The April 27 School Committee agenda looks like a political yard sale -- an attempt to dispose of an entire year's worth of business in a single night.
On the important side of the spectrum is approval of the new Superintendent's contract, "discussion" of the pool use policy, the School's contribution to the Town's Long Range Plan, the Wing School renovation, and the Community School audit. Many of these issues have been festering for months -- with nary a word of adult conversation. All are serious issues with long-term implications -- both financial and operational. Other than signing the new Supt's contract, I don't see a single one being legitimately resolved this week.
On the stupid side of the agenda -- a continuation of the discussion on whether to support the construction of sidewalks on Quaker Meetinghouse (that would be the street that three of the four schools are on). Why did it take weeks to support the construction of a sidewalk? Is there a downside to supporting state aid for sidewalks? Randy Hunt has been on top of this issue for months -- why has it taken the Committee so long to get involved?
Further down on the list of Stupid Agenda Items is a discussion of Mr. Nancy Crossman's idea that electronic devices at the Committee Table pervert HIS sense of democracy by allowing "anonymous" people to have input on matters before their elected representatives. Overlooking the fact that most people use "electronic devices" for more than playing "Angry Birds" and reading emails, I am far more interested in which anonymous people told his wife to replace the Superintendent of Schools, than I am about who may have emailed one of our selectmen to complain about the School Committee.
I have to think if Mr. Susko, Mrs. Cahill, or Mr. Killion had this brainstorm, that the School Committee would do what the Selectmen seem to have done -- referred it to The Committee on Stupid Ideas for further study.
