Please leave a comment for any postings that may have legal issues. I am just an ignorant, poverty stricken mom posting corruption, abuse and awareness. The corrupt take offense and have the defense to mash me like a potato. Like nature, I eventually spud again. Or not. Potato, pototah, I try.
10/31/15
Jessica Woods was my High Honor's, AP Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa Awarded son's counselor. She hurt his education and ran.
www.waldokids.blogspot.com I cannot believe she is running for the board. No conscience.
Laurie Allen
Read below for emails from Superintendent Knowles supporting fraud, student discrimination and costing us enormous college funding and opportunity. I contacted the Phi Beta Kappa Maine Chapter Director, Dr. Ward. This is not the Phi Beta Kappa Award sent in April when Jessica Woods was my son's counselor. She knew, she robbed my son of this high honor. Below Knowles refuses to honor my son, they mail out this fraudulent certificate and that's it. Not even a congratulations, no acknowledgement what so ever. We would have never even known he received this- never would have listed it on college applications.... It's beyond comprehension.
From:
delliotward@emhs.org
To: laurieallen55@msn.com
CC: mross@rsu20.org;
mross@rsu71.org
Subject: RE: XXXXX Belfast Award 2015.
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 17:45:36 +0000
The
photo you e-mailed is not of the certificate that we sent to the
school. Our certificate was sent to James Davis from our printing
company, likely in April.
Maybe Mrs. Ross could inquire about it for you with Mr. Davis and that
she could let the guidance staff know that I have said that what you
received is not our certificate. The name on the form is James Davis.It was sent to James Davis. If they cannot find it and are willing to pay for a new one, someone
from the school can contact me and I can give them the contact information for the printing company.
Debora Elliott Ward, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
The Acadia Hospital
268 Stillwater Ave.
Bangor, ME 04402-0422
Office (207) 973-6349
Fax (207) 973-6038
Woods, Knowles, Davis and Fitzpatrick are calculating cruel, fraudulent and discriminatory. These are my son's friends...
Great job at Boys Nation Peter!
SEARSMONT,
Maine — In the last few weeks, 17-year-old Peter Spectre of Searsmont
has traveled far to participate in Boys State and then Boys Nation in
Washington, D.C. Along the way, he has found a new passion for service
and even…
Congratulations
William Henry Hyland on this accomplishment!!!
On
Saturday, July 18th, Boy Scout Troop 35 and the Katahdin Area Council
honored its newest Eagle Scout, William Hyland (17) of Searsmont. Hyland
is the first Eagle Scout from Searsmont’s Troop 35 in nearly 20 years.
The ceremony and recognition took place at the Searsmont Community
Building on Main…
http://bahs.rsu71.org/home/BAHS-School-News/nationalmeritscholarshipcommendedstudentsatbahs
posted Sep 24, 2015, 9:50 AM by Butch Richards
[
updated Sep 24, 2015, 9:50 AM
]
Principal Stephen Fitzpatrick of Belfast Area High School announced
today that Philip D. Wich, and Richard L. Wyman both residents of
Belfast, have been named Commended Students in the 2016 National Merit
Scholarship Program. A letter of Commendation from the school and the
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the
program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically
talented seniors. Principal Fitzpatrick indicated, “These young men are
excellent ambassadors for BAHS. They are totally immersed in their
educational opportunities and represent their family, community and
school in a superlative manner.”
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being
recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will
not continue in the 2016 competition for National Merit Scholarship
awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more
than 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 competition by taking the
2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(PSAT/NMSQT).
“The young men and women being named Commended Students have
demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a
spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national
resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role
their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the
advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this
recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and
encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
RSU71 Officials & Players targets, intimidates
and discriminates scholar student because student is my son. I was
awarded hotly contested relocation because of my dedication to my
children and ability to survive. We relocated here in 2010 with every
last cent to get back up safely and privately. Home, work, school and
back home. Heal and move on, finally. Prior hell all wrapped up, deaths,
estate corruption, insane divorce and family court, more corruption...
Towns were duped into the RSU20 withdraw. Millions spent on the players,
the new RSU71 is broke and broken. Millions should have been banked to
support the new RSU, instead Belfast City Hall burned through surplus
for more economic wants. Many corrupt projects, too many to track. But
hey, lets charge more to dispose of trash(the poor pile it in their
yards or nature dump it.) City Hall continues to cut property tax
services (basic infrastructure) and jacks up taxes creates a TIF pocket
for the 1% and players. City Hall tells the public that we aren't paying
for the TIF projects for the 1%... Insane. If private property taxes
went into a TIF for resident's needs- how would that suit the 1% and
City Hall?
Blame it on the RSU. Students, parents and residents will absorb the
crash or crash. More clients for the "healthcare" industry... another
Belfast City Hall push. Stressful call centers with bully
administrations have employees a mess. In therapy, on meds, back
stabbing each other and the customer calling... Thank goodness arthritis
took me out of that. Delay, delay, delay an ergo station. Within 4
months, I was flat out, I couldn't sit for even a minute. Physical
therapy for a month and upon my return, Dr.s orders for the ergo station
to be in place. My boss and personnel told me to get those orders taken
off before returning. They did not have the ego station in place yet.
Back into poverty I go. Healthcare business boom- my street is in the
middle. I am in their way.
Superintendent Knowles interest is assets, not the students and not the
parents. Another 1%'er. Belfast City Manager Joe Slocum is baiting for
upcoming spending. He had Superintendent Knowles come to the 10/20/2015
City Council meeting to cast the line. He was not impressive. To see Superintendent Knowles not impress, click on the
meeting link and then 10A. http://belfastme.swagit.com/play/10202015-1489/#2
RSU71 Superintendent Knowles, BAHS
Guidance Director Davis and Principal Fitzpatrick guilty of
Counterfeiting and Student Discrimination
Below is 2 months of the RSU71 Superintendent Knowles,
Belfast Area High School Director of Guidance James Davis and Principal
Fitzpatrick counterfeiting the Phi Beta Kappa Achievement Award to my
son (below). Law
breaking school official thugs destroying student and parents rights.
Superintendent Knowles, BAHS Guidance Director Davis and Principal
Fitzpatrick- robbing us of the greatest college assistance- Questbrook. http://www.questbridge.org/about-questbridge/mission-a-vision
University and College Partners
QuestBridge partners are leading research universities and liberal
arts colleges in the United States. Our 36 partner colleges are among
the most selective in the nation, and all offer an outstanding education
to their undergraduate students. QuestBridge partner colleges are
located in the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West Coast in small towns,
suburbs, and big cities. They range in size from 900 to over 16,000
undergraduates. All QuestBridge partners share a commitment to
increasing the presence of outstanding low-income students on their
campuses and making their institutions accessible to high-achieving
students regardless of background.
Read more about our
partner colleges.
The National College Match
We know that many of the most talented low-income students in the
country do not apply to top colleges. We also know that top colleges
want talented low-income students on their campuses. The National
College Match was designed specifically to help high-achieving
low-income students gain admission and scholarships to some of the
country's best colleges and universities.
Through an application uniquely designed for low-income students,
applicants can apply to our 36 partner colleges and may be admitted with
full four-year scholarships to these schools. The National College
Match application opens in August and is due at the end of September.
Visit the
National College Match section for more information.
If you are matched:
- You can be matched to only ONE school.
- You are committed to attending your match school the following fall*.
- You will receive a full four-year scholarship with $0 parental
contribution, including tuition, room & board, and additional
expenses.
Please keep in mind:
The College Match is highly competitive and only a
select number will match to a school; many additional Finalists will be admitted through
QuestBridge Regular Decision with outstanding financial aid.
Applicants who rank schools for the College Match cannot apply early elsewhere. Please review the
Early Application Policy for details and exceptions.
*All
partner colleges, with the exception of MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and
Yale, require students to commit to attend and withdraw any outstanding
college applications as a part of their College Match Agreement.
Apply for the Match
Follow this timeline to apply for the National College Match:
| Date/Deadline |
What to complete |
Who |
| September 28 |
National College Match application |
All applicants |
## Please type your reply above this line ##
QuestBridge, Oct 19, 1:46 PM:Dear Laurie,
We've
received and read both of your emails and are very sorry to hear about
your situation. We understand how frustrating it can be to navigate
college admissions deadlines and paperwork.
We're especially sorry to
hear that (son) was mistakenly advised that there was a later deadline
for QuestBridge Regular Decision. The QuestBridge application process
is complex, which is why we sent (son) emails from August through
September with information about the processes so that he could research
it for himself.
Unfortunately, we are no longer accepting
applications for the National College Match. Please note that our
partner colleges have chosen to be affiliated with QuestBridge because
they are committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent
qualified students from attending their schools. We hope that (son)
will not be discouraged from applying to these and other colleges with
similar financial aid policies on his own, as low income students will
likely receive generous financial aid if accepted.
Please also visit our Scholarship Resources page at
http://questbridge.org/for-students/scholarship-resources.
We wish you and (son) all the best in the college application process.
Kind regards,
The QuestBridge Team
Below is the 2 month chase of disgrace. I didn't paste all the emails.
It's what they do. No do and delay. Till it's too late or you gave up. I
don't give up. My sentence is too late.
RSU71 Superintendent Knowles responds @ 4am with delusion. I ASKED TO
PERSONALLY MEET WITH HIM ON 8/23/2015 BEFORE SCHOOL EVEN STARTED. HE
REFUSED TO MEET WITH ME. I have compiled another trail of failure
specific to Knowles continuing the corruption of education to our
children. Cost beyond the astronomical budget that was to save the
corrupt system from RSU20 to the new RSU71. Same control as corrupt
Belfast City Hall and targeting private property resident destruction
under the new Comprehensive Plan 10/2014 (new zoning still not public
the City website, more unknown public information with held, meetings
manipulated, on and on and no one else will speak up. Either dirtily
implicated or fearful for their families and safety. Hello- they watched
me get thrown by every corrupt white, blue and pink collar bully by the
masses, for 5 years.)
I was side blinded when my son's guidance counselor (also detrimental
with lies) included in an email that she had accepted another position
outside of the district and was gone an hour later. Jessica would not
respond to my emails. I sent them to the RSU address (both 71 and 20- I
knew she was ditching me) Her new address was not listed yet, but not
hard to figure out. I sent the email there too
(jwoods@islesboro.k12.me.us) No response. I sent it to the
administration of her new school, then she replied. Shameless.
Within the hour of flight, Jessica had emailed my son and asked him to
call her. She never did return his call. Turns out she has deep family
ties in Belfast and community weight including Waldo Cap LIHEAP. Another
problem for me. Makes sense now. Dot, dot, dot, connecting the never
ending implicating web.
1.
Hi Laurie,
I
apologize for the delay in response to your email. I did see that you
emailed the Administrative Assistant at my new place of employment.
I
am copying James Davis on this email as well, as it seems that he is
most likely working with (son)l this 2015-16 year. I did submit the
nomination paperwork for Michael to QuestBridge back in August.
Additionally, I have offered to provide all or part of letters of
recommendation for 2016 seniors who were on my caseload. However, the
"school counselor" letter can not come from me entirely, as I am no
longer employed by RSU 71 and will not be the school counselor that
(son) will report on his Common Application. I will work with Mr.
Davis regarding (son's) letter.
Thanks-
Jess
Dear Ms. Hall,
Please confirm that I have the
correct email address for Jessica Woods. I haven't received a response
for the email below and I am worried. My son needs Jessica's letter of
recommendation to submit his college applications. Please confirm that
Jessica receives this message. For the record, I will copy and paste
Jessica's confirmation for the recommendation that should have been
received. Jessica did not respond to the 8/22 email to advise how we
would receive the letter and (son) did not receive a phone call
either.
Please send the letter to my email
laurieallen55@msn.com . Emails are in flux with transitioning from RSU20 to RSU71 and are a problem.
Thank You,
Laurie Allen
3.
From: laurieallen55@msn.com
To: jwoods@islesboro.k12.me.us; laurieallen55@msn.com
Subject: (son's) Letter
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 15:49:18 -0400
Jessica,
We have not received your letter of
recommendation. Please advise when and how (son) will receive it. Did
you submit (son) for the PBK award?
Thank You,
Laurie
4.
Jessica,
We did not get your resignation messages
before you left. Please call (son) @
xxx-xxx-xxxx after 1pm today per
your request to speak with him. Please advise how (son) will receive
your letter of recommendation.
Sincerely,
Laurie Allen
*************************************
Now we move on to Guidance Director of Fraud- James Davis and gang (Superintendent Knowles and Principal Fitzpatrick) .
On 8/23/15, I contacted Superintendent Knowles with the history- see
below. I had to make sure Superintendent authority would not allow
Director of Guidance James Davis to destroy the golden Questbridge
College Application due on 9/28/2015. Knowles couldn't have burned my
son any faster than a blow torch.
Targeting children is done by the sickest of all. Hands up, children down. Take that Mom.
10/23/15 Superintendent Knowles is not responding. 2nd requested email today.
From: laurieallen55@msn.com
To: pknowles@rsu71.org; laurieallen55@msn.com
CC: mross@rsu71.org; ebaker@rsu20.org; questions@questbridge.org; delliotward@emhs.org; abigail.manahan@maine.gov
Subject: FW: (son) Proof of Questbridge School Failure
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2015 08:43:36 -0400
Superintendent Knowles,
This is exactly what I
thought would happen with Guidance Director James Davis. (son) on
track to get the Questbridge application in by the deadline on Monday,
9/28/2015, until James Davis finally met with (son) the
Questbridge Application on Friday, 9/24/2015 after month long requests
to do so. Despite the overloaded scheduling, no counselor in place and
the Phi Beta Kappa fraud.
I asked you to oversee this on August
25 after the certificate fraud and you assured me that
Guidance Director Jame Davis would do his job. I gave all the
information on the deadlines and college choices and stepped in because I
had to. The cover up of the Phi Beta Kappa award is shocking abuse of
administration power hurting a scholarly student.
(son) wanted
to believe James Davis would help him. (son) left his office on
9/24/2015 believing he could apply for regular decision after 9/28/2015.
If (son) did NOT meet with James Davis, the application would have been received by 9/28/2015. Questbridge was (son's) best chance and a gift.
So
many teens turn to drugs or suicide to escape what (son) has been
through and continues to deal with. (son) turns to his studies, excels
and does not want to ask anything of anyone. Expectations for him to
aggressively cope with certain school administration intent on hurting
him is outrageous. Blaming (son) again is wrong.
What is your resolution now as (son) continues to hold on and take more abuse? Please advise.
Sincerely,
Laurie Allen
Guidance Director
James Davis does not advise, does not schedule son's interview, nor
does Davis send any further communications to me. The Questbridge
Application is not done and the ACT test on 10/25/2015 is canceled on
10/22/2015 because a photo was not sent in with the registration. My
overwhelmed son did not check his email in time to see his
registration photo did not attach. Exactly the reason that I asked
for DAVIS to do the registration with my son. My son blames himself
only.
This is all I asked
of Superintendent Knowles before school even began. Oversee the lying
and fraudulent Guidance Director Davis and make sure the documents
needed by 9/25/2015 weeks were in order. Knowles would have received
another email from me and my son would be free from their intent
targeting to rob my son of his educational rights.
After 2 months of
failure after failure by Superintendent Knowles to do his job, now
costing us enormous college opportunities and funding, he advises us
to go back to Davis for more failure that he has inflicted on my son
before he even set foot in the High School for 9th grade
(all documented proof below). Knowles refused to meet with me
personally from the start in August and is telling me this??? Insane (Dr. Knowles can't even get my name right) Blue highlites requests to Knowles for oversight. Red is Knowles trying to run. ONE email from Davis in green. All this for nothing, the toll on my son and I beyond measure.
| rom: |
Paul Knowles
(pknowles@rsu71.org)
|
| Sent: |
Sat 10/24/15 4:10 AM |
| To: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
Mrs. Allan,
I encourage you to have a face to face meeting with Mr. Davis and
(son) to discuss this issue and develop a plan for the remainder of
the year in regards to (son) applying to schools. I believe direct
face to face communication is the best way to resolve this and any
further issues.
Paul Knowles
A.
My request to meet FACE to FACE with Superintendent Knowles from the start- 8/23/15!
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Sun 8/23/15 10:27 AM |
| To: |
jwoods@rsu71.org (jwoods@rsu71.org); jdavis@rsu71.org
(jdavis@rsu71.org); sfitzpatrick@rsu71.org
(sfitzpatrick@rsu71.org); tkenniston@rsu71.org
(tkenniston@rsu71.org); Molly Ross (mross@rsu71.org);
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); ebaker@rsu71.org
(ebaker@rsu71.org); tdoran@rsu71.org (tdoran@rsu71.org); LAURIE
ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com) |
I'd like
to meet with Superintendent Knowles and (son) for college support
and assistance. Please advise.
It is clear that
(son) has not received Guidance advocacy that began when he entered
BAHS 9th grade. James Davis, Director of Guidance was (son's)
counselor and did not advise (son) that he did not receive his
elective. (son) even met with James Davis before the cut off because
(son) wanted to be placed in honors English. Davis told him to stay
put and never advised that his elective was not available. (son) was
only carrying 5 1/2 credits without that elective! Some days he was
done with classes at 10:30 am. I would come to the school and take
him home for the day. Mr. Kenniston was there one day when I was
signing him out at 10:30. He looked at (son's) schedule and said
nothing. I had been taking (son) out every week for 3 months before I
figured out that he didn't get his elective. I sent emails to James
Davis and Principal Fitzpatrick asking if (son) would be penalized
for leaving school at 10:30 am for the day, every week. James Davis
lied, stating (son) CHOSE not to pick another elective. Principal
Fitzpatrick supported James Davis. At that time, (son) should have
received Latin 1 with accelerated tutoring on site. Instead I had to
fight to get him enrolled with an online elective for a half credit
through Asst. Superintendent McDonald.
Last year was AP
Environmental Science with lies that (son) could not take that class
online. (son's) schedule this year is brutal, his senior year. Why?
Why has (son) been short changed? The Phi Betta Kappa student of
Belfast, receiving that award regardless of the adults hurting his
education. I fear he will be hurt further because I am writing this.
School parents are damned if they do, damned if they don't.
Here
are past difficult emails of proof. This is from my public blog,
"parent" is me and *** is (son).
http://waldokids.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_2.html
B.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Tue 8/25/15 10:28 AM |
| To: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com) |
I would welcome your
commitment to support (son). I hope you will work with us. Thank you.
C.
rom:
| Paul
Knowles (pknowles@rsu71.org)
|
| Sent: |
Tue 8/25/15 11:15 AM |
| To: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
I have read the emails you have sent,
while I am willing to meet with you, I am still unclear as to why
you wish to meet with me. Before we set a time to meet, please help
me better understand the issue(s) we will be discussing and the
outcome you are looking for.
Paul Knowles
D.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Tue 8/25/15 4:19 PM |
| To: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com) |
I am asking you to
personally help (son) or if you can't, perhaps assign a mentor. (son)
deserves that. You do not have to meet with me. I thought it would be
helpful.
E.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Thu 8/27/15 2:21 PM |
| To: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
Please respond. Thank you.
1.
Please advise why we were not notified that (son) received the Phi
Beta Kappa Academic award and if there is an document that he should
have received. (As the recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa academic
achievement award, I would think that opens many doors for him. Yet
the school did not acknowledge the achievement. That tells me
that the administration has dismissed (son). (son) is in limbo
without a trustworthy counselor or dedicated academic adviser.)
2.
I am asking you to personally help (son) or if you can't, perhaps
assign a mentor. (son) deserves that.
(The BAHS principal,
assistant principal, and guidance department refuse accountability
for their errors that hurt Michael's education
F.
| rom: |
Paul Knowles
(pknowles@rsu71.org) |
| Sent: |
Thu 8/27/15 2:51 PM |
| To: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
Ms. Allan,
I have asked Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Davis, and/or Mrs. Blood to
contact you with the answer to your questions.
Paul Knowles
G.
Knowles refuses to respond to me directly. Farming me out. I don't think so
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Fri 8/28/15 8:14 AM |
| To: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
Superintendent Knowles,
Please
have your staff respond to you. Due to the unacceptability of
BAHS Guidance Dept., Principal and Asst. Principal for hampering
(son's) education, it has been escalated to you. No one responded to
this email below. This is a problem for the superintendent to
resolve. I cannot hope for them to suddenly become accountable.
Please understand the difficult situation they have placed me in.
I will accept resolutions from you. Please advise. Thank
you.
H.
And here it is- Superintendent Knowles commits fraud with a
counterfeit document signed by Guidance Director James Davis
and Principal Fitzpatrick. PBK Dr. Ward confirms fraud.
Laurie,
The
award is being mailed to you this week. Michael was absent during the
awards presentation when it was to be presented. Then students who were
absent from the ceremony were asked to pick up the awards in the office,
but this did not happen with Michael for what ever reason.
Paul Knowles
From:
delliotward@emhs.org
To: laurieallen55@msn.com
CC: mross@rsu20.org;
mross@rsu71.org
Subject: RE: XXXXX Belfast Award 2015.
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 17:45:36 +0000
The
photo you e-mailed is not of the certificate that we sent to the
school. Our certificate was sent to James Davis from our printing
company, likely in April.
Maybe Mrs. Ross could inquire about it for you with Mr. Davis and that
she could let the guidance staff know that I have said that what you
received is not our certificate. The name on the form is James Davis.It was sent to James Davis. If they cannot find it and are willing to pay for a new one, someone
from the school can contact me and I can give them the contact information for the printing company.
Debora Elliott Ward, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
The Acadia Hospital
268 Stillwater Ave.
Bangor, ME 04402-0422
Office (207) 973-6349
Fax (207) 973-6038
I.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Sat 8/29/15 9:18 AM |
| To: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Cc: |
Molly Ross (mross@rsu71.org)
|
Superintendent
Knowles,
I had hoped for concern and immediate resolution
from you. I was hopeful that you would fully investigate the history
of BAHS administration staff (Director of Guidance James Davis,
Counselor Jessica Woods, Principal Fitzpatrick, Asst. Principal
Kenniston and Ann McClellan (ILP failure administration)
intentionally dismissing my son's education. Despite their cruelty,
(son) has kept his head down and with his teachers, has achieved the
stellar Phi Beta Kappa Achievement Award and a 4.0(?) GPA. BAHS
administration has denied (son) that achievement and crushes his
self esteem. Your response is not believable and is an insult.
This was an opportunity for integrity. Time is critical with early
deadlines to college's worthy of (son) and 2 weeks have been wasted.
J. Knowles continues the fraud. He doesn't know I have sent
the fraud certificate to Dr. Ward for verification.
Knowles is more "personal" in this email because I began copying my
son's teacher- Mrs. Ross. He begins sending me down the rabbit hole,
detouring accountability and will meet with my son WITHOUT me. Right. I
don't think so.
| rom: |
Paul
Knowles (pknowles@rsu71.org)
|
| Sent: |
Sun 8/30/15 7:21 AM |
| To: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
Laurie,
By no means was there a cover up with
(son) receiving the award. Awards for all student were presented at
the final assembly. Because of the beginning of the school and all
that needs to be accomplished, an assembly for this purpose is not
possible. Jess Woods now works for the Islesboro School Department.
You may contact her directly to ask her to write the letter of
recommendation for (son). You may also contact Mrs. Ross directly to
ask her to be (son's) key adviser. She may also have a suggestion
about a male faculty member who would help (son). Certainly (son's)
father may make these contacts as well. (son's) schedule still can
be modified to best meet his needs by working with the guidance
office. Lastly, (son) is welcome to come to my office to meet me and
talk, if he wishes.
Best,
Paul D.
Knowles
K. Now Knowles has been caught and won't respond.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Fri 9/04/15 8:56 AM |
| To: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org)
|
| Cc: |
mross@rsu20.org (mross@rsu20.org); Molly Ross
(mross@rsu71.org); crabiel71@gmail.com (crabiel71@gmail.com)
|
2nd request 9/4/15, please respond.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Wed 9/02/15 5:55 PM |
| To: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Cc: |
mross@rsu20.org (mross@rsu20.org); Molly Ross
(mross@rsu71.org); crabiel71@gmail.com (crabiel71@gmail.com)
|
Superintendent Knowles,
Guidance
Director James Davis and Principal Fitzpatrick have committed fraud
and robbed my son again. Denying him the honor of this prestigious
award. You chose to support these frauds rather than fully
investigate. They lied to you or you covered up for them. Which
one is it? They never announced (son) as the recipient of
this award. We would have never known that he received this and it
would have never been put on his applications. (son) needs college
application assistance and sending him to the Director of Fraud is
not acceptable. Please appoint someone
competent and worthy of (son's 4.0, Phi Beta Kappa intelligence
that will be dedicated to guiding Michael through the early
deadline college application process immediately. If
the actual award cannot be produced, please contact Dr. Ward from
the Maine PBK (email below) for a duplicate.
Full
accountability is requested.
Sincerely,
Laurie Allen
L. Knowles has been caught counterfeiting, yet holds firm to
fraud.
| rom: |
Paul
Knowles (pknowles@rsu71.org)
|
| Sent: |
Fri 9/04/15 9:23 AM |
| To: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
Ms. Allan.
I assure I
have fully investigated the situation. As stated before, (son) was
absent the day of the awards presentation. All students who were
absent, were called to the guidance office the day after the
assembly to obtain their awards. Again, (son) did not go to the
office to pick up the award. Mr. Davis stated the award given to(son) was the award he received to present to (son) and is
investigating further. I am confident (son) can be helped through
the college application process with Mrs. Blood or Mr. Davis, which
ever counselor he chooses.
Paul Knowles
M.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Fri 9/04/15 10:28 AM |
| To: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Cc: |
mross@rsu20.org (mross@rsu20.org); Molly Ross
(mross@rsu71.org); crabiel71@gmail.com (crabiel71@gmail.com);
jdavis@rsu71.org (jdavis@rsu71.org); jdavis@rsu20.org
(jdavis@rsu20.org); ebaker@rsu71.org (ebaker@rsu71.org);
ebaker@rsu20.org (ebaker@rsu20.org)
|
Superintendent Knowles,
Your
response lacks accountability and recognition of administration harm
to my son's education. (son) does not want any confrontations,
acknowledgements or further problems. He is willing to work with
James Davis and holds no animosity towards him. (son) is always
forgiving.
1. Please advise when the authentic PBK award will
be mailed to (son).
2. Please oversee James Davis with the
assisting (son) with the early deadline college application process,
Quest Bridge early application assistance, and verifying all
documents in his transcripts. (son) cannot view his AP scores
because of a glitch.
3. Please have James Davis confirm
that (son's) AP scores have been posted and share them with (son).
The college boards have conflicting birth dates for (son's) account
and he cannot access the AP scores.
4. Please have James
Davis advise (son) of the ACT that Jessica references below.
On
Fri, Aug 21, 2015 at 8:19 AM, Jessica Woods
wrote:
He is eligible for a fee waiver if he is eligible for free
or reduced lunch. I'm not sure if we have received the fee waivers
for this academic year, but we will have them soon. Which SAT is he
thinking about? He should also take the ACT, at either husson or
Bangor high. Thanks!
5. I am requesting Mrs. Ross and
Mrs. Baker to be included in the oversight process with James Davis.
Please advise.
N.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Mon 9/14/15 10:41 AM |
| To: |
jdavis@rsu71.org (jdavis@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Cc: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org)
|
Mr. Davis,
Please advise of
your meeting with (son) today. I am still waiting for response for
receipt of the authentic PBK Award that (son) never received. I want
that award. Please respond today.
In your meeting, please
cover and advise:
1. Mr. Davis has downloaded the college
board student ID form to correct the birth date error. Mr. Davis
will email that form to me today, 9/14.
2.
Mr. Davis and Jessica Woods will give (son)
their letter of recommendation by what date?
3.
Mr. Davis has assisted (son)
with the fee waiver and completed the ACT test registration online
with (son).
4.
Mr Davis has provided (sons)
with specific directions towards college applications and will
advise if any further meetings are needed. If so, please schedule
those today with (son)
and advise. He is leaving at noon on 9/17/2015.
Sincerely,
Laurie
Allen
O.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Tue 9/15/15 8:22 AM |
| To: |
jdavis@rsu71.org (jdavis@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Cc: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); Molly Ross
(mross@rsu71.org)
|
Mr. Davis,
It is my
understanding that Michael met with you yesterday and #1, 2, and 3
were not resolved and #4 is pending your advisement. The authentic
PBK Award is not resolved.
Resisting
accountability makes the situation worse and negatively impacts
s(sons).
The history of failures warrants written accounting of your college
guidance and application process with (son)
to Superintendent Knowles and me. Superintendent Knowles assured me
on 9/4/15 of his confidence in you. I copied Mrs. Ross
because Superintendent Knowles gave approval for Mrs. Ross to assist
with (son's) college process. Mrs. Ross kindly said she would help
(son) as much as she could and has already given (son) her letter of
recommendation.
(son) was not feeling well when I picked him
up from school yesterday. He is home today. I understand that you
wanted to see him again today to resolve the issues listed. These
should have been resolved yesterday.
Please advise me and
Superintendent Knowles through email today #1, 2, 3 and 4 and when I
will receive the authentic PBK award.
P. The only email from Davis this entire crucial month and he
throws Questbridge away.
| rom: |
James Davis (jdavis@rsu71.org)
|
| Sent: |
Tue 9/15/15 10:29 AM |
| To: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Cc: |
pknowles@rsu71.org
(pknowles@rsu71.org); Molly Ross (mross@rsu71.org)
|
Ms. Allen -
Your email to me was sent yesterday at 10:41 AM.
(son) and I
met at 11:00. I read your email sometime after (son's) appointment.
Here is an update for you:
1. (son) will
see me later today to sign the Collegeboard form that you requested.
Then I will email it to you.
2. Typically
recommendations do not go from the recommender to the student or the
family. They go directly to the institution, as they become devalued
otherwise. Let me know if this is your wish. When (son) brings in
his Transcript Request Form to the Counseling Office, then the
recommendation will get written. (son) will receive more information
on this later this week in English class.
3. (son) was
comfortable in going home, creating an ACT account, and starting the
registration process himself. He said that I did not need to do this
for him. That was (son's) choice. I have his fee waiver here.
4. Group
information will be provided to all Seniors in English class this
week. Students are then invited to schedule their Senior Interview.
Lastly, the
printer of the PBK certificate said that 'we will print and mail as
soon as we have a chance'.
Upon calling
(son) to the Counseling Office, we see that he is absent today. Both
the CollegeBoard form and the ACT waiver await him in my office.
Mr. Davis
Q. I ask Davis to schedule the college interview now and advise.
Davis does not respond. Knowles is equally negligent.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Tue 9/15/15 1:19 PM |
| To: |
jdavis@rsu71.org (jdavis@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN
(laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Cc: |
pknowles@rsu71.org (pknowles@rsu71.org); Molly Ross
(mross@rsu71.org)
|
Mr.
Davis,
(son) will go to your office tomorrow morning before
school begins. Please confirm that you will be there and the
following will be fulfilled.
1. College board form requires
an affixed photo of (son) and your school seal imprint on the corner
of the photo. (son) will bring in his college boards photo to affix
to the form (tape or glue- your choice) with your seal. Please
confirm compliance. PLEASE SEND THE ORIGINAL FORM HOME WITH MICHAEL.
AN EMAIL WILL NOT SUFFICE. I must fax the original form to Jessica @
the College boards.
2. Please give (son) the recommendation
letters. (son) does not have a Transcript Request form. Mrs. Baker
requested (son's) transcripts and activity sheet that your office
provided for Mrs. Baker's letter of recommendation. You have his
transcripts- are you giving him a form to tell you to give yourself
the transcripts? Please advise when your letter of recommendation
will be complete.
3. Please give (son) the ACT waiver
form.
4. Please schedule (son's) Senior Interview now and
advise me of the date and time.
Sincerely,
Laurie Allen
R.
Davis is forced to see my son before the deadline, 9/28.
He tells my son that he can wait to apply for regular decision if
he wants to try to take his SAT's again for a higher score. We
believed him. We lost Questbridge. Deadline for all decisions
was 9/28.
| rom: |
LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Sent: |
Thu 9/24/15 7:08 PM |
| To: |
jdavis@rsu71.org (jdavis@rsu71.org); pknowles@rsu71.org
(pknowles@rsu71.org); LAURIE ALLEN (laurieallen55@msn.com)
|
| Cc: |
ebaker@rsu71.org (ebaker@rsu71.org); Molly Ross
(mross@rsu71.org)
|
Mr. Davis and Superintendent
Knowles,
I am begging for Mr. Davis to work with (son)
tomorrow and complete the early application Questbridge program.
It must be received by Monday, 9/28/2015 and (son) does not have his
transcripts, secondary school report and letters of recommendation
from Mr. Davis and Mrs. Baker. On September 15th I had sent an email
to Mr. Davis requesting an appointment for the college application
and never received a response.
10/22/15 Since August, with the Superintendent of Schools, Paul Knowles,
Belfast Area High School Principal Fitzpatrick and Director of Guidance
James Davis covering up their fraud with the Phi Beta Kappa Achievement
Award, with a documented history of targeting my son since entering
BAHS, they have now cost us the Questbridge College Applications- Free
tuition, room and board @ top colleges for low income top students, my
son ... unbearable and brutal.
Below was sent to Maine DOE, Senator George Mitchell's college fund
staff and the school board chair, David Crabriel and Maine, DOE. Last
year, Abigail informed me that guidance lied to my son again and cost
him AP Environmental Science. 9th Grade was Latin and Honors English, I
copied that email so Abigail would remember... So much more, all because
Belfast City Hall and real estate agents targeted a low income Mom in
2010. Counting on me to stay down and take the abuse because of the
danger to my children. Blaming me is their forte'. Proof and truth is
mine. Robbing my son of this chance for stellar college choices is
beyond comprehension. He will hate that I made this public. He is so
sick of all this, so am I. Nothing hurts more than ADULTS hurting my
children. LEAVE THEM ALONE!! My biggest fear is that I will die, be
falsely imprisoned, become ill, my son harmed... before he can get away.
Five years now, I keep holding on and try to fix the corruption. Alone.
Dear Ms. Manahan and Ms. Warren,
Below
are more lies, fraud, a punishing schedule and more bullying that have
cost us Questbridge. I cannot stop crying. It is unbearable to know
(son) must face this and them every day and ask them for guidance. It
is nothing short of sending the abused before their abusers to receive
more abuse. (son) does not have anger and tries to protect Mr. Davis.
Victims of abuse 101, the story of his life while watching me take on
bully after bully, from family, businesses and government for protecting
our basic constitutional rights . Mr. Crabriel is the Chairman of the
school board and is aware.
I
believe Senator Mitchell is somewhat aware. I was protesting Belfast
City Hall and Realtor corruption outside of the First Church in Belfast
while the Senator was inside promoting his book through Left Bank Books.
I am reaching out for help. Punishing (son's) education because I stand up for our rights is the core of corruption.
(son)
should be flying after all he has achieved, consistent high honors, Phi
Beta Kappa award, National Honors, AP Scholar Honors... Instead he is
sick every day and night. All he needed was the support of his guidance
counselor in 9th grade. I tried my best to stay out of the school so
that no one would know that I was his mother. I knew they would hurt him
(not the teachers).
Sincerely,
Laurie Allen
10/24/15 Note- "Below" is all the information above- all the emails and
documentation. I deleted it here to avoide the lengthy redundancy.
Voters approve RSU 71 budget on second pass
New numbers rejected by two towns, carried by a majority
By Ethan Andrews | Aug 04, 2015
http://waldo.villagesoup.com/p/voters-approve-rsu-71-budget-on-second-pass/1385898
Belfast — A second draft of the Regional School Unit 71 budget passed by popular majority at a validation referendum Aug. 4.
The $25.2 million budget was approved by a tally of 716 in favor and
465 votes against. Belfast, Belmont and Searsmont had more votes in
support of the budget, while Morrill and Swanville each had more
opposed.
Speaking after the votes were in, RSU 71 board Chairman David Crabiel
said he wasn't put off by the split but rather was encouraged to see
closer margins than at the first referendum in June.
"Obviously, I wanted to have it pass in all five towns, but I think
you have to look at the number overall," he said. "I think people saw
the work that the board did."
Crabiel was referring to cuts totaling roughly $500,000 that the board made after the June referendum.
Additionally, district officials anticipate another half-million in
revenue that was not factored in the original budget — including a
$300,000 increase in state funding.
The combined $1 million reduction would increase in the local share
of school funding by an average of 2.26 percent across the five towns
instead of 9.3 percent as projected in the first draft.
In the weeks leading up to the vote, the board vowed to look in the
coming year for savings in areas too complex to analyze during the
crunch of the previous six months, which were largely consumed with
getting the new district off the ground.
Belfast, Belmont, Morrill, Searsmont and Swanville formed RSU 71
after withdrawing simultaneously from the eight-town RSU 20 in November
2014. The board of the new district held its first meeting in January.
As of June, the nine-member board had met more than 50 times.
At a public budget meeting July 28, some voters reiterated concerns
that any increase in property taxes could cause residents with low or
fixed incomes to lose their homes to foreclosure. Peter Sheff of Morrill
and Stephen Hopkins of Belmont, who have been outspoken opponents of
increases in the local share, made a number of attempts to cut money
from the major cost centers in the school board's budget but were
outnumbered by supporters, including some who felt the board had done
enough since the last vote.
"I think the school board and the superintendent made a good effort
to drop [the bottom line] down considerably," Morrill Selectman Randy
Place said at the July 28 meeting. Place had previously told the board
his town wouldn't be able to make its payments to the district, but he
said he would support the reworked budget, adding that he hoped to see
another million dollars taken off the bottom line by next year.
"Is it possible?" he said. "I don't know, but I think you guys can
find out … Maybe you can't drop it, but show us why you can't."
A bone of contention in the budget was the board's decision to keep
three new teachers, in elementary art, middle school foreign language
and high school music.
The positions were cut while the five towns were part of RSU 20,
leading many board members to describe them as "restored" rather than
"new." Superintendent Paul Knowles, who is new, recommended waiting to
see if there were enough students enrolled to justify hiring the
teachers. The board disagreed, in part because many members viewed the
investment in arts and humanities as a way to set the educational tone
of the new district.
At the budget meeting, several residents echoed this view.
Kate Forand of Belfast said many parents wouldn't be able to afford
private art, music and language classes. "The only place to get these
classes is in public school," she said.
Belfast - Yes 445, No 195
Belmont - Yes 49, No 41
Morrill - Yes 76, No 88
Searsmont - Yes 102, No 80
Swanville - Yes 44, No 61
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
We also received $314,000.00 additional dollars from the
state and Dr Knowles found around $200,000.00 in other revenues based on
a closer look at the estimated revenues so that we are actually having
to raise a little more than one million dollars less then the first
budget. In our town of Morrill that is a bit more than a one mil
savings so far.
The last budget voted on was $25.7 million. So this one
is $25.2 million, if my math is correct that is only $500,000 thousand
not 1 million in cuts.
http://waldo.villagesoup.com/p/rsu-71-budget-headed-back-to-referendum-1m-lighter/1383303#1383889
Five towns to vote Tuesday, Aug. 4
RSU 71 budget headed back to referendum, $1M lighter
By Ethan Andrews | Jul 30, 2015
Belfast — Voters
approved a pared down second draft of the Regional School Unit 71
budget by a margin of roughly two to one at a public meeting July 28.
The $25.2 million bottom line goes before voters for final approval at a
referendum Tuesday, Aug. 4.
After having a first draft of the budget rejected by voters in June,
the school board found $500,000 in additional non-program cuts and
learned the district would get $500,000 more in state general purpose
aid than was factored in the original budget. The combined $1 million
reduction would change the increase in the local share of school funding
from 9.3 percent to 2.26 percent on average.
Additionally, the board vowed to look in the coming year for saving
in areas too complex to analyze during the crunch of the previous six
months, which were largely consumed with getting the new district off
the ground.
Belfast, Belmont, Morrill, Searsmont and Swanville formed RSU 71
after withdrawing simultaneously from the eight-town RSU 20 in November
2014. The board of the new district held its first meeting in January.
As of June, the nine-member board had met more than 50 times.
In many ways the July 28 meeting resembled the first budget meeting
in June. A minority opposed to of any increase in property taxes
attempted to cut money from the major cost centers on the meeting
warrant but were outnumbered by supporters of the budget approved by the
school board.
But with the local share reduced by $1 million, the board may have
won over some voters who voiced appreciation for the board's efforts the
first time around but opposed the first draft based on what it would do
to local tax bills.
Morrill Selectman Randy Place told the board at the first budget
meeting in June that he had supported the withdrawal and served on the
town withdrawal committee but his town wouldn't be able to pay its bill
to the school district based on the original budget proposal.
On Tuesday, he said the cuts and added revenue in the current draft were enough for now.
"I think the school board and the superintendent made a good effort
to drop that down considerably," he said. Place said he would support
the budget, but by next year hoped to see another million dollars taken
off the bottom line.
"Is it possible?" he said. "I don't know, but I think you guys can
find out … Maybe you can't drop it, but show us why you can't."
The reductions since the last draft were not enough for some
residents who testified Tuesday night that residents, particularly in
the smaller towns, would lose their homes if there were any increase in
the local share over last year.
Peter Sheff of Morrill and Stephen Hopkins of Belmont made numerous
attempts to amend major cost centers. Some targeted specifics of the
budget, like the board's decision to keep three teachers — in
elementary art, middle school foreign language and high school music —
that are considered either new or "restored" positions.
The positions were cut while the five towns were part of RSU 20.
Newly hired Superintendent Paul Knowles recommended waiting to see if
there were enough students to justify hiring the teachers. Many board
members saw restoring the positions as a way to establish the
educational tone of the new district.
At the budget meeting, several residents defended the positions as important investments in the the community.
"This is where we have to place our money," said Paul Krohne of Belfast. "This is it."
Kate Forand of Belfast said many parents can't afford the alternative
of private art, music and language classes. "The only place to get
these classes is in public school," she said.
Joyce Scott of Morrill, who gave the budget a hard critique in June
said there was more to do but she trusted the board and the new
superintendent to work on it in the coming year.
The number of voters at the July 28 public budget meeting, by town,
were 39 from Belfast, 14 from Belmont, 19 from Morrill, 17 from
Searsmont and 15 from Swanville.
The RSU 71 budget goes before voters Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Belfast polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Belfast Boathouse
for wards 1, 2, 3 and 4. Ward 5 voters should go to Belfast United
Methodist Church.
Belmont polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office.
Searsmont polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office.
Contact other town offices for polling location and hours.
8/7/13
Caitlin Hills
I
am running for a seat on the School Board for Belfast. I am currently
collecting signatures from registered Belfast residents. I will be at
the fabulous street party tonight with my little clipboard, and would
love your support! I hope to bring my consensus building skills to the
Board and work on getting to YES! in support of comprehensive quality
education that includes arts and sports. Much more on my platform in the
near future, but for now, I must get on the ballot!
Caitlin Hills
Laurie Allen but they have to put that back out to vote= then we're at 45K up in smoke
Laurie Allen Tell me how voting no will help our students int the RSU20. Not necessary to threaten me and insult me. You are a teacher?
Laurie Allen Hello...Charles are you out there? Waiting for reasons- vote is tomorrow.
Courtney Miller Sanders LAURIE
ALLEN: I am COURTNEY SANDERS. MY SON IS IN 5th GRADE AT CASS AND MY
DAUGHTER IS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN AT CASS THIS FALL. Please do not
spread false rumours about my family! Keep your mouth shut when you know
not of what you speak. Ask me or Eric directly before you criticize us
in a public forum. And voting NO on the budget gives us one more chance
to keep valuable programs in our schools that the current schoool board
is intent on cutting.
Courtney Miller Sanders AND, Laurie Allen,
if we did not have kids AT ALL, and Eric chose to fight as hard as he
has for this cause, would you still "have a problem" with his service?
Whether our kids are in the RSU or not (which two of them are) really
shouldn't matter. There are many adults who have fought hard for this
cause who have no children in the schools either, they just simply care
about the education of our children in the community.
Caitlin Hills Courtney,
you are SO right. Many board members do not have children currently in
school. Does the previous poster feel they have no right to participate
in this process? The education of children is important to all citizens!
Parents, grandparents, and child free by choice. These are the young
people who will be running our city in the very near future. Lets make
sure they have the best educational experience possible.
Laurie Allen I
was sure I heard Eric saying in the public meeting that his kids were
not in the RSU but he would serve on the withdraw board. Questioning is
democracy, freedom on public forum sites.I understand why you are angry
with me, it is not about this. We are talking about the budget here,
lets stay on topic. Cuts are mandatory, what are these valuable programs
that the board believes would be the less effect to the overall RSU
students. Bruce Mailloux indicated that rejecting the budget over and
over was a costly mistake. Isn't it true that even with rejecting this
one, costing 45k in rejections, that the programs could still be cut?
Please tell us the programs so all can be informed.
Laurie Allen Caitlin,
that is not what I said. In fact I was very interested in Dorothy's
Odell's opinion because she serves and does not have children in the
RSU. The other board member leaving, Dean, I respect also.I worked with
him in the THMS gardens. I want answers and facts. No bias. Informed
decisions.
Courtney Miller Sanders LAURIE
ALLEN: Yes, let's stay on topic. Keep where my children go to school
out of the conversation. You are the reason this thread became defensive
in the first place. Please click on the icon "VOTE NO ON THE RSU 20
BUDGET" at the very beginning of this post. It details what is being
cut. Go to PenBay Pilot for recent stories on this issue as well. Or go
back and follow all of the previous posts on this group forum to get the
info you are looking for.
Laurie Allen The cuts are for art- so how about a list of teachers/staff that don't meet the mark. Onwww.waldokids.blogspot.com has
2 big salaries. If art does go, there is a wealth of artists and
community to help. It is good to have outside eyes in all schools.
Courtney Miller Sanders Laurie Allen,
I'm leaving this conversation. You clearly are just trying to create
discord. This is a site intended to inform parents of children in our
schools of developments, and how they can participate to make them
better. Eric fights for our schools
because he believes they can be better. When someone devotes more than a
year of their life to fight for schools ( a volunteer job with no pay)
because they hope they can make a difference, the likes of people like
you are just a big disappointment. Charles Hamm launched no attacks; he
simply told you you should not be involving Eric's family and children
in your criticisms, and I believe most people who follow this community
page agree with him.
WHY aren't the existing RSU-71 buildings being maintained???? What kind of cockamamie stewardship is THAT??? And still the board feels free to spend OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY?
My taxes are twice what they were when I bought my current home, and there's been no improvement in the services I've received, and the schools account for 85% of the bill. I'd like to have curbside garbage pickup, since I don't own a pickup myself. I'd like a cop to visit within 24 hrs when something goes wrong in my neighborhood, and for the DA to prosecute some of the violent and destructive criminals around here, EVEN WHEN they MIGHT have to WORK to do it. Swift justice? I'd like to see the OTHER six openings for judges filled, for every one judge who is over-burdened and burned out. We need a local jail! We're paying the county through the nose to have officers DRIVE detainees three counties away to hold them for hearings that are delayed because of lack of judges! And we pay for their room and board while they wait! I'd like to have the ditches mowed twice a summer so I can see around the corner when I'm turning into my driveway and not get killed by a speeding oncoming motorist. Those are things I'd like to see my property taxes go for, too. Especially when there are less and less children in our state. Why are there 7 administrators per 10 children in our school systems here in Maine? And my local elementary school teachers have to teach science, art and music on their own time, because administration won't tell Common Core and Maine Standards to go to hell??? WHY DOESN'T the school board FREE our teachers to do the job they KNOW they can do? HOW is another inexcusably expensive building project going to expand young minds? HOW ABOUT NEW (non-Common Core) BOOKS???
We don't need fancy new cafeterias, DO WE? What academic standards are we so excelling at that we can go beyond that FIRST priority to fantasizing about BUILDING PROJECTS? Why does even the SCHOOL BOARD believe that the poor students in our community are "just" or "only" poor students that cannot do better? Why isn't the focus on seeing students excel?