World Mud Football Championships

You've heard of the Annual World Mud Football Championships, right? The Mud Bowl? In North Conway, NH? For charity? And the Annual Tournament of Mud Parade, right? Where all the competing teams have outrageously funny floats, all designed around the current year's theme?

You don't know what I'm talking about, do you?

Well...let me inform and enlighten you...

It's been called the cleanest sport played in knee deep mud. The tournament features nine teams from throughout New England in three days of two-hand touch mud football fun with all funds benefiting local charities. In the event's 34-year history in North Conway, the Mud Bowl has raised hundreds of thousands for local charities.

Each year's World Mud Bowl celebrates a theme (this year's was “Super Muddy Heroes”) and features spirit award competitions, cheerleading teams, the annual Tournament of Mud Parade on Saturday on North Conway's Main Street, half-time skits, belly dancers, choreographed mud swimming routines, and three days of exciting two-hand touch mud football action.

You have to see it to believe it. And you may be able to just that. This year a film crew from NFL Films was in town catching every angle of the Mud Bowl games and events you could imagine. The footage is expected to air on ESPN, ESPN2 or the NFL channel.

Three Decades of Mud Bowl History:

Legend has it that the Carrabassett Valley Rats started the annual Mud Bowl in Kingfield, Maine, after a few University of Maine fraternity brothers moved there 38 years ago. According to the story, alumni of a fraternity had challenged their college student brothers to a touch football game in a muddy field back on the Orono campus in the early 1970s. When a few of the alumni moved to the ski resort of Sugarloaf/USA in northwestern Maine in 1972, they brought their unusual sport with them. Local Carrabassett Valley residents in need of some fall fun took a liking to the games. But when interest waned a few years later, it was up to newspaper publisher Dale Rolfe to rescue the sport, and that he did by founding a mud football league. That was in 1975.

In 1975, Steve Eastman, a former Carrabassett Valley resident and newspaper editor who had moved to North Conway, was asked to put together a team — something which he did with friend Richard DeAngelis of the old Alpine Funspot of the North Country, located near the base of Cranmore. They christened the team the Mt. Washington Valley Hogs. The Hogs traveled to Kingfield and won that 1975 World Mud Bowl, 6-0, over the Rats, and in keeping with then tradition, got to host Mud Bowl the following year. The event’s longtime sponsor is Amoskeag Beverages, distributors of Lite Beer from Miller. Big surprise there, but the company has helped to make Mud Bowl the success it is today, and their longstanding support cannot be overstated.

Under the rules of mud football back in those days, the winning team got to host the next Mud Bowl in 1976. As a result of the Hog's win, the first Mud Bowl came to North Conway that year as well as the next three years, because the Hogs kept right on winning Mud Bowls. Games were played in a variety of cornfields back then. Things were a lot more low-key then than they are now. Hats were passed around at halftime, for example, to raise money for the Hogs’ official charity, the North Conway Community Center. (The take was a few hundred dollars — a far cry from the $28,000 average that Mud Bowl has annually taken in these past few years). When the Hogs lost a game in overtime played at the base of Mt. Cranmore in 1979 to the upstart New York State Hamslammers, 6-0, that sent the 1980 Mud Bowl to the Hamslammers’ field in Holland Patent, N.Y.

The Hogs and other teams traveled the eight hours from North Conway to the games, with the Hogs bringing home the bacon by winning back the Mud Bowl Cup when they beat the Hamslammers in an exciting battle, 8-7.

With the 1980 Mud Bowl played in upstate New York, Mt. Washington Valley organizers came up with the idea of putting on the 1980 Mud Olympics back in North Conway the week after the Mud Bowl as a way to keep the charitable aspect of mud football going for local charities. It wouldn’t be an official Mud Bowl — but it would be fun!

A big step in the evolution of mud football occurred at those 1980 Mud Olympics when NBC-TV’s “Real People” program covered the event. Suddenly, Mud Bowl was national — even international, when the Associated Press ran a few photos which were carried around the globe. Played at the base of Mt. Cranmore, it was at those Mud Olympics that the Mass Muddas (now Muddas Football Club, the 15-time world champs) made their first appearance in a mud football game in North Conway. They pummeled the Hogs on national television.

Another big step occurred in 1981, when a group of teams formed the National Mud Football Association to further oversee the sport’s growth. Also that year, the Hogs and volunteers teamed up with the North Conway Community Center to transform a former swamp into Hog Coliseum. The facility was so nice, that Mud Bowl officials voted in 1983 to hold all future Mud Bowls in North Conway, regardless of which team won. The first “Tournament of Mud Parade” was also held in 1981, adding more color to the games’ overall entertainment appeal, founded by Steve Eastman to be a takeoff on the Rose Bowl's Tournament of Roses parade.


Teams that have participated over the years include:

• The Nashua Mud Gumbys of Nashua, NH


• The North Shore Mudsharks of Peabody & Lynn, Mass.
  
• The Muddas Football Club of Amherst, NH


• The Mt. Washington Valley Hogs of North Conway, NH


• The Merrimack Mudcats of Franklin, NH


• The Carrabassett Valley Rats of Kingfield, Maine


• The Peabody Predators of Beverly, Mass.
  
• The Cumberland Muckaneers of Cumberland, RI and the newest team...
  
• The North Country Mud Crocs of North Conway, NH

The Annual World Mud Football Championships are always held the first weekend after Labor Day. The period after Labor Day used to be a slow one Mt. Washington Valley in terms of tourism, but no more — Mud Bowl has helped to make the local economy grow while aiding charitable causes, with more than $500,000 raised over the years.

9/11 Victim's Families Speak Out In Support of Park 51 Islamic Cultural Center

There's been a lot of talk lately about the Islamic cultural center and mosque being proposed near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. Despite the First Amendment right to practice religion, opponents to the development are seeking to prevent that right, claiming that the misleadingly named "Ground Zero Mosque" is insensitive to the victims of 9/11.

Watch the video commentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7xfcaoMFO8

The truth is, many relatives of victims of the 9/11 attacks have expressed support for the project.

Judith Keane, whose husband was killed on 9/11, says "To punish a group of Americans who live in peace for the acts of a few is wrong. The worst atrocities in history found their base in fear of those who were different."

Colleen Kelley, who lost her brother William on 9/11, says, the "irony in the debate over the section of the building that would house a mosque is that one might assume that God (the same God to Jews-Christians-Muslims) would be pleased with any type of effort that involves prayer and service to others."

Orlando Rodriguez and Phyllis Schaefer Rodriguez, whose son died in the attack, say they "support the building of the Islamic community center in lower Manhattan" and "feel that it would honor our son and other victims".

Herb Ouida, whose son Todd died, said: "To say that we're going to condemn a religion and castigate a billion people in the world because they're Muslims, to say that they shouldn't have the ability to pray near the World Trade Center—I don't think that's going to bring people together and cross the divide."

Marvin Bethea, a former EMS worker who was forced to retire in 2004 because of breathing problems caused by working at the 9/11 site, believes racism is a factor in the controversy, He said "even though my life has changed, I don't hate the Muslims. Especially being a black man, I know what it's like to be discriminated against. I've lived with that."

Donna O'Connor, whose pregnant daughter died on 9/11, expressed the opinion that "This building will serve as an emblem for the rest of the world that Americans ... recognize that the evil acts of a few must never damn the innocent."

Even Ted Olson, former Solicitor General in the George W. Bush administration, whose wife, Barbara, died in the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, has said "we don't want to turn an act of hate against us by extremists into an act of intolerance for people of religious faith."

Bruce Wallace, whose nephew died as he rushed in to help the victims, says "the media seems eager to trumpet the feelings of those hurt by the idea of the center. They mostly ignore my feelings and those, like me, who feel the center is an important step for Americans."

Talat Hamdani, whose son was a first responder in the rescue effort and died in 9/11, said "You know, if it’s one faith today, it’s going to be another faith tomorrow. That is scary. And to scapegoat the Muslims for the acts of a foreign terrorist, that is — that is hatred." She added "... if that argument is valid, then, by that token, Timothy McVeigh’s actions also makes all Christians terrorists. So, that is wrong."

Terry Rockefeller, whose sister was killed, said: "this doesn't insult her at all. This celebrates the city she loved living in. It is what makes America what we are."

Sue Rosenblum, of Coral Springs, Florida, whose son Josh was killed in the WTC attacks on 9/11, said in reference to the planned Mosque: "What are we teaching if we say you can't build here? That it's OK to hate? This is a country based on freedom of religion."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has strongly endorsed the project, said: "To cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists. We should not stand for that." Responding to a question about the pain the mosque plan is causing some family members, he said, "I don't see an enormous number of people. I was at a fundraiser ... maybe 50 ... people who had lost [family] members. 100% in that room kept saying, 'please keep it up, keep it up'.... our relatives would have wanted this country, and this city, to follow and actually practice what we preach."

Mark McKinnon, a former advisor to Republican President George W. Bush, criticized opposition to the project: "And here we are, reinforcing al Qaeda's message that we're at war with Muslims."

In response to those who oppose the mosque, on August 30 a Salem News editorial stated:

"This argument implicity accepts the notion that Islam itself - and not extrememists who distort Islam - is at the root of the evil perpetrated on 9/11.The best way to counter the al-Qaida version of Islam is not to move the Islamic center, but to build it as a representation of authentic Islam - and a symbol of the American commitment to full religious freedom and interfaith understanding. Rather than banning mosques - or moving them elsewhere - American communities should be welcoming them as allies in the campaign against extremism."

• View the Keith Olbermann's comments on this issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7xfcaoMFO8

A Threat To America

I recently wrote two blog posts here ("Truth and Facts...A Challenge for Democracy" and "Patriotism is a Virtue") in which I discussed the viral emails we all regularly receive from those who insist that America is on the brink of destruction, primarily because of our President, who they insist upon calling Barrack Hussein Obama...as if including his middle name proves that he is not an American citizen and that he is secretly a Muslim who is hell-bent on destroying our constitution and the American way of life.

For proof of this, these hate-filled emails offer up all kinds of false and misleading diatribe. The exaggerations, lies and fear-mongering propagated by these messages have necessitated the creation of rumor debunking sites such as SNOPES.com, FACTCHECK.org, TRUTHORFICTION.com and others.

Nine times out of ten, if you take the time to do a little research, you find that the emails are littered with falsehoods and misleading innuendo. Often they will contain one or two facts, surrounded by misinformation and lies. They are nothing more than the clever manipulation of the natural human tendency to trust.

Worst of all...they call upon you to forward the emails to others in an effort to somehow prove the lies are the truth by virtue of how many others receive the emails, believe the falsehoods, and then forward them on to even more unsuspecting readers.

The messages are never meant to inform, only to inflame. They are intentional redirection from reality and progress, to a paranoid delusion and the fomenting of hatred of Americans by Americans.

We see the same thing from many of the TV and online news media outlets - in particular, Fox News.

Consider these tallies from Glenn Beck's show on Fox News since President Obama's inauguration: 202 mentions of Nazis or Nazism, according to transcripts, 147 mentions of Hitler, 193 mentions of fascism or fascist, and another 24 bonus mentions of Joseph Goebbels. Most of these were directed in some form at Obama -- as were the majority of the 802 mentions of socialist or socialism on Beck's nightly report. (Source: Dana Milbank, The Washington Post)

Isn't it ironic...and utterly arrogant...that the crusade to prove Barack Obama a foreign influence is led by an Australian named Murdock and his second largest shareholder Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud of Saudi Arabia?

I don't know about you, but I have had enough.

The right to freedom of speech is one of our most cherished rights. It is also a double-edged sword: the same right that allows us to criticize our government's policies without fear of reprisal also protects those who endorse and promote racism, anti-semitism, ethnic hatred and other socially divisive positions.

And therein lies a significant threat to democracy, because voters that choose to believe unsubstantiated "facts", false innuendo and speeches and videos taken totally out of context become susceptible to voting based upon ignorance and misinformation, uniquely unenlightened by facts or truth.

Choosing the above path is a real threat to our American way of life, and it's unacceptable to me.

How about you?

Truth & Facts...A Challenge For Democracy

About two months ago I wrote a blog titled "Patriotism Is A Virtue". In it, I refer to what I call "Hate & Fake" emails from extremists with messages that are completely false and often degrading and insulting . You know the ones I mean. Then they ask you to forward the message on to everyone you know.

I ended the blog by saying:

"Patriotism is a virtue that can not exist on a foundation of lies, false innuendo and diatribe."

Now researchers also suggest that such lies, false innuendo and diatribe are a significant threat to democracy.

The Sunday Boston Globe's Idea section ran an article called "How Facts Backfire" by Joe Keohane. According to the article:

"Recently, a few political scientists have begun to discover a human tendency deeply discouraging to anyone with faith in the power of information. It's this: Facts don't necessarily have the power to change our minds. In fact, quite the opposite. In a series of studies in 2005 and 2006, researchers at the University of Michigan found that when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs. Facts, they found, were not curing misinformation. And in the presense of the correct information...instead of changing their minds to reflect the correct information, they can entrench themselves even deeper."

This refusal to accept or admit that you are wrong is the result of Cognitive Dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors... or by justifying or rationalizing them. Dissonance occurs when a person perceives a logical inconsistency in their beliefs, when one idea implies the opposite of another.

The Globe article goes on to say:

"Rather than facts driving beliefs, our beliefs can dictate the facts we choose to accept. They can cause us to twist facts so they better fit with our preconceived notions. Worst of all, they can lead us to uncritically accept bad information just because it reinforces our beliefs. In other words, it's never been easier for people to be wrong, and at the same time feel more certain they are right."

So what the article suggests is that cognitive dissonance might be experienced as guilt, anger, frustration, or even embarrassment and in an effort to avoid those uncomfortble feelings many people will simply choose to ignore the truth and go along happily believing whatever tends to reinforce their beliefs.

And therein lies the threat to democracy, because voters that choose the above path are susceptible to voting based upon ignorance and misinformation, uniquely unenlighted by facts or truth.

That would be a shame.

Draft RFP for the Operational Audit of the School District

UPDATE: 7/16/2010.....

[Click Here]

for the final version of the RFP

* * * * *

Below, please find a copy of the DRAFT Request For Proposal for the Operational Audit of the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District as of June 22, 2010.

Once you have reviewed it, please consider participating in the "unofficial" poll to the left and weigh in with your views and opinions.

Thank you for your consideration
of this important matter.

* * *

SECTION 1. Introduction and Background

The Towns of Hamilton and Wenham, Massachusetts, acting through their Boards of Selectmen, seek detailed proposals for an Operational Audit of the Hamilton – Wenham Regional School District.

At the Hamilton Annual Town Meeting on May 8, 2010, and the Wenham Annual Town Meeting, May 1, 2010, a citizen’s initiative (Exhibit A) was presented and duly adopted petitioning this effort. Pursuant to an Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of Wenham, the Town of Hamilton will serve as lead municipality for the project and will coordinate all aspects of the work.

While the Town seeks to encourage competition and evaluate firms on a uniform basis, this solicitation is not governed by Massachusetts General Law. C. 30B. As a result, the Town retains complete discretion as to the manner by which proposals shall be evaluated and services awarded and reserves the right not to make any award underthis process.

The fee for services will be negotiated and shall not exceed a total cost of $90,000.

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District serves the two North Shore Massachusetts Communities of Hamilton and Wenham, located approximately 25 miles north of Boston and having a combined population of approximately 13,000 residents.

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District is an independent legal entity from the towns of Hamilton and Wenham, providing educational services to the two towns’ school age children, comprising approximately 2066 students. The enrollment includes approximately 102 school choice students. The schools include Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School (9-12), Miles River Middle School (6-8), Buker Elementary (K-5), Cutler Elementary (K-5), and Winthrop Elementary (PK-5), and Center School which is the location of the District’s Administrative Offices.

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District has agreed to cooperate with the towns and provide whatever assistance is necessary to the Contractor to complete the operational audit.

Section 2. Scope of Services

The purpose of the operational audit is to review existing policies, procedures, and practices, as well as staffing levels, to determine their adequacy, efficiency, and costeffectiveness as compared against best practices that meet the requirements of both State and Federal mandates for a public education program.

The operational audit shall be performed in the following areas and disciplines within the Hamilton - Wenham Regional School District.

1. Personnel policies and procedures including compensation and benefits.

2. Union contracts negotiations, procedures and management.

3. School District Administration, policies and procedures including professional and clerical staffing.

4. Staffing, educational staffing and other staffing. Includes an evaluation of the number, composition, and performance evaluation process for all staff.

5. Accounting system - policies, practices and procedures including payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable and the overall budget process and associated budget controls.

6. Time keeping policy, procedures, practices and controls.

7. Purchasing policy, procedures, practices and controls.

8. Inventory control procedures and practices including store minimum/maximum items and capital expense items.

9. Curriculum policies, procedures, management and controls Pre. K - 12.

10. SPED (Special Ed.) policies, procedures, management and controls Pre. K - 12.

11. Traffic policies, procedures and management including buses, cars and communications.

12. Cafeteria staffing policies, procedures, management and controls.

13. Building maintenance staffing, policies, procedures and management including Heating, AC, Electrical, Plumbing, routine maintenance, etc.

14. Information Technology (IT) systems, staffing, procedures and controls.

15. Medical / Nurse staffing policies and controls.

16. Athletic Programs - staffing, management, controls and financial reporting.

17. Misc. extracurricular programs non-athletic staffing, management, controls and financial reporting.

18. HWRSD Liaison - State and Towns (includes financial and other)

19. School Committee – Administrative costs, expenses and financial reporting.

Section 3. Minimum Qualifications.

Selection will be made by an Operational Audit Review Committee. The respondent must certify in its cover letter that it meets the following minimum requirements. Failure to include such certification in the cover letter demonstrating that these criteria have been met will result in your proposal being rejected without further consideration.

1. The firm must be well versed in performing similar such audits in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for a minimum of 7 years.

2. The firm must have knowledge of and experience in evaluating educational program requirements.

3. A poor reference may be a basis for a determination that the respondent is not a responsible bidder.

Section 4. Rule for Award

It is the Towns’ intent to award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, but the Towns reserve the right to as set forth in Section 1 to make no award at all or choose a service provider through any other method permitted by law.

Applications will be assessed with regard to the following factors:

1. Relevant experience of proposed and proposed project staff;

2. Staffing plan and methodology;

3. Proposer’s demonstrated ability to complete projects on a timely basis;

4. Clarity and comprehensiveness of proposed plan;

5. If submitted, evaluation of written product.

Hamilton will determine whether to award the contract to a responsive bidder pursuant to this Request for Proposal or to choose a provider through another process at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Hamilton Board of Selectmen after the date on which applications are opened by the Operational Audit Review Committee.

Section 5. Meetings

Attend work and review meetings as necessary with the Hamilton Town Manager and Wenham Town Administrator, the Hamilton Board of Selectmen and the Wenham Board of Selectmen, individually or jointly, and the Operational Audit Review Committee to provide progress updates.

Section 6. Communication

Maintain a high level of communication with the Towns’ representative during the study. Present, in comprehensive format, a minimum of two presentations, to the Boards of Selectmen of Hamilton and Wenham, HWRSD Administration and School Committee, and the general public within 45 days of completion of the operational audit.

Section 7. Final Report

Prepare a final written report documenting both positive and negative findings and observations. In areas where a negative finding or observation is recorded, provide recommended corrective action and estimated cost savings upon implementation of the corrective action.

All work must be completed and the Final Report must be submitted to the Towns’ representative no later than November 1, 2010.

Provide twelve (12) black and white copies of the final report and an electronic copy.

The RFP will be appended to and become part of a Contract for Services. At the time of contract execution, the successful respondent will be required to provide a certificate of professional liability insurance indicating minimum coverage of $1,000,000.

Section 8. Proposal Requirements

1. Please provide the name and location of your firm.

2. Please provide a summary of the ownership and organizational structure of
your firm.

3. Provide a summary of the expertise, capacity and resources of your firm. Identify all of your municipal government/regional school district clients for which you have provided services of similar scope and size to those contemplated by this Request for Proposal. Include a contact name and telephone number for each such client.

4. Provide a business information report or business profile from a credit reporting agency dated no earlier than 60 days prior to the bid submission date.

5. Discuss any potential conflicts of interests the firm or any individual within the firm might have representing the Town of Hamilton and the Town of Wenham.

6. Include the basis by which the fee for services shall be assessed, whether by an hourly rate with an amount not to exceed, a flat fee, or some other fee structure.

7. Include an executed Certificate of Non-Collusion.

8. Applications (two (2) originals and five (5) copies) must be received on or before 2:00 PM, on ___________, July ___, 2010, at which time all applications will be opened and reviewed by the Operational Audit Review Committee.

Responses should be printed double-sided and bound in such a manner that the pages lie and remain flat when opened.

9. Applications must be accompanied by a concise cover letter that is a maximum of two pages in length that describes why the applicant is the best candidate to complete the operational audit in a timely manner.

10. Proposals and questions or clarifications shall be addressed to:

Michael A. Lombardo
Hamilton Town Manager
577 Bay Road, P.O. Box 429
Hamilton, MA 01936

"Unmasking The Anonymous Online Loudmouth"

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how annoying it can be to receive outrageous, ridiculous, and sometimes downright mean and false comments from individuals that hide their identities behind their diatribe by posting as "Anonymous" or using a fake name.

It appears I am not alone in my distaste for these nameless commentors.

The cover story in this week's Boston Globe Magazine, written by Neil Swidey, is about the very same issue. It's titled "Unmasking The Anonymous Online Loudmouth" (I wish I had thought of that) and it reaches just about the same conclusions that I did in my blog titled "Anonymity Cause For Animosity" [Click Here].

I recommend reading Neil's article [Click Here] and seeing why anonymous commentors that write shameless replies have given rise to a new Internet term, or "handle". They are now known as TROLLS...slang for people behind inflammatory posts.

From the article:

"The pros of hostng a robust, free-wheeling conversation
had become outweighed by the cons of all the venon and
nastiness,by people who are allowed to name-call without
any obligation to reveal their own names."

"After years of letting anonymity rule online, many media
heavyweights...have begun to modify their policies. The
goal is to take the playground back from the anonymous
bullies and give greater weight to those willing to offer,
in addition to strong views, their real names."

"...that freedom can be abused and manipulated to spread
lies or mask hidden agendas. With all that in the balance, the
thinking goes, shouldn't we know who's saying these things?"

This blog is dedicated to the troll "REMaven".

A Gentle Reminder...For Hamilton Residents

HAMILTON SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

Monday, June 21st at 7:00 PM at the Winthrop School

Please plan to attend...A quorum is necessary to

approve the single warrant article (30 minutes)

B/T/W...Be sure to read recently elected Selectman Jeff Stinson's new blog:

http://www.openhamilton.org/

Can You "Pass The Buck"?

We've all heard the term. It means blaming someone else rather than accepting responsibility yourself. We see a lot of that kind of activity in politics, especially on the national level.

At least one Hamilton Selectman has shown us that he too knows how to "Pass the Buck".

That's exactly what he did, as reported in a recent article in the Hamilton/Wenham Chronicle, when he stated that:

"the operational audit (of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District) was approved pursuant to a citizens' petition, so the approval of funding should have been part of the citizens' motion but was not".

Excuse me?

The truth is that the citizen petitioners negotiated in good faith with the Selectmen of both Hamilton and Wenham, as well as the Finance and Advisory Committees of both towns, and they were assured at public meetings that the towns were going to step up and and fund the Operational Audit of the HWRSD. That placed the responsibility squarely on the town leadership...not the petitioners. And the Selectman mentioned above knew that, at least two weeks prior to the Annual Town Meeting, and said and did nothing.

The truth is that all that was left for the citizen petitioners was to see to it that the motion for the audit was approved at both the Wenham and Hamilton Town meetings. They did that.

The truth is that the motion passed overwhelmingly in Wenham with the FULL support of the Wenham Board of Selectmen and the Wenham FinCom and the Wenham FinCom addressed the issue of their portion of the funding for the Operational Audit at the Town Meeting and how the appropriation would take place.

The truth is that the IDENTICAL motion was made and overwhelmingly approved by the voters one week later at the Hamilton Annual Town Meeting.

The truth is that there was only ONE Selectman in both towns that consistently opposed the motion for the Operational Audit from day one to the day the voters approved the motion.

Guess who?

And now that same Selectman has the audacity to suggest that it is the petitioners' fault that a Special Town Meeting is necessary in order to appropriate Hamilton's share of the cost of the audit.

That's called "passing the buck".

The petitioners and the voters did their part. Even Town Manager Michael Lombardo has graciously stepped up and accepted responsibility for the unexpected need of a Special Town Meeting. But Michael is not to blame.

Apparently the only elected official not willing to accept responsibility, despite nearly six years as a Selectman and with more than two weeks notice in which to address the appropriation issue, is the sole dissenter from both towns' Boards of Selectmen...the only one who voted against the operational audit.

Hmmmm...imagine that.

Pricing Myths That Slow the Sale of Your Home

Putting your house on the market can be an emotionally exhausting task. You have to confront questions that involve not only big money, but also an intensely personal asset - your home.

Questions like: What's my house really worth? Should I sell on my own to save the agent's commission? How can I be certain I'm getting the right advice about listing, negotiating, and selling smart in today's market?

Along with these tough questions, you come face-to-face with some enduring myths about the homeselling process. They're so widespread that it's wise to know about them in advance. If you make moves based on facts, not myths, you'll fare far better in the selling process.

MYTH: The real estate agent will set the price for my home.

Agents don't set any price. However, they'll suggest a price based on their assessment of not only your home but also the current state of the market. Most agents are careful to suggest a range rather than a dollar amount, and it's then up to you to accept or reject that recommendation. Their recommendation is usually based on a rigorous review of comparables - houses similar to yours that have sold in recent months.

MYTH: I should always list with the agent who recommends

the highest selling price in the Comparable Market Analysis (CMA).

Wrong. The CMA is just one of many factors on which to base a listing decision. The CMAs from several agents competing for your listing will probably all fall within a similar range. But if one agent's CMA is significantly outside that range - especially on the high side - don't make that the key reason for giving that agent your listing. Go with the agent whose total marketing presentation, track record, and rapport with you adds up best.

MYTH: If I sell my house myself, I'll net more money

because I won't be paying the agent's commision.

Many people look at the fee an agent stands to earn on a home sale and wonder whether there's a cheaper way to sell. In some red-hot real estate markets, where buyers are lining up outside your door with offers and competing for your home, it's possible to do just that. But most markets aren't anywhere near red-hot these days. Many are soft, sluggish, and slow (or steady at best) - the very worst climate for solo sellers of For-Sale-By-Owners (FSBOs).

The experience of sellers I've spoken with in the past year around the North Shore confirms the fact that when you go on your own in the current market, you stack the odds against yourself terribly. For starters, your home won't be listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the number one sales tool for marketing a home. And despite your best desire to avoid having to pay a commision, most buyers who respond to your newspaper ad will discount out the commission you hope to pocket. That is, they'll subtract it from your asking price even before they start to really negotiate with you on your list price. The result is that you will receive far more low-ball offers than if you were working with an agent.

Then there are the sheer practical aspects of selling on your own. Do you have the time or the flexibility to show the home during your regular working hours? That happens to be when many buyers want to visit properties and spend time walking through them with their agent.

Another important flaw in the I-can-save-by-selling-it-myself theory is that although you may think your negotiating abilities will stand you in good stead when you deal one-on-one with potential buyers, the odds are that you're mistaken. Face-to-face negotiating in the kitchen or living room blows up more FSBO sales than almost any other cause. Rather than having a cool, unemotional buffer - that is, an agent - between yourself and the buyer, you're all alone, and the buyer's demands almost inevitably get you steamed up. After all, the buyer's negotiating strategy will always be to knock down your price by pointing out every imperfection, real or otherwise, in your home.

The hard reality is that if you want to get maximum value for your home, it makes little sense to fly solo. That's why a lot of FSBOs come in out of the cold after a few weeks or months and list with a professional.*

*Here's an interesting note: A national survey has shown that sellers that list with a real estate agent realize nearly 3% more for their homes, even after considering the commission.

MYTH: Homes always appreciate.

Spoiled by real estate markets in which values had been going up for years, many homeowners incorrectly assume that their home will appreciate at levels far in excess of other investments. Yet real estate, like every other important segment of our economy, runs in cycles...and I think everyone knows what cycle we are in right now! If you bought a home at the top of the market cycle but sell it at the bottom, you may end up taking a loss. On the other hand, you might have bought at the bottom of the cycle and can now realize a significant gain.

MYTH: There's no need to make sure I'm setting an accurate

and reasonable price for my home because I can always lower it later.

Sure you can. But in the meantime, you've blown your chance of selling it within a reasonable time frame to buyers who would have been interested if your initial price had been realistic.

Pricing too high - leaving too much padding for later negotiating - is the surest technique for leaving your home dead in the water for months or even years. And when you finally correct your asking price to the true market level, you'll probably end up with a lower selling figure than you'd have obtained by having a realistic price from the start.

The truth is: The longer a home remains unsold and on the market, the less the seller will ultimately net.

Anonymity Cause For Animosity

If you are a blogger, you know that readers' comments mean alot. The same holds true for news reporters whose columns and articles appear online and allow for commenting from the public. Often the comments are supportive of the writer's opinion. Sometimes they are not. Often commenters use their own names when signing. Sometimes they do not, choosing instead an alias or simply posting as "anonymous".

All of that is fine and good...until you come across an anonymous commenter who lacks civility, honesty and integrity.

You know the type...the ones who compare you, the blogger, or even other commenters on your blog to Nazis, or terrorists, or the Klu Klux Klan, or the "village idiot". They claim you are ignorant or misguided or stupid or arrogant. They condemn in the most negative and egregious manner with complete disregard for facts or truth. But they never tell us who they are, do they?

This type of commenter is the real village idiot...and more. This kind of person lacks integrity and spews foolish nonsense and personal insults knowing all along that he/she has no accountability because he/she hides behind a protected wall of anonymity and therefore never "owns" what they write. They accept no responsibility for their dishonesty, negativity and inauthenticity.

In my previous blog I discussed the unfortunate amount of "hate and fake" emails that make their way around the Internet. The anonymous commenters whose conscienceless deceit makes its way onto bloggers' comments sections is the same kind of dishonest and ethically challenged individual. They are pathetic and cowardly.

Fortunately for the bloggers, reasonable and rational people recognize the difference between diatribe and substance and are unwilling to accept the former as the latter.

This blog is dedicated to the anonymous commenter "REmavens".

Patriotism Is a Virtue

Greetings...

Is anyone else sick and tired of receiving emails from extremists with messages that are completely false and often degrading and insulting? And then they ask you to forward the message to everyone you know?

Do you want to know who the worst terrorists are in our country?

They are those who spread wild lies and totally false information on the Internet about anyone and anything that opposes their beliefs and false claims of patriotism.

They attempt to spread fear about the leadership of our country by propagating fabrications that have necessitated the creation of rumor debunking sites such as SNOPES.com, FACTCHECK.org, TRUTHORFICTION.com and others.

They have even gone so far as to attempt to cast doubt on the validity of the research done by the above fact-checking sites by making false claims about those sites!

And all in the name of "truth" when what they do is actually all in the name of wild exaggerations, lies and fear-mongering. The conscienceless deceit involved crosses the line of honesty, integrity and ethical standards.

It is terrorism of the worse kind because it spreads lies in the name of patriotism. It's shameful, disgraceful, and anything BUT patriotic. (remember Timothy McVeigh?)

Fortunately, most reasonable people can differentiate between appearance and substance.

Patriotism is a virtue that can not exist on a foundation of lies, false innuendo and diatribe.

Real Estate: A Bumpy Road Ahead?

Imagine if we only had a crystal ball. Our major financial and life decisions would be so simple to make, and there would be no risk and no worries. Unfortunately, we do not have that luxury. Our decisions must be made upon solid data and information.

Over the past year, you may have heard a repeated message; now is a good time to buy. From the data we have, we do in fact know that it is a buyer’s market, and a good one. A wide variety of inventory is available, and interest rates are still low, making this an unprecedented time for buyers to take advantage of the market, and many already have.

In its latest release, the National Association of Realtors® states, "pending home sales rose in February, potentially signaling a second surge of home sales in response to the home buyer tax credit. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in February, rose 8.2 percent" compared to the same time last year.

Unfortunately, there are several factors that could impact the future direction of this market, making the road ahead a bumpy one, and uncertain at the very least.

The tax credit has expired and many industry analysts and economists agree that sales will slowly dwindle into the coming months. To quote an article in the Wall Street Journal, on home sales, curb your enthusiasm, "While there might be strong data in future weeks, industry experts have long said that softness could follow once the incentive - essentially free money - to buy is taken away."

We are also uncertain what the Fed will do to interest rates. Rates have held quite steady, but it is anticipated that the Fed will increase them, and to what extent is uncertain. If the rates do increase, it could impact the type and size of home a buyer could purchase. Buyers could be priced out of the market with an increase of rates by only a few points.

Yet another unknown variable is the amount of shadow inventory that could come onto the market at any given time. Shadow inventory are homes that have undergone foreclosure, but the banks have yet to place on the market. According to an MSN Money article, home seizures by banks set a new record and "prices have stabilized in many areas because banks have kept these properties off the market, adding that banks will likely continue to do so until the economy picks up again."

Of course every local real estate market has slight variables. To determine exactly what has taken place in your market over the past month consult with your local REALTOR.

If you’re seriously looking to purchase a property, now truly is the time to buy. Don’t gamble on the future with so many unknowns up ahead.

And f you didn’t have a chance to take advantage of the Tax Credit, just visit NewEnglandMoves.com. There are many homes participating in the Coldwell Banker Buyer Bonus program offering a credit up to $8,000, or speak directly to me and I will be happy to assist you.

Regards,

Jay Burnham, VP

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

North Shore, Massachusetts

Direct Line: 978.233.2828

Great Party...No Friends!

Imagine you are planning a great party for your closest friends. You want to save money where you can, so instead of paying for printing you buy some generic invitations. Then to save time you write "occupant" on the envelopes and take them to post office to be delivered.

When the big day arrives, you are in for a surprise. Your guests begin arriving but you don't recognize a single one of them. You planned an elegant black-tie affair, but they're all dressed for a back-yard barbecue. Before long, you realize that every one is a stranger, not at all the guests you had planned to spend the evening with.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? But when homeowners decide to sell "by owner," they create a scenario just as improbable. The generic sign appears in the front yard as an invitation to complete strangers to knock on the door at all hours for information. Another invitation, an ad, goes into the local newspaper.

The "guests" arrive all right, whenever they feel like it. They are an interesting collection of bargain hunters, investors, and "tire-kickers." Each plans to feast off the homeowner's equity – by making a low offer to purchase the home or, in the case of the tire-kicker, to just enjoy some free hospitality.

When it's time to sell your home, choose an agent who understands the invitation process. "Black-tie" buyers work with agents who can introduce them to homes that are the "talk of the town."

Regards,

Jay Burnham, VP
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Citizens Win Operational Audit of Schools at Town Meeting

The following is the text of the presentation made by Enough Is Enough at the Hamilton Town Meeting on Saturday, May 8th. After minor debate the motion was passed by a margin of more than 5 to 1.

* * *

Presented by Jay Burnham

Thank you Mr. Moderator… and greetings fellow residents of Hamilton. Last week I had the privilege of speaking to this same motion at the Wenham Annual Town Meeting. Because we are a Regional School District, the motion needs to pass in both towns. It passed by an overwhelming majority in Wenham and it had the unanimous support of both the Wenham Board of Selectmen and the Wenham Finance and Advisory Committee. In fact, it was reported in the Salem News the following day:

“Any lingering doubts that a proposal for an operational audit of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional District enjoys broad-based community support were buried under a blizzard of white voter cards at Wenham’s Annual Town Meeting on Saturday afternoon.”

I understand that the Hamilton Board of Selectmen and the Hamilton Finance and Advisory Committee also support this motion and you will hear from them shortly. It should also be noted that all the current candidates for election to the BoS and the School Committee that spoke recently at the League of Women Voters Candidate’s night stated support for this motion as well.

A little more than a year ago Enough Is Enough was sufficiently concerned with the costs associated with our schools that we suggested that an operational, or efficiency audit, of the school district would be advisable. Shortly after that the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) was formed and began investigating school costs. When they reported their findings last June, we discovered that our school operating costs were much higher than comparable school districts. Unfortunately, nothing was ever done about it.

Then in February of this year, Dave Reid and other members of the BRC received new, current and updated information, working directly with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). That updated information showed that our costs were now even HIGHER than they were in last year’s study. It was reported that we spend between $2 to $4 million more a year than comparable or cohort school districts…or nearly $2,000 more per student…without the benefit of a better education as measured by scholastic test scoring.

Once again, nothing was done about it. The School District set about denying the results, defending the spending and delaying a solution. It was clear that something had to be done and the district was not going to be the one to initiate the process.

As a result Enough Is Enough prepared and began circulating a Citizen’s Petition requesting an amendment to the Regional School Agreement calling for an Operational Audit. An amendment of the Regional School Agreement is the ONLY recourse that citizens have when it comes to the school district, which is otherwise autonomous.

The motion before you is different than what was originally proposed. Despite claims of support for an operational audit, the School District placed numerous roadblocks in the path of the Citizens Petition. In an effort to find common ground and compromise, EiE voluntarily modified the original motion as follows:

1. We have removed the obligation of the Superintendent or School Committee to adopt the recommendations of the Operational Audit.


2. We have removed the obligations of the Superintendent or School Committee to present a plan for such adoption.


3. We now only require the Superintendent or School Committee to report to the Selectmen, at an advertised Public Hearing, their response to the recommendations made in the Operational Audit.


4. We have removed, as a result of agreement by the towns to fund the costs and expenses of the audit, the requirement that the School District pay for the Operational Audit.


5. We have added the requirement that the costs and expenses of the Operational audit shall not exceed $90k and that the Towns of Hamilton and Wenham will fund the costs according to the current fiscal year rolling average assessment percentage…which is roughly 1/3 Wenham, 2/3 Hamilton.


6. We removed the requirement that an Operational Audit be conducted every five (5) years.

What we have NOT changed and WILL NOT modify is the SCOPE of the Operational Audit or the MECHANISIM for assuring that the audit is performed.

The mechanism for that assurance is the Regional School District Agreement and the motion before you calls for amending that agreement so as to require the Operational Audit. The Regional Agreement is the CONTRACT between the District and our two communities. Bound only by the terms of that CONTRACT, the District is, as I mentioned before, otherwise autonomous. The School committee has suggested that the article should not be in the Regional Agreement because it is now a one time event and that we therefore somehow risk approval of the amendment by the Commissioner of DESE. We say that if the Commissioner considers denying this amendment, an amendment designed to improve the schools…at no cost to the schools…an amendment supported by the BoS and Finance Committees of both towns, an amendment that resulted from a citizens petition signed by 879 registered voters…and approved (at least so far…in Wenham) by more than 80% of the voters at Town Meeting…well then, ladies and gentlemen, our problems and far worse than we think. We’re willing and insist upon taking that alleged risk.

And lastly, we come to the SCOPE of the audit. The District wants to limit the focus to only a study of Instructional Services and SPED. That would be like asking the voters in this room to approve the Town Budget with only 2 line items presented. To the contrary, what is needed is a full and complete operational audit by an unbiased, professional auditing firm with expertise in exactly this kind of school operational study and review.

I have a copy of a full operational audit report. It is 331 pages in length…It’s a report of a school district with 3900 students, or a little less than twice our size. It is a study and complete review of an entire school system including:

• District Administration


• Financial Management


• Purchasing


• Education Service Delivery Costs


• Special Education


• Human Resources


• Facility Use & Management


• Transportation


• Technology Management


• Nutrition Services

The report is full of commendations, (yes…recognition of what the district is doing well and right) as well as “best practice” recommendations and fiscal recommendations for savings…in the case of that school district, $16 million over 5 years.

Being half the size, just imagine if we could save half that amount. Perhaps we could eliminate some User Fees…or make repairs to this auditorium…or fix up the high school lockers…or maybe all of those things.

The primary goal of the operational audit is to insure that non-instructional functions are running efficiently so that as much of school district funding as possible goes directly to the classroom and to identify savings that can be gained through best practices.

Making a positive difference…making our schools better…lies today with you and your vote.

I urge you to vote YES to the motion before you for an operational audit. We need it, it’s the fiscally responsible thing to do, and it’s the right time to do it.

And in closing, I’d like to offer one other quote from the Salem News, this one by Steve Landwehr the day before Wenham’s supportive Town Meeting vote.

He wrote:

“On its face, it’s a straightforward proposal for an independent examination of the finances and operations of the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District. What’s at stake, however, is trust.”

You know, there just may be more truth in that statement than any one of us in this room would like to admit.

Let’s begin building trust back up within our community. It can begin if we all agree to a full and complete operational audit that will surely provide the transparency we all desire and deserve.

And along with that transparency… I believe we can find that missing trust.

Please vote YES… and make a positive difference.

Thank you for your consideration.

Wenham Voters Support Operational Audit at Town Meeting

"Any lingering doubts that a proposal for an operational audit of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District enjoys broad-based community support were buried under a blizzard of white voter cards at Wenham's Annual Town Meeting on Saturday afternoon."

...Steve Landwehr, SALEM NEWS

Town Meeting backs audit of school district

[click above for full story]

Wenham voters mull independent review of schools

Wenham voters mull independent review of schools

From the Salem News, April 30, 2010

by Steve Landwehr

Posted using ShareThis

How Do You Like It Now?

The fiscal watchdog group Enough Is Enough (EiE) in Hamilton and Wenham has released an amendment to their motion calling for an operational audit of the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District (HWRSD)...to be presented to the voters in Wenham and Hamilton at their respective Town Meetings.

[click here to view the amendment]

When EiE's original citizen's petition warrant article was published, the HWRSD rushed to their attorney for an opinion of whether or not the article was allowable and enforceable. Their attorney's opinion was that it was NOT enforceable as it applied to the "requirement" that if audited, the school committee (SC) had to implement the recommendations of the audit firm. The HWRSD then announced that EiE's proposal was "illegal", a suggestion that represents spin at its worst. There is a distinct difference between "unenforceable" and "illegal". The suggestion that EiE was somehow attempting to "break the law" is clearly ridiculous.

Nonetheless, EiE then made attempts to reach common ground and compromise with the SC, but they received no response from that committee. So EiE forged ahead without a reply and have now made public their amended motion that addresses the issues raised by the HWRSD attorney (cause for his complaint has been eliminated), as well as other issues expressed by the SC.

The amended motion should put to rest all the concerns previously expressed by the SC...except for two: the funding for the operational audit and the SCOPE of the audit. Those issues have been fully discussed and justified here on this blog, other blogs and in the local newspapers so I see no point in beating that dead horse again.

Which brings to point one final question... Will the SC finally accept the will of the citizens and the reasonable and rational changes proposed by EiE's compromise amendment? Or will they simply find something else to object to and attempt to place additional roadblocks in the way of an initiative designed to make our schools more efficient and effective? Will they try to water it down and propose support only for a "mini" audit, or "audit-light" that will serve no other purpose than to waste additional taxpayer dollars on a restricted and SC controlled review of limited portions of the district school system and would inevitably result in failure to solve the district's problems at money management?

I guess we'll find out at Town Meeting.

Make a positive difference...

Attend Town Meeting and VOTE YES for the operational audit.

Wenham: May 1st at the Buker School

Hamilton: May 8th at the High School

The "Final Word"

Compliments of The Informed Hamilton Blog:

http://tinyurl.com/23tjkup

Seize the Day

School Superintendent States Support of Operational Audit

On Thursday, March 18, Hamilton Town Clerk Jane Wetson certified that a citizen's petition had the necessary 10% of the town's registered voter signatures, thereby qualifying it to be placed as an article on the warrant for the Annual Town Meetings...in both Hamilton and Wenham.

Because the petition calls for an amendment to the Regional School District Agreement, 10% of the registered voter's signatures, of EITHER town, was required. That number of signatures was 570 in Hamilton. As it turned out, the total number collected in Hamilton and Wenham exceeded 850.

By now, most know that the petition calls for an Operational Audit of the regional school district by an outside, unbiased, third-party company, to be determined by the Boards of Selectmen (BoS) of the two towns.

You can read more about the issue on this blog in articles below this one.

Here are a few new items regarding this initiative...

1. Some have asked why the amendment calls for the school district operating fund to pay for the audit. In fact, the current superintendent has indicated that she supports such an audit but that she feels the district should not pay for it. The answer is simple...the schools already do not pay for anything - the TAXPAYERS do. So whether the funding is in the school budget, or the town budget - you, the taxpayers of Hamilton and Wenham, pay the bill. So it does not matter which pocket it comes from, it's the same pair of pants.



2. School Committee member Don Gallant recently stated, "I find it difficult for a public entity to fund its own audit. My concern is if you had an operational audit and they came in with a, more or less, favorable report, it would look a little fishy because you were the one who paid for the report."
   
   But hold on a minute...
   
   Isn't that EXACTLY what the school district did when it paid nearly $45 thousand for a study and report by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)? The proposed amendment language of the citizen's petition eliminates Mr. Gallant's concern by granting the authority of who to hire to the Boards of Selectmen, not the school committee or administration.
   
   
3. The most often asked question is "How much is it going to cost?" That will depend upon what firm the selectmen choose to perform the operational audit. The tax watchdog group Enough Is Enough (EiE) has been in contact with one firm, MGT of America, that specializes in exactly this kind of audit and they have said the cost would likely be $75k to $95k for a complete and thorough examination, including specific recommendations for improvement and savings.
   
   You can view the company's website by [clicking here].
   
   School districts where MGT has performed audits have noted experiencing savings of from several times the cost of the audit to millions of dollars over the years, resulting from MGT recommendations that the schools implemented. Judging from the wide discrepancy of the costs of our school district compared to our "cohort" districts (estimated at $2 to $4 million more a year in Hamilton/Wenham) brought to light by the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) recently, it seems clear that an operational audit is overwhelmingly needed here.



4. Which brings me to my final point...There are those that would argue that the BRC has already shown us where we need to cut costs...that we need to simply look to the comparison schools to find the answers. Not according to Alexa McCloughan, vice-chairman of the School committee, who (Boston Globe North: 3/11/10) said that while the results of the study are interesting, jumping to the conclusion that Hamilton-Wenham could be remade in the image of another district would be an oversimplification and that closer observation of any community yields significant differences.

I agree with Ms. McCloughan. That is precisely why the HWRSD needs an operational audit of its own so its own values and philosophies, systems and processes, personnel and practices can be properly...and locally...evaluated and recommendations made to improve the delivery of services and save costs.

Even school superintendent McGrath admits supporting an operational audit.

Dr. McGrath publicly stated at the school committee meeting on 3/11/10:

"From the very first meeting, at every single
BRC meeting...Don (Gallant, SC member)

and I both said, 'Come on in! Come in

and do an operational audit.' I'm getting

rather tired of seeing it in print that

we are opposing an operational audit,

because that is NOT the case."

So there you have it. The school administration and the residents want the same thing - an operational audit that will improve our school district...for everyone. This should be cause not only for celebration but also for overwhelming support and passage of the request at both Town Meetings.

Vote YES for this amendment to the Regional School District Agreement at the Annual Town Meetings in May and let's get started.

Wenham's Annual Town Meeting is Saturday, May 1.

Hamilton's Annual Town Meeting is Saturday, May 8.

800+ Sign Petition in Support of Operational Audit

About a month ago I reported here that the grassroots tax group Enough Is Enough (EiE) was circulating a Citizen's Petition requesting an Operational Audit of the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District (HWRSD). Within three weeks of that announcement the group had the required number of signatures to submit their request as an article for the Town Meeting warrants in both Hamilton and Wenham.

In fact, the total number of voter signatures required was 570 and the group gathered over 800...in just three weeks!

That's a testament not only to those that collected so many signatures in so little time, but also to the overwhelming support that this initiative has in both towns.

And why wouldn't it have that kind of support?

You will recall that two weeks after EiE began collecting signatures, the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) reported an update of data and information that spotlighted an alarming disparity between what we pay to the HWRSD and what similar/comparable school districts are costing. A Salem News article stated that our school district spends nearly $3.5 million dollars more than the comparable districts...without the benefit of higher educational test scoring from our students.

That knowledge is cause for grave concern and clearly supports and justifies the need for the operational audit. EiE has sought support for this study for more than a year and has tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to obtain information from the school department in order to find out where and how funding is being directed and spent in our school district. The school department's steadfast reluctance to provide the requested information left EiE no other choice than to seek the requested amendment to the Regional School District Agreement requiring an operational audit.

Fortunately, there has never been a more opportune time to perform this kind of audit. Changes within the school administration could likely result in savings to fund such an audit. School districts contacted by EiE that performed operational audits have positive testimonials about recommendations that were provided by the auditors and spoke of savings of millions of dollars...many times the original cost of their audits. Savings have been found in areas never considered by the school committees and new "best practice" systems and processes have been implemented that have been proven highly effective.

This is an initiative that should be welcomed and embraced by all. It is not punishment. It is an acknowledgement that professional, trained, experienced, outside, third party experts are better able discern solutions to our problems than those that, despite their best intentions, have caused the cost of our kids' education to soar beyond reason...without the benefit of enhanced educational excellence.

In other words, higher costs have NOT been shown to equal better education.

The amendment request for the operational audit will be voted upon at each individual Town Meeting. Wenham's meeting is on Saturday, May 1st, and Hamilton's is the following Saturday, May 8th. Be sure to attend and vote YES.

This amendment gives the residents real authority and stronger accountability.

It's about time for that.

To view a copy of the Citizen's Petition:
[CLICK HERE]

Aspiring to Excellence in Our Schools

The Annual Town Meetings for Hamilton and Wenham are scheduled for May 8th and May 1st respectively. With a winter coat of white still on the ground and more in the forecast, it may seem as though May is a long way away.

Not really, when you consider the time and effort that goes into preparing articles for the warrant, the budgets from the various departments and, of course, the school district budget which is currently in it's preliminary stage. To spice things up, there is also a new teacher contract that is currently being negotiated.

And let's not forget any citizen's petitions that may be working their way onto the warrant for a vote at the Annual Town Meetings.

Which brings me to the topic of this blog...

The citizen's tax-watchdog group Enough Is Enough (EiE) has prepared and is currently obtaining signatures for a petition requesting an amendment to the the Regional School District Agreement. According to that agreement, any such change request must be signed by at least 10% of the registered voters in EITHER of the member towns (not both). At this time that means 571 registered voter signatures in Hamilton... or 270 in Wenham.

The petition is requesting an amendment to the district agreement that would allow for an operational audit to be conducted within 6 months of approval and within every 5 years following that initial audit.

This is an initiative that is long overdue. Here is a link to a recent Salem News report about how the HWRSD significantly outspends comparable school systems: [Click Here]


FEATURES and BENEFITS of an Operational Audit:

• An operational audit is not to be confused with a financial audit. An operational audit's purpose is to appraise the effectiveness and efficiency of an entire organization...in this case the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District (HWRSD). The entire HWRSD operations would be analyzed, including appraisal of structure, controls, procedures and processes. Recommendations to improve performance and save costs would result from such an audit.
  
• An Operational Audit should provide at least three deliverables:
  

1. Value-driven recommendations that would enhance the HWRSD's efficiency and ability to achieve specific and long range objectives and cut costs.
   
2. A clear road map of how to manage the change process during the implementation of those recommendations.
   
3. The ability to recognize the need for change in the future, coupled with the ability to do it right the first time.

Some of you will recall that last September I posted a poll asking how many readers supported the concept of an operational audit of the HWRSD and I announced the results here.

89% of all respondents voted YES to such an audit and since that time even more residents have embraced the idea, including parents, teachers, town employees and even some selectmen. Even the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) recommended a somewhat limited operational audit (SPED only). And now, with updated information from select members of the BRC about to be made public, it is the right time to consider and vote on this amendment at Town Meeting.

Over the next few weeks you are likely to encounter volunteers asking for your support, and signature, to place this request on the town meeting warrants so that voters can decide collectively at town meeting whether to approve the audit...or not. You are welcome to place comments here on this blog if you wish.

Your signature on the citizen's petition is not a "yea" or "nay" vote on the initiative...It simply guarantees that the article will make it to Town Meeting where open discussion can take place and the outcome decided by the majority of registered voters present.

To view a copy of the requested amendment: [CLICK HERE]

IN OTHER NEWS...
Many leaders seem to be
abandoning the Hamilton/Wenham School District

School superintendent Marinel McGrath has accepted the job of superintendent of schools for Andover, MA.

Assistant superintendent Paul Syzmanski has accepted the position of school business manager in Billerica.

Philip Conrad, associate principal at Miles River Middle School and Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School is leaving to go to Rockport.


And there are currently only two candidates for the three positions available on the School Committee.

Can you say "Abandon Ship!"?

Also... The SOS group is promoting what they refer to as the "Fair Share" initiative for the schools, demanding that the towns give the schools a minimum of 2.5 % increase (plus .05% from new growth) every year.

One might argue that giving the schools more than $40 million in cumulative override funding over the past 11 years was a "Fair Share".

What would you call the increase in school funding of 9.8% two years ago, if not a "Fair Share"? (Maybe taxpayers should demand a refund?)

Wouldn't you call the average increase in school funding of 5.6% a year over the past 10 years a "Fair Share"?

For more details about this issue [click here]

How about a "Fair Shake" for taxpayers for a change?

Lastly, the Education Fund group recently sponsored a "feasability" study on rebuilding the auditorium at the high school. The architectural firm Dore & Whittier presented two options before a meeting of the School Committee.

Option #1: $6.7 million

Option #2: $8.8 million

I'm not sure, but I get the sense that neither option is particularly palatable to the taxpayers, or even the School Committee for that matter, during this fragile economic period. But thanks should be extended to the Ed Fund folks for paying for the study and for giving us something nice to dream about. Too bad we could not have purchased the North Shore Music Theatre, which was just sold on February 3rd for only $3.6 million. That probably would have been more "feasible", even if you threw in the cost of bussing students there for rehearsals.