Comments for Londonderry News http://www.londonderrynh.net Hometown and Online Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:44:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Londonderry School Teacher and Allied Health Contracts by Steve http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/londonderry-school-teacher-and-allied-health-contracts/47794/comment-page-1#comment-140059 Steve Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:44:39 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47794#comment-140059 If the contract fails, there is a good chance the teachers will "work to rule". What does that mean? It means they will work to the exact requirements of the current contract. When the last bell rings, they go home. No parent teacher meetings after hours and nights; no personal expeditures at Staples to purchase things out of their own pockets for the classroom; No weekend work "off the clock" to correct papers, plan science experiments, create lesson plans outside planning periods during the workday. No more bulletin boards that are created nights and weekends and usually funded by the teachers personally. No more unpaid volunteer enrichment activities for the schools. No more long phone calls from parents at the teacher's home during dinner or evenings. Consider this: neglect your teachers/schools and watch your largest investment in your life (house) go south (more than it already has) as prospective homebuyers look elsewhere in the market for communities that strongly support their teachers/schools. Then watch as a "brain drain" occurs. That's when your best and brightest (read: most employable elsewhere) flee the school district to other more "friendly" communities. The replacements may very well be slightly less capable and more average educators. The market draws people and businesses to a place like Londonderry because of the SCHOOLS. Not the roads, not the town hall, not the drug stores. Our tax rate is already comparatively lower than most surrounding communities. And the schools budget has been below default for over 10 years in a row. Not scare tactics, just the facts. Maybe we can drive our home values so low that our taxes will go down! (sarcasm intended). If the contract fails, there is a good chance the teachers will “work to rule”. What does that mean? It means they will work to the exact requirements of the current contract. When the last bell rings, they go home. No parent teacher meetings after hours and nights; no personal expeditures at Staples to purchase things out of their own pockets for the classroom; No weekend work “off the clock” to correct papers, plan science experiments, create lesson plans outside planning periods during the workday. No more bulletin boards that are created nights and weekends and usually funded by the teachers personally. No more unpaid volunteer enrichment activities for the schools. No more long phone calls from parents at the teacher’s home during dinner or evenings.

Consider this: neglect your teachers/schools and watch your largest investment in your life (house) go south (more than it already has) as prospective homebuyers look elsewhere in the market for communities that strongly support their teachers/schools. Then watch as a “brain drain” occurs. That’s when your best and brightest (read: most employable elsewhere) flee the school district to other more “friendly” communities. The replacements may very well be slightly less capable and more average educators.

The market draws people and businesses to a place like Londonderry because of the SCHOOLS. Not the roads, not the town hall, not the drug stores. Our tax rate is already comparatively lower than most surrounding communities. And the schools budget has been below default for over 10 years in a row. Not scare tactics, just the facts.

Maybe we can drive our home values so low that our taxes will go down! (sarcasm intended).

]]> Comment on Butler for Town Council by Alicia http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/butler-for-town-council/47952/comment-page-1#comment-140055 Alicia Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:12:16 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47952#comment-140055 Well, you don't have to wait any longer. The site admin has loaded up the video for you to watch. You get your answer at the very beginning. A couple of mouse clicks away. Well, you don’t have to wait any longer. The site admin has loaded up the video for you to watch. You get your answer at the very beginning. A couple of mouse clicks away.

]]> Comment on Londonderry School Teacher and Allied Health Contracts by Concerned http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/londonderry-school-teacher-and-allied-health-contracts/47794/comment-page-1#comment-140011 Concerned Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:04:34 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47794#comment-140011 Have you compared the NECAP scores across the state? It is funny, I was under the impression NECAPS are where the students actually have to take a test that they get no benefit from and have no motivation to take. No bump in their marketability for colleges to look at like the SAT's. No help on their transcripts. Just a "the state is forcing you to take this and you get nothing out of this, please do it out of the goodness of your hearts". Anyone who parents a teenager is most likely laughing right now. Rick, if you want to use standardized tests as a barometer of teacher performance (a poor barometer at that) then look at the SAT's or the ACT's. Things the students are motivated to perform on. Have you compared the NECAP scores across the state?
It is funny, I was under the impression NECAPS are where the students actually have to take a test that they get no benefit from and have no motivation to take. No bump in their marketability for colleges to look at like the SAT’s. No help on their transcripts. Just a “the state is forcing you to take this and you get nothing out of this, please do it out of the goodness of your hearts”. Anyone who parents a teenager is most likely laughing right now. Rick, if you want to use standardized tests as a barometer of teacher performance (a poor barometer at that) then look at the SAT’s or the ACT’s. Things the students are motivated to perform on.

]]> Comment on Londonderry School Teacher and Allied Health Contracts by Concerned http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/londonderry-school-teacher-and-allied-health-contracts/47794/comment-page-1#comment-140007 Concerned Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:54:47 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47794#comment-140007 Ken, it is your right to vote as you please. I have to say the biggest flaw with your argument is that you seem to be maintaining the level of service/demand of your private sector business is on the same level as the service/demand of the Londonderry School District. I have to disagree with that one. The community would most likely not miss a beat without your business, it would have a much harder time growing without a quality education system. Ken, it is your right to vote as you please. I have to say the biggest flaw with your argument is that you seem to be maintaining the level of service/demand of your private sector business is on the same level as the service/demand of the Londonderry School District. I have to disagree with that one. The community would most likely not miss a beat without your business, it would have a much harder time growing without a quality education system.

]]> Comment on Londonderry School Teacher and Allied Health Contracts by Concerned http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/londonderry-school-teacher-and-allied-health-contracts/47794/comment-page-1#comment-140006 Concerned Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:46:30 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47794#comment-140006 What kind of comment is "I don't fear the teachers"? You seem to have a serious problem with the education provided in Londonderry. It is unfortunate to know that you are running unopposed for the budget committee with such an obvious bias against quality education. Which, by the way, help property values and make a community more attractive. I agree with James. What kind of comment is “I don’t fear the teachers”? You seem to have a serious problem with the education provided in Londonderry.
It is unfortunate to know that you are running unopposed for the budget committee with such an obvious bias against quality education. Which, by the way, help property values and make a community more attractive.
I agree with James.

]]> Comment on Butler for Town Council by Ken McLoon http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/butler-for-town-council/47952/comment-page-1#comment-139978 Ken McLoon Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:01:28 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47952#comment-139978 Abe, phone call, e-mail, rerun of the forum I missed, or comment board, it shouldn't matter. I just asked a simple question, received no answer, and look at all the comments it generated. If Jim is following this board, he could answer and end all this, counldn't he? Abe, phone call, e-mail, rerun of the forum I missed, or comment board, it shouldn’t matter. I just asked a simple question, received no answer, and look at all the comments it generated. If Jim is following this board, he could answer and end all this, counldn’t he?

]]> Comment on Butler for Town Council by HonestAbe http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/butler-for-town-council/47952/comment-page-1#comment-139973 HonestAbe Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:11:19 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47952#comment-139973 Ken, Rather than changeling him in a comments section that you yourself is questioning. "the Nevins". Why don't you pick up the phone and call the man and ask the question yourself. Ken,

Rather than changeling him in a comments section that you yourself is questioning. “the Nevins”. Why don’t you pick up the phone and call the man and ask the question yourself.

]]> Comment on Butler for Town Council by Ken McLoon http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/butler-for-town-council/47952/comment-page-1#comment-139970 Ken McLoon Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:07:23 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47952#comment-139970 I didn't ask Jim because the topic of that walk was Woodmont, and how the paper roads would effect our nice quiet neighbohood. I don't remember Pettengill coming up other than how the PUD discussions kept refering to Pettengill, and no-one saw how an area like Woodmont may be involved. But boy, I never thought asking a question of a candidate in this forum could get people like Alicia so mad. But I am yoo old and set in my waays to just change my act :) I didn’t ask Jim because the topic of that walk was Woodmont, and how the paper roads would effect our nice quiet neighbohood. I don’t remember Pettengill coming up other than how the PUD discussions kept refering to Pettengill, and no-one saw how an area like Woodmont may be involved.

But boy, I never thought asking a question of a candidate in this forum could get people like Alicia so mad. But I am yoo old and set in my waays to just change my act :)

]]> Comment on Butler for Town Council by Ken McLoon http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/butler-for-town-council/47952/comment-page-1#comment-139968 Ken McLoon Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:58:47 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47952#comment-139968 Alichia, Please tell me exactly what I have ever posted or written that is negative about Londonderry? Like everyone in town, I have opinions and beliefs that I am will to share, and just because you may feel differently doesn't mean I am being negative or trying to stir up controversy. At least I am willing to post my full name on this board, and not hide behind just a first name, or something like The Nevins. And no, I will not run for any board or commission, even though some friends have suggested it. I do appreciate those who do take on that responsibility and support those I agree with by being one of the very few who vote in our town elections ( I actually miss town meeting ) As for Jim Butler, no I did not see the forum, but will be looking for it to be re-run, and hope to catch it. I just asked one question about the funding of Pettengill that I had hoped Jim would answer. I am sorry that hearing friends and neighbors talk about what a good guy Jim is just isn't enough for me to vote for him. I need to, and will, learn more about how he and others feel about the isssues that I care about before I decide who to support. I love my dad, but wouldn't vote for him for any office due to his political beliefs. But as stated earlier, I was a bit surprised that Jim didn't answer my question here, as all it would have taken was a short post telling me his position on Pettengill. That wasn't a complaint, but a simple inquiry on where he stands. Alichia, Please tell me exactly what I have ever posted or written that is negative about Londonderry? Like everyone in town, I have opinions and beliefs that I am will to share, and just because you may feel differently doesn’t mean I am being negative or trying to stir up controversy. At least I am willing to post my full name on this board, and not hide behind just a first name, or something like The Nevins.

And no, I will not run for any board or commission, even though some friends have suggested it. I do appreciate those who do take on that responsibility and support those I agree with by being one of the very few who vote in our town elections ( I actually miss town meeting )

As for Jim Butler, no I did not see the forum, but will be looking for it to be re-run, and hope to catch it. I just asked one question about the funding of Pettengill that I had hoped Jim would answer. I am sorry that hearing friends and neighbors talk about what a good guy Jim is just isn’t enough for me to vote for him. I need to, and will, learn more about how he and others feel about the isssues that I care about before I decide who to support. I love my dad, but wouldn’t vote for him for any office due to his political beliefs.

But as stated earlier, I was a bit surprised that Jim didn’t answer my question here, as all it would have taken was a short post telling me his position on Pettengill. That wasn’t a complaint, but a simple inquiry on where he stands.

]]> Comment on Londonderry School Teacher and Allied Health Contracts by Martin Srugis http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/02/londonderry-school-teacher-and-allied-health-contracts/47794/comment-page-1#comment-139955 Martin Srugis Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:16:30 +0000 http://www.londonderrynh.net/?p=47794#comment-139955 No, I would not. My son was in MT when it held a 1,000+ kids. At the time I voted against Moosehill. Didn't think it was worth building because of a temporay bulge in student population. I voted for contracts and against contracts while my son was in school. I don't fear the teachers, as it was all the contracts passed. If this contract doesn't pass what do think the teachers will do to the students?? No, I would not. My son was in MT when it held a 1,000+ kids. At the time I voted against Moosehill. Didn’t think it was worth building because of a temporay bulge in student population.
I voted for contracts and against contracts while my son was in school. I don’t fear the teachers, as it was all the contracts passed.
If this contract doesn’t pass what do think the teachers will do to the students??

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