Last night’s school board meeting was eventful. Without being noticed as an agenda item, the School Board voted to accept the services of Gretchen Grosky as a PR consultant. The contract was awarded through SERESC, an organization headed by Timberlane’s former superintendent, Richard LaSalle. She will be paid a minimum of $1,500 a month until the end of June 2015 at which time her contract will be “reviewed.” I said that hiring the wife of the budget committee chairman compromises a public official and should not be done but I was the only one on the board of that view.
The board also voted a show of confidence in Superintendent Metzler and a budget he presented to the school board in response to the spanking the administration got at the budget committee meeting last week. This new budget proposal shows a zero percent spending increase over this current year’s budget and requires the closing of Sandown Central for a savings of about $745,000. By their vote, the school board was saying that if we want a zero spending increase, then they are fine with closing Sandown Central.
I called this budget proposal disingenuous and punitive. The administration is asked to contain spending and their very first response is to close a school in Sandown. No firm plans were given for where the 135 students would be placed but it was suggested that fourth graders would be placed at Sandown North and 5th Graders in the Middle School. The legal ability to do this rests with an arguable interpretation of our Articles of Agreement that founded the district. More on this later.
In a rare show of financial information, the board was presented with a building direct cost per pupil which showed building costs of $9,743.09 per pupil in Sandown Central compared with the next highest schools, Sandown North and Danville that are around $8,340. Obviously there is a case to be made to close a school with just 135 students, but the people of Sandown should be convinced that everything else has been cut before a community school is closed. This should be a last resort and not a peevish reaction to taxpayers demanding a relief from insufferable tax increases.
timberlaneandsandown 
“The contract was awarded through SERESC, an organization headed by Timberlane’s former superintendent, Richard LaSalle.”
Perhaps SERESC is a great example of the revolving door between government “service” and the later cash-in afforded by political connections. It smells of a think tank (rhymes with stink). It’s unclear where the cash comes from to keep 85 seats warm (see “staff directory”, which may not account for everyone). Among the familial are Marybeth Lasalle (same family name as the “executive director”) listed as “PTAN Facilitator”, whatever that is but likely well funded, and of course Beth Metzler, “Education consultant”, enjoying a nice contract from the same publicly funded school system her husband just happens to mismanage. Good to have friends and family in high places, however low they go.
As a first test, let’s have the new P-R consultant spin that one.
—
“…requires the closing of Sandown Central for a savings of about $745,000. By their vote, the school board was saying that if we want a zero spending increase, then they are fine with closing Sandown Central.”
As one school is closed, the students still need a home, so how is it that the system can absorb over 135 students and yet remain at budget parity? Something doesn’t smell right. And where is the community input here? Your system seems to be run as a kingdom, with the serfs paying high taxes and having no say. Kingdoms desiring longevity might consider applying some benevolence. Once the serfs realize how badly they’re being screwed revolt will follow.
At $745,000 and 135 students, the school was quite a value at $5,585 per student cost! Perhaps if the rest of the system were operated as efficiently, hacks like Metzler would still be able to play King (political operative) under the radar. What the taxpayers want is a fair deal and a humane environment for children. Greed has overcome the coatholders, seatwarmers and hacks which appear to infest your system. No amount of P-R can cover such a festering pile.
Thanks for continuing to reveal the mess. Yes, it stinks, but as mentioned in a previous comment the odour is a necessary result as one begins to expose and clean out the rather large festering wound.
Mark (aka K1MGY),
You really don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re sounding very foolish.
You should stick to sewer systems in MA.
Rob
This is why my daughter loves reading the comments. So very revealing.
History will judge you to be the hero of the citizens who elected you that you are. Keep up the persistent good work for your voters!
I don’t need history. I’m Sandown Citizen of the Year! That is a great honor that touches me deeply. If you knew some of the people who earned this distinction before me, you would also know that history can look out for itself! Thanks for the encouragement, John. You’ve fought the battle yourself with far greater effect for your constituents and my hat is off to you.
Donna,
How many nominees were there for Citizen of the Year this time around?
It has happened just once before but there were two and only two nominations and they were both for me.
So, you were the only nominee?
How many people vote for the award?
Don’t know exactly. BOS, town leaders and Old Home Day Committee. And I’m not sure I was the only nominee actually.
Do you know who nominated you?
Why don’t you ask your questions of Paula Gulla at Sandown’s Town Hall? She knows all the answers. I was given the nominating essays.
So you don’t know who nominated you?
I would think that in the spirit of full transparency you would want these details known, no?
Please do call Paula Gulla for all the details you request. And when you learn all this you can then post exactly the equivalent info about the New Hampshire High School of Excellence Award. By the way, I attended the awards dinner for the best blog award with my 8 guests on my own dime. The Eddie’s dinner cost the taxpayers $640.
Thanks John!
I will.
Rob
Oh robbie old boy – “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” MLK Jr.
I’ll leave it at that. As the saying goes, if you don’t have anything nice to say…
I cannot believe this is actually being proposed in a serious manner.
Sandown North is not equipped for two additional grades. The school does not even have a fire sprinkler system.
The idea of housing students in portable classrooms is great, but only as a temporary solution. It’s not a permanent solution by any stretch of the imagination, and at some point, the taxpayers will need to approve a new school, or a real addition to North. Unfortunately, the land that North sits on will not support an extension, and I find it hard to believe that there’s room for portable classrooms either.
The parking is inadequate. The car drop-off is terrible. It’s surrounded by ledge. It’s disingenuous to propose any portable classrooms without discussing the long-term plan, and by that, I mean the 5-10 year timeframe.
When I was a student at Gilford High School, we had portable classrooms. The taxpayers refused to fund additions to the school. As a result, the school had its accreditation revoked by the state and eventually, the taxpayers didn’t have a choice.
It’s wonderful that we have such amazing schools in our district. However, this starts with the taxpayers, because without a workable operating budget, the children cannot be educated at the level of excellence that we expect.
I also have to believe that closing Central doesn’t alleviate the costs of actually running the building – it just shifts it to another budget. The building cannot remain vacant in the center of town without maintenance and a small staff to keep the pipes from freezing, etc. And what’s to happen to that building and the center of our town?