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News
Pelham~Windham
Pelham~Windham
Pelham~Windham
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by Barbara O’Brien
If all the proposed Windham School Districtwarrant articles garner voter approval thiscoming March, the total 2013 tax rate increasewill run about $1.66 per $1,000 propertyassessment. Based on the average $350,000value of a Windham home, this would mean apotential tax increase for 2013 of approximately$581. This does not include any proposedmoneyed warrant articles being put forth byWindham Selectmen.According to SAU 28 Business AdministratorAdam Steel, this $1.66 increase per $1,000property valuation includes 92 cents for theproposed 2013-2014 school district operatingbudget; 66 cents for the proposed architecturaland engineering fees involved in designing anew sixth and seventh grade school off LondonBridge Road, ve cents for the rst year of aproposed three-year teachers contract, and threecents for the rst year of a three-year proposedinstructional aide contract.The proposed 2013-2014 Windham SchoolDistrict operating budget totals $45,579,114; anincrease of 4.56 percent ($1,987.734) over thecurrent year’s school district operating budget.It is anticipated that an additional 33 studentswill be enrolled in the Windham School Districtnext year, although other projections show thisescalation could be as high as an additional 66students across the board.Currently, there are 173 students in publickindergarten in Windham. An exact numberis anticipated for the 2013-2014 kindergartenclass. There is a total of 750 students at GoldenBrook School this year, with a drop to 700students projected for next year. WindhamCenter School is expected to see an increasefrom the current enrollment of 619 to 630students for 2013-2014. Windham MiddleSchool is expected to undergo a much larger jump, going from 644 students in grades sixthrough eight to a projection of 695 middleschool students. Windham High School is alsoexpected to continue seeing an enrollmentclimb, going from a current student populationof 757 to a new high of 778 ninth throughtwelfth graders. The total number of studentsattending public school in Windham is 2,770for the 2012-2013 school year. The totalestimated number of students for next yearamounts to 2,803.According to Windham School boardChairman Bruce Anderson, the increasebetween the number of students for next yearand the increase in the proposed school districtoperating budget “is very parallel.” “The per-student cost is fairly level,” Anderson stated.The cost per pupil for the current school yearin Windham is $12,485.12. This compares withthe existing per-student average across NewHampshire of $13,159.15. The State averagecost per student is currently $674.03 more thanwhat is being spent per student in the WindhamSchool District.Should the proposed operating budget fornext year fail to gain voter approval on March12, a default budget would automatically gointo effect. That default budget would total$45,163,742. The default budget would beapproximately one percent less than the schoolboard’s actual proposed budget.The Windham School District is currentlyoperating under a default budget, as themajority of voters failed to endorse theproposed operating budget last March. Whenguring out a potential default budget for nextyear, all mandatory and contractual obligationsmust be taken into consideration. According toSteel, these non-discretionary expenses includeincreases in State Retirement contributions($462,670); higher health insurance costs($240,711), the establishment of a new SAU(#95), as determined by voters ($219,711);school bus transportation cost increases($394.526) and other mandated benetsscheduled to increase ($199,485). Decreaseselsewhere in the potential default budget total$67,024, according to Steel.Steel explained that the large increase inNew Hampshire State Retirement contributionsis due to the State down-shifting the cost tolocal communities. Health insurance rates areexpected to increase between 5.5 percent and6.9 percent for the 2013-2014 school year, hecommented. “These gures do not include theimpact of the collective bargaining agreementsthat are included on the ballot, as separatewarrant articles,” Steel noted.The Windham School District will hold itsannual deliberative session on Friday, January8, beginning at 7 p.m. in the auditorium atWindham High School. Only registeredWindham voters can participate in the process.
Playing a little pond hockey at Muldoon Park in Pelham on Saturday, January 26, is the sister/brother tandem of Amy and John Graneld (light blue) along with friend Dylan Poerier. e three Pelham residents had the ice to themselves as the guys practiced their wrist shots while Amy enjoyed some free style skating in addition to ‘shoveling-out’ some saves in goal.
S t a f f p h o t o s b y M a r c A y o t t e
E n j o yi n g t he W e at her !
submitted by Robert D. Horne,Pelham Fire Department
It’s hard not to notice that the new PelhamFire Station is nearing completion. Theconstruction is on schedule and on budget. Wehope to be moved in and be fully operationalby the middle of April. After that, the propertywill only need landscaping and pavementwork. By June there will be no contractors onsite. The new roundabout construction willresume in the early spring and will not interruptre department operations. Soon afterwardsthe current re station will be demolishedand replaced with green space and additionalparking for the town center. The roundaboutsand the demolition are funded by the state of New Hampshire.Some residents have questioned the budgetand wondered how much furniture, ofceequipment, carpeting, etc. will cost. All of thosecosts are included within the warrant articlefor the re station construction. No additionaltax dollars will be spent to furnish the station.In addition, most of the ofce furniture andequipment that are currently being used by there department will be used in the new station.Chief James Midgley, Town Administrator TomGaydos, and the Board of Selectmen have beenextremely vigilant in monitoring all the costsof construction and simply will not allow thisproject to extend over budget. That being said,the project remains on budget. Remember, thiswarrant article was a one-time tax impact andthe entire project will be paid for in one yearwith no long term bond, interest, or additionaltax impact to be paid.As of this writing the exterior shell of thebuilding, including roong, is completed asis the oor and drainage of the apparatus bay.The sheetrock walls are done and the electrical,plumbing, and re sprinkler system is nearingcompletion. The interior painting and ceiling
Pelham Fire Station Update
by Diane Chubb
Although the Pelham Board of Selectmen triedto hold the line on the town budget, the totalproposed for 2013 is increasing by $583,000.The BOS is asking the town to support a townbudget of $13,009,475.Selectmen Chair Bill McDevitt explained thatretirement insurance was one of the main reasonsfor the tax increase. Highway funds, insurancecosts and legal bills are also contributing to thehigher budget.“The state legislature has been reducing stateexpenses by shifting more and more to thetowns,” said McDevitt. “For a long time the statecommitted to picking up signicant amounts of retirement costs but that stopped a few years ago.This year’s increase of $100,000 is not the rstincrease. The amount has grown annually.”Retirement costs are the main contributor totown budget increases all over New Hampshire.Some towns, such as Henniker, are seeingincreases as high as 24 percent.The trustees of the New Hampshire RetirementSystem, which is the state’s public-employeepension fund, raised employer-contribution ratesfor the two scal years beginning July 1. Themultibillion-dollar fund is currently an unfundedliability.Moreover, two years ago, the State of NewHampshire decided two years ago to end itscontribution to local pension payments for police,reghters and teachers.The end result is that And that came on top of the state’s decision two years ago to end its long-standing contribution to local pension paymentsfor police ofcers, reghters and teachers.For the two-year period beginning July 1,employer-contribution rates, as set by the NewHampshire Retirement System’s trustees, areincreasing as follows:
•
From 11.3 percent to 14.16 percent forteachers
•
From 19.95 percent to 25.3 percent for policeofcers
•
From 22.89 percent to 27.74 percent forreghters
•
From 8.8 percent to 10.77 percent for otherpublic employeesThe reason for the increases is not an increasein benets, but unfunded liability. There is notenough money currently available to pay off benets.The state has also reduced the amount it givesto towns in highway and road maintenance.“Decreases in this aid, and the increasing costsof asphalt, have led to an increase of $54,000 inthe highway budget just to stay even,” explainedMcDevitt.Insurance costs have also skyrocketed.Although no new employees have been addedto town benets, insurance costs increased$271,000 for 2013. This includes employeehealth insurance, workmen’s compensation, andliability insurance, among others.The budget also includes $73,000 for newcardiac monitors for the Fire Department. Theseare replacing old, obsolete monitors.Further, $25,000 for additional legal costsneeded to be added to the total budget. “Thiswas done to reect the reality of what our legalexpenses have been for several years,” McDevittexplained. “These expenses are driven to a greatextent by the town having to defend itself inaction brought against it by parties who believethey are aggrieved.”The budget has been decreased by $120,000for reductions in principal and interest costs, andanother $9,000 for elections, because there arefewer in 2013.McDevitt encouraged voters to attend theFebruary 5 Deliberative Session. “The voters willhave the opportunity to ask questions about thebudget and make changes,” said McDevitt.Deliberative Session begins at 7:30 p.m. atSherburne Hall. Only registered voters arepermitted to speak about, and vote on proposedchanges to, the various warrant articles.
Proposed Town Budget Up by 4.3%
Energy effi cient wallsApparatus oor Main entrance of Pelham’s new re station
continued to page 8- Fire Station
c o u r t e s y p h o t o s
?
What Happens
if All
School District Warrant ArticlesPass This Year?
2 - February 1, 2013
| Pelham - Windham News
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submitted by Ruth Coole,Windham Woman’s Club
At the Windham Woman’s ClubScholarship luncheon held January 9,scholarship recipients Jillian Sciuto andTheresa Conticchio of Windham receivedtheir award after successfully completingtheir rst semester. Congratulations!Shown in photo left to right: Roccoand Josephine Conticchio, Theresaand Jillian Sciuto, Rick Sciuto and Jean Morrow, Chairman, ScholarshipCommittee.
Windham Scholarship Winners Announced
Courtesy photo by Ruth Bellizzi
by Brooke Coupal,Pelham High School Intern
Brooke Coupal has joined the
Pelham~Windham News
team as therst intern to ever come from PelhamHigh School. Her exuberance for writingis sure to shine through. Brooke is ahigh honor roll student, involved withnumerous clubs such as secretary of her graduating class, editor in chief of the yearbook, and many others. Shealso plays tennis and is highly involvedwith dance team. Outside of schoolshe works two jobs, one for Stop andShop and another for Pelham Parks andRecreation Tot Camp during the summer.Brooke has high hopes and dreams forher future including going to college tostudy journalism, becoming a journalistfor a magazine company, and eventuallyobtaining the position of editor in chief.This internship will surely help lead theway towards reaching her goals.
Pelham High School’sNew Intern
Brooke Coupal
The following Windham residents completed their academicdegree programs at the University of New Hampshire-Manchester inDecember 2012.
Kevin J Toohey
, Bachelor of Arts in Business, and
Emily Janet VanDeventer
, Bachelor of Arts in English.
Janelle M. Gordon
of Pelham has been named to the President’s Listat Western New England for the fall semester of 2012. Gordon is a junior majoring in Integrated Liberal Studies.
Hollyann DeCarteret
, a resident of Pelham, hasbeen named to the Dean’s List at Rivier University forthe fall semester. Hollyann has maintained Dean’s Liststatus throughout her enrollment (fall 2009-present)in the Nursing Program. She earned her AssociatesDegree (spring 2012), and completed, and passedher nursing exams (summer 2012) to receive her RNstatus. In May 2013 she will graduate and earn herbachelor’s degree.Eno Martin & Donahue, LLP, of Lowell, MA,is pleased to announce that
Elaine L. Enis
, amember of the Pelham community, who has beena paralegal and legal assistant to the partners forover 18 years, has been promoted to Director of Marketing.Enis holds a degree in business and is currentlypursing further degrees in communications andprofessional writing at Merrimack College inNorth Andover. Enis has over 28 years of experience in the legal eldand will be focusing on marketing the legal services offered by therm, including the management of client seminars, innovative legalprograms specically created for businesses, and the development of new practice areas at the rm.The University of Connecticut recently announced that
RoxanneLapierre
of Pelham and
Nicholas Biron Gallo
and
Marcela JosephineTrocha
of Windham have attained the Dean’s List for the fall semester.The fall semester Dean’s List at Bryant University includes thefollowing area residents. From Pelham,
Tyler Dejadon
, a sophomorein Marketing, and from Windham,
Mariah Gill
, a Freshman in BusinessAdministration,
Bridgette Kosek
, a sophomore in Marketing,
MadisonLichtmann
, a sophomore in Marketing,
Christopher Swierad
, a seniorin Accounting, and
Courtney Tardif
, a freshman in Accounting.
Lance Krzeminski
, a resident of Pelham, was named to SienaCollege’s Dean’s List for the fall semester. Krzeminski is a sophomorebiology major at Siena.Windham residents
Colby Putnam
and
Audrey Tyrrell
were namedto the dean’s list at Quinnipiac University for the fall semester.Pelham resident
Bradley Shapiro
, majoring in Architecture, andWindham residents
Alexandria Hennessy
, majoring in ElementaryEducation and
Ailish Barry
, majoring in Psychology were named tothe Roger Williams University Dean’s List for the fall semester.
Samuel J. Jortberg
of Windham, a freshman majoring inenvironmental engineering, was named a Presidential Scholar for thefall semester at Clarkson University.The following students have been named to the Dean’s List for thefall semester at Marquette University:
William Hebert
of Windham,pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, and
VictoriaStabile
of Pelham, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Lauren Melchionda
, daughter of Janet and Ralph Melchionda of Pelham, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at SaintMichael’s College. Melchionda is a sophomore Biology major.
Karie Smithers
of Pelham is among the December 2012 graduatesof Southwestern College.
Rachel M. Sullivan
of Windham has been selected for inclusion onthe Dean’s List for academic achievement during the fall semester atSt. Lawrence University.
Catherine O’Hearn
of Pelham was among 805 students named tothe Dean’s List for the fall semester at The College of Saint Rose.
Send your Accolades to news@areanewsgroup.com with a photo
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Scholastic Art Awards
of New Hampshire
submitted by Sheila Hoglund
Fifteen-hundred and twenty four submissions of art by public,parochial and private schools in grades 7-12 competed forrecognition in the Scholastic Art Awards of New Hampshireon January 12 and 13 as this prestigious program recognizesthe importance of fostering creative expression and artisticachievement in our schools.The program celebrates its 14th year under the administrationof the New Hampshire Art Educators’ Association, a regionalafliate of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Inc. Thiscompetition has become a signicant part of New Hampshireschool art education programs.The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards celebrating its 90thAnniversary was established in 1923 by Maurice Robinson,founder of Scholastic Inc., the educational company supportedby the grassroots efforts of 107 regional organizations, theawards have grown into the largest and longest runningrecognition program for young people in United States. In2012, young artists and writers were granted over $1,000,000in scholarships and prizes through the program. Alumni of the Awards include some of the country’s leading artists andwriters, including Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Joyce CarolOates, Sylvia Plath, Philip Pearlstein, Paul Newman and RichardAvedon.Students from all over the United States submit work in 16visual art categories, with the regional recipients forwardedto New York in mid February, for national adjudication. TheNational Awards ceremony and exhibition will take place in June in NYC with an awards ceremony in Carnegie Hall.In our region, ve panels of judges awarded 739 awards of which 162 were Gold Keys awards, which will represent NewHampshire at the National Competition. 297 Silver Keys and280 Honorable Mentions were also awarded.The annual statewide event highlights the award-winningstudent work. The works will be on display beginning January22 through February 2, at our host site and sponsor, PinkertonAcademy’s Stockbridge Theatre in Derry. This spectacularshow of Gold, Silver and Honorable Mention works will beavailable for viewing Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Studentswith exhibited work will be recognized during two ceremonieson February 2, from 11 a.m. (for grades 7-9) and 12 p.m. (forgrades 10-12) in the Stockbridge Theatre. All students willreceive certicates, and Silver and Gold Key recipients willreceive a key pin for their achievement.Several students planning on attending a post-secondaryschools and majoring in Art will have an opportunity to beconsidered for additional Scholarships provided by the NewHampshire Institute of Art. (NHIA) who will provide $1,000school scholarships to attend the NHIA for each of the 19 GoldKey portfolio recipients renewable for each of the four years inattendance at NHIA. In addition, the Institute will offer $750for each of the 30 Silver Key portfolio recipients, also renewablefor four years and $500 for each of 45 Honorable Mentionportfolio recipients. Other scholarships will be awarded atthe closing awards ceremony include the Dorothy MessengerScholarship Fund. A scholarship developed and provided byDorothy Messenger, a retired art teacher from Manchester HighSchool Central and past advisory board member. This specialscholarship identies a gold key recipient who may not havereceived recognition for a portfolio but has the interest anddesire to pursue post-secondary art training.The adjudication panels include college visual art professors,museum educators, retired middle and high school arteducators and practicing artists. The panel blindly and silentlyadjudicated through a digital process.The American Visions Award Nominations or “Best in Show”are awarded for individual submissions. The American VisionNominees represent the top ve of the Gold Key individualworks selected by the adjudication panels. Each studentnominee will receive a $100 prize and will compete for theopportunity to represent NH in the national exhibition in NewYork City later this spring.The ve American Vision’s Nominees includes Jillian Fisher,Grade 12, Pelham High School, Lidded Jar Set - Ceramics &Glass; teacher - Mike Norton.This year’s program is made possible with the generosity andsupport of our host site and sponsor, the Pinkerton Academy,the New Hampshire Institute of Art, the Brown-MonsonFoundation, the New Hampshire Art Educators’ Association,Coca-Cola of Northern New England, and John and SheilaHoglund. The program would also not be possible without thecountless hours volunteer teachers and advisory board membersprovide and who make this program available for their studentsof our state.
Gold Key - Individual WinnersPelham High School:
Natasha Cote, Drawing, Self Portrait 2 Jillian Fisher, Ceramics & Glass, Lidded Jar SetNicole Mahogany, Painting, Self Portrait 2Brandon Mahoney, Ceramics & Glass, Eastern Delight andMelon Served Three WaysSara Passamonte, Drawing, Self Portrait 2 and PaintingDancing On WaterBrent Rubin, Ceramics & Glass, Horsehair Set IKatie Tobin, Mixed Media, Exum Brella
Windham High School - Gold Key
Sarah Cauthen, Ceramics & Glass, Coil Pot
Silver Key winnersPelham High School
Lauren Austin Ceramics & Glass, Horsehair Set IVEvan Craig Mixed Media, Art Of Sound Jacob Diaz Ceramics & Glass, Textured Vase IIKarlee Erickson, Drawing, Carnival Jillian Fisher, Ceramics & Glass, Pit Fired Bowl IINicole Mahogany, Painting, Snail TearsBrandon Mahoney, Ceramics & Glass, Dawn to DuskBrandon Mahoney, Ceramics & Glass, Azul SetBriana Noel, Photography, TrolleySarah Pacheco, Ceramics & Glass, Pit Fired ArmadilloContainerDarian Rideout, Painting, Self Portrait 2Katie Tobin, Mixed Media, In Cirrina
submitted by Cathleen Genova
Jay Feenan, his wife, Tricia, and their threeadult children ran the Disney Marathon andother races together years ago, but were inspiredto pick their family hobby back up in 2012 tosupport Dana-Farber. They realized they knowmore than a dozen close friends, colleagues andfamily members who have battled cancer and theywanted to do something to help.On January 12, the Feenans competed in theWalt Disney World Marathon’s 20th annual run- Jay ran the full marathon with their youngest,Kathryn, 25, while Tricia ran the half-marathonalongside their daughter, Molly, 31, and son, Jim,27. Together, the Feenans raised $7,200 for Dana-Farber through their marathon fundraising.The Feenans ran as part of Dana-Farber’sRun Any Race program, in which anyone canparticipate in any race, of any distance, in anycity, while raising funds to support cancer careand research at Dana-Farber.
Windham Family Runs Disney Marathon to SupportDana-Farber Cancer Institute
Pelham - Windham News |
February 1, 2013 - 3
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PSB Plans for Long Term District Needs
by Diane Chubb
The Pelham School Board is betting that voters will support a long-term plan to renovate and add on to the Pelham High School.At the most recent meeting, the Board decided to continue tomove forward with available funds, and pursue the option of anaddition/renovation to PHS. However, Pelham residents will not bevoting on this until 2014.This year, their focus is on the Kindergarten construction. This isthe last opportunity for the town to take advantage of the 75 percentstate construction aid for a kindergarten project.Next year, the Board will ask voters to support a warrant article forcomplete architectural and engineering plans and construction costsfor an addition to, and renovation of, the existing high school.This past year, the Board had $75,000 in the budget forarchitectural and engineering fees. Most of this was used to seeksolutions for PHS, as well as the kindergarten addition proposaland proposed renovations to Town Hall to house the SchoolAdministrative Unit (SAU).The board plans to use any funds leftover in the budget from thecurrent year and the $75,000 in next year’s budget to continue toplan for the renovation/addition.Prior discussion among the board had included the option of requesting $700,000 this year for a very detailed proposal with in-depth estimates for Pelham High.Business Manager Adam Steel had previously explained why somuch was needed for architectural and engineering fees. “In theabsence of drawings and studies, you have to plan for every worstcase scenario and every unknown circumstance. The more you payin architectural and engineering fees, up to the point where youhave fully completed and stamped construction documents, yourcontingencies get smaller and smaller as you go.”However, the Board will simply use the funds it has and what isbudgeted in the next year to plan as best as possible. Any remainingfees will be rolled into the cost of the project.The Board does not have any real architectural designs for arenovation and addition to PHS. The only plans the district has arefor a new school on a specic piece of land. Even to reuse thoseplans for a different piece of land would cost at least $400,000.“I’m very excited about the plan,” says Carton. “With the portable,we currently have 39 educational spaces. Without it, we have 33.The proposal eliminates the portable, recongures the existing spaceto a much improved layout, and adds a 26-room addition which is alleducational space. The net will be 46 educational spaces, all withreal walls, acoustic isolation, appropriate privacy, etc.”Carton adds that with the proposed drawings for the renovationand addition, there’s even a small performance space planned.But this year, the Board is focused on Kindergarten. The statepayments for the portable units expired in June 2012. Thus, anyfurther lease payments must be made solely by the Town of Pelham,in order to comply with the state mandate. Last year, the cost of thatlease was $128,000 per year.Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, the board made thedecision to move the kindergarten into the main building at PES. Theportable unit is currently being used only for housing the pre-schoolmandated by state and federal law.The state is required to reimburse a town for 75 percent of theconstruction costs for kindergarten classroom space. It will not payfor site work, hallways or other common spaces.However, this state aid expires at the end of this scal year.Pelham residents must approve a bond for kindergarten at the townmeeting in March 2013. Otherwise, the state funding is likely lostforever.
Windham Principal Credits Students and Teachers For Making The Grade
by Kristen Hoffman
According the Windham High School Principal Tom Murphy,today’s High School student is undergoing a Renaissance of sorts.Education is changing, and Windham High School is, in many ways,on the cutting edge of education reform.Murphy was named New Hampshire’s Principal of the Yearearlier this month, a title he has not found easy to accept. “It’s alittle uncomfortable; to me it’s not an individual accomplishment.Murphy is not the rst educator at Windham High School to berecognized for his merits. Bethany Bernascoli, a biology teacher waschosen as New Hampshire’s teacher of the year in 2012.Walking into Murphy’s ofce, you get a glimpse of who hereally is. His bookcase is stacked with history books, most of themfocusing on U.S. presidents. Not surprising for a former historyteacher. He has sports banners and pictures both from Billerica HighSchool, where he previously worked, and the big leagues.Murphy has been at Windham High School since it rst openedits doors in 2009. Originally hired as the Assistant Principal, he tookover as Principal in 2010. Since then, the school has been gainingnotoriety throughout the state for academic achievement, athleticsand its use of technology.According to Murphy, education and administration is acontinuous path. It is not something that is nished in some grandgesture, but rather, a journey that continues throughout life. Thisideology is ingrained within the students and educators at theschool. He is quick to give all the credit to the teachers throughoutthe district, saying he is not one to usually embrace such a title. Tohim, the real praise go to the students and teachers who surroundhim everyday.To Murphy, Windham is on sort of an edge when it comes toeducation. Yes, the high school and its students have been excellingfor the last few years, and it is expected to continue. But the greaterpicture is the greater education of the community. 2013 marks therst graduating class that was educated for all 12 years in Windham.This is not only an achievement that took time, but also indicatesan incredible change for the community. Murphy remarked that it’sbringing a level of pride to the community that was not there eventhree years ago. Murphy said the success of Windham High Schoolstudents can nally be studied and exemplied, “The K-12 systemallowed us to look at this,” Murphy said.Last year, Windham High School enjoyed an unprecedented zeropercent dropout rate. Out of the 125 students, 95 percent of themwent on to an institution of higher education. Three other studentswent into the military. Those students were recognized with astanding ovation at graduation.Murphy joined Windham High School after a stint teaching andworking as an administrator in the Billerica, MA,school district. While he has called Hudson his homefor 11 years now, Billerica is his hometown. Movingfrom his hometown district to Windham three yearsago was a different experience, but it allowed himto nd stark differences between the two districts.He has brought this experience back to Windham,and gained a better understanding on education as awhole. “Windham is on par with the Andovers andLexingtons, and the other “W” towns of northernMassachusetts. While he’s found the cultures betweenthe two districts to be vastly different, the teachingapproaches remain the same. He echoed Bernascoli’sopinions on education, that education is not a goal,but truly a journey that never ends. This furthers thepoint that a culture of continuing education is aliveand well throughout Windham High School and theentire district. It is Murphy’s goal that the journey doesnot stop when a student turns the tassel, but rather,they gain the tools they need to succeed later in lifeat the high school level. “I don’t want there to be aspecic course of education,” Murphy said, “It’s aboutthe students nding something they are passionateabout,” he added.He calls Windham High School the buildingthat never sleeps. Over 70 percent of students areinvolved in some extracurricular activity, whether it isathletics, academic, or school pride. The halls werestill bustling at 4 p.m. on Tuesday during Finals Week,a feat not usually seen in High School. But still he saysthe Windham is still new in the game with a brand new SAU andK-12 curriculum, there are bound to be bumps in the road. “We’restill ahead of the curve, but we also can’t make assumptions,” hesaid. But he acknowledged that only time will tell if the school andthe district are truly on the right path.Windham High School may always be known as the schoolwhere technology reigns. Freshmen are issued laptops on the rstday of school, and greater uses of technology from smart boards toother devices are used in the everyday classroom. But accordingto Murphy, to make a school succeed it needs great teachers, anda strong alumni system to provide feedback. To Murphy, hearingabout a graduate’s success is not only a source of pride, but also oneof information. “We ask, were you prepared for college?” Almostalways, the answer is yes. It’s feedback like this that proves theschool is doing something right. It’s apparent that he takes this toheart. “What we’re lacking is data,” he said. It’s true that with onlyone graduating class, the school lacks a vast amount of alumni dataregarding preparedness for life after graduation, but he is hopeful.There is little reason to doubt the progress of the school and facultyin the coming years as Windham students head to college, theworkforce or the military. It is Murphy’s hope that these studentswill take what they learned at Windham, and apply it to their ownindividual journeys.
Tom Murphy
Staff photo by Len Lathrop
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Pelham~Windham News 2-1-2013
The Pelham~Windham News is a free weekly newspaper delivered to every home in Pelham and Windham New Hampshire every Friday.
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