So, What’s the deal with the Hooksett Manchester tuition contract settlement?  Inquiring minds want to know after attending last night’s meeting of the Hooksett School Board in light of a disagreement about will happen with 8th graders for the 0h fourteen 0h fifteen school year.  Board Chair Trisha Korkosz stated that after the coming school year, Hooksett children have no place to go for high school.  Superintendent Dr. Charles Littlefield confirmed that statement, clearly stating quote “Manchester will not be accepting any of our freshmen in September two thousand fourteen.”  End quote.  Those two statements, frankly, made last night’s meeting understandable as board members spent the evening looking for alternatives to Manchester for their high school kids.  The center of the discussion really had to do with the desirability of Pinkerton as a single district alternative to Manchester or something they refer to as multi contract choice with a default school, which would have not only one school, presumably Pinkerton, as the default choice, but also have contracts with other districts to provide options for their students.  Other than saying that Manchester won’t take their freshmen starting in oh fourteen and that Manchester would be hard to negotiate with after what they just put them through, the only mention of Manchester as an option came from board member John Lyscars who warned that for the problems they had last school year, Manchester schools still enjoy a great deal of support in the community and that to leave them out of the equation would likely doom any proposal put before the voters in March.  When contacted for comment on the statements of Korkosz and Littlefield, Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas said their assertions were “absolutely untrue” and questioned whether or not I’d heard them right.  “I have no idea where they came up with that,” said Gatsas.  “You’ve read the agreement haven’t you?  Can you find anything that says that?” asked the mayor.  Ah, no, Mr. Mayor, I can’t and we’ll discuss this during the show.  (SEE COMMENTS BELOW FOR LITTLEFIELD’S RESPONSE.)

Residents of Pinardville will have the opportunity to address the ad hoc committee overseeing the development of a controversial master plan for the area tonight at Town Hall.  The committee will be reviewing the community portion of the proposed plan, which raised the hackles of residents by proposing, among other things, to eliminate backyards, open dead end streets to through traffic, make front yards community property and give the town the ability to confiscate up to fourteen feet of frontage for planter beds and sidewalks.  The meeting starts tonight at 7.

Meanwhile, requests for information made by Goffstown Today dot com from town officials have gone unanswered.  The media Web site is seeking information on board member Tony Marts.  Goffstown Today dot com publisher Bill Wynne is seeking information relative to whether or not Marts has permits to operate his legal offices from his home on Gorham Pond Road.  Wynne says he’s been unable to find record of Marts’ legal practice on file with the state and questions how, under Goffstown’s zoning ordinance, Marts can use his home for business without a permit.  Wynne said Marts, who recently complained about not being contacted by media outlets regarding his participation on the ad hoc committee, has failed to reply to multiple requests asking him to explain the business use of his home and direct him to where he can find his business records with the state.  Wynne is questioning whether or not the information is being intentionally withheld until after tonight’s meeting.  (Note:  Planing and Zoning Administrator Brian Rose sent an email during hour 3 c.  Be sure to get the details from our archive!)

News from our own backyard continues right after this.

The Network for Educational Opportunity is hosting a fund raiser and is seeking your support this Thursday at the Manchester Country Club on South River Road in Bedford.  You are invited to pop in and learn just what the demand for the scholarship money they’ve raised is and how many families are seeking assistance.  The suggested minimum contribution is twenty five dollars, but if you just want to pop in and see what’s going on and learn more, you can do that, too.  Details are posted with this newscast at Girard at Large dot com

Manchester mayoral candidate Patrick Arnold will give a speech today at Noon at City Hall which he says will outline his vision for the city.  He’s challenging Mayor Ted Gatsas for the city’s corner office.  Among other things, he says he’ll address the economy, rising crime and schools.  In an interview on the Girard at Large TV show, which is posted to our site and linked to this article, Arnold hinted that the development of a river walk will figure prominently in his plans for increasing activity in the city.

That’s NEWS from our own backyard, Girard at Large hour ___ is straight ahead!