January 10th Member Update

Happy New Year from the PACT Steering Committee. We hope you and your family had a safe and pleasant holiday season.

Announcements

1. Yahoo listserv (sic) - Back by popular demand and effective immediately, we're bringing back the Yahoo Groups listserv. It will function as a moderated mailing list for anyone who wishes to post a message that you would like to share with the membership. If you wish to join or change your e-mail notification preferences, please log in and go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GuilfordPACT/. Click on "Edit Membership" and scroll down to Step 2 . You can choose whether to get an e-mail every time someone posts or a digest e-mail with all posts made that day. You must have a Yahoo account (free) to post to the group, but you may read other's posts without joining.

Recent News

1. JCJ Architects were hired in the fall as consultants to investigate the pros and cons of existing and possible new sites for both GHS and Adams. Sites being evaluated include the existing GHS/Adams sites, the Bittner/Baldwin site, the Goss property (including adjacent town owned property), and a property near the Branford line that is potentially for sale (known as the Sullivan property). Results are expected to be presented to the BOE in public session in February.

2. While further plans for GHS and/ or Adams will depend on the results of the study above, regarding Guilford High School, the current plan is to move towards "schematic plans" which will allow more detail on the scope of the project and the costs anticipated. This is a two-step process that includes an RFQ (request for qualifications) and an RFP (request for proposal). The RFQ does not involve a cost to Guilford, and establishes firms that can bid for an RFP. The RFQ should go out in the next several weeks. The RFP will need to be funded, which could happen through town meeting or referendum, either the Spring budget referendum or at another time. Other bonded items currently being considered for the spring budget referendum include a roof replacement at Lakes as well as replacements of the fire alarm system at several schools.

3. Facilities Committee - the B.O.E. Facilities Committee recently
elected John Ireland as Chairperson. Committee membership also includes
(in alphabetical order) Keith Bishop, Bill Bloss, Chris Moore and Ted Zuse.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events may also be found at our web site http://guilfordpact.org

Board of Education regular meeting
Monday, January 11 @ GHS library - 7:30 PM

Board of Education budget meetings - public hearings
Monday, January 25 & Tuesday, January 26 @ Adams - 7:30 PM

Please mark your calendar and attend one of these meetings and voice your concerns about maintaining a strong education budget. Dr. Forcella has stated that there are planned cuts in both operations and staffing. In order to ensure the strongest possible education budget, we will need a notable turnout at these public hearings.

Thanks for supporting Guilford's public school system!