School Committee member Dan Scharfman is the latest to pick up papers to run for a seat on the Board of Selectmen, following the decision by current member Angelo Firenze not to seek re-election. Scharfman is the third person to step forward after Matt Sullivan of the Board of Library Trustees and Andy Rojas...
Just a note that the Belmont PTA/PTO will be screening Race To Nowhere: The Dark Side of America’s Achievement Culture tomorrow evening (Thursday) at the Belmont Studio Cinema, with half the price of admission donated to Belmont’s Public Schools.PTO/PTA’s! The film takes on the “culture of hollow achievement and pressure to perform that has...
What are the long term impacts of the cuts we're making now in public education?The Cassandras in the board room and executive offices are already telling us: warning that the U.S. education system is failing the country and that presages a loss of U.S. competitiveness and future generations with fewer economic opportunities.
A prospective home buyer writes me to say that they love the idea of living in Belmont, but have "reservations" about the town's commitment to its schools. What's your take? And what's your elevator pitch for (or against) Belmont?
Town Meeting is a great (and low-stress) way to get involved in town politics. Interested? The League of Women Voters is hosting an information session on January 14 at 7:30PM to talk about what it means to be a Town Meeting member and provide tips on running.
At Winn Brook Elementary, for example, Principal Janet Carey wrote this week that she fielded around 700 applications for four open positions at that school to replace retiring staff or accomodate larger than expected classes: one first grade teacher, two, fourth grade teachers and an art teacher. That's 175 applicants per position, or an...
An amendment by TM member Anne Mahon targeted at using free cash to preventing cuts at Belmont High School and preserving elementary library aides looked like a long shot, but won overwhelming support at Town Meeting last night. Where were you when you heard the Cat Leash speech?
With the Wellington debt exclusion vote one week away, there's been a flurry of activity - editorial and otherwise - around town.
A precipitous drop in State revenues could jeopardize local aid payments and eviscerate funding for social services and education. Suddenly "Read my lips: No new taxes!" doesn't sound so cool.
