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Michele Gonzalez May 10, 2013 at 01:19 am
Yay...my son had Mr. Ristau as a 5th grade teacher and molded my son to what he has become today!
Joseph Jozwiak May 7, 2013 at 08:46 pm
Why does the students clothing have anything to do with their learning environment? Maybe if the…Read More teachers were allowed more time to focus on their teachings instead of having to worry about what their student are wearing the environment would be better than current conditions!
beth May 17, 2013 at 05:03 pm
Karen, I completely agree with you. Not only did parents have to scramble to find day care, now the…Read More kids have to go an extra day! The morning call could have simply stated that parents be responsible to get their kids to school that day if a bus didn't show up. I have lost all respect for the school board in the last few years.
schellshocked May 18, 2013 at 11:35 am
So is that what you think??? Then drug test those Teachers 3 times a year, and save money by…Read More stopping these PLC Days where the kids get out 1 hr early,High School only,and have 20 minutes classes for the day and pay drivers to sit in parking lots waiting for the next school to get out...why attack the transportation. We help the parents out, we safely get your children to and from and if they don't come home who do you call??? Transportation, asking the driver if their child was on the bus, where did they get off, who were they with ,,,now you drive 50-70 kids on 3 routes, twice a day and remember each one , their stops , their friends ..we do so much more then just driving...we are care takers, and we are worth so much more then money alone.
schellshocked May 18, 2013 at 11:42 am
Farmington Public Schools families will be able to plan vacations three years out, now that school…Read More board members and unions have agreed to contracts that run through the 2015-2016 school year.
Teacher and support staff salaries will remain frozen through all three school years. Unions ratified the contracts before officials approved them at Tuesday's school board meeting, assistant superintendent David Ruhland said.
"These contracts also help us retain our caring, talented and dedicated staff, who make Farmington Public Schools a premier district," she said. "In all, these contracts are a win-win for our staff, students, parents and community."
Teachers, represented by Farmington Education Association (FEA), also agreed to 30 additional hours of Professional Learning Team (PLT)/Professional Learning Committee (PLC) time and 18 hours of additional professional development time outside the classroom. The move reduces the need to hire substitute teachers, Ruhland said.
Farmington Transportation Association (FTA) bus drivers agreed to 20 hours of professional development outside of their work days. They will receive a $250 "off schedule" or one-time payment in one year of the contract, with a second planned if the district's fund balance stays above 12 percent.
Board member Priscilla Brouillette noted all of the contracts represent "significant sacrifices."
Chad May 8, 2013 at 01:37 pm
I am truly disgusted with the school board. I stand with the bus drivers and I believe that our…Read More children and their education are important. I will be voting against all the school board members who voted for this (all 7 of them), and will be sure to vote against all the Republicans, including the governor, who have continually attacked education and slashed education funding in favor of tax breaks and handouts to their corporate cronies.
diane halama May 8, 2013 at 02:45 pm
They've protected our kids by making everyone sign-in to GET INTO a school. BUT they are going to…Read More put our kids (60 kids!!!) on buses with people who don't live or have kids going to school in our district. Scary! I'm going to see which bus driver leaves a bus load of our kids on some main street!!! The WLSD better be prepared to handle some lawsuits brought against them from parents.
beth May 17, 2013 at 04:51 pm
I'm with you Chad! Because of the boards decision to close school last week, parents were forced to…Read More find day care for their kids or give up a days wages, and NOW the kids have to go an extra day in June. Seems to me like if calling us at 5:50a.m. is enough time to find day care, it should have been enough time to let us know we would be responsible for getting our kids to school IF the bus didn't show up!
Holly Scott April 6, 2013 at 04:32 pm
It is to bad that history is now going to be history. Don't really know why, or all the reasons it…Read More couldn't be saved and used for other events, or functions. The board didn't want to work with the township, or however it was. Just sad no one really cared about saving the old school. Out with old and in with new and improved.....??? guess it won't matter in 5 years from now. right. Take your photos before it's gone.."click" (0-0)
Greg Soraruf April 7, 2013 at 07:03 pm
Yes it is sad to see that the school could not be reused for adaptive reuse project, but I'm…Read More grateful that its not going to be a charter school.
As for the dust and demolition- the dust should be controlled by the contractor "most likely with water sprayed continuously during demolition activities". This will elevate dust from moving and accumulating.
There should be a third party certified air monitoring company on site to continuously test for contaminants in the air. The contractor should have a environmental study of the site i.e.school. To see what environmental hazards are on the property. The air monitoring should be testing for contaminates like asbestos or lead. This must be done prior to any demolition and provided on site for reference and guidance. If a governing authority should show up on site this must be there for anyone's review. I would hope all of the documentation has been addressed before the demolition starts.
Jerry Grubb March 27, 2013 at 01:38 pm
I'm sure the extension circumvents the right to work law so the Association can keep collecting…Read More dues, too. Why not let the entire membership vote on the extension?
Steve Merglewski March 27, 2013 at 05:34 pm
Whoa! Guess you missed the section that mentions the HVEA voted to approve the contract…Read More extension...AND the part where the HVS board unanimously approved the extension at a Monday meeting. This was perfectly legal and transparent...unlike jamming through rtw4less in the middle of the night during a marathon lame duck, Anti-worker, Anti-Democracy(EFM) legislative session that violated the Open Meetings Act.
Brian Howe March 5, 2013 at 02:23 pm
Well done Mike and I was honored to be able to coach at HMS for four years and to be the last track…Read More and girls basketball coach and to be able to finish what others before me started is an honor that I will always remember. What a great building with so many memories for so many. I was glad that all three of my kids went there and were able to make it for the picture on Friday.
Jesse Richardson March 2, 2013 at 09:34 pm
I went to HMS from 1991-1994 (6th, 7th, and 8th grade) and I'll sure miss it. It's great to see…Read More pictures of the teachers and know they're doing well. The inside looks totally different from when I went. Mr. Bart Montante was Principal when I was there, a great and wonderful guy. The same can be said about his wife as well.
A shout out to the teachers that I had during my 3 years at HMS.
Mr. Davio (Health), Mr. Fincham (Social Studies), Ms. Stover (PE/PE II/Life Activities), Ms. Squires (Yearbook/Language Arts), Ms. Seebaldt (Social Studies/Language Arts), Mr. Schieman (Shop Class/Pursuits), Ms. Leslie (Library/Media Assistant), Ms. Bluford (Study Skills), Mr. Buchta (Language Arts), Mr. Cece (Art I/Pursuits), Mr. Dhue (Science), Ms. Forsyth (Science), Ms. Kohler (Math), Ms. Regan (Science/Math), Mr. Stevenson (Gym), Ms. Knapp (Social Studies), Mr. Lauzon (Computers), Ms. Fett (Foreign Language), Ms. Tingley (Math), Ms. Bowman (Language Arts/Social Studies/Reading/Special Skills),
Jesse Richardson
1994 HMS Grad
PS For those students & teachers reading this, I received the 'gift of life' on September 26th 2010. Many never knew, but I was born with Cystic Fibrosis (Google for more info) and had about 2 years to live. I was on oxygen 24/7 for 5 years, in a wheel chair for longer distance, and sick a lot.
I received a double lung transplant and I'm doing very well. I still have CF, just not in my lungs. Look me up in your yearbook.
Highland Resident March 5, 2013 at 12:59 am
Having the picture on a Friday at 5pm made it awfully hard to make if you work a regular job. I…Read More would like to see if folks would be willing to come together again this Saturday at 11am and if the same photographers will show (assuming the building is not completely knocked down by then). I think this would give more former students a better chance to show up and see their old school again.
Jenny Wheatley March 5, 2013 at 03:55 am
Highland Middle School
The place where my teachers and friends made me love school more beyond…Read More words.
I still know your halls, classrooms, computer labs, gyms, cafeteria and especially the library inside and out. Oh, and the mini hill - where we had our slip and slide for our 7th grade class party.
In the three years (that I will always treasure) there I met some amazing people that I still hold a close bond and sincere memories with till this day.
Thank you, all!
Jenny Wheatley
2001 HMS Grad
Jenny Wheatley
2001 HMS Grad
Chad March 2, 2013 at 11:43 pm
I suppose I understand the punishments, but I have to admit something. That is hands down the best…Read More Harlem shake I've seen, and it might just be the funniest thing I've seen in my whole life. The first time I watched I was laughing so hard that it hurt and tears of hilariousness were falling from my eyes. My belly is still sore from my uncontrollable chuckling. Superman you are my hero. If you watched that and didn't LOL, or at least smile and giggle a little, I bet you're no fun at a party. If my kid was one of the Milford shakers, he might be spending his suspension in the Bahamas or something.
Highland Resident February 27, 2013 at 01:16 am
Schools generally do not send a press release out when kids are suspended. I do not think the…Read More adults at the school blew this out of proportion. It is very evident by looking at the companion story and reading the social media posts included, that the only reason this "story" has any traction in the press is because some of the kids involved, or their parents, went to the media to complain and get their 15 minutes. The posts in the companion story seem to indicate that certain kids involved are excited they are being mentioned in the press, or being called for an interview by local radio, or trying to get the "story" mentioned on SNL. I think the suspension was fair - not even taking into account this second video people keep forgetting about which was reportedly worse. Actions have consequences.
However, there has not been any talk from the District about investigating why the teacher left those kids unsupervised. Based on the story that is the only reasonable conclusion. The teacher should have some punishment coming as well, and the school community should be made aware of what it is. We don't need to know the name of the teacher - just like we do not need to know the student's names - but a statement is needed about investigating and punishing the actions of this teacher (if they broke district rules by not supervising students in their classroom after hours). Again, actions have consequences.
annie February 28, 2013 at 06:49 pm
The punishment,if this is the word you think is correct, is not to place blame on the supposed…Read More teacher responsible for the "young adults", but rather place responsibility of this poor judgement of making the video, solely the responsibility of the students parents. Enough of everyone taking a punch at our dedicated teachers and staff. When parents have no control over the consciousness of their kids, their moral compass is to blame. When will parents take accountability of their own children? Enough of the finger pointing to the educators.
steve johnson March 1, 2013 at 12:57 pm
It must be a slow news week in the country, change the name of the dance and nobody would even…Read More notice. The Kids got their 15 minutes of fame and for ever recorded. Remember these are the FUTURE LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY, this is what the future state and federal goverment will look like. The next thing the schools will have a class on how to make a film to put on y-tube and get college credit for it.
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