[CabotCommunity] Advocate for Cabot School - Summary of issues (long term facilities and space) and dates of public meetings!

[marykathf at aol.com]

Advocate for Cabot!

 

Cabot, Angier and Zervas elementary schools are Newton’s neediest buildings in terms of facility condition and educational space, according to the team of architects working on the Newton Schools’ Long Term Facilities Plan.  In addition, elementary school enrollment is expected to increase by nearly 1,000 students by 2011 and may necessitate renovating and reopening the Carr School in Nonantum.

 

State aid for school construction will become available again next year when a four year moratorium on new projects is lifted.  Should Newton apply for these state funds?  For which schools?  Can Newton meet the July 31, 2007 deadline for submitting a “statement of interest”?

 

These questions will be addressed in the coming weeks by the School Committee, Mayor and Board of Aldermen.  It is a critical time for parents to voice their concerns about the future of the Cabot building.  

 

A good showing of Cabot parents at the following public meetings will remind our elected officials of how much we care about our building and community:

 

June 18, 2007 - 7:00 PM, City Hall

Board of Alderman, Committee of the Whole. Briefing on the needs assessment portion of the Long Range Facilities Study

 

June 19, 2007 - 7:00 PM, 100 Walnut Street

Special meeting of the School Committee with public comment about the building needs assessment and presentation of options.

 

June 20, 2007 – 7:45 PM, City Hall

Joint meeting of Programs and Services and Public Facilities Committees of the Board of Alderman with presentation of options and discussion on submission of a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

 

June 25, 2007 - 7:00 PM, 100 Walnut Street

Regular meeting of the School Committee begins early to finish year end business and allow additional time for public comment and further discussion of building options.

 

If you’re able to attend a meeting, please let us know – it helps us to plan our attendance, too –

 

Attendance at public meetings has great impact, but sending e-mail is very useful also.  Please write to the Board of Aldermen and let them know that renovation of the Cabot building is long over due.  Encourage them to support the School Committee’s efforts to apply for state funds.

 

To contact the Board of Aldermen, visit: http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/Aldermen/pix/bios_index.htm  

 

To contact the School Committee and Mayor, e-mail:  schoolcommittee at newton.k12.m1.us 

 

For more information on the architects study, go to the Long Term Facilites page on the NPS website: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/hot_topics/longrange_facilities.html

 

For more information from the Cabot PTO, contact one of the Political Issues Co-Chairs:  Sarah Ecker at sarahecker at comcast.net, Sue Covitz at suecovitz at rcn.com  and Isabelle Thacker at isabelle at thackers.net .  



Mary Kathryn Fallon
Cabot PTO Co-President
10 Worth Circle,
Newton, MA 02458
617-244-1821
MaryKathF at aol.com

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