After 5 peaceful years, just when our trust was rebuilding, guess what happens? The "Silver Era Scare Tactics" start up again!
Today, Elementary parents all received the following email from the school system:
Sent: Monday, February 8, 2010 1:30:37 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Meeting tonight with the BOS/BOF
We were just notified that this evening's meeting may result in the BOS/BOF requesting the district revise our budget to 0%. Community members, parents and staff are encouraged to come to the meeting to voice their thoughts. The meeting will be held tonight, Monday, February 8th at 7:00 p.m. at the Douglas Library. Thank you.
WRONG! This meeting was discussed verbally in advance and is clearly stated in the letters that went out to the BOE and RHAM Boards last week. We posted those letters on Tuesday, February 2 on this site. The Town posted notice of the meeting on Friday, February 5.
So imagine the attention-getting, but hoped for, panic with the opening line "we were just notified..." At 1:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting, and at least a full week since the Board members (including the Superintendents in Marlborough and Andover) were notified?
What probably happened is that the D&S poll on Hebron residents wanting a 0% increase has grown to 109 out of 123 votes, or 88.6%. If anything is driving the panicky email blasts, it's probably the research-driven analysis we're doing on the all-day versus half-day Kindergarten and its long-term effects and value. And we haven't even "advertised" that the research is available! It's spread by word of mouth!