Making A Splash For Our Schools

This is a FUN time for the students. Could we maybe expand it to include other people. We could use it as a fundraiser for getting back the librarians. Don't worry, some administrators would be excluded after all, we all know LAME DUCKS can't swim.

The Daily Item: Harrington School in Lynn held a dunk tank event on Friday, with students aiming to dunk principal Debra Ruggiero.

They Can Get Rid Of Me But I'm Not Going Away

I am heartbroken, I noticed in next year's school budget (go to LPS website to check for yourself) that I am being replaced by somebody qualified for the librarian job. They didn't waste no time. The job posting is out.

Pack your bags Stan, your services are no longer needed. Well I guess I can take solace in the fact that sales for the Scholastic book fair were brisk. The kids know reading is important.  An added good feeling was the fact a lot of poetry books were checked out over the year.

Well at least I won't be tied down to one location but hopefully I'll get a better reception than I recently got at SISSON.

Waiting Is Always The Hardest Part

At last Thursday's LSC, DONNA COPPOLA  kept urging the committee to try and come up with some ideas on how to engage at least some of Lynn's youth into some constructive task over the summer. Money's tight and summer jobs are scarce out there and you know what they say about idle hands.

Face it we have all of these empty buildings open over the summer and a little well placed monies could be leveraged into providing activities for a number of Lynn youth whether educational or enrichment.

Face it, we saved a lot of money by NOT creating a NEW Deputy Superintendent position in the middle of the year so where is that money that was supposed to be available to FUND it ?

COPPOLA'S pleas were received with acknowledgements of the problem but protests of the inability to do anything this year.

An old Cub's mantra echoed the meeting room, "Wait til next year!". That motto hasn't worked out too well for them.

How We Spend Our Pennies

I was just glancing at the LPS budget on line and I noticed that while the city has generously increased their contribution to next year's annual budget by a little over 4 million dollars. This has translated into a 3 million dollar increase in salaries and almost a $600,000 decrease in non-salary expenditures. Where is the other million and a half dollars?

I hear stories of two classes of the same grade being unable to have the same class at the same time. They at times have had to have students share a textbook with a broken binding. No salary increase is going to fix that problem. Go to the LPS web site and check out the budget.

Access Denied at Sisson!

The principal was away at meeting when I first showed up in the office, was called and said I couldn't observe. I just wanted to say good things about Field Day!

My schedule suddenly cleared I walked to McDonald's for a cup of coffee. You know they have free refills. So I am sitting there crying in my coffee and thinking how fast the mighty have fallen: Yesterday I get a call from Mayor Kennedy's office notifying of my appointment to the LYNN DISABILITY COMMISSION and today I can't go watch some kids in a bouncy house.
 
Then I get a call from my wife RICK STARBARD sent me a message on Facebook explaining the secretary had come out and told him of my attempt to come to observe. RICK mentioned he was out back serving slushies. My wife encouraged me to go back. So I did.
This time I just went straight to the back and stood behind the buckets of colored ice. I began to feel better, the music was pumping. Three inflatable buildings decorated the landscape. Some kids were playing tug of war over a plastic pool. Hey the President of the PTO introduced herself to me and even offered to get me a seat. I was glad I came back, this was a GREAT EVENT.

 This time of year storm clouds can come up suddenly. That's what happened when the principal approached me full of angry questions faintly disguised as explanations. Yes I understood there was a need to be vigilant when it comes to security concerns. I get that. A disabled person with a cane who happens to be from the Highlands is pretty sketchy.

I offered to leave, I mean she reminded me over and over that I didn't have a child there and she didn't understand why I was there. RICK told her I had a blog and all but I wasn't feeling to welcomed. So with visions of dead horses dancing above my head I left. It to be a shame because the kids really seemed to be having a good time. At least I got to talk to a boy who plays third base on my son's Little League team.

Field Day at Sisson

Proposed School Budget On Line

I was noticing yesterday that next year's proposed budget is on-line at the Lynn Public Schools website. Now some might say I've said my share of negative things and I did call for this several times. So I need to say "kudos" to Kevin McHugh and Dr. Lathham for making this happen.

I want to thank them in advance for all the stories I am going o write when I go through it line by line. (Okay maybe I won't actually get a story from every line but be on your toes!)

Gotta Have A Code For This, Code For That

It's nice to know that during these times of failing schools and schools without libraries that our school committee has decided to table the dress code issue until the other two of the three high schools weighed in on this pressing issue. (Dress Code? Are we talking fashion? This sounds like a job for "GQ")

I've told you I have trouble with math but last I counted we had 4 high schools. Remember FACTEAU-LEARY?

Is there research out there that says students perform better in a shirt and tie or maybe they test better in khaki. However these matters were not even under consideration. No, instead it was decided to not decide just yet whether or not to allow knee length shorts to be worn in the months of October and May. Since they couldn't decide on this controversial matter, I guess we don't have to worry about seeing any LSC members in a pair of "Daisy Dukes".

"Like a G-6"

Tell Us How To Make Times Good Charlie

Charlie Gallo is running for Lynn School Committee. But what do we really know about him. First he dresses nice but he is no threat to "GQ" in the fashion department. I mean he dresses like a lawyer, all conservative and like. Where are the pastels?

Charlie does show up at a lot of the LSC and PAC meetings which is a good thing but just cause you go to the movies don't mean you're an actor. Charlie does seem to be "politically connected" unfortunately it seems he is connected to politics and not kids. At his age, 28 I think, he is just a kid himself.

I would recommend he put a little more meat in his campaign and put forth some proposals or something. Let's here a little more about that paper route at Pickering.

Ford returns from NEW YORK trip!

Good Bye New York!

More Winners

This is"Award Season", the time of the year  when students are given monetary acknowledgement for a job well done.The Lynn School Administrators Association offered their contribution to the financial incentive package to get students to further education.

The selection process was ran through the Guidance Department and winners were chosen from a combination of various criteria, including community participation,  future educational plans, and answers to two essay questions. A total of 6 $500 scholarships were awarded to ALL of the high schools in Lynn with the following breakdown based on student enrollment, 2 awards to English, 2 to Classical, 1 to LVTI, and 1 to Facteau- Leary (Facteau-Leary was broken down to 5, $100 awards at the request of the principal).

The winners were: 1) English - Travone Berry-Rogers, Stephanie Scherrer, 2) Classical - Tori Atkins, Christopher Gonzalez, 3). LVTI - Stacya Contreras and at 4) Facteau-Leary - Demond Kelsey, Shaneia McMillan, Devon Sanders, Shatara Sanders, and Ashleigh Welch.

Congratulations!

Teachers Union Awards Scholarships

The Lynn Teachers Union generously awarded three, five hundred dollar scholarships to one student from each from Classical, English, and LVTI. The winners were chosen based on results from an AFL-CIO Labor History Exam.

The winners were Johnney Pham from Classical, Alexandria Kolwicz from English, and Angelica Lopez from LVTI.

The WATCH would like to offer congratulations to the students and thanks to the Teachers Union.

 Oh yeah, one question before I go, "Don't we have 4 high schools, you know Facteau-Leary?". I mean some of those kids graduate and don't any of them plan to go somewhere for further education or training? Sorry, that was two questions. My bad.

Not That Capano

Summer is almost here, school is almost out. Are we at the WATCH turning over a new leaf? Has the WATCH become a kinder, gentler blog? Maybe the bouncing e mails have softened my analysis.

I pose these questions in light of my recent flurry of positive articles. Okay, not all of them but a recovery is a work in progress. I still might be a little LAME.

Recently I commented on LSC member Rick Starbard's Facebook page, saying positive things in response to his posting of Lynn City Councilman Pete Capano's fundraiser. My positive comments somewhat shocked Rick. I guess he thougt I was anti- everybody.

Look at the back issues of my blog (really, it will help my numbers), I have always been pro-student and pro-parent. I don't think I have ever said anything bad about a teacher. I've even said good things about Councilmen Creighton and the majority of things I have said about Councilman Phelan have been positive.

Now it is Councilman Capano's turn. First I would like to thank him for his interest in education and the realization that in his position in city government he plays an important role in our progress going forward. Specifically, he personally called me personally during the whole "Coach K" fiasco and while his interest did not affect the ultimate outcome, it did reflect a concern about the justice of the situation. All of the Councilmen were made aware of what was going on, only  he called me asking questions.

Also I know from my daughter's involvement with North Shore Community College's Student Leadership Ambassador Program that he, along with Councilmen Collucci, Crowley, and Creighton met with member's of the middle school students from that group and with the support of Council President Phelan agreed to offer their support for the establishment of a Lynn Youth Council to give a voice to our younger citizen's concerns. Councilman Capano's level of commitment deserves to be rewarded.

Does all of this sunshine and gobbledygook mean that I have suddenly turned soft? Not on your life. It does however show, that if you do the right things, I will be your friend. I know what you're thinking, "With friends like you,...." Still, would you rather I be your enemy from the get go?

Time To Go Hunting - It's DUCK Season

My e mails are still bouncing back from the superintendent and her colleagues. Surely she is not trying to DUCK the WATCH. Maybe I should hand deliver hard copies so that she is kept informed of some parents' perspective (or at least my opinions).

Hopefully the problem has to do with an Internet connection or something technological and not physical, you know - LAME.

Off To Broadway

Fourth and fifth graders from Ford School left on buses for New York this morning. I wanted to get up to see the buses off but they left at 6 am. My contract says I don't have to get up early if it's raining.

Boy are they lucky, the only place I ever got to go in school was Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh, Steel town, Three Rivers. My kids got to go to DC when they were at Ford last year. Asiah got grass from the White House lawn as a souvenir.

Which Label Fits?

Speaking of RACES, we here at the WATCH have learned that congratulations are in order for BRANT DUNCAN, elected by a wide margin (in percentage, not votes) to head the Lynn Teachers Union. Hopefully he can energize the union to actually participate in their own direction and the directions our students take. Wait, since voter apathy helped get him in office, how committed will he be to energizing the members?

Ingalls By A Nose

In a tightly contested three team race Ingalls nudges out Ford who barely edged out Cobbet for having the most kids entered for the Lynn Hershey Track and Field Games at Manning Field on June 12, 2010. Ford and Ingalls switch places when it comes to actual events entered but the difference is only two. It's GREAT to see 30 different teams for this event but since I hear the sound of water bouncing off the asphalt as I write this, I hope they have a rain date!

Have I Been Blacklisted?

All they had to do was ask, they didn't have to get all technological on a poor, disabled poet. Pretty much since the beginning of this odyessy that the WATCH has existed I have been sending Dr. Latham, Tom Iaribino, and lately Dr. Wary courtesy copies of the WATCH so they could keep me informed if  I said something out of line or UNTRUE and to date they have never contacted me about any editorial concerns.

Now I am finding my e mails bouncing back with the following message:

 The error that the other server returned was: 550 550 Blocked (state 14).

 BLOCKED! I'VE BEEN BLOCKED. I don't understand.

All Work And No Play, You Know What They Say!

Today the classes each took turns enjoying the festivities at Ford School provided as a reward for a hard year of work. They were celebrating not only their accomplishments during the year but also learning to enjoy being a kid.

Bowling!

Fun Day!

Bouncing!

Fun Day!

Refreshments!

Fun!

More Bouncing!

Fun Day!

I Wanted A Cigarette And I Don't Even Smoke!

I was having difficulty breathing at the LSC meeting last night, I don't know if it was the ninety plus heat or the tension in the room. Just like at the "State-of-the City" speech the mayor and I had an awkward exchange between us two. She was talking to me but not at me, Our previous experience told me everything I needed to know. The electricity in the air wasn't only from the lightning outside.

Finally the tension reached a climax, she could hold back no more. The mayor busted out telling everyone, "THE SCHOOL BUDGET WILL BE ON-LINE BEFORE IT IS APPROVED!"

She announced that this would be done to satisfy some member in the audience who had been asking  for this, a chance to comment while there was still a chance to affect the outcome. She never spoke my name but I don't think any of the other ten or so people in the crowd have a BLOG with over 35,000 hits. I don't know but I was tired after it was all done.

In The Pocket?

Why was the PRESIDENT of the TEACHER'S UNION given a one year leave of absence to conduct union business when the union just had an election yesterday to elect or perhaps re-elect their president. Was this just a case of putting the cart before the horse or inside knowledge to maybe a rigged election? I don't know, I'm not paid to answer questions. I'm not paid at all. I'm just glad it doesn't cost to ask questions.

FW: School Budget 2012

WATCH reader Mary Ellen Palermo sent me a very interesting e mail asking some very interesting questions.

---

To: lathamc@lynnschools.org; DanielFCahill@gmail.com; mariacarras2003@yahoo.com; fordie1@verizon.net; rstarbard@comcast.net; dagass11@verizon.net; harrison.harley@comcast.net; stanleywotring@msn.com; jesse@jaegerfamily.us
Subject: School Budget 2012
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2011 09:16:30 -0400
From: maryepalermo@aol.com

http://www.cpsd.us/CPS_content/documents/CPS_FY2012-Book2.pdf

Good morning,

I noticed that Lowell and Cambridge already have approved budgets online for FY 2012.

Cambridge has $74,000 budgeted for City Sprouts - their program for a garden at every elementary school.   Will Lynn have anything budgeted?   Cambridge - a large metro city with a diverse population I am sure similar to Lynn in many ways - is showing class size typically no more than 20 children in a classroom!    I know Cambridge has always had a very committed objective for good schools and quality education and their city is improving every year!      I do believe the two go hand in hand.

I am looking online and I cannot find the projected budget for Lynn next year.   Prior to June 20, I am hoping at the Council budget hearing where the line item for schools will be approved on June 20 that we have a chance to review some of the specifics before the hearing.   Is the proposed budget online now?

I am hoping to see in the budget that the priority for the city is quality good schools.   As far as I am concerned, city hall is secondary and personnel if needed should be cut other places throughout the city long before any cuts in the classroom!

I did give Steve Grossman my two cents last week when he sat next to me at the convention - he is telling me that the Marshall School building plans is going forward!  Hopefully the plans for replacing other school buildings are not far behind.   He is claiming quality education is a priority for him in all the gateway cities.

Please send me the link for the FY 2012 budgets so hopefully we are all prepared prior to June 20.

Thank you.

Mary Ellen Palermo

P.S.  There are no email addresses online for the other members of the School Committee!

 

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die."    Ted Kennedy

FORD'S Got Talent

My daughter volunteered last night at FORD School's TALENT SHOW. She reported there was some pretty good acts. The actual quality of the performance is not the real story. All of our kids are stars. What is IMPORTANT is the opportunity to showcase all of our kids talents, yours and mine.

Oh, By The Way, my daughter ASIAH will be opening the WORLD FOLK FESTIVAL on Saturday at Heritage Park in Lynn. She is also a MARSHALL student. Remember, you get your unbiased reporting HERE!

ITEM Fails To Report There Was Nothing To Report

Here I go, making a fool of myself for lambasting the ITEM for not reporting on the school department's presentation of their budget to council and it  turns out, according to sources (check out comments on my last post) that budget numbers weren't presented. It was on the agenda, that's a legal document isn't it? Maybe it was in some secret executive session behind CLOSED doors.

Maybe it was supposed to be, I don't know. I'm not too smart on all this legal stuff. All I know is what I think and I think most people would be interested in how the city spends half its money. THE STORY IS NO STORY!

ITEM Lame On Coverage, DUCKS School Budget Preview To Council

How Come NO MENTION of the fact that the school department's budget was in today's paper? It was on the last night's council meeting's agenda. I wasn't at the meeting, my wife says I go to too many meetings.

Surely the fact that the school department makes up half the city's budget must mean it's important enough. How are we ever going to do better if we don't raise the level of attention we pay to our PROBLEMS.

Latham Pulls Up Lame On Budget?

On the agenda for tonight's city council meeting is a preview, a regular premier, of the school department budget. The budget will be presented in more detail I am sure during Thurs. night's LSC meeting. I guess I will have to wait and catch that show.

It will be interesting to see how innovative Dr. Latham is in her budget proposal considering how given the political winds of elections and the fact her contract is expiring, she could potentially be a LAME DUCK.

Hopefully, her commitment and degree of professionalism drive her to present some creative solutions to our fiscal and educational dilemmas.

Even When Schools Out, Learning Is Still In

I was asked to promote this on my blog. I am only too happy to comply. Lynn should be proud of its heritage.

Subject: Invite from Mass Humanities 

Dear Community Partners 

  

I am proud to invite your Organization to participate in joining us for a Communal reading and Celebration by the people of Lynn, of Frederick Douglass' fiery 1852 Fourth of July address, "The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro" (abridged, Douglass took 3 hours) 

  

The Event will be held on Sunday, July 3rd at 6:30 in Lynn.  We are working on confirming the location, but we promise it will be spectacular! 

  

The event, and more information about it is pasted below, is free and open to all – and all are invited to participate. It is sponsored by a growing list of local civic and educational organizations, including the City of Lynn, Mass Humanities, Salem Stage College, The Lynn Museum, The Highlands Coalition, and more.  

  

As you probably know, the famous abolitionist orator lived in Lynn during the years 1841-1845, when he first lectured around New England. 

  

This is a first for Lynn, but there have been several of these events around the state in previous years with great success, and I think you will enjoy participating in the public reading of Douglass' magnificent oratory.   

Just think; everyone with a paragraph of the speech to read; A child from your Program reading next to a City Official, next to a Clergy member, next to a Neighbor.  There will be paragraphs translated into Spanish, Russian, Khmer, Haitian and more. 

  

I hope that your Participation or Sponsorship of the event will encourage you and members of your Organization and the Community it serves to not only attend, but take on reading a paragraph themselves. 

  

It is easy to participate as an organization – 

to collaborate in this event, your group would agree to: 

1)  Have it's name listed as a Sponsor on the Flyer 

2)  Send out the Publicity and have at least one person attend the reading 

  

Attached please find a "save the date" flyer. 

  

  

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. 

  

  

Sincerely, Wendy Joseph, Leslie Greenberg, Bob Connolly 

Coordinators  "Fredrick Douglass in Lynn" 

  

More about Reading Frederick Douglass events: 

  

Reading Frederick Douglass is an initiative of Mass Humanities, Community Change, and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice at Harvard Law School. 

  

In the 1852 Fourth of July address, Douglass famously asked, 

  

"Fellow citizens, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? 

What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? 

Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak today? What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?" 

  

“Reading Frederick Douglass" is a multi-year statewide initiative to mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War during the presidency of Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States. 

  

Our experience is that, in order to happen and be a success, this event needs participation from a range of public and civic organizations. Once a variety of people gather in one place, very little else in the end is needed to make it happen and to make it a civic success. 

  

We do this at the Statehouse in Boston, and we have been organizing these events in various places around the state for a couple of years to great local acclaim. 

Here is a link to a radio report about our Springfield reading in 2010  

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1669719  

If you would like to know  more about this event, please explore the "Reading Frederick Douglass" project Web pages on the Mass Humanities Website. 

  

http://www.masshumanities.org/ 

http://masshumanities.org/?p=douglass_events 

http://masshumanities.org/files/programs/douglass/speech_short.pdff 

Sincerely, 

Wendy Joseph 

Leslie Greenberg 

Bob Connolly 

wendy_joseph@mac.com 

781-842-1480 

617-680-1707 

Lynn Youth To Be Plugged Into Science at MIT

Powered by a generous grant from GE, 25 girls who will be entering the 7th grade this fall at one of the three middle schools in the city will be exploring science and engineering at the university in a week long day program. Because my daughter Asiah was selected to attend I got to sit in on the orientation meeting last night. The meeting was hosted by DR LATHAM which was nice to see such a high level of attention paid to this program. I have to admit though it did seem a bit ironic since her administration doesn't have a science coordinator or department head or whatever title that justifies a six figure salary.

Anyway this will be a wonderful opportunity and I am glad Asiah gets to be a part of it.

LSC Meeting Agenda For 06-09-2011

Here's the agenda for Thursday night's meeting - Bon Apetit.

LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS    Administrative Offices

90 Commercial Street          Lynn, MA  01905

 

Eleventh Regular Meeting of the School Committee

Thursday, June 9, 2011

7:00 P.M.

ORDER OF BUSINESS 

 

I.          Salute to the Flag

 

II.         Moment of Silence

 

III.       Necrology

           

IV.       Minutes

                         

V.        New Business

            A.        Fallon School – 100 Robinson Street – Reopen school for SY2011-12

            B.         Summer Employment Opportunities – Mrs. Coppola

            C.         Field Trip Requests

                        1.         Lynn Woods School – to Canobie Lake Park, Salem NH – June 8, 2011

                        2.         Marshall Middle School – to Canobie Lake Park, Salem NH – June 16 2011

                        3.         Classical High School – to Water Country, Portsmouth, NH – June 22, 2011

            D.        Student Discipline Code (Student Dress Code Policy) Student appearance – for review

            E.         FY12 Budget

           

VI.       Communications

            A.        Lynn School Administrator’s Association – awarding $500 scholarships to graduating   seniors from each high school, this year they are including Fecteau-Leary Senior High

            B.         Lynn Teachers Union – awarding $500 scholarships to senior high school students based  on the AFL-CIO Labor History Exam given in February 2011.

           

VII.      Information

            A.        Superintendent’s Report

            B.         Enrollment Report – June 1, 2011

            C.         Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP – Municipal Client Advisory – May 2011

                        Enforcement Letters From Attorney General’s Office Highlight Need For Specificity Under Open Meeting law

           

PAC Threw A Bash And Nobody Came

Well not really, people were at the meeting last night except there was no meeting.. That was because in order you do business you have to have a quorum of board members present (in this case four and there was only three). I don't know why chairperson Dave Ellis has to be such a stickler for rules. Our most honorable Mayor never bothered with trivial things like rules and laws at the last LSC meeting when she dismissed the crowd promising that no business would be conducted after going into executive session. So what happens after executive session? Business was conducted before an almost empty crowd. But she's a lawyer and I don't know,does that mean they are allowed to break the law? Dave Ellis just doesn't know how to get things done.

There were other people there, important people. Dr. Cheryl Menino, the head of Special Ed. just back from a medical leave, Lydia Muggeo, and Frances Martinez, the new PARENT LIAISON (okay she did speak with a couple of Spanish parents that I wouldn't have been able to). This was supposed to be the last meeting of the  year but you can't have elections if you don't have a meeting. Obviously there will be another one, I will let you know when I know.

I Guess I Will PAC For The STARs Tonight!

So much going on. I want to be everywhere. Not only does my son have a ball game, but my daughter has an event at English about her going to a program at MIT this summer. On top of all that there is a STAR party at High Rock Tower from Ford School tonight and a PAC meeting at 10 Church St. at 7 pm.

I will try to make what I can. A lot depends on the availability of my BFF/ chauffeur.

PAC is having an important meeting tonight - NOMINATIONS!

Are You Ready?

The battle begins. The budget for next year is on the agenda for Thurs. night's LSC meeting!

Our Future Looks Bright, Shades Anyone?

Both groups of student, middle school and high school, culminated a years work at the North Shore Community College Leadership Program with a significant accomplisment worthy of great civic pride.

The high school students met with the Parks and Recreation Department and presented an idea that would allow the youth to have more ongoing involvement in the activities going forward by assisting in the promotion of those activities through the use of social media.

The middle school group met with councilmen Crighton, Collucci, Crowley, and Capano to advocate for the establishment of a Youth Council throughout the city. Last night Diana Kerry from NSCC announced  that she heard that day that Councilman Phelan pledged his support for the establishment of the Youth Council. Things look positive going forward.

THIS JUST SHOWS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY OUR YOUTH CAN DO GREAT THINGS!

It was GREAT to see

It was GREAT to see Dr Cowdell from Marshall at tonight's event at North Shore? It is so important to support our young kids!

Agenda for tonight's Student Leadership Program at NSCC

Student Leadership Program at North Shore Commnity College

To Test vs. To Kinda Test

Last week while the Personnel Subcommittee was trying to hammer out an employee drug testing  policy, there was much debate on when the appropriate timing was to use the more restictive hair follicle test verus a urine test. Both tests screened for the same 5 drugs. The hair follicle test would go back for about six months and the urine test would only cover the last week.

Attorney Mihos told the committee that if the committee chose to us the more restrictive hair follicle test on substitutes it might limit the pool of potential candidates too much. Really. Maybe it's because I am not a lawyer like attorney Mihos but I was under the impression it was always wrong to commit a crime just not when it was inconvenient. I got to get more schooling.

So following that line of reasoning it's okay to leave our children under the care and upervision of a possible drug addict because it is only temporary.

All of the back and forth debate resulted in the new drug testing policy being tabled and nothing was enacted, SO IT REMAINS THAT LPS HAS NO DRUG TESTING FOR ANY EMPLOYEE.

Is Everyone Treated The Same?

Whatever happened to the classroom aide who was arrested for drugs  during a lunch break? What about the Marshall student who was  found to have drugs in his locker? How does their respective punishments compare? Just trying to get my "ducks in a rowe" before I elaborate on last Thurs. night's discussion on the establishment of a schoolwide drug policy. You know me, I like to have all my facts straight.

From The "Highlands Watch", Part Of The WATCH Family

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Possible Donation Of Computers To School

I was returning home from my volunteer stint in Ford School's library yesterday and I saw David Gass, Director of the Highlands Coalition, working in thee International Garden. I suggested to him that I thought it would be a "good idea" for HICO to donate a couple of the computers that had been donated to HICO by Blue Cross/Blue Shield, to the library during the upcoming Scholastic book fair.

He seemed to think it was a good idea and mentioned he would pass it along. Stay tuned.

Maybe Some People Are Listening?

As my faithful readers know (yeah, that's you Mom), the WATCH has been calling for Lynn City Council to get involved in our kids education. So the fact that Councilman Phelan is getting some students involved in the workings of city government, even in a small way (the pledge) is worthy of a little recognition. I also see from this article that "GQ" is not all flash. His yearning that teachers be allowed to TEACH and not be forced to jump through hoops mandated by hyper-vigilant testing, is RIGHT on target. He still dresses nice.

The Daily Item: Lynn minorities become majority

The WATCH on the Watch

I am going to post this heart wrenching letter I got from a WATCH reader begging for our assistance in this all to rare problem:

"I saw children playing, laughing and eating ice cream in a schoolyard this weekend...What are we going to do about this!"

 I believe Principal Mihos handled this problem effectively. I recommend you refer to a recent letter to the ITEM editor for TIPS on what to do!

Teachers To Exercise Rights!

Decision time today! I hear there is a teacher's union vote today @ 4 pm to decide whether or not the teacher's union will buy into the state insurance pool. There is supposed to be a cost savings but there are also rumors of ineptness. The WATCH doesn't have a dog in this fight but we just encourage everyone that can to vote. More details to come.

Lynn 'Dogs Got Swagger!

How come no parade? Where are their keys to the city? Lynn English High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC are 2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS in the Unarmed Dual division. Michelle Angel and Josselyn Hernand were t.he recipients of this distinctions.

There were many categories and the Sgt. Major brought five huge trophies to last Thur.'s LSC meeting to show off the team's accomplishments in the nationals. The most important accomplishment was, of course, that they bested a rival NEW YORK squad.

The mayor did remark that if there ever was a fiscal emergency in the city, we could melt down the Lynn English trophy case and there would be enough precious metal to stabilize the crisis.