5-20-08

         If you are a member of the first EHT High School graduating class of 1984, you are invited to a special ceremony to celebrate the High School being 25 years old. It will be held in the High School Media Center (otherwise known as the Library) on June 9, 2008 from 7-9 PM. Mr. Darren Hickman, Principal, asked me to extend the invitation as our High School doesn’t have an alumni and he wishes to reach as many graduates as possible. Please contact Ms. Dee Marinelli, 653-0100 X1601 to R.S.V.P.

            This year’s graduating seniors and their family will be experiencing a difference getting to and from the Commencement. Since other venues to hold a Commencement of our size are cost prohibitive, the traffic problems, safety and liability issues of the past needed to be addressed. The Administration, at the May 20, 2008 Board of Education (BOE) work session announced there will be changes but they hadn’t been finalized at that time. What is known is that there will be off site parking with shuttle buses at the Swift/Slaybaugh Complex and also at the Fernwood Middle School. There will be no parking at the High School without a pass and no drop-offs at the High School.. Also, information will be available in the next week or so on the school web site, EHT TV, given to the seniors, a construction message board at the High School will be used, and The Current, The Press and Connect-Ed will be utilized.

            Also announced at the Work Session, the State has mandated that by the year 2013, our district must provide Pre-School for 3 & 4 year olds. The program must be full day, run 180 days, teachers must be PK-3 certified, class size is restricted to a maximum of 15 students, and the list goes on and on. The program will be based on Free and Reduced Lunches and currently translates in to approximately 335 students if implemented this year. This means at least 22 new classrooms will be needed. The State is funding the program but not any new schools.

            The question then becomes, how do we have 3 & 4 year olds in full day school but not our Kindergartens?

            Administration just found out about this mandate and passed the information on to the BOE and members of the audience attending. A feeling of dismay filled the room.

            The last BOE meeting for May was held on the 27^th which I will report on in next week’s article. June’s meetings will be held on June 10^th and the 24^th at 8 PM in the BOE room of the Alder Ave. Middle School.