School Committee settles contracts, plans Central School traffic pattern
Published on June 28th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - The school year might be over, but the School Committee continues plugging away at the issues that take no vacation.
• Teacher contracts were ratified at the committee's June 15 meeting. As a result of collaborative bargaining between the Stoneham Teachers Association (STA) and the Stoneham School Committee, teacher salaries will rise 10 percent over a three-year period, with a two percent rise for the academic year 2000-2001, four percent in 2001-2002 and four percent in 2002-2003.
The collaborative bargaining process utilizes open bargaining in executive session with the School Committee as a whole bargaining with the STA. Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting is also a part of the bargaining process, with voting power, but he could not be present at the June 15 meeting.
School Committee Chair-woman Jeanne Craigie called the contract "the best possible solution ... based on what the town of Stoneham can afford and what's best for the students."
Earlier in the evening, School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly projected a $65,000 budget surplus at the end of the fiscal year. This projected surplus has been figured into teacher contract negotiations and Connelly is expected to request formal appropriation of the money by the School Committee at its July 6 meeting. (The exact figure will be finalized at the close of the fiscal year on June 30.)
• While the state's pothole grant to Stoneham earlier this year was somewhat disappointing at $50,000, Connelly announced that just recently that State Education Commissioner David Driscoll came through with another $36,000. This money will be used to replace the school system's van which was taken off the road earlier this year. Connelly stated that the new 12-15 passenger van will benefit many of the system's programs and will be in place by September.
• While traffic in and around the Middle School is expected to be heavier than usual for next year with construction of a new Central School taking place, Stoneham Police Safety Officer Larry Rotondi and Connelly told the School Committee that the situation is under control.
Connelly advised that heavy construction traffic will be restricted between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and again in the afternoon between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Middle School parents will be requested to drop off students by entering the site from Central Street, through the railroad right away, and into the parking lot behind the school. They will exit via a single lane out to Pomeworth Street, where a left turn only will be allowed.
Buses will drop off in the semi-circle driveway in front of the school and staff parking will enter the site via the existing driveway next to the building. Mid-day traffic is also requested to use this driveway. Connelly said that the Stop & Shop will donate 15-20 parking spaces to Middle School staff.
Students who walk to school also face a change of route. Walkers will not be allowed to enter the site from the Pomeworth entrance due to the narrow lane of traffic exiting near the construction zone, nor will they be able to utilize the pathway behind the site from the Pomeworth field area.
Instead, walkers will be asked to access the front of the school by walking down Elm Street to Central Street or down Pomeworth, to William, to Central Street.
Connelly acknowledged that all this represents a dramatic change but emphasized that it will be for one year only. The goal, he said, is "to keep traffic away from the construction as much as possible."
Addition of a traffic director in the back lot is being considered to help control the traffic flow. To do this, a request to the Finance Board for a reserve fund transfer of $5,500, may be necessary.
Although most students wish not to think about September, the School Committee was excited to hear of new programs that will accompany the reopening of school.
• The Stoneham High School Council announced its School Improvement plan for the upcoming school year. SHS Principal Tom Ryan highlighted some of the goals that the council is working towards.
• The council wishes to define more clearly the transition point from eighth to ninth grade for both students and parents; provide an informational brochure to parents of new ninth graders; spotlight the less traditional avenues taken by SHS alumnae that have not led to college; and investigate the option of a late bus fee program for students involved in after-school programs or sports.
The SHS council is comprised of students, teachers, parents and community members. The group has embarked on publishing a newsletter and plans on creating a web page in the future.
• The Stoneham Chamber of Commerce is looking to sponsor an adult mentorship program for ninth grade SHS students. The pilot program, which Connelly called "an exciting new venture," will take place in the 2000-2001 school year.
The idea behind the program, explained Chamber member Craig Celli, is to "try to get students to think about where they're going before they have to think about it."
At present, 30 adult volunteer Chamber members have expressed interest in working with students with regard to school to career goals. The sessions will be part of the curriculum and will take place in 90 minute sessions throughout the year.
Based on a publication put out by the National Association of Secondary School Principals called "Breaking Ranks," school systems with such programs in place are considered very successful schools.
Upcoming School Committee meetings are scheduled for June 28 and July 6 at 5:30, at which bill payment and closing out of fiscal year 2000 are expected to be the only business on the agenda.
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