Stonehill College recently named Northwood resident Jessey C. Campbell, a member of the class of 2013 to its Dean’s List for the Fall 2011 semester.

To qualify for the Dean’s List at Stonehill, students must have a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better and must have completed successfully all courses for which they were registered.

Important Dates To Remember

Deliberative Sessions

Town: Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 9:00 am at Coe Brown Northwood Academy Gym

School: Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:00 pm at Northwood Elementary School.

The Northwood Crankpullers Snowmobile Club would like to remind everyone of our 2nd Vintage Oval Race on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012…. So come join us as a spectator or in competition. Great Family fun and as usually our Food trailer will be there. See our website www.northwoodcrankpullers.com for details on the event. And also be sure to check our website for the information about trail closures. As always we truly appreciate our landowners and are always looking for new members.

Northwood Recreation Update

On Saturday, February 18th, the Northwood Recreation will begin holding the 5th Annual Ice Fishing Derby. The Derby will be held on Harvey Lake from 8:00 am to noon. Children do not need a fishing license. Adults are welcome to fish, but must be licensed to fish in the State of New Hampshire.

Prizes will be given to children 16 and under in a categories including first fish, shortest fish, and longest fish. Please bring your ice fishing gear. If you are not an avid ice fisherman, the Recreation Department will be providing some tip-ups and bait for those who would like to try something new. This is a Free event.

The Northwood Congregational Church has graciously offered to open their doors to allow participants access to the bathrooms. They will also be selling hot beverages and food. Proceeds will benefit the church. Parking is also available at the Church.

Registration in advance is requested, but not required. The event will be held rain or shine, safe ice permitting. Contact the Northwood Recreation Department at 942-5586 x209 or by e-mail at [email protected] for additional information.

Letter

Like most, I have a sense of fair play. When it is violated I am really bothered. A case in point is the negotiated contract between the Northwood School Board and the Support Staff. By all accounts the Support Staff negotiated professionally and in good faith.

I must disclose that my wife is a member of that support staff although not a negotiator. I kept a long distance, a choice I regret.

A series of mistakes, wholly on the SB and SAU, have put this issue in a bad position. It’s unfair; it’s not right. This issue should be judged on its merits, affordability and its value to the taxpayers in keeping good help.

On 1/3/12 a figure of $16,628 was given by the SAU as the cost for the first year. It’s recorded that I questioned the accuracy of that number. Both of our negotiators thought it correct. The Board voted 3/0/1 to approve, I abstained.

On 1/5/12 I presented that figure with others to the Budget Committee. It quickly became clear that it was wrong. Another extra meeting was scheduled six days later.

I found a huge dollar mistake and many other contract mistakes. On 1/6/12 it took an hour and a half to show the Chair and Superintendent the problems. I needed the correct info by Wed. 1/11/12 if not sooner. I didn’t get it until a day late, therefore the BC had to vote on what they had.

It gets worse. While picking up the correct info a day late, new cost $47,740, I asked for and received a corrected contract. It was 10 times worse. 1/26/12, I still don’t know what’s in the contract. That’s your SB and million dollar SAU. You may wonder why we can’t manage a budget and educate our kids, not me.

Tim Jandebeur

Letter

To the Citizens of Northwood:

The Northwood School District experienced significant budget cuts during the 2011-12 school year. The town’s Budget Committee proposed cutting the School Board’s budget by $577,585 and Northwood residents subsequently voted to approve these cuts at the School District meeting last March. The reduction impacted the Northwood School significantly and the students in grades K-8 specifically:

1. Six certified teaching positions were eliminated, resulting in larger class sizes.

2. Four paraprofessional positions were eliminated.

3. Curriculum materials in math, language arts, and science were cut.

4. 6th grade Science Camp was cut.

5. Field trips were cut.

This year, the School Board brought forth a 2012-13 budget that was $133,514 less than the current budget (a 1.1% decrease), yet included a new full time teaching position for a large incoming 1st grade class and a .6 time technology teaching position to fill the full time position that was cut last year. It also included an increased technology budget, curriculum materials that were cut last year, Science Camp, and field trips.

The Budget Committee has since proposed further cutting the budget by $175,122 bringing the total to $308,636 in proposed cuts. Should this budget pass, projected cuts may include:

1. The elimination of 2 teaching positions.

2. Reduction of $10,000 from technology budget.

3. Elimination of 6th grade Science Camp.

More information can be found on the Northwood School website at www.northwood.k12.nh.us.

Please come to the first Deliberative Session in the town of Northwood on Thursday, February 9th at the Northwood School gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. Being present will allow you to help determine the final dollar amount for next year’s School District budget that will be on the Warrant Article in March for all taxpayers to vote on.

We look forward to seeing you on February 9th!

Sincerely,

Northwood School Communication Committee

Understanding SB2

Submitted By: Linda Smith

Northwood voters approved "SB2" form of government for both the town and school district last year. No longer will there be an annual town or school meeting where voters have the final say on the proposed operating budgets and warrant articles. Under SB2, there will be two sessions.

The first is known as the deliberative session and is very similar to the former annual meeting. Voters may discuss and amend funds in the articles but are not allowed to change the purpose of a warrant article. After deliberating and after any amendments are made, the final vote is taken on the ballot at the March election.

The ballot will include the candidates for open positions, amendments to the zoning ordinances recommended by the planning board and all warrant articles including the proposed operating budgets.

All Northwood voters are encouraged to participate in the deliberative sessions. This is the time to make amendments to the warrant articles before they go on the ballot, to be voted on in March.

Tom and Brenda Johnson of Northwood, NH, and Joe and Mary Lahut of Moultonborough, NH, would like to announce the engagement of their children, Jeremiah Johnson and Emily Lahut of Portsmouth, NH. An August 25, 2012 wedding is planned in Portsmouth, NH.

Coe Brown Announces Poetry Out Loud School Wide Finalist

At Coe-Brown’s third annual Poetry Out Loud finals, junior Noelle Struthers became school champion, and senior Samantha Lepecier, runner-up. Finalists also competing included freshman Elizabeth MacEachern and sophomore Alexi Ramsey. Mr. Mason, Ms. Hazen, Ms. Pagnani, Ms. Hill, Mrs. Biery, Mrs. Dana, Mr. DePalma, Mr. Gompert, Mrs. Lent, and Mrs. Mennelle volunteered to participate in the project. The competition, presented in partnership with the N.H. State Council for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. These finalists in the school competition were chosen from among classroom champions during early January in participating English classes and in an after school competition open to students from other English classes.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. The larger contest uses a pyramid structure. Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to regional and state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC.

At CBNA, students recited works they selected from an anthology of more than 600 classic and contemporary poems. Judges evaluated student performances on criteria including articulation, evidence of understanding, level of difficulty, and accuracy. Teachers introduced poetry recitation in the classroom using materials created by the NEA and the Poetry Foundation, including a standards-based teacher’s guide, a website, a ‘best performances’ DVD, and a CD featuring poetry recitations by well-known actors and writers such as Anthony Hopkins and Rita Dove.

Noelle Struthers will advance to one of four N.H. regional contests on March 21, 2012 at Rochester Opera House at 7 pm. The top scoring students at the regional finals advances to the state final. Each champion at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete for the national championship in May 2012. The school of the state champion will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry books.

To learn more about the New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud contest, contact the N.H. State Council on the Arts, or visit www.poetryoutloud.org.