Lizotte: If at first you don’t succeed
Canceled! That’s what happened to last night’s scheduled special meeting of the Hooksett School Board. The meeting had been called following a phone poll conducted by district personnel on Friday at the request of Board Chair Joanne McHugh. McHugh called the meeting at the request of Board Clerk Todd Lizotte who wanted to reopen the discussion on whether or not the board had recommended voters accept the proposed tuition contract with Pinkerton Academy. At a special meeting last week, the board reworked the language of the warrant article to accurately reflect the terms of the contract, but voted against recommending its approval by voters.
Littlefield: Asleep at the switch?
In calling the meeting, McHugh violated board rules which require three members to request the chair call a special meeting. McHugh did not reply to our emails inquiring who, in addition to Lizotte, had requested the special meeting, nor did any other members come forward to say they had requested the meeting. In an email to the board last yesterday morning, Superintendent Charles Littlefield simply wrote, and I quote, “The meeting scheduled for 5:30 today is canceled.”
Lyscars: Not amused
That prompted a barrage of emails from Board Member John Lycars demanding to know who canceled the meeting and why. Littlefield would only say he received a voice mail canceling the meeting. Lyscars also opened fire on Littlefield for failing to review the warrant article language drafted by the attorneys on the Pinkerton contract and hammered him for not properly advising McHugh on the requirements to hold a special meeting. He credited board member David Pearl for questioning whether or not it was called in compliance with board policies. The board will convene tonight for a regularly scheduled reguar meeting.
Gosselin: Clean as a whistle!
For the second year in a row, the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities N H, has been recognized as having the highest standards of excellence in food safety and sanitation according to an audit by American Institute of Baking International, a global leader in food safety auditing. After a full day assessment of overall business practices, food and product safety and sanitation, the Food Bank was ranked as a “superior food safety” program. A I B International has been auditing leading manufacturers, producers, and food suppliers in the food industry since 1919 all over the globe. “While not a requirement, participating in the Food Safety Audit underscores our commitment to adhering to standards that ensure food and product safety to everyone we serve as well as maintaining an immaculate and safe food storage facility,” said NH Food Bank Executive Director Melanie Gosselin.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
Metzler: “If I were a fiscal conservative…”
Well, after watching the public hearing on the budget approved by Timberlane Regional School District’s Budget Committee, a lot of what’s popping up on social media now makes a whole lot of sense. In a presentation to the public and before both the Budget Committee and the School Board, Superintendent Earl Metzler made an eye popping Power Point presentation outlining three courses of action the district would be forced to take if a three point five million dollar cut was made to the proposed budget. Among the more interesting options were laying off every single building level administrator and every non-special education teaching assistant. Then, there was the elimination of all sports, arts and music programs options, that was a real crowd pleaser. Of course, there was the option of charging students whopping fees to participate in music, arts, sports and other extra curricular programs.
Green: Corrects the record
In response to questions from the audience, including one inquiring about where the proposed three point five million dollar cut came from, Budget Committee Member Arthur Green hammered Metzler for misrepresenting the proposal he made. Noting that he proposed a budget of just under sixty five million dollars, the proposed cut was two point eight million dollars and didn’t affect any of the line items Metzler said would be eliminated if the cuts were made.
Grosky: Threatens Green
On the question of personnel layoffs, Metzler said unemployment insurance costs would force the district to lay off sixty nine teachers to get the savings projected by Green in proposing a reduction of the thirty nine positions. When Green raised the fact that the district filled sixty five vacancies last year and said that most of the eliminated positions would likely be done through attrition, he was cut off by Budget Committee Chairman Jason Grosky, who threatened to banish him to the peanut gallery if he continued to speak.
Green: No pat on the back from her
School Board Member Donna Green got into the act noting that the budget included closing a school and eliminated the Drivers Ed program, but still increased spending by over three hundred thousand dollars. She chided the district for not bringing in a spending reduction despite closing schools and reducing services and hammered them for saying they were eliminating fifteen point four full time equivalent position when twelve of the positions eliminated were vacant.
Metzler: Having 12 vacant and funded positions is good for the taxpayer
Metzler defended eliminating the vacant, but funded positions, saying that it only made sense to carry them on the books, with funding for the year he did, to ensure that their absence wouldn’t be damaging to the district. He then proceeded to give advice to critics of the district and started that sentence with, and I quote “If I were a fiscal conservative, I would…” dot dot dot. We’ll end it there because that just about says it all. We’ve linked to the meeting for your review. I had to stop halfway through and go look for duct tape. Here’s the link to Donna Green’s blog of the presentation.
That’s news from our own backyard, Girard at Large hour ___ is next.
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