Random Thoughts from around the Punch Bowl ...

Merry Christmas!, Merry Christmas!, Merry Christmas!

Not Happy Holidays, Not Happy Winter Solstice, Not Happy Generic Winter Non-Denominational Event, Not Even Happy Festivus !

Merry F'n Christmas !

Now that I have that out of my system -- Please feel free to celebrate whatever holiday you choose -- but DO NOT prevent me from celebrating mine!  Because something is recognized by a large number of people (Dare I say a local "majority" ?) does that make it a Bad Thing?

I applaud the Town of Saugus (coincidentally, the home of the original Sandwich settlers) for having the guts (polite term) to keep delivering Santa to the the Schools on a firetruck -- political correctness be damned!!  (Of course, we could discuss why classroom instruction is being interrupted for any purpose -- but that is a separate (grinch-like) discussion.)

Other Random Thoughts looking for a home:

Wing School Reno?  Maybe I missed the updates, but are we hoping it will just go away if we ignore it?  (Hint:  That hasn't worked too well in the past!)

The Community School ?   I've been sitting quietly waiting for the New Team to begin publicly discussing a plan, but my hunch is that even the Three Wisemen would rather hang out in The Manger than sign up for Trustee Duty in a Financial Sinkhole, inhabited by Rabid Pool People. 

Teachers Contract?  Will we be able to end what appears to be the local drama club try-outs for a re-make of the movie Norma Rae which seem to be occurring with greater frequency at School Committee Meetings -- as Union Leaders DON'T negotiate in front of the camera?  (I hope nobody gets the urge to say, "They like me, they really like me!".  If so, they would be mistaken.)

The Budget?  If we start the year with $500K less in Fed grant money, AND we pay out another $500K in increased longevity & steps, AND reach settlement with the Teachers Union for some sort of COLA (retroactive to FY '11), AND fund Department Heads with Funds previously budgeted for the Assistant Superintendent (who was previously eliminated from the Budget due to a lack of funds), where does that leave us?

Snow Job?  Rumor has it that several members of the BOS have been doing a "Sun Dance" around the DPW yard in an effort to ward off snow -- and the inevitable public outrage that will occur the first time somebody's street doesn't get plowed.  On the bright side, it takes so long for Fire/EMS to respond to the far corners of East Sandwich that the street probably will be plowed by the time the red trucks arrive!  Maybe we could put a plow blade on one of the Engines stored at Station Two?

FLASH FROM THE PAST:  One cold December night a few years back, the Chairmen of the Selectmen and School Committee huddled at a Main Street kitchen table discussing the best way to improve communications between the two Boards, and to prevent future Budget "surprises".  A little further down Main Street, the Firefighters' Union was sponsoring an Open House with tractor rides, a camp  fire, Santa and inumerable happy kids and pleased parents.  As if the firefighters' gesture didn't generate enough goodwill  on its own, they were also refusing cash donations from appreciative residents that night.

Still further down Main Street,  the president of the Teacher's Union was preparing to file a grievance against the Superintendent and the School Committee because they had the sheer audacity to lease a portable computer for every teacher in the District.  Imagine the outrageousness of allowing your teachers access to the latest technology !!  (She couldn't kill the effort, but she did manage to keep the machines locked up in a closet while generating still more ill will and bad publicity.  But, in the Big Picture, I am sure it was ..... "for the children ...").

Now, with those random thoughts purged, I would like to thank those who are willing to suffer the slings and arrows of constant criticism and volunteer their time to work for the good of the Town.  While I certainly don't agree with everybody all the time, I certainly do appreciate the amount of effort most of them put into their work.  (Somebody once said that "Public Service is like wetting your pants in a dark suit --- nobody notices, but you get that warm feeling! -- but I digress.)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!