Rochester Schools

New competency grading system should help college-bound students

Grading System where nobody fails

The American High School: A call for change – John Shea

The American High School: A call for change

More depth, less breadth in curriculum

Going from isolation to immersion – tear down the walls

Create a grading system that tells us something

Graduate when one is ready: Not sooner, not later

In sum, it all adds up to getting results

It’s All About Needing Change

Shea’s proposals not the way

Ex-Spaulding principal still committed to education: Will help other districts redesign for the 21st century

Improvements at Spaulding will go forward despite Big Step on hold

Project to transform Lilac City school system set aside

Taking a big step backward

BIG STEP FORWARD – John Shea’s Competency Based education plan

Big Step Forward

Big Step Forward Meetings

In Foster’s on 7/27/01, Rochester School District finalized a new curriculum. The new curriculum was to span Kindergarten to grade 12. This entailed new materials, specifically textbooks.

Also in Foster’s on 7/21/01, we hired Richard Towne and Eric Ross as new administrative teacher evaluators. Their job was to evaluate new teachers and those in need of assistance.

In Foster’s on 3/25/2002, the School Board successfully amended the means of determining class rank at Spaulding High School.

Another Foster’s article dated 9/5/02 – A Short History of Spaulding.

Fire Escapes
North Main Street Bridge

Rochester School Department spent $40,000 for a Facility Needs Study. To date there is no formal PLAN put forth by the School Board created from this STUDY. The summary pages by school have 3 separate lists with estimated costs: Priority 1 – Must be implemented; Priority 2 – Highly Recommended; Priority 3 – Worth Consideration

Maple Street School presently has NO sprinkler system. When will the state mandate that? Mr. Hopkins, at a school board meeting not to long ago, was asked what he would do if he were mandated to sprinkle this school? His answer, I would have to consider abandoning the building. I would say long before putting stairs on building this old that he should go with that thought and abandon the building now. Use the contingency plan for a year and then shut down operations.

This is a partial list from the study for the Maple Street School “MUST BE IMPLEMENTED”:
Install automatic sprinkler system; fire escape does not provide protected egress in winter; provide 1 hour rated fire separation; eliminate storage under stair; install kitchen exhaust hood and extinguishing system; add emergency lighting; add exit signs and install electrical receptacles.

One has to question how much of this work was done as the current Fire Marshal Report sited this school for NO exit signs throughout the building. Personal affects stored in corridors in UNSPRINKLED building, storage of hazardous and flammable materials in stairs, hallways leading to second floor bathroom used as storage and the list goes on. The school is only using four rooms for students and yet we still are violating fire codes.

The School District MAP has 5 of the elementary schools clustered within 2-3 miles of each other. The STUDY recommended closing Maple Street, Nancy Loud and School Street. Why has this item been kept such a secret? Eight years ago the economy was better and it would have cost less money to make the recommended changes. The School Department took $40,000 for this report and has failed to implement the majority of the Priority Items, except for contracting with Honeywell. Why hasn’t the School Department kept the schools in compliance with the State Codes?

Why only 2 bids? Factors could be: Age of the buildings. Nancy Loud was built in 1880. What happens when you cut into a 130 year old building that has not been properly maintained, not to mention the years of lead paint and there could be asbestos in the insulation. Maple Street was built in 1931. The equipment used to cut into the brick and mortar could potentially disrupt the entire side of the building. What is the contingency plan for these disaster? Only 70 calendar days to complete the projects! Start date was noted as June 21st. Anticipation of numerous Concealed Conditions would increase the cost of the projects and extend the completion dates of both projects. As per the bid, if the job is not completed by August 29th, there will be a $1,000 fine per school per day until an occupancy permit is issued. There was on 12 working days in which to calculate a bid for this project. There were two addendums one issued TWO hours before the bids were to be opened.

Where is Mr. Hopkins “contingency” plan which has been requested by at least two School Board members, the Council and the Taxpayers? Parents need to know their children may be moving if this project is incomplete. Mr. Hopkins should not be waiting until a week before school is to start to notify families.

Horne Construction has a track record of completing their projects late and currently are or have been in the past sued for shoddy work. Dover sued over a problem with the foundation of the Children’s Museum. Horne Construction built our current Police Department and we all know that the bid went out for $2.2 million and the completed project cost the taxpayer over $5 million, forget the fact we still have problems with that building.

How to you just FIND surplus money, when in fact it is taxpayer dollars. You buffered your budget by how much: $746,000. So far you have: Spent $141,000 for NEXT year supplies; lost $200,000 in budget, will take from heating fuel line item; lost $45,000 for paving line item. FOUND $360,000 CASH for these fire escapes. How do you just FIND cash? With this new found $360,000 in cash how many walls could be built in the East Rochester Elementary School? This is not a new subject either. Parents have come to the school board, superintendent, principal and even volunteered to do the work themselves but are always told no. How long do these 262 children have to wait before their school is corrected, one that was opened in 1968?

Better yet, how many teaching positions could have been put back into the budget for $360,000? Now every student in the district must suffer from total mismanagement of funds because the School Department doesn’t know when to stop spending inappropriately and would rather put money into schools that may conceivably have to close by the end of the summer if the project is not completed rather than putting teachers back into the classroom.

Mr. Hopkins claims to have grave concern for the children! Really! Never completed the Mandatory List of the 2002 Study; McClelland School had no outside audible alarm, children were returning to the classroom while a fire drill was being conducted; walls at East Rochester Elementary School were built without a permit and emergency lighting and alarms not installed when hallway walls went up. Classrooms in the middle of the school never heard alarms go off and stayed in the building. This was only corrected this school year! Sprinklers are now inefficient due to present locations. If East Rochester needed to be locked down this would be impossible for the perimeter classrooms as there are no doors which can be locked. There are no secure partitions creating classrooms.

When installing the new Fire Alarm System at RMS, in the Fire Department’s update it referenced roof leaks that needed to be addressed. This prompts the following questions: Do we have a list of all schools with the type of roof and their condition? Do we have a plan to repair or replace any roofs? When will the concerns of other schools be addressed?

BCA was mentioned in the Fire Marshal’s report which brings into question; does the district perform the required 10 drills a year at each school location? Why has there never been a fire drill at BCA for the safety of the students, staff and the public? In the HOPE school, some of our most vulnerable students, are they required to have Fire Drills? Who creates the Fire Drill reports noting any deficiencies? Who does the School Department hire as an outside vendor to test these systems? Where are the reports filed?

We took money to buy a “practice” ball field which everyone can SEE, but we haven’t seen fit to maintain and update our schools which NO ONE can see. Please explain this logic? Cost of the ball field includes land acquisition, water source to sprinkle ball field, future costs could include building of a maintenance shed, installing a building for toilets, purchase additional land for a parking lot, general maintenance cost for the fields.

On many occasions the public has come before the school board and voiced their concerns about the direction the School Department is taking our schools and every single time they have been ignored, a prime example would be the Big Step Forward. Many agreed that it was a good idea, but wanted you to slow down and do this correctly, yet you ignored us. Mr. Hopkins, as an employee of the city, needs to understand that he works for the taxpayer, not the School Board or the union.

Mr. Hopkins, at the City Council meeting on June 15th, stated that there were three under populated schools. Most of us have known this has been the case since at least 2000, if not before. An attempt was made to consolidate the third graders in that area. Instead of reassigning schools, a task that might have caused some anxiety, you chose to cave to the minority at the expense of the majority. Various school board members stick to the same talking points and continually state that our schools are overcrowded. My question to them is: “have they really checked this out themselves or do you just agree with Mr. Hopkins”? Former school board members have calculated that with the decline in student population within two years we will no longer need the modular classrooms. Learn to live within our means and stop looking for every new idea that comes around as they all come with conditions.

Mr. Hopkins stated that it would not be feasible to move the students attending Maple Street School as it would be a disruption to their education. Their education is disrupted after the third grade. Additionally, on Wednesday, June 15th, parents received a letter home stating what schools were SINI and if they wished they could move their student to another school, yet the only option was Nancy Loud and Maple Street. Given the fact these schools only go up to the 3rd grade, moving them would be ludicrous as they would end up going back to their original school after the 3rd grade. Isn’t this just as disruptive? It seems that, we are able to bus students in to beef up enrollment, but we cannot bus them out when enrollment is low because it would be disruptive. There appears to be a double standard occurring here, a double standard affecting more than just 72 students.

The Rochester Concerned Taxpayers have spoken up. We are tired of wasteful spending. The time has come to do what should have been done years ago. The old cliché of “it is for the children” does not tug on the heart strings of the taxpayers. These children will get an education no matter where they go. It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to provide an education for all children. It is NOT the taxpayers’ responsibility to ensure that there is a school outside every door so that parents are not inconvenienced.

Mr. Hopkins you are responsible for maintaining our schools and you have neglected to do this. Now you want another high school. The time has come to take care of what we have and make our schools safe for all the children of this city. If some parents get upset so be it. It is your job to make those difficult decisions. If you are unable to make those decisions then maybe the time has come for you to retire.

This was a correction to some of the information that was in this WMUR article.

Dear City Councilors:

This letter is in regards to the Rochester School District plan to spend nearly $500,000 for two fire exit stairways on two schools that are seriously outdated. This is another fine example of how the School Department is completely out of touch with the current economic times. As everyone is struggling to make ends meet the School Department is thinking of new ways to spend money that is no longer available.

On May 6, 2010 at the Building Committee Meeting the minutes stated: Mr. Hopkins reviewed the proposed fire escape stairwells at Nancy Loud School and Maple Street School. This project is ready for Board approval; request for bid proposals; and to go to the City Council for funding. The Committee discussed the stairs at the front of Nancy Loud and were pleased with the look of the stairs. The total cost of the project is $529,000, with $317,400 from State Building aide. We have until July 1, 2010 to submit for State Building Aide, and then a one year moratorium is in place. Reading this makes one believe the School Department has approved this and is looking for funding.

The same evening at the Finance Committee Meeting the minutes stated: Building Committee Items: Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mrs. Parker, to recommend the Board approve the stairway plans for Nancy Loud School and Maple Street School in the amount of $529,000. The motion passed unanimously. Again this project appears to have been approved.

Moving forward to the May 13, 2010 School Board Meeting the minutes stated: Mr. Hopkins reported that the original estimate for the stairway project in the amount of $529,000 has been decreased to $489,000; Nancy Loud School project estimated cost is$202,000 and Maple Street School estimated cost is $287,000. The motion from Finance will be to authorize sending out a request for proposals for this project. It is projected that if the project is done by July 1st State Building Aide would cover 60% of overall cost.

Further on during this same meeting it was stated: Stairway Plan: Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, the Board approve going out to bid for stairway plans for Nancy Loud School and Maple Street School with a cap of $489,000. The motion carried unanimously.

How many members of the School Board truly read what the minutes say?

On May 18, 2010, reported by Foster’s, Mr. Hopkins stated that the bid specs for the fire escape projects are currently being put together and he hopes they will go out to bid in the next few weeks.

On May 27, 2010, reported by Foster’s, Councilor Walker stated the idea of consolidating schools has come up in the past, but has never been tied to a tangible cost until now. Has anybody taken the time to see what the heating bills are for Nancy Loud? Nancy Loud was built in the 1890s, retired around 1968 when the “new” East Rochester Elementary opened. If we truly have approximately 80 students as stated we are down 28 students since January. Maple Street was built in the 1920s, renovated approximately 1964 for an enrollment of 245. Now we are housing approximately 71. As a taxpayer I have a problem with this. Four classes, 4 teachers and 21 support staff.

It appears, as one reads all these documents that Mr. Hopkins is not being as straightforward as he should be regarding the schools involved and may be attempting to cloud the issue. It makes one wonder did they or didn’t they approve the stairwells, are they are aren’t they putting them out to bid or again just approving the expenditure of money because that is what they have always done in the past.

Everyone needs to remember that this project will need to be bonded. How long will this bond be 20 years, 30 years? These schools will not be around in 20 to 30 years yet we will still be paying for the stairs, in essence, paying for nothing. If Mr. Hopkins wishes to create a much safer environment for the students the students should be in another building. How many parents are aware that there are no sprinklers in the Maple Street School? Do you truly want your child to continue going to a building that has no sprinklers and in need of additional fire exits? Will the State one day mandate ALL schools have sprinklers? How costly will that be?

It is also well known that the State, if not already broke, soon will be and that 60% reimbursement on the bond will likely never happen. As Mr. Hopkins stated, applications submitted before July 1, will be considered for aid. The key words are WILL BE. The State MAY bond to cover their current obligations but there is still NO commitment from them. Not to mention that the taxpayer is going to be on the hook for 100% of the interest and if the state does not come through, 100% of the bond. Mrs. Hubbard and Mr. Brennan, School Board members and state representatives both have stated that you cannot count on receiving 60% from the state because there is no money available. If this is true, which we all know it is, why would Mr. Hopkins continue to deceive the taxpayers of Rochester and the members of this Council?

The estimated student population provided by the School District is inflated by 550 students. This is a numbers game to keep the budget bloated. With an obvious decrease in student population the time has come to take a long hard look at the schools we have. If the School Department has a contingency plan now is the time to put it into action. Now is the time to consolidate underpopulated schools. The elementary schools class sizes range from a low of 13 to a high of 23. Maple St. School has only 4 classes, School St. has 5 classes and Nancy Loud has only 7 classes.

I have also attached the District Map for Rochester Schools. The map gives one a new perspective when one tries to make the point of keeping neighborhood schools. The map certainly shows how neighborhoods are varied in size and expansive in miles. I would also make the argument that moving students to a larger school gives them access to expanded technology and books while enhancing the opportunity for socialization. Aides could be added to classes as needed while cutting administrative and other support staff, again saving the taxpayer dollars.

With decreasing enrollment, decreasing tax base, increasing utility, water, sewer, gas and food bills, along with a wish list that would make Santa Claus envious, I hope the City Council tells the School Department to get in line with the times. They are so used to getting everything they want and have never had to deal with the fact the well is running dry. They have lost perspective, it is not the best education money can buy it is the best education the taxpayers can afford. I would like to have Mr. Hopkins produce the studies he spoke about that show shuffling students to new schools has an immediate impact on their performance. I have a problem with that concept. If one truly believes that shuffling students impacts performance then none of us would have made it out of elementary school.

To put a half million dollars into these two schools is without a doubt financially irresponsible at best and one has to wonder why the School Department would burden the taxpayers in such a manner. Hopefully, those teaching economics and accounting in our high school are able to teach our students about balancing or balanced budgets and being fiscally responsible.

Sue O’Connor

School Assignment Zones as of 2007

The School Board and the Superintendent’s office keep a level of “secrecy” and do not function in “the best interest” of the student. This is a fact that has been around for many years. Yet, like sheep, we continue to believe in what they say and re-elect them. What is wrong with us? We are facing hard economic times and hard decisions need to be made, but I doubt that the majority of this School Board has what it takes to make an informed decision. The concept of thinking outside the box when proposing budget cuts has been brought up many times, but I, personally, doubt they could find the box they need to think outside of, nor the desire to even look for it.

At a past subcommittee meeting one of our elected members stated that “we” needed to start looking at our underpopulated schools. Whatever happened to that thought? I believe another comment was that it is not the School Board’s responsibility to worry about the City. Really?!? Well it seems that fiscal responsibility and accountability has escaped them as well. The fact is that we have eight elementary schools. Yes, eight schools for 1,888 students (as of December 2009), that should average 236 students per school but that is not how it works. Three schools are underpopulated to the point that Nancy Loud and Maple Street only go up to the 3rd grade and School Street to the 4th. To give you a little history, Maple Street was built in 1931 and renovated in 1964 with a total enrollment of 248 students. Even with changes in class size and teaching methods the School Board keeps this school running for 69 students with a full staff. That is correct, 25 teachers, administrators and support staff for 69 students! Nancy Loud (East Rochester Annex) was retired in 1968 and reopened in approximately 1970. This school houses only 108, a far cry from what it was built for and the same goes for School Street which currently houses 85 students, but was designed to have well over 200 students.

Now the taxpayer has to deal with the Fire Marshall’s report and the taxpayer is going to be expected to pour thousands and thousands of dollars into Maple Street and Nancy Loud to make them “safe” for our children. The time has come to retire them. Consolidating our schools would definitely help the budget. It would cut down on heating, electricity, water and personnel and spread out more resources to the remaining schools by expanding libraries, more computers for the elementary school level and more Smart Boards in classrooms.

Another question all should be asking is if the School Department has not been putting money into the elementary schools, where has that money gone? Most schools suffer from leaking roofs. Maple Street did not even have exit signs and is not sprinkled. Yet, we put our children in that building. There needs to be more accountability regarding the school budget and where the money is going, as it is not going to the infrastructure of the schools. Our money could be better spent if we were trying to spread it over a smaller number of buildings.

Everyone needs to speak up. The School Department is presenting its budget to the City Council on May 11th. Everyone needs to attend and voice their concerns about the condition of our schools, underpopulated schools, and the overall budget itself, all $54+ million dollars worth!

Sue O’Connor
Rochester