able to answer all questions or provide other services.

Town of Mattapoisett

            The Town of Mattapoisett has ramped up its cleaning procedures for all public meetings and will request funding toward that end from the town’s Finance Committee, according to Town Administrator Michael J. Gagne.

Town of Marion Sanitation Efforts

            In an effort to combat any potential spread of COVID-19, the Town of Marion in conjunction with Old Rochester Regional School District is in the process of sanitizing all municipal buildings.

            The first building receiving the treatment is the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center. All municipal buildings, police cruisers, ambulances, fire vehicles and Council on Aging transportation vans will be treated within a week. 

            Any questions please feel free to contact Town Administrator Jay McGrail at 508-748-3520. Thank you.

Sippican Healthcare Center

            Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion, the lone nursing home in the Tri-Town area, is allowing no visitors except in specific cases such as those related to the end of life, according to Kathryn Soderberg, the chief corporate compliance officer at Whittier Health Network.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

            The meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16 has been canceled and all agenda items are continued until April 6 at 7:00 pm

Public Meeting on Industrial Drive in Mattapoisett

            Based on Governor Baker’s Advisory as to Public Meetings, the meeting on the Industrial Drive Public Work’s Project scheduled for 6:30 pm on March 18 at Center School has been postponed. In lieu of a public meeting, the presentation will be filmed and run on the Mattapoisett Government Cable Channels – Comcast 95 and Verizon 38 starting the evening of March 18 at 6:30 pm.

DeCosta Fund Raiser Cancelled

            Due to the recent health concerns and out of an abundance of caution for the public, the March 28 spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the DeCosta for Selectmen Campaign has been canceled. Refunds are available from the member who you purchased your tickets from. 

Thank you for your support

College Fair at Upper Cape Tech

            Due to current circumstances and an abundance of caution, the College Fair at Upper Cape Tech scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2020 will be postponed to a yet to be determined date. For more information regarding the Upper Cape Tech College Fair, please feel free to visit our website at www.uppercapetech.com/collegefair.

Public Meeting on Industrial Drive in Mattapoisett

on

Based on Governor Baker’s Advisory as to Public Meetings, the meeting on the Industrial Drive Public Work’s Project scheduled for 6:30pm on March 18 at Center School is postponed. In lieu of a public meeting the presentation will be filmed and run on the Mattapoisett Government Cable Channels – Comcast 95 and Verizon 38 starting the evening of March 18 at 6:30pm.

It’s a Global Community- Conversational Language Lessons

on

Language is a gateway to a culture. Come to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library and learn some friendly greetings and conversational phrases in other languages. Townsfolk in the community will share some of these basics from their native languages in a casual informal setting. One class for each language for about thirty minutes – no pressure – and leave with a list of words and phrases so you can practice them and try them out with your neighbors or on your travels. All are welcome. Attend one or attend them all!

            This will be an ongoing program with more languages to come, so check back!

Czech – Sunday, April 5 from 1:00 to 1:30 pm

Gaelic – Sunday, April 5 from 2:00 to 2:30 pm

Norwegian – Sunday, April 19 from 1:00 to 1:30 pm

            The Library is located at 7 Barstow Street and is handicapped accessible.

Marion Town Party Returns

on

The Marion Town Party Committee is pleased to announce that the event will return this summer. The Committee has decided to be proactive and plan the party earlier in the day to avoid having to cancel like last year. The party will be at a new venue this year and will have a new start time as well. 

            Join us at Silvershell Beach beginning at 2:00 pm until dusk on Saturday, August 22. 

To kick off the party we will have a “Touch a Truck” event that will be held from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm on the field at Silvershell Beach. Fire, Police, Harbormaster and other vehicles will be on hand. Scheduled activities include rock wall climbing, inflatable games, moonwalk, music, and face painting. Food and drinks will be available for purchase beginning at 2:00 pm.

            Once again, organizers are seeking corporate sponsors. This is a great opportunity for local businesses to get the word out and advertise their businesses. More details about the sponsorship levels will be available soon.

            Donations from the community are needed to help underwrite the event. Food, services, cash or any other in-kind donation would be greatly appreciated. All contributions are tax-deductible. 

            To stay up to date with all event details please “Like” our Facebook page – Marion Town Party.

            Marion Firefighters Association will partner with the Marion Harbormaster Department. All proceeds are for the local community and departmental needs. 

For more information or to donate please contact Donna Hemphill at 508-748-3515, or email mariontownparty@gmail.com or you may send a check (made out to Town of Marion) to the Marion Town House, c/o Marion Town Party, 2 Spring Street, Marion, Massachusetts, 02738.

Katharine “Kitty” Hill Stanton

on

Katharine “Kitty” Hill Stanton, 91, died of natural causes on February 11. Born June 22, 1928 to Lucius and Helen Hill, she grew up in Brookline, MA.

Kitty thrived in her youth as a scholar/athlete at the Windsor School, Miss Porters School, and Vassar College. Summers, she blasted tennis balls at the Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, MA. Her strong legs and tenacity carried her to #3 in New England in the 15 & Under Division. In the same year, she triumphed in the Western 18 & Under Girls Singles Championship, a sanctioned national event. Winters, she carved and spun her way through many New England junior figure skating championships, representing the Boston Skating Club. 

As a young mother of three, she represented New England in the US National Doubles several times, battling the best players in the world. She also rose to the #5 ranking in New England Women’s Singles, and passed her love of the game to her three children. Both of her sons became career teaching professionals.

She married John K. Stanton in 1950 and they settled in Marion, MA, where she was elected to the Planning Board, and volunteered on the Republican Committee and the NE Junior Tennis Ranking Committee. She also served as president of the Sippican Tennis Club and the PTA, headed the local Girl Scouts, and sat on the board of the NE Home for Little Wanderers orphanage, where she directed the annual Christmas toy drive.

In the 1980s, Kitty moved to Brookline to work at The Country Club tennis shop and later to Lexington, where she volunteered at the Lahey Clinic. She was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous and mentored several younger women as their sponsor. She spent her final days battling dementia with extraordinary grace and humor at Care One in Wilmington, MA.

Kitty was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Kristy LeMond, and will be remembered with love by her brother Lucius Hill; her children, Seabury Stanton (Val), Jack Stanton (Pam), and Kathy LeMond (Barry); her 3 grandchildren, Leanna Stanton, Luke Stanton (Mandie) and Kevin LeMond; and 2 great grandsons, Oliver Stanton and Jack Jones.

She had a credo that she tried to instill in her children: “Always consider the pain behind the poor behavior of others.”

A memorial service will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church in Marion, MA, June 27, 2020 at 12PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be donated to a charity of one’s choice.

Harlyn D. “Butch” Froh

on

Harlyn D. “Butch” Froh, 64, of Rochester passed away Monday, March 9, 2020, after a brief illness. He was the husband of Kimberly (White) Froh. They had been married over 40 years.

            Born in Newport, RI, he was the son of the late Harlyn H. Froh and Lucille B. (Mayer) Froh. He was raised in Acushnet and lived in Rochester for 34 years.

            Butch was employed as a master mechanic for D.W. White Construction Company for 42 years. He also did many other kinds of work as he was a jack-of-all trades.

            He enjoyed riding and racing dirt bikes and was well known for his long “wheelies” in his younger years. He attended Church in the Pines. He enjoyed shooting guns, building cars, using his creative skills, and spending time with his family and friends. He was especially grateful for every moment he got to spend with his grandson, Logan. He loved to travel and be in the warm weather, but what he loved most was his beautiful wife, Kim, who he adored until the day he died. It’s not “til death do us part” but “until we meet again.”

            He is survived by his wife, Kim; his children, Melissa Douglas and her husband, Craig, and Gregory Froh; two brothers, David Froh and his wife, June and Mark Froh and his wife, Karol; his grandson, Logan Douglas; his aunts, Theresa Saulnier and Germaine Bourque and uncle, Maurice Bourque and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

            He was the father of the late Jeremiah “Jay” Froh, and brother of the late Michael Froh.

            His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday March 14, 2020 at 10 am at the First Congregational Church of Rochester. Burial will follow in White Cemetery, East Freetown. Visiting hours will be held on Friday March 13, 2020 from 4-8 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Richard W. Taylor, Jr.

on

Richard W. Taylor, Jr. 60 of New Bedford died March 7, 2020 after a brief illness at home.

            Born in New Bedford, son of the late Richard W. and Janice T. (Santos) Taylor, he was raised in Mattapoisett and lived in New Bedford most of his life.

            Richard was formerly employed by Joseph Abboud Clothing for many years working alongside a wonderful team.

            He was committed to both his faith and his country, having served in the U.S Navy.

            Richard was known for his quick wit and kind spirit.

            Survivors include his siblings, Florence Andrews of North Berwick, ME, Jo-Ann Taylor of West Tisbury, Elizabeth Taylor of New Bedford, Andrew Taylor, Sr. and his wife Paula and Kirsten Taylor and her partner Robert Gingras, all of Mattapoisett and Jonathan Taylor of Norfolk; several nieces and nephews.

            His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 14th at 10 am in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Rt. 6, Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in Chiltonville Cemetery in Plymouth. Visiting hours Friday March 13th from 4-8 pm.

Nelson Eager to Be Another Kid’s Lighthouse

on

            By the testimony of colleagues, job references and other observers, Mike Nelson always had leadership qualities so it should not come as a shock that he is scheduled to become Massachusetts’ youngest superintendent of schools upon the June 30 retirement of Old Rochester Regional Superintendent Doug White (more on that below).

            “For me, going to school was almost like a home away from home,” said Nelson in an interview with the Wanderer on Tuesday. “My schooling experience was always one of the most reinforcing aspects of my life being surrounded by positive people who were helping me achieve my goals. I remember being in high school thinking, ‘I want to be in education. This is what I want to do.'”

            At 6-foot-6, basketball was Nelson’s game growing up, but he left sports behind to focus on his education at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. A political science major, he always wanted to be in education and was 99.9 percent sure it would be in the public schools. 

            His journey was founded upon the intention to take all the impact that educators made on his life and figure out how to pay it forward.

            “When I reflected prior to the last interview (February 29), I really thought about ‘Why am I applying for this position?’ And that’s when I shared the comments about the analogy that educators can be lighthouses for children,” Nelson said. “I thought about how fortunate I was not only to have one lighthouse but many different lighthouses who were educators throughout my life. And I said, ‘That’s the reason why I believe I ended up interviewing for this position,’ because in some ways it helps me come full circle in terms of what people gave to me.

            “Now, in terms of being a professional, (I am) being able to work with those people hand-in-hand in terms of helping other kids, and (I am devoting) my life to doing the same thing.”

            Nelson, 36, grew up in New Bedford and later Wareham, where he attended the public middle school and high school. His father is a facilities supervisor at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School and his mother worked in the mortgage business. 

            Technically a millennial, of more relevance is his standing among his peers.

            According to the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, of the 237 listed for public school districts in the state, the youngest superintendents for the 2019-20 school year include two at age 38 and four others at 39.

            Pending fresh developments, the state will have a new titleholder, according to independent non-profit based in Bedford of which all superintendents are members and benefit from professional development, legal services, policy, etc.

            “At the crux of it… I knew a goal of mine was to become a superintendent. At some point I would have to become a superintendent for the first time,” said Nelson. “At one point (in the interview process) I listed the different titles that I have maintained here from a responsibility standpoint.”

            While many districts allow a director of special education or student services to focus exclusively on that job description or area of programming, Nelson considers himself fortunate.

            “It’s also one of the reasons that I wanted to come here. I believe that the director of student services was going to be used to work with all students and on behalf of all students and families,” he said. “That’s why I mentioned I’ve been designated the civil-rights coordinator for the district, the special-education director, the homeless liaison, the foster-care point of contact. I have had my hand heavy in designing professional-development opportunities, working with the curriculum teams.”

            Nelson learned quickly the many areas at which the Central Office is looked upon for facilitation.

            “We’ve had some changes in positions and rollovers and some vacancies in Central Office in the last couple of years,” he said. “Even though those were challenging times in some ways, for me personally as a professional it meant I was actually able to step in and take on some responsibilities that typically wouldn’t have fallen on my plate, if you will. And it helped prepare me, at this point having served as the director of student services and then the assistant superintendent, it helped me prepare to have a base knowledge of having my hand in all those different responsibilities.”

            Originally hired as director of student services, Nelson was promoted to assistant superintendent last year with the retirement of Elise Frangos. Since then Nelson has taken on more and more, and in doing so spread his wings and has become more widely relevant at ORR. 

            Nelson’s background in special education served as an important starting point, not only because of the impact he was able to provide in that role but because it helped form an inclusive philosophy that is core to the district’s belief system. In turn, relationships formed and were strengthened, setting the table for the tremendous outpouring of support during the selection process completed on March 5.

            “I did not anticipate the level of support that I was given from staff, administrators and teachers and paraprofessionals, right through the ranks including parents and stakeholders when I initially applied for this position, and… I said, ‘Wow, it’s just incredible to know that when you commit yourself to do something that all the relationships and all the time and all the effort that you put into it… it was just such a powerful experience to have that level of support, and I’m extremely grateful for it,” said Nelson.

            Presuming successful contract negotiations, there will be a reintroduction period next school year in which Nelson will become known as the superintendent of schools at ORR. During his February 29 finalist interview with the joint school committee, he was asked about the challenges that accompany emerging from inside.

            “What does that mean moving forward? When I said that I might have had hard conversations, what I meant is that I would like to think that some of the reasons I’ve been able to establish those relationships is because I’ve always been transparent and honest in terms of listening to others’ points of view but also providing them feedback in terms of why I may have taken a position of using all the data points available in terms of making the best decision,” he said. “I’ve built these relationships in a way that I can continue to build off of them, and I will continue to do a lot of the things that I’ve done in terms of working collaboratively with all the stakeholders and make sure they feel valued in terms of shared decision making.

            “So when I think about bringing in a new assistant superintendent and possibly a new director of student services, I think about that I can actually speak from my experiences, think about their skillset and their philosophy and really help them learn about our communities and our communities will learn about these new individuals as well.”

            Nelson drives 30-35 minutes to and from ORR from his home in the south end of Plymouth, where he lives with his wife Jessica, a special education teacher, and their two sons and two stepchildren ranging from high school junior and sophomore to a first grader and a three-year-old now attending ORR’s preschool program inside the high school.

            Nelson says he has received some advice from White, including the need to devise an entry plan, to focus first on negotiating his contract. Once that is behind him, the more personal sharing and dispensing of pearls of wisdom will commence.

            Nelson may be on the on-deck circle, but his philosophy only awaits his at-bat.

            “One way I would like to use my skillset is in communicating from the superintendent’s office in real-time in terms of here’s the information we have, we want to share it with our communities,” he said. “I think that that will help build a level of trust between all the different community players in our three towns and a new superintendent.”

            Until then, Nelson is appreciative of the support he has received, and regardless of what lies ahead he remains confident based on the focus around him and ability to naturally collaborate toward “what’s best for the kids.”

By Mick Colageo