Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Last minute article for the spring town meeting causing contention.
The Norton Board of Selectmen was wary in regards to a last-minute warrant article put forth by the school department. The article, which is asking to borrow $93,000, was put forth when a $600,000 feasibility study was approved for renovations to the high school in 2010. The $93,000, while not yet in the school department’s possession, was leftover after the study was done. The schools are asking to borrow that money as contingency funds, in the event of unforeseen problems. “This allows us to have the funds to do what needs to be done,” school committee chair Andrew Mackie said. But some selectmen disagreed. “In my opinion, the scope of the article, in the way it’s currently written, is not legal,” said selectmen vice chair Robert Kimball…
Sitting committee and board members will take their seats again for another term.
The incumbents prevailed this year at the Norton town election. Selectmen Bob Kimball and Robert Salvo held their positions in the board. Kimball received 1,386 votes and Salvo received 1,141. Challenger George Gillis received 474 votes. School committee incumbent Andrew Mackie received 943 votes, and Valerie Desmond received 1,141 votes, taking Beth McManus’ seat after she resigned. Mark Powers received 523 votes and Daniel Sheedy received 345 votes. “First I certainly want to get a good handle on what’s going on currently,” she said. “I want to work in a real collaborative way. That would be top on my list right now. I’m excited, it was my first time running for public office." Desmond added she is very grateful to the town for the large…
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
If a new town meeting warrant article is approved, the Yelle Gym will be getting more repairs.
The Norton School Committee has requested a town meeting warrant article designed to allow them to fund repairs needed in the Henri A. Yelle gym floor. According to committee members, a pipe underneath the gym floor burst and water damaged the wood in the floor. “Steam and water does significant damage to wood,” school director of finance and operations Barry Nectow said. “We tried to dry it out, but it didn’t work.” This is the second time Norton has needed to repair the gym floor in two years. “It was a very similar problem, the pipe that runs from the gym floor underneath the stage,” Nectow said. Nectow said like last time, the school’s insurance company is paying for the damages. Last time, it was $98,430, and this time he said it …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
After six years, school committee member Beth McManus said she is leaving the Norton School Committee.
Norton School Committee member Beth McManus announced on Monday she is leaving the committee after six years. “The past six years have flown by and they’re some of the most rewarding in my life,” she said. “I have served with people I hold in the utmost respect.” McManus also worked in the schools as a school department employee. “It allowed her to bring perspective to the school committee,” said committee chair Andrew Mackie. “When she was in the school committee, she didn’t just limit her work to the school committee. She reached out and was involved in a lot of other things in the town.” School committee members gave McManus a heartfelt goodbye from the committee and wished her the best. “We’ve served together for five years, an amazing…
Mark Powers is running for the Norton School Committee
Name: Mark Powers Age: 37 How many years have you lived in Norton? 4-1/2 years How many children do you have in the Norton public schools? Do you have any children who previously attended Norton public schools or plan to send children to the Norton Public schools in the future? Two. Daughter AnnCatherine, Age 9, 3rd grade. Daughter Karalyn, Age 7, 1st grade. Both at Solmonese. What is your current involvement with the school district (PTO membership, volunteering, etc.)? I'm a member of the NHS Building Committee, so I'm actively involved in managing the project. I'm also on the JC Solmonese Site Council, which is a small group of parents, teachers, and Principal Riitta Bolton that meets monthly to guide the School Improvement Plan …
Dan Sheedy is running for the Norton School Committee
Name: Dan sheedy Age: 32 How many years have you lived in Norton? 10 How many children do you have in the Norton public schools? Do you have any children who previously attended Norton public schools or plan to send children to the Norton Public schools in the future? 2 in the school system 1 entering kindergarten in the fall What is your current involvement with the school district (PTO membership, volunteering, etc.)? Nys board of directors 5 yrs focusing on fundraising. Sponsorships and the nys summer camp What is your day Job? If you are retired, what was your former job? Inventory analyst at EMC Why are you running for school committee? I am running to bring a new voice to the school department. I hope to bring some new ideas to …
Monday, April 22, 2013
The FY '14 Budget is just one item on the agenda.
The Norton School Committee will discuss the FY '14 budget tonight at it's meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Norton Middle School library. Below is the full agenda: 1. Minutes of April 1, 2013 Open Meeting 2. Warrants 3. Transfers 4. Public Hearing and Vote on School Choice Program 5. Vote to Approve Revision to Physical Exam of Students Policy – Mrs. Doreen Browne 6. Vote to Approve Town Meeting Article for NHS Building Project for Submission to Selectmen – Mr. Barry Nectow 7. Vote to Approve Town Meeting Article for Yelle Gym Floor Insurance Proceeds for Submission to Selectmen – Mr. Barry Nectow 8. FY ’14 Budget – Mr. Barry Nectow 9. Personnel 10. Other Business
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The New England League of Middle Schools has put Norton Middle School in the spotlight.
Norton Middle School has been awarded the New England League of Middle Schools Spotlight designation. Interim superintendent of schools Dr. Christopher Martes said Norton Middle School principal Michael O’Rourke received a letter from New England League of Middle Schools recently regarding the designation. Martes said the school will maintain the designation for three years. The letter stated Norton Middle School had consistently worked to improve the school and teacher-student interactions. Martes said NMS was one of 12 other schools to be put in the spotlight in Massachusetts, out of hundreds of other districts. “It is very, very well deserved,” he said. "This school district has a lot of good stories to tell. This is quite a noteworthy …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Kids Have Heart building connections between students and the community.
J. C. Solmonese School teacher Maryan Welch presented the JCS Kids Have Heart program on Monday to the Norton School Committee. The KHH club at JCS is an extracurricular club within the school for grades 1 to 3 that promotes involvement within the community of Norton. “Service starts at a young age,” Welch said. “We take carry of ourselves, our environment and materials and each other.” The group promotes connectedness with the community through projects with local groups. The group has made lollipops for veterans, worked with the Norton Animal Shelter, made birdfeeders for outside JCS and heart pins for Valentine’s Day at the Senior Center. Welch said that just last week the seniors at the center called and said they had a surprise for …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Joseph Baeta is now the permanent Norton district school superintendent.
The Norton School Committee and Joseph Baeta signed Baeta’s contract to be the new permanent schools superintendent. “He was the best candidate of the choices,” school committee chair Andrew Mackie said. “We’re very happy we found the right person.” The school committee chose Baeta unanimously over several other candidates earlier in January. The results were still up in the air because in November, the committee had chosen a candidate but contract negotiations had fallen through. Now, Baeta is the permanent superintendent for Norton’s district. During the search, Baeta said he wanted to start improving Norton’s academic standing as a district, and he said he wanted to start at the beginning by trying to implement a full-day kindergarten …
Amy
10:20 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
“We want to rebuild our infrastructure,” he said. “As the economy gets better hopefully we can make some improvements on some of the buildings we’ve neglected in the past five years. We need to look at our public safety, police and fire, perhaps we can try to bring in some more people and cut down the overtime. I think we should also work on weed control in our public water bodies, before our … more ›