Op Ed from Fosters: Durham Needs to Ask Itself...

A market survey commissioned by the town of Durham, in part, concludes there is the potential to enhance the town with 25,000 to 30,000 square feet of new markets.

In that regard, Town Administrator Todd Selig told Foster's Daily Democrat: "What the market analysis concluded is the additional square footage should focus on the noncollege population." 

The problem for Selig and the town as a whole is where to build that square footage.

One reason many move to Durham is its ambience — that small town feel, nestled in the trees next to the prestigious University of New Hampshire. That is, until the tax bill comes.

Durham has long been a community divided when it comes to growing its business community. Sure, the nonstudent population would like more services directed at them. But when push comes to shove, neither the town nor its residents are willing to rezone much to accommodate the growth.

Take for example the Route 108 corridor coming in from Dover. "No, that would spoil Durham's gateway," is the response.

What about the once available Mill Pond Center? No, the reasons are more than myriad.

Beyond where to put such businesses is finding those willing to forgo their profits from students and instead depend on "locals" who are available year-round.

The truth is that businesses which tend to thrive in downtown Durham, for the most part, cater to students. 

Over the years, storefront businesses as a whole that locate in Durham weed themselves out. They come and go until one or two finds a niche that keeps them going year round, usually driven by profits made off students. The more successful find these profits so great they can stick it out during the slow months when students are away.

There are some exceptions, such as Durham Marketplace, which has a uniquely blended clientele of students and locals.

Another informative portion of the marketing study is the section which discusses home prices.

As Foster's Daily Democrat reported Monday: Even with the state of the economy, the median annual sales price of a single family home in Durham has increased 15 percent over the last two years. To meet the average housing costs, the report suggests a resident must make an average of $48 an hour, or about $100,000 annually.

Yes, you read correctly — "increased" when the markets throughout the rest of the region have been tanking.

That by itself should give local planners a sense of what they are up against. Durham attracts homeowners who, for the most part, can afford to live in the town — at least when they arrive.

The logical conclusion then is they probably don't want to change the town much by rezoning large parcels in easily accessible areas for storefront development.

Admittedly that attitude has changed a bit over time as more and more longtime residents have started to feel the bite of Durham's high tax rate, driven in large part by the Oyster River Cooperative School District.

Before Durham spends any more time and energy implementing the market study, the council should simply ask residents if they are willing to compromise on the aesthetics that brought them to town for a lower tax rate and more services aimed at them.

Based on the town's history, it's a long shot enough residents will say yes, but it's still worth asking.

Letter from Loren Selig

In the past few weeks, I have been greatly disturbed by a number of events. I am aware that the Board made a decision which some people agreed with and others did not. Regardless of each individual’s or even each group’s opinion, the actions that have followed have been quite unsettling. Some people have chosen to call one another names; others have chosen to make indirect attacks at one side or another through anonymous messages or through published letters to the editor of Fosters Daily Democrat.

In each case, the one element that makes us all a community has been lost: our commitment to working together to achieve a unilateral goal. Obviously each person involved believes his or her opinion is the best way to proceed. Obviously we are a school system in a crisis. We have forgotten how to not only talk, but also to listen to one another civilly and respectfully.

A decision has been made by the board. The question now is not whether or not to revisit that decision, nor whether to attack board members on either side of the decision, nor to challenge our Superintendent of Schools. It is not a question of whether our students and teachers deserve a principal. The key question is how do we move forward in a way that respects all parties and that shows what the Oyster River community is really all about: a commitment to providing our children with the best education possible.

Right now, I call upon everyone in the room, everyone at home, everyone reading Blog posts, everyone writing letters, everyone in the school system, and everyone in our community to return to a place of civility.

Please join me in supporting everyone in our community with dignity and respect and let us continue to be the absolute best we can be.

Sincerely,

Loren Selig, community member, parent of a Kindergartener

Teacher's Guild Contract

Please see attached the Agreement Between the Oyster River Teachers' Guild and the Oyster River Cooperative School Board July 2011-June 2014.

Click Here

Foster's Article re: SB Meeting 4/27/11

Board may hire firm to help with ORHS principal search

By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Thursday, April 28, 2011


DURHAM — More than 400 people filled the Oyster River High School auditorium Wednesday night to hear School Board members suggest hiring a firm to help continue the search for a new principal and pushing for greater involvement in the hiring process.

During the meeting, members began talking publicly about how the district will move forward after board members rejected a new high school principal nomination earlier this month. Board members have heard feedback from community members, students and staff since the decision.

An e-mail dated April 20 from Board Chair Henry Brackett and Vice Chair Ann Wright said the board would ensure a principal would be in place for the 2011/2012 school year. Current principal Laura Rogers will be leaving at the end of the year.

The 15 members of the high school principal search committee took two months to sift through 44 applications, narrowing the field down to two final candidates. Superintendent Howard Colter nominated one candidate, but board members voted 4-3 against the nomination, with members James Kach, Megan Turnbull, Ann Lane and Jocelyn O'Quinn voting in the majority.

Chair Henry Brackett and members Krista Butts and Anne Wright supported Colter's nomination.

On Wednesday, board member Megan Turnbull offered a motion to create a "core committee," made up of three School Board members and Superintendent Howard Colter, that would designate a new search committee and form criteria for principal candidates. Discussions also presented the idea of hiring a consultant to join the group provide direction for the search committee who would help this group.

"It does not seem right to me that the board is only called in to nominate and then we vote at the end of the process," Brackett said. "I would like to see more involvement with the board in making the decision."

Turnbull spoke up saying she was in favor of creating a committee that represented everyone needed, but said she was worried there was no timeline presented and the next school year was quickly presenting itself.

The motion passed 4-2, members Lane, Turnbull, Brackett, O'Quinn and Kach in favor and Butts and Wright opposed.

Brackett then asked for board member nominations for the core committee. Members Wright, Turnbull and Lane originally asked to be placed on the committee, but Wright shortly afterward withdrew. Brackett then nominated himself for the third position.

The committee member vote passed unanimously.

Kach said he would hope the core committee be selected by the School Board, but ultimately, the board said it would be Colter's committee.

Following the vote, about 50 community members and students spoke out, many saying they felt disrespected by the School Board and others saying those speaking out were embarrassing the community — some directing their comments toward the recent student walkout.

One students said he searched online the potential cost of hiring a consultant and said the average cost he found was about $15,000. The board has not provided official information about costs for a consultant.

When senior class President Ethan Hotchkiss spoke, he asked each student present to stand, which included School Board student representative Cody Jacobsen. He asked the School Board to reconsider its decision for the principal nomination and to allow a student to join the core committee.

Luci Gardner said she supported the School Board. The Durham resident said she hoped the School Board would take the time to find the proper candidate and reminded those present they had been voted into their position to represent the district.

"I didn't vote for them to rubber stamp a candidate," she said.

Following the more than an hour public comment session, some board members spoke up, saying they are looking forward to continuing speaking with the community on the district's future and encouraged continued letters from the community.

"I hope we focus on better and stronger communications," Wright said.

However, student representative Cody Jacobsen said he wished the School Board had not moved the meeting's vote about the future of the principal search before the public comment.

"I think you should have heard the community before you made your decision," he said.
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110428/GJNEWS_01/704289701

Next Brown Bag date change

Hello,

Today at the Brown Bag re: Grouping, it was noticed that the next one was scheduled for the Early Release Day of May 11, 2011. It was changed to Wed May 18th 12:30pm at the SAU building.

Next month's topic is Homework.

OR School Board to discuss principal, retirement plans

By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

DURHAM — Oyster River School Board members are scheduled tonight to discuss plans to fill the pending high school principal vacancy after denying a nomination earlier this month.

For two months, 15 members of the high school principal search committee sifted through 44 applications and by early April, had narrowed the field down to two final candidates, Justin Campbell and Robert Thompson.

Superintendent Howard Colter had nominated Campbell, but a 4-3 vote against the nomination left the district without a plan on how to fill the vacancy that current principal Laura Rogers will leave at the end of the year. Members James Kach, Megan Turnbull, Ann Lane and Jocelyn O'Quinn were in the majority during the vote.

"I anticipate the major topic of the evening will be about the failed nomination of Justin Campbell," Colter said.

An e-mail dated April 20 from Board Chair Henry Brackett and Vice Chair Ann Wright said the board would ensure a principal would be in place for the 2011/2012 school year.

Also on the meeting's agenda is a proposal for a retirement incentive for staff who have been with the district for 10 or more years, which Colter said should save the district money.

The district would offer a one-time payment of $20,000 for 20 or more years of service in the Oyster River School District, or $15,000 for those who have served 10 to 19 years. A set amount would be placed in a fund and it would be a first-come, first-serve offering.

Colter said by hiring less expensive staff to replace retired staff, the district would still save money.

The School Board meets tonight at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, non-public is at 6:30 p.m..

Letter from ORHS Teachers

Dear Oyster River Cooperative School District Community Members: 

As the faculty and staff of Oyster River High School, we find it imperative to inform you in detail as to the current status of our principal search and the School Board’s response. We feel strongly that a permanent replacement of Laura Rogers is essential to our school’s progress. An interim option would not allow us to maintain the momentum we have built. 

Background 

As of June of this year, Laura Rogers will be resigning from her position as the principal of the high school. As a result, our superintendent began the process of finding a replacement to fill the position in February by commissioning a diverse group of voices, which included the following stakeholders: students, parents, administrators, school board members, and faculty. This committee worked tirelessly to ensure that the district find a candidate with vision to guide our school in a successful direction. 

Process 

In March, the faculty and staff went to the School Board and read a signed letter explaining the problems with assigning an interim until a new superintendent is chosen in 2012. It was clearly outlined why an interim would not benefit student learning nor align with the educational philosophy of this school, district, and community. At this time, the board assured the townspeople present, along with the faculty and staff, that an interim was not being considered and to move on with the hiring process. After two interviews, site visits, daylong visits with the candidates at ORHS, and a community tea, the two finalists were sent before the Board for final interviews. Up to this point, no concerns were raised about the quality of the candidates or with the process itself. 

Upon entering private session, Superintendent Howard Colter nominated Justin Campbell as his candidate choice, and the board voted 4-3 to not support his nomination. The board refused to provide any reasoning for this vote. At this point, we do not have a principal for next year. Subsequently, the board delivered a statement during the April 13th School Board meeting explaining that their reasoning was budgetary and because the district was nominating a new superintendent in 2012. 

Future Action 

We as a faculty and staff ask you to attend the school board meeting on the night of April 27th at 7 pm to show your support for our students. At this meeting, we will be making a statement revisiting our concerns surrounding the potential impacts of this decision to student learning. We invite you to voice your opinions on the situation and our district’s course of action. Through letters to the board and attendance at school board meetings, we ask you to join us in speaking out against the board’s inability to keep its word. 

As we move forward with this process, the faculty and staff will continue to stay focused on what is most important: our students. We hope to see you on the 27th as we seek a solution to the question of leadership at the high school. 

Sincerely, 

The Faculty and Staff of Oyster River High School 

Letter From Laura DiMeglio

[UPDATE: Ms. DiMeglio requested her letter be removed - you can still read it at Fosters]

To the editor: I’m writing to express my strong dissatisfaction with the Oyster River School Board’s decision not to accept the nomination of Justin Campbell for HS Principal on Monday April 11 and I would ask them to please reconsider. On Wednesday, the community justifiably demanded answers from the Board, and instead of providing a strong and coherent reason, the only thing that would have been acceptable for such a controversial and unprecedented decision, the Board seemed to flounder, flirted with violating the law in its decision to go non-public, and ultimately gave little reason at all.

The reasons they did give were weak and flawed. The budget issue has been refuted by others, but the business administrator had already presented a contingency plan for the “worst case scenario” regarding a potential $632,000 shortfall that did not include postponing the hiring of a permanent principal. It is also outrageous to suggest waiting for the new Superintendent to hire the HS Principal at this point. The search process was clearly too far along. Also, the three newly elected Board members, Kach, Lane, and Turnbull, who voted against the hiring, had already stated at the candidate’s forum that they supported the hiring of a permanent principal now, NOT instituting an interim and waiting for a new Superintendent. They were each asked this question and answered clearly.

A reason not given at Wednesday night’s board meeting, but that has surfaced on the rumor mill, relates to flaws in the hiring process itself. To claim that the hiring process did not follow procedure now is irresponsible. Board members were involved in the process from the beginning and had ample opportunity to take issue. Also, the vote to reject Justin Campbell was 4-3. Three Board members did not have a problem with the process, or at least not enough of a problem to reject the candidate. Of the four that voted to reject, two, Lane and Turnbull, had been on the Board for just one month and may not understand the role of “past practice” and how it relates to policy. The hiring process was the same as had been used to hire at least two other principals and was certainly thorough and adequate. It did not differ from written policy in any substantive way.

The manner in which this important decision has been handled gives me no confidence in this Board’s ability to hire a superintendent, or to adequately represent the community.

For many, it will be no surprise that the situation in the Oyster River school district has come to this divide. Oyster River has been suffering from mistrust between members of the community and the administration for some time. While some of the concerns may have had some validity and should be addressed, nothing was so severe that it warranted the kind of treatment our administrators have been subjected to over the past few years or the suspicion that has been spread through the community by this group of citizens. While claiming to be trying to improve the district, the primary thing that has been accomplished is that they have spread so much distrust and suspicion that our district is now facing, to use the words of Benjamin Hillyard in a letter published in Fosters on April 22, “a crisis”. A crisis with the potential for disastrous long term consequences for our schools, our property values, and our children. Thank you.

Laura DiMeglio
Lee, NH

Available to Those Interested

There is an online petition available for those Oyster River community members interested in voicing their concern about the rejection of the nominated high school principal. It can be found at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/orcsdschoolbrd/

Letter to the Editor - OR Scam

OR scam

To the editor: Is anyone aware that in the 10 years before last year the Oyster River School System cost increased 1,000% over the state average? It went from $374 to $3,472 over the state average in cost per student per year. And the current budget of $37,400,000 puts Oyster River's true cost per student per year at $18,243 which continues to be way over the state average.

We have been told this cost insures an excellent school system for the Oyster River taxpayers. This is not the case. Please read on.

Two years ago a former chairman of the Oyster River School Board told me that the Oyster River test scores were "soaring." This year and last year Oyster River did not meet the State Adequate Yearly Progress levels for reading and math. Some 46% or 75 school districts out of the 163 districts in New Hampshire did meet the State AYP level. That means that Oyster River did less than those 75 districts on the AYP reports. You call that "soaring"?

Let's go farther with this comparison. The US News and World Report does a feature each year naming the 100 best high schools in America. They evaluate over 21,000 public high schools and choose the 100 best performing ones. None of the 100 are in New Hampshire.

The number 2 ranked high school in America has a 1 teacher to 20.9 students ratio and rates 100 on the College Readiness Index. The number 3 ranked high school in America has 1 teacher to 23.7 students ratio and rates 100 on the College Readiness Index. The number 4 ranked high school in America has 1 teacher to 28 students ratio and rates 100 on the College Readiness Index. The average cost per student per year of these three high schools is $10,553 per student per year.

Oyster River High School is not on the 100 best list, has 1 teacher to 11.6 students ratio, rates 22.9 on the College Readiness Index, and costs $18,243 per student per year.

One teacher to 11.6 students is fiscally unsustainable even if Oyster River High School was superior, which it is not. It is also irresponsible of the school administration and the School Board over those years.

The Oyster River School System has been scamming the taxpayers of Durham, Madbury, and Lee for years. It has got to stop.

There will be an advertised meeting of the Oyster River School District taxpayers soon. Please Stand By.

Roger Speidel
Durham