School Committee Confronts Failed Building Vote, Aging Hadley Conditions

SWAMPSCOTT -- October 9, 2014, Swampscott School Committee grapples with failed school building vote and unsafe conditions at Hadley Elementary. Meeting October 9, the committee learned it faces a state-mandated deadline this Thursday to file a required explanation under a failed-vote clause, with the School Building Committee set to convene Tuesday morning to determine next steps. Parent Martha Raymond, permitted to address the board by unanimous vote, described conditions at the 88-year-old Hadley school including falling concrete, a blown-off roof, and water infiltration, warning "it's probably not going to last that long." The committee also reviewed athletic user fees showing outstanding balances reduced from roughly $51,000 to $23,905 for the 2013-2014 year, and agreed that Superintendent Pamela Angelakis would present written professional practice and student learning goals at the October 20 workshop. Members discussed a potential district-wide facilities audit through the Collins Center at UMass but agreed to first seek alignment with town government at the next tri-chair meeting.