Getting the Word OutIf you haven't already, check out the SOS Blog that has all articles to date listed on it at www.sos2bw.blogspot.com . Also, please "Like" the SOS Facebook page at www.facebook/saveourschoolsregion12 SOS MEETINGPlease join us for an SOS Regroup and Strategy Session on Wednesday, March 19th at 7:15 pm. We will meet at the Bridgewater Congregational Church's Meeting Hall on Clapboard Road near the intersection of Main Street. We will have wine and snacks. We will discuss the campaign, the mailers and have open forum as well.WFSB and COOL SCHOOLAnd now for some terrific news! One of our supporters and Bridgewater resident Kathryn Krigsman, nominated Burnham Elementary School for WFSB TV's "Cool School" segment hosted by local celebrity Mark Dixon. We received word this week that we have been chosen! They will be in Bridgewater filming on April 2nd from 9-11a. We will let you know when the segment is set to air. Thank you Kathy!Thank you!Carolan Dwyer and Julie Stuart
Monday, March 10, 2014
SOS Regroup and Strategy Session on Wednesday, March 19th at 7:15 pm.
Public Hearing, Thursday, March 13th at Shepaug Auditorium @ 7pm
Hello SOS Supporters,A warm welcome to all our new friends who have signed up to be on our email distribution. Please continue to ask your friends, neighbors and family if they would like to receive our information. We would be happy to add them.A quick recapLast week, at the Public Hearing at Shepaug, the language of the referendum was changed yet again requiring another public hearing for this week. The good news is there is now language in the question that asks whether voters want a consolidated school. Our hope is, once this is voted down, we can all come back to the table and work on HS renovation issues and other Elementary solutions. These Public Hearings are a good opportunity to let your voice be heard to other community members. Which brings us to our next meeting....Public Hearing, Thursday, March 13th at Shepaug Auditorium @ 7pmPlease come on out and show your support for SOS...better yet, let other residents of all three towns know the real issues! This is the last (we are told) Public Hearing before we set the date of the referendum (now April 22nd or 29th) and move into the quiet period at which point the administration can not spend funds on their position. You may prepare a statement in advance and have 3 minutes to be heard. Please consider attending even if it’s to cheer on those speaking. We hope this is the last out of town meeting for a while!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Region 12 parents fear school plans would isolate kids
LETTERS
Wednesday,
March 5, 2014 3:05 AM EST
I'm hoping we won't need to make this decision, and the tight-knit community we've fallen in love with won't vote to squeeze us, and young families like us, out of its circle. The sad fact is that if we'd known this was a possibility, we never would have moved here. Do you really think other families won't come to the same conclusion?
Building
a consolidated school will only worsen the problem. Taxpayers will pay millions
for a school they can’t fill, as many families in Bridgewater and Roxbury start
to move away. The ones left behind will find their taxes significantly higher
and their property values almost certainly lower; apparently, the mere threat
may have already have affected some sales. Please, citizens of Region 12, do
not vote for consolidation.
Amanda
Telford
Bridgewater
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
Notes lack of support for regional consolidation
Published 6:35 pm, Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Before you get too excited about solving Washington's need for a new elementary school by creating a new regional elementary school, perhaps town voting should be involved.
We moved from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, changing jobs, because of the school situation.
We rented in New Milford until we could buy a house in Bridgewater or Roxbury, where our children could walk to school and enjoy nearby playmates.
We strongly believed this would help their development and life achievements.
Ray and I both had enjoyed this freedom while growing up in a small New Jersey community.
Railroad tracks there separated the town so there were elementary schools north of the tracks and south of the tracks.
Let's have Roxbury and Bridgewater vote on this situation. We may wish to join another town's elementary school.
I am 90 but am interested in school issues and how their expenditures affect our retired income.
Barbara Hunicke
Roxbury
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
In Region 12: School Board Hears Schedule for Sessions
by Loumarie I. Rodriguez
BRIDGEWATER-ROXBURY-WASHINGTON — The Region 12 Board of Education, meeting Monday, January 6, viewed a presentation regarding the mission and vision for Region 12 schools and discussed a draft schedule for the next information sessions on the consolidated elementary school proposal.Superintendent Dr. Patricia Cosentino went over a schedule with the board for when Fletcher-Thompson and ARCADIS will present information. She said that at the end of January and in February there will be information sessions for all three towns regarding plans and conceptual designs of the consolidated elementary school.
A meeting is planned at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 18, at Washington Primary School for residents who could not attend the meetings in December on the future of education in Region 12.
“The meeting could be for seniors who felt it was to late at night to go to the previous meetings,” said Dr. Cosentino. “We will make sure that we do a good job of publicity and make sure everyone gets that information.”
Residents attending the Saturday meeting can have a conversation with the architects and project manager on what they would like to see in a new consolidated elementary school.
Administrators and other Region 12 staff members will discuss the proposed Pre-K to grade 5 elementary school building at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, January 23, at Roxbury Town Hall.
There will be four information session on the consolidated Pre-K to Grade 5 elementary school and proposed repairs to Shepaug Valley Middle High School in February for all three towns.
The Washington information session will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 4; at 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 5, in Roxbury; and at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 6, in Bridgewater.
Locations of the three meetings have not been determined.
The fourth meeting, at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 8, will be in the library at Shepaug Middle High School.
At the four meetings representatives of Fletcher-Thompson and the project manager will show residents three conceptual designs. Then, at 7 p.m. Monday, February 24, in the Shepaug library, Fletcher-Thompson will present a draft of the conceptual design and cost estimates for the Pre-K to Grade 5 consolidated elementary school.
Finally, at its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 3, the Board of Education will vote on whether to approve the cost estimates and the conceptual design.
If both are approved, the proposed date of a referendum on the questions is Tuesday, April 8.
“The draft of the referendum questions, as developed by the bond counsel, including the amendment of the plan for the new Pre-K school and repairs for Shepaug; if that doesn’t happen on March 3, we will come back March 6,” Dr. Cosentino said. “Then, hopefully, we will be able to get the board to make a motion.”
Dr. Cosentino said if there is no approval of the referendum questions by March 6, the referendum will have to be pushed into May.
Emily Judd, principal at Washington Primary School, gave a presentation on the mission and vision for the Region 12 school system.
The presentation included participation from the board members who listed words on what they hope the region will become.
“The reason why we took a look at the mission statement is because we are in a state of change,” said Ms. Judd. “It’s not just this district, but education in general and Common Core.
“We are all really trying to figure out what is our direction.”
During the activity, board member Susan Stumpf offered the idea of wanting optimum student achievement and Greg Cava agreed.
Mr. Cava said the region’s current mission statement is too diverse and there is too much stuff in it.
Ms. Judd suggested a simpler mission statement; one that could be memorized.
Board member Michelle Gorra said she is thrilled that Ms. Judd is working on the mission statement for the schools and wants to make sure there are no conflicting missions and visions for the schools.
Dr. Cosentino gave copies to all board members of a new policy regarding the school construction cost estimate.
The policy informs that all districts submitting a grant application for school construction on or after January 1, 2014, with total costs exceeding an estimate of $2 million, will be required to submit project costs estimates.
This will allow for a detailed analysis of school construction cost estimates and construction cost management.
The policy further outlines the purpose of the estimates needed to create the design plans for a consolidated elementary school.
“I think it’s important that everyone looks it over so they are aware of the policy and understand the importance of getting real numbers before you go to referendum,” Dr. Cosentino said.
Dr. Cosentino explained that following the policy insures the region will have a project that could be reimbursed by the state. She also said the board is currently in compliance with the policy.
The board passed several motions including one negotiations with All Star
Transportation, acceptance of the 2013 fiscal year annual audit report and the first reading of an alcohol- and drug-free workplace policy.
Board member Peter Tagley suggested the board see if there are other transportation companies that may offer better pricing in order to show residents they are trying to
lower costs.
Robert Giesen, the region’s business manager, said the region should stick to All Star Transportation because there is a risk when accepting bids from other companies. There is a possibility prices could sky rocket for transportation if the region cancels its current contract with All Star.
Board member Valerie Andersen agreed that although looking at other companies would look good for the board, the risk isn’t worth it.
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