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Mercurio

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Supt. Presents $34.7 Million Schools Budget For FY2014

The budget includes money for the third grades to be moved up but does not include money for iPads for every student at EGHS.

Supt. Victor Mercurio presented a $34.7 million budget for 2014 to the School Committee Tuesday night, an increase of $1.1 million – 3.2 percent – over the current year. The School Committee must approve a budget to go to the Town Council by March 15.  The increase to the town – to taxpayers – would be 2 percent, due to a proposed $500,000 increase in state aid as well as revenue sources, including tuition. The primary budget increases are for salaries ($218,097) and benefits ($560,778). The teachers contract expires June 30 and included in Mercurio's budget are non-negotiable step increases. Committee Chair David Green refused to say there was money built into the proposed budget for raises, but he did say there could be money available…

A concerned parent

11:06 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Is full-day kindergarten ever going to become a reality in EG? Almost every parent I know with kids under 5 would love to see this addressed and with the 3rd graders moving to Hanaford and Eldridge, perhaps it can finally come to fruition.   more ›

Thursday, February 7, 2013

School Cancelled Friday In Advance Of Major Snow Storm

Supt. Victor Mercurio said he was concerned about releasing students – and staff – into a blizzard.

With a major snow storm bearing down on the region, Supt. Victor Mercurio has cancelled school for Friday.  The latest forecast has snow beginning overnight tonight into Friday with the heaviest snowfall due to begin Friday afternoon.  "I'm concerned about dismissing students into a storm," he said Thursday before making his decision. Police Chief Tom Coyle had encouraged Mercurio to cancel school.  This will be the third day of cancelled classes this year. 

Gabbie lynch

3:39 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013

Yahoo oh ya oh ya ..... Baby - no school fool, that so cool, others will drool.   more ›

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

School Dept. Decries Union’s Refusal To Negotiate

The teachers union cites failure of the schools to notify about negotiating a new contract, paving the way for a one-year contract extension.

Before contract negotiations have even begun on a new teachers contract — the existing one expires July 30 — the two sides are at loggerheads over the breach of a clause in the contract that the union says extends their contract one year. According to Supt. Victor Mercurio, union officials told him earlier this month that since they were not notified in writing about the school department’s desire to negotiate a new contract, the existing contract would be renewed for an additional year. Although that language does exist in the contract between the teachers and the school department, that is not how school officials see it. “We were surprised and disappointed,” said School Committee Chair Deidre Gifford. “There’s no reason why they can’t …

NKRI Transparency

1:23 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012

Everyone only has so much energy such that self-evaluation is important minimizing waste. For those curious and or interested in cost effective alternatives, please see the following link: http://ri-can.org/campaigns/put-achievement-first   more ›

Friday, January 20, 2012

Grade Configuration Forum Long On Questions, Short On Answers

Supt. Victor Mercurio tells small group of parents the special panel studying the issue will have a recommendation for the School Committee by the end of February.

Supt. Victor Mercurio met with parents Thursday night at Hanaford in the first of two public forums on the issue of elementary school grade configuration. One thing that was decided at the forum was to extend the completion date for a district-wide survey on the topic. The original completion date was Jan. 17, but with fewer than 200 responses — about 10 percent of the district — and some discussion that not everyone knew about the survey, Mercurio said he would extend the time period by at least one week. He also said additional notifications and links to the survey would be forthcoming. Beyond that, however, substantive answers were few. According to Mercurio, that was by design since the forum was an opportunity to hear from the …

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Laura Giusti

8:57 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012

WOW! Thanks, DownTheHiller, for the link to Ken Robinson's fantastic video on reforming education- I had never heard of him and now am extremely intrigued to learn more!   more ›

Monday, January 9, 2012

Schools Tech Director Job Still Vacant Six Months After Resignation

Twice now candidates have dropped out of the running; more interviews planned this week.

When Jerry Nettik retired June 30 from his job as director of technology for the EG School Department, Supt. Victor Mercurio said he would be re-evaluating the position before hiring a replacement. Six months later, the position is still vacant and, after a second candidate withdrew in December, interviews must start again. “He went to pursue a different opportunity,” Mercurio said Friday about the most recent candidate. Neither candidate offered an explanation, according to the superintendent. The hiring committee met on Friday and could start again with interviews as early as this week, he said. “We have some folks who had applied originally that we were somewhat interested in. We’re going to have them come back and interview some of …

ELM

8:13 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Someone ought to talk to the teachers about this. They would find that there is an appalling lack of technology support in this district. How about carts of ipads unable to be used for months because there is no one to set them up? How about printers that sit unused for lack of funds or someone with clearance to purchase cartridges?   more ›

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