Littleton, VNA and investigation top school issues
Published on May 5th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - The School Committee covered a lot of ground at its meeting last Thursday where issues from school safety to summer vacation were reviewed.
In light of the recent tragedy in Littleton, Colorado and other incidents around the country where schools have been the targets of violence by teens, Stoneham High School has stepped up its efforts to address security and the social issues that have led to violence as a means of resolution.
Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly reported to the School Committee that he has met with all Stoneham school principals, who have likewise met with their staff for a review of security procedures.
"Currently... all our elementary schools are fully secured," with buzzer systems at the front doors, he said.
Front doors at the middle and high schools are the only unlocked doors in each of those buildings.
In addition, the meeting yielded a commitment from the principals to come up with two to three goals aimed at enhancing efforts to reach out to students in need. These efforts will address peer pressure, family struggles and other social issues.
A town-wide forum is then expected to be held sometime next month to open the issues up to public input regarding how to address the issues teens struggle with. Ways in which these struggles can be resolved, other than violence, will also be focused on.
"I think we're doing a good job... but we could always do better," Connelly said.
He also stated that in the next budget cycle, where the fiscal year 2001 budget will be prepared, funding increased guidance staff in all the schools will be a priority.
Connelly commended the Stoneham school system on being proactive in dealing with the emotional needs of its students. The Middle School recently hosted a presentation on self esteem where guest speaker Mark Brown talked to the students about conflicts they face in their daily lives.
"His message was very, very appropriate to this issue," said Connelly.
The presentation was videotaped and copies will be given to the other schools in town. In addition, Connelly is also arranging for the presentation to be aired on Stoneham's cable channel 10.
Another event already embarked on in Stoneham, prior to the Littleton incident, is a joint meeting with the schools and the police department aimed at addressing sensitive issues such as harassment, discrimination, and hate crimes. The meeting, which is being coordinated all around the area by District Attorney Martha Coakley, is scheduled for sometime in June.
In other School Committee news, an independent audit of the Special Education Department is currently in the hands of the District Attorney's office, reported Connelly. The audit has been performed by the firm of Melanson, Heath, & Company.
Investigation into potential mismanagement of funds commenced shortly after Connelly arrived in Stoneham and began his review of all budget areas.
Contents of the audit remain confidential, Connelly advised, per the request of the District Attorney's Office.
"We shared the information with the DA and asked their assistance in determining the seriousness of (the matter)," Connelly told the Independent.
In response to the Board of Selectmen's request that the audit information be made public, Connelly stated that the School Department wishes to honor the DA's request that the information remain confidential until the investigation is complete.
"We have absolutely no desire... to hold back information," he said. "We're only respecting the DA's request."
At this point, the findings of the audit have not been incorporated into a final report but Connelly expected such within a few days.
Also reported on Thursday was a settlement agreement has been put into the hands of the Visiting Nurse Association, regarding the organization's lease of the former East School building on Beacon Street. According to Connelly, details of the agreement remain confidential until acceptance by the VNA has been obtained, but the document outlines the expectations of the School Department regarding the VNA's lease which expired at the end of March. Area residents have been vocal about the impact the business has on their neighborhood.
On a lighter note, summer vacation will have to be postponed until after the weekend. Three snow days this winter have pushed the last day of school out to Monday, June 21. The School Committee made this official on Thursday night.
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