Comments

• On the article Former School Board Members: Change Chemical Health Policy

  

  Mike

  6:18 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013

  It's not a personal statement Jenni. The policy is outside the boundaries of the schools responsibility and authority. If you really want a rule that kids and parents need to respect then it's a police issue. Let them be concerned about being arrested and taken to the station. Let the parents be concerned about getting arrested for hosting. I don't actually have a problem with the language, I have a problem with the group setting the policy. Clearly not being allowed to participate in school activities is not a deterrent.

• On the article Former School Board Members: Change Chemical Health Policy

  Mike

  8:25 am on Thursday, May 2, 2013

  I would argue you are abdicating your responsibility as a parent if you are depending on the school committee to provide rules your child will obey, or discipline your child if they break a rule. It's your job to raise your child, not the schools.

  Reply

• On the article Letter: Misconceptions Raised About Entrance Age Issue

  

  Mike

  2:19 pm on Friday, April 5, 2013

  Tom, that's a lame response and I mean that professionally, not personally. There would be a lot of management changes if this were a business. Essentially we're not asking the SC and Management to be aggressive and accountable to get better results from our state representatives. If this were a business, it would be someone's responsibility to drive this and provide regular accountability, not just during budget season.

• On the article Letter: Misconceptions Raised About Entrance Age Issue

  

  Mike

  1:18 pm on Friday, April 5, 2013

  Yes state mandates have an impact and yes that one child is expensive and yes, it's the right thing to do. But you're also telling me we spent $65,000 last year on these 13 students, I don't know if we have other students in other grades in addition to this. SC takes a hardline on the first grade exception then we are signing up for an additional $65K for first grade plus the new entries for kindergarten next year, and btw, this has been going on for several years. You want to blame it on the state, fine. Give me the action plan to lobby the state and hold them accountable for our increase in cost. I'm happy the microwave guy is going to try and meet the new state rep, where's the state participation in our budget process other than to stand outside town meeting asking for a handshake and a vote? Where is the SC or Super detailed action plan to hold representatives accountable to working with us? If the state mandates are so responsible for the high taxes in Westborough because of all the mandates then shouldn't we be seeing more than an annual invitation to smile at the cameras?

• On the article Letter: Misconceptions Raised About Entrance Age Issue

  

  Mike

  10:49 am on Friday, April 5, 2013

  Respectfully Tom, getting very tired of the 'not our fault' responses. I do understand state mandates drive up the cost substantially, but it's not the singular driver.

• On the article Letter: Misconceptions Raised About Entrance Age Issue

  Mike

  8:47 am on Friday, April 5, 2013

  I have a very difficult time with this issue knowing that in addition to paying our taxes we have to write a check for student activity fees to cover expenses and potentially we're losing at least half of that money thru a loophole. It's very unfair to the families in town.

  Reply

• On the article Text Alert Draws Voters to Town Meeting for Budget

  

  Mike

  12:20 pm on Friday, March 29, 2013

  I would agree the system needs to be modified and per my previous comments believe the warrants should be packaged better. I'm not convinced the vast separation of articles for the School Budget and Town Hall renovation budget was pure coincidence. That said I still say you were outvoted and the group that showed up for the vote were within their rights as registered voters to come and have their voices be heard. I don't have issue with their organization or communication unless in fact it is being driven by the committee itself. More consideration needs to be given to the order of presentation to give more people an opportunity to attend. I do have issue

• On the article Text Alert Draws Voters to Town Meeting for Budget

  

  Mike

  5:13 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013

  Dominic - you're trying to defend a group of people that didn't show up at all. To portray the group that did show up as 'victims' is ridiculous, insensistive and insulting to that group. They were in the minority and outvoted on a specific issue. It doesn't matter if people showed up for one vote or stayed for the entire meeting. Why aren't you complaining about the 100 or so people in the audience who supported the Town Hall vote for $8M? Aren't they just as unfair or does that not count because it's not the school budget?

• On the article Text Alert Draws Voters to Town Meeting for Budget

  

  Mike

  3:37 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013

  I'm at a lost to understand how a self serving group that shows up for a vote is imposing their will on victims who don't show up to vote at all?

• On the article Text Alert Draws Voters to Town Meeting for Budget

  Mike

  7:28 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

  Tom- you are missing a key point - people do not want to sign up for a 3 year commitment. I did not say 'tremendous' interest, I said when there had been a vacancy filled by an appointment, several people expressed interest. Expanding the # of seats is half the solution - the term length needs to be reduced at the same time. Think about it, even the Superintendent of Schools doesn't make a six year commitment and anyone running for an elected position has to consider more than one term.

  Reply