The following "headlines" have appeared on the front/home page of this web site.

TIVERTON LAUNCHES A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
September 15, 2008

Over 170 people attended the Tiverton Citizens for Change (TCC) kick-off meeting at the VFW in Tiverton tonight.  They are intent on bringing fiscal responsibility and transparent government to Tiverton as a result of a taxpayers' win followed by a loss at this year's double Financial Town Meeting which resulted from what they consider to be political maneuvering and an unwarranted 2nd meeting.  Their President (Dave Nelson) called on three guest speakers as part of the meeting:

Robert Hayden, President of the Little Compton Taxpayers Association
Larry Fitzmorris, President of the Portsmouth Concerned Citizens
Harry Staley, Chairman of the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition (RISC)

We wish them well. Visit their web site at www.TivertonCC.com

SCHOOL COMM. & TEACHERS RATIFY NEW CONTRACT
September 10, 2008

The School Committee unanimously ratified a new 2-year contract with the teachers on this date.  The teachers ratified the contract the night before on 9/9/2008.  The specific details are not known yet, but the cost impact is known.  The total salary package for the 2008/2009 school year ($2,142,403) increased by 2.5% over last year ($2,090,096) and the amount of money the teachers pay for their health insurance increased from $44,892 to $52,306 or 14.5% more.  The salary package will increase by 2.3% in the 2009/2010 school year, and the health insurance copay will increase by 14%.

The School Committee awarded Montle Plumbing in Fall River a contract to replace a failed boiler for $43,435 (the original estimate was $75K).

Ten applications have been received for the position of Principal left vacant by Fran Blaes in August.  A screening committee will reduce this down to the top 3 applicants who will be interviewed by Superintendent Ron Devine.  Dr. Devine will make his recommendation to the School Committee at its next meeting on October 8th.

When asked, the School Committee indicted that the new school transportation operation with First Student when very well with just a few minor problems that were easily resolved.

SCHOOL FACILITIES NEEDS COMMITTEE
August 18, 2008

The School Facilities Needs Committee met with JCJ Architects on this date to discuss the latest thinking about bringing the Wilbur & McMahon School into compliance with the latest life safety codes and fire codes as well as to address major building deficiencies outlined in March 2006 by the Mount Vernon Group.  That study estimated a cost of $11,000,000 to resolve the problems through renovation.

So far, JCJ has only looked at a combination of repairs to some of the existing structures, and the construction on new structures on the site.  Their current estimate (Option 5)  is $25,800,000.  Option 5 retains the existing gym and wooden building, makes repairs to them, demolishes everything else, and rebuilds new classroom space.  It also reconfigures the parking area, school bus drop-off area, and parent drop-off area.

It is important to note that no decisions have been made at this time.  The Committee tasked JCJ to revisit the renovation approach and update the estimate from Mount Vernon.  The next meeting is scheduled for 7 pm on September 15, 2008 at the school.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEWS
August 13, 2008

• The contract with First Student for school transportation has been signed.  All but one of the bus drivers & monitors have accepted jobs with First Student.  Their employment with the town has been terminated.  First Student indicates that the drivers will be driving the same routes as they always have.  The union has filed grievances against the town on this matter.  The new buses have been ordered.  They have a 15-week lead time for manufacturing and certification.  They will replace the old fleet in January of 2009.  Two of the drivers, including the supervisor of transportation, have retired.

• Fran Blaes, Little Compton's Principal, has resigned and will be taking a position in the Tiverton school system.  Her last day was August 15th.

• The boiler that supplies heat to the school has become dysfunctional and in need of replacement.  A Request For Proposals (RFP) is being drafted as this must be in place before the cold weather arrives.  Estimated cost is $75K to $100K

“SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION - OUTSOURCED”
July 19, 2008

On July 9, 2008, the School Committee voted 3-to-2 to outsource school transportation to First Student (formerly Laidlaw) beginning this school year.  It was done ostensibly to save money estimated at $887,000 over a 5-year contract.  This is not a trivial number for those that want to keep things the way they are for emotional and/or cultural reasons (i.e., "we've always done it this way").

In reality, this vote was taken to comply with Senate Bill S-3050 (Paiva-Weed bill).  S-3050 is the "Tax Cap" law.  It sets a time table for reducing the maximum amount of money that can be raised from the taxpayers from one year to the next by 1/4 percent decrements each year until it reaches 4% (this will occur in 2012). Next year, the maximum resides at 4.75%.  With very little effort, it can be shown that this ever decreasing cap will result in having to make spending cuts. So what do you cut?  Office supplies?  That will not do the job.  Where should the cuts be made? The education program?  The support functions? Should we willingly erode the education program in order to preserve in-house transportation?  That was the dilemma facing the School Committee leading to its July 9th vote.

Those voting to outsource were Chairman Joseph Quinn, Cheryl Cady, and Don Gomez.

Those voting to retain in-house transportation were Michael Harrington and Paul Desilets.  In our opinion, both of them seem to be living in a world of make believe where facts don't matter and the Paiva-Weed Bill doesn't exist.  Neither of them offered their solution to the problem.

This might have been avoided had the bus drivers decided not to unionize and begin an endless stream of demands for salaries, benefits, and management concessions.  As a result, they have now priced themselves out of the market.  But that doesn't mean they're out of a job.  Contrary to the wild claims, the contactor traditionally hires the displaced drivers for their knowledge and experience and has already asked for the contact information of the drivers and monitors.  To do otherwise makes no sense whatsoever. 

The School Committee made the right decision.  Little Compton runs a school, not a Jobs Program!  The circus of shouts, screams, threats, and disruption of the meeting by the drivers and monitors after the vote was a display of "thug-ery" at its worst.  They should have considered the impression this would make on First Student management relative to their hiring potential.