New Hampshire

Statement of Mascoma Valley Regional School District Superintendent Amanda Isabelle Regarding Dining Services

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Mascoma Valley School District 

Amanda Isabelle, Superintendent

Rt. 4
PO Box 789
Enfield, NH 03748

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 17, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Statement of Mascoma Valley Regional School District Superintendent Amanda Isabelle Regarding Dining Services

ENFIELD, N.H. —  A recent occurrence with the Mascoma Valley Regional School District’s dining services has reminded school administrators of their mission: to prepare students to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens in an ever-changing world. This situation reminds us all that we are lifelong learners.

Superintendent Amanda Isabelle has today spoken with the owners of Cafe Services, SAU 62’s Manchester-based dining vendor, regarding the employment of a part-time cafeteria worker who was terminated in March.

Cafe Services has agreed to invite the employee to return to her previous position immediately, with back pay for the time she missed.

The district will work with Cafe Services to review food services policies to ensure that they meet best practices and that there are no conflicts between district and vendors. The goal of this is to ensure that the school district, the vendor, and their employees do not face the uncertainty and allegations levied in this situation in the future.

“First and foremost, it is our goal to do right by our families, community, students and employees at the Mascoma Valley Regional School District. The events of these past few weeks and the feedback I have received from parents has given me considerable pause,” Superintendent Isabelle said. “As a school district, we understand the importance of rules and procedures, but upon reflection, I have become sufficiently convinced that it is wrong of us to assume that all the responsibility falls to the vendor, and I do not believe our communities would accept that explanation of this situation. We must be accountable for the people who work in our schools.”

There are, as there tend to be with rumors that circulate on social media, a number of inaccuracies in the reports that are circulating. The Mascoma Valley Regional School District wishes to state for the record:

  • The school district serves approximately 1,200 students in four regional schools in five towns in western New Hampshire. Approximately 360 (30 percent) of its students receive free lunch.
  • The school district does not refuse to provide food to a hungry child who cannot afford to pay .
  • The district’s policy regarding free lunches is that students will always be provided with meals, milk, fruits and vegetables. There are, however, items such as ice cream bars, sports drinks and chips that are not provided for free. Those packaged items have a high unit cost to the district and are not viewed as essential nutrition.
  • The district will ensure that all food services staff, including employees of external vendors, are properly trained on food distribution policies.

Superintendent Isabelle also understands that this situation has created a serious and worthwhile discussion about the school district’s contract with its food services vendor.

“Our contract with Cafe Services was renewed only after a review of its ability to deliver comprehensive, whole and nutritious meal plans for our students including free lunch for those who need assistance,” Superintendent Isabelle said.

Two vendors submitted bids for the district’s food service contract for the 2019-2020 school year. Cafe Services is a net-positive vendor, meaning that its contract with the district actually results in an annual profit, which goes directly into the school budget. The only other bid would have been revenue neutral in a best-case scenario.

The district has requested the right to be released from its contract with Cafe Services for next year, which would re-open the public bidding process. However, it is Superintendent Isabelle’s hope that the district, the communities and Cafe Services can move forward with these changes, and she is optimistic after Cafe Services agreed to the requests to reinstate the employee, with pay and review its policies.

“I believe we have all learned something through this process,” Superintendent Isabelle said.

Mascoma Valley Regional School District also offers a variety of programs and supports for those struggling with food security, including a food bank that operates out of the high school and a table in the high school lobby where students can take granola bars, apples and other snacks for free during the school day, no questions asked. The district also participates in the End 68 Hours of Hunger program, which supplies students in need with food for the weekend. Mascoma Valley also operates multiple locations in the summer where anyone under the age of 18 can visit and receive a free breakfast and lunch, and coordinates donations of food for students over school vacations and holidays.

Friends Feeding Friends, a program of the local charity group Friends of Mascoma, also works with the school to stock the high school food pantry and provide snacks for teachers to make available to students in their classrooms.

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Statement of SAU 16 Superintendent David Ryan Regarding Fourth Grade Standardized Testing Allegation against Classroom Teacher

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saulogo

New Hampshire SAU 16
Dr. David Ryan, Superintendent
30 Linden Street
Exeter, NH 03833

For Immediate Release

Friday, May 10, 2019

Media Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Statement of SAU 16 Superintendent David Ryan Regarding Fourth Grade Standardized Testing Allegation against Classroom Teacher

EXETER — Superintendent David Ryan issues the following statement regarding a reported incident that occurred while Newfields Elementary School students were completing the New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System in English Language Arts.

“Today it was reported to me that during SAS ELA testing at Newfields Elementary School yesterday, a teacher administering the test allegedly instructed and coached students during the exam. The report includes the allegation that the teacher provided the correct answers to certain questions. If true, this would be a serious violation of the rules governing education and testing in New Hampshire.

“I immediately notified the New Hampshire Department of Education and have placed the teacher on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the state’s investigation and our own internal investigation into this matter.

“We appreciate the Newfields community’s patience and understanding as we investigate. At this time, we have no reason to believe that the allegations extend beyond the actions of one teacher.”

As this investigation is ongoing and involves personnel matters, the school department is unable to comment further at this time. For legal reasons, the name of the teacher cannot be released at this time.

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Methuen Police Officer Hospitalized, Cell Block Closed, after Prisoner Spreads Bag of Fentanyl Powder that had been Concealed

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Methuen Police Department
Joseph Solomon, Chief of Police
Quinn Public Safety Building
90 Hampshire St.
Methuen, MA 01844

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Methuen Police Officer Hospitalized, Cell Block Closed, after Prisoner Spreads Bag of Fentanyl Powder that had been Concealed

Suspect Wanted in Two States

METHUEN — Mayor James P. Jajuga and Chief Joseph Solomon report that a Methuen Police Officer is being evaluated at a local hospital Wednesday evening after he came into contact with Fentanyl, after a prisoner allegedly ripped open a bag of white powder that had been taped to his groin, which was discovered during booking.

KYLE DENNIS, AGE 28, OF METHUEN had already been arrested on three outstanding warrants and will face several additional charges.

DENNIS, who is known to police, was arrested after a Methuen Police Officer recognized him standing on Broadway at 4 p.m. Wednesday. As DENNIS was being booked and processed at the police station, a needle fell from the area around his pants. Officers searched him, and DENNIS allegedly grabbed a plastic bag, which had been taped between his legs, ripped it open and spread its contents out all over the booking area and onto Methuen Police Officer Patrick Waldron, who was booking the suspect at the time.

Officer Waldron and DENNIS were transported to an area hospital. DENNIS was later released and transported to the Lawrence Police Department for further processing.

DENNIS was wanted on three warrants in Massachusetts courts on the following charges:

  • Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Giving a False Name to Police
  • Possession of a Class A Substance
  • Possessing a Firearm without an FID, Improper Storage of a Firearm, and Possessing Ammunition without an FID.

DENNIS is also a wanted fugitive in the State of New Hampshire.

In addition to his arrest warrants, DENNIS is now being charged with:

  • Possession of a Class A Substance (Fentanyl)
  • Hindering a Police Investigation
  • Giving a False Name to Police
  • Defacement of Property
  • Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, to wit Fentanyl

The Methuen Police Department cell block was cordoned off and any other prisoners being arrested and booked by Methuen Police will be diverted to other police departments until the area is properly cleaned.

Officer Waldron is a decorated police officer who was commended last summer for saving the life of a 64-year-old resident who had suffered a medical emergency and went into cardiac arrest.

“Tonight we bear witness to two very different people. One, a decorated, honest, good police officer doing his job. The other, a career criminal, gun offender and drug offender wanted in two states on at least four warrants, who was willing to risk his own life and endanger the lives of police officers by his alleged actions,” Chief Solomon said. “I am pleased to say that Officer Waldron is doing well and is expected to be OK, but we can never be too careful with the poison that is Fentanyl in our communities.”

“This incident highlights the dangers our police officers face every day, even inside the confines of their own police station, at the hands of desperate, dangerous individuals,” Mayor Jajuga said. “Tonight, a career criminal knowingly put the lives of our officers in danger.”

DENNIS will likely be arraigned Thursday in Lawrence District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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Raymond’s Lamprey River Elementary School Celebrates Earth Day

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Raymond School District
Tina McCoy, Superintendent
43 Harriman Hill Road
Raymond, NH 03077

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Media Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Raymond’s Lamprey River Elementary School Celebrates Earth Day

RAYMOND — To celebrate Earth Day, students at Lamprey River Elementary School took the time to appreciate the natural world through a number of activities, presentation and projects.

On Friday, April 19, students in kindergarten through fourth grade spent time indoors and out, where teachers tied each grade level’s curriculum into a fun, interactive day learning about Earth.

“We wanted to provide a wide range of activities and projects that students could work on to gain a better understanding of the importance of protecting and preserving our Earth,” Principal Laura Yacek said. “This also gave students the opportunity to see the advantages of our own natural surroundings, like the Lamprey River, and the nature trail. My hope is for students and staff to take pride in everything we have in our backyard.”

  • Students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade attended the Miller’s Wildlife animal presentation in the cafeteria, where they saw a ring-necked dove, bearded dragon, red-footed tortoise, chinchilla, blue-tongued skink and ball python. Students also had the opportunity to take a picture with the dove, tortoise, or bearded dragon.
  • Students in first and second grade attended a beaver presentation by Art Wolinsky down by the river. There, they talked about the family lives of beavers, facts and myths, and how the animals are a keystone species that create the wetlands ecosystem and support all kinds of plant and animal life.
  • Recycle Relay: students in kindergarten, third and fourth grades raced in a relay carrying recycled materials — including milk jugs, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, and plastic containers — from one side of the field to the other.
  • Nature trail walk: teachers took their classes on a nature trail walk, where students participated in a scavenger hunt. Items they were on the lookout for included insects, different types of leaves and trees, and small animals.
  • Homemade bird feeders: students in all grades made bird feeders out of pipe cleaners and cheerios, which some took home to hang outside, while others placed them on trees around the school.
  • Unified Arts Team activity: art, music, physical education, library and health teachers came together and co-facilitated the same lesson, based on the book/movie, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.” In the story, a boy builds a windmill to save his village from famine after reading how to do so from a book in the library. Each student constructed a wind vessel made from recycled materials, with the goal of creating something that could propel up and out of the wind tunnel.
  • Fourth grade students designed rocks that will be placed in a school rock garden.
  • All grades ate lunch outside at their designated lunch time.
  • LRES clean up: throughout the week, teachers took their classes outside and walked around the school campus to clean up any litter.

Principal Yacek would like to thank grade level team leaders, PTO volunteer coordinator Karla Bauer and parents Petra Scarfo, Tiffini Richards and Lisa DuFour for their assistance with organizing and putting on the Earth Day festivities.

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