Above: The new bus contract for the current bus company comes with some improvements, but also a significant budget impact (image edited from NSBORO administration presentation)
I’m grateful that I’m not the only reporter covering news related to NSBORO schools. I’m rounding up some newsworthy highlights for readers from stories reported by the Community Advocate and the Algonquin Harbinger.
The Community Advocate (CA) reported on some decisions made at recent school committee meetings. And Algonquin students reported on infrastructure issues and investments at the high school in the school’s paper, the Algonquin Harbinger (AH).
CA: NRT to remain Northborough-Southborough bus provider at higher cost after School Committee discussion
The paper covered the new school bus contract approved with NSBORO’s current transportation vendor, with a 35.17% increase for the upcoming fiscal year:
The proposed contract included language that buses would be no more than 10 years old and have no more than 130,000 original miles. . .
The bid also included add alternates such as stop arm recording, which is a device capable of recording vehicles that don’t stop for school buses, and electronic student ridership tracking.
There were again only two responding bidders on the contract. The story covered the committees’ frustration, including this quote from Southborough School Committee Chair Chelsea Malinowski:
I’ve been very disappointed with [NRT], as a parent and as a School Committee member. I hope that this contract proves me wrong and that they do a much better job than what they’ve done over the past couple years.
Read the full story here. (Click on the image right for the costs included in the presentation from the March 12th meeting packet.)
CA: After MCAS vote, Northborough-Southborough School Committee proposes new graduation requirements
This story took me by surprise. It turns out that an item on the Regional School Committees February 26th agenda under Principal’s Report, a “Memo Regarding Competency Determination” was more than a report/update.
The memo requested to have the committee vote to approve new graduation requirements for Algonquin Regional High School. They complied.
You can read the CA’s overview here. (You can read the memo detailing the full requirements here.)
AH: Addressing problems in the PA system
The public address (PA) system, often the center of communication within the building, has faced technological issues that have stretched for over a decade; hence, improvements in the PA system are common as well as a consistent safety priority. . .
Despite the PA system being routinely checked and corrected, according to Bevan at times it has not been easy to fix the entire system immediately.
“There are parts of the building that are quite old, so retrofitting a building, parts of which were built in 1958 or ‘59, can be a challenge,” Bevan said.
In addition to challenges from the building’s age and size, technical issues oftentimes arise with individual speakers in classrooms, offices or public spaces rather than the entire system. This, according to Bevan, makes fixing the PA a tedious task.
Read the full story here.
AH: Algonquin expands solar panels to cut costs, carbon footprint
The paper reported on the anticipated impact of the increase in solar panels on the school’s roof:
“The new [solar panels] being up now are going to be 400 kilowatts and are anticipated to do somewhere around $50,000 to $60,000 savings a year of operating costs and lower our carbon footprint,” [Algonquin’s Director of Facilities Mike Gorman] said.
Read the full story (a Best of SNO winner) here.
AH: Engineering class builds a better future
Engineering teacher Bruno Nosiglia started the school year with a clear mission: to teach his students not only how to handle tools and collaborate effectively, but also how to apply their skills to make a positive impact on the community.
Nosiglia’s B-Block Hands-on Engineering class fulfilled this goal by helping out the “Tiny Titans,” the preschool program at Algonquin. The students worked for months to replace dangerous, rotten wood around a playground frequently used by the preschoolers with natural, eco-friendly red oak that won’t rot. The end result was a safer environment for the children and a gratifying learning experience for the students.
Read the full story (another Best of SNO winner) here.
