Still Looking for Alternatives to the Transportation Plan

Residents express their concerns at last night's transportation forum.

  If any of the Concord-Carlisle bus drivers ever wondered how the community felt about them, they got their answer last night. The auditorium at Alcott School was filled with parents, district employees, and members of the community concerned about the future of the CCRSD Transportation Department. People engaged in hours of conversation with the Concord Public Schools and Concord Carlisle Regional School Committee and district administration regarding potential privatization of transportation services. Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations John Flaherty delivered the findings of the transportation report, which indicate the cost of utilizing a private contractor would save the district approximately $373,000. Based on those …

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The Week in Review

Week in Review: Transportation Debate, Chinese New Year, and a Suspect Arrested

Here's a back at this past week on Concord Patch.

There was a lot of debate and discussion this past week. Here's a look back at some of the biggest stories on Concord Patch. On Monday, we ran a poll asking your thoughts on the proposed SOPA and PIPA bills. Nearly 200 readers weighed in on the issue. Click here to share your thoughts too. On Tuesday, Maureen C. Belt wished all Concordians a Happy Chinese New Year, and the League of Women Voters of Concord and Carlisle invited voters to a candidates forum coming up in February. On Wednesday, much attention was turned toward the CCRSD administration's recommendation that the Regional School Committee consider using a private company for transportation service. In addition to the initial news story, a poll asking for reader opinions, and an …

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Letter to the Editor: Outsourcing Transportation Shouldn't Be Only Option

A citizen's open letter to the CCRSD administration regarding transportation services.

  The following letter comes from Fred G. Martin of Concord. Dear School Committee members, Dr. Rigby, and Mr. Flaherty, I attended and spoke at Tuesday's School Committee meeting. At the meeting, myself along with every one of the citizens who spoke, as well as the CCRSD transportation employees who spoke, urged you to please investigate a solution for our town that does not involve outsourcing. Mr. Flaherty, in your remarks, you stated that the impending removal of the transportation depot, which is a consequence of the new CCHS design, was the "overwhelming catalyst" for the outsourcing plan. But from the information that was presented, in the outsourcing design, school buses would still be housed on CCRSD premises (they would be …

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POLL: What's Your Take on the Transportation Situation?

Vote in our poll and tell us what you think about potential privatization.

  The School Committee last night heard a report from Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations John Flaherty, in which he recommended the committee consider utilizing a private busing company beginning in fiscal year '13. Flaherty said the initial savings to the district would be in the ballpark of $375,000. Many residents, however, feel there are not enough details available about the process through which the district came up with their recommendation, or about the potential agreement that would be struck between the district and First Student. What would happen to the employees of the current Transportation Department? How would their income and benefits be affected if they were hired by First Student? Who will be driving the …

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The Week in Review

Week in Review: Town Caucus, Skiing Accident, Carjacking

Here's a look back at some of the top headlines on Concord Patch over the last week.

  Concord's Town Caucus was held on Tuesday. Candidates who would like appear on the ballot in the March election may still do so, even if they were not nominated at the caucus, by turning in the proper paperwork to Town Clerk Anita Tekle by Jan. 17. Click here for an introduction to the candidates nominated at the Town Caucus, and keep an eye out for more in-depth candidate profiles in the coming weeks on Concord Patch. Also on Tuesday, a 7-year-old girl on a trip with the Concord Recreational Ski Program fell 17-feet from a chair lift at the Nashoba Valley Ski Area. The girl was taken to UMass Medical Center in Worcester for reported back pain after the fall onto 2-feet of packed snow. On Wednesday, we broke a story about a carjacking …

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School Committee: Update on CCHS Building Project, Plan to Discuss Transportation Department

Construction manager interviews commence Jan. 19 and a public forum to discuss the Transportation Department set for Feb. 1.

  The Concord Public Schools and Concord Carlisle Regional School Committee met last night, and heard an update on the progress of the Concord Carlisle Regional High School building project. School Committee and Building Committee member Jerry Wedge said, "The consultants, architects, and project managers have a lot on their plate." The Building Committee is meeting tonight at the high school at 6 p.m. to review the most updated version of the building plans. "The architects are continuing to progress with their plans," Wedge said. The next big step for the project will be to secure a construction manager at-risk. Wedge said 11 firms responded to district's request for qualifications. All of them have met the district's pre-qualification …

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Candidates Named at Town Caucus

Here's a rundown of the candidates nominated at last night's caucus.

  There is one contested race in the upcoming March election following last night's Town Caucus. There is still time for potential candidates to get their names on the ballot though. As of last night, the only real race is that for a five-year term on the Concord Housing Authority. The race is now between Raymond Snay and Linda Escobedo, both of whom are very active in town affairs. Snay, the current chairman of the Council on Aging was praised for his work with senior citizens by speaker at last night's caucus, and was said to have a keen insight into that demographic in town, which would make him a good fit for the Housing Authority. Escobedo, who has worked with the Community Chest, Hugh Cargill Trust, and the Open Table has a …

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