MEETING MATTERS
ASHBURNHAM-WESTMINSTER REGIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 6, 2007
Compiled by Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Top Story:

Jana Harrison talked to the school committee about a future grant application for the formation of a community action team with LUK, Inc. and a variety of other communities in the area.

The community action team would be part of the growth of the Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol initiative in Gardner, Leominster and Fitchburg by adding Ashburnham and Westminster.

The team would be comprised of school officials, community activists and other members of the community.

The grant, which will be submitted on Nov. 15, would be funding for one year and issued through the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. The money is coming from a court settlement with the makers of OxyContin, which according to the court decision failed to alter doctors to the addictive properties of the drug.

School Committee member Leonard Beaton asked about the sustainability of the program after the one-year grant.

Harrison said the action team and LUK would work together to determine future funding. She said she knows the school district can not absorb the cost of the projects.

In Other News:

• The Committee agreed to support a Committee member Ellen Holmes proposal to write a letter to Congressman John Olver's office expressing their opposition to a proposal to reduce Medicare reimbursement to school districts across the country. The Medicare reimbursements help to cover some of the costs of special education.

• The Committee voted to accept a gift for the funding of the freshman girls' and boys' basketball programs. The programs were cut after the override failed in August. After accepting the gift the committee voted to reinstate the programs.

• Superintendent Michael Zapantis summarized the district's MCAS results to the school committee including the process in which the MCAS are calculated. to the Town Meeting voters.