This site has been relocated ... for the latest postings, please see www.NotThePTA.org
Sunday, January 04, 2015
Saturday, December 06, 2014
Security Camera Footage ...
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| Security Cameras at SHS captured the source of an unusual noise this week --- it was the sound of more tax dollars being sucked out through tghe leaks that somebody forgot to fix .... when they were fixing the leaks in the pool! |
Friday, December 05, 2014
Like Shooting Fish in A Barrel ... or a (still) leaky swimming pool ...
I have finally managed to laugh my way out of Writer's Block!
First, the Town proudly announced that they had cut 9% of the $30 Million cost of the proposed Public Safety Building -- by eliminating 45% of the building space!
If they cut 90% of the space would we save 18% of the cost?
Now I understand why we need the building -- but by eliminating 100% of the space would we only save 20% of the cost!! Would we be paying somebody $24 Million to NOT build us a building.
You have to love consultants!
Unfortunately, local government has become such a flea circus that nobody is paying attention anyway --this deal would have a better chance if they would stop "educating the public" !!
(I do think we need a better Police/Fire station -- but I still question the cost. I'm even more suspicious now that they have managed to reduce 45% from what they originally claimed was a "no-frills" proposal.)
The Sandwich Pool ... the gift that keeps on giving!
So, we just spent $980,000 to fix the leaks in the pool .. and it looks great! Except for one minor issue ... IT'S STILL LEAKING!!
It gets better. Apparently the pool has never met the State Building Code because it was never properly grounded. And, apparently nobody noticed that until the renovation was completed. No word on the cost of that repair yet.
Just to recap the Pool saga -- a few years back some School Committee folks were practically tarred and feathered by an angry crowd wielding swim goggles and pitchforks for pointing out:
- The Community School Accounting Reports were bogus, misleading, and useless
- The Pool was being subsidized by the School System
- There should be a reserve for Pool maintenance
- Unknown people were allowed to wander in and get naked with high school kids
Guess what?
- The School budget funded "Lifeguard Love Shacks" to provide public changing areas,
- The Community School closed because it couldn't support the pool or its own expenses
- The Public was eventually banned during school hours for obvious security reasons
- The Pool was closed due to a lack of maintenance
- Almost $1 million was spent to fix the pool -- but it still can't open because it leaks
- Even if it didn't leak, it doesn't meet code because users could be electrocuted
The more things change, the more they remain the same!
Tuesday, October 07, 2014
LET'S FIND OUR 2020 VISION By Jim Pierce
I just spent a fun-filled few minutes at notthepta.org. A couple of folks referred to the future of the Wing building complex. Below is an article by yours truly that was published in your favorite turtle cage liner over three and a half years ago. Your dedicated readers also appear to have missed the point that the FY15 budget includes $75K for a Wing re-lifing study. We remain on track although my six month, mentioned at the end of the article, appears to have become 4-5 years :-) The inertia in this form of government can never be over-estimated. But, to quote Winston Churchill, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for everything else we've tried."
My crystal ball proved reasonably accurate. Please feel free to "reprint" the article with reference to its original publication date, if you like.
LET'S FIND OUR 2020 VISION
During the week of February 14 the final piece in a giant puzzle was placed face up on the table for the selectmen and school committee. Now all those pieces have to be assembled into a Capital Asset Plan for Sandwich.
Cost estimates were presented for making the Wing complex serviceable as a school long term. There are basically three alternatives. The complex can be renovated for $30 million. New construction coupled with renovation would cost $40 million. A whole new school can be built for $50 million. The consultant also pointed out that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will reemburse about half the cost. The estimates were escalated because construction cannot begin until 2014.
If one of these paths is followed, the voters of Sandwich will be asked to borrow between $15-25 million to have a fourth school building in place in time for the 2015-2016 school year. The problem is, at least as I see it, Sandwich will not need four school buildings. The voters may have good reason to want a fourth school building. That is distinct from needing one.
The school enrollment as of October 1, 2010 was just over 3400. That is down 800 from the peak in 2002. The classes in the high school today average about 260. The entering kindergarten classes over the next four years, based on 2010 census data, will average about 210. Each of the next four years about 260 students will graduate while 210 are entering kindergarten. Consequently, enrollment goes down 50 students per year.
Cat Stuck in Tree Next?
I have avoided chiming in with my $.02 on the latest heavily publicized "Fire Boat Rescues Dog from Canal" stories. I was hoping somebody else could find a dark side to saving somebody's beloved pet rescued. But it didn't happen.
Here's the disclaimers:
1) I like dogs, I've always had dogs. Some of my best friends are dogs.
2) The current FD administration did not acquire the stupid fire boat -- so we can't blame them for the foolish thing. (but maybe they could sell it?)
3) I am reluctant to antagonize any group that I may need to save my fat ass from a bad situation
That being said, would we have emptied the station leaving at least half the Town with limited coverage if it was a cat stuck in a tree? If we had multiple calls and called in mutual aid from another Town is it fair to make those other folks wait for an ambulance?
Couldn't the Coast Guard, or the Harbor Master who already have staffed boats on site handled the call?
Friday, September 26, 2014
Timberrrrrrrr !!!
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| Missed Opportunity --- I'm sure SOMEBODY must have seen this guy nesting along the Service Road ? |
The No-Gas crowd saved the best for last. The mind-numbing broadcast caused me to nod off more than a few times, but I have a distinct memory that one of the last speakers had a lovely English accent and spoke of the Town shredding Baby Birds in a wood chipper.
Nonetheless, the Selectmen showed spine and made cogent comments and well-reasoned explanations for their votes to allow the tree removal. Justin the Tree Warden did a good job explaining the situation despite the fact he probably feared for his life. The Crossmans even appeared very reasonable and professional -- despite their long involvement with this issue.
On the other hand, more than a few of their neighbors thought they had been invited to a barroom brawl!
Friday, August 29, 2014
And Now a Word From The Sandwich Public Schools ....
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
The Case With No Winners
UPDATE -- The CCT is reporting that Dr. Johnson has not agreed to the settlement. The Town is still on the hook for $465,000 but no other details are available.
From the Cape Cod Times: Sandwich to pay Johnson $500K
No surprise. But, it's too bad that winning a case doesn't actually produce any winners -- unless you count the lawyers who benefited from a four year unsupervised billing orgy!
On one side, you have the Sandwich taxpayers who have essentially been paying two Superintendents for the past three years as a direct result of the actions of four vindictive school committee members. That's money that hasn't gone towards improving education, fixing roads, fixing beaches, or maintaining buildings.
On the other side, you have a former School Superintendent with almost 40 years of experience who has become essentially unemployable. Not only did she lose her job but, once some folks realized there could be some ramifications for their actions, they really began to pile on the bullshit.
Does anybody think it is unusual that a District would ban their own School Superintendent for allegedly speaking harshly to an employee -- yet allow two other school employees directly involved with the care of children to remain employed -- despite the fact that they appeared to be so intoxicated that fellow employees had to drive them home from school?
How about a Union that not only defended both of those employees but then filed grievances and fought to get them reinstated and their records expunged? But, then again, this is the same union whose new President recently resigned because she was tired of being bullied by the old union leadership. (Who, not coincidentally, is back in control.)
One other point -- the current Superintendent made a comment about this settlement affecting funds available for students in the current year's education budget. Given that the bulk of this settlement was decried by a Judge months ago, this liability should have been fully accrued for in Fiscal 2014. In fact, given the facts of the case, I would be shocked if there has not been a reserve on the books for this payment for the past three years. This has already hit the budget -- To say this claim could also have any impact on the coming year's school budget is disingenuous at best.
Let's not start lining up those FY '15 Budget excuses yet!
Mass. Taxpayers Will Fund Sandwich Project That Sandwich Voters Did Not Want to Fund
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| Thank you Abington, Athol, Braintree, Chelsea, Danvers, Edgartown, Falmouth, Granby, Haverhilll ....! |
Mass. Taxpayers Will Fund Sandwich Project That Sandwich Voters Did Not Want to Fund
Standard Stadium Disclaimer: I am one of the large number of people who absolutely, positively, do not begrudge any veteran a memorial. I would have no problem re-naming the High School Building after Captain DeConto. My concern is only the cost and priority of the project.
The roads are falling apart, the beach is washing away, and the Public Safety Buildings are a disgrace, I'm just not seeing artificial turf as a major necessity.
But, barring the sudden growth of a spine, I assume the Governor will sign off and then we can thank the good folks in West Boylston, North Adams, Lowell & Lawrence for their contribution to our football field.
But, for the record, this still doesn't make up for the value of the subsidized swimming pool access Sandwich taxpayers have been providing to their Cape neighbors for the past two decades!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
The New Sandwich School Department Theme Song ....
Ironically, at the same time time that Sandwich takes a giant step forward through school consolidation and reconfiguration it takes a giant leap backwards to the Bad Old Days of Union theatrics and bullying.
Interestingly, a few years back several teachers complained privately to the School Committee about bullying -- but because they weren't willing to go public, there was little that could be done. One Committee member did publically criticize a union member by name for bullying and was immediately slapped with a grievance demanding an apology. In response, she said she would rather sit naked in the stocks in front of the Daniel Webster than to apologize for her comments. Eventually the matter was dropped. (No stock-sitting required!)
One of the provisions of the last Teachers contract gave the Union the ability to charge all teachers a representation fee regardless of whether or not they joined the union. Maybe, now that every employee is forced to fund this nonsense, somebody will have the courage to step up and end the embarrassment that small minority of Union leadership causes their colleagues and the entire District.
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