A proposed budget using the Warrant Committee’s “Available Funds” for the school proposes eliminating five full time teaching positions, art and music instruction at the elementary school level, language instruction at the middle school level and steep cuts to support services district wide. Time to get angry, people!
Category: discussion
Belmont: Making Tough Choices
Like all of us who live or work in Belmont, I’m sure you’ve noticed that our Town is facing difficult times: a budget shortfall, a fragmentation of our civil discourse and a waning of trust in local government. This isn’t the first time this has happened, of course, but in many ways the challenges are new. So, just as New England towns have done for centuries, Belmont is convening a meeting in October to begin to sort out, together, how we can best address those challenges. And we invite you to attend.
Belmont poorly served by Citizen Herald in election coverage
Belmont readers enjoyed solid coverage of the override vote from Belmont Patch (belmont.patch.com). Not so the town’s paper of record, the Citizen Herald which, I was told, is actually a more of a blog now, not a paper. Who knew?
Not dead…just sleeping really deeply!
The New Year brings a new start. My plans for BloggingBelmont are both to narrow the focus of what I’m writing about and, at the same time, to broaden the discussion and variety of information that readers enjoy with some changes that make it easier for community members to contribute content of their own and share in the discussion. As always: I’m anxious for contributions from readers and community members. If you’ve got material or thoughts you want to share, email me at paul(at)bloggingbelmont(dot)com!
Superintendent issues statement on tragic death of Belmont High student
Belmont’s Superintendent issued a statement expressing shock and sadness at the tragic death of a Belmont High School Senior on Thursday afternoon. The teen was struck and killed by a train on the tracks behind Belmont High School.
Community Dialog – inspiring!!
There were signs from the start that my fears about a lightly attended or lackluster Community Dialog were misplaced. Maybe it was the long line of attendees –spanning three generations –waiting to sign in. Or maybe it was the inspirational video of the Black Eyed Peas leading a 20,000 person flash mob through a choreographed dance routine that kicked off the event. Whatever the case, the Community Dialog started off strong…and then got better.
Join Belmont Public Schools’ Community Dialog this Tuesday!
Carve out some time this Tuesday afternoon/evening, October 27th, to attend the first ever Community Dialog sponsored by the Belmont Public Schools: from 4:30PM to 8:00PM Tuesday evening at the BHS Field House. This is an amazing opportunity for community members and other stake holders to participate in a wide open discussion about the future of both schools and public education in our community. To reserve your space, RSVP to Cathy Grant at 617 993-5401 or by email at cgrant(at)belmont.k12.ma.us.
Belmont Comprehensive Plan Kickoff Summit Thursday
There’s an important meeting Thursday, Sept. 10, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the High School Cafeteria to kick off the next phase of implementing a new Comprehensive Plan for our town. The Comprehensive Plan will guide public investment in things like transportation, residential and commerical development and open space.
Libraries…who needs ’em? (Answer below)
The future of libraries is in the headlines again, with articles on CNN.com and the Boston Globe’s profile of Cushing Academy, which is getting rid of its 20,000 volume collection in favor of a “learning center” with plasma TVs, Amazon Kindles and a Cappuccino maker….but don’t worry — the future’s going to be great!
Middlesex DA: officers’ group must abide by Open Meeting Law
The Assistant District Attorney for Middlesex County has issued guidance to the town’s political leadership, declaring that an informal, private gathering of some of the Town’s top elected officials is bound by the State’s open meeting law and asking that the group submit a report to serve as a record of its activities.