Members Present: Barry Hantman-chairman, Bill Hadley, Tara Burkhart, Joe Luna-Selectman’s rep.
Others Present: Bill Gregsak-Gregsak Engineering, Dave Knight, Janet Denison-clerk
The meeting began at 7:30 and was televised. (more…)
Sarah MacGregor, president of Dragon Mosquito Control, told the Eagle-Times the snow provided a thick blanket to insulate mosquito larvae, which might result in a higher mosquito population. RISE President Allen James agrees, “It takes an integrated approach where citizens and public officials work together to remove breeding grounds, monitor mosquito activity, use biological and chemical controls, and educate their friends and neighbors about proper prevention measures.”
Since the Board of Selectmen has only seen fit to sporadically sample wetlands for ‘bad’ mosquitos, it’s up to the rest of us to do the heavy lifting. Be sure to empty standing water that accumulates on your property — drain your pool cover, cover barrels, and clear off toys.
This is the best time to deploy BTI dunks. One dunk per 100 square feet of standing water will prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard for up to thirty days. Mosquitos not born in April will not be making more mosquitoes in May. I dunk as soon as the water settles then every thirty days until Labor Day. $90 per year is short money to pay for outdoor comfort and safety.
BTI dunks are the same safe solution used by the town. The only difference is that you can destroy the pests while Dragon is studying them — more effective and less expensive. Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, and Agway all sell (or have sold) BTI dunks locally.
I buy my dunks on eBay. Here is a link to the seller I buy from every year. Five packs of 20 are less than $100 and last me an entire year.
The Eagle-Tribune has reported that a crime was committed at the middle school. The article stated that the principal failed to report the crime to the local authorities and has since advised parents that beverages can only be brought to school in clear containers. If this is true, you have some work to do.
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Battleship Cove 3/21/2009
Danville Cub Scout Pack 13 recently made a trip to Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts to explore the world’s largest collection of historic naval ships. After touring the battleship Massachusetts, destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, submarine Lionfish, and Russian missile corvette Hiddensee, the Scouts spent the night of March 21st sleeping onboard the Joseph P. Kennedy Destroyer. The trip enabled the Scouts to better understand and appeciate the sacrifices made by all veterans who have served our country and those who are currently in uniform around the world protecting our freedom. For information please visit Pack 13’s web page.
This is a long meeting, but the best stuff is at the beginning, so take a peak. First up, meet your new budget committee members — a teacher, a businessman, and a nurse will be joining the TRSD budget committee this year. They introduce themselves.
At 26:37, Mr. Paone takes exception to the 3/5/09 minutes which record his speech to the board only as “a discussion ensued.”
Mr. Paone and Mr. Mascola take the stage again when the SAU proposes policy changes that lower expectations for those of which we already have the lowest expectations. The SAU proposed policy changes to increase the number of failed classes an athlete can have without jeopardizing participation in extracurricular activities. I think someone talks about the pride with which an athlete reports getting a D- or something.
The calendar is discussed. One member raises a concern that teachers from outside the district wiss suffer a hardship if they have to arrange for day care because their kids have different vacations than TRSD. Mr. La Salle reminds the member that the rest of us suffer the same fate every time kids are sent home early. Thank you Mr. La Salle.
The ‘At Risk Survey’ was discussed. It’s about money, mostly. Biggest concern is whether parental consent should be passive (current) or active. The same members who want athletes to compete with F’s want to continue passive support — too much money at stake to risk lower participation. I don’t care the questions are benign and the kids make a joke out of the exercise. I’d like to see the results, though. I wonder how the number of kids that were caught drinking at the middle school yesterday compares to the number who said they drink at school on the survey. Maybe the survey question inspired idea? All I know for sure is that they weren’t learning math while they were completing the survey.
The meeting ends with another nonpublic session.
Thursday March 19, 2009 I’ll be attending a ‘meet and greet’ for new members of the TRSD school board and budget committee. Newly elected members of both bodies, having been notified by telephone, will take their oaths and begin their terms. I’m looking forward to this. There was no ‘meet and greet’ last year. I received an email less than 48 hours from the deadline inviting me to sign my oath. I had known that I was elected. This information had been posted on a local bulletin board and I had received an email from an employee of the SAU alerting me to the fact that counsel had been engaged to deny me the seat. I did not plan to take the seat, but my kids and the other Danville rep to the TRSD budget committee persuaded me.
My first night as a BudCom rep was pleasant, but I was not successful in convincing the other members that it was a good idea to televise meetings. My second night (third meeting) was less cordial. During this meeting — which I refer to as Little Bighorn — I was assailed for 33 minutes. Members demanded that I take down this site for the duration of my service and inflicted rules on me that are not observed by other members.
I volunteered to serve as an alternate representative to the Curriculum and Assessment Committee. I only attended two meetings. The first was held at a country club and was, primarily, a social event. The last order of business was to have future meetings at the country club. After I posted my view of the meeting, it was decided that it would be better to meet at the SAU building. I was assailed for this posting at the next — my last — meeting of the Curriculum and Assessment Committee.
When the BudCom reconvened in September, the tone was a little different. I wasn’t an island. Others were supporting taxpayer positions, voicing parental concerns. Members who supported the SAU 100% became frustrated. Some stopped attending meetings.
By the end of 2008, members were open to the idea of ammending the bylaws to restore the constitutional authority of the TRSD Budget Committee.
Is this change? Is it good? I think so. Charlie Balanoff, our chair, has taken a leadership position on spending and expectations. Michael Mascola, our rep to the school board, is equally vocal in his expectations of the SAU. Michelle O’Neil joins us in demanding change. I expect the TRSD Budget Committee to lead the district in applying resources to improving the education of or children. You should too!
One of the objectives of my three year term as a Danville representative to the TRSD Budget Committee is to understand, document, and share the experience so that others can gauge their interest in and aptitude for the position. The best way to do this would be to have the meetings televised. I proposed that in my very first meeting, but there was no support for televising the meetings (in the end, we agreed to televise the budget presentations — which the School Board televises anyway). This area of DanvilleDelivery.com is the best I can do. I’ve posted minutes, the handbook, and pertinent statutes. I’ve also blogged about meetings of interest. I did not blog about the process during the year. I wanted to take the whole thing in before reporting. I’ve taken it all in, and this is how it looks to me…
A little bickering and a lot of innuendo. If you have any idea who they are talking about — the treacherous elected official, the wonderful teacher, or the potential anonymous doner — post a comment or send me a note. I won’t post the information if you prefer — just curious.
Also, if you know what the emergency meeting was about, I’m interested. Who has more nonpublic meetings the School Board or the BOS?
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Concerned parent of two children in the TRSD school system who pays taxes and is not employed by -- or contracted to -- the town or the SAU...one of the Rest of Us
