My Goal in Blogging

I started this blog in May of 2008, shortly after my election to the School Committee, because I believed it was very important to both provide the community with an opportunity to share their thoughts with me about our schools and to provide me with an opportunity for me to ask questions and share my thoughts and reasoning. I have found the conversation generated on my blog to be extremely helpful to me in learning community views on many issues. I appreciate the many people who have taken the time to share their views. I believe it is critical to the quality of our public schools to have a public discussion of our community priorities, concerns and aspirations.

Friday, January 30, 2009

NEW Amherst School Committee Meeting

The Regional School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 3rd has been cancelled. The next meeting of the Regional School Committee will be Tuesday, February 24th - this is when the 2009-2010 budget will be initially presented, so that would be a good meeting to attend for information about potential cuts at the middle and high school level.

A special meeting of the Amherst School Committee is now scheduled for Tuesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Amherst Regional High School library. The only item of business on the agenda will be to clarify the budget options to be presented at the February 10th School Committee meeting - meaning the specific financial estimates the School Committee expects to receive from the Superintendents regarding the various elementary school reconfiguration options discussed at our last meeting. This is NOT a meeting at which a vote for or against any of these options will be taken.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Possibly of interest to parents - and they did say to tell interested parties:
===

Art Cycles Craft Program with artist Janet Winston, Ages 2.5 to 6
10:00am * 10:45am, Student Union Craft Center, Student Union
Who am I? Who do I want to be?
Children will be using a variety of mediums to create
unique representations of themselves. Teaching staff
from the Student Union Craft Center will provide
additional assistance. All art supplies are free of
charge to participants.

Special Saturdays Performance with Chris Yerlig aka
The Hoopoe Show 11:00am to 11:45am
Location: Cape Cod Lounge, Student Union
Chris aka Hoopoe’s vaudeville type show is a unique blend of
silent pantomime, comedy, movement, illusion, sleight of hand
magic tricks and balloon wizardry! We guarantee that this
experience of an original vaudeville solo production will be
funny, imaginative and full of surprises. Parents that want to
know more about Chris can visit mimealot.com.
IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER CALL 545-2129 ON THE DAY
OF THE PERFORMANCE.


2. Tuesday Evening Conversation Circle

- For Intermediate-level Speakers of English
- (International visitors and immigrants welcome)
- Where: Community Center - H02 North Village
- When: Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 p.m. starts Feb. 17 (6 weeks)
- (Register at the first class) Cost: free
- Leader: Nel Beaudry
- Info: 413 259-3093 esl@joneslibrary.org

3. Jones Library Amherst - Tuesday Morning Conversation Circle

--For Intermediate-level Speakers of English
(International visitors and immigrants welcome)
--Tuesdays 10-11:30 a.m. Jones Library Cost: free
--(Class is on-going with openings - attend on the next Tuesday)
Leader: Adele Levine
Info: 413 259-3093 esl@joneslibrary.org

Anonymous said...

Why was this meeting cancelled?!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for getting this out Catherine!!!

Larry Kelley said...

Are the interim-Supers off cross country skiing at The Cape?

Anonymous said...

What ever became of the trespass order against Larry?

You want to talk budget issues, civil rights suits usually come in at the six figure range and not always the low six figures....

Anonymous said...

Yes, where are the superintendents? Why will there not be a regional meeting? We are worried that our kids will be in even more study halls in high school. We need to wait another month to see the budget?

Catherine A. Sanderson said...

I'm really sorry about the delay in the Regional Meeting -- I've heard from a lot of parents who are concerned about the regional budget (which is worse than the elementary budget), and I know they were hoping to get these numbers earlier. However, it was delayed because we were waiting for more solid numbers from the state's budget (which just got realized last week). Then, there was already an important elementary school meeting for the 10th, and then there is Winter Vacation. So, these numbers WILL be presented on the 24th, and I hope they are not as bad as we fear (including the issue of two study halls, which yes, sounds bad).