School enrollment hits 2,494 on a smooth opening day
Published in the September 14, 2017 edition By MAUREEN DOHERTY NORTH READING — The opening day of school on September 6 went off without a hitch despite a slightly higher tally of students reporting to the town’s five schools than had been projected. The first day enrollment figures of 2,494 students represents 41 more students than anticipated. The Class of 2018 still represents the highest number of students across the board, with 217. At the middle school level, grade 7 has the largest class, at 195, while at the elementary level, the fourth-graders represent the largest class at 204. But the biggest surprise came at the kindergarten level, with an enrollment of 179 (kindergarteners started school last Friday). Originally projected to be around 150, based on the birth rate of five and six years ago plus other demographic factors, such as the number of families moving into town with young children, the first indication that this number would be on the upswing came last February during the kindergarten screening process, Michael Connelly, the district’s Director of Finance and Operations, told the board. In total, the schools welcomed 1,135 students at the elementary level, from pre-K through grade 5; 548 students in grades 6, 7 and 8; and 811 students at the high school, which includes three post-graduates. “Honestly, I could not be more pleased with the opening to the new school year. All reports from the schools that I’ve received have been very positive,” Superintendent of Schools Jon Bernard told the School Committee Monday night. “I made the conscious decision on the first day of school to not be at the three elementary schools. As a former principal, I know there is a lot to do and I did not want to be in the way so I left them all alone,” Bernard added. However, on Thursday Bernard said he and the finance director spent a total of two hours visiting all three elementary schools. “There is lot of nice energy in the schools. A lot of work goes on in the summertime to prep for the opening day,” he said. On the Tuesday prior to opening day, which is the official start of school for all new and returning teachers, Bernard said he greatly appreciated the presence of all five School Committee members being in attendance as well as the welcoming comments School Committee Chairman Mel Webster made to the staff. “Your presence means a lot; that you take the time to come and be a part of that day. It is important to me, and it has meaning for the district,” Bernard said. “I’m really thankful not only for the folks that work for the district, but also for the students. My experience is that they clearly understand, no matter their age – pre-kindergarten, kindergarten – what their primary purpose is and why they are in school. Their parents are extremely positive and supportive,” the superintendent said, adding, “There was not a single bus issue reported to us. It was just a very good opening to the day.” “I really appreciated Peter Kane’s words,” commented Webster, referring to the new president of the union that represents the district’s faculty, the North Reading Teachers Association. “I thought he gave an excellent speech in terms of what he focused...
read moreOne injured in early morning accidental fire at The Greens
Published in the September 14, 2017 edition NORTH READING — At 2:11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, the North Reading Fire Department (NRFD) received a 9-1-1 transfer call from the North Reading Police (NRPD) followed by an automatic fire alarm reporting a fire in a residence at 4 Mid Iron Drive in The Greens condominium complex off Elm Street. NRPD reported heavy smoke with fire visible through a window. The duty crew of Captain Rick Nash, Deputy Chief Barry Galvin, and firefighters Vincent Zarella and Chris Hadley arrived on the scene and were able to knock down the fire within 10 minutes, according to a statement released by the Fire Department. “The recent increase in manpower funded by the ALS program allowed for one firefighter to hold the fire in check through a window while the remaining two firefighters forced entry and searched the residence. All residents made it out of the home prior to arrival of emergency personnel,” Galvin stated. “One of the residents received burns and smoke inhalation injury while escaping the fire. She was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital by Reading Fire Department paramedics,” he added. Middleton’s Fire Department also responded with an engine to assist NRFD on scene. Wilmington provided station coverage. NRPD along with the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted in the investigation. The fire has been determined to be accidental. All units were clear at 6:29...
read morePublic comment welcome during OTM informational hearings Monday
Published in the September 14, 2017 edition By MAUREEN DOHERTY NORTH READING — The public is invited to comment on any of the proposed October Town Meeting warrant articles during the informational hearings being held at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 18. The warrant for the Monday, Oct. 2 Town Meeting includes 19 warrant articles and was signed by the board at its Sept. 5 meeting. The board will meet in Room 14 at North Reading Town Hall, 235 North St., at 7 p.m. and the informational hearing portion of the agenda will be discussed starting at 8 p.m. Any interested citizen is welcome to attend and participate in these hearings. The board holds these informational hearings prior to the fall and spring Town Meetings to foster greater public participation in the decision-making process that affect the town and its citizens. The information and concerns brought before the board by the public on these matters also enables the board members to make informed recommendations to the voters at Town Meeting. The approved October Town Meeting warrant is as follows: Article 1 – Hear and Act on Reports of Town Officers and Committees Article 2 – Prior Year’s Bills Article 3 – Transfer Funds to Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund Article 4 – Appropriate Money to Stabilization Fund Article 5 – Transfer Funds to Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund Article 6 – Amend FY 2018 Operating Budget Article 7 – Fund Repairs to Town Buildings Article 8 – Fund Town Facilities Master Plan Article 9 – Appropriate Supplemental Funds for J.T. Berry/Lowell Road Property Article 10 – Appropriate Funds for Study and Design of Water/Wastewater Connection Article 11 – Authorize Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Andover and Home-Rule Petition for Potable Water Article 12 – Fund Construction of Pump Station, Reading and North Reading Water System Improvements for MWRA Water Interconnection and Acceptance of Water from MWRA Article 13 – Authorize Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Reading and Home-Rule Petition for Potable Water Article 14 – Authorize Article 97 Legislation for Potable Water Interconnection with Town of Reading Article 15 – Amend Code – General By-Laws – Social Host Responsibility Article 16 – Amend Code – General By-Laws – Betterment Assessments Article 17 – Appropriate Money for Special Counsel Legal Expenses Article 18 – Sale of Land – 8 Devens Road (Map 42, Parcel 71) Article 19 – Acquire Property for Public Potable Water Main: 100 Lowell Road (Map 14, Parcel...
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