WARE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTEBOOK

Committee approves superintendent job description

The Ware School Committee is one step closer to finding a new superintendent. At its Oct. 23 meeting, the committee voted to approve the job description and application package that will be used for its internal superintendent search. Current superintendent Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Beach has announced her resignation effective at the end of the 2013-2014 school year.

The job description says the school committee is seeking a candidate with strong leadership and interpersonal skills and an “open and inclusive style.” The description goes on to describe the ideal candidate as “confident enough to invite dissent, strong enough not to win every argument, wise enough to listen – and hear – what others are saying and willing to share the triumph and failures of those you lead.”

The successful candidate will “show a history of successful team building and leadership experience” as well as “strong business and financial management skills.”

According to the description, the committee is looking for a candidate with at least 10 years in education (including both administrative and teaching experience), experience with school-based technology and an understanding and appreciation of a rural community.

The position offers a minimum salary of $110,000 with negotiable benefits and a three year initial contract.

The job description will be posted immediately. Applications will be due Dec.1 with the expectation that a decision will be made by Jan. 1. If for any reason the committee is unable to find a suitable internal candidate, the search will shift to an external candidate.

 

LaBombard encourages students to attend Quabbin musical

Cynthia LaBombard and Mary Lou Sanford, representing the Friends of Quabbin and Ware Community Theatre, were at the meeting to tell the committee members about the upcoming performance of Quabbin: a Musical and ask for their support. LaBombard told the committee that the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir was a key event in local history and was thus “important to the education of the students.”

Quabbin: a Musical will be performed at the Ware Middle School Nov. 7, 8, and 9 at 7 p.m. and on Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $10 for seniors and students. LaBombard announced a special ticket price of $5 for all students who attend the Nov. 7 show. “We’re hoping the teachers will encourage their students to come,” she said.

LaBombard asked if students could receive extra credit for attending. Dr. Marlene DiLeo, Principal of Ware Junior Senior High School, said whether or not to award extra credit would be up to the individual teachers, but that the administration would present faculty with information about the musical.

 

Lack of cell phone signal a concern

School Committee Chair Christopher Desjardins mentioned his concern about the lack of cell phone service in the gymnasium area of WJSHS. He explained he became aware of the problem recently when he spent several hours there during his daughter’s cheerleading exhibition and was unable to get a signal the whole time. He said he was worried that students there after hours for sports might not be able to make a call in the case of an emergency. “It’s just not safe,” Desjardins said. Andy Paquette of the Management Solution said he would look into the possibility of securing a grant to increase the telecommunication capabilities for that area of the building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WARE TOWN HALL NOTEBOOK

By Melissa Fales

Ware River News reporter

Board approves municipal parking lots winter regulations

At the Oct. 8 meeting of the Ware Board of Selectmen, the board approved new overnight parking regulations for the municipal parking lots on Parker Street and Pleasant Street. These winter rules will be in effect during the hours between midnight and 7 a.m. from Dec. 1 to March 30.

Residents wishing to park overnight in those lots during that period must register their vehicles at Town Hall. The registration fee is $20. Once registered, residents will receive a municipal parking sticker which must be displayed on the back of their vehicle’s rear view mirror. Any vehicles found in a municipal lot during the designated timeframe without a sticker will be ticketed and may be towed at the owner’s expense.

Selectman John A. Desmond was opposed to the idea of charging a fee for the sticker. “There seems to be no end to figuring out ways of reaching into the taxpayer’s wallet,” he said, adding that the town has always plowed the lots and allowed residents to park overnight without charging a fee in the past. Selectman Richard A. Norton said that a nominal fee would help the town pay for the costs of plowing the lots and for their general maintenance and upkeep. Selectman John E. Carroll calculated that the total cost evens out to $5 per month, an amount he found “reasonable.”

Selectwoman Nancy J. Talbot said the signage at each lot will need to be updated to explain the new procedure and clearly outline the new rules. She said she thought residents might feel more secure about leaving their cars in the lot knowing that it will be monitored regularly by police.

Chair Gregory Harder said he was pleased with the winter rules and asked Town Manager Stuart Beckley to draft additional regulations for the municipal lots that will apply during the rest of the year. Harder noted there have been issues in the past with people doing extensive car repairs, etc. there. “There need to be some rules as to what can happen in those lots,” he said.

 Board appoints Seguin as full-time police officer

At the recommendation of Police Chief Dennis M. Healey, the selectmen unanimously approved the appointment of Adam Seguin as a full-time police officer for the town of Ware. The appointment is contingent upon Seguin’s successful completion of all required tests.

West Street parking space to be discontinued

The selectmen unanimously approved to discontinue one parking space on West Street, the one closest to the entrance to the Town Hall parking lot. The move came at the suggestion of Desmond who said that vehicles parked there completely obstruct the view of motorists attempting to make a left turn out of the lot. “It’s dangerous,” said Desmond. “You absolutely cannot see. You have to drive out into the road in order to see.” The stripes designating the parking space will be blacked out.

 Boucher appointed to Ware Cultural Council

The selectmen unanimously approved the appointment of Julie Nicole Boucher to the Ware Cultural Council. Boucher will serve a six-year term on the council.

Residents asked to remove leaves from storm drains

Desmond asked residents who live near a storm drain to check to make sure that accumulated leaves aren’t blocking it and preventing water from draining properly. “It’s a big problem this time of year,” he said.

Update on Special Town Meeting set for Nov. 18

Beckley said the town’s Free Cash has been certified at $955,027.  Beckley noted that this amount is slightly less than the Free Cash the town had last year, but said it would still be “very helpful” to fund any spending approved at the Special Town Meeting set for November 18. Beckley also reminded residents that the deadline to submit warrant articles for the Special Town Meeting is Thursday, Oct. 17 at noon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WARE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTEBOOK

By Melissa Fales

Ware River News reporter

Committee discusses superintendent search

The Ware School Committee spent time at their Oct. 9 meeting talking with Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Beach, Superintendent, about their search for her replacement. Beach will be leaving the district at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. The committee plans to have the position posted by Nov. 1 and hopes to name Beach’s successor by early 2014.

The committee noted that there are at least two potential internal candidates for the position. School Committee Chairman Christopher Desjardins asked Beach how much time a successful internal candidate would have to shadow Beach in her final six months on the job. “I’m certainly willing to give a candidate every opportunity to learn the superintendent’s responsibilities during those six months,” she said.

Additionally, when Beach is unavailable, the district’s three school principals currently fill in for her as necessary, on a rotating basis. Beach said that should an internal candidate be selected, the principals would no longer rotate in that role. Instead, her future replacement would take on that responsibility. “If I was not here, they would be here,” she said.

At Desjardins’ suggestion, the committee agreed that they should meet in addition to their regularly-scheduled meetings in order to devote time to the superintendent search. They tentatively scheduled a working session for Tuesday, Oct.15 at 6:30 p.m.

Committee learns about biomass options, grant funding

Rob Rizzo and Elise Anderson with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources were at the meeting to talk to the committee about a new program available to schools. The SAPHIRE (Schools and Public Housing Integrating Renewable Energy) Program helps schools with feasibility studies on biomass heating solutions as well as implementation assistance.

Rizzo said the state is committed to reduce the consumption of foreign fuels, such as number two heating oil.  “This is important because it’s very expensive,” he said. “It also has a huge implication for greenhouse gas emission which the state is very concerned about.”

Rizzo said he’s worked with Town Manager Stuart Beckley and Ware Public Schools Business Manager Andy Paquette to complete a feasibility study of the Ware Public Schools campus at no cost to the town or district. According to Rizzo, there are some biomass heating options, including the use of wood chips or pellets that would provide the district with significant annual cost savings.

Anderson said there grants of up to $500,000 are available to help districts convert to biomass systems. Additional grants of up to $350,000 are available for schools willing to include more energy saving measures. SAPHIRE also offers low-interest bond financing and assists schools with tracking energy cost savings.

Anderson said one component of the program is curriculum integration. “We really want to see some sort of engagement with the students regarding renewable energy,” she said.

Rizzo said one biomass system would be able to produce heat and hot water for all three of the district schools, replacing the old boilers. 

Desjardins asked for an estimated cost to install a biomass system for the Ware Public Schools. Rizzo said it would be approximately $2 million. According to Anderson, a study based on 2010 figures showed that the system would pay for itself in approximately 10 years. However, she suggested that since the price of oil has risen since then, the payback period would likely be shorter now. The committee will review the results of the feasibility study.

Rizzo said no school districts have taken advantage of the new SAPHIRE program yet. “That’s a good thing, because we have money,” he said, adding that the state has allocated approximately $30 million to move renewable heating forward. “There’s money available and the state is committed to spending that money.”

Ware Public School District tag sale a success

Beach told the committee that the district’s tag sale, held Oct. 5, was “very successful,” with a profit of approximately $900. Beach said that the money will be used to purchase document cameras (modern versions of overhead projectors) for the district.