By COLIN MANNING
Staff Writer
It's likely going to be tougher to ban drive-through windows from fast-food restaurants in town after several commercial property owners signed a protest petition requiring a two-thirds vote on the issue rather than a simple majority vote.
A protest petition, signed by the owners of the commercial lots in town, will now require a two-thirds vote of the electorate to pass a proposed zoning amendment that would ban drive-up, drive-through and curbside fast-food restaurants in the highway commercial zone.
Protest petitions in matters such as these are commonplace, according to Town Manager Catherine Debo, and at the Bedford Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24, the members recognized the two-thirds requirement.
A petition to prohibit the drive-up windows at fast-food restaurants began as a response by area residents to gas station owner and Bedford resident Steve Worthen's plans to add a Wendy's restaurant to his Mobil gas station on Route 101 West by Gage Girls Road. Part of the Wendy's plan includes a drive-through window.
The petitioned article to prohibit the drive-through windows at fast-food restaurants in the highway commercial zone will appear on the town ballot on Tuesday, March 9.
Debo pointed out that those who signed the protest petition have properties located in that zone, and thus could be affected by the drive-through vote.
Signatures from only 20 percent of the affected owners were required for the protest petition to pass.
"This kind of thing (protest petitions) is common," said Worthen. "The other property owners and myself don't want to see the commercial zoning law changed."
Other property owners signing the protest petition were Paul Gibbons, owner of Gibbe's Garage located at 381 Boynton St., and Peter Jenkins, owner of property located at the White Avenue/Route 114 intersection.
Jenkins has discussed a conceptual-only plan with town officials concerning his idea for a combination garage and some sort of fast-food establishment, according to Debo.
Town Planning Director Karen White said Worthen and his partners Bedford developers William Greiner, David Greiner, and Christopher Cameron, have not been back before the planning board. Worthen said the future of Wendy's is up in the air until after the balloting.
"We haven't discussed anything further. We're taking this thing piece by piece and we're going to wait and see if the amendment passes," Worthen said.
But the Greiner brothers both have said they intend to go forward with the plan to build a Wendy's even if voters eliminate the possibility of a drive-through window. The eatery likely would have to be a bit larger is all, they said.
By COLIN MANNING
Staff Writer
There are two charter school proposals on the ballot for March 9, meaning that voters can vote for one or the other, both, or neither.
The Bedford Charter High School (B.C. High) and the Bedford Academy Charter School (The Academy) have both garnered the approval of the Bedford School Board, but only one, B.C. High, has the endorsement of the local school board.
The issue has sparked controversy in town and a prolific letter writing campaign to The Bedford Bulletin from supporters and opponents of both plans.
School board chairman Paul Brock said the board backed just one of the proposals because of a limited number of students who may be interested in attending a charter school.
"We believed the concept of a charter school deserves a chance to be successful, so we accepted the idea of a charter school. But a charter school is first and foremost a business, and an educational institution second," said Brock.
"I have said from the beginning that the worst thing that could happen is for both proposals to pass. The concern being that there is a limited market for students, and with two schools, they would be splitting the market."
The Academy proposes a ninth- grade class of 100 students, while B.C. High will hope to open the ninth grade to 75 pupils. If both proposals pass, that means a total 175 students would attend a charter school in the first year.
Assuming most of the students are to come from Bedford, this could pose a problem. At McKelvie Middle School, 175 students represent over half of the graduating class.
"That's 60 percent of the graduating class at McKelvie. Will 60 percent of the students and parents be willing to take a chance on an unproven school? Probably not," Brock added.
Ed Kruger, founder of The Academy, has said that The Academy will be open to students from Bedford and surrounding areas, but Bedford students will be the first students accepted into the school.
"The seats are reserved for the Bedford kids first. Then, if there are available seats, we will accept students from other towns," said Kruger.
Kruger also said that he would like to see both proposals pass, stating, "If people vote for both, than good. Both proposals will appeal to different kids. If they're both voted in, let's see how they do."
So, what are the differences in the two plans?
B.C. High's written mission statement is to "prepare students for success in an information-based society by developing the individual's full intellect, integrity, and social responsibility through an individualized, rigorous, integrated curriculum."
Raymond Ross, one of the founders of the school, said, "Technology is going to be used as a tool in the classroom. We are in an information age and kids will have to be exposed and learn how to use technology. We're not going to be a tech school, but we are going to use technology as a tool."
The Academy is geared more toward the liberal arts. The goal of the Academy is "to enable students to acquire critical reasoning and communication skills and to explore the cultural and scientific achievements that are at the heart of the liberal arts and sciences."
Kruger said, "Our school offers parents and students the best Western arts and sciences program in the area."
The Academy has set tuition at $5200 for five years by contract. The current rate for Bedford students who attend Manchester West is about $5700. Instead of paying Manchester, the district would give the money to the charter school in a stipend.
Starting tuition for B.C. High is $5505 in year one, and then there'll be an increase of three percent per year for cost-of-living increases.
Both sides say that their proposals will not affect taxes. But opponents maintain that if the charter schools attract Bedford students who are currently enrolled in private schools, Bedford would have to come up with the additional tuition money.
The first year at The Academy would be open to freshmen and sophomores, accommodating about 200 students in all. Plans are to grow to all four high school levels, totalling 200 students.
B.C. High will begin with 75 students in grade 9 in year one; 150 students, including grade 10 the next year; 225 students in 2001-2002; and a maximum enrollment of 300 in 2002-2003.
B.C. High would be located in the Manchester Millyard in the first year, with hopes to find a permanent location for the second year. Busing to Manchester would be provided by the town, just as busing is made available to Bedford residents to West and Trinity high schools.
The Academy would be located in Bedford at Camp Allen on 20 acres of wooded land.
Kruger said that the Academy's curriculum is based exclusively on a charter school in Tempe, Ariz.
"The curriculum is in place and working," he said.
Ross said that the B.C. High curriculum hasn't been written yet because the founders feel it will be up to the new principal to set the curriculum and choose the staff.
"We are currently in the process of interviewing candidates for the principal position, which will be important because that person will write the curriculum," said Ross.
The founders of B.C. High originally said that the school will use the "mastery" system of grading, but that's not to say that the standard A, B, C, D and F scale will not be used. "We are still developing our integrated learning system, and the curriculum and assessment system hasn't been written yet, so I can't really say what the grading will be like," said Ross.
The Academy will use the "traditional" grading scale of A's, B's, C's, D's and F's. Student assessments will consist of baseline testing, including quizzes, exams, papers, reports and evaluations.
Kruger said that The Academy will offer interscholastic athletics at the jayvee level in the first year, with hopes of moving up to the varsity level after that.
Athletics at B.C. High will first consist of intramural programs. Ross said that degree of interest in athletics by the students will need to be gaged before pursuit of interscholastic competition can be made.
One major concern that many residents of Bedford have expressed about both schools is that if one or both of the proposals pass, the public will not have any say about budgetary issues. The Academy's administration will be run by an elected governance board, while B.C. High will have a board of trustees.
While both sides admit it is true that issues at the school will not be open to public forum, they point to the current situation at West.
"We want to keep this community based. The way we feel, the Bedford public would have more to say than they do now with Manchester," Ross said. "Our board of trustees will consist of parents and we'd like a member of the school board as well."
Kruger offered similar sentiments. He said, "Bedford parents have no say on how West is managed. Our governance board will be an elected board with two parents serving on the board."
The fate of the proposed Bedford charter schools will be in the hands of the voters on Tuesday, March 9.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at McKelvie Middle School.
By COLIN MANNING
Staff Writer
Dr. Wayne Goldner's battle to be reinstated as a guest lecturer on sex education at the McKelvie Middle School is definitely not over.
Goldner's attorney, Jon Meyer, said he is currently in the process of gathering information to bring to the New Hampshire chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
"It is certainly being considered by the ACLU," said Meyer. "Right now, we're in the process of gathering information, so no decision has been made yet."
Goldner, however, said other options are also being pursued, including an appeal to the State Board of Education, a lawsuit, or another legal avenue.
"A lawsuit is not my first choice, but after two years of trying everything else, legal action may be the only way. I will not let it rest until I have exhausted every avenue," said Goldner.
It is unclear when and if the ACLU will fight for Goldner.
"This is a precedent-setting thing. No one has been thrown out of a school system for what they do," the doctor said. "The most important part of this process is that it's not reckless. It is a process that is well thought out."
Goldner was barred from speaking at McKelvie in August 1996 after New Hampshire Right to Life began picketing the Manchester obstetrician, who says he occasionally performs abortions.
After a two-year absence, Goldner asked the school board to be reinstated, on Nov. 9. The board handed the matter over to Superintendent Dennis Pope who denied Goldner's return in a letter issued to the doctor on Nov. 25.
Goldner appealed and the school board denied his appeal on Jan. 25, upholding Pope's decision.
When asked about Goldner's recent action to pursue the case, school board chairman Paul Brock said, "The logic of the school board's decision is two-fold. First, the board felt the curriculum was being taught. Second, we feel that it is not for the board to decide who teaches and who doesn't teach in the schools. That's a decision for the administration to make and we, as a board, ensure that the administration does not make capricious or discriminatory decisions about who teaches in the schools. We feel that in this case the superintendent did not do that."
But Goldner said he was discriminated against because of his profession, and it is the basis for his continuing to appeal.
"I wasn't thrown out for what I taught. What I taught was considered totally appropriate. I was thrown out because of picketers, because I do terminations," Goldner said.
Safety concerns were the main reason the superintendent did not reinstate Goldner.
In the Nov. 25 letter, Pope wrote, "My duties as superintendent require that I provided a safe and orderly learning environment for children and staff. Given the events of the past two years, there can be no doubt that the safety of students, staff, and possibly residents is the issue."
While Goldner feels he was discriminated against, his main reason for going forward is the children, he said.
"The curriculum has been severely compromised. I'm sure they are
meeting the minimum requirements, but the curriculum is watered down,"
Goldner said.
St. Elizabeth Seton youths discover
the fun of paintball
The St. Elizabeth Seton youth group invaded Manchester Indoor Paintball on Friday, Feb. 19.
After the rules and safety precautions were outlined by the instructors, the group pelted each other with paint for about an hour and a half while playing "capture the flag."
The Manchester Indoor Paintball facility is located in the Millyard on the fourth floor at 250 Commercial St. in downtown Manchester.
A good time was had by all. Even the adult chaperones got in on the action, but usually made a quick exit from the game.
The youth group consists mainly of freshman and sophomores in high school, but is open to high school students of all ages who belong to the parish.
Community service events for the church are the focus of the group, but they also do fund-raising events so that group members may take part in recreational activities, such as the paintball outing.
St. Elizabeth Seton's youth group holds meetings one Sunday a month in the church basement, and participates in one activity each month.
For more information about the group, call the rectory Monday through
Friday during business hours at 669-7444.