HAYES FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE: Listening Tour -- Week #2 (of 16)
My name is Robert Hayes and I'm running for re-election to the Wilmington School Committee. I intend on using this Wilmington Patch blog over the next 4 months to provide readers with a weekly campaign update, focused particularly on how I'm striving to listen to their questions, comments, concerns, suggestions and ideas!
Always Listening:
This week and every week, voters can contact me via phone (978-604-8933) or email (hayesforschoolcommittee@live.com), plus through my campaign's Website, Facebook, and Twitter. I will respond to all inquiries within 24 hours, typically much sooner. (If you already have a 'non-campaign' way to contact me, that will stork work too!)
Weekly Online Listening Survey:
This week, I am conducting a 20-question online survey focusing on curriculum, fees, MCAS & more. The anonymous survey should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. It can be found HERE.
Thank you to the nearly 100 residents who filled out last week's survey. The survey will remain active for a few more weeks and can still be taken HERE.
Weekly In-Person Listening Hours:
This week, I'll be holding my 'listening hours' at Starbucks (271 Main Street, inside Wilmington Crossing) from 11am to noon on Friday, January 18. Drop-in and share with me any questions, comments or concerns you have with our school system in an informal setting. (If space becomes an issue, we will move across the street to Panera Bread.)
As a reminder, I will be there in my capacity as a candidate -- not a member of any committee -- and will be speaking 100% for myself. Additionally, I will not discuss anything remotely related to the lawsuit holding up the high school building project. Finally, I will bring copies of the district's Chain of Communication to point you in the right direction for answers to questions outside the purview of a school committee candidate. All that said, I really look forward to hearing what's on your mind!
Weekly Door-To-Door Visits:
This week, I will be conducting door-to-door visits again in Precinct 1 on Sunday, January 20 (11am-3pm) and Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, January 21 (11am-3pm), collecting nomination paper signatures and passing out my contact information.
Community and School Events:
This week, I'll be attending several community and school events. My "listening ears" will be on, but I will not be campaigning at these events as they are not meant for campaigning. I plan on attending the Board of Selectmen Meeting (Monday, January 14, 7pm); WHS Girls Varsity Hockey Game (Wednesday, January 16, 7pm); and WHS Girls Varsity Basketball Game (Friday, January 18, 7pm). Additionally, I will be attending the School Committee's Policy Subcommittee Meeting (Monday, January 14, 8am) and the Special Education PAC's Workshop (Thursday, January 17, 7pm). Got an event you think it would be beneficial for me to attend and listen in on? Let me know!
This blog post was originally published HERE.
Kevin MacDonald
9:48 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Mr. Hayes, could you please provide a complete break down list of all costs for the new proposed high school?
Mr. Hayes, could you please tell Wilmington why a design for new windows for a school has jumped over 240% from that of the same size school being the Shawsheen School? The design cost was reported to be $84,000 for the Shawsheen project and now we are seeing it escalate to $207,000 for the North Intermediate School. People out there have seen their wages decrease or stay the same not go up 240% in just two years. Please don't give us the baloney reason that the economy has bounced back. We still see thousands of people out of work in the construction industry.
Mr. Hayes, Why are you sitting back allowing a proposed massive storm water drainage infiltration system for the proposed new high school to be constructed that will abut a massive oil contaminated area?
Mr. Hayes, If Wilmington has a natural disaster like other places around the country it could use the existing high school building for a shelter if the proposed high school was built elsewhere. If it gets knocked down where would you suggest we shelter people?
Richard Jertz
3:40 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Mr. Hayes could you please answer Kevin's questions please.Mr. Hayes, could you please provide a complete break down list of all costs for the new proposed high school?
Mr. Hayes, could you please tell Wilmington why a design for new windows for a school has jumped over 240% from that of the same size school being the Shawsheen School? The design cost was reported to be $84,000 for the Shawsheen project and now we are seeing it escalate to $207,000 for the North Intermediate School. People out there have seen their wages decrease or stay the same not go up 240% in just two years. Please don't give us the baloney reason that the economy has bounced back. We still see thousands of people out of work in the construction industry.
Mr. Hayes, Why are you sitting back allowing a proposed massive storm water drainage infiltration system for the proposed new high school to be constructed that will abut a massive oil contaminated area?
Mr. Hayes, If Wilmington has a natural disaster like other places around the country it could use the existing high school building for a shelter if the proposed high school was built elsewhere. If it gets knocked down where would you suggest we shelter people
Kevin MacDonald
7:03 am on Friday, January 18, 2013
I thought Mr. Hayes wanted to hear from the voters. I guess he has selective hearing. I think you may be part of the disaster Mr. Hayes. If you stay silent and let your school committee buddies and selectmen buddies allow the tax payers to be steam rolled with over priced contracts that do not have to go out for competitive bid on the State's Central register then you share in the blame. Competition and fair prices are good for business. The Central Register is there for a reason. WAKE UP!
Wayne Sullivan
10:04 am on Friday, January 18, 2013
Kevin, all your questions are often answered over and over and I think you ask them just hoping for a different answer and to try and make a mockery out of the town. In this case, Mr. Hayes you may just want to forfeit Kevin's vote all together and therefore not answer his questions. He doesn't deserve a platform and will simply strive to annoy you on this website for next several months. Patience is a virtue as they say! Good luck, you have my vote!
Kevin MacDonald
10:41 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Town officials make a mockery of themselves. $84,000 up to $207,000 now( from the reports of officials themselves) for a window design for the North Intermediate window project. What a circus full of clowns.
Kevin MacDonald
4:31 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
49% of the eighth graders have been in the warning or needs improvement category in mathematics at the middle school during your time on the school committee Mr. Hayes. The school committee is contracting with the superintendent for a salary at $175,000 per year from what I understand. It is my understanding that she is not a doctor of education. This appears to be doctors pay. Will you be agreeing to another pay raise for her. Why should struggling Wilmington tax paying voters vote for you?