My Prepared Statement from the Candidates' Forum

Good evening. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to creating this event, and everyone who is here to watch and tuning in from home. This is an important election for the Town of Holden for lots of reasons, many of which have been lost behind the current budget debate.

That isn’t to say that the current budget debate is not important. During the last few years I supported efforts to constrain the districts costs to the towns. In addition to changes in the state formulas, Energy savings, GIC, teacher contracts and 22 cut positions all produced dramatic savings. Additionally, the district cut or held many critical line items, like textbooks, and had to eliminate late busses to remain affordable. As a result we kept increases in Holden’s assessments in check. Holden’s assessments were level or reduced two of the last 4 years. This allowed the town to avoid layoffs, pay contractual obligations to its employees and grow its reserves... [read more]

Steven Hammond Announces School Committee Candidacy

Significant of thought went into my decision to seek a third term on the Wachusett Regional School Committee. I led subcommittees that examined disparity between our schools and created the social media policy that is the soul of the 21st century skills initiative. Additionally, I led the Education Subcommittee through the creation of important bullying and concussion policies and acted as Chair and Vice-chair of the full committee when needed. However, leadership takes tremendous energy for an introvert like me. I could have said “I’ve done my share.”.. [read more]

21st Century Skills is About More than iPads

There has been a lot of misinformation circulating about the district’s proposed iPads and wireless upgrades. I want to dispel the myths surrounding this project and explain why it is important to prepare our kids not for the future but for today... [read more]

Letter to Education Secretary Paul Reville

This letter was written by WRSD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Pandiscio to Education Secretary Paul Reville regarding the governor’s cuts to regional transportation funding. I believe that it is one of the best attempts yet, to explain the inequity of this cut and the impact it has on our schools... [read more]

Massachusetts 9c Budget Cuts Don't Affect Eduction? Not True

The latest painful round of state budget cuts, was announced with the statement that education funds would not be cut. Massachusetts education funding is complicated, but don’t let the governor hide behind that complexity and leave regional school districts to clean up the mess!.. [read more]

Endorsements

I am truly grateful for the endorsements I have received. It is humbling when people you admire and respect take the time to write the paper and let others know their opinion of you. I want to share some quotes from these endorsements, in case you missed them... [read more]

Q & A On School Committee Candicacy

I was working with fellow candidate Dawn Torres-Gale last night on some phone banking to get out the vote in this highly contested election. In the process a few questions popped up. Generally if one person has a question, others will too, so I thought that I would post my answers here... [read more]

Steven Hammond Seeks Second Term on WRSD School Committee

Steven Hammond is the only school committee candidate with a record of leadership and commitment. His dedication to representing Holden on the committee is demonstrated by the number of hours he gave, missing only two meetings in three years. He served on the Education Subcommittee all three years, and was vice-chair for the last two. Steven was also vice-chair of the subcommittee to review the regional agreement and chair of the subcommittee to investigate educational disparity across the district. Finally, he served on the school councils at Davis Hill and Mayo schools and he regularly attended meetings of subcommittees discussing the budget with the towns and conducting performance reviews of the superintendent — not because he served on those committees but because it is important to understand the issues involved... [read more]

First Light for Kepler

I’m a few days late in reporting this, but on April 16, 2009 Kepler opened her eyes for the first time. When starlight falls onto a telescope for the first time, Astronomers and telescope makers call that event First Light.

It takes a long time to build any telescope and first light is a special event that marks the completion of the scope. A few years ago, I built my own telescope and I remember first light very well... [read more]

In Review: Around the World in 80 Telescopes

Wow!!

Last weekend was the 100 Hours of Astronomy which was a four-day (duh!) event that is a cornerstone of the International Year of Astronomy. A key part of that event was the 24-hour webcast Around the World in 80 Telescopes. I managed to stay up for about 22-hours of this before a long technical glitch did me in.

I have to say, that, considering what they were attempting there were very few glitches and the event was awesome! You definitely want to check out the videos if you missed them... [read more]

Good Old Girls

As a Solar System Ambassador the most requested topic for programs is Mars, which is a good thing because that is one of my favorite topics and I enjoy the 20 or so Mars programs I do every year.

For five years, those Rovers have defied the odds and continued to do amazing things on the planet. They have also done amazing things here on Earth. Public interest hasn’t waned. It seems that everybody I talk to, knows Spirit and Opportunity by name, and at least some highlights of their mission... [read more]

Around the World in 80 Telescopes

For the last 6 hours a live webcast has been visiting telescopes around the world, and part of the 100 Hours of Astronomy, which is one of the key events in the International Year of Astronomy.

But we’re only 1/4 done. There are still 60-some telescopes to visit over the next 1-hours. Watch the live feed. Many first time images and sciece results are being presented... [read more]

Astronomy and Education Blog Relaunch!

2009 is a BIG year for Astronomy. It is the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first look through a telescope into space, and the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the moon. Because it is such an important year, 2009 has been named the International Year of Astronomy... [read more]