Let the Spin begin

Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School officials circled the tanks to form a defensive perimeter of denial, while parents and friends of students enrolled in the 4-year-old language immersion school have launched a counteroffensive against the negative press resulting from a seven-hour "timeout" forced on a third grade boy accused of pushing another boy in a bathroom in an effort to make a hasty retreat from another boy's physical assault. The punishment was meted out the morning after the incident without parental notification.

An unbiased and presumably professional agency--the Department of Children and Families--found support for the allegation of neglect in response to the child's physician who, acting as a "mandated reporter," filed a 51A report with the state. The case is now in the hands of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

This unfortunate incident comes at a precarious time for the rapidly expanding school. Back in 2009 PVCICS filed amendments to expand their original K-8th grade capacity from 300 to 420. Considering those extra 120 students bring with them the average overhead education cost of the sending district, that amounts to around $1.5 million per year in tuition revenues.

And the amendment to e-x-p-a-n-d by adding grades 9-12 will easily amount to another $1.5 million. The school voluntarily withdrew those amendments but did refile in 2010 the one for adding 120 students K-8. Dr. Mitchell Chester, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, rejected that request. PVCICS appealed the decision to the full Board, and lost.

In order to meet this ambitious student expansion proposal the school renovated space last summer for $1.2 million to add four classrooms and now has on the drawing board a major construction project, estimated to be no more than $8.664 million, for a three-story addition on the back of the former health club which will double the size of the building, adding 14 classrooms, a library, resource rooms and office space.

In 2008 PVCICS was awarded a $1.5 million FLAP grant to "plan implementation through grade 12; and 2) create a 6-9, partial immersion program for late-entry 6th graders that will eventually expand through grade 12." If the school cannot expand to grade 12, however, it could jeopardize that $1.5 million.

No wonder parents are concerned.

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Sent: Wed, Jun 1, 2011 11:53 am
Subject: Deadline tonight! PVCICS support letter

Hi, PVCICS Families ~

So far, 98 parents and guardians have signed the letter that will be submitted to the editors of both the Daily Hampshire Gazette and The Republican. If you would like to add your signature please click on the following link and follow the instructions: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PVCICS_Sign_Support_Letter.

The deadline for adding your signature is TONIGHT (Wednesday, June 1) at 11:59 p.m.

Here's the text of the letter:

For the past four years, the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School has provided our children with an innovative educational opportunity without parallel in Western New England. At PVCICS, the region's children can receive the foundations of a 21st century education that prepare them to live and work in a world that has grown far beyond the one we knew at their age.

Although the school's test scores show the success of the educational component, we also see the excellent social and emotional results in our children every day—especially in the way they interact with each other and with the staff of PVCICS. We see them becoming global citizens through the school's unique blend of academics and culture.

As parents, we hope that we make good choices for our children. Our choice of PVCICS has in fact been a great one, full of rewards for our children and our families. Our children are not only happy, but are excelling in ways we did not imagine. The policies and decisions of PVCICS have brought success—on MCAS tests, in the classroom, in our communities, and in our homes.

At a time when education reform is the rallying call in national and local politics, we are proud to be part of a community of learning at PVCICS that is leading by example.

Best regards,

xxxxx

P.S. It was not possible to remove from the distribution list the names of those who already have signed. If you are receiving this message but already signed, please disregard it.

Devastation

If death were not so final, a journalist would by now have voluntarily ventured there to bring back the story. Every reporter worth their bone marrow dreams about being in the right place at the right time with the right equipment to observe and record a major event, then dispassionately disseminate it for all to see.

Yesterday my media friends in Springfield fulfilled such a nightmare role--and did so brilliantly. Particularly difficult I would image for the Springfield Republican, located within the fury of the storm.

When routine suddenly explodes out a broken window, let's hope there will always be a reporter there to cover it.

The Springfield Republican speaks

Amherst shows great taste

If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach then women up and down the Valley will have an easy time reminding their loved ones they are still appreciated this Fathers Day with a fun, convenient, cost effective jaunt to town center for the 20th anniversary "Taste of Amherst".

The culinary event overtakes Amherst center June 16th through 19th, with over twenty restaurants already signed up for the annual community fest.

Yes, the Taste of Amherst has withstood the test of time--precisely because because it never gets old or stale. Other towns, most notably Northampton the Holy Land of restaurants, succumbed to apathy and no longer stage such an event.

Because Amherst is such a transient community with thousand of college students coming and going annually, us townies set a high benchmark for folks who move into town and wish to be taken seriously. Twenty years is the minimum cutoff. As a fifth generation resident, I now declare the Taste of Amherst something to be taken seriously...in a fun sort of way.

Hours for the Taste of Amherst are Thursday, June 16, 5-9 pm; Friday, June 17, 5 -10 pm; Saturday, June 18, 12-10 pm; and Sunday, June 19, 12 – 4 pm.

Gateway Project pauses

A shovel ready former Frat Row

The Amherst Redevelopment Authority met this evening for the first time since the whirlwind three days of public input at the Gateway Visioning Charrette last month with advice cascading in from all quarters to clarify a vision for a large swath of land connecting UMass to downtown Amherst.

The final report from our consultant Giani Longo is scheduled for presentation on 6/29 to a joint meeting of the Amherst Planning Board and the ARA at an open public meeting--an official unveiling, minus the drumroll.

Giani Longo

The ARA hopes to receive a draft copy hot off the Internet a week or so before the public presentation and will make that available to the general public as well.

The scope of the project was somewhat constrained when predominant public opinion envisioned less dense development on the 2 acre parcel UMass owns, still referred to as "Frat Row" even though the five frat houses are long gone.

One of the sub-consultants also thought adjacent property in the corridor was not slummy enough to be considered "blighted" (although Phillips Street stood out as "decadent") which is required for the ARA to attain 'Urban Renewal' status that brings with it federal money and easier use of imminent domain powers.

Unfortunately our colleagues from UMass, Deputy Chancellor Todd Diacon and Director of External Relations Nancy Buffone missed this meeting as they are attending a four day conference in Colorado hosted by the International Town & Gown Association, where one of the major topics of discussion will be how to control rowdy student behavior in otherwise quiet neighborhoods.

Deputy Chancellor Todd Diacon center

When the topic of "new business" came up, the entire committee opposed even considering other projects besides Gateway and agreed that even if reduced in scope this project can still be a signature development of premier proportions.

Party House of the Weekend

47 South East Street

So if you're going to play exceedingly loud music at 2:00 AM make sure it's not "techno".

Under the headline, "Loud Techno Music and Party," Amherst Police restored peace and quiet to the neighborhood early Saturday morning, issuing one $300 ticket.

According to police narrative:

Loud music from DJ could be heard upon arrival. Approximately 15 guests playing beer pong on rear screened porch. All seemed to not hear officers attempting to get their attention. Resident identified and issued Town Bylaw citation for noise.

Property card for 47 South East Street

Summer in Amherst

Family

Colors

No swimming

Remember

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.