Parents concerned about CHS locker rooms and flu
From the NHRs Sean Barker:
A group of Cheshire parents said they have had enough with conditions at the Maclary Athletic Complex locker rooms and are considering starting a petition for the allocation of additional funds from the “rainy day fund” to have an overhaul of the facility completed by Sept. 1, 2010.
Tim White
45 comments:
I believe the person Barker is quoting is Rob Daly, not Parent.
Daly has been an outspoken proponent of the turf and is the president of the Gridiron Club.
Just another ridiculous argument from the athletic parents.
Hello....we have a $525,000 grant from the state....now you want to use the "rainy day" fund?
I would love to see just one of these parents, whose kid is sick, step forward and say this is ridiculous. Why are we still trying to get turf while the unhealthy locker rooms need major repair?
How about the Gridiron club stepping forward and convince the state reps to allow us to use the funds to take care of a real health hazard.
Where are our priorites?
"...Parent said prior to the outbreak this week, members of the team have had to leave the locker room for a period of time three straight years for maintenance.
Cheshire Superintendent of Schools Greg Florio said Friday the district is addressing concerns about the cleanliness of the boys locker room having been responsible for the flu outbreak by using school district maintenance personnel and an outside contractor to clean and disinfect the area.
“We are working with an industrial hygienist,” Florio said. “If our maintenance people are confident that we are taking the necessary steps, then so am I. I’m not going to get into a controversy over this.”..."
Dah, our highly compensated superintendent along with an industrial hygienist consultant spending 3 years figuring out how to clean/maintain a locker room which served the school for many years prior to his arrival could be an indication that the school administration,beginning at the top needs some personnel change outs. Clearly the school faculty, the students and the maintenance staff have failed at keeping things maintained so where was the superintendent as things were falling apart while everyone was getting credit for doing their individual activities?
Yes indeed it was me that he quoted. Ridiculous?...Again this just shows the freedom of this blog to attack someone else, without giving YOUR name.
Both projects are needed at the complex. If the Turf Committee's recommendation is to not move forward with the turf, then by all means we should then ask for the money to be reallocated.
The issue with the locker room is about providing the students that use it, baseball, soccer, lacrosse and football, with a healthy, clean and safe environment, which is the responsibility of the Town.
This locker room has been an issue long before the turf grant was ever on the radar. It was an issue 10 years ago, 5 years ago, and continues to be today.
It is inadequate and not cleaned and maintained properly, similar to other areas of the school.
If you believe that your view is so much better than mine, or anyone else's, then put your name on it!
Rob Daly said...
"this just shows the freedom of this blog to attack someone else, without giving YOUR name."
Virtually every comment board on the planet allows anonymous comments on matters of public interest. This includes sites which require registration, such as the 4 newspapers serving Cheshire. These do not require real names, but allow use of pseudonyms.
When public figures are criticized in NH Register on-line comments, they don’t whine about the anonymous nature of the postings, but they deal directly with the criticism. And you are a public figure (albeit a volunteer) by virtue of your own public advocacy on issues.
The fact that this blog allows anonymous comments is a moot point, and the voters agree. So I suggest you stop raising this non-issue and stick to the issues at hand: locker room and turf.
Anon 8:03 hit the bigger issue right on the head:
Dah, our highly compensated superintendent along with an industrial hygienist consultant spending 3 years figuring out how to clean/maintain a locker room which served the school for many years prior to his arrival could be an indication that the school administration,beginning at the top needs some personnel change outs. Clearly the school faculty, the students and the maintenance staff have failed at keeping things maintained. So where was the superintendent as things were falling apart...?
Just as the new Council needs to take a new look at Mr. Milone's performance and that of other dept heads, so the new BOE needs to take a new look at Dr. Florio's performance.
There was no whine in my comments. I never strayed from the issue. I simply stated an opinion on the comments.
I have no issue with people having a different opinion, that is part of life.
The issue at hand is how do we, as a Town, solve this problem. How can we provide the necessary funding to see that this project proceeds sooner rather than later? What funds are available to expedite the project? What parts of the project can be done with parent/community volunteers?
Until the Turf Committee recommendation is known, and either approved or denied, are there aother options for the needed funds for the locker room?
If the Turf is a no-go then we should ask for the reallocation of these funds.
If we provide the needed funds for the locker room now and the turf is a no-go, then we should still ask for reallocation of the turf grant, and if approved, offsets waht we, as a Town, have laid out.
If we provide the needed funds now and the turf is a go, then all that we have done is accelerate the funding for a much needed project, which we would have to do anyway.
One thing is clear regarding the current locker room and the future locker room; it needs to be cleaned and maintained properly.
Did you also read, or know, that I proposed a NO-COST to the Town cleaning and sanitizing solution? This was for a one-time cleaning and sanitization of this space by a very reputable firm. They agreed to provide this service to the Town as a donation through Gridiron Club.
I truly hope that a solution can be found in a timely manner. When former Asst. Superintendent Calaluce proposed the new facility, and it was approved, it was to be a 2 year project. My hope was then, and is now, that this could be accelerated to a one year project. However, after the article on Friday in the NHR, it seems that it could take years. i did ask Dr. Florio for consideration of being a part of the sub-committee for the locker room project.
This needs to happen now, not years from now. These kids deserve better and should have better. Don't they? Shouldn't they? Shouldn't we provide better for them? Shouldn't all the locker room and bathroom facilities throughout our school system be adequate and safe for the kids?
We may not agree totally on how or where to find the needed funds, but can we, or do we, agree that this has gone on long enough?
Mr. Daly
Don't focus on the anonymity of the poster, especially if their points are valid and provoke discussion.
You are beginning to sound like all the dems who were complaining about the anonymous posts before the election. They focused on that instead of the issues at hand.
I, as a tax paying citizen, appreciate the gridiron club's offer to pay for the cleaning of the locker rooms.
I am in favor of replacing or repairing the locker rooms and realize it is a necessity. See, we can agree on some things.
I just feel that the turf question continues to loom over our heads with that $525K grant. We cannot afford this project so we need to figure out a way to transfer those funds to fix the necessity.
You and the other turf proponents have had blinders on in regards to this grant. Do you realize that the town voted out of office, overwhelmingly, those representatives who were in favor of the turf? That is the town speaking loud and clear.
Despite the futile, and illegal, attempts by the CJF to get parents to vote, they still lost.
It is time to work together and fix the necessity and put the wishes on the back burner. Perhaps the gridiron club can take the reins and admit it isn't time for turf right now.
These are difficult times and we can't throw more money into a project until we fix what we have.
One comment means I am focusing on the anonymity of the poster?
Did I not propose reallocation of the funds under certain circumstances?
I never spoke in favor of the turf AS a Gridiron Member or on behalf of our membership.
Again, I think that there are a couple of ways to approach this project. It seems unfortunate that any idea at this point that does not involve the turf grant money appears to get dismissed.
Have a nice day Contoured
"...I truly hope that a solution can be found in a timely manner. When former Asst. Superintendent Calaluce proposed the new facility, and it was approved, it was to be a 2 year project. My hope was then, and is now, that this could be accelerated to a one year project. However, after the article on Friday in the NHR, it seems that it could take years. i did ask Dr. Florio for consideration of being a part of the sub-committee for the locker room project...."
Truly hoping for a solution is exactly what all the towns many tax payers have been quietly doing for some time concerning the cash sucking monster located just across the street from the broken down, unmaintained boys locker room.
Here's an idea, shut the money sucking pool monster down and take the money saved, hundreds of thousands a year, and invest it in a new locker room for the high school boys.
And concerning the dreams of those criticizing a wonderful plastic turf playing field, if this town is incapable of maintaining a high school boys locker room what chance do we have of maintaining an artificial turf field? I suspect the answer to that rhetorical question is looking at us just across the street from the high school right now.
Turf or Locker Rooms? Which is the #1 priority? The town does not have money to cover both.
Why was a turf sub-committee formed over a year ago as opposed to a boy's locker room sub-committee? Clearly, the boy's locker is NOT the #1 priority.
Plenty of parents show up to support the turf at BOE meetings...no parents show up to support the locker rooms. It's very sad.
Simple solution - the town is not obligated to have any athletics outside of gym class. Cancel football, baseball, and lacross and we do not need the lockerrooms. We will not need turf either as there will be fewer contests on it. That should have been a question on the ballot, "should Cheshire continue to provide sport teams, fields and lockerrooms for student athletes?". I vote no, just like I did on every other referendum question
I also thought Anon. 10:34's words sounded ominous and could be an implied threat. When such things are posted on newspaper blogs, they get deleted by the editor when brought to his attention. However, the newspaper sites don't discontinue allowing anonymous and pseudonym postings.
You must be kidding me if you all think that post was threatening...
Not even close. I am sure Tim will now remove it though because someone complained, I just think you are all carrying this a little too far.
Wow! That much hatred. That is sad. I thought, giving Mr. White the benefit of the doubt regarding this blog, that this could be one way to partake in meaningful discussion about issues. Well, I guess my rose colored glasses are off now.
Nothing childish about a perceived threat. And I did state that if I was inclined to take it that way, which I am not.
And if I want to be heard in Town, I can attend any BOE or Town Council meeting.
I am not twisting anything or spinning anything. But I am glad that you have now brought to light why I was skeptical about this blog site to begin with.
You don't have to agree with me on any issue, but can't you at least be civil in your disagreement?
By all means, if you'd like to civily discuss this issue, feel free to talk to me tomorrow night at the TC Meeting.
It's been decided in courts all over the country that the person allowing anonymous postings on a blog is to be held accountable for the unknown persons actions. Tim is taking the blame and possible fall for threats or harassment that happens here.
Mr. Daly, I urge you to print out and keep records of this blog. If anyone harasses you due to you voicing your opinions I would call an attorney. Tim White will be the #1 defendant and it would be up to him to prove who everyone is.
Threatening to harm or injure someone on a blog is the same as doing so in public. This blog is Tim's "house" and he should know who is in it. If he feels like leaving the door open to the world, it is his perogative. If someone gets hurt in Tim's "house" then it is Tim's responsability.
"However, the newspaper sites don't discontinue allowing anonymous and pseudonym postings."
You are correct, but they DO require you to register your name, address and phone number.
No hatred here Mr. Daly.
Just a person with common sense who doesn't perceive words like that a threat.
This is a place where many good discussions happen. Obviously, you heard about it or you wouldn't be here.
The issues are that you have and continue to push for turf while the locker rooms need to be addresses and fixed long before the turf gets installed. We also have a pool that is taking close to $500k a year of our tax dollars. This was suppose to be self sufficient, but it isn't. We need to take care of that issue as well.
It's too bad that Ecke and Altieri didn't have the foresight to ask Fritz for a grant to fix the pool or locker rooms instead of the turf. Both of those were issues long before they aske for the turf grant.
I laughed when you said you were skeptical of this blog. Why post here or even come here if you are that skeptical. I will agree that there are some a**holes here, but the majority are intelligent people with some excellent opinions. Breachway, Cedar Lane, Contoured Views to name a few. No need to know their true identities, they all have strong opinions that are insightful and make us think.
I for one welcome the opposing viewpoint, otherwise this will be a blog of back slappers.
"You are correct, but they DO require you to register your name, address and phone number."
You are wrong there. I have left posts without leaving name and phone number on the Hartford Cournat and New Haven Register. Just yesterday I did that.
"Tim White will be the #1 defendant and it would be up to him to prove who everyone is."
I thought you would have all disappeared after the landslide victory last Tuesday. Keep harping on the anonymous comments, then go to the New Haven Register, Hartford Courant, and any otehr newspaper who allows anonymous comments on stories.
You are really strtching it here.
Try and find a lawyer who would take that case.
RE: "However, the newspaper sites ... DO require you to register your name, address and phone number."
I have registered on many newspaper comment sites and have NEVER been required to give my address and phone number. At most they ask for your e-mail and name (which you can answer as John Smith).
By all means, if you'd like to civily discuss this issue, feel free to talk to me tomorrow night at the TC Meeting.
Mr. Daly, I'll be at the TC meeting tonight and would be happy to talk to you about the condition of the CHS boy's locker room. I don't officially start on the BOE until next month but I'm doing my homework in the meantime. I'll seek you out tonight.
Thanks,
Tony Perugini
203-699-9828
aperugini99@cox.net
"Threatening to harm or injure someone on a blog is the same as doing so in public."
Why are you complaining about anonymous posts and post anonymously instead. Your a hypocrat. And, then you threaten Tim?
Do you ever listen to the news, they are constantly bad mouthing politicians and making fun of them. So, if your in public office or running for it stop complaining and if you can't take the heat stop whining.
If certain people are not happy with the progress or amount of money in the Capital Budget to be used towards the locker rooms in the first year(350K), then why didn't they appear before the BoE & TC during the discussions of the CB to request a HIGHER amount in the first year. Once it's voted on you're too late unless of course they can redirect the rest of that $500K infrastructure amount ($150k) towards the locker room...but then again, why would they do that??..no one seemed to want to redirect the silly $525K grant towards any of that "high priority" item.
What it really comes down to is the same old thing - they want their cake and eat it too - they want the turf and the locker room. It's like a kid with a huge Xmas list - they want everything. Sorry, you can't always get what you want.
"Why are you complaining about anonymous posts and post anonymously instead. Your a hypocrat. And, then you threaten Tim?"
How did I threaten Tim? I am taking advantage of the anonymous posting since everyone else does. Others start using real names and I will too.
Mr. Daly's words - "By all means, if you'd like to civily discuss this issue, feel free to talk to me tomorrow night at the TC Meeting."
November 09, 2009 2:24 PM
Aren't you the same Mr. Daly who quite LOUDLY addressed the council last month while they discussed redirecting money towards the locker room project? So now you want people to address you civilly?? hmmmm
9:02
Don't forget though, he wasn't doing that as president of the gridirion club.
I had asked this question a few days ago, but still have not heard an answer.
If the town chooses to build a separate locker room facility near the football field, what will be done with the current locker rooms and how much will it cost to clean it up to use again?
I would think that there will be some major costs either in converting it to classroom space or re-doing it as healty locker rooms.
In my estimation, I would think this could run well over $1 million.
We need to do something to make them healty, we can't continue to wait for committees and sub-committees. I can't understand why we didn't have a set plan in place. Why are we waiting for the voters to vote for the referendum. It isn't like we can just let this go.
I don't want to go into the "rainy day" fund if we can look into redirecting the turf fund.
I keep hearing people say that they "heard" if we ask to redirect it we could lose it. Lets not forget that we have state representatives that we elect and they need to convince the powers that be that we need to do this now.
The turf people may not agree with me but I am sure the parents who were home with their kids last week would rather have a healthy locker room then artificial turf right now.
The space is not suitable for classroom as any improvement would require ADA upgrades. Abandon the room or use as storage.
"Abandon the room or use as storage."
It seems unacceptable to just abandon a large building space because it has been damaged by benign neglect or worse.
Any move to just abandon that particular portion of CHS would lead to a very unsightly complex which no doubt would ultimately be in danger of sanctions from either accrediting boards or public safety agencies.
Do you even know where the locker rooms are? How would a sub-terrain level become unsightly? Do you even understand what is going on or are you just throwing out false concerns?
The facts are that the room is not ADA compliant. To modify this space in any way would require the upgrade to make it compliant. This includes handicap ramps, wider doorways, wider isles, handicap accessable shower, sink, toilet, alarm and egress ways. This work alone will be in the $100,000 range even if it never gets used by 1 handicaped person.
According to ADA (www.ADA.gov), it appears that it being a public building, the locker rooms should have been upgraded with the last major construction project.
Are you saying to just board up the space?
You can't just leave it and build a new building. Something has to be done with the present space.
What do you suggest and how much will it cost is what I am asking?
"...Do you even know where the locker rooms are? How would a sub-terrain level become unsightly? Do you even understand what is going on or are you just throwing out false concerns?..."
Yes I know where it is. Right now it is space fully occupied and used daily for instructional purposes. ADA compliant, big deal. Do you believe that some new, free standing building which will be used by the public won't have to be at least as ADA compliant as well?
TThe concern that abandoning part of an existing building might cause various problems down the road isn't something which should be characterized as a 'false concern.' There are plenty of technical issues associated with the abandonment of large spaces in institutional, industrial and commercial facilities. Just imagine after abandonment that somehow it becomes the home for black mold growth - - -. Additionally, part of the accrediting process no doubt speaks to the facilities available for instructional activities and their condition.
The facility abandonment recommendation would be many times more cost effective across the street at our money sucking swimming pool and the money saved could be applied to refurbishment of the boys locker room.
"Right now it is space fully occupied and used daily for instructional purposes."
By who? Do you realize that this is not the same locker room used everyday for schedualed gym class? This is a sub-terrain (below street grade) room under the girls gym.
"Do you believe that some new, free standing building which will be used by the public won't have to be at least as ADA compliant as well?"
No, I do not believe that a new building will NOT be ADA compliant. Understand this, it is easier, cheaper, and quicker to build a doorway once than to try and make it bigger later. Since the current room is below grade, ramps with 12:1 - 10:1 ratio are needed. To meet that requirement, to get from street to 5' below grade, you need a ramp 50'-60' long by 5' wide. In a straight line, the ramp will start either in the middle of the driveway or infront of the old office/main enterance.
A new building would be at grade level meaning no ramps, with wide doorways, wheelchair accessable passways, and bathroom facilities. Alot of work that can be done easier than remodeling.
In the future, stay on topic. If you want to talk about the locker room fine, but dont jump into the pool issues
"...A new building would be at grade level meaning no ramps, with wide doorways, wheelchair accessable passways, and bathroom facilities. Alot of work that can be done easier than remodeling...."
And of course, the 64 million dollar question, will this wonderful new edifice be built to the same standards the existing school building is built to? Will it be pleasing to look at? Will it enhance the overall property and its function? Or will it be sort of just an extra large plywood tool shed set to self destruct in a short period of time just like the pool bubble and its adjacent building have?
The real topic for this town is not whether or not some special group gets another special sports related item. The real issue is just how the town goes about fixing equipment and buildings which have degenerated or are broken. The real issue is how we stop bleeding hard earned money on jokes like the magic plastic heated pool bubble and the multi-failed roof at the pool admin building and the list goes on and on.
Count me as one voter sick of the waste associated with the ongoing pool saga and its long term failure. I don’t want to see another new building added to the list of town municipal facilities which of course already includes the overpriced and overly expensive failed pool.
The locker room in question has degenerated and is broken. From 50,000 feet it looks almost exactly like the pool across the street. The town needs to fix it. The town needs to understand just how it got broken too and it needs to eliminate the causes going forward. And those involved in fixing it should be willing to stake their jobs on the fix.
this is what i mean. it is ok for the town to spends tens of thousands on the crybabies at the police department that is ok, but not on the locker rooms or the fields. yeah exactly where ARE our priorities?
tim white allowed a slanderous comment about Lt deegan that is why the post was taken down if you can't control your comments and that is not censorship no one has the right to slander then get a new blog hoster where you can screen comments not censor, screen for slander. tim white will eventually end up being sued.
Charlie Fields
If Tim took the comment down, how did he allow it?
You don't have a clue about blogs.
The Hartford Courant's site, Topix, allows anonymous comments. Many are very slanderous, yet they aren't removed. Same with the New Haven Register.
99% of the comments made here are from caring concerned citizens. You will have idiots anywhere you go on the internet. Tim does a fine job in censoring for inappropriate comments.
The whole DeCaprio comment was made up by the Democratic party from a vague reference. It was done to try and get the sympathy vote for her and a negative mark against Tim, but it didn't work.
The comment about Lt. Deegan, which I didn't see, should not have been slanderous. Unless there are factual statements about a particular person, Tim usually won't allow them. If he removed it then he did the right thing. Why are you complaining? However, putting the link to a lawsuit involving the town of Cheshire, which he was a part of, is not slanderous and should be allowed.
If you want a blog where anonymous comments are not allowed, start one yourself. You will find that you won't get many people reading it or leaving comments.
For the record, I know we need to replace the locker rooms. I just question the true costs of building new ones and renovating the old ones. This town seems to do things backwards sometimes. They ask for a set amount of money without knowing if it is enough since they haven't taken the time to figure out plans.
10:14 You made numerous assertions, some of which you substantiated. But you also made very detailed assertions that you did not substantiate. Perhaps you know something that I don't know? If all your assertions are true, then provide the public record. If you cannot provide the public record, then when someone tries to sue me... I'll have no option but to provide your IP address to the proper authorities. Don't get me wrong. I don't want to take that path. But some of your comments have been very detailed and unsubstantiated.
Furthermore, your comments are totally OT. And frankly I'm tired of you trolling through here all the time.
6:48 You provided FOI information about one incident - and I let that ride since another commenter provided external support. But you then claimed the existence of another incident and never provided any proof of the second incident. You then intentionally conflated the documented incident with your claimed incident.
That led me to conclude the incident was either:
1) fabricated by you
or
2) true, but court-sealed.
Either way, I'm not gonna get dragged into court because you wish to use this forum to spread your claims.
Furthermore, as you are no doubt aware... you can write LTTEs to share the story.
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