Comments

• On the article School Building Project Makes Progress

  

  

  Mel Webster

  12:16 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013

  If a worst case scenario were to play out in the bid protest, their could be a delay. Of course, the hope is that we prevail in the protest and the project continues to move along.

• On the article School Building Project Makes Progress

  

  

  Mel Webster

  12:15 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013

  Tom Magner is 100 percent correct in his answer. Thanks, Tom.

• On the article School Building Project Makes Progress

  

  Mel Webster

  8:53 am on Friday, May 17, 2013

  There has been a bid protest that "could" cause a delay. There is no additional money required for the project.

  Reply

• On the article Should SSBC Reconsider Building Softball Field at New High School?

  

  

  Mel Webster

  4:49 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013

  Barry. I am telling you the facts as I know them. I have a diagram of a field dated May, 2012. It is not called a softball field or a baseball field. The drawing shows a baseball field infield with 90 foot base paths, which is far different than a softball field infield, and also shows dimensions in the outfield that are smaller than a standard baseball field. The drawing also shows the all-purpose field as well as the discus/javelin area for track and field.

  This is what I had in my possession when the school committee was asked to make a recommendation for the field. We heard a unanimous recommendation from the athletic director, principal, baseball coach and softball coach that it should be a baseball field. Nothing was rubber stamped.

  Issues have been raised since that recommendation was made and the superintendent has worked with her administration to address several of them. In addition, the school committee invited North Reading Citizens for Equality to present at one of our meetings and we recently had two members at an athletic subcommittee meeting. I have made it clear that I will ask that the school committee reconsider its recommendation regarding this field. All of this has been done in public. If after hearing all of the issues I decide that this field should be a softball field, that is how I will vote. I don't know what more I can do at this point, but to listen to all sides and make my decision.

• On the article Should SSBC Reconsider Building Softball Field at New High School?

  

  

  Mel Webster

  3:41 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013

  Barry, I honestly do not know what you are talking about when you state, "the fact is that the whole project was sold on the basis that a softball field would be installed at the high school." As far as a second baseball field being planned all along, I know nothing about that. I have stated exactly what happened. I also point out again that the softball coach was part of the group that unanimously recommended the new field on campus be a baseball field. I can also tell you that during the SC meeting in which we heard the recommendations, I stated that I thought the dimensions of the field were too small for baseball. In response, the committee was told that the field would be only used for practice and for games for younger senior league players and that the dimensions would work for that. And, it was stressed to us numerous times that the softball complex at the Little School was ideal for the high school softball program. Based on that input, I made my decision to support a baseball field. Now, based on new input, I am going to ask that the recommendation be reconsidered.

  It's fun to sit on the sidelines and concoct conspiracy theories, regardless of whether there is any truth behind them. However, I was there when the vote was taken and have participated in most of the meetings related to this issue. And I continue to listen to all sides in hopes of finding a satisfactory solution for all parties.

• On the article Should SSBC Reconsider Building Softball Field at New High School?

  

  

  Mel Webster

  2:18 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013

  1. The superintendent worked with the Little School principal to work out a plan for this softball season. It was my understanding that the students were only being kept off the field that varsity plays on. Based on this input, I will follow up on this situation.

  2. The only people who are allowed to use the restrooms are players and coaches. The coach has been given a FOB that allows the girls to access the restroom in the building.

• On the article Should SSBC Reconsider Building Softball Field at New High School?

  

  

  Mel Webster

  2:18 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013

  1. The superintendent worked with the Little School principal to work out a plan for this softball season. It was my understanding that the students were only being kept off the field that varsity plays on. Based on this input, I will follow up on this situation.

  2. The only people who are allowed to be use the restrooms are players and coaches. The coach has been given a FOB that allows the girls to access the restroom in the building.

• On the article Should SSBC Reconsider Building Softball Field at New High School?

  

  

  Mel Webster

  2:00 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013

  Barry, the school committee was asked for a recommendation. Before a recommendation was made, we asked for input from all involved parties, including the varsity softball coach. The recommendation was unanimous to make the new field at the high school a baseball field. We then approved that recommendation and sent it along to the SSBC, which legally makes all of the decisions related to the project. I am simply explaining the process.

  I am not shirking any responsibility. I have explained exactly what happened. The SC did what it was asked and made an informed recommendation. I am now saying that I am going to ask the SC to reconsider that recommendation it made to the SSBC. Again, we were asked to make a recommendation and we did that.

• On the article Should SSBC Reconsider Building Softball Field at New High School?

  

  

  Mel Webster

  10:04 am on Monday, April 29, 2013

  Regina, the girls now have access to the bathrooms at the Little School for practices and games. We also have made changes related to Little School recess to keep students off the varsity field, preventing the grass in the outfield from becoming matted down from overuse. You make a great point in praising North Reading Youth Softball for its role in developing these fields an everything they have done is appreciated by the town.

• On the article Should SSBC Reconsider Building Softball Field at New High School?

  

  

  Mel Webster

  9:45 am on Monday, April 29, 2013

  Scott, it is not a school committee decision. We can make a recommendation, but the SSBC is the deciding body on building project related issues. That is what happened the first time around.