Lincoln hosts METCO Forum
Click Here
to read the Boston Globe coverage of the Saturday morning (November 15)
event.
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School Committee responds to Principal Schultz's dismissal
The school committee has issued a letter responding to Superintendent
Mickey Brandmeyer's decision not to renew the contract of Principal
Gerry Schultz:
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We
understand that some people in our community are deeply concerned
about the Superintendent’s decision not to renew Principal Jerry
Schultz’s contract. The School Committee is interested in listening to
those concerns. We will devote the first half hour of our regularly
scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 20th to hearing those members
of our community who wish to comment on the situation. Please be
advised that due to legal restrictions we will be limited in the ways
we are able to respond.
We
also wish to inform you that the School Committee is satisfied that
the Superintendent has followed appropriate procedures. The
Superintendent and the School Committee have heard a great variety of
opinion on this subject of Mr. Schultz’s contract from faculty,
parents, and staff. The School Committee supports the Superintendent
in his decision and believes that it is in the best interest of the
school district and its students.
Please keep in mind that the major focus of our November 20th School
Committee meeting will be on the Phase 1 budget cuts. This crucial
work needs to get done in a very short amount of time to enable us to
meet the Finance Committee’s request that we prepare two budgets for
presentation in the beginning of December. We will also be discussing
what we heard at the METCO forums and what our next steps might be. Of
course we are interested in your input on this important work as well.
As always, we are grateful for your support as we work hard to deliver
a program that both offers our students a high quality education and
falls within the guidelines given us by the Finance Committee.
Thank you,
The Lincoln School Committee
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METCO costs defined
The Lincoln Public School administration has updated and refined the
financial cost model prepared last year by the K-8 Task Force. The new
data shows that the annual cost to Lincoln for its sponsorship of the METCO
program can range between $226,000 (target class size policy) to
$494,000
(target class size +1 policy). Those figures represent a range between 3% and 6.6% of the
total
Lincoln school budget. The range primarily reflects the need for additional
sections to accommodate more students. METCO students currently represent 12% of the student body.
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Target class size policy |
Target +1 |
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Senator Kennedy announces $42,000 grant for Lincoln fire department
Senator Edward M. Kennedy today announced $372,765 in funding for three fire
departments across Massachusetts. Departments in Northampton, Shirley and
Lincoln will receive funding for firefighter training, wellness and
fitness, firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, and
modifications to fire stations, as well as equipment and
training for fire-based EMS units, through the Department of Homeland Security
for Emergency Preparedness and Response Assistance to Firefighters Grants
program.
"Since the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, it has never been clearer how
important the work is of our nation's firefighters and first responders," said
Senator Kennedy. "The extraordinary work they do each and every day, putting
their lives on the line to protect their communities deserves all of our full
support. This funding will go a long way in helping continue the remarkable job
they do for all those throughout Massachusetts and across our nation."
These funds have been awarded as part of the US Department of Homeland
Security's Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program and Emergency Medical
Services programs.
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School principal's contract renewal in doubt
A group of parents who recently met with Lincoln Public School
Superintendent Mickey Brandmeyer came away with the distinct impression
that Lincoln school Principal Gerry Schultz's contract will not be
renewed next year. Schultz is currently in the final year of his
contract. The group, which met to offer support for keeping Schultz was
apparently unable to get any assurances from Brandmeyer that Schultz will be
retained.
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Town leaders consider increased commercial development
Some town officials are beginning to look favorably on commercial
development in Lincoln
Click Here to read the Boston
Globe (10/30) article
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Hanscom in the news:
Fedex still undecided about using Hanscom
Click Here to read the Boston Globe (10/26)
article
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METCO Steering Committee hires forum mediator
The ad hoc group coordinating November's METCO forum (see schedule above)
has hired the Consensus Building Institute (CBI), a Cambridge-based
conflict mediation firm, to run the two-day event. CBI's fee is $5,000
and will be paid by the sponsoring organizations (Lincoln School Committee, LS
School Committee, Lincoln PTA, Lincoln League of Women Voters, METCO
Coordinating Committee).
Click Here to
visit the CBI website
Forum Update: As currently planned, Thursday's evening session
will comprise an overview on METCO's costs and a series of panel lectures
examining whether there are benefits to promoting diversity in Lincoln's
schools. Proposed panelists include Dr. David Urion (former K-8 Task
Force member); Dr. Kahris McLaughlin (President, METCO, Inc. and former
Lincoln school committee member); Susan Eaton (author, "The Other Boston
Busing Story"); and Dr. John Ritchie (LS School Superintendent).
Audience members will be able to submit written questions, but not offer
opinions.
Event organizers are anticipating 400-500 participants at Saturday's open-mike
meeting. Those allowed to participate will include Lincoln residents and
members of the larger Lincoln school community (Boston parents, teachers,
alumni). Others will be admitted to the auditorium as observers, as space
permits. The current plan, contingent upon finding enough facilitators, calls
for a large group discussion followed by break-out sessions in smaller
groups.
Members of the ad hoc group include Julie Dobrow, Renel Fredriksen,
Gina Halsted, Christine Horner, Jan Nyquist, Cindy
Sweetser, Elizabeth Thompson and school superintendent Mickey
Brandmeyer.
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School committee announces upcoming budget meetings schedule
Click Here
for the school committee's open letter to the community.
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Lincoln political contributors
When it comes to political donations, Lincolnites can be quite generous.
Donations span the political spectrum, from Kennedy, Kerry and Dean to Bob Barr
and Katherine Harris.
The Indy has lists of who gave to whom, and how much.
According to Federal Election Commission records of receipts
from all individuals who contributed at least $200 (smaller contributions are
not part of the public record), Lincolnites made 425 donations for a total of
$324,558 during the 2002 and 2004 (so far) election cycles.
Click Here to view the list by amount
donated (from $10,000 down to $200)
Click Here to view the list by
donators' last names.
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METCO Forum scheduled for mid-November
Meeting last night (9/23) for the first time since late July, the ad hoc
METCO Steering Committee has decided to hold the upcoming townwide forum as a
two-part event.
The first part is tentatively scheduled for Thursday evening, November 13
from 7-9 pm. It is planned as an informational meeting, featuring
panel discussions examining three aspects related to METCO: its cost, the issue
of diversity in Lincoln and its schools, and the program's effectiveness.
The second part, which will be dedicated to an open forum during which
attendees will be able to express their views, is scheduled for Saturday
morning, November 15 beginning at 9:30 am.
The steering committee is looking for an impartial moderator to host the
sessions.
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Steering Committee compiles questions raised in METCO questionnaire
The METCO Steering Committee has compiled a list
of questions gleaned from the survey residents were asked to complete back in
June. Listed below are dozens of questions raised by residents about the
program.
(Note: the document's typeface is small, so you may need to zoom in
on it. Also, some of the right-hand side of the pages have been cut off because
the scanner was too small to accommodate the pages. Email if you have any
questions.)
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General Questions |
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Cost Questions |
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Lincoln's non-profit organizations:
There are 62 non-profits based in Lincoln.
Click Here for further information about them,
including links to their financial filings (and tax returns). Provided
by guidestar.org
