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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
(220,241,255)
(past stories in Archives section; often stories move to the Archives within days
of initial publication to make room for new front page material)
The Enterprise has a story today about tomorrow’s (Wednesday 8/6/08) meeting to discuss Counter-Recruitment. [Enterprise story available here --- http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/education/x1906041933/Counter-recruiters-want-same-access-as-military-at-Bridgewater-Raynham-High-School --- and includes several reader comments on the topic.]
This meeting is in response to a Public Forum request earlier this year on the subject.
Ray Ajemian came before the entire B-R School Committee with three areas of concern:
1) Opt-out section in HS handbook should explain the legal right to request that info not be released to recruiters.
(2) Notice that the Armed Services test is voluntary.
Note that (1) & (2) may already be done, but Ray and others in his group believe that this needs to be done stronger.
(3) The ability of Counter-recruiting to participate in similar ways that we allow military at our high school.
It may be interesting to note the following:
From counter-recruitment.org -- "Simply put, the strategy of the counter-recruiting movement is to put the imperial armed forces of the United States into a kind of vice that squeezes new recruits from the ranks."
As far as point (1), the High School Handbook [2007-08 online here --- http://www.bridge-rayn.org/files/filesystem/2007-2008Handbook.pdf] addresses this in
“PART SIX: LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES & RULES” and specifically on page 70.
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
A provision of NCLB requires BRRHS to release student names, addresses and telephone numbers to military recruiters or institutions of higher education when requested. A student or parent can specifically request that the information NOT be released by notifying the main office by October 1st of every school year.
The actual law can be found here --- http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg112.html#sec9528
As far as point (3), the language of the Counter-Recruitment group causes me great concern. The choice of wording in referring to our military as “imperial armed forces” clearly shows me that this group has great disdain for the individuals who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom.
The meeting will be Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room on the second floor at the Dr. E. J. LaLiberte Elementary School, 777 Pleasant Street, Raynham MA. As you face the front of the building, please enter through the door on the right. The Superintendent's Office is diagonally across from the entrance to your left.
Donations now being accepted to fund the 2009 celebrations
New website --
www.Bridgewater4th.com
Donations to:
Bridgewater 4th of July
P.O. Box 390
Bridgewater, MA 02324
Please contact Jeff Fowler at the BTV-9 Cable Office if you would like to help with the 2009 festivities.
Wine Tasting Fundraiser -- The Friends of the Bridgewater Public Library are sponsoring a wine tasting to take place at Wine Palace 793 West Center Street - Route 106 West Bridgewater, MA
Tuesday, August 12th 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Tickets are only $10 and may be purchased at the library during business hours, or contact Jean at slgjeg4@gmail.com or 508-279-1466. The Wine Palace also has some tickets at the store which can be purchased.
(You must be 21 or older to purchase tickets and attend the event)
Come sample wines with complimentary food tasting (and even a few simple, theme-related door prizes) and support your public library!
Jun 8, 07: New HS Powerpoint tour
Aug 10, 07: New High School layout
Oct 22, 07: Letter from DOE: de-Reg
Nov 13, 07: Powerpoint on de-Reg
Feb 13, 08: EQA Rept B-R
Special Bridgewater Links
www.BetterBridgewater.org
www.BridgewaterCitizens.com
Much has been said and written in the papers over the past weeks concerning Dr. Jacqueline Forbes coming to the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District and her salary. The misinformation began with a story in the Providence Journal referring to her salary as about $115,000 per year.
A short time perusing the East Providence RI School District website, and I came upon the document for the 2007-08 school budget. Beware, the budget cycle in East Providence is November to October, vs. what we are used to seeing around here of July to June. The budget document is here -- http://ep.k12.ri.us/announcements/08_budget_proposal.mht
(I have also saved the report as a pdf file on my own website
http://www.josephgillisjr.com/Archives/Attachments/20080722_EastPrvRI_08bdgt.pdf
Superintendent is account 42710, and my pdf file is searchable and easier to print.)
For 2006-07, the Superintendent salary is recorded as $134,560 and for 2007-08 it is $138,984. For the upcoming year 2008-09, it would be reasonable to extrapolate a salary had Dr. Forbes stayed in East Providence at about $143,570 per year.
According to the MA Dept. of Education website, in year 2006-07 the average of 337.6 B-R teacher positions paid $64,056 per year. Thus, the leader of a school system will be making a little more than double what the majority (teachers are the largest employee group) of employees receive does not seem unreasonable. In fact, I might say that it is a little unusual – how many of you make half what the President of your company receives?
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional
School Committee Meetings
Meeting:Wednesday August 20,7:00pm
location: Bridgewater Middle School
Bridgewater Board of Selectmen Meetings
Tusday nights == 8/19; 9/9; 9/16; 9/23; 9/30
all 6:30 pm at Memorial Building
Raynham Board of Selectmen Meetings
Every Tuesday night
all 7:00 pm at Town Offices
(558 South Main Street)
I will be running this year's 7.1 mile Falmouth Road Race, raising money for the DeBoe Family Fund. Eleven individuals will be running to help support the DeBoe family for the twin daughters - Alexia and Kailyn. All funds raised go to medical and other expenses not covered by insurance.
I have setup a separate webpage for this -- RunForTwins.JosephGillisJr.com
I hope that you will consider supporting the efforts of the eleven of us runners with a check to the Alexia and Kailyn DeBoe Family Fund -- it can be sent c/o me (c/o Joe Gillis, 30 Town Line Circle, Bridgewater MA 02324)
Easton MA town
Raynham MA town
Bridgewater-Raynham Schools
The Enterprise
Taunton Gazette
Bridgewater Independent
BridgewaterCommon.blogspot.com
Cape Wind Project
Citizens for Limited Taxation
FairnessForGoodDrivers
BTV-9 Cable Access
Plymouth County Republicans
gopnews.blog.com
other good links
Joseph Gillis, Jr.
