Town, school officials disagree over understanding
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Ashburnham town officials and members of the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School Committee disagree over the terms of the office space in Oakmont Regional High School.

Selectmen and Town Administrator Kevin Paicos expressed their anger at the cost of the relocation of the town offices to the temporary space at Oakmont on Monday at their meeting. The move has cost $74,481 including the rent for the next 12 months.

"It was represented to us that we would not have to pay rent," said Selectman Jonathan Dennehy.

A statement School Committee Chairman David Christianson said, on Tuesday, was untrue.

"I am shocked by the fact that they say this was a surprise," Christianson said. "This has been part of our conversation on the school side since day one."

Christianson said discussion of rent were part of the conversation of the use of space since the beginning as were conversations about the safety plan.

"We had a very active discussion among the school committee about fairness to the two towns," Christianson said.

He said the decision was rent vantaged in some way, whether it's emotional, like they are suffering from depression, or socio-economic, like they have no money for guitar lessons," said Pete Cormier, founder of the Sterling Music Exchange and coordinator of the Step Up Program.

"Music has the power to change, to allow students to express themselves. It can give them confidence and self esteem. We're trying to put music in the hands of the youth to make a difference."

The program provides eight weeks of free guitar lessons and a free acoustic guitar to young adults in need. Cormier says a number of the students find their way to the program through referrals submitted by school councilors, parental guardians and area organizations like the Peer Achievement Center in Fitchburg and the Teen Center in Lunenburg.

"Organizations will give us names of specific children that they feel might benefit from the program," said Cormier. "But many referrals come directly from the students themselves. I get e-mails and telephone calls from students who'd like to be in the program all the time."

Chris, another sixth grade participant and Westminster resident, said he had never really considered playing the guitar before his mother told him about the program, but is glad to have started.

"I borrowed an acoustic guitar from a family friend and began learning on that, but then I got to class and tried to play the bass instead. I like the bass a lot. I'm learning to play some classic rock. I'll probably learn the bass and then maybe the electric guitar," he said eagerly.

Eligible students are asked to complete an application and sign a pledge agreeing to practice regularly and take good care of their guitars while taking lessons. Most of the students have been between the ages of 12 and 20. Lessons are held at the Christian Performing Arts Center in Fitchburg.

"I love music. I'm learning to play rock,

blues and jazzy stuff. Right now I'm practicing

Green Day's 'Good

Riddance.'"

- MICHELLE SIXTH GRADER The guitars used in the program are first "loaned" to the students for their lessons, but upon successful completion of the program a recognition ceremony is held where graduates receive certificates and their guitars as a gift.

For students like Michelle and Chris, the lessons are not just fun, they're a chance to do something which makes them proud and plan for the future.

"It's pretty cool 'cause people can learn to play the guitar and have something to do after school," said Michelle. "I want to start a rock band some day."

Chris wants to start a band too.

"My brother wants to play the drums and I have some friends that play," he said.

The Step Up Program was the Nonprofit Category Winner at the MWCC 2006 Business Plan Competition and has won both the Community Builder Special Award and the Phoenix Park Special Award.

Cormier says funding the program requires $240 per student. Each student lesson costs about $20 a week and the guitars Cormier purchases for $80 a piece.

"We'd like to get more corporate sponsors to help fund the program," said Cormier. "Each donation could pay for half the cost of each student and the Sterling Music Exchange would pay for the other half."

Cormier says he has high hopes for the future of the program. He says as it evolves, he would like to offer students piano lessons using electronic keyboards.

The next Step Up to Music session will start in July and the Sterling Music Exchange is taking applications now. To obtain an application send an e-mail to petecormier@comcast.net or call (978) 855-8160.