Conference 7.286::maynard

    I had 2 kids go thru the Maynard School system 1 is in college the
    other will be graduating this year for the High School. The one
    in college was was excepted to 5 colleges and was give scholarships
    to these schools. The hards was picking one. I fell the the School
    system is good and that Maynard tries to give a lot to the kids.
    I also feel that parents must take a active role in the schools
    both is participating in school events and insuring that the school
    uses the monies giving them wisely. If I had more kids I will send
    them to Maynard. Get involved early with your kid in school. Make
    sure he/she does they homework and don't be afraid to question what
    the school or teaches do. 

As you have noted, it is difficult to apply objective labels on a school
system.  With that in mind, here are some of my observations.

First of all Green Meadow is not the Maynard school system.  If Green Meadow
generates bright, inquisitive 4th graders who then are left with an inadequate
Junior High and High School, then the results won't be what you expect.  Green
Meadow is also the newest of the schools, and shouldn't necessarily be the
measure of the rest of the school system (it might, however, be a good indicator
of where things might go).

There are many measures of a school system - SAT score are only one metric.
Educating a child takes some 15 years - a lot can change for the better or
worse in that time alone.  If Special Education needs are of interest to you,
I understand we have one of the best SpEd programs in the area - courtesy,
no doubt, of our superintendent (who specializes in special education).

If you consider the school system a service industry and day-care center where
you drop off your child at age 5 and pick him/her up again 12 years later
expecting to find a well-adjusted, intelligent, college-bound student - then
I don't think that Maynard is the school system for you - we just don't have
the money to make that happen.

If you are willing to work with teachers, librarians, and staff; participate
in the various parents' groups; vote at town meeting; attend a few soccer
games; let school committee members know what you think once in a while;
and instill in your child the values of hard work and the meaning of
a good education - then I think that Maynard will serve you well.

- dave

Here's an example of getting involved...

Green Meadow School Library is having a Book Fair!

Picture books, easy readers, history, fiction, etc. for children of all
ages.  Selection available for adults too: craft & cooking books.


Friday, 17-Nov    6PM  -> 8PM
Saturday, 18-Nov  10AM -> 2PM
Monday, 20-Nov     2PM -> 3:30PM
Tuesday, 21-Nov    2PM -> 3:30PM

This is a fundraising event, and all profits will be given to the school
library to purchase materials that will benefit the entire school community.


- dave

    Is this a "used book" sale?  I would love to get some different books
    for my kids, but at $5+ each it does get expensive?
    
    -sandy
    

New books.

- dave

They are new paper-back books.  The school gets 30% of the purchase price,
or at least they did last spring when I helped with the fair.  

The Holiday Shoppe is also coming up, so all you parents with kids at Green 
Meadow should try to think of something to donate.  I don't understand how they 
pull that one off.  I have donated 9 of one item in the past, and helped on
the "sale" day, but I have never helped organize it.  This year I am helping
by calling parents in my daughter's class.  Not very many people are interested.
My son came home last year with about 5 items.  Where do they come up with
all these items, if each parent does not donate something??  Someone must
be donating a lot of stuff.

My opinion on the Green Meadow school - I love all the teachers that my son
has had so far, they really care about the kids, and put a lot of time into
providing them with a good education.  Maynard is fairly small, though with
just one elementary school, Green Meadow is fairly large.  Anyway, if we
do not ever move to another state, by the time my son gets to high
school, he will probably know everyone, and I will too.  That way I will have
a good handle on who he is hanging out with!  I see the kids hanging out in
front of McDonald's;  I dont see that they are being bad though.  I was
suprised that the "loitering" law passed.  I don't hear about there being
big drug problems in the schools in Maynard, not like the town where I 
grew up.

    re -1 drugs in school.
    
    I remember when I was in high school about 14 years ago (EGAD!!).  The
    big news was that the milkman was busted for selling pot to the kids at
    the smoking area.  That was when there was a newly created smoking area
    outside the shop area of the high school.  The milk delivery guy was
    busted one morning.
    
    Big doings in a small town.
    
    The other big news was an affair between the art teacher and an english
    teacher.
    
    I love small towns!!
    
    -sandy
    (the names have been omitted to protect the inno.....awh they were
    guilty!!)
    

RE: .6

I'm not a real citizen of Maynard but I play one five days a week.

What does the new "loitering law" state?

Thanks,

Kip

>* Re: Note 186.8 (I never did understand the concept..)
>*     By BETSY::WATSON, in notefile spider::maynard

>I'm not a real citizen of Maynard but I play one five days a week.
>What does the new "loitering law" state?

    It's a by-law to give the police the right to disperse groups of people
    who are loitering. The by law defines loitering, ending with something
    like "...commonly described as 'hanging around.'"

    In response to questions, the police chief said that there have been
    "many" situations where people have been harassed (like at Store 24)
    and that this will give them the authority to make the harassers move
    along. Town counsel said that he patterned the by-law after those in
    other towns. 

    I'm really concerned about there being a by-law which is defined so
    broadly, although I recognize that there is a problem (I don't like
    going to Store 24 either). I don't expect it to happen, but there's too
    much room for harassment of people who aren't bothering anyone. Someone
    spoke about a situation when a previous loitering law was in effect
    where he and his family were told to move, when all they were doing was
    eating ice cream cones on the sidewalk.

    It's too late to do anything about it now, because it passed.
    Interestingly, the initial show-of-hands vote wasn't very close, but
    when someone asked for a secret ballot, it was much closer, but passed
    anyway.

    					-- hs 

(RE: -.1)

Thanks for the response.

It seems to me that if Store-24 doesn't want people "loitering" outside on
their premises, fine.  They should (if they don't already) have a sign
posted saying so, allowing the police to take action if necessary.  But as
you put it, having a by-law which is defined so broadly could prohibit people
from simply congregating on a downtown sidewalk - or anywhere else, for that
matter.

Now, what are they going to do with the lunch time crowd which frequently
tends to "stand idly by" in front of various shops and restaurants in this
thriving, hi-tech metropolis?  Politely ask them to move on?  Write a bunch
of tickets?

Is jaywalking next?

(sorry about the tangent away from the GM School..)

Kip

    	What seems to have changed? Until this school year, traffic
    on 117 was only minorly delayed in the morning, with a crossing
    guard at the entrance, and another one at the corner of Sudbury
    street. Now it seems twice as busy, with frequently one or two
    police officers assisting the crossings, and seemingly a lot more
    foot and vehicular traffic. Was there some consolidation or something
    that I missed?
    
    Will
    

Well, I am not sure, I had to start taking my child to kindegarten this year,
but I believe that the increase in cars going in and out is due to the change
in state regulations where they will fund paying for bussing only for students
that live 2 or miles away from school, used to be 1� miles. Naturally since
Maynard is all of a postage stamp in size practically no one lives more than
2 miles from the school.

BTW the school and town authorities have decided to restrict your constitution-
ally guaranteed freedom of movement there now, requiring you to preform many
more turns to get to where you are going should you dare bring your child to
school sicne they are bussing her anymore and your destination isn't east on
Rt 117.

john

    As I understand it, the state rule has always been 2 miles, but Maynard
    paid the additional money to bus everyone from 1.5 miles up.  This year
    Maynard did not have the money so they started out by bussing all
    Kindergarten, then Transition-4 (just referring to Gr Meadow) by the 2
    mile limit.  Hence the additional traffic on Great Rd.  My home may be
    1.5 miles, but I (and many other parents) am not about to let my 1st
    grader walk to school.
    
    Two weeks into the school year it was found that they were running half
    empty (if not more) busses and they could extend the limit.  The town
    is now bussing students 1.8 miles and up.  This has probably helped the
    traffic situation some, but not so much you'd notice.
    
    If I've gotten the facts and figures wrong noters, please correct me.
    
    Chris
    

    
    The state reimburses a percentage of local funds for all students
    bussed beyond 1.5 miles from school. The percentages have gotten so low 
    that it has made it less palatable to bus the kids from 1.5 to the
    mandated 2 miles.