SCHOOL SURVEILLANCE. What expectation of privacy should DMS and DHS students have? How much surveillance, and what kind, would you support in our high school and middle school?

ANNE WARD
Public schools today have to find the right balance between safety and privacy for students and staff alike. Surveillance can serve a variety of purposes and, with the technology readily available to school officials and students, can either enhance security or infringe on privacy if not used appropriately. More and more, we are aware that video surveillance is a part of our daily lives as we drive through tollbooths, shop, do our banking, or travel through public spaces.

Our school buildings are public spaces and should be accessible to students, staff and families. They also need to be safe places for teaching and learning. Both the middle school and the high school were built decades ago, long before school security became a national issue. Both buildings have multiple entrances, none of which can be easily monitored by main office staff. The schools have taken steps to increase building security by locking all but the main doors, requiring identification badges for staff and visitors and putting emergency procedures in place. More can be done. The capital budget request for FY09 includes funds for the installation of video surveillance cameras and door buzzer systems at DMS and DHS entrances. These systems would enhance the ability of the schools to monitor people entering the buildings without infringing on the privacy of people using the buildings.

The Safe School Initiative, a program of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Secret Service, provides guidance to school officials working to create secure school environments. The study emphasizes that a critical component of safe schools is a climate of respect and support, where students have a positive connection to an adult and where teachers and administrators are aware of students’ social, emotional and academic needs. I support further development of this component of safety in our schools.

MAUREEN CONNOLLY
Privacy is important, but it must take second place to security and absence of drugs. What happened in Columbine in 1999 and the Amish school house in 2006, made us all realize that security has to be the top priority. Students should have the expectation that they will be safe when they go to school.

Standard security practices that I would support include doors being locked, visitors pressing a buzzer to gain access, lockdown procedures, video cameras and a monitoring system. Also, the students need to know that if they see anything of concern that they should tell an adult whom they are comfortable with.

Currently at both DMS and DHS, there are no buzzer systems for access. At DMS, there is no video security system in place. At DHS, we have the backbone/computer for video security, however we only have 2 cameras. These buildings were not built for today’s security needs.

As part of the Article 7 Capital Exclusion Override, there is an item for a Video Security System for $36,900. This would include DMS and DHS buzzer systems for entrance, multiple cameras, and a backbone/computer system for DHS. I believe that this should be part of a standard capital budget. How can we leave children’s safety as part of an override vote?
We absolutely need a higher degree of security at both DMS and DHS. Case law would determine what degree of privacy students should expect. The School Committee needs to have written policies in place, as school surveillance is a complex and relatively new issue.

M.L. NICHOLS
School safety must be a priority in our culture today. Duxbury Schools currently do not have video surveillance capability at the entry doors of either DHS or DMS. While we don’t want our students to live in a “lock in” situation on a daily basis, we need more security than we have. With the renovation in 2003, Chandler and Alden installed a video monitor and buzz-in system for doors other than the main entrance, which is flanked with an office of glass windows and highly visible hallways. I would support video cameras and buzzers monitoring the main front entrance of both DHS and DMS operable inside of school start and end times. The offices of both these building are not adjacent to front doors and anyone can walk in. This will ensure that incoming visitors are acknowledged. If done appropriately and efficiently, the office staff should be able to monitor the cameras from their desks as more efficient digital equipment is now available. Given the number of threats suffered over the last five years, with the latest one at DMS this past fall, I would also support hidden cameras monitoring the outside doors of student restrooms. This would allow retrieving, if necessary, individuals who have come and gone into a location, without invading privacy. As long as students are under the age of 18, it is appropriate for them to be supervised. The Duxbury Police Department recently conducted a security review on all Duxbury Schools and we are waiting for that report to be shared. I would not support general surveillance of hallways, cafeteria etc. unless there was a specific reason to do so.

SCHOOL LEGAL FEES: Attorney fees are taking a bigger and bigger bite out of our school budget. (Over $300,000 in the past two fiscal years.) Compared to many South Shore school districts, Duxbury spends twice as much – sometimes three and four times – on legal fees. Are we too quick to “lawyer-up” and if so what can be done to direct more of this money to classrooms and textbooks?

ANNE WARD
The district has spent more on legal expenses the last two years than in the years prior on specific cases that could not be resolved internally. Clearly, the first priority for school budget dollars should always be those items that have a direct, positive impact on teaching and learning. Close to 80 percent of the annual school budget is dedicated to teacher and staff salaries. The rest of the budget covers services and materials necessary to operate a school district for 3,400 students, including utilities, supplies, and services that support students, staff and administration. Legal counsel is one of those services. School districts retain legal counsel in three key areas: labor relations, school law and special education. These three areas are highly regulated by state and federal laws, and it is the responsibility of public schools to operate within these laws. In an ideal world, school districts wouldn’t need to budget for legal services. But our schools operate in a world where conflicts occur: in labor disputes, in matters of school policy and law, and in special education. A good school system has processes in place to work through conflicts, ideally through those people most closely involved with the issue. There are occasions, however, when those processes can’t resolve an issue and legal counsel becomes necessary. Legal expenses can usually be minimized with the right people in the right jobs, with thoughtful and fair processes, timely attention to issues and effective oversight.

MAUREEN CONNOLLY
Yes. We ABSOLUTELY are too quick to “lawyer up.” It saddens me deeply to see what critical services/needs, such as textbooks, our children are missing out on because this wasteful spending of our tax dollars has been allowed. Having done research, I was the first to bring these outrageous legal fees to the forefront, speaking at a School Committee meeting in the spring of 2007.

At that time I suggested to the School Committee that we investigate our legal expenses. I recommended that we solve disagreements at a conference table without attorneys instead of using the “bunker mentality,” and also look at changing law firms. As the schools have had a relationship with the same law firm (which is one of the big school defender firms) since 1989, we are long overdue for a change. The only ones who seem to be benefiting from this relationship are the attorneys!
School legal expenses are basically broken down into 3 areas: labor relations/negotiations, general school law/student issues, and special education. We need to explore options such as using town counsel, private attorneys or another law firm. Many school systems use a combination of all three.

In addition, as most of our overages are in Special Education (SPED), we need to ensure that we are in compliance with the law. When there are disagreements, both the SPED Director and the Superintendent should be handling the case rather than the school attorney.

I stand by my original recommendations and believe that the school committee needs to oversee and track legal expenses so that we are not needlessly using attorneys. This way we can save tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees and put it towards the needs in the classroom, where it belongs.

M.L. NICHOLS
It’s fair to say over the past 3-5 years the Duxbury Schools have leaned on lawyers more than necessary. They have been called too early and too often. I am encouraged to learn that Superintendent Skeiber now restricts administrators from calling our lawyer unless she is first notified. I’m confident this practice will reduce our lawyer fees, but there is more we can do.
As the majority of our current legal expenses are related to special education, I address this area. Push and pull between schools and families will always exist when it comes to determining services for children with special needs. Some of that tension is healthy. But when people feel they are not being heard, have been treated unfairly, or do not have trust that the system will provide an acceptable solution for their needs, they resort to calling lawyers. This in turn triggers the schools to call lawyers. We must do a better job seeking out, hearing and acknowledging educator, family and medical concerns for appropriate services and placement for our special education students. We must do a better job creating IEP and 504 team meetings where all players have legitimate input and families feel their issues and concerns are being heard. They may not always agree, but they need to feel heard. Special education in Duxbury must be driven by student need, not the budget. Decisions affect not only special needs students but also each child in the classroom who is impacted by a decision to give an aid or not, to provide a plan or not, or keep a student in or out of district. Better listening to and acknowledgment of individual needs and concerns will go a long way in reducing our legal fees leaving more money for needed services.

RISKY BEHAVIOR: Marijuana and alcohol use – and notably incidents of binge drinking – are on the rise at DHS according to a Youth Risk Survey in 2007. What can you as a school committee member, and we as a community, do to reverse that trend?

ANNE WARD
As a member of the Duxbury community and a School Committee member, I firmly believe that schools, parents and the community have to promote opportunities for students to make informed, healthy decisions about risky behaviors. We also need to seek to understand the factors that prompt risky behaviors and address those factors.
The schools are committed to prevention education and student assistance. Systemwide, the schools have dedicated significant resources to students and families. Our curriculum includes lessons, from kindergarten through high school, that teach children about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. We’re fortunate to have a student resource officer, a student assistance counselor, guidance counselors, psychological services, school nurses, teachers and coaches working with students. Parents and community members serve on the School Health Advisory Council, the Youth Risk Task Force and school councils. The middle and high schools conduct the Youth Risk Behavior survey and report the results. Students work to help each other through peer mediation programs, Link Crew and character-building programs. In the broader community, the Student Union, religious youth groups, youth sports programs, and families, provide diverse opportunities for our children to spend their time out of school engaged in productive, healthy activities. Other community groups offer parent education programs to help us understand today’s risky behaviors and share strategies for dealing with them. Most importantly, parents play a key role in helping kids make good decisions.
We need to continue these efforts; educate ourselves and our children about adolescent brain research, social norms and the factors that prompt risky behaviors, including peer pressure, school pressure, family pressure; be effective adult role models and; strengthen connections among the schools, the community and our families.

MAUREEN CONNOLLY
Adolescence is a very difficult time of life, especially given the present day culture and the enormous pressures on kids today. Almost every single piece of research that I have read about risky behavior states that kids have to feel connected. The kids have to know that we care about them and that they are valued as members of our community.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) tells us that substance abuse is on the rise and that only 55% of the students felt valued as a person at the high school.

I believe we can do several things to reverse this trend. First, students need to feel that they are being heard. Our student government programs need to be more organized with better facilitation of communication between the administration and the student body. I would also strongly support the advisor/advisee program that is being implemented next year.

Second, when there are discipline issues, consequences have to be appropriate; but first and foremost, we want the kids to get the help that they need. The policies and direction that the school committee gives to the administration needs to set the tone to ensure students are treated fairly and appropriately.

Third, despite our serious financial difficulties, I would strongly advocate that the Student Assistance Counselor and the School Resource Officer positions be funded.

Lastly, the Risk Behavior Task Force should be revived under a strong leadership with an open invitation to the community for membership. Of course, we always need to support safe havens for kids such as Grad Night and the Student Union, so that we can create a culture that will guide students to make good choices.

M.L. NICHOLS
There are many things we can do to help reverse the rise in risky behaviors. First off, I do not support the current practice of giving the Youth Risk Behavior Study to 7th and 8th graders. Since DMS students engaged in risky behaviors make up only 2-12% of total students, exposing these ideas helps “normalize” some of the behavior and could do more harm among the 85 – 90% of 12-14 year olds who do not engage in this behavior. Since this is not mandatory, I would vote to eliminate it. DMS students that are engaged in risky behavior ought to be identified and counseled separately.

I support the survey at DHS. Provocative and disturbing brain research conducted in the last 10 years proves the affect that alcohol, marijuana and other drugs has on the still developing teenage brain. Are we augmenting our curriculum with this latest brain research? Are we using the most powerful, engaging and impactful vehicles with our students to reinforce what these behaviors do to a teenage brain?

A critical piece of reversing this trend is understanding the cause. Do students feel respected and valued as individuals both at home and in school? While kids will always engage in some risky behavior, our students are under more stress and pressure today than ever before. Pressure from parents is a key component. Two years ago, I co-founded The Parent Connection to provide a continuous stream of connection and education for parents in the Duxbury community. We have sponsored many well known speakers and group discussions on subjects ranging from self esteem, how to say “no”, to how to raise a resilient and happy child. Our work will continue. The more education and connection we can provide for parents and kids, the healthier our students will be.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS: A common refrain during school budget season is that school committee members have little room to maneuver due to contractual obligations. Do you think we need to take a harder look at teacher contracts and benefits or should we look elsewhere for savings? If so, what sort of concessions or compromises would you support?

ANNE WARD
Education is about people. The fact is that 80 percent of the school budget is salaries for teachers and staff. The salary schedule is established in three-year employment contracts and is very much a part of the collective bargaining process with the respective employee unions. Salaries are negotiated on the basis of several factors: comparability with similar districts; cost of living and; the town’s ability to pay. Duxbury offers competitive salaries and good benefits to attract and retain highly-qualified teachers.

One area of potential savings that the town should absolutely be analyzing is health insurance. Increasing health costs are a major causal factor of increased spending for the schools and other town departments. The town and schools took steps in 2006-2007 to control health insurance and retirement plan costs by adjusting co-pays and offering PPOs and HMOs. More can be done. Last July, the legislature passed a law allowing cities and towns to join the Group Insurance Commission for the purchase of health insurance. Preliminary analysis indicates that many towns could realize substantial savings through this program. For Duxbury, it could mean a savings of $750,000 to $1 million in health insurance costs. But towns have been slow to join because GIC offers different plans, limits local control, requires union approval and may have associated costs. I believe the GIC will continue to evolve and become a more attractive option for controlling health insurance costs while providing high quality health care plans. Duxbury should begin a detailed analysis of potential cost savings well in advance of the next cycle of collective bargaining.

MAUREEN CONNOLLY
Given the financial crisis that we are in, we have to look at EVERYTHING. In the present contract, the teachers receive both cost of living and step increases that bring the total annual increase to between 6 and 7%. Negotiations will be restarting this year and we have to take a different approach in order to avoid eliminating teaching positions. We have to take a closer look at administrative salary increases as well.

We have to innovate to be more cost effective. In Salem and Barnstable, for example, the finance function has been consolidated between the schools and the town. Should we consider a similar model?

Duxbury is a wealth of resources; we should be tapping into the community and embracing any resources that are offered. We are extremely fortunate to have the DEF and parent and community volunteers, who so willingly support our schools. By actively encouraging and welcoming the participation of volunteers we should be able to gain even greater benefit.
Our curriculum model currently has the Assistant Superintendent, Principals, Vice Principals, Curriculum Supervisors, Department Heads and Instructional Coaches (Lead Teachers) all looking at curriculum, along with the teacher doing the actual instruction in the classroom. We have improved our curriculums and now have greater consistency. However, we do not need to maintain all of this overhead on an ongoing basis. We should consider eliminating the Curriculum Supervisors.
Elementary world language is important; however the commitment we have made is so weak that it is not a strong program. The kindergarten world language program has already been eliminated. We do not have the funds to improve it, so at this point I would reluctantly consider eliminating the program. In its place, we could offer fee-based summer immersion camps or after school programs.

M.L. NICHOLS
We must constantly be looking for ways to provide educational services in a smarter and more cost efficient way, and this includes teacher contracts. Collective bargaining is a highly confidential process that involves a lot of give and take. If elected I would keep a watchful eye on the proposed changes up for negotiation because the levels settled with the teachers union usually pave the way for similar agreements with the numerous other unions in town.

Some good work on the town and Selectman’s part has been done with regard to health insurance over the last few years and we must continue chipping away at that. Six years ago, our teacher’s contract instituted an office co-payment of $5.00 per visit; two years ago that number was increased to $10. We must continue to negotiate to bring our health benefits in line with what is considered fair and reasonable levels. Good incentives have been given to encourage teachers to switch to PPO’s and that is working.

With a tough economy, we need to look closely at the next round of negotiations coming up in spring of ’09. I would be interested in being one of the two School Committee members on that bargaining team and feel my negotiating skills and years of experience with the schools would make me a valuable member of the team.

Other areas we can look to save money in are transportation - are we running our busses in the most efficient way possible?; Energy efficiency – have we looked into using solar panels on the flat soon to be redone Chandler roof? If so, have we looked into the feasibility of this in the last 6 months because the technology is changing so quickly, what was not economical 12 months ago may be today.

COLLEGE CHOICES: Last year the school department stopped the practice of releasing DHS graduates’ college plans. Was this the right decision? On a related note should the school honor roll continue to be published in the newspaper?

ANNE WARD
Achievement deserves recognition. Students, teachers, families and the community take pride in seeing the results of years of hard work. In education, particularly at the secondary level, academic achievement has long been recognized through honor rolls, awards and scholarships, National Honor Society, National Merit Scholars, the naming of the class valedictorian and salutatorian. Other types of awards recognize good citizenship, skill in athletics, the arts, or outstanding effort in any number of areas. There are even awards for outstanding MCAS scores!

I respect the decision of the DHS School Council to change the standing practice of publishing seniors’ college plans. The former practice was flawed in that students had no say in the release of their information. The School Council also cited student stress as a key factor in its decision. With the change, the Duxbury Clipper continued to publish information about college choices as submitted by students and families. The high school provided a list of colleges to which students had been accepted, without listing student names.

College acceptance is clearly a priority in this community – more than 90 percent of DHS graduates go to college — and that achievement should be acknowledged in appropriate ways. More importantly, if our district is fulfilling its mission to provide an educational program that “enables students to make connections between learning and life and prepares them to meet the challenges of a dynamic society,” then all of our students should have equal opportunity to succeed in the Duxbury schools and to be recognized for their efforts.

MAUREEN CONNOLLY
Whenever decisions are made in the school system, we need to have the best interests of all of the kids at heart. As a 20 year resident of Duxbury, and the parent of three children, two of whom have graduated, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the kids’ pictures, along with their college plans. I really looked forward to that June edition of the Clipper. I was disappointed that the school department stopped this practice, however, I believe ultimately it was the right decision.

When this practice first started, the intent was to celebrate our graduates’ achievements and to honor them. Over time, as the college admissions process became more and more competitive, this practice unintentionally turned into a public relations project for the parents, the school system and the community. However, many of our graduates were feeling very stressed as to what college would appear under their picture in the Clipper. As anybody who has recently gone through the college admissions process knows, college acceptances are often based on factors outside of the students’ control, such as demographics, finances, or even politics.

I think the school honor roll should continue to be published in the newspaper. Just as we give recognition to students who excel in athletics, music, and drama we should also recognize students’ achievements in academics. It is always beneficial for students to receive positive reinforcement for their successful efforts.

M.L. NICHOLS
I agree with the decision made last spring by the DHS Council to not release individual college choices. I also agree with the decision to provide a list of colleges with the total number of students attending each from the Class of 2007 for publication in the Clipper. The idea of a separate section in the Clipper that featured a voluntary list of individual college decisions along with totals was a nice compromise.

While some thought college choice with student photos was a time honored tradition, in fact it’s only been done for the last 10 years – about the same number of years this country has suffered from a perpetuating “college frenzy” around getting into the “best” or most prestigious colleges vs. identifying the right fit for each student. Choosing a college is an important, individual decision based on a number of factors. Adding the stress of how it feels stacked up to peers in the town paper only adds to the frenzy.

Our kids are under enough pressure and stress already – let’s celebrate and recognize 13 years of success in the classroom, on the stage and on the playing fields in high school. After years of hard work, our students deserve recognition in the local paper, complete with photos, celebrating graduation. A separate vehicle with individual college information or what the future holds for our students makes sense.

On the issue of publishing or not publishing the school honor roll, it should be published. I’ve been wondering why it hasn’t come out this year. This is a time honored tradition and one that acknowledges academic success for students who have earned it. We devote pages of print to recognize our athletic prowess every week…it makes sense to publish the honor roll a few times a year.